“That insufferable, arrogant, infuriating scoundrel! Gods, he gets on my nerves!”

He growled out as soon as he was out of the building. He really had not reduced his speed for one second. He knew he would have to go back for his next foundational classes but really, he just needed to get out of those suffocating four walls.

“Who are you talking about?”

Emilio yelped at the voice right beside his ear.

A very familiar voice, one he was not particularly thrilled to hear.

He turned around to find Clara Preises standing behind him.

He frowned. “Please don’t sneak up on me like that.”

“I did not sneak up.” Clara shrugged. “You just did not hear me. Now, who were you talking about?” She asked as she leaned in.

Emilio leaned back a bit before stepping away. “None of your business, Clara. Now, if you will excuse me, I have classes to get to.”

Clara rolled her eyes and scoffed. Emilio shook his head and began to walk past her, only for her to speak in a condescending voice. “I am quite surprised. They must have done quite a bit for you to be so angry. Usually, trying to anger you is like punching cotton.”

“Is that so?” He said indifferently, as if he could not care less about what she had to say.

She smiled. “After all, you are the child who happily accepted and raised the bastard who will take your title.”

Emilio froze for a moment. It seemed everyone had taken a challenge to see who could get on his nerves more today. He could allow a lot of things to slide, but not an insult to his family, especially not to his brother.

“Clara Preises,” he started. “I understand you feel inadequate without insulting me when we are in the same space. I allow it to slide because you, at least, do it to my face instead of behind my back. However, do not think you have free reign to insult and humiliate my family. Jeremiah will grow up to be ten times the mage you can ever hope to be and I hope that when that day comes, you won’t regret your words.”

Emilio could see her getting red in the face and her chest puffing up. It was the telltale sign of her getting ready to go on a tirade. Emilio did not give her a chance.

“Clara, I do not know what you intend to achieve by coming after me here. We were friends once. You knew me inside out. You turned on me for something that was out of my control. You ended everything there ever could be between us. You do not want anything to do with me, you have made that clear. The feeling is mutual. So, just please, stay away from me and my family. Live the life you are supposed to and leave me alone.”

With that, he brushed past her and walked back into the building.

“Emilio!” He heard Balsea’s voice and sighed softly in relief. He turned to see the fae running towards him with an excited grin on his face. Gods, that fae was a sight for sore eyes.

He walked to them, forcing a smile on his lips. They, however, paused and tilted their head, frowning.

“What happened? You seem agitated.”

“Nothing,” he shook his head. “Just … a hard class.”

Balsea did not look like they believed him but thankfully, they let it go. Emilio was relieved. He really did not to make the fae worry. And, more importantly, he did not want to anger them. He did not want to know what would happen if they got angry on his behalf of him and targeted the Crown Prince of the Kingdom. Not only would that probably start a war against other species but it would also affect all the other kingdoms that were sending their noble and royal children to the Academy.

“Let’s go!” He took their arm and started to walk.

“The Arcane Languages class is that way.” Balsea pointed towards the direction opposite to which Emilio was going.

“Oh, haha …” he laughed awkwardly before turning back. This time, he did not need the map because Balsea was with him.

The first year Arcane Languages class was taken by one of the researchers he had seen in the Research Department.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“That’s Professor Urham.” Balsea said from beside him.

If the man’s darker skin and light yellow eyes were not an indicator, his name truly said that he was of Zahirian origins. His eyes fell on Emilio. The slight widening of his eyes was the only sign of his thoughts. He quickly went back to the book he was reading. That man had been there when he read the plaque. He just hoped the man did not bring that up in a room full of students.

Fortunately, he did not.

Unfortunately, today, he had difficulty understanding the language without learning the meaning first. The Professor was teaching Kranaling, one of the last Arcane Languages developed towards the end of the Elemental Wars. It was a uniform Arcane Language created through the combination of scattered ones that had developed across the continent. in order to use magic in ways other than in the form of elements. The idea was revolutionary at a time when only the might of the elements decided who had the right to live and who did not. The development of the language around ten thousand years ago contributed significantly to the ending of the Elemental Wars and brought about a few millennia of peace. An uneasy peace, but peace nonetheless.

And Emilio could not understand it.

He could understand bits and pieces, certain root words and symbols, and glean the gist of a few lines. But apart from that, he actually had to read through and learn the meanings of those words.

To his surprise though, Balsea absorbed everything.

“We faes have long lives and long memories,” they explained when Emilio asked. “And even though we live in a different dimension, sometimes strong parts of human history leave their impression on us. Especially on those of us who venture out into the human world. Besides, we faes learn things like these faster than humans.”

Emilio nodded thoughtfully before smirking. “Then you’re helping me with homework.”

“Okay!” Balsea exclaimed, excited. Emilio shook his head with a smile. Balsea did not seem to have the very human trait of running away from homework.

The rest of the class went smoothly. While he was not as fast as Balsea, once he understood the root words that these words seemed to come from, it was easier to understand the whole of it. He was quickly grasping the lot of it.

The class went by uneventfully. After that first class, this was almost heaven.

He was once again called to the Professor.

“I think there is not much for me to say, Mister Florian,” Professor Urham said, looking at him as if he was an interesting specimen. “I think you should be promoted straight to third year or even graduated from this class. Anything you need to learn can be taught by us in the Research Department.”

“About that, Professor,” he started. “I would like to stay in this class.”

“Oh? And may I ask the reason? You clearly have no need to attend this class.”

He shook his head. “No, I do, Professor. I cannot understand these as easily as I did the writing on that tablet. While I do recognize some root words and understand the language easily once I learn the meaning, I cannot clearly read and understand it like the writing on that tablet.”

The man tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Interesting. This language, Kranaling, is one of the youngest Arcane Languages. Most Arcane Languages have been derived from the First Arcane Language, which is now named Balkara by scholars. Of course, they differed according to people and their use, but they are of the same, if distant, family. It seems you understand the oldest language, the one created and used by the very first humans to learn magic. It is said that this language was created in the presence of the Olden Spirits, when they roamed the Earth.”

Olden Spirits, again?

This was the second time his conversation with a Professor led back to the Olden Spirits. Should he look it up?

He quickly shook himself out of his straying thoughts and looked at the man. “I see. Professor, it seems I still have much to learn. Please allow me to stay in this class.”

The man chuckled. “It’s a good thing to have a drive to learn. This is one of the classes where your limitations won’t hold you back. So, take advantage of it.”

Why must he always be reminded of his limitations? He did not know whether the man spoke those words with good intentions or not. Either way, it made him uncomfortable.

Regardless, he forced a smile and nodded. “Thank you, sir.’

“I’ll see you in the next class, then.”

Emilio walked out to find Balsea waiting for him, as always. They fell into step beside him and he sighed.

“Balsea,” he said softly. “Do you think you can bring me a few books on the Olden Spirits from the Library tonight? To the Hub?”

Balsea nodded. “Of course. But … we already talked about that day. Why do you want to know more about them?”

“Well, this Professor also spoke about the Olden Spirits. I want to know more about them.”

Balsea scoffed. “It’s not like you will find anything about them from the books written by humans. Humans have already forgotten about the Fehshok. All you will find are stories.”

“Still. I’d like to read them. Stories have a grain of truth in them, after all.”

Balsea sighed softly. “Alright. I’ll bring them to you. Now, your next class is Creatures and Beasts, isn’t it? Let’s go!”

“Do you have the same class?”

“No! But I have decided I do not want to be parted from you if I can help it, so here I go! You said it was okay!”

“It is,” he said with a soft smile.

Together, they entered their next class, Emilio hoping desperately that the rest of his classes would pass peacefully without any incident.

But of course, it was too much to hope for.