The moment one became Archmaster, their senses sharpened to the point of hearing and seeing everything happening around them for a few miles. More, if they spread their senses and concentrated. They chose to block it out for most of the time. There was no need to induce one's own headache.

And the moment one became the Principal of the Academy, they were given domain to the entirety of the Academy, to see, to hear, and to reach. This was done in order to protect the Academy and its people, from others and from themselves. Even if they were not focusing on it, they would be alerted to anything untoward happening in the Academy at once.

Not a lot of people knew this.

Including the boy Claude was now facing.

A commoner boy who grew up fighting for his life and surviving by the skin of his teeth in the unforgiving slums of the Aelorian Capital. He had admired the boy from the moment he had walked in as a student. He knew that the boy had the potential to reach great heights. If only he could let go of his rage and anger and not allow them to cloud his mind.

“Tell me, Evan,” he started. “Why on earth did you think it would be alright to threaten one of my students? A student I brought in, no less?”

The boy seemed discomfited in the middle of his study. He refused to look up at all. Now, this would not do at all.

Claude leaned forward. “Look at me, Evan.” His tone left no room for arguments.

He waited as the boy slowly lifted his head and met his eyes.

“Why?”

The boy clenched his fists, clearly trying to hold back his anger. His face was an open book, with every emotion flashing through his eyes for Claude to read. Had he been this open and emotional at that age?

“He’s a Laik!” He growled. “A useless re … he doesn’t belong here.”

“Did I not say?” Claude’s voice turned a smidge colder. “I decide who belongs here.”

He clenched his teeth. “Nobles,” he whispered. “You decided that nobles belong here. Otherwise, a Laik would never be able to step foot in the Academy! Why are the rules different for them? Why should a Laik be able to get into the Academy just because he’s a noble? The rules for them should be the same as commoners. They should live out their useless lives in misery and DIE!”

“Evan!” Claude stood up and walked around the desk in front of him, before quickly pressing a hand on his shoulder. “Breathe, Evan. Control your mana. It’s starting to go haywire.”

His voice was calm and soothing as he gently guided the volatile mana back into the veins. Claude used his water mana in order to calm down the raging fire core under the boy’s heart. This was the price of having mana cores. If it strayed, got corrupted, got infected, or somehow became unstable, it would end up destroying your body inside out the very same way your elements would destroy a body. The results … were not pretty.

It took a few moments for the boy to calm down and Claude stepped back, calm as a sunny day as he walked back to his seat. He leaned back and looked up at the boy. “Evan, I won’t pretend to understand the hatred you seem to have for Laiks and nobles, You are quite entitled to it. What I do understand though, is that if you allow your hatred to cloud not only your mind but also your mana core and veins, you will not live long.”

The boy gritted his teeth. “I know. I am working on it.”

“You better.” Claude sighed. “Do not direct your hatred towards young Emilio. He is here because he has a reason to be. No one who isn’t worthy of the Academy has been allowed to remain here. I can assure you of that.”

“Why?” The boy asked again. “Just because he can talk to animals?”

Claude nodded. “And more. He is more than enough to stay and learn in this Academy. And not because he ‘spread his legs for the Archmaster’, as you put it.”

The boy’s eyes widened and he flushed, ducking his head as he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. “I … I did not mean that.”

“Then, perhaps you shall refrain from placing such disgusting accusations upon anyone, yes?” He raised an eyebrow. “Words once spoken cannot be taken back.”

“Yes, sir,” the boy mumbled.

“Good. You are dismissed.”

Evan nodded and gave a bow before going back. Claude sighed. Youth these days, so hot tempered.

He sighed and looked outside. It was beautiful. He liked beautiful things. He liked to watch them bloom and become more beautiful. After all, wasn’t that what this Academy was for?

He heard the bell toll. Ah, the last class ended. Time to go.

He leisurely walked down the stairs and deliberately took the pathway that passed the training hall. He could hear the sounds of magic crackling and swishing in the air and sword cutting through invisible enemies. He peeked inside. The man inside wore a loose undershirt with black trousers and combat boots. His black hair stuck to his forehead due to sweat and his finely controlled magic danced in the air with grace and precision. It was hard to imagine that this was a mere 23 years old young man who was now close to reaching Master Level.

“Theodore,” He called.

The man paused midswing and turned around to face him. “Archmaster. What brings you here?” He did not seem surprised at all by the sudden appearance of Claude. Ah, what a spoilsport.

“Just passing by,” he smiled. “And then I saw you training.”

The man did not look like he believed him. Which … was fair. Claude rarely did anything without a reason. Theodore sighed. “What do you want, Archmaster?”

Claude grinned and the other man looked at him apprehensively.

“I believe you have a Magical Combat class with the first years tomorrow?” Claude asked.

The man nodded slowly.

“Perfect!” Claude smiled. “You will have a new student tomorrow. Do you mind pairing him up with young Evan tomorrow?”

Theodore raised his eyebrows in a mixture of surprise and incredulit. “Evan. The commoner Evan. With one of the most powerful fire cores currently in the Academy, who is one of the strongest students I have in that class. That Evan?”

Claude nodded, still smiling.

“Have you gone crazy, Archmaster?” He growled. “Evan will eat that Laik alive!”

“On the contrary,” Claude said, perfectly calm. “I am perfectly sane. This will be a great opportunity for us to see what this student of mine can do. Besides,” he tilted his head, “what do you have to worry about? I know you control that class with an iron fist. You can stop any damage from happening.”

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Theodore stared for a long moment. “Why are you doing this?”

“Let’s just say … I am curious.”

Theodore sighed and ran a hand over his face. “I will see what I can do. But let me tell you now, the moment there is the slightest danger, I will stop the damn farce. Understood?”

Claude nodded. “Of course! Now then, I shall leave you to your training!”

With that, he walked out of the tower. He had to get things wrapped up with Emilio and then go to check on the Vault. He’d been having a bad feeling about that thing.

He sighed, standing before the entrance. Young Florian would be coming to him soon … ah, there he was.

----------------------------------------

It felt like time passed too quickly.

Emilio talked with his aunt for an hour, but it passed by in a flash as their conversation flittered about to focus on anything and everything that they could think of. From his father, to how musical magic worked, to how Jeremiah and his father were doing, to what he planned to do in the Academy, to how his powers worked.

The last topic was one of lengthy discussions. Aysha listened raptly as he explained what he knew of his power, did not push for more answers when he hesitated, spoke thoughtfully and gave suggestions as she thought appropriate, always asking for Emilio’s thoughts and opinions. It was so different than her sister, who had wanted to make him live his entire life under her thumb. He had to shove those unsavory thoughts down multiple times.

The bell tolled and brought them out of their conversation.

“Ah, that’s the bell for the end of the last hour of classes,” Aysha said before turning to Emilio. “I believe you have to meet the Archmaster after this?”

Emilio nodded in answer.

She sighed. “What a shame. I was hoping to talk to you more.”

“I can visit on the off days, if… if it is not inconvenient for you, Auntie.”

She chuckled and waved a hand. “Of course not! I’d be happy to have you!”

“Alright, then,” he smiled warmly at the woman. “I will see you later, Auntie.”

He really did want to. It was rare to find someone outside of the Barony who did not look at him with disdain and disgust. Not to mention, she was family he had never gotten the opportunity to know.

They both stood. “Wait, I’ll ask Sebastian to escort you!”

He quickly shook his head. “Oh no, you don’t have to!”

“Nonsense!” She waved a hand and walked forward despite his protests. “Sebastian!” She hollered. “Come over here!”

It took only a few moments for the boy to stumble back into the classroom. “Emilio needs to go meet the Archmaster. Do you mind escorting him?”

“I really don’t need to be escorted. I know the way to the Staff Tower. And I have my map. I don’t want to inconvenience Sebastian.”

“Its’s not a problem,” Sebastian spoke up before Aysha could. “I can go with you. Walks are more pleasant with a companion, after all.”

“Great, that’s settled!” Aysha said and turned to Emilio, winking at him. “Now, get going.”

Gods, was his aunt trying to play matchmaker? This was so embarrassing. Good thing Sebastian didn’t notice it.

He sighed and looked at Sebastian. “Are you sure? You don’t have to. I am sure you have a lot of work to do.”

Sebastian gave an almost indulgent smile. “Yes, I am sure. Now, come on.”

He sighed and followed the boy as his aunt waved at them cheerily.

The walk down the stairs was silent and awkward. Emilio couldn’t find anything to say and the boy was staring ahead. As they reached the ground floor, Emilio could not take it anymore.

“So you like music?”

Gods, Emilio, could you have asked a stupider question? He studies Musical Magic, Of course, he likes music!

“Yes,” the boy said as he looked at him with a smile. “I do like music. A lot. It … it is for everyone. It does not discriminate. Musical Magic, especially, can do anything for anyone that needs it.”

“That … does sound nice.”

“It is,” the boy nodded. “What about you? Do you like music?”

“I suppose. I like hearing music,” he shrugged. “I have never tried to understand it.”

“That’s fine. Like I said, music doesn’t discriminate.”

Emilio nodded and then looked at him. “Where are you from?”

“Me?” He tilted his head. ”Somewhere beyond your imagination”

What kind of an answer was that? Emilio frowned.

The boy chuckled. “I am joking. I am from Garan, one of the port cities of Verdanth.”

“Ah.” Emilio sighed softly and then chuckled. For a moment, the boy’s tone made it seem like he was completely serious. Verdanth - a wealthy kingdom that controlled the most fertile lands on the continent. It was a Kingdom more concerned with trade and commerce than with politics and warfare.

“You … are a commoner?” He asked.

“Yes,” he nodded. “I came to the Academy to try my luck. I did not expect to get in.”

“Why?” Emilio tilted his head.

A soft, sad smile curled the boy’s lips. Emilio frowned, before dividing he did not like it. “I have a weak core,” Sebastian replied. “It was because my mana veins are a bit narrower than average. So, I never actually hoped to get into the Academy. I just wanted to try my luck. Who knew that my creative use of water and wind mana would get me in?”

Emilio smiled at that. “That’s great!”

Sebastian looked back at him. “Thank you,” the boy waited for a moment before speaking hesitantly. “If … if you don’t mind, can I ask you a question?”

Emilio hesitated at that.

“Ah, no .. forget it. It’s none of my business,” Sebastian said.

Emilio sighed. Sebastian had just answered his questions and given him some incredibly personal information. It would be unfair if he did not allow the other to at least ask his questions.

“It’s fine,” he said. “You can ask.”

“I wasn’t there when the Archmaster announced your presence,” he said. “Is it true? That you’re a Laik?”

Emilio’s shoulders rose on their own. He looked away. “Yes.”

“You … you couldn’t form a stable core?”

“I couldn’t form one at all…” he said softly. “That place … it’s empty.”

There was a pause before Emilio heard a sympathetic “I see.”

He turned to look at Sebastian in surprise and found the boy staring back at him with a sad, yet kind smile.

“You … you don’t hate me?” He asked hesitantly.

“Oh by the Gods, no!” He exclaimed. “There are more things to hate people for than something beyond their control.”

Emilio sighed in relief, feeling as if a huge stone had been lifted from his heart. It seemed people who did not despise Laiks were a bit less rare in the Academy. Was it the nature of the Academy? Was it the knowledge and insights they gained here? No, it couldn’t be. Otherwise, Professor Bael wouldn’t have practically kicked him out of the class. He could only come to the conclusion that it depended on the person. He could only be grateful to have found such persons.

“I … thank you …” he said softly.

Sebastian shook his head. “You don't have to thank me. Especially for not hating you. Perhaps not to the extent that you have been, but I know what it feels like to be discriminated against. If … if you need help … or just need someone to talk to freely, please know rhat I will be here to listen.”

Once again, he felt warmth spread in his chest. “Thank you, truly.”

“I told you, you dont have to thank me,” Sebastian said before turning his gaze ahead. “Ah, we are here.”

Emilio turned around and saw that they were, indeed, approaching the Staff Tower.

The Archmaster was standing at the entrance.

“Ah, you’re here, Emilio. Perfect!”

“Sorry, Archmaster,” he said as he reached the man. “Did I keep you waiting?”

“Oh no. Not at all. I just came out a moment ago!” He turned towards the other boy. “Ah. Young Sebastian. I hope everything is going well?”

“It is, Archmaster,” he nodded. “Thanks to you and Professor Clarent.”

“Excellent! Thank you for escorting Mr. Florian. I’ll take it from here.”

Sebastian bowed towards the Archmaster. He levelled a soft smile at Emilio and waved him goodbye before making his way back.

Emilio heard the Archmaster chuckle and looked back at the man.

“Let’s go to the Research Department, shall we?”