“Veils are the main things you future pathfinders will explore and help in liberating and containing, and by the next few weeks we would be discussing them and learning more about them. So after this lecture, I implore you all to study about them more, because this subject will carry on to other classes, like Professor Hilde’s combat class.”

Those were the words said by the rather broad and sizable sixty-something year old man below her, possessing silvery grey hair and a moustache, giving the lecture to the entire class that was inside this room. His name was Professor Bale Winston, or just Prof. Winston as he liked to prefer to be called. From what Marilyn could see, he was a very nice man, who sounded and acted like a kind uncle for a hypothetical family.

For this first year, he covered the essential subjects of history, arcane principles, and morality. Specifically, he was lecturing about the basic principles of Veils right now, which she had remembered being mentioned by that Sage before, Sophia Winchester.

She was currently sitting beside Cecilia and Adrian. As for Elysia, she was in front of her, trying to not let herself fall asleep.

Professor Winston would continue his lecture as his students watched on, walking around the stage that stood below the magical screen projector that depicted the study materials he’s presenting.

“Veils are, by norm, pocket realities and worlds with their own independent but connected worldlines, running alongside the main one that exists in our world.” He said, one of his hands pressing some kind of remote showing different slides of the presentation upon the massive projector. “As you may know by now, they're like natural disasters that happen across the world in unpredictable ways, occurring either naturally or by intentional means.” The man seems to be putting an emphasis on that single word there, as if he was rather upset about it.

“By their nature, they can cause significant chaos both inside and outside of their sphere of influence, some of the strongest ones capable of changing an entire region’s geographical and even cosmological make-up. But generally, those changes tend to not stick around if successfully dispersed, cases where some remnants may stay are quite uncommon and only happen because they've stayed up for so long. Hence why a common feature of Veils is that they're much bigger on the inside than the outside.”

The more Marilyn thought about it now, they were very much this world’s equivalent to dungeons. Logic here being that since pathfinders are this world’s adventurers, the equivalent of dungeons that are commonly found in RPG games she used to play a lot with Violet back home would be Veils.

They were entirely different in how they worked in nature, but their role remains quite the same. She wondered too here, would there potentially be loot as well?

“Veils are also categorically split into two types, in terms of how long they may remain naturally. There are the temporary Veils, which would typically be active for several months to a year maximum, and the indefinite Veils that can stay up for more than ten years.” He continued, “The nature of what's inside a Veil is quite unpredictable, but thankfully the Tome System that you all have is capable of gauging the potential danger you all may face prior to entering them. The difficulty setting will be calculated based on your levels and readiness rates.”

“Feels very much like a game huh…”

She pondered that thought, eyeing the other students nearby. But then…she noticed something.

“Where's…?”

Vincent Morales. That man was late again, he may not actually be able to get access to exams if he was absent for four times. Despite his attitude towards her, Marilyn was quite worried about his condition here, so much so that she would ponder this thought and get herself distracted by it.

“In any case, this subject I will task you all to make another essay about for next week, same length as the previous one. We will use it as a way for you all to understand how important this subject matter is, and as additional reference material for future sessions.”

“Huh!?”

A note to herself, never get distracted with one’s own thoughts, or else another five thousand word essay will be dropped on her out of nowhere.

————————

“Man…that guy’s nuts! Nuts I say!”

Elysia had been complaining about the last session for the past half hour or so, as she and the rest of her friends were walking together towards the dormitory, after they had their meals of course. It was sunset, on the verge of entering the evening.

“Well, I am not sure if he's really serious that these lessons are that important, or just wanted to mess with us with these papers we’re told to make. Genuinely.” Adrian also responded, with a nod to Elysia's complaint there.

They all basically knew that the subject of Veils would basically be covered across different classes they’d have for the three or so years in this academy, before they went into the on-the-field learning of the late third and then fourth year. But this man…Adrian specifically could not understand him and his harsh tasks, so does Elysia too it would seem.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The dragon girl groaned, “I know right?! It's so annoying…!”

“You wouldn't get anywhere unless you set your mind to it, you know.” Cecilia would comment on the two of them there, especially Elysia, who she was getting increasingly frustrated by.

“Ugh, I am not as dedicated as you in typing words, princess!” And Elysia retorted in kind against her resolution.

“I…” As for Marilyn, she attempted to say something, “I actually agree here with Cecilia, maybe the routine could be useful in the long run too?”

The princess felt a bit of pride hearing that, and Adrian contemplated it for a brief moment.

“That is true…I still don't understand his logic though, my father would say the same.” He said, sighing.

“That's because he's not taught by any academy, right?” Marilyn replied.

Adrian nodded, “Yes, but that's also just the common logic. No first year student should be forced to write essays that are that long two weeks in a row.”

“It at least encourages critical thinking in how to solve an insurmountable problem.” And the princess finally commented once more.

“Yeah, but not against papers, it should be in battles!” Elysia argued back.

And in response to that, Cecilia proudly declared, “Whether physical or mental, the mind must still be honed.”

If she could cringe right now, she would, but to keep her energy for something more positive Elysia just groaned again specifically to those words the princess had said to them.

And Marilyn would laugh at that act of hers, but soon enough she stopped in her tracks, she smelled something. “Is that…”

“Alcohol.” Cecilia completed her words, also suspicious of this.

Adrian and Elysia also halted their walk, as all the four of them encountered the man they've not seen in class, standing before them. A blonde cowboy would be the term that best fit for this individual, and upon his hands he carries a bottle of whiskey.

“Vincent.” Adrian was the first to speak up, “You’ve been…”

“Drinkin’, yep. No shit smartass.” And the man replied drunkenly, brandishing the bottle on his hands.

Marilyn specifically froze at the sight. It may not be fully accurate, but the smell and the arguably upsetting sight reminded her of how her previous mother spoke her last words to her.

And Vincent had clearly noticed her, chuckling even. But before he could speak up—

Cecilia intervened, “Isn't it against academy policy to drink alcohol? Nice way to get yourself reported, you dolt.”

“Shut it, princess. I ain't gonna talk to you.”

His eyes met the silver eyes of Marilyn, who immediately tensed at the gesture. And since she was not responding verbally, he just continued onwards to say his piece of mind.

“You're freezing at me drinkin’, you ain't even complaining. No back bone lookin' ass, what kind of person are you to have some sort of noble wish, yet never having the mindset to even achieve it correctly, hm?” And despite his drunken state, his words were clear to her.

In fact, it could even be considered that this man was being much more honest with his thoughts while drunk. That was the common conception for all drunken people, so it could be the case here.

Vincent walked closer, towards the girl, his steps disordered yet still somehow stable. “You're not fighting back against me because you're subpar, you know that. We both know that.” He said, “And I ain't talking about your stats either, I don't care for em’. I am talking about mindset, you bi-”

With haste Cecilia stepped between the two of them, and Adrian would also get in front of Marilyn, Elysia standing beside her. “That's enough, Vincent.” The princess commented.

Vincent frowned, his stance leaning towards Cecilia’s very face, “What did I just say?”

“And do you even know who you're talking to, cowboy?” But she stood firm, her ruby red eyes glaring at him.

“If you don't want me to cause further commotion, step away and let me get a piece of my mind to your friend, mkay?” Vincent responded with that, as his hands began to reach for his weapons as a threat.

All of them noticed it, in fact everyone within the courtyard noticed it, some are even recording them on their tomes. And seeing that neither of them really want an escalation, Cecilia could do nothing but back down, gesturing to Adrian and Elysia to do so as well.

And Vincent smiled, “Good.” Before looking at Marilyn again.

“How do you even…” Marilyn tried to speak up.

“Notice you and your little insecurities?” He laughed, “A marksman needs a good eye to shoot with, no? I can read people like a book, hence why I’m like this.”

Marilyn took a step backwards as the man approached closer and closer. She was shaking, halting herself in place. She was holding her tears in, but she was struggling to succeed even with that.

“You're weak, you ain't gonna achieve anythin’, you will never be anything worthy of what you call a dream. You rely too much on others to keep yourself going, and where would that bring you, hm?” He said this as he got awfully close to Marilyn, leaning close to her face. “The power of friendship does not fucking exist, remember that, you gods damned crybaby. You will never be strong, because you will never ever fucking wake yourself up from that passive and timid mind of yours.”

She was crying, she was really on the verge of breaking down in tears.

Vincent did not even smile, nor would he pity her. He was truly an indifferent man when it comes to the feelings of others, but that'd be why he can be brutally honest at times.

“And now you’ve decided to show your true self, outside of that fake confidence and motivated mask of yours. At least you ain't lying now, are ya?”

Once again, she took a step backwards, multiple steps in fact.

“You’ll never be someone useful, someone capable, someone strong.” He said, “What a terrible state of mind you have, worthless even, not worth even a passing pity.”

That was false, she knew it was false, he should know it too. He was just insulting her now, yet her mind thought of his words as true. She was forcing herself to accept it. That was how weak she truly was, to be easily influenced by those very words that were the clearest of lies for her subconscious.

"Why…”

Why was she like this? Why did he call her out this way? Why was she even forced to confront the truth of her mind now, of all times and places?

Why? Why? Why?

That cry for help was not even heard by anyone but her, her voice hoarse and overwhelmed by her quiet sobs.

With nothing left that's about to be said, by neither he nor Marilyn, she left the scene, in tears, flying to the sky above towards nowhere specific.

“Tsk, pathetic.” And with that said and done—

No, it was not over. As Vincent, who was about to leave the scene also, was grabbed at the shoulder by Adrian.

“We need to talk.” And the once soft man would then deliver a knock-out punch right across the blonde’s face, in pure anger.