AN: Just noticed that the correction helper was switched off.... Anyway here is the corrected version
AN:Just fixed the numeration error
Chapter 5
Sarah led him to a restaurant. When they entered Marcel saw that Eric already awaited them at a table for three in the corner of the restaurant. “I should have guessed that you won't invite me to dinner without a superior reason.” Marcel said in a joking voice to Sarah. “Isn't it more convenient this way? We can enjoy a meal and talk about business. We both know that neither of us enjoy small talk.” she replied. “True enough. Greetings guild master.” he said while sitting down.
“No need to be formal. We aren't in the guild building.” Eric replied. When everybody had a seat they quickly skimmed the menu and ordered. After the waiter left with their order they continued their talk. “I heard you were rather eye-catching in the selection. Especially the old Cain couple was able to tell tell quit a tale about your achievements. As should have been expected.” The guild master said. “Your informants sure work fast. It has been barely thirty minutes since I took the test. “ he replied.
“But pray tell what sort of business do you have to discuss with me?” Marcel asked. “Quick to business like always. As you might know the empire is always at the brink of war with its neighbour. Although we are still in peace there are continuous skirmishes at the borders. The weapons I ordered from you were mainly sent to such a border area, which is at the border of our Lan Kingdom. My cousin, King Julius Lan, was extremely satisfied with the performance of your products. He wants you to create ten armours and weapons out of magic metals for his ten generals. The compensation will be 10000 gold per set. Of course he will provide the materials needed. He hopes that you can create some moving fortresses with your enchantments.” Eric said.
Marcel had planned to thoroughly focus on his studies, but this offer was too good to pass it. The prize was great and in addition he would be able to work with magic metals. “Would it be possible to arrange a workshop in the academy for my personal use? It would save me a lot of time if I wouldn't have to leave it everyday.” Marcel asked. “Your studies are definitely important too. So I can see your point. Sadly I don't know of any workshop in the academy. Crafts aren't a focus there. But I will see into what can be done.” Eric answered.
After the deal was struck and the contract sealed they enjoyed the meal together. They talked about promising testees and the everyday business of the adventurer guild. Once again Marcel had found himself in an awkward conversation, he in person was very young. He existed for just over a year in this world, in a body of a thirteen year old and the experiences of a twenty year old Oliver. He felt completely out of place. Sure he was able to follow the conversation and it was rather interesting, but at the same time he wished for something more simple, more childish. Like when he played with the other village children. Once again he had to ask himself who am I?
The next morning all participants were gathered in the hall where the opening of yesterdays tests had been held. Expectant whispers filled the room and the noble children excitedly chatted about their and other's feats in the exams. Once again nobody really cared about Marcel. He was simply a nobody. His feats in enchanting were still kept secret and Marcel knew and accepted that. He didn't want to get targeted by the neighbouring countries or even their entire alliance.
When everyone had entered the room and had settled down the headmaster went to this podium and once again greeted everybody. Then he begun to call on ten participants to come up on stage. Then he proceeded and announced their feats. The three guild masters then made them their offers, which mostly consisted of a monthly income and future positions. Marcel was perplexed by this, when did this turn into a job auction? Nobody had told him about this! In hindsight this scene made sense though. Supreme technique users are in high demand, especially with war ever looming about the kingdom. And there were only three legal employees in each kingdom. All missions were issued by them or through them.
As such it only made sense that the students were bound to their future employees as soon as possible. The actual career would be decided later on though. A guild didn't run only from fighters! It needed trainers, managers and a lot of other staff! Many that work in the guilds are commoners but the higher positions demand that one learned supreme techniques, since in the end they were part of the kingdoms fighting force.
6 of the first group were picked by the guilds, the other four would get another chance though. They were placed in the 'second seed group'. If they were able to increase their grades in the first year they will be picked. They weren't bad, just too average. Group after group was called on stage. Most were accepted, whether unconditionally or with the condition of improvement. Only a few were rejected. But those that were usually caused an uproar.
All of them were nobles and some even proclaimed it their hereditary right to join the academy and a guild. But they were quickly and easily rebuked by the headmaster. He was rather skilled in handling nobles, especially the arrogant ones. To Marcel it almost seemed like he enjoyed squashing them and their ego.
When he already thought he would be forgotten Marcel's name was finally called. He was part of the last group and was actually called as the last. Did the person that wrote the list hold a grudge against him?
Nervous he walked on the stage and stood beside a boy with red hair, who arrogantly and proudly stood on stage. Once again he stood out because of his simple clothes. He felt like everybody, with their pompous and impractical clothes, stares at him. He really hoped that this academy used standardised uniforms, although he hadn't seen any students wearing uniforms when he walked through town.
One by one the headmaster announced their achievements in the tests. Up till now the highest evaluation was 'very good'. Until the red haired boy next to him was announced to have outstanding fighting talent and had very good grades in the other two tests. Finally it was Marcel's turn.
"And lastly Marcel, a worldborn. Average fighting capability, good knowledge and prodigious talent with magic." the headmaster announced. His words wiped the grin from the boy's face next to Marcel, his limelight was cut short by an unknown worldborn! But the uproar didn't end there! Whispers, then voices filled the hall. In the eyes of most a worldborn had a lower standing than a commoner, and yet he was evaluated better than them?
"SILENCE!" The headmaster's voice boomed, causing those that stood near him to flinch in pain. "The evaluation was done by our dear old Cains. If you have the audacity to doubt their judgement then step forward!" Nobody dared to. "It seems like I should get close to them they apparently have quite the good reputation. If it can keep away the trouble i will have to trouble the two of them again." Marcel thought and inwardly apologized to them for the trouble.
Now the guild masters begun to make their offers in the same order as they had been announced before. The red haired boy happily joined the warriors guild and finally they turned their attention towards Marcel. To his surprise the offers Marcel received from the warriors and mages guild were very ordinary. Did they think that they could get him to join with such low incomes and prospects? If he simply worked like he had done in the past weeks he would be able to earn thrice as much!
Eric Lan had patiently waited until the others had made their offer, of course he knew that their offers weren't interesting for Marcel, but he understood their intentions in giving such offers. They wanted to lure him as cheaply as possible, they thought that nobody backed Marcel and as such they could make bad offers without consequences. "Sure he had talent but would he be able to change much with it? Probably not! If we get him good, if not who cares!" was probably what they thought.
If they take in nobles they gain connections and new jobs and income. For that they needed good offers! But for a talent without any background? Not so much!
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The adventurers guild's offer surprised everybody. A high income in combination with future leadership over a whole department which he could create and develop as he liked? Such an offer was ridiculous! He would basically be a second guild master!
Marcel felt grateful and flattered by this offer, but at the same time he felt troubled. How should he avoid the attention of his classmates with that! This will stir up trouble! No, it already did. Once again the hall got louder and louder. All Marcel had wanted was an enjoyable school live, learning more about magic and hopefully get some friends, but suddenly this seemed infinitely out of reach.
Of course he accepted the offer, if hadn't he would have caused an even bigger uproar. He stayed close to Eric for the rest of the ceremony and the celebration afterwards, he wouldn't have felt save in the crowd. Nonetheless some curios youths drew near and started a conversation with him. They wanted to learn more about him and his abilities and didn't show any hostility.
Reluctantly at first he talked with them. But since they all were rather passionate about magic they quickly drifted into a heated debate about their experiences and techniques. At first the six of them gained quite some curios and even hostile gazes, but their indifference and ignorance about that quickly dispersed this behaviour. No one would openly make a move, and there were more interesting and important things to do than staring at someone.
The five that talked to Marcel were:
Stanley Adam, the son of a family full of mages, he was short and slim, with black hair and brown eyes. He and his whole family were openly called nerds, and they didn't mind that one bit. He constantly asked Marcel about his magic. Of course he had joined the mage's guild.
Laura Stone. A girl with red hair and a lot of freckles. She wasn't really curios about Marcel, since she already knew more about him than most of the others. Marcel had already made her acquaintance, since she was the niece of one of his apprentices. She had joined the adventurers guild.
Paul Leros. A brown haired tall and bulky boy from a newly ennobled family. He didn't really care about standing. He was in the same testee group as Marcel and was impressed by his strength in the fighting test. He was rather silent, but followed the discussions about magic with interest. His family education had been rather lacking in this prospect and he desired to learn more. Following his father's wishes he had joined the warriors guild.
Julia Ebon. A girl with pale skin and dark black hair, which actually was a family trademark that gave them their name. Her family specialised in magic that manipulates light. Although it isn't very offensive in itself it is perfect for stealth. Her family consists of scouts, rangers and even assassins. Since her family was deeply involved in the information trade she knew some things about Marcel's deals. She wanted to learn more about what he had actually sold. She had joined the warriors guild like most of her family.
And then there was Steve. Steve Morel. He was a blond averagely build boy who had joined the adventurers guild. But his main feature was his personality, he constantly tried to make jokes and get on Marcel's good side. He openly said that he hoped to benefit from Marcel's future prospects. Marcel couldn't decide whether he liked or detested his open personality. Steve didn't want to talk about his background. When Stanley had asked about his family his usually bright face had turned dark.
Together they talked and laughed all evening. They were a minority though, most nobles started to play the game of power early on. They wouldn't casually amuse themselves in front of strangers. They had built an image and had to maintain it. They forged alliances and plots all the time. For some this became their only kind of entertainment. Only a few families didn't care much about such games. Even among the five around Marcel some had ulterior thoughts at first, but those had quickly faded away when the conversation had picked up in pace.
When the celebration came to an end the group had already decided that they would definitely undertake something together at the end of the first school week, maybe even earlier. They didn't know their timetables at the time, as such they couldn't check which classes they would have together. They quickly decided to meet at a popular cafe at the weekend.
The new students tiredly walked towards the dorms, where they were awaited by staff that quickly guided them to their respective rooms. All students had to stay at the dorms, even if they had an apartment in the city. This was done in order to quickly react to any problems that could occur through the teachings in advanced magic.
Since he wasn't too tired Marcel inspected his new home right away. It has two rooms: a study and a bedroom. Both were rather spacious and fully furnished, which was made out of a heavy dark wood. On top of his desk he found a letter and some keys. The letter was from the headmaster and briefly informed him about a room he could use as his workshop and the rules that were attached to it and the dormitory.
The rules were mainly safety and insurance related thought. Except one that stated that it was forbidden to throw with butter while naked. Marcel felt rather curious about that rule. Was there a story behind it? And if that was the case: Why would anybody do that? Maybe he should try... "No! Something is weird here! Why did he even think about it?! That is simply stupid!" he reprimanded himself.
Tired of his own thoughts he went to bed and sank into the soft mattress. His dreams were weird that night. They were filled with his new friends and thoughts about the project he would have to start with soon, but also of a weird naked boy throwing butter at him.
A bell awoke him in the morning and purged his thoughts of that weird dream. He quickly got clothed in the new uniform he found in his closet and went, following the signs in the hallway, towards the cafeteria. There he found his new friends standing at the buffet. Together they got themselves something to eat and sat down at a table in one of corners of the room.
"Did you too dream about a boy throwing butter?" Steve asked the others. All nod to this, apparently not willing to further speak about it. "I thought as much. It is something like a curse that was left behind by a student that snapped in his final year's exam period. It only plagues people that sleep here for the first time. The mages still don't know how he created this and the student wasn't in any condition to tell them. Since that incident there is this ridiculous rule in this academy." He further explained.
"That is highly interesting, yet disturbing at the same time." Marcel said, "Does anyone here know where we can get our timetables?" "There will be a group of teachers at the exit of this room. They will arrange us in groups and guide us through our first week. After which the school year will officially start for everyone. Maybe you haven't noticed but there aren't any seniors here." Julia explained.
"Will we get grouped by our guilds?" Marcel asked. "No. Everybody's schedule in the same class or group is almost the same, we all share the basic classes only the advanced ones are guild specific." Laura joined the conversation while nibbling on a bun. "I hope we start with magic classes right away, or else I will die from boredom in the first week!" Adam exclaimed.
Like that their breakfast continued until it was time to get their timetables. It turned out that they lucked out and were in the same class of 50. Or maybe someone pulled some strings? They would never knew, but if they ever found out they would give that person a heartfelt 'Thank you!'.