Melch had dreamed that night of the void and its nothingness. It wasn't something he cared to dream about, that was a hell for him but he could surmise why it came back to haunt him. The sentence in the research note had caused something like a resurgence of his forgotten memory or an old phobia. He woke up unrested from the residues of the dream still haunting him like a fog that would not lift. The knocking on his door interrupted his thoughts.

"Melch, Open up. Are you alive in there? Or did you finally become like one of those books you're always gawking at?" Leif's voice was boisterous and demanding.

Melch let out a tired sigh, rubbing his eyes. He noticed his reflection in the little mirror beside his bed, dark circles had developed under his eyes making him look haunted. Great, Just what he needed.

He opened the door to see Leif standing there, smiling. "Whoa!Oa!! You look like you've been battling demons in your sleep. Wait, don't tell me.. you lost?"

Melch rolled his eyes. "It's called reading, Leif. You should try it sometime with your books."

Leif gasped theatrically. "Reading? That's perilous. I believe I'll be content with things that don't make me appear like a ghost."

Melch shook his head and took his stuff. "Come on, we've got magic class today."

"Finally, Something practical." Leif said standing up and stretching. "Although, I still believe they should begin with the cool stuff like fireballs and teleportation, rather than having us memorize theory."

They walked to the academy, where the day's class was to be held in one of the larger lecture rooms. Upon entering, Melch was taken aback by the design. The room was built around a central platform, and all the seating was arranged around it in a circular pattern going higher towards the rear. It was not like any class he had ever attended and it was obvious that demonstrations were an integral part of the lesson.

Leif nudged him. "I call back row. Easy escape route."

Before Melch could say anything, they saw that the majority of the front and back seats were occupied. That left them with the middle section.

"Guess we're stuck here" Melch declared as they sat down in two vacant seats.

Edwin, who was sitting in the front row looked back at them. He made a tiny motion obviously attempting to catch their eye. Leif, being Leif, countered by making goofy faces at him. Edwin exhaled resigning himself within seconds.

Elissa sitting next to Edwin faced them. "We reserved seats here for you. You must sit nearer. This class is crucial."

Leif grunted. "Guess we'll be quizzed on this later?"

"Evidently."

Melch, not particularly fussed about where he sat stood up to continue and Leif reluctantly followed behind.

Just as they were getting settled into their seats, the classroom became quiet. The professor had arrived.

A bearded, long-haired man strode toward the middle of the room. His brown robe was plain, yet there was something about his being that required notice. He came slowly yet with an intentioned ease, as a man who had lived through centuries before him.

"I am Idor Giflyn" he replied with his deep voice smooth. "I will be teaching you about magic for the majority of your first year. There are a few things you need to know. First, punctuality is crucial. If you are late than me, you will not be able to come into this room. If you still want to enter or leave, you will need to shatter my magic."

Without hesitation, he set the book in his hand on the table in the middle. Immediately, a flow of energy pushed outward covering all the doors with a solid transparent sheet. A dome of glimmering magic covered the classroom.

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Leif leaned in towards Melch. "Okay, that's awesome but also kind of scary."

Melch nodded. This was on a whole other level than the magic they had witnessed in the entrance exam. The density of the barrier itself demonstrated how much power the professor possessed.

"You may be wondering why such measures are necessary" Professor Giflyn continued. "The study of magic is not to be taken lightly. Distractions are dangerous. The barrier ensures that your focus remains where it should be."

Leif whispered "What if someone really has to go to the bathroom?"

Melch smirked. "Then they better be good at breaking his spells."

The professor’s gaze swept across the room and everyone immediately fell silent.

"Today we start with the basis of all magic getting to know what is mana."

At that, a few students groaned. Leif grumbled "Great, my favorite theory."

Professor Giflyn dismissed the reaction and went on. "Several of you conceive of mana as a mere fuel something to tap into when necessary. This is a treacherous misapprehension. Mana is not merely energy. It is a force which acts upon the world itself. Those who employ mana merely as fuel will ever be mediocre. Those who master it will understand it."

Melch listened intently. There was something in the professor's tone of voice that convinced him that he was telling the truth.

"As a prelude to practical training, you need first to learn about your own mana. You will all be given a my own mana measurement test. It will show you your natural mana flow, how much you can contain and to what extent you are apt. Come forward when called."

One after the other, the students stepped onto the platform. The professor had put a peculiar crystal orb in the middle, which glowed softly every time a student touched it. Various colors and patterns appeared, indicating their mana affinity.

When Edwin took a step ahead, the globe glowed with a consistent golden color.

"A balanced affinity" the professor said. "A rare trait."

Then came Elissa's turn and the sphere danced between blue and silver alternating as if it were torn between two powers.

"Dual affinity. Interesting."

Then Leif arrived.

He laid his hand firmly on the sphere. For a moment, nothing occurred. Then the sphere flared wildly, cycling through several colors before resolving into a wild swirl of red and green.

The professor raised an eyebrow. "Unstable affinity. That explains a lot."

Leif smiled. "Hey, unstable sounds exciting."

At last, it was Melch's turn. He paused for a moment before moving forward and putting his hand on the globe.

The response was swift.

The sphere turned pitch black. Then, for the briefest moment, it flickered with something else like a void that stretched endlessly. It was gone before anyone could register it, replaced with a dull gray.

The professor's face remained the same, but Melch sensed something move in the room. A tension that wasn't there before.

"Interesting" Professor Giflyn whispered. "Very interesting."

Leif leaned in to whisper. "What does gray mean? That you're just okay at everything?"

Melch didn't respond. He didn't know himself.

Professor Giflyn proceeded calling the next student but Melch was aware that something in his result had drawn the professor's eye and that wasn't necessarily a positive thing.