Dominic had spent a week at Saint Tagath's Magic Academy. His dorm now housed five other poor kids like him. With no social hierarchies between them, they bonded quickly over shared struggles and big dreams.

  The first week was all about adjusting. Scholarship students like Dominic needed part-time jobs to survive, so classes hadn't officially started yet. The school hooked them up with gigs – cafeteria servers, library helpers, you name it. Dominic landed three jobs, but the real jackpot was becoming "Archmage Antonin's Lab Assistant".

  To get this prime position, Dominic spent days sweet-talking Lusiya, a senior student. His silver tongue (honed from years of hustling in Tuck Town) worked magic. Thanks to her referral, he beat out dozens of competitors. The job paid well and offered direct access to a master mage – a chance he'd never get without Lusiya being Antonin's star pupil.

  "Thank you so much, Senior Sister!" Dominic laid it on thick. "When I get my first paycheck, I'll treat you to the fanciest meal in the city!"

  Lusiya waved him off. "Save your money. Just don't screw up this opportunity."

  But Dominic wasn't done. After learning Lusiya was about to become an Advanced Mage, he turned into her personal errand boy. In this world, power mattered most – but connections were a close second. Having a future Archmage in his corner? Priceless.

  The Waterworks Gambit

  Dominic's eyes welled up on command. "No one's... ever been this kind to me..."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Fake sob. Shoulder tremble. Academy Award-level acting.

  Lusiya's tough exterior cracked. "Dominic, man up! You're—"

  "Sis!" He grabbed her hands dramatically.

  "Bro!" She fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

  And just like that, Dominic gained a powerful "sister". This might actually pay off, he thought during their awkward hug.

  Class Divide

  The scholarship program had 521 newbies. Those who couldn't read (325 kids) got dumped in Classes 4-7. Dominic – thanks to his dad forcing him through primary school – made it into Class 1.

  Mornings: Basic magic theory.Evenings: Private lessons with "Sis" Lusiya.

  "Undead magic has four branches," Lusiya lectured. "Summoning" (pulling spirits from the Netherworld), "Subjugation" (reanimating corpses), "Curses" (rot-your-guts magic), and "Combat Spells" (your standard attack/defense stuff).

  When Dominic looked confused, she demonstrated:

  

  
1. Summoning Chant:"Nether servants! By our pact, obey my call! Skeleton Summon!"A clean skeleton appeared, faint blue flames in its eye sockets.


  
2. Subjugation Chant:"Rotting bones! By the death moon, rise and serve! Bone Puppet!"The ground cracked as a mud-caked skeleton clawed its way up.


  

  "Spot the difference?" Lusiya asked.

  Dominic examined both. "The summoned one's... alive? Not breathing, but... aware?"

  "Exactly!" Lusiya grinned. "Summoned undead have weak souls. Subjugated ones are just meat puppets. Mix them? You get smart zombies leading dumb ones into battle."

  "Like gang leaders with foot soldiers!" Dominic's eyes lit up.

  "Now," Lusiya tossed him a smelly cushion, "time to learn Soul Drain Meditation – how we recharge magic juice."

  Two months later, Dominic finally entered the real magic world.