I woke up in the early hours of the morning. Still reeling from everything that had happened in the Spirit World.

I was only glad that it would still be hours before anyone else in my family would be awake.

I still had time to come to terms with everything that had happened.

I could feel my soul mark begin to slowly regain power. It would be eight hours before I would be able to enter the spirit world once again.

With that sorted, I focused on meditating. While it was far more difficult to open your spirit inventory in the real world. It could still be done. Of course, if I had even one more item inside, then it would be impossible with my current power.

But since I only had one item, I still had some hope.

It was another stint of mediation before the tablet was back in my hands. Breathing in, I opened up the tablet.

It seemed in the real world I had access to fewer options. As [Summon Teacher] was now once again greyed out.

Selecting the Academy, I went to generate my students.

[Unable To Generate Students. You must have at least one teacher in place.]

I should have figured that would happen.

I opened up the teacher's list, noting that the timer in the wheel was much the same as time in the real world.

I pulled Teacher Matthews out of the list.

The bottom left section of the academy began to glow.

I moved him down into the section, which seemed to flash for a second before a title appeared above it.

[Mana Academy]

With a teacher now in place. I had no difficulty in choosing the Generate Students button.

A familiar screen appeared. Unlike the Teachers Wheel. This one had five different colours.

The options below the wheel were also a little different.

[Random Students X 1]

[Mana Inclined Students X 0]

[Aura Inclined Students X 0]

[Healing Inclined Students X 0]

[Crafting Inclined Students X 0]

I spun the student wheel for the first time. It seemed that luck was on my side as it landed on the blue section of the wheel.

[Congratulations you have drawn the chance to Teach [Mana Inclined Students]]

I hoped that I would be able to use both the random and the mana-inclined students.

But similar to the summon teacher option, there was only one available slot. While the three other options had locks on them.

Pulling the card of the mana-inclined students. I could then select to Generate Students.

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Selecting the button, I was taken from the menu back to the Academy. Where a bunch of little dots began to float into the academy.

I immediately noticed another twenty-four-hour timer appear on the top of the academy.

For the first years, every school year would take twenty-four hours. I knew that number would only grow in the future.

I counted twenty-five of the little dots, which I could only assume were the students. Once the final student entered through the ruined gates. Another screen appeared.

[Congratulations on accepting your first crop of Students. As a reward you get one [Time Skip]]

When that announcement disappeared. A flash of light emerged from the top of the screen, where another button appeared.

This one with an I on the front for Items.

Opening up, I was met by fifty little empty boxes. With only the top right one having anything in it.

A pixelated little clock. Which represented the [Time Skip]. An item that would let me immediately finish one-timer.

I didn't hesitate to use it on the new students. After all the students seemed like one of the most important things in Gaia's Academy.

Selecting to use the Time Skip for the first years. Another announcement appeared.

[Congratulations on your first Graduating Class. Five Students have passed the test and graduated.]

While five seemed a little low, only having a single teacher did have a large effect on the graduating class.

I took a look at the student list.

Four of the five had graduated as Adepts. It seemed that Teacher Matthews could only teach Earth Magic, as that was the only skill each of them had.

It was the fifth one that immediately caught my eye.

[Mage Lauren:

Skills: Magus Core, Earth Magic]

It seemed that even a single teacher could be effective. Adept was the passing mark for a first-year student. With that in mind, I could only assume that Mage was the passing mark for a second year.

Now that I had students. I was excited to check out the final option of the tablet.

I was glad to see that it was no longer greyed out.

Opening it up, I was met with the name of each of the new students. Each name had two buttons beside it. One with a golden S, for imbue self. The other with a golden O to imbue others.

Before I could even think about it, I chose to imbue Mage Lauren.

Selecting it, her name disappeared from the options. While at the same time, a torrent of energy seemed to flow through me.

It took me a few moments to come to terms with my new power. But I knew one thing. I had never felt so good in my life.

I opened up my spirit sheet as fast as I could. I nearly fell over in shock at seeing the changes.

[Title: None,

Gift: Gaia's Academy (SSS),

Skills: Magus Core, Earth Magic.]

That was not the spirit sheet of someone new to the spirit world. With this level of power, I would be respected anywhere I went on Blue Star or the spirit world.

I didn't know how long I spent thinking about what was happening. But my reverie was broken by the sun beginning to appear on the horizon.

Two small knocks soon followed. It seemed my sibling's patience had reached its end.

Opening the door for them. They were quick to rush inside. Fingers over their mouths as they ran in as quietly as they could.

After all, I'm sure my parents warned them not to disturb me.

"Did you get a powerful gift?"

"Does it run in the family now? Will we get one too? Please say you did. I don't want to be left with an E-rank gift."

After telling them to quiet down, I sat them both down on the bed. I had to think for a little bit about what to say.

If they had come a little earlier, I would have no idea how to lie to them. But now I had an easier answer.

"I received the C-rank gift of Earth Magic."

I was nearly deafened by the sharp squeals that the twins let off.

That did unfortunately clue to my parents where they were.

"Alan, Avery. What in the world are you two up to? We told you not to disturb your brother."

Since my parents had only just emerged from the spirit world. I was sure that they wouldn't be in the best mood.

The twins didn't seem to listen as they ran out screaming at my parents.

"Alex got a C rank skill as well. Since both he and Alice got one, that means we will get one too."

Seeing the slight hope in my parent's tired eyes did make me feel a little bad about lying to them.

I would tell them the truth soon, but I wanted to understand a little more about my gift before I did so.

"Since we are all up, I may as well make some food. How about some pancakes to celebrate."

The shout of joy was all my father needed to hear to begin preparing breakfast.

With the twins heading to the kitchen. It was only me and my mother left in the room.

"You can tell me the truth. It's okay if you didn't get a good gift. You can come to work with us."

That was the last thing I wanted to do.

With my gift, I had the idea of being able to get my parents out of that soul-crushing position.

But an Adept wouldn't be enough.

My mother gave me a slight smile as we made our way out to the breakfast table.

"We will always be here if you need us."