One month into academy life, and we were already being called into the Great Hall like heretics summoned for judgment.
Naturally, this could only mean two things:
Someone broke a rule (probably Gram).
The school was about to make things worse.
The Gathering of the Fresh SacrificesThe first-year student body—sword and magic alike—was herded into the cavernous marble jaws of the Great Hall. Overhead, enchanted banners fluttered with the school’s crest, glowing faintly with runes that pulsed in tempo with our collective dread.
Even my summon, curled around my neck like a living scarf, raised its head and hissed as if sensing academic doom.
“Do you think this is about the explosive stew Gram made yesterday?” Rielle asked.
“No,” I muttered. “This feels more structured. Like we’re being organized into ranks so nobles can start maniputing people openly.”
“Oh, so it’s Tuesday,” she grinned.
The Old Man Returns – A Beard and A Threat SystemHeadmaster Orren Vael emerged onto the central ptform with his usual gcial pace and wizard-dragon presence. His beard reached his belt, his eyes sparkled like someone who had seen way too many students die dramatically, and his voice hit like thunder with a PhD.
“You have survived one month.”
That was the opening. Not ‘hello.’ Not ‘well done.’ Just a statement about survival.
“Thus,” he continued, “we now initiate the Ranking System.”
A murmur passed through the hall. Students straightened. Nobles smirked. Commoners looked like they were reconsidering their life choices.
The headmaster raised his staff, runes glowing like coals.
“All first-years will now be categorized by Css Ranks, based on performance during your Inter-Division Mock Battles, core potential, summon cssification, and tactical scoring.
Your Css Rank determines:
Your academic tier
Mission access
Instructor priority
Advancement speed
Ranks range from F to S. Most will fall into C or D. A handful may reach B or A. One or two, perhaps, will qualify for S-Rank.
Pray not to disappoint. The system is absolute.”
The nobles nodded like this was their birthright.The rest of us looked for the nearest emergency exit.
The Mission Hall – Now Open for LunacyAs if that wasn’t enough, Headmaster Vael raised his hand again.
“Effective immediately, we are opening the Mission Hall. You may now accept low-level field tasks, under Academy supervision, to gain real-world experience. You will operate in school-assigned squads.”
That’s when he gnced—directly—at me.
Or maybe at the fire-snake sleeping around my neck. Close enough.
“And we expect... some squads... to make this institution bleed tears.”
Everyone turned to look at us.
Squad 7.The Mad Mix.The Arcane Anomaly and the Sword-Slinging Psychos.
I gave a polite little wave.Gram waved enthusiastically and dropped a potion. It bounced. Then hissed.Someone screamed.I kicked it into a bucket before it detonated.
Totally normal Tuesday.
Noble Interference – Or How To Try Rigging a System SubtlyBack in the dorm, our assigned css ranks arrived via crystal scrolls. I opened mine, half-expecting some school administrator’s blood on it.
Lucien Wyrhart – Css Rank: B+Designation: High Potential Battle Mage (Multi-Element)
Rielle’s scroll:
Rielle Eltan – Css Rank: ADesignation: Elite Sword Division Combatant
Eli’s:
Eli Marren – Css Rank: ADesignation: High-Speed Combat Specialist
Gram’s... well.
Gram Whitlow – Css Rank: CDesignation: Alchemy Hazard (Fgged)Note: Forbidden from using “self-made potions” during css hours.
Gram was thrilled.“I’m C-Rank! C is for chaotic! That’s a win!”
But the real issue came minutes ter—when a Sword Division noble strolled past our dorm door and “accidentally” dropped a note.
Rielle picked it up, read it, and snorted.
“What does it say?” I asked.
She tossed it to me.
“To Squad 7:Enjoy your 'mission’ while it sts. The next one won’t be so easy when the right families take interest.”
Signed: Callen Devareux and Lysia Thorne—our former opponents, now somehow convinced we cheated the ranking system.
I sighed. “Did they expect us to respond with fear?”
“I was thinking a small fire,” Eli muttered from the hall.
Our First Mission: Beast Subjugation – Party EditionThe next day, we received our first mission from the Hall:
Target: Pack of Ironback Boars in the Ashveil ForestThreat Level: Low-DangerObjective: Clear the area and recover one Ironback tusk as proofReward: 500 imperial marks per squad member + meal credit
Sounded simple. But you forget—this is Squad 7.
We left campus before dawn. Rielle wore a new set of reinforced gauntlets. Eli sharpened her bde while walking. Gram brought a backpack full of “celebration potions.”
And me? I brought my summon, some prepped spells, and an entire backpack filled with snacks.
In The Field: Ashveil Forest – Target LocationThe Ironback boars weren’t especially dangerous—about the size of a sedan, covered in stone-like armor ptes, and aggressive only when provoked.
So naturally, Gram threw a scent potion into the bushes five minutes in.
We were surrounded in seconds.
Rielle cracked her knuckles. “Finally, something to hit that isn’t Lucien.”
“Go easy,” I muttered. “These things have tusks. And feelings.”
“Die, piggies!” Eli screamed and lunged in.
What followed was... not a battle.
It was a sughter.A ballet of ridiculous, over-the-top techniques.
Rielle used burst-step sms that cracked the earth.Eli blurred between beasts like a lightning bolt.Gram flung slippery potions that made the boars crash into each other.I set the edge of the forest on fire. Accidentally.
Within ten minutes, we had a dozen unconscious Ironbacks, no casualties, and a literal bonfire.
“I brought roasted vegetables!” Gram cheered.
We ate. Right there.Among the knocked-out monsters.Like it was a picnic.
Rielle y on a boar’s back and said, “Best mission ever.”
Eli toasted a marshmallow.My snake curled around a tusk like a throne.
I stared at the sky and whispered,“Dear Academy, you’re not ready for us.”
