“Today we will test your affinities by measuring the grades of your Magic with these tablets. Everyone will be called and put his or her hand on the marked space and channel their Magic into the device. The more power you channel the higher this bar goes. Do not hold back, those tablets are pretty sturdy and can take even my power.”
Head Mage and our Teacher Miss Oria Belle. She might be older than she looks, as high Magic holds the Body young and many gifted can live to two hundred years and upwards, depending on how gifted they are. As Miss Belle is extremely highly talented Drak is thinking if she might already be five hundred but still looks like the later stage of twenty.
“Drak Berklin!”
“Here.”
“You are barred from the active Magic training as per request of your Father. You can take rest time for now and later work on theory. You better work hard, as you will only get a fixed 50% on behalf of being unable to participate.”
“Yes, Miss Belle.”
The murmurs between the Students were heard by Drak.
“Again?”
“Sport, Combat and now Magic, does he even do anything in this School?”
“At that rate he has no way to finish the School in any way. What does his Father thinking?”
“Maybe exactly that? As a waste he might be needed to go to school as a Dukes son, but if he does not pass the final tests with high enough rate, it is not his fault.”
“So… Letting him fail by default but still look benevolent? Poor guy.”
“Nah, he would have not much Magic in any case. Look at him, it might be even a blessing for him.”
“True. But if his mind is not good, he will fail either way.”
“Not our problem. Just ignore him.”
The mocking words just bounced off Drak, as he did not even care. His Maids did wait outside, as they expected the outcome and greeted their Master.
“Welcome back Master. Do you want to rest in the visitor seats and watch?”
“We can go to the visitor seat, but would rather listen to the theory we will be learning later from Seria. Better be ready to work hard. I need high grades in every Class that is not barred for me to get the Certificate. I should be working hard.”
While walking they discuss about the School. Normally the passing grade would be set at 65%, but as Drak deliberately made his Father bar the most crucial Studies that Noble get double their normal points on, he now has to get 85% in every other Class to be eligible to pass the School. The higher the percent the steeper the needed work. For being able to get 85% Drak must at least give double his effort to get those grades.
“Do not worry Master, the curriculum for Nobles is way less than normal participants.”
“Why is that though?”
He always wondered about this strange ruling, and maybe Seria knew more already.
“While we are not fully knowledgable, our… assistants have already found out some facts, that let me state a hypothesis of this discrepancy.”
“Oh? I would like to hear it.”
Laying down on the viewing bank further away from the training field he puts his head in Raja’s lap. While her legs are hard from strong muscles beneath the scarred skin, it was still a great feeling to rest his head in that manner.
“No fair! I wanted to be the pillow!”
“Sorry Claire, but you already were sleeping in Master’s chamber with Alice. We also want to be near Master, so let us be selfish a bit.”
“Geh… fine…”
* ahem * “As I was saying, we have a hypothesis about the Ruling. The fact of training Commoners harder is to elevate their knowledge about the next Generation of Nobles.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Would that not make it more troublesome?”
“Exactly. By elevating the knowledge and capabilities of Commoners, those will strive to elevate their status into the Nobility. As Nobility is slowly declining new Nobles would take their place. In this way the former Families have a harder time to become a Millennia old Powerhouse and have less resources for a possible break from the Empire.”
“Making Nobility harder to maintain, reducing the power play of older Nobles as their friends they use to hold them up might be a Commoner later. At the same time giving the Commoners more success Stories to show them, that striving hard can make a rise to power possible.”
“Yes, also the higher Nobles, who have strived so hard to maintain their status like your… ‘Father’, have a harder time to keep amassing allies. Especially as the rise to Nobility is mostly only possible, if someone in the Family at least finished the Imperial School. This makes ‘that’ method for better control of the Nobility even more effective.”
“Yeah. Claire you good?”
“...~”
“Like she said, all good!”
“Then I am glad.”
-
“There sits that waste not even looking at us hard working Students. Maybe he already gave up?”
“Possible. Well better ignore him, Eleonora seems to protect him… for some reason.”
“Best way to show the Public how benevolent the Imperia Family is. Definitely works for me, as I am more assured of a peaceful life with caring Emperors and Empresses in power.”
“Sure, but still isn’t it a waste to care?”
-
After the physical test the Students were noted down and waited eagerly for the ranking. After Eleonora’s result most were shocked and gave up to become first but worked hard to become at least second.
“That is the Imperial Blood, it seems. Filling the bar to half at her age, shows how far behind we are.”
“Do not worry, our resources might be lower than her for our life, so it is logical for her to excel in such ways.”
“Even if you had only eaten pristine Monster meat and had all the resources, without capability no one would soar like that. Don’t flatter yourself with your 12% score.”
“What about it. 10% is passing grade, so why should I not be proud?”
“Twelve and Fifty three are definitely on another level, so silent.”
“I care about my scores, not hers. My Family Name stands on the line.”
“As does all of ours.”
The Scores show a special discrepancy between Eleonora and everyone else. While her Score was 53% on the Scale would already be a 100% on the final exam the next in line with 23% would also be close to a full grade.
All the others start at 18% and below. While one got a 6% in the test as a failing grade for now, she hoped to get better with time and hope at the end to compensate her bad score with different theoretical classes.
To show the Kids what is possible, Miss Belle herself used the Tablet for the last time and scored a 96%.
‘Better not tell those kids the Tablet works in exponentials. They might despair.’
-
At class dismissal Drak was also going to the Mensa. The after meal classes were this time all theoretical, so Drak readies himself for the next encounter with his classmates. Laying low got harder and harder, but with time it should ebb down, he hoped internally.
“Ah, Drak! Don’t forget our tea time later. After the Meal we have time and I already booked a private room for it. Will you be able to finish the Meal in about half an hour? The Private Room is Number Eight, so please be punctual.”
“Okay, sure…”
‘there goes me being inauspicious.’
After leaving Drak sat down in the corner and got his meal for the day. His maids took care of his food every day and this one was also a colourful piece of art made especially for Drak.
“Thank you. Did you already eat?”
“We didn’t, as we had no time as of now.”
“Then sit and we eat together.”
“...sadly, this is not appropriate. At home we can, but here…”
Seria looked around and saw the etiquette of Servants only staying on standby. No one else would eat at the same table as their Masters.
“It is okay. At first I wanted to be inconspicuous, but that fell into the Water long ago. The Plan needs change and while eating on the same table might look uncouth to others, you are worth more to me than my real family. Also my image can not be any lower, at worst there would be mud on the Dukes house, and that could be seen as a positive.”
“I don’t know, if that is such a good Idea Master.”
“Claire, I really care about you all. Just let us eat like always. I hated the Family dinners where you needed to stand behind me and also the meal yesterday. Without you being by my side sharing the table I always feel alone, even if you are there.”
“If Master says so, we should oblige.”
“...~”
“Sure I like us all eating together and laughing.”
“It would be an honour Master.”
No longer hesitating Seria brought out their care packages and sat on the same table. While many eyes suddenly looked at them like they are crazy, they ignored those looks and just talked silent to each other. While many hear the laughs and other noises, their Words somehow elude them even if they strained their ears.
“By the way, at the tea time, I need especially Alice with me.”
“...~”
“It would be good, if I am there too.”
“You are right Seria. You are the most knowledgable and could help me out.”
“Then Raja and I will be cleaning up and waiting at the front of the door. Do not worry Master, no one will enter without permission!”
“That would be great. Thank you.”