March 8th, year 024 Angels Descent

The class were all making their way to Alex’s lesson in one big group. After their sparring lesson the week prior, they had started to become the talk of the school. Before the weekend was even out, they found it was becoming overwhelmingly difficult to move around on their own. So they had agreed to meet up by the school clock tower and go as one to Alex’s lesson while for their regular lessons they stayed in groups.

With Gunter’s large frame leading the way, parting the various students who were constantly asking them if they were safe or if Alex really was insane enough to teach them military magic. Mainly because they weren’t a hundred percent on how to answer those themselves; arriving outside their usual classroom, they found a crowd of students all waiting eagerly.

“Hello, guys. So when does professor Alex open the door for lessons to begin?” A student Daisy recognised as Hugo Beste, one of the kids who had quit the lesson and signed the contract.

“He doesn’t we go in when we arrive,” Maxwell answered, pushing aside some of the other students milling around to open the door with ease and walk in. Close at his heel were the rest of the class who stepped into the room, experiencing the same feeling of crossing a barrier they felt last time.

“Hey, kiddos,” Alex said with a weary wave.

“Sir, there are a few students outside the door,” Daisy said, gesturing to the door that closed itself.

“Oh? First, I’m hearing of this. It’s not like they’ve been clawing at my door, mewling like cats in heat for the past half hour.”

“Aren’t you going to let them in?” Daisy asked, wondering why Alex seemed to be in a bit of a mood today.

“Sure, open the doors fully and invite them in,” Alex replied, leaning back in his chair watching the doorway with anticipation.

“Err… is this a trap, sir? The door won’t explode, will it?” Bea asked, looking at the door herself.

“I would never cause permanent harm to a student,” the class all stared at him for a moment before he exhaled a deep sigh. “It isn’t trapped; nothing will happen.”

With Alex’s assurances, Gunter was the one who went up to the doors and pulled them fully open, putting the wedge to keep them from closing. There, on the other side, were the few eager students waiting patiently.

“May we come in now, sir?” Hugo asked from the front of the group.

“Try your best,” Alex replied, not moving from his seat.

“Sorry, sir, I don’t understand what ‘Rollerskate uphill hill with trees’ means?” Hugo replied.

“Damn array. One moment,” Alex said, holding up a finger and rising from his seat. Making his way to the doorway, he poked his head through the barrier.

“I said sure, come on in if you can,” Alex’s cheery tone and welcoming smile unnerved the rest of the class all watching this. Taking a step back, Alex crossed his arms and looked on, his eyes near gleaming with mischief to come.

Hugo, however, was oblivious to this and happily took a step forwards only to have his face pressed flat against a barrier. It looked relatively close, to if he was pressing his face against a window. A few other students stepped forwards but to similar results. Stepping forwards, Alex poked his head back through the barrier.

“Come on, kids, if you aren’t in here soon, I’ll start the lesson without you,” Alex stepped back again, avoiding a swing one of the students took at his face.

“This joke has gone on long enough, sir. We are here and willing to learn that military-grade magic you are teaching them. Let us in and stop showing favouritism!!” Hugo clearly wasn’t anywhere near as amused as Alex was.

“Gunter, would you kindly step outside the classroom and demonstrate how to walk through a doorway. I find it odd they are so inept to fail such a task,” Alex asked with an amused tone turning to Gunter.

“Why me, sir?” Gunter asked.

“Because you a wall of muscle anyone would hesitate to pick an argument with. Kline and Bea would be easy hostages to take. Daisy is too much of a goody-two-shoes to play along with my prank, and Maxwell is too blueblooded.”

Giving a resigned sigh, Gunter just nodded and walked through the doorway. The assembled group of students looked up at the towering wall of muscle before them.

“The Chief asked me to demonstrate how to go through a doorway,” Gunter explained as he turned towards the door and stepped through with ease. In front of him, Alex gestured with his hand for them to step through. Thinking the barrier had been lowered, the students all tried again, only to faceplant the barrier.

“WHY DO YOU INSIST ON TESTING US LIKE THIS?!!” Hugo roared, having reached his limit. Alex calmly walked to the doorway and poked his head through.

“I’m not testing you. You already failed my test when you signed that contract. But I shall be kind-” Alex paused to move out of the way of another fist being swung. “Get every single person who signed that contract to agree to annul it, and you all can attend my lessons. Good luck convincing the laziest of the school to give up a free pass and early weekend.” Alex stepped back as more students were taking swings at him.

“THAT IS WHOLLY UNFAIR TO PENALISE US FOR ONE ERROR!!!” Hugo roared, becoming apoplectic. Gesturing for the students to take a step back, Alex stepped forwards once more and poked his head through one final time.

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“One error is more than enough for anyone to ruin their life. You are kids, and this one is more inconsequential. Learn from the one lesson I bothered to teach you, or accept my challenge and right your folly.” No longer seeming amused, Alex knocked the wedges away and slammed the doors shut behind him.

“Sir, that was unnecessarily cruel. There was no need to be so mean,” Daisy said, looking more disappointed than angry.

“Kids, this is a perfect chance for me to properly make you realise something you no doubt know but don’t fully comprehend. Every choice, every decision and action has a cost.” Alex looked more serious now than they had ever seen him.

“Those students made a decision without considering the implications. They are now stuck with the consequences. Real life won’t give you a second chance. Do you think anywhere in the outside world they would let you decide to ignore a contract because you changed your mind?” Daisy sheepishly shook her head.

“Now, let's get on with the lesson, shall we? To help guide you to the future, please tell me what are your deepest desires?” Alex paced back and forth before stopping in front of Kline.

“Why is it always me?” Kline looked miserable at the prospect of going first. “I want to be like the great heroes of the sagas, especially like the first hero, victor.” Kline cringed as he revealed his desire, half expecting to be laughed at.

“A commendable desire. To do better in the world. It may come as rote from me, but true heroes are just people like you and like the rest of the class. The ones in the story books are just normal people who stumbled into extraordinary circumstances…” the class looked at Alex waiting for him to elaborate as it was clear he paused to say something further.

“But I will warn you, those heroes in the sagas are drenched in blood. They put other people to the sword and spell to save their people. Could you really do that, Kline?” Kline shook his head.

“Indeed, ending lives is a horrible thing that no one should have to do unless they have no other resort,” Alex’s tone became sombre as he explained this.

“Besides Kline, I have spoken with your Alchemy teacher. He sings your praises and speaks about you developing a new medicine. I think you could be more of a real hero with that than fighting like those idiots in the sagas,” Alex added, his voice returning to its usual chipper tone. Pacing back and forth once more, Alex stopped in front of Tasha.

“Ok, I’m sure I can guess, but what is your desire, Tasha?”

“Your fiancee,” Tasha replied.

“Knew it… Guess you can dream, but she is her own woman and can make decisions for herself… well, except for ice cream flavours.” Alex ignored anything else Tasha attempted to add and stopped in front of Bea.

“I want to summon demon royalty,” Bea answered before he could even ask.

“Ah, so your desire will be achieved within the year if you pass my lesson. Magnifico!! Be careful; I’m sure you understand demon royalty aren’t too fond of being summoned.” Bea just nodded. Alex now paused and tapped his chin while tutting.

“Gunter next,” Alex said, stepping before the young titan.

“I want to make a mythic gear,” Gunter replied.

“Luck you. You got the best teacher in the world to achieve your goal.”

“You, sir?” Maxwell said with half a scoff.

“No, Yuu, that girl was kicked out of her home because she was born too good of a natural. Supposedly a mortal incarnation of Vulcan, or so the rumours say. I personally think she is just a tinkerer who lucks into masterworks, much like me with my spell crafting, just less explody.”

“As you spoke up now for you, Maxwell,” Alex said, focusing his gaze on Maxwell.

“W-well…” Maxwell’s voice trailed off as he mumbled his answer.

“For the whole class, please.”

“I want to become the next Lord Pride!” Maxwell finally burst out, already redding in embarrassment.

“A lofty goal. Something harder to do than even the seat of Gluttony. You will need to work hard and prove yourself to the Pride Moot to be elected as the next Pride. I will help how I can,” Alex said, resting a hand on Maxwell’s shoulder.

“Now, last but by no means least, Daisy,” Alex stepped in front of Daisy and looked at her.

“I want to become powerful just like you. Develop magic all my own,” Daisy beamed a smile. She was the sort that would often be described as a teacher's pet.

“I…” Alex’s voice trailed off. “I really couldn’t recommend against it more, Daisy.”

“Bwuh?!” Daisy yelped out a confused noise.

“Daisy, I have lost body parts in my research.”

“But professor Yuu got you replacements!” Daisy hastily replied.

“I have ruined my body in ways you can’t even imagine. I still feel my missing limbs. I am in pain most days because I have accumulated many lifetimes' worth of injuries. I’m not even twenty-five. I am the last person whose footsteps you should follow.” Daisy looked dejected at the complete shutdown of her dream.

“However…” Alex said, which caused Daisy to look up at him with hope in her eyes.

“I have tested dangerous waters, so I’m sure I can try to map out a safe route for you to follow. Hell, you have achieved part of your goal with the light circle system. You kids are practising it, right?” the class all nodded.

“Just be aware, Daisy, to truly follow me and reach my level, you will likely end up killing people. Whether in the army, as an adventurer, or by order of a high lord. You gain powers like me; you will be stuck on a bloody path.”

“Have you killed anyone, sir?” Tasha asked.

“Yes…” Alex replied, lowering his gaze. “Too many people. When I worked as an adventurer, my magic was more geared toward taking out large groups. This naturally included bandit gangs.” Alex clearly did not enjoy this memory.

“But how many is too many?” Tasha pressed, oblivious to Alex’s discomfort.

“One,” Alex replied, steeling his gaze.

“You expect us to believe you have only killed one person?” Maxwell asked incredulously.

“No… I answered how many were too many. The moment I ended my first sapient life, it was too many. It may have been necessary, but it doesn’t mean I enjoyed it. Kids, I will kill if I must. But you should never take pleasure in the act. Value the lives you end and respect them.”

“Even heinous criminals?” Daisy asked.

“Yes, even heinous criminals. As I said at the start of the lesson, every decision has a price. Are you willing to sacrifice your better self to enjoy the end of the wicked? Do so enough times you will become the wicked one.”

“Now let's get our usual practice with the light circles and soul workout out the way now the students outside have buggered off,” Alex said, done with the conversation at this time.