"Those of you who passed yesterday are to help those of you that did not. We'll be running through the same group exercise. No exceptions. Quinal, take the back half; Frae, take the front half this time." Mr. Shields paused to glance across the room. "Rettih, O'Clair, Thatcher, Kanata, and Tucker. Outside. Now."

Even the third-years did not attempt to dally on the orders. Both were carrying a scroll they picked up on the way here; yet, their focus was on their job.

Mr. Shields actually had the reputation of being one of the more level-headed teachers at the academy. It was just if something disturbed that enough (which took a lot), he would descend on the perpetrators worse than any other staff-members.

The class got onto business quickly as the five ran outside. Mr. Shields was waiting and clearly did not enjoy it. He slammed the door behind him and motioned them to walk further along.

Crossing his arms, tapping his feet, and breathing hoarsely, he growled, "you know why I called you five."

They nodded. Looking around would be fruitless.

"Good. Normally, I give no exceptions to what I have already told the three prior. But I'm certain they've relayed the message. As you are probably aware, Justatin Rudolf, the Headmaster, worded it specifically like that for a reason. Their invitations will likely say the same thing. I loathe to have to even say this, but I expect issues with them. And I will be forced to address them with or without such an impetus. Do not make my job more difficult than need be - and I'll perhaps think of offering you an exception to the rules I outlined earlier. Do nothing and you're going to be either be running a lot more on your own or making the class join you. It's your choice."

"I understand my Honoured Father's tendencies, but I feel that there is little personal issue with Alexander O'Clair. Professional, certainly, but not personal," said Jasmine.

He stared at Jasmine for a moment before turning to include Lisanna in his stare. "You overestimate their adherence to their trade and fail to recognize them as competent mages. Both were graduates from this very Academy, a fact I am sure you're aware of."

"I am."

"A-as am I," Lisanna said once Mr. Shield's attention turned to her. "I-I'll do my best, but... we never talked much so I don't know why I can do..."

"I care not what you have to do. I just do not want to see the academy become a political battleground. That goes for you two, as well, Kanata, Tucker. I am more aware of the research realm than the mercantile one, so make no mistake that I am aware of the two's ambitions - and histories."

"Yes! But my Mom isn't like that!"

"Y-yeah, my mother... she's nice..."

"To you, perhaps. But ask around the staff and you'll hear stories if you're so bold. So long as there are no major feuds acted upon, I'll permit some unrest. Once arms are drawn, I expect swift resolution - or an attempt to - or there will be consequences."

Mr. Shields rubbed his temples as he turned to walk back inside. He did not care for ascribing blame to them for the adults' own issues, but if they were pawns, it would be best that they were at least aware of their situation. Perhaps some could more forward enough to drop the garb of tool and became indispensable.

The thought of him wearing formal attire truly riled him up the most.

His expression stiffened at the thought, forcing him to growl, "back inside," turn to Mathias and Fara and call out, "come here. Show me what progress you've made."

They both immediately abandoned their spot in the line passing the different elemental orbs around and ran up as the five quietly took their places in the exercise circle.

Mr. Shields appraised the two objects in front of him. Even he could not hold them directly, but he let them float. A hollowed-out quartz guard was formed for both staves. In reality, it was an accident regarding his attempt to split off a base for the spear-tip, resulting in the loud burst, but it wrapped tightly around the Juniper wood, six inches from the base of the three-foot staves, as the regular reinforced ice was still coating it.

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Conversely, azure and cyan ice covered the blade, grip, and pommel of Fara's short-sword. The gem had just barely been touched, however.

"... The guard?"

"Saving it for the gem," Fara said.

"I see. Vandiese, what do intend to do with these staves?"

"..."

He bit his lip and looked around for paper. Not wanting to just steal one from another desk, he quickly outlined the two staves on the blackboard. It could be held either as a baton with a grip (convertible to a blade) or the staves could be reconnected, leaving one guard to act as the base of a more pronounced spear-tip.

It wasn't ideal, but given that he was effectively forced to make the most out of it, it seemed for the best.

"I see. Finish them." They scurried back to their desks.

Even considering the difference in elements, their task was arguably more challenging. It involved manipulating something that essentially represented the will of another person. It was different from sustaining it like in the exercise he was having the class do (with or without like elements) or modifying something that another modified.

"The Kakarots, O'Clair, Rettih, Argentine, Huntis, Klein, Aliel. Get your weapons. Harriot, Etaitini, Dorthy, Bernard, you as well."

Fourteen of the students officially passed his challenge. There were others like Tanner and Stacy which were quite close, developing control beyond their years with the added pressure of those around.

Some like Alfred, Hana, and Jennifer still struggled, but with the smaller groups, they were able to get more help from Elise and Robert. Compared to before, no one relished the acquisition of a materialized substance. The atmosphere was too tense for it.

And then...

Winter blasted the entire classroom.

Mathias lowered his head in apology and tried to retract the ice and snow that scattered the class. Thankfully, there were others that managed to treat the chill in the air, but the task was very difficult.

Much easier than working with the cyan veins embedded in quartz, but it lacked a lot of the structural integrity of the object. He found that there was an inherent difference in the capacity of the azure ice left untouched for a day versus the quartz.

The quartz showed no sign of being the slightest bit depleted of mana. The ice was.

It was manageable to re-inject mana, but it made working with it concurrently more difficult.

From the explanation he was given of the staff, it seemed it would be less of an issue once it adhered around the Juniper Wood.

'... The wood...?'

He finally noticed.

Scanning the once unremarkable edges, he saw the thin, cracked azure veins radiating from the lower third of one staff. The base of the other had a tiny section of thin veins that were almost imperceivable. He had to close his eyes to scan the ice around the staff just to find it.

'... Except...!'

He did not have time. Hurriedly working on it throughout the entire class, Mathias hardly registered the others leaving and coming back. They were given similar tasks, but those with wind, fire, or (liquid) water, were given smaller quartz crystals which presumably could be put on a pommel or the base of a staff.

It would likely require an external modification, but it was otherwise a manageable task.

But the declaration many dreaded hearing was spoken before they could finish: "It's 11:45. Clean up. You're all dismissed. You'll receive further instructions for Sunday later."

Mr. Shields walked out of the door.

Elise waited for a moment before turning to them all. "What, pray tell, did you do?" She asked, lifting up the decree.

Ayla looked away timidly at her idol's penetrative stare. "We-we thought it would be a good idea, but... it got, like, really big..."

"I can see that. To my knowledge, the six explicitly outlined in the message haven't been in the same room as the other for over ten years. Fellstone and Rettih's strife is common-knowledge, and even the groups are quick to scrap in inns. The knights and mercenaries used to fight side-by-side, but... well, various things happened. Claude Fellstone refuses contracts in the Knight Commander Rettih's area because of it.

"As for O'Claire and Thatcher, there isn't an industry they don't try to usurp the other in. There are rumours in poor-taste regarding some of their other business activities, but it goes to show how cut-throat they can be to one another.

"As for Kanata and Tucker... I know only the rumours, but they're not exactly on good terms either. The department has built two separate research labs just for them so they don't cross paths."

"... I-I heard of s-some, but... I didn't expect they would be invited! Plus, isn't it that Headmaster's fault for blowing this way, way out of proportion!"

"I don't know who is to blame. However, it is your burden to deal with. I will be leaving now."

Robert shrugged when he saw Elise walk out the door. "It doesn't affect us much. We'll be graduating next year, but the issue will be yours to deal with. I am somewhat jealous of your having a banquet so early. In our year, it was just the one at the very end. A shame, really. Well, good luck finding dates."

He walked out.

"Dates?! That's what you're thinking about?!"

He popped his head back in. "Of course. Dates. Good luck."

And left for good this time.

As Mathias had no part of the whole fiasco, he just cleaned his area to perfection before turning to walk away. He even prepared a note.

A hand grabbed his wrist.

"Mathias...?"

"...? -?!"

He gargled a little, coughing at the sight of Mina stopping him - alongside five other girls. Lina whispered in her ear, but Mathias already assumed the content of their thoughts.

'No.' A paper said as it was thrust into Mina's hands.

As it was the one she used to grab him with, and oh-so-close to her palm, she grabbed it.

"... Huh? Wait...? Hey! Get back here!"

He ran.