Chapter 3: Classes, Friends, Rivals

Professor Thadd Ironoak stood at the front of the classroom, his booming voice cutting through the ambient noise of the bustling academy. The room fell silent as the students focused on the formidable dwarf with a scar running diagonally across his left cheek.

"Mana control is not just a skill; it is the foundation of all magic. Without control, magic is nothing but chaos," Thadd intoned, his eyes sweeping across the room. "Today, we will delve into the principles of mana manipulation. Understanding the ebb and flow of mana within your body and the environment is crucial."

He paused, looking at the students. "Who can tell me the primary source of mana within the mage's body?"

Several hands shot up. Thadd pointed to a student, who answered confidently, "The mana core, Professor."

"Correct," Thadd said, nodding. "The mana core is the wellspring of your power. Control it, and you control your magic. Today, we will be working on understanding your limits and feedback."

He gestured to the tables in front of the students, each with a pair of mana-resistant tops and a magic circle drawn on the surface. "You will pair up and practice levitating and spinning these tops, wrestling control between each other. The magic circle will measure your feedback and provide a visual representation of your strain limits."

As the students began to pair up, Thadd’s gaze fell on Cassian. "Mr. Cassian, given your...current level, you will continue practicing the light cantrip. Miss Wyrmbane, assist him."

Isolde nodded and led Cassian to a corner of the room. "Okay, just focus on channeling your mana into this symbol," she instructed, pointing to the simple magic circle.

Cassian frowned, concentrating hard. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t produce even a spark. Frustration welled up inside him. "It’s not working," he muttered.

Isolde placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It’s only been your first week. Don’t be too hard on yourself."

Cassian remembered the moment Lyra introduced her to him. She was drawn into herself like a flower folding in on itself to protect itself from a coming storm. One that could arrive at any moment.

He found her sweet, but broken. Someone tied their braid tight, who hid their truest self under layers of heavy clothes and thick rimmed glasses. But behind her glasses were snake eyes. Literally. Her reptilian eyes were a mesmerizing shade of deep green, rimmed by a ring of gold. Her elliptic pupils drank the light hungrily, and Cassian felt in his core that deep underneath—no matter the damage the world had inflicted to make her hide her truth—something indomitable and predatory was biding its time.

To Cassian, Isolde was stunning.

Throughout the week, Cassian attended various classes, each more challenging than the last. From Potions to Magical History, he realized that magic was far from the fun and simple experience he had imagined. The academic rigor and the need for precise control made him question his ability to succeed in his mission. Succeeding in his mission felt a far-off prospect.

Isolde had been guarded around him at first. But, no doubt thanks to his stark incompetence and self deprecation, she’d stopped seeing him as a threat. Instead, she’d assumed a role that was part guide, part interpreter—magic was like a foreign language—and part cheerleader. She was still shy and soft spoken, but he liked that she was starting to trust him at least a little bit. In truth she was the only friend he’d made aside from Professor Lyra. And she didn’t count.

After class, Cassian and Isolde found a spot in the bustling courtyard to have their meal. The food, oddly reminiscent of something he might eat on Earth, provided a small comfort in this strange new world. Cassian bit into a sandwich. A lot of things shared familiar names, but with slight differences. For example, this was a hog and cheese bread fold.

Isolde finally felt comfortable enough to ask him about his background. “So, Cassian, where do you come from?”

Cassian repeated the lie Professor Lyra had invented for him upon registration. “I’m from a small village far from here. My family name is Varn, and has an ancient line of mages, but we fell into decline. I'm the last Varn, and when it comes to magic, you can see I’m late bloomer. I don’t even know what Professor Lyra saw in me.”

This last part was his honest feeling on the matter. As far as he saw, he’d been chosen to be a hero by mistake. He was talentless.

When Cassian inquired about Isolde’s background in turn, she shifted uncomfortably. “My family has been involved in government for a long time. Recently, my father was...involved in some legal trouble.”

Cassian noticed her discomfort and apologized. “I’m sorry for prying. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Isolde gave him a small, grateful smile. “It’s okay. It’s just a sensitive topic.”

As they continued their meal, Darian Blackwood, a human that had been pointed out to him as someone to avoid, approached.

He was tall and imposing with sharp, angular features. He has silver hair that is always perfectly groomed, piercing golden eyes that seem to see through any façade, and a pale complexion that contrasts with his dark, elegant robes adorned with golden embroidery.

“Well, if it isn’t Wyrmbane and her new pet!” Darian’s mocking tone drew immediate attention.

Isolde stiffened, her eyes darting to the ground. “Leave us alone, Darian.”

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Cassian turned to face the source of the taunt, his eyes narrowing. So I’ve made it to the bully scene. Just what I need. Not really. “Hey guy, so your name’s Darian?”

Darian’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I see you’ve heard of me. Well done. It’s not every day a null gets to meet someone of my caliber in person.”

Null was the term used for someone who couldn’t sense or control mana. Basically a person without magic. It was something similar to “squib” from Harry Potter. It might as well describe Cassian.

Cassian’s expression remained hard. He summoned his inner Logan. “Listen bub, my friend wants anything to do with you, and neither do I for that matter. I suggest you get lost.”

Darian laughed, a harsh sound that grated on Cassian’s nerves. “And what are you going to do about it, null? You have no magic. As far as I’m concerned neither of you belong at this academy. A bill and the daughter of a traitor. It’s you who should get lost.”

Isolde flinched, her cheeks flushed and despite there being fury in them, she kept her head down, eyes starting to water with frustration. “Don’t listen to him, Cassian. Let’s just go. It isn’t worth it.”

Darian turned to Cassian, then twiddled his fingers at Cassian in a patronizing “bye bye” gesture.

Cassian would have walked away. He didn’t much care for sinking to a bully’s level, but then found that he just couldn’t. He felt his jaw tighten and his hands curl into fists as the anger bubbled over his sense of cool.

“Oho! Did I make you angry?” Darian conjured a small fireball, letting it dance over his knuckles menacingly. “There’s nothing you can do, is ther null? You can’t even cast the most basic spells a child can. As I said, you don’t belong here, and neither does she.”

Cassian took a deep breath and started to give his back to Darian. To all appearances, it looked like he would walk away after all. “You’re not worth—“ Then without warning, he spun and swung. His fist connected with Darian’s chin with a sickening snap, and sent him sprawling. That little fireball fizzled to nothing. Blood trickled from where Darian’s brow hit the ground. He groaned, but didn’t get up.

The courtyard fell silent as everyone turned to watch.

One Punch Man, right here. Suck it, Darian.

Then a familiar brusque voice rang out in the courtyard, cutting through all the muttering. “What is going on here?”

Professor Thorne emerged from the shadows, his eyes narrowing as he studied the scene before him. “Mr. Varn, living down to my expectations, I see.”

Cassian met his gaze, unflinching. Then he shrugged. “He deserved it.”

Thorne’s lips curled into a sneer. “Violence of this kind is not tolerated here. Prefect, escort this student to the headmaster’s office. I’m sure the headmaster will be pleased to hear my report when I arrive. You will wait for me there until I return from taking Mr. Blackwood to the infirmary.”

A tall, composed student with dirty blond hair stepped forward, his eyes, the very picture of discipline and order. “Yes, Professor Thorne.”

Cassian heard Isolde mumble “Sorry” from behind him. What did she have to be sorry about? He was the one who clocked that idiot in the chin.

When he turned to her, she asked, “Do you want me to get Professor Lyra?”

“That’s a good idea.”

Then he followed the prefect across the halls to the dean’s office. It came as a pleasant surprise when the blonde boy’s demeanor suddenly changed, and he introduced himself. From looking like a stuck up rule-follower, the boy now wore a grin that made him seem the mischievous, but perfectly approachable sort. His blue eyes veritably twinkled.

“Name’s Gareth, Gareth Ra’Sinclair. So, I heard you’ve been staying with Professor Lyra. You lucky dog.”

“You’d think so, but enduring her...nightly rituals is something else.”

“Oh, there’s the sauce. What kind of nightly rituals?”

Cassian blushed. Maybe he shouldn’t be talking about that. The he opted for a diplomatic answer. “She worships the moon.”

He was relieved when Gareth left it at that. Besides, even if he pushed for details, even if Lyra was loose with her concept of privacy, he wasn’t.

“That was a nice punch by the way.” Gareth shadow boxed, then gave him a friendly punch in the arm. “Really got him good. That snake. He deserved what he got. You should be careful though.”

“He keeps grudges?”

“Oh, you’ve heard?” Gareth asked.

Cassian shook his head. “Nah, it’s just predictable.” Aside from the pain in his knuckles, he had no regrets. Then he realized that there must have been rumors about him and the Professor Lyra going around. “Hey, about Professor Lyra, don’t get the wrong idea. Nothing’s happened between us.”

“I bet.” Gareth winked, obviously not believing him. “No need to be embarrassed. She’s been like that forever, always picking up lovers from within the student body and faculty. They used to chide her for it, but you can’t change a moon faun’s nature.”

“Oh.”

They turned the corner and reached a door with a nameplate. Headmaster Eamon Orso’s Office. It was underwhelming. Just an ordinary office you might see in highschool.

“We’re here.” Gareth gave him a wave that resembled a salute. “I’m taking off.” Then he leaned in conspiratorially. “You drink alcohol?”

Cassian thought about it. He hadn’t had any drinks since he came to this world. But a longing for the taste of beer made him certain he, indeed, drank alcohol. Cassian nodded.

“We have a little group. A get together every couple of weeks. Interested?”

Cassian nodded, eager for a distraction. “Definitely.”

They agreed to meet the following week, when the next ‘get together’ was scheduled to happen, then he was on his way, once again putting on the mask of a proper, uptight student. It was downright impressive. That guy’s brilliant.

Cassian waited for Thorne and Lyra to arrive. When they all finally entered, Cassian’s first impression of the headmaster wasn’t what he’d expected. He was a big man, not at all like a certain old wizard headmaster. Instead he was like a big, gray bear.

Headmaster Orso listened as Professor Thorne and Professor Lyra each argued about how best to address Cassian’s actions. Thorne was adamant about strict punishment, while Lyra defended Cassian’s response to the provocation as tantamount to self defense. There were witnesses that saw Darian casting a fire spell.

The headmaster finally raised a hand to silence them. “Mr. Cassian, you are new here and perhaps unfamiliar with our ways. This time, you will receive a warning. But understand this: violence is not the answer. At least not until you are ready to participate in a supervised duel. Let this be a lesson to you.”

Cassian agreed not to do it again. Also, that duel thing sounded promising.