Tearis and his group of supposed spell casters found themselves in a large room with a waxed wooden floor and not much else. The students were forced to either stand or sit on the ground. Most of the student body opted to stand as an elderly man with no hair anywhere on their head walked into the gym.

“Oi. Many of you are wondering why you have a physical conditioning class. The others either already figured it out or care more about whats for lunch.” The teacher continued, his speech increasing as he walked about. “The simple answer is that you can only train mental and physical stats once every two days. So its good to train ones body up nice and good. Secondly, it makes you more durable, the higher your physical stats the more likely you’ll survive getting hit by a stray arrow. The final reason is something your homeroom teacher will discuss. I will not be taken questions. For the next fifty five minuets, you all will be running, if you wanna stay in the academy anyways.”

By the end of that class, only one was able to run the full-time allotted. Quite a few students dropped out almost immediately. Most during the running had taken small breaks to catch their breath and rest shortly before continuing through the pain. Everyone smelled horrible by the end of it. Most passed out soon after, and one student had to be rushed to the recovery ward as his constitution was under five, and this much exercise was too much. They made it to the end but it was too much for them.

“Aside from one of you, the rest of you whelps are weak and wimpy. Triple w worthless. Now then you should be getting a training notification shortly.”

Tearis scowled as the status voice spoke.

Physical training complete, all physical stats trained, Vitality and Dexterity have received a bonus. You must wait 36 hours before training these stats again.

Tearis looked down at his rings and decided that this class may not be so bad.

“Now then, while I’d love to dismiss you all early. I still have a bit of time left so we’ll be going over the syllabus while your too exhausted to be distracted. I go by coach Maki, and will ownly answer to Coach Maki. For the first three weeks, you will all be running, those of you who find success in it and are no longer hampered by it will move up to weights and more specialized methods of training. If you can’t keep up then you’ll be expected to workout on fridays or saturdays until you do. From there the physical training will go up substantially. My goal is to have you all with at least a twenty in your physical stats fourty would be great as well, but I don’t see all of you pushing yourselves every class period to that point of stat ranking. As once you complete an regime and don’t get a boost, then that method is no longer effective. That and once we get you past thirty you need to spend alot more time training to get any gains. One day of push ups won’t cut it. Your midterm and final exam will be simple. This course doesn’t practice them so feel free to bum around, study for other classes or train. If your behind then I highly recommend training. With that your dismissed.” Coach Maki left the gym right after.

Tearis hopped to his feet and looked about, looking around for someone to talk to. Laura should have been a first-year mage type as well. So he looked around for a bit as they were dismissed, finding her near the end of the line.

“So how was training?”

“Shut. Up. It’s too early in the morning for this much physical exertion.” Was all she said as she walked past Tearis.

Another blond-haired boy only with blue eyes patted Tearis on his shoulder shook his head and kept walking.

“What was that about?” Feeling his stomach plotting a mutiny he decided to go to lunch. Where he’d probably have to sit alone. Which was quite weird as he usually always had someone with him.

After entering the mess hall Tearis grabbed what appeared to be food. Two pieces of bread, an unrecognizable meat mixture with corn, in between the buns along with, a side of mixed vegetables, an apple, and a cup of water. A completely balanced diet, should he choose to eat it. At least the food seemed edible. But he’d soon have to find a decent eatery. Tearis wanted to live, not just survive.

As Tearis sat alone at a table in the mess hall a certain tall, black-haired individual took a seat across from him. A tray holding a glazed rack of lamb, three orange-like fruits he didn’t recognize, one baby carrot, half a lettuce leaf, and a drinking gourd filled with a deep purple liquid. Alcaris pulled a bib from his uniform and put it on. Next, he drew a fork and knife before he was rudely interrupted.

“What are you doing here? Didn’t you eat like an hour ago?”

Alcaris placed a hand over his mouth. “That was brunch, now it's lunch. If you can ask that ten your skill must still be active.” Alcaris seemed quite happy with that outcome.

“What? Wait… Do you eat this much all the time?”

Alcaris sighed. “I am a master of a type of blood magic. Using it, burns calories quite quickly and Is quite deadly to living enemies.”

“So you eat alot because of your magic?”

“More my magic exist because I eat alot. One’s class color tends to represent their personality even if its just a little.”

“I see.” Teairs stirred the food on his plate.

“No. You don’t, your color doesn’t match your nature, which shouldn’t be possible. Your cunning without the usual aggression. Quite the enigma.”

“How…”

“I can see your magical aura and it clashes with what I've observed.”

“Oh… It’s complicated.”

“It happens. Do you have a warlock class, or cultist job?”

“No…But I may have their skills.”

Alcaris twirled a spoon in his hands. “Which skills do you think are cult skills?”

“Dark magic and Ritual magic. Although I don’t have either active yet.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes? Is vampiric bind a cultist skill?”

“I hope not. Is there anything else you can…”

“Quit bullying the new blood Al.” A short girl with red hair approached the table, only to sit down next to Tearis and across from Alcaris.

“Fine.” Alcaris waved his hand and Tearis felt a pressure in his head that he hadn’t noticed prior, fade.

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“What was that?”

“Blood manipulation on a scale that hasn’t been seen before. My charisma makes it seem like my manipulation is mental and gives me some prowess, but my true magic involves altering what goes on in someone’s body. Including my own. No offense but you had the scent of someone I know on you.”

.”Is that all?” The student council president asked.

“I could have incited rage in that Balam noble if I wanted to. To test your mettle.”

“But…” Tearis scowled.

“But I was hungry after using my magic on you while on the train. And he was self important enough to attack you on his own. I did watch however.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to see if you’d be brash enough to kill him on the spot or try to permanently injure him. You could have got away with either as he was clearly trying to force you into a fight. Self defence can be lethal, but you can’t run around murdering other students. Not that the professors watching would have let you go that far, regardless.”

“You didn’t answer my question. That or I didn’t articulate it enough. Why does what I did matter to you?”

“You’ve killed someone before. I can smell it on your soul and it is rather recent. So you no longer have a fear of doing so in self defense. You aren’t the squimish type. Your powers are also quite suitable to restraining those out of line. With a bit of training you could become quite effective as you don’t suffer from the usual failings a violet mage has. To be straight with you, you aren’t psychotic. And while not a requirement it is a mark of favor in your circle. I want you to become a member of the student disciplenry committee.”

“...This is a job interview isn’t it. Although I do feel like i’m being manipulated.”

“Because you are. It will also count as you joining a club. You’re not expected to capture unruly students from the get go however. You don’t have the training for that yet. As a new member you will learn skills that will keep you and the other students safe. Mostly defensive magic and skills.”

“Yay… More defense.”

“Survival above killing at your level. Your weak enough to die if someone looked at you wrong.”

“Good point.”

“Offensive magic is also something you should develop on your own. As very little is taught in general.” The president added.

“Oh.”

Alcaris wiped his mouth with a napkin his food having vanished somewhere between the president's speaking and Tearis’ response.

“Anything learned in class can be countered by anything learned in class afterall.” The president threw a carrot at Alcaris who jumped out of his seat to evade as though they were trying to kill him.

“And how do I develop spells?” Tearis ignored the insanity.

“Thats a second year class.”

“So I can’t develop spells yet.”

“I didn’t say that.”

Tearis thought for a long moment. “I think I get it. Any idea’s for electives?”

“History, religion, healing, or charm. In my opinion.” Alcaris stated.

“All bad idea’s if your looking to get better at killing things. Enchanting is a good place to start if your looking for creating spells in the future. While different languages they also use the same root and logic to a degree. Aside from that, maybe pick up a combat style. Sword and shield, sword and magic, shield and magic. If your the scholarly type then the math of magic could do you some good.”

“No math.” Tearis hissed.

“A man after my own heart.” Alcaris stated.

“I see.” Tearis grimaced as he ate some of his now cold food and decided that he wasn’t that hungry and eating the apple and vegetables. A small carrot and lettuce leaf were added to his plate rather stealthfully and consumed without a second thought.

Alcaris noticed the glare that the president was giving him and responded. “You know that I only have eyes for you my sugar dumpling.”

“...That isn’t going to work. You need to eat your vegetables.”

“Do you really want me to get any bigger? Because I’m personally tired of changing my wardrobe.”

“And if you die from a heart attack?”

“I can manipulate my own blood. I don’t get those. So long as I don’t get lazy, I should be fine.” Alrais looked to the side.

“Should I go?”

“Are you going to eat that?” Alcaris pointed at the plate with the meat mixture and bread that hadn’t been touched.

“No… I was going to throw it away.”

“Can I have it?”

“Sure?” Tearis passed the plate and Alcaris examined it for a long moment.

“Do what you want,” Alcaris said. Tweezers appeared in his hand as he began to surgically remove the corn from the meat.

“Is he always like this?” Tearis looked to the president.

“No. Sometimes its desert instead of meat.”

“No I mean.”

“Ah. Your asking if i’m a few wheels short of a unicycle. If so then yes. I consider myself an angel with no wings. One who had to find another way to fly.”

Tearis briefly wondered if the person he was speaking with was insane.

“He’s a blood cleric, that moved onto blood paladain and is sitting at Crimson King.”

“Thats rude. Telling peoople my classes.”

“So your only level thirty?” Tearis raised an eyebrow.

“Double it.”

“Why are you still a student here then?”

“Student. Right, guess I kinda am one still. Graduation isn’t really a thing. After you get past four years, your free to come and go, taking or retaking classes and such. If your goal is to become a teacher here then you need to take classes for another two years before teaching couses on your own. Mostly to show your mastery on a subject. This will be my fifth year.” Alracris sighed.

“Oh. And the president?”

“Only fourth and I won’t be returning for the teacher route.”

“Huh. Are you two?”

“No. Just friends at best.” The president stated.

“ One day maybe. But she wants me to eat healthy. Which may not work out.”

Tearis scratched his head. “Doesn’t she just want you to live longer?”

“My parents were murdered by Vegataurians. She knows that I hate them with a passion.”

“Don’t bring me into your well reasoned grudge.”

“You can’t just hate people who live a diffrent lifestyle.”

“Vegataurians aren’t people…” Alcairis stated.

“You don’t se vegetarians as people?”

“Your pronouncing it wrong… Vega Taurian. An offshoot of the Vega Saurian.”

“The hell you talking about.”

“Monsters. Edible plant monsters have Vega infront of their name. A Vegataurian is half salad, half buill and 120% viscious.” Acaris explained.

“Half salad? How…”

“Imagine if a bunch of vegetables kinda gathered together and formed a minotaur shape.”

“Thats impossible.”

“Have’t you been in a dungeon before? Given your level you should have at least gone into one.” Alcaris steepled his fingers.

“Yes.. But…Oh.. That was a Vega carrot.”

“Vegakakrot, is what it is and theyre weak manipulative critters when young but can have boundless potential. Although a Vegataurian is tough for a trained level 50 party from birth.”

Tearis looked up and sighed. “I see. Gonna get some air. When does the club meet?”

“Monday’s and saturdays in room A241.Well I’ll be seeing you.”

“Yeah…” Tearis decided to head to his next class as his senior seemed to be worse than he first thought.