In one of the many training sheds, class 1 listens to their teacher, Roxy Clairus.

“In this way, seek to add more mana to your attacks and change their properties, worry later about mana economy, for now, shape the most powerful spell you can produce.”

As the students attentively listen to their teacher's words, two people walk towards them, having just entered the training center.

“Rose, you're late. Was it you who held her, Yuki?”

“Yes, we had some business to attend to!”

“You seem pretty happy for some reason.”

Roxy notices Yukiko's excitement.

“Sorry that I'm late, teacher Roxy!”

Meanwhile Rose bows to apologize for being late. Yukiko then catches everyone's attention.

“Attention all students, I have an announcement to make!”

“Hmm? Is he going to do something eccentric again?”

The students start to complain as always.

“I would like to announce that Miss Rose has officially become my first disciple! Don't be upset that you missed this chance, but you were the ones who took too long so there's nothing you can do.”

“What?!”

A chorus of students is surprised by the news.

“Wait, am I the first? You mean in the academy, right?”

“No, first of all, I never had an official student. I taught someone else a few little things a while ago, but I never had an official disciple.”

“Seriously? Hmm, glad to know.”

Rose blushes slightly at the new information.

So, I'm the first? It meant I am special then?

Then she realizes that now everyone in the class is looking at her and immediately gets desperate.

“Ah, but you don't have to advertise like that...”

The students in the room then begin to comment on what happened.

“Hum, so she really went after being his disciple?”

“It must be because she is a commoner, she would never have the attention of the best teachers here. I never even heard of her family name.”

Hearing these comments, Frederica and Elia become uncomfortable, but when they were about to speak something.

“Seriously? Ahh, I wish I was the first! How sad!”

The one who starts to complain is Mia Rosenfold.

“Miss Rosenfold, what are you talking about?”

Melina Moscon, surprised by Mia's reaction, addresses her.

“I didn't know that the person would be the first student he ever had, if I had known I would have rushed more, you are a fast one, Miss Rose.”

“Oh? am I?”

“Ha-ha-ha you missed the opportunity, Mia. Rose is my very first disciple and she will have several advantages, you know? It's like a first child, I will pamper her a lot!”

“Pamper me?!”

Rose turns completely red again, being the center of attention of all the students is too much for the country girl.

“Damn it! Miss Rose, don't you want to give up the position?”

“What?”

“Hey! Stop trying to make me lose the disciple I just gained!”

The students in the room are simply speechless by this discussion, the same can be said of Rose who despite being the center of the discussion is completely lost. The only ones who can keep up with the conversation are Mia and Yukiko.

“Ah, but whatever, I'll have to be the second one.”

“What?”

Melina cannot hide her surprise at Mia's proposal.

“Professor Yuki, please accept me as your second disciple!”

“Are you serious, Miss Rosenfold? You're kidding, right?”

Melina Moscon is desperate, trying to believe that this is a prank played by her colleague. The daughter of one of the most important families in the empire would never ask to be the disciple of a commoner.

“Hmm? Of course not, I wouldn't joke about it.”

“It cannot be...”

“And what's your goal? As I said before, I will not accept anyone without a worthy goal, if yours is not I will dismiss you immediately.”

“Dismiss her?! She's a noble of the Rosenfold family, you know who you're talking to...”

“Understood!”

Mia agrees without a second thought to Yukiko's demand.

“That's what the teacher had made clear from the beginning.”

“Miss Rosenfold... it can't be.”

“And what's your goal, Mia? If you're not comfortable saying it here, you can talk to me in private.”

“No, it can be in front of everyone... I want everyone to hear, I need to make my intentions clear and mark my territory.”

“I see, so tell me.”

Mia takes a break and all the students hold their breaths, despite appearances, this man Yukiko, proved to be extremely demanding, and his knowledge of the magic world is also no joke, despite not knowing what Rose needed to say to convince him, everyone imagines that it must not have been something simple after all this is the man who mocked the entire academy and empire by saying that those who train here for 7 years intending to go to war are nothing but idiots. The goal of the daughter of one of the greatest noble families in the empire, with a talent recognized throughout the academy and who still wants to make it clear to all the other students, how important would that goal be?

“I want to be your disciple because...”

Silence and tension fill the air, even Roxy can no longer maintain her usual calm expression and is looking directly at Mia. Rose is also tense and deep inside she is rooting for her friend, hoping that her goal will reach and satisfy Yukiko.

“Because I think you are handsome!”

“…”

Absolute silence takes place.

“I see… I can understand your point of view, Miss Mia.”

“Don't agree with her, you idiot teacher! Are you playing with our face?!”

The whole class became almost a chorus and screams against the stupid reason given by the girl and the even more stupid man who agreed whit it. Roxy starts massaging her forehead, Rose is simply paralyzed and the rest of the gang is red with shame and anger. Everyone is outraged at how these two can act in such a ridiculous way, performing almost a comedy piece.

“But still, Miss Mia. I can say that I understand your point of view and I agree, after all, I am a little piece of heaven, even more in this academy of old and ugly teachers… but that doesn't change the fact that it's not a goal, it's just a statement.”

“Yuki I'm going to hit you...”

Roxy is clearly at the end of her temper, as are all the other students.

“You're right Professor Yuki, that's not my ultimate goal, I was just declaring my feelings to the whole room.”

“I see! You are really an honest person! I like that, so what's your ultimate goal?”

“I'm still very young, so I don't think I have a chance with you at the moment. I mean, look at Professor Roxy, I must admit that unfortunately, I'm not a worthy opponent at the moment. And I don't even need to comment on my aunt...”

“What?”

Roxy is surprised by the girl's comments. However, Mia continues her reasoning without pause.

“But in 7 years I believe I will be! That's why I'm going to take this time and build bonds of affection with you, so in 7 years, I'll conquer you and steal you from everyone else!”

Mia finishes her statement with her finger pointing at Yukiko and with a confident smile on her face. All the people present are in absolute silence, even Roxy who was about to complain about this little girl's statements is perplexed.

“She can only be kidding...”

“Mia, what are you doing...”

Roxy and Rose express concern for the girl's mental health.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“I see, so that's your goal, Miss Mia.”

“Yes, sir!”

Mia then makes a soldier salute, aggravating the already comic situation.

“Mia, can't you think of something better? And why are you making a salute out of nowhere… maybe if you think about it the professor might be willing to give you a second chance and then...”

Rose then starts to try to help her friend, at the same time she is confused, wondering if there is something wrong with her friend’s head.

“I accept your objective and consider it worthy, Mia Rosenfold. I accept you as my second disciple!”

“What?!”

“Thank you very much, teacher Yuki!”

And so, under somewhat different circumstances, Yukiko gets his second disciple—a somewhat eccentric earth mage.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

After some time everyone stopped trying to put reason in the heads of the eccentric pair of student and professor. During hands-on activities, while Roxy advises most of the Class 1 students, Yukiko talks to Rose and Mia further back in the shed, giving them instructions in person. At the end of the practice class, Roxy dismisses her students.

“Let's finish here today, see you tomorrow at the same time.”

“Yes ma'am!”

The students leave the shed as they observe Yukiko still talking to the two girls, among the students Frederica and Elia stayed behind.

“Let's go now?”

“Yes.”

The two head toward the group and stop in front of Yukiko.

“Hum? Any problem Frederica? Elia?”

“We want to become disciples of Professor Yukiko too.”

“Frederica! Elia!”

After Frederica makes her intentions clear, Rose is overjoyed at the possibility of her two friends training with her.

“I understand, I would be happy to accept you two, but the same goes for both. What are your goals?”

Frederica then looks at Elia, Elia steps forward and looks into Yukiko's eyes, she glances at Mia who was right next to him.

“Is your goal too personal? We can talk privately if you prefer.”

“No, it's ok!”

“I can withdraw for the Elia case, I'm the one who's making you uncomfortable, right?”

Mia, after realizing that her presence was the cause of the discomfort, suggested that she could get out of there.

“No! It's okay Miss Mia, it's something I want you to hear too.”

“Very well, then what would it be?”

“I wish to study under you to gain power, Professor Yukiko, power to... show all the noble families of the empire my value. Show them, with all their arrogance, that just because you are from a specific family, that doesn't make you more special than anyone else!”

Rose and Mia are startled by Elia's statements, she who has always been an extremely calm and reserved person, has just challenged the noble families of the empire.

“Elia... that's why...”

Rose then looks towards Mia. Mia Rosenfold, daughter of one of the most powerful noble families in the empire.

“You were really nice, Elia! I almost fell in love with you right now! I know you will make it!”

“Ah? Is Miss Mia not offended?”

“Hum? Of course not, I also hate this arrogance of the nobles. Children who think they are the center of the world because of the blood that runs in their veins it's something ridiculous.”

“Miss Mia...”

“You will accept it won't you, teacher Yuki?”

Elia then looks at Yukiko and awaits the verdict with apprehension.

“Yes, it is a worthy goal. I accept you as a student, Elia.”

“Thank you, teacher!”

Rose runs to hug her friend and Mia goes as well to meet her.

“And you, Frederica?”

Now it was Frederica's turn, she takes a step forward and looks Yukiko in the eyes, being taller than Rose and Elia, she doesn't need to lift her head as much, but still, due to the big difference in stature, she looks up.

“My goal is the same, teacher Yukiko. Because of my origins, it was always humiliating to be dealing with nobles, but not being one of them. I wish to become strong and prove my worth to all of them, please accept me as your disciple!”

Frederica then bows her head and begs to become one of the students together with her friends.

“Frederica!”

Elia looks at her with emotion, after all, she had also gone through the same suffering and can understand her friend wanting to prove her worth to others. Mia also shows a smile, as she had previously demonstrated, she also disagrees with this prejudice rooted in the empire. Only Rose looks at Frederica with some confusion.

Why she...is the same feeling as the other times...is like she is just...

“Is that your goal, Frederica?”

“Yes, sir!”

“I see, then... I can't accept it, I'm sorry.”

“Oh?”

Everyone there is unresponsive for a few seconds to Yukiko’s response.

“But why?”

Elia is the first to protest for her friend.

“I already said it, I will only accept those that I consider as having worthy goals.”

“But professor, my objective was accepted by you, why not Frederica's?”

Elia protests against Yukiko's decision, meanwhile, Mia is still confused and Rose looks at Frederica with some unease.

Why did she say that? And why that same feeling? I'm sure it wouldn't go unnoticed by this man's eyes.

“Yes Elia, your goal is a worthy goal.”

“Then why?”

“Because Frederica is lying.”

“Lying?

“Yes, that's not her real goal, she just said it to get my approval, that's why she even let you go first and to see if I would accept you. She probably had another false goal ready in case you didn't get accepted, right Frederica?”

Yes, the same feeling I had already felt from Frederica a few times when she spoke to the noble children, the way the particles behave around her in these moments, is like they are responding to her frustration, anger, and a lot of lies...

Frederica, who was silent until now, finally addresses Yukiko.

“What convinces you that I'm lying?”

“One of the factors that most influences a mage is his emotions, many mages even make use of them to enhance their spells. The point is, in the same way that it is possible to determine a mage's affinity from the mana particles around him, with proper attention it is even possible to observe their emotional state. It's something complex and requires a lot of observation, but it's been more than 2 weeks since I started teaching you all, I can distinguish a child's lie without problems.”

Frederica doesn't respond to Yukiko's accusations, she just squeezes her right shoulder with her left hand in a frustrated movement.

“You should be able to observe something like that too, right Rose?”

“What? Rose?”

Elia looks at Rose trying to understand what Yukiko means.

“Um... yes, it's something subtle, but... I can also see something strange in your aura Frederica, I'm sorry...”

“Is all right Rose, it was very presumptuous of me to try to deceive Professor Yukiko.”

The other students became surprised at Frederica admitting her lie.

“What do you want, Frederica?”

“Hmm?”

“No lies this time.”

“I...”

“You came to me because you want power, that I can say, but your intentions are different from Elia's. You don't want recognition from those who have humiliated you, but I can tell that you want something, don't you?”

Frederica clenches her fists harder and bites her lips.

“Me, what I desire is not something beautiful like recognition, nor something innocent like your love. It's not worthy.”

“I'm the one who will judge that. What is your goal?”

Frederica remembers the memories and experiences she went through growing up, of nobles humiliating her due to her blood, of her father abandoning them, but the most remarkable of all was the occasion when a woman humiliated her mother after discovering cases in which her husband committed adultery with Frederica’s mother. Her mother had no choice in both situations, she could not refuse the nobleman who abused her and she could not deny the violence that the nobleman's wife put her through. Even after the event and with broken bones, her mother still asked for forgiveness, not out of fear of losing her own life, but out of fear of leaving Frederica behind, a non-noble orphan child was destined to suffer in this world.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Frederica, don't worry about me, your mother will be fine, luckily, we escaped the worst... remember to always respect those who have noble blood, that's our only choice, my daughter.”

“Why Mom? You get on your knees and ask for forgiveness when they're wrong, you humiliate yourself as they parade down the street and treat us like dirt.”

“Frederica, my daughter, this is the natural order of the world, unfortunately, we are not born with the same rights as them, so we need to go through it.”

“No... that's not... how is that fair?”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

What is your goal?

My goal?

When this man came forward and humiliated those pretentious children, when he humiliated those teachers from the great houses who humiliated us, when he, nameless, arrived and did what he wanted in this academy, even with all the teachers and parents of students protesting, just like all the nobles always did to all of us... yes, it felt good, it felt very good! For the first time, it was as if my screams could be heard as if someone had avenged us. It was then that I thought, maybe this man…maybe this person could understand me, could understand my truest ambition, no matter how ugly it was.

Frederica then looks directly at Yukiko and meets his eyes.

Those eyes… I don't have the vision that Rose has, but somehow, someway I can tell… those eyes are eyes that carry such a hurt and suffering that no one else would be able to bear it. Eyes like these must be able to understand my feeling... to understand my grudge.

“I desire power… enough power to make myself undisputed, to have the right to act and be as I please, enough power so that even the law of this world does not apply to me, so that not even the nobles can challenge my actions and decisions, so... so I will find them, find all those who humiliated my mother, humbled and abused my family! I will find them one by one and kill them along with all those who stand at their side, kill them like the filthy dogs that they are! Like worms belonging under the earth that should never have left it!”

During her speech, Frederica's voice became more and more fierce, by the end she was already screaming with tears in her eyes, not even worrying if her words were making any sense anymore, as if a violent madness had taken over her entire being. With this vision, Mia, Elia, and Rose became startled, Rose who was able to visualize the particles around Frederica were able to tell how true this anger and hatred are, how much every word that Frederica had just said were the words with the greatest truth she ever has uttered since joining in this academy.

Yukiko continued to stare at her with the same impartial and serene expression, when Frederica started to catch her breath and notices her outburst, she quickly started fixing her hair and cleaning her eyes, slowly returning to her expression of delicacy and sophistication.

“I apologize for the tragic scene, Professor. I understand your decision to not accept me as a disciple, after all, as you saw it, it is a despicable reason.”

“I'm the one who decides that Frederica, I had already told you. Ah... that's why I hate this empire, what did they do to a 13-year-old girl to make her accumulate such a grudge?”

“...”

Frederica is surprised by the way Yukiko addresses her, not scolding the girl, but the empire that made her take this attitude. For a moment it makes her happy, he didn't judge her but judged the empire that made her that way.

Ah… this is nice, I may not be able to train with him, but at least he was able to understand me a little.

“You know Frederica, strong feelings are essential for a mage, as I had said in my classes, magic is strictly linked to our knowledge and emotions, so anger and hatred can indeed be excellent weapons for a mage, but I don't recommend to use this weapon of yours at the moment. Frederica, the hate you have is intense and because it is intense it is capable of blinding your judgment, at the moment this hate of yours is too much for you to handle.”

“I understand, Professor. Thanks for the guidance.”

“This will be just one of many.”

“Hmm?”

“I accept your goal as worthy. I'm not innocent enough to say that revenge is not an answer, often it's the only way to calm a soul, living to suppress this hatred will only be destroying you little by little. I only ask you to promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Don't make the mistake of letting yourself be blinded by it. I understand that you want revenge for your mother and family, and I won't stop you from killing those who humiliated you when you get the power to do so but don't forget about the people who are still here, don't let your revenge blind your love for those you fight to avenge. Otherwise, at the end of your journey the only person left to direct your hate to will be yourself.”

Yukiko's words echo in the hearts of everyone there.

“I understand, Teacher.”

“Then I accept you as my student, Frederica.”

“Thank you very much, Professor Yukiko!”

With that, Yukiko ends the day with 4 new disciples, with different goals.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Let's finish for today, everyone must be exhausted, I ask you all to not comment on what you heard today, it wouldn't be good for Frederica's safety, but I doubt that any of you would do it. You all are dismissed.”

“Thank you, teacher!”

When all the girls finish leaving, only Yukiko is left in the shed.

“You can appear now, Roxy.”

Roxy then comes out of a shadow in the corner of the shed.

“Are you sure about the last girl?”

“Why did you hide? Were you that curious as to why so many students gave up on you and came looking for me?”

“You only got 4 of them, don't brag so much.”

“Ha-ha-ha turned into a competition?”

“No, and I asked you a question, are you sure about it?”

“Hate is a powerful weapon, as dangerous as it may be. I believe I can help that girl somehow.”

“It's going to be quite a challenge...”

“I helped you, didn't I?”

“Yes... about Mia Rosenfold, why did you choose to believe in her lie?”

“It wasn't a complete lie, she really thinks I'm handsome.”

“But she lied when she said what her goal was.”

“Yes, but I had already heard her true purpose, so I chose to let her hide it from others today.”

“I understand...”

“Roxy.”

“Hmm?”

“These kids are really interesting... I'm excited to see the people they'll become.”

“You're finally looking like a teacher.”

“Ha-ha want to have some tea, Roxy? I want to celebrate!”

“Hmm? Of course!”

“Right! Let's go to Maria's room, Camila can participate too!”

“...”

“What?”

“I thought you were inviting me...”

“I'm not?”

“Fine… let's go.”