“Wait! I wasn’t rude!” Alira called after him, her voice laced with a mix of annoyance and genuine concern. She shot Kael a look before quickly following Towan, leaving the boy behind.

Kael stayed seated for a moment, watching Towan’s retreating figure with a sour expression. His thoughts simmered with irritation. “(Who does he think he is?)” he muttered under his breath, before pushing back his chair and heading in the opposite direction.

“Please excuse him,” Alira said as she caught up to Towan, walking alongside him with an easy stride. Her tone was apologetic, but there was a hint of playfulness in her voice. “He’s… not exactly great at socializing. We just wanted to make some new friends.”

“No problem,” Towan replied casually, his confidence steady. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as they walked. “But I don’t appreciate people talking to me in such a disrespectful way,” he added, the edge in his voice making it clear he was referring to Kael’s earlier attitude.

Alira sighed and nodded, her expression shifting to one of mild frustration. “Yeah, I get it. He’s like that with almost everyone at first. Trust me, you’re not the only one who’s had to deal with it.”

They walked in silence for a moment, but when Towan glanced over again, Alira was still there, keeping pace with him.

“Are you going to keep following me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced sideways at her.

“Sadly for you, yes,” she said with a mischievous smile. “I was asked to explain the basics of the academy to you before classes start.”

“Oh?” Towan said, his curiosity piqued.

“Since you—and the other boy—” she began, but Towan cut her off smoothly.

“His name’s Elliot.”

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“Right, Elliot,” Alira continued, not missing a beat. “You both missed the initial guide at the start of the term. So, to earn some extra points, I volunteered to show you the ropes.”

“Extra points?” Towan echoed, recalling the chef’s earlier mention of the point system.

“Yep. It’s kind of a big deal around here,” Alira said with a nod. “I’ll explain everything in detail as we go, so don’t worry about it too much.”

Towan thought for a moment, then shrugged. “All right,” he said simply, his voice calm but curious.

“Great!” Alira said brightly. “Trust me, I’ll make this as painless as possible. You’re lucky you’ve got me instead of Kael,” she added with a chuckle. “He’d just lecture you the whole time.”

Towan let out a small laugh despite himself, relaxing slightly as they continued walking together.

“So, to start with, the point system,” Alira began, her tone shifting into something more instructive. “Based on your grades, you’ll earn a certain amount of points. These points are your currency here at the academy. You’ll use them for food, upgrading your room, or even for special private lessons with the guest professor.”

“Guest professor?” Towan asked, his interest piqued.

“Yes!” Alira said, her eyes lighting up. “Every year, the academy invites a renowned Essentia user to be a Guest Professor. They’re usually a master in their field, someone who’s made a name for themselves in combat, strategy, or some other specialization. They teach their area of expertise and offer exclusive private lessons—for a hefty point cost, of course.”

Towan nodded, his expression thoughtful. “That’s actually pretty impressive,” he admitted. The idea of learning directly from a seasoned fighter resonated with him. It wasn’t just about prestige—it was about growth and opportunity.

“Right? It’s one of the highlights of being here,” Alira said, her enthusiasm evident. “But like I said, you’ll need to earn those points first. Which brings me back to the basics…”

She gestured animatedly as she spoke. “You’ll always have one free meal per day, no matter what. During the first part of the year, everything—food, housing, supplies—is free. But after the first wave of exams, things change.”

“Change how?” Towan asked, tilting his head slightly.

“After exams, you’ll start using the points you’ve earned to pay for your room, food, and anything extra,” Alira explained. “Your grades determine how many points you get, so slacking off isn’t really an option if you want to live comfortably.”

“Fair enough,” Towan said with a shrug. It seemed like a reasonable system, though he couldn’t help but think of the pressure it might put on some students. Still, he wasn’t too worried. He’d been through rigorous training before; this was just another challenge.