The group meandered down the corridors, chatting excitedly as they arrived at the notice board that posted the available electives. The list of classes were spread out across the enchanted boards, with each course revolving around a specialized Skill students could work on. The elective descriptions detailed rigorous exercises and gradual progressions, arousing their interest.
Andrew skimmed the descriptions, and his gaze landed on Multitasking. His eyes lit up with excitement. “So, this is how Hendrikson did it,” he muttered. Turning to Jeremy, he grinned. “You unlocked Multitasking too, didn’t you? Guess it’s my turn to catch up.”
Jeremy nodded with encouragement. “Yeah, it’s super useful. You’ll be surprised by how much you can handle at once.” He could see that Andrew’s interest was genuine, and he hoped his brother would find it as rewarding.
Marcus’s gaze lingered on Reflexes, and he pointed to it confidently. “I’ll go with this one. Quick reactions will make all the difference in fights, and I’ll need every edge I can get.”
Perci studied the board, brows furrowed. “This is kinda crazy, right? I mean, there are so many options. How are we even supposed to choose?”
Marcus shrugged, grinning. “Yeah, no kidding. We could always try one out and switch if it’s not our thing. Or maybe we could pick more than one—nothing here says we’re only allowed one elective.”
With a thoughtful hum, her gaze settled on Introspection, and a small smile crept onto her face. “I think I’ll sign up for Introspection,” she decided, her voice steady. “I’ve wanted to unlock it for a while now. It’s supposed to help you understand yourself better and speed up the time it takes to unlock other Skills.” She paused, her gaze thoughtful. “Soul Skills like Introspection take forever to unlock, so if I can pull it off, it could be a real advantage for all of us. Unless, of course, I’ve got competition.” She raised an eyebrow at Jeremy, smirking. “Since you’re supposedly already an expert in Introspection, right?”
Jeremy’s smile was a little too practiced as he chuckled. “Yeah, yeah, I might’ve exaggerated that one a bit,” he said, his voice light but a bit hurried, moving the conversation on before anyone pressed further.
Beside her, Mia nodded. “I’m in too. My Soul stat’s low right now, and I was told not to use magic for a few days to let my Soul grow back. If Introspection gives me another Soul Skill to invest Essence into, I’ll be able to use magic for longer with my larger Soul stat.”
The friends nodded approvingly at each other’s choices, a shared excitement growing between them. Jeremy glanced back at the list, his own mind made up. Memorization was the Skill he needed to develop—he never wanted to face a situation like the dungeon again, where his hesitation and uncertainty had almost put Mia in serious danger.
With their electives decided, they made their way toward their respective classrooms, each eager to improve. The group shared encouraging words, excited for what these electives would bring, knowing that with each Skill they unlocked, they were coming closer to mastering their abilities and becoming stronger as a team.
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The corridor leading to the elective classrooms was smaller and quieter than the bustling main halls, as students had dispersed across a wide range of electives. Anticipation stirred within him as he approached the classroom labeled “Memorization”. The door was ajar, and inside, enchanted lamps cast a light over compact rows of tables. At each desk, various visual aids—maps, geometric patterns, and peculiar series of shapes and numbers—hovered on floating screens.
A few other students were already seated as Jeremy entered in the room, their faces reflecting both excitement and apprehension. Professor Thalis, an unassuming man with a calm demeanor and piercing eyes, stood at the front wearing bright pink robes that contrasted sharply with his stern face
Once the last student entered, Professor Thalis began in a firm voice, “Welcome back to those of you continuing from last term, and a warm welcome to the new faces here today. My goal is to help each of you strengthen your capacity to retain and recall information with precision, even under pressure.”
Jeremy listened intently, recalling the panic he’d felt in the dungeon, fumbling to retrace his steps when Mia needed him most. The memory clenched his jaw as he focused on Professor Thalis’s every word, hoping this class could help him avoid such mistakes in the future.
Professor Thalis continued, gesturing to different sections of the room. “In this elective, students will be grouped based on their Memorization rarity. This ensures each of you can focus on refining your current level without the distraction of competing with those who possess rarer Skills.”
The grouping meant that Jeremy would be able to challenge himself against peers at his level rather than being overshadowed by more advanced students. The structure eased some of the pressure he’d felt, knowing he would have a fair chance to improve without feeling outpaced.
“As for the dungeon quota rewards for electives, these will be awarded to the top performers in each batch. Each year level competes within itself, so freshmen won’t be competing against higher-year students.”
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A wave of relief washed over him. The competition would still be fierce, but this system leveled the playing field, offering him a real shot at earning quota rewards without having to face older students with greater experience. Glancing around, he assessed his classmates, feeling his resolve solidify.
Professor Thalis moved on, explaining, “Memorization is more than learning. It’s about strategy, pattern recognition, and constructing a mental map you can access at any moment.” With a flick of his wrist, Professor Thalis summoned a floating panel that displayed an array of exercises. The panel included the specific movements required for those at the Basic level, the sequence of shapes and numbers needed for Simple, and a few more intricate patterns that seemed suited for students with higher rarity levels.
“For those of you working at the Basic level,” he said, “you will be required to memorize and follow a series of movements—simple actions that support memory recall. For Simple, however, the challenge deepens. You will need to keep repeating that same physical movement while simultaneously memorizing a sequence. Learning to memorize new information while retaining previously ingrained details is essential for progressing beyond Basic.”
Jeremy’s eyes scanned the panel, recognizing the familiar movements his father had taught him for Memorization - Basic, now displayed as a visual reference. He shifted his attention to the sequence designated for Simple—an assortment of different shapes and numbers. Simple enough, or so Jeremy thought. He stared at the sequence, willing his mind to absorb every detail. Then, just as he thought he’d committed it to memory, the image vanished.
“That is how today’s exercise will commence. You will study this sequence for a few seconds. Once it disappears, close your eyes, recall it in as much detail as possible, and repeat it back. This tests both your focus and your ability to compartmentalize.”
Jeremy closed his eyes and began performing the familiar movements for Basic—but his mind blanked as he tried to recall the sequence for Simple, the shapes and numbers slipping away as quickly as they had appeared. Frustration bubbled up, but he pushed it down, focusing on trying to piece the sequence back together. His first attempt was a mess—he’d mixed up the order of the shapes, and the numbers were hazy.
Professor Thalis walked among the students, offering quiet guidance. “If you struggle, try breaking down the sequence. Group symbols together, then numbers, and attach meaning to each section. Memorization isn’t about brute force; it’s about working with your mind’s natural pathways.”
Taking a deep breath, Jeremy tried again, visualizing the triangle and square as anchors, and imagining the stars as points on a compass. He traced the familiar motions, attempting to lock each shape and number into place, but as soon as he reached the final number, his mind faltered. The sequence unraveled, the symbols blending together in a frustrating blur. He clenched his fists, pushing down the disappointment, and prepared to try once more.
He repeated the movements, slowing down his hand as he traced each shape. This time, he grouped the numbers separately, focusing on holding them steady in his mind. But halfway through, the stars slipped away again, leaving the sequence incomplete. Gritting his teeth, he took another breath, steadying himself before starting over.
After several attempts, Jeremy finally felt a breakthrough. The sequence finally seemed clear. The triangle and square held firm as he moved through each part of the sequence, his motions reinforcing the symbols in his mind. With careful concentration, he made it through without faltering, the image feeling sharper and easier to access. He reached the end of the sequence, a small surge of satisfaction filling him as he opened his eyes, finally seeing progress after his repeated efforts.
Professor Thalis observed him with a nod. “Better. Memorization is a process of layering. You’ll see the results over time, but even in a single session, you’re capable of more than you might think.”
The exercise continued with more sequences, each more complex than the last. Jeremy’s initial struggles slowly gave way to improvement as he followed Thalis’s advice. He found himself picking up on patterns faster, grouping symbols and numbers intuitively. The memory of the dungeon receded, replaced by a focused determination to improve this Skill.
The gentle chime marking the end of the elective brought Jeremy out of his focused state. He blinked, rubbing his eyes as he looked around the classroom. A few of his classmates were stretching and murmuring to each other, their faces revealing a similar mixture of satisfaction and exhaustion. The Memorization elective had been challenging, more so than Jeremy had expected, but he felt a sense of accomplishment. Even in this short session, he had pushed past his initial struggles and improved, however slightly.
Professor Thalis dismissed the class with a few final words. “Memorization isn’t a Skill you can build in a single day. Look around you, study your surroundings, and challenge yourself to remember details. Practicing outside this classroom will help embed the Skill naturally into your life.” He looked directly at Jeremy and a few others, his calm gaze softening. “In time, you may find it’s not only memory that strengthens but also your ability to think and adapt under pressure. Remember, Memorization is as much about mental discipline as it is about recall.”
Jeremy felt determined as he absorbed Thalis’s words. The recent experience in the dungeon had shown him firsthand the value of Memorization, and he was eager to see how he could put this new understanding to the test.
As he left the classroom, he felt the cool air of the academy corridors bring clarity to his thoughts. He couldn’t help but replay his struggle in the dungeon, the rising panic, and his frustration at not being able to find the way out when his friends needed him most. But now, with Thalis’s advice echoing in his mind, knew he was more prepared to face similar situations. He would make sure he was ready next time, not just for himself but for his friends too.
He thought of finding his friends to relax after class, maybe to share the day’s progress or to laugh off the intensity of Thalis’s exercises. Yet as he mulled it over, a nagging feeling pulled him in a different direction. There was something he needed far more than casual company—something that had been gnawing at him since he had arrived at the academy. He needed answers. Answers about the Pretenders, and about his sister’s death at their hands.
With resolve hardening within him, he turned away from the idea of socializing and headed toward the library. If there was any place to begin uncovering the truth, it was there.