Ashern City - Reinhart Institute of War, 1st of Brightforge, year 315 UC

While the first floor was a reception area with training rooms, the second was split between a study area and a lounge. The study area contained personal rooms to give privacy to the students, and while it was as large as a closet, Bryan found that there was no noise entering the room.

Rebecca told him that students could find any information they wanted from the library that was connected to the school's central data hub. Which meant he could take one of the large transparent tablets located on the shelves and pull up any information he wanted. As long as the school's database had any information on the subject.

The data was not as extensive compared to the Inquisitions, at least when it came to the various spells a person could obtain. However, it did have knowledge on noble families, the history of the Roan kingdom, along with the Al-Thar, the Holy Empire, and Celestia kingdom before mentioning the five duchies that made up the Liberation Federation.

That was what he could see at a glance as he did not want to waste too much time on history lessons.

As for the longue, it was an open area where students could sit around and chat.

Now he sat in his room on the fifth floor tapping his index finger against the table. His room was large, being furnished with his own personal couch, study table, bathroom, kitchen, a bed that could fit three people, and a window overlooking the garden below.

It was much nicer than he was used to as his room in the Inquisition had a table, chair, and bed along with a ton of shelves filled with books. Nothing else.

So he found himself looking at his small bag that contained his life within.

He was at a loss of what to do with all this room and figured most of it wouldn't be used. He reached over and grabbed his bag and pulled out a large book titled 'Tales of Grim' a novel he enjoyed reading, and the only book he's ever read that had nothing to do with the organization.

There was also a set of clothes that were black and plain, along with a black robe and a black mask.

Zoltan scurried across the table, his whiskers twitching as he surveyed the room. "Well, this isn't so bad compared to that closet they called your room back at the organization."

"It's too much," Bryan muttered, still staring at his meager belongings.

"This is how normal people live, you know. Not everyone exists in a cell disguised as a bedroom."

Bryan gestured at his bag. "I don't even have enough items to fill this place."

"True enough," Zoltan agreed, settling on his haunches. "Though I'm glad it came fully furnished. Would've been a pain to organize all that."

"Of course you would think that."

"Hey, I might not have the means to decorate right now, but I know style when I see it. This place isn't exactly how I'd do it, but it should suffice."

Bryan raised an eyebrow. "What do you know about style? You're a mouse."

"A lot more than someone who can't even pick out his own clothes," Zoltan retorted, his purple eyes glinting with amusement.

Bryan couldn't help but let out a small laugh at that.

Zoltan's tail swished as he watched Bryan reach for his bag again. "Don't tell me you're actually about to make notes about your teammates."

"Naturally," Bryan replied, pulling out a notebook and placing it on the study table. He opened it to a fresh page and began writing:

Farrah Heartland

* Rank 6

* Light magic user

* Heartland family (investigate further)

* Slayer candidate

* Notable agility

* Combat style: Physical enhancement

* Can produce small light spheres

Sabrina Rigof

* Rank 13

* Magma magic user

* Long-distance specialist

* Range: ~5ft blast radius

* Slow casting speed

* Mobile but can't cast while moving

* Poor perception

* Merchant family background

* Interest in magitech

* Mage user

Christopher Vane

* Rank 19

* Earth magic user

* Limited mobility

* Clear tell: stomps before casting

* Poor stamina

* Decent reflexes

* Potential tank (position may change)

Alexander Silvermark

* Rank 20 (questionable ranking)

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

* Water magic user

* Poor control

* Support role

* Flashy but ineffective

* Bubble technique: 1-3 sec enclosure, breaks easily

* Limited to 3 casts

* Decent melee but lacks confidence

Personal Notes:

* Rankings seem inflated

* Attributes unremarkable

* Combat abilities below expected level (except Farrah in top 10)

* Consider Alan's words re: potential-based selection

* None suitable for recruitment

Zoltan placed a tiny paw on the paper.

"You should add that Sabrina seems quite interested in you."

Bryan shooed the mouse away.

"Get off."

"What? She's not bad looking."

Zoltan teased.

"Not interested."

Bryan muttered, closing the notebook with finality. There was nothing remarkable about her, and even if he wanted to he doubted it would last long. She'd leave him once she found out what he was like, and if somehow she did not do that then the Inquisition would step in.

At least that is what he figured would happen.

Others in the organization had a life outside the Inquisition, he knew that from what he could infer based on their conversations. But, he was different from them, they chose to be there he did not have a choice.

He turned to look out the window, falling into a contemplative silence. The garden below stretched out in neat, manicured rows.

"What are you doing?"

Zoltan asked after a moment.

"Just... taking it all in."

Bryan replied softly.

"Do you remember when we first met?"

"Naturally. You were curled up with your head between your legs, crying your eyes out."

Zoltan replied.

Bryan's lips quirked slightly.

"Can't even remember why I was crying. Must have been something stupid."

He paused, his expression growing distant.

"I haven't shed a tear in... I can't even remember the last time."

Zoltan's tail brushed across his face as he remarked.

"They grow up so fast."

Bryan rolled his eyes.

"What were you even doing there that day?"

"Your fairy godmother sent me."

Zoltan quipped.

Bryan sighed.

"I'm not a child anymore, and we both know I don't have a fairy godmother. That's not even a thing."

"It was a good one though, wasn't it? You believed it for years."

Zoltan paused, eyeing Bryan's hand.

"At least you got a ring out of it."

"Could've put it on another finger."

Zoltan scoffed.

"Now people will go around thinking I proposed to you."

"Who would think that? And does it even matter what finger it's on?"

Bryan raised his hand, examining the black ring.

"It's the first gift someone's ever given me."

"Wouldn't know about that, but it is a nice ring."

Zoltan's whiskers twitched.

"More than just a normal ring, actually."

Bryan furrowed his brow.

"What do you mean?"

"Couldn't tell you before, given your circumstances. If anyone found out, it would've caused quite a stir. But now that you have a bit more freedom, you should know."

"Know what?"

"That I'm not a mouse."

Bryan laughed, leaning back in his seat.

"I'm serious."

Zoltan insisted.

"I know. Why would anyone think you're a mouse? Mice can't talk."

"True enough. Just wanted to get that out of the way."

Zoltan's tail swished.

"If you must know, I was once human."

"Uh-huh. What happened?"

"Got into a bit of trouble, circumstances led to a change in appearance. But none of that's important."

Zoltan's tail pointed at Bryan's ring.

"That ring is important. No matter what happens, don't lose it."

Bryan examined the ring again.

"What does it do?"

"It's a M.A.G.I.C ring."

Zoltan told him already regretting those words. He shivered as he transmitted his words to Bryan, thinking about the man who created the ring.

"So... it's a magical ring? Like magitech?"

"Told him that name was dumb, but yes, it's a magitech device. Stands for Mage's Analytics & Growth Interface Control ring."

Bryan stared at Zoltan.

"What does that even mean?"

"It's a dumb name, isn't it?"

Zoltan asked, hoping someone else would be with him on this.

"If you say so."

Bryan shrugged.

"But what does it do?"

"Put a bit of your blood on the ring."

Zoltan told him.

"Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

Bryan pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the ring. Blue lines pulsed around it in an intricate pattern, but before he could make out the design—

"Ouch!"

He jerked his finger.

"What was that? It felt like the ring bit me."

"Yeah... that was bound to happen."

Zoltan said.

"But it's not dangerous. Send some ether to the finger with the ring and watch what happens."

Bryan first closed his wound, then directed ether to his finger. A transparent display materialized above the ring.

"What am I looking at?"

Zoltan hopped onto Bryan's shoulder to peer at the screen.

"Make sure you don't do this out in the open. Anyone can see the display, and that would cause a lot more problems if people found out. Basically, don't tell or show anyone what that ring can do because they'd kill to have it."

Bryan nodded and studied the display.

Name: Bryan Valentine

Magical Attribute: Unknown

Core Size: S

Ether Control: A-53

Casting Speed: B-3

Body Augmentation: C-10 (Training highly recommended)

Magic Sensitivity: A-10

Magic Firepower: C-85 (Training recommended)

Magic Shielding: B-5

Magic Range: C-99 (Training highly recommended)

Current Spells:

1. Crescent Blades

2. Manipulation

3. Spawn

4. Siphon

Recommended position: Specialist

Training recommended: Increase Body Augmentation rating for better results, current natural body physique cannot withstand attacks from melee, and increasing defensive measures is recommended.

Next spell acquisition: Unknown

Next spell type: Current training path would likely produce a ranged spell for damage. With recommended training path would likely produce a utility type of spell.

"Huh, that's odd."

Zoltan remarked.

"This is amazing! What do you mean it's odd?"

Bryan couldn't take his eyes off the screen. Everything was right there in the open for him to examine. He was not fully sure what the letters and numbers meant besides everything, but he had a good idea. It should be some sort of rating designed to inform him of how high his attributes were.

He knew that he was training with specific goals in mind each time, but a lot of it was unclear as to why. Training with a specific set of goals in mind to reach an outcome you thought would happen. That's how mages trained, and eventually, they'd gain new spells along the way.

How and when those spells came, no one knew. It was randomized, but people knew it happened when you had a breakthrough of some sort.

But with this ring, he could see everything and where he was lacking. Now, if he focused on those areas then maybe a breakthrough would happen faster.

Although he was not too confident in the spell type that would come out. The ring told him it would be a ranged damaging ability, probably similar to his crescent blades spell but it could also be something else.

The fact that it even knew what spells he had was something else entirely. No one knew, except the mage themselves. It wasn't known to anyone unless someone showed them.

"The ring is amazing, but your attribute says 'unknown' when it should state 'blood.'"

Zoltan replied back.

"Maybe it can't read blood since it's unique?"

"That shouldn't be the case."

Zoltan said, falling silent.

"Hey, why does it say Bryan Valentine? That's not my name."

Bryan asked Zoltan as he noticed that his name was spelled wrong. Was the ring wrong?

"Ah, I wouldn't worry about that too much. Might be a glitch or something, same with the attribute thing I said. Now, what's your opinion of it?"

Bryan looked at Zoltan who was still on his shoulder and grinned.

"Honestly, it's great and I can see why you suggest no one find out about it. But, how did you come across it? Something like this… even as far as magitech goes is pretty advanced. Like, super complex, and the readings… I don't even know how it was made."

"Eh, when you're this tiny you can get away with a lot of stuff. It is complex, but you should not try to figure it out. I know you're into magitech but trust me when I say don't go poking your nose in places you shouldn't."

Zoltan told Bryan before he quickly scurried off of him.

Bryan knew that Zoltan dodged the question, but that was fine. He wanted to get to training right away.

"Alright, so how about we do some quick training before I have to head back."

"I'd say I would go with you, but I'm afraid I'll be busy for a few days, weeks maybe. I still have something to look into."

Zoltan said as he ran down the table leg.

"Oh, like what?"

Bryan asked.

"You know, a bit of this and that, nothing you have to worry about. I won't be far, just have to figure some things out is all."

Zoltan stopped moving and turned back to look at Bryan.

"Oh, and try not to be all too distant from the others. You're a teen Bryan, you should act like one. Even if you don't know how to interact with the others, the least you can do is try."