"All right, class, that's all for today. You're now all dismissed."

Maurice's words signal the end of the day's lessons, prompting a swift reaction from my classmates as they quickly gather their belongings.

Reflecting on the day's schedule leaves me somewhat amazed. After three hours, class is already concluded, a stark contrast to what I'm accustomed to.

Sylvestria's middle school schedule, with only seven subjects spread across the week, is both efficient and focused:

Monday: History, Computer Magi-Science, and Information Technology

Tuesday: Mathematics

Wednesday: Magic and Science

Thursday: Language and Literature

Friday: Advanced Mana Theory

Saturday and Sunday: Rest days

Elective subjects like Physical Education, Arts, and Music offer additional variety but aren't part of the core curriculum.

This streamlined approach to education, focusing intensely on each subject for three hours a day, seems almost ideal.

I wish the education system was like this back on Earth.

As the classroom begins to empty, Arthur touches my shoulder.

"Hey, Doms, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I expected that," I reply, reflecting on the day's events, including the reaction to my introduction.

"By the way, Doms, I thought you wanted to become a Magitist, what happened?"

His question reminds me that I need to tread carefully, ensuring my responses align with Dominic's persona while still making sense of my unique situation.

"I realized I no longer wanted to become a Magitist as I felt pressured. I realized that I wanted to get stronger and protect my family."

My reason, while fabricated for maintaining my cover, also echoes a sentiment many could find understandable.

Arthur nods, seemingly satisfied with my explanation.

"Dominic, I would like to talk to you."

The sound of my name, spoken with such an authoritative yet calm tone, causes me to turn around. Maurice stands there, an inscrutable expression on his face, the ambient light of the classroom casting soft shadows across his features.

I raise one of my brows. What could Professor Maurice possibly need to discuss with me?

"Sure, Professor Maurice."

This is unexpected.

Glancing towards Arthur, I begin, "Arthur, you can go ahead—"

"Arthur can stay here since you both appear close," Maurice interjects smoothly, cutting off my suggestion.

His statement, while simple, hints at an understanding of Arthur and my friendship—an acknowledgment that piques my interest further.

Arthur and I exchange a quick look, a silent agreement between us. If Maurice believes Arthur's presence beneficial, who are we to argue?

This conversation, it seems, will not be a private affair after all.

As Maurice gestures for us to take a seat, the classroom, now empty of other students, takes on a more intimate atmosphere.

"All right, let me start by..."

-Flick!

The moment Maurice flicks his fingers, I feel a sense of lightness in my pockets.

Confused, I glance down, instinctively patting the fabric to confirm what I already fear. The guns—my unexpected rewards from the red holographic screen—are no longer there.

"Oh, are you looking for this?"

Maurice's voice, laced with amusement, draws my gaze upwards.

There he stands, effortlessly spinning my two guns on his fingers like mere toys. The sight is both impressive and alarming.

How did he get them so easily? And more importantly, why?

"Tell me, why do you have guns here on school grounds? You do realize it's illegal, right?"

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Maurice's tone shifts, becoming more serious as he poses the question. The playful spinning of the guns comes to a halt. He holds my gaze, waiting for an explanation. The gravity of the situation suddenly weighs heavily on me.

The implication of his illegal words sends a ripple of concern through my thoughts.

My initial excitement over the guns and their potential to help me compensate for my lack of magic had blinded me to the broader implications of possessing such items in a school.

How should I reason myself out of this one? I can't exactly tell him that a mysterious holographic screen just gave them to me.

Then, I feel Arthur's hand on my shoulder, a silent show of support in this suddenly tense atmosphere.

"Professor Maurice, Doms brought them as he will train with me later."

"Train? I know you both wanted to become Stargate raiders, but that does not mean you should bring weapons to this school. This is not Verdant Arcanum, you know?"

"Yes, we know—"

I quickly intervene, placing my hand over his mouth to halt his response.

As much as I am thankful for Arthur's intervention, it has not helped defuse the situation at all.

I decide to use fabricated truths mixed with lies and hope he will buy it.

Taking a deep breath, I muster as much sincerity as possible into my voice.

"I'm sorry, Professor. My father gave me those guns as a gift, and I didn't have the time to pack them away."

Maurice looks at me, his green eyes slightly glowing.

"I see…"

Without warning, he tosses the guns back to me. My reflexes kick in, and despite the surprise, my hands close around them securely.

"Since it's the first day of middle school, I decided to let you go. Don't bring those again," he states, his voice firm yet forgiving.

I nod quickly, relief washing over me. The seriousness of the situation has been diffused, at least for now.

"Okay, the next topic I want to discuss with you two is training."

"Training?" Arthur asks.

Maurice nods. "Yes. I see potential in you both, and I wanted to train you personally."

The word potential echoes in my mind, especially since my status as a Manaless makes me question what Maurice could see in me.

"Professor, what potential did you see in me?"

Maurice's response is a knowing smirk. "Oh, you have potential, and you just don't know it," he assures, his eyes flickering with a light hinting at deeper knowledge.

Why do I have a feeling that Maurice can read my mind? Crap, this will be bad if he can.

However, Maurice's demeanor remains nonchalant, so I guess he can't read minds.

Arthur rises from his chair. "I'm sorry, but I have to reject your offer, Professor. My family is providing me with enough training facilities."

Arthur's response is unexpected; he conveys his decision with a sense of finality.

Maurice's reaction is subtle, a slight nod acknowledging Arthur's choice. However, the focus quickly shifts to me.

"What about you, Dominic?"

The moment of decision is upon me. Considering the offer, I weigh my options. Training under Maurice presents an invaluable opportunity, especially given my unique circumstances.

Accepting his offer could give me the skills and knowledge I desperately need to navigate this world as a Manaless. On the other hand, my father has also committed to training me and presenting me with a dilemma of choice.

After a brief moment of contemplation, my decision crystallized. The prospect of combining training from Maurice and my father is too good an opportunity to pass up. It could significantly enhance my abilities and better prepare me for future events.

"I'll accept your offer, Professor. Your training and my father's will greatly accelerate my progress."

Maurice's reaction is one of satisfaction, a slight smile crossing his features.

"That's great! Meet me here tomorrow at 3 PM."

“Okay, Professor.”

“With that out of the way, you may now leave.”

I node and Arthur and I rise from our seats, stepping out of the classroom and into the corridor, leaving the weight of our conversation behind.

"Hah!" Arthur lets out an exaggerated sigh, stretching his arms above his head. "Man, today was exhausting."

"Yeah.”

I can't help but smile in agreement. The events of the day replaying in my mind as we begin to walk away.

"Hey."

It is then that a feminine voice catches our attention.

Turning back, I see Lumi approaching us, her stride confident yet measured.

What does she want from us?

"You…" Lumi's finger points directly at me. "Are too weak."

Her words, though blunt, aren't meant as an insult. Rather, it's Lumi's way of advising me to reconsider my aspirations, given my Manaless status. It's an attempt at help, albeit delivered in a manner that leaves much to be desired regarding tact.

I expected this from her.

Despite the cold front, Lumi tries her best to help other people, though she doesn't easily trust anyone due to what happened to her in the past.

Arthur immediately positions himself between Lumi and me.

"Hey, how about you back off," he says, his tone firm yet not aggressive.

"I'm just telling the truth."

Lumi's response is as indifferent as her initial critique.

With those final words, she turns on her heel and walks away, leaving us in the wake of her blunt assessment.

As Lumi walks away, a resolve settles within me—I need to keep my distance.

Being involved in her complex life is something I prefer to leave to the story's protagonist. Let him navigate the intricacies of Lumi Everheart's life.

My path, though uncertain, would ideally steer clear of such complications.

"Jeez, what's the deal with her?"

Arthur's voice pulls me from my thoughts, echoing the moment's perplexity.

I respond with a noncommittal shrug, unsure how to articulate my feelings about the encounter.

Changing the subject, Arthur brings up a lighter topic.

"Anyways, Doms, I haven't eaten Auntie Celine's croissants. Can I hang out at your place a bit?"

His casual mention of my mother's baking—and, by extension, familiarity with my family—is unexpected but not unwelcome.

It seems Arthur and Dominic share a closeness that extends beyond the school's walls, a detail that is new to me but valuable in understanding the depth of their friendship.

"Sure," I reply, warmth finding its way into my voice.

Sharing a piece of my "home" with Arthur feels grounding even under the guise of Dominic's life. It's a reminder of the normalcy and simple joys that friendships can bring amidst the whirlwind of magic and mysteries surrounding us.

As we leave the school, the day's events weigh heavily yet excitingly on my shoulders.

Each interaction, from Maurice's concerning yet intriguing offer to Lumi's blunt warning and now Arthur's simple request to share in a piece of domestic bliss, paints a vivid picture of my new life in Sylvestria.