Once that fiasco of a breakfast was over, it was time for classes.

Emilio walked with Balsea to the classes. Due to them knowing the way to all the classrooms, Emilio didn’t have to bother with the map. As they walked, he noticed that most other students were distancing themselves even more from the two of them. Now that he thought about it, he had heard loud, frightened gasps and yells when half of Balsea’s body vanished. Emilio didn’t particularly care. He had a friend and that was one more than he thought he’d have.

Soon enough, they reached the first class of the day.

History of Magic.

Fortunately, this one, the two of them had together. As well as most of the foundationals. He wondered if the Archmaster had arranged it that way. Probably. If so, was thankful for that.

They both entered the classroom together. It was a curved room with gallery seats, spread out to accommodate around a hundred students, from what he could see. Balsea once again took his hand and led him up the stairs, going to the very top. He then pulled him into the corner.

“Here,” Balsea said excitedly, “No one sits within three chairs of me so it’s just us!”

Once again, Emilio couldn't help but feel hurt on behalf of this fae. Had they been lonely this entire time? Emilio, at least, had people with him back home.

He sat down beside them, and listened to the fae chattering away. He absently noticed that all the students looked younger than him. Ah, the Schedule did mention that the years of his classes were mixed up. Soon though, everyone ceased speaking, including Balsea. Emilio turned his head to the front and saw a middle aged man at the front. He had short brown hair and beard, with a firm build that made him look more like a Knight than a Professor.

Professor Clandor, Emilio came to know from Balsea's ranting.

He swept his eyes over the students. They paused briefly on the pair in the corner before he started speaking

"Greetings, Class." He started in a very stiff voice. "Today, we shall continue where we left off in our last class. Now, what did we study in our last class?"

"The Elemental Tribes!" Some of the students replied excitedly.

"Correct, the Elemental Tribes." He nodded. "As humans started to claim the continent and assert their dominance, the Ancient Races retreated into their natural habitats and isolated themselves from the rest of the world, only opening up for necessary trade at times. The human society at the time was … turbulent. No specific borders, no specific community or nation, and no specific leadership. At the time, Tribes started to form based on elements. Can anyone tell me how many Tribes were there?"

Quite a few hands were raised. The man swept his eyes over the students and then they fell on Emilio, who sighed inaudibly, already having an idea of what was about to happen.

"As all of you can see, we have a new face here." He said as he moved towards the side where Emilio was, looking straight at him. "Let's give him a chance. Can you tell me, Mr. Forian, how many Tribes there were?"

Emilio sighed softly. "Countless, Professor."

"Oh?" The Professor raised an eyebrow, as the students turned their eyes towards him. "But most humans can only use five elements."

"Yes," He nodded. "Most humans can only use five elements - Fire, Water, Wind, Earth and Lightning. But the continent was too large and the people too spread out to create organised Tribes containing all the people of the same element. Not to mention, there were quite a few powerful Elementals of that time who believed only themselves to be the worthy leader of their Elements. This led to spread out disputes not only over territory but also over power and dominance over the Elementals. There were both external and internal battles. Each Tribe believed itself to be superior to all others at first. And this led to constant bloody battles that led to wiping out of entire Tribes."

The man stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "Yes, well done."

He then went back to the centre. "As our new student said, the Elemental Era was a turbulent one. Soon enough, the Tribes realised that this wasn't enough. They started to form factions, for strength and for protection. Smaller Tribes started to get sucked in with the bigger Tribes. At this time, the four most prominent factions were the Kalun, the Marraba, the Sheilon, and the Hambuli. The Kalun being the largest of them with temporary alliances between around a hundred Wind and Fire Tribes ...."

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The Professor started to go into the detail and dynamic of each faction, along with their prominent leaders, as well as significant battles and negotiations and alliances over the course of the next hundred years. And there were a LOT of them. They would fight, and either win or lose. Where there was a tie, there was truce, before they went on to fight with others. And then came back stronger to fight with each other in order to assert their dominance.

It truly was a turbulent time.

The bell rang just as the Professor finished talking about the last battle.

"Alright, that's it for today. The rest of the month, we will discuss the Elemental Era. It lasted roughly 1000 to 1200 years, the last few centuries of which was occupied with the Great Elemental War. This will take up this month and a good part of the next."

Everyone grumbled as they started to file out. Emilio and Balsea started to walk out together.

"Mr. Florian, stay back."

Emilio paused and looked back at the Professor. Balsea stopped beside him.

"You may leave, Mr. Balsea. I shall speak privately with Mr. Florian."

Balsea went rigid beside him. Emilio turned to see the stubborn set of their jaw. He sighed and tapped their arm. "It's okay. You wait for me outside. I'll be out in a bit."

Balsea look back at him, concerning and askance on his face. Emilio smiled and nodded. The fae sighed and made his way out. Once they were out, Emilio made his way to the Professor.

"You've made a good friend," Professor Clandor observed.

"Thank you, sir."

The man sighed. "I hope you didn't mind the sudden questioning. I was hoping to startle you a bit and see how you'd react. You won't last long here if you don't learn how to adapt."

Emilio tilted his head slightly. "So, how did I do, Professor?"

The man smiled. "You passed with flying colours."

"Thank you," Emilio said before looking at the man curiously. "Is that why you told me stay back?"

Professor Clandor shook his head. "No. Not quite." He leaned back against his desk. "The Archmaster told us to test you and gauge your level in each subject and place you in a year accordingly."

Emilio frowned and quickly shook his head. "There's no need, Professor. I'm fine with the way it is."

The man smiled. "The Archmaster also mentioned that whichever year you are placed in, Balsea has the option to go with you."

Emilio paused at that and flushed slightly at being caught so quickly. The man chuckled before making his way behind the desk.

"Let's get started, shall we?"

The man asked him several questions, starting from the beginning of the Age of the Humans to the Age of Blessings and the formation of the modern nations. The recent things, he could answer fairly quickly. After all, those things were taught to all noble kids in order for them to understand the magical, territorial and political landscape of the continent. But the further back they went, the more unsure he got. He still answered as best as he could. But some of them he couldn't answer properly and others he couldn't at all.

He sighed. "Well, I think you're good enough to be in second year. But I think you should stay in the first year to refresh your memory. What is it going to be?"

Emilio didn't have to think long. He came to a decision fairly quickly. "I'll stay in this year."

The man nodded. "Good decision. Oh, one more thing," He leaned forward, "do you know anything about the Ages before humans?"

Emilio frowned thoughtfully. "I know that before the humans started to make advancements in their magic and use of magic, the Ancient Races - the Elves, the Dwarves, the Faes… and other such species were the ones who dominated the continent. Commonly known as the Age of the Ancient Races. Not much is known though due to lack of written history. And if they themselves know, they haven't revealed it to us humans."

"Good," the man nodded as he kept looking him in the eyes. "Now, can you tell me why they were called the Ancient Races?"

Emilio then frowned and shook his head. "I always assumed it was because they were there before humans."

"And who created them?"

"Well…" He paused and looked at the man, who was looking at him with an intense look in his eyes. "Many historians and mythologists said that the Olden Spirits created them. Us too. But… that is considered heresy and blasphemy by the Temple. The Olden Spirits are just the symbol of the elements. Nothing more."

The look in the man's eyes intensified. "And what do you know of the Olden Spirits?"

He shook his head, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the way the man was looking at him. "Nothing. I only know there are six Olden Spirits. It is said that they roamed the Earth once upon a time. But … now they do not. They have isolated themselves a long time ago and have not since come out. Many people doubt their existence."

"Oh, they exist." The Professor said, his eyes unblinking. "They have always existed. They isolated themselves from the world for its own good. Humans are such fools, forgetting their own history."

Emilio shifted foot to foot, feeling uncomfortable.

After a long moment, the man broke eye contact and leaned back. "Well, I've kept you long enough. You may leave."

Emilio nodded and walked out of the room as fast as he could, sighing in relief when he saw Balsea.

Nothing strange had happened in the classroom.

The man just asked him a few extra questions.

But then why … why did he feel so strange?