Headmaster Erion looked unassuming, weak even. It was impossible to tell that he was a Divine. In fact, he gave off the strength of an average B-ranker.
Even his soul, which while powerful, was also seemingly B-ranked. 'Can Divines hide how strong they are? It wouldn't be much of a surprise... I've only met two so far, and Sarah had no real reason to hide her strength while Youngest needed to show me how strong she was so I would take her seriously... There was Ele'hunda too... but he was fighting Ythmagobla, so, again, no need to hide his strength even if he knew how to... Hmm... That certainly complicates things if Divines can pretend to be weak. I wonder if Ancients can do the same?'
While he was worrying over that, Headmaster Erion had taken his position at the centre of the stage, and he smiled warmly as he clasped his hands behind his back.
"Hello, everyone. I have a single thing to announce which I failed to mention to young Alice," Headmaster Erion said with a mysterious smile strewn across his face.
He narrowed his eyes and said, "As you are all aware, my first ever disciples have finally arrived and have been enrolled into The Academy as freshmen. I'm sure many of you do not understand why I have decided to take in disciples after never doing so in past."
Headmaster Erion nodded his head lightly then added, "Even despite their immense potentials, I have never bothered myself with personally teaching before since I am so busy maintaining The Academy's position on Altros as the powerhouse that it is."
He took a second to pause and then continued with, "Let's say that I have decided to bring Lone Immortus and Sophie Vladimirovich under my wing as a favour for an old friend."
That statement only made people get even more confused. Did Headmaster Erion have a relationship with a Golden Foxkin many years ago before their disappearance? Was Sophie his long lost descendant? No one had a solid answer to any of these questions, and Headmaster Erion had no intentions to answer any of them.
He maintaining his smile then announced, "As I know many of you are not happy with this arrangement especially since I gave my disciples' untalented friend as well as their disabled friend a chance to learn here, I have decided to tighten The Academy's rules on discrimination even further."
Shocked gasps and exclamations ran through the professors and teachers, while Vice-headmaster Merkel frowned. 'What are you up to, you old fool?'
"I know that many of you were raised to believe that you were better than demis of all forms upon birth, and vice versa for some of you more exclusive demis. Well, I have a suggestion." A devilish grin appeared on the sharp and Asian-looking man's face.
"All demis who have frustrations against humans, I give you permission to challenge Sophie Vladimirovich to a duel whenever you wish to. And for you humans, I give the very same offer, but with Lone Immortus instead. Be warned, however. My disciples are far stronger than you may first think. Also, I shall restrict these duels to only permit the use of magic," Headmaster Erion said.
He looked right at Lone and at Soph who was still on the foxkin's lap then he smirked. "I think that no one should be against this, right?"
Lone shrugged. 'Is this payback for Soph's Barrier Blade Barrage 4-months ago? Sure, I don't give a fuck. Soph is incredibly powerful anyway, and I'm never against earning free skills.'
Seeing that Lone wasn't speaking up to dispute the headmaster's suggestion, Soph slowly nodded her head as well.
"And there you have it. Ah, you may not start a duel during their classes. Also, duels must be started face-to-face and cannot be scheduled. Do feel free to add as many people to your side during the duels against my disciples as you wish. The Primals know that you'll need all of the help that you can get." With that, Headmaster Erion adjusted his classes then smiled warmly once more.
"I look forward to another year of wonderful learning and exploration. Ah, and best of luck to everyone in regards to the four available team slots for the upcoming tourney. You are all dismissed," Headmaster Erion stated. He then left the stage in an unassuming manner.
Teacher Rax sighed heavily when he felt thousands of eyes move and lock onto Lone and Soph. Standing up, he said to the new students, "Follow me. there are a few more buildings you need to know the locations of before you start your classes tomorrow."
No one complained, and seeing how Lone and Soph were being led around by a teacher, none of the students chose to pick a fight with them just yet. After all, they'd certainly need to gather their forces and properly prepare for a duel against them, now wouldn't they?
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
In one of the many rows of students, three girls were chatting amongst themselves as they left the assembly hall.
"Wow. The headmaster must be really pissed off at Lone, huh?" Emma asked as she held her hands behind her head and laughed a bit.
Alisa frowned underneath her big witch's hat. "I hope he doesn't kill anyone... O-Or get killed... He doesn't know that much magic, does he?"
Hazel shook her head. "He knows a lot of magic, but not a lot of powerful magic, but he'll be fine."
"You trust your brother a lot, huh?" Emma asked playfully.
Hazel smiled wryly. "Of course I do." While that was her mouth's answer, her mind had something very different to say. 'Headmaster Erion... I've never had any trouble reading his mind before, but when he was talking about Big Bro and Soph... his thoughts were blank. It was like he was purposely avoiding thinking about the two of them... Is that even possible?'
"Hey, why'd you stop moving?" Emma asked as she bumped into Hazel.
"Ah, sorry, my bad. I was lost in thought," Hazel replied in embarrassment.
"Hmm... Is that so? Anyway, let's go find Scott and George. Now's our last chance to go on a quest with them before we'll be hammered with lessons and homework," Emma said with a cheeky smile spread across her lips.
"I always do my homework on time," Alisa muttered. "But, um, yeah... I wanna see Scott..."
"You're so cute, Alisa!" Emma exclaimed as she turned around and hugged the girl.
'I don't know if I should be happy or upset that my friends are so simple?' Hazel asked herself with a shake of her head.
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2-hours later, after having finished their tour of The Academy, Teacher Rax turned to the new freshman and said, "And that is The Academy in its entirety. As I am in charge of you eight, if you have any questions or concerns about The Academy or your education, don't hesitate to find me and relay them to me. I'll help you to the best of my ability."
Seeing everyone nod or stay silent, Teacher Rax added, "Several of you have an affinity with a or with multiple rare magic schools, so you very well may be approached by some of the more powerful and reclusive professors of The Academy to become their disciples. In regards to this, is it perfectly acceptable to be the disciple of more than one person at once, however, any time you wish to dedicate to learning from them will have to come out of your free time. Is that understood?"
Again, everyone nodded or was silent. "Good. Now, as for Lone, Sophie, an-"
"Um, I'm Soph... not Sophie...," Soph interrupted the man a bit sheepishly.
Raising an eyebrow in confusion, Teacher Rax looked to Lone for clarification. Lone just shrugged. "She's Soph."
"I See..." Still confused, Teacher Rax moved past it since it wasn't particularly important. "Lone, Soph, and Swind, as you all have an affinity for raw healing magic - one of the rarest and most useful sole elements of magic, you very well may be contacted by the Church of the Primals or by the Grand Healing Association. This is less likely for Swind as your affinity for healing magic is only 2%, but even then, you still have the potential to learn some minor healing magic skills."
The rabbitkin girl raised her hand. "Is that a bad thing?"
Teacher Rax nodded. "Yes, it is. The Academy stands in direct opposition to the Church of the Primals, and, well, let's just say that the Grand Healing Association is very forceful with its recruitment tactics. Should any of you three be approached by such people, The Academy won't stop you from accepting their offers of employment, but in the more likely case that you have no such desire to work for them, do not be afraid to say no and simply inform me of the interaction."
Lone laughed. "Haha. Yeah, not likely in regards to the church. I dunno if you've heard, but I murdered three seekers the other week and a Divine-ranked templar is coming to kill me supposedly. As for the Grand Healing Association, I've been warned about them before, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't interested at least a little bit. I do not, however, have any plans to abandon my studies here until I have learned everything that I want to learn here. I've been looking forward to coming here for almost 2-years now, after all. I'm sure Soph and Swind feel the same."
Teacher Rax was a bit shocked by Lone claiming a Divine-ranked templar was on his way to kill him, but considering Lone's attitude as well as the fact that he was the personal disciple of one of the most powerful Divines on the continent, he saw no reason to interject and offer any advice or doubt.
"Indeed. I do not intend to abandon The Academy for such groups when Rachel shall be studying her fire magic here," Swind agreed.
Soph nodded her head. "Where the floof goes, I follow."
Lone rubbed her head affectionately in response to that. Seeing such firm rejections of interest surprised and pleased Teacher Rax. "That's reassuring to hear. Well then, everyone, meet me outside of the main building tomorrow morning. I shall tell you what teachers you have been assigned to for your individual classes."
"Sounds good. Later," Lone said then walked away with Soph, Eolande, Breena and Swind.
A moment later, the elderly man clasped his hands behind his back and began humming as he, too, made for the bridge that connected The Academy and Mystopolis. Shortly after that, the boisterous young man, Miro, and the excitable rabbitkin both left for their dorm rooms.
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"Yeah, now seems like an ideal time," Lone said to himself as he stared at the empty mana orb he was holding.
He was now in his and Soph's hotel suite with Soph sleeping soundly as she leaned against him. Breena was sitting on a seat opposite of them as she fiddled about with her daggers and poison needles.
"This'll probably overclock my mana organs and seal them for a few hours, but if I can make this and exploit all of those mana-rich students, then it'll all be worthwhile...," Lone mumbled.
Breena raised her eyes to look at her master's face. 'Master is going to create something powerful again, isn't he?... I wonder if he'll ever make something for me? Eolande got a wand, Swind got a new body and mechanical limbs, Mistress Sophie is going to get a new body too... I shouldn't complain. He hasn't made anything powerful for Mistress Soph either... I need to stop being so selfish...'
Unaware of the young Crimson Foxkin's thoughts, Lone closed his eyes and began putting his imagination to work in preparation of using and abusing his Creation Magic.