The next day, after a good night’s rest and a hearty breakfast in the mess hall, Lance and his friends gathered outside the main academic building. The sun shone brightly, and the campus buzzed with students discussing their plans for the upcoming semester.

Mara leaned against a column, her usual relaxed posture a little more serious today. “Alright, listen up. You’re going to need to choose your courses soon,” she announced, catching their attention.

“Courses? Already?” Bella asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

“Yep. You can select up to four courses, and the first one is mandatory: Magic Lore, it’s essential for understanding the foundations of magic. After that, you can choose one major and two minors from any of the first-year courses available.”

Kade perked up. “What kind of courses are we talking about?”

Mara pushed herself off the wall and pulled a small, rolled-up parchment from her pocket. “There’s a variety. There are combat courses, potion-making, elemental studies, alchemy, and even classes on magical creatures and their habitats. You’ll want to choose something that complements your school of magic.”

“What if we don’t have our magic yet?” Oliver asked, glancing at the others.

“Good question. If you can’t commune with your companions yet or haven’t discovered your magic, you better start sorting things out. Classes start in three weeks, and the deadline for submitting your course selection forms is in two weeks. You can pick up a course selection form at the library. Once you submit your forms at the office, your required books will be sent to your rooms.”

“Can we get extra books?” Lance asked, feeling a flicker of excitement.

“Absolutely. Any additional books on spells, potions, cooking, or even campus maps can be found in the library. They have an extensive collection. Just remember, the library can be a maze—don’t get lost.” Mara smirked, clearly enjoying the idea.

After Mara wrapped up her brief talk, the group lingered for a moment, glancing at one another as if weighing their options.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“Guess we should split up and see what we want,” Felix said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I need to figure out what else I want to take. Catch you guys later.”

“Yeah, same here,” Kade added, his eyes already wandering toward the training grounds. “I want to check out the combat courses.”

Lance nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and uncertainty about the course selection. Bella waved goodbye as she headed off with Oliver, leaving Lance standing alone for a moment.

With a deep breath, he turned toward the library, determined to find out more about companions and what he might be able to do with his magic. The library’s massive doors loomed ahead, and he pushed them open to reveal a vast space filled with towering bookshelves, all brimming with knowledge.

Lance stepped inside, inhaling the faint scent of aged paper and ink. The library was surprisingly quiet, with only a few students scattered among the tables, engrossed in their studies. At the far end, he noticed a tall figure behind the front desk—the librarian, an elderly woman with silver hair and sharp glasses perched on her nose.

As he approached, she looked up, and for a moment, her eyes went blank, as if she had momentarily drifted into another world. Then, she returned to the present, her expression shifting to one of understanding. “Welcome to the library. How can I assist you today?”

“Um, hi. I’m looking for books on companions—specifically how they interact with mages and magic,” Lance replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

The librarian blinked as if processing his request. “Shelf four to the right, level two. You’ll find the books you need. May I see your student card?”

Lance pulled out the token the demon had handed him as proof of his status at the Arcane University. The librarian examined it closely, a slight smile forming on her lips. “If only all first-years were this excited to start studying, we would be one of the top universities in the world,” she remarked. “Anyways, enjoy! You’ll find our collection of ancient tomes is very useful and extensive—much better than what most of the other whackjob universities in the kingdom have to offer.”

Feeling invigorated by her encouragement, Lance thanked her and turned to follow her instructions. As he walked away, he suddenly remembered something important. He rushed back to the librarian. “Excuse me! Do you have a course selection form?”

She conjured a parchment out of thin air, handing it to him. “Here you go. Just make sure to hand it to Greg when you’re done.”

“Who’s that?” Lance asked, furrowing his brow.

“The registrar, of course. Green, creepy, goblin, demon from the Plane of Darkness. Wears glasses,” she explained, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“That guy! Ohhh, okay!” Lance nodded, a chuckle escaping him. “Thanks a lot!”

“Good luck with your studies, Lance,” the librarian said, her smile warm as he headed off toward shelf four.

As he navigated the rows of towering books, he felt a surge of determination. With each step, he was one step closer to understanding his magic and companion. The adventure had just begun.