Asrius Academy.

  -Ophilanna

  Before us loomed the academy. Finally, the thought within me rendered, that we enrolled here, at Asrius Academy. It was a majestic edifice of grey and beige stone, seemingly piercing the heavens.

  Where it stood with its spires, it was adorned with carvings shimmering faintly in morning light, yet spoke of decades and centuries' old and tested knowledge, accumulated through the pursuit of magical - and non-magical - excellence. To be frank, the academy had intimidated us greatly; both its academic and arcane findings almost emanated from the ancient walls. It was akin to voices, silently promising a journey much more transformative than we expected, would lay ahead.

  My heart fluttered with a mixture of nervousity, anticipation, and excitement. Erica's unbridled joy shook my anxiety, as we approached the grand entrance together. It was a pair of imposing oak dors, etched each with decades of wind and history.

  Breathtaking was the most fitting word to describe the main hall with. Through the stained-glass windows, towering over us and casting kaleidoscopic patterns of color across the polished floor, sunlight streamed, hitting my face. On the walls, banners hung bearing the academy's crest - a stylized griffin clutching a scepter and sword. Their fabrics were rich and whispered softly in the gentle drafts. Students, a diverse collection of wide-eyed newcomers and even seasoned upperclassmen, milled about in hushed excitement, altogether a low murmur echoing through the vast, filled space. All of them, even the unexperienced mages, emanated subtle energy, and their combined front was akin to an almost tangible hum, one Erica couldn't perceie, but I did.

  It was slightly nauseating, and so I hoped for peace and quiet, perhaps more that this ceremonial meet would end sooner rather than later.

  Luckily, a hush fell over the hall as soon as a distinguished figure ascended the raised platform at the far end.

  It was Principal Paliphilis, a man with silver hair and blue eyes, wearing a piercing gaze. He spoke of the coming years students would dedicate themselves to the pursuit of knowledge at this university, marking the beginning of the opening address.

  While calm and measured, his voice resonated a somewhat strict, undeniable authority, soon filling the corner and nook of every student's heart.

  With a history esteemed as this academy's, staff and students alike had to maintain unshakeable commitment to fostering and nurturing the brightest minds and most formidable talents.

  Emphasizing rigorous standards expected not only of students, but the staff as well, he added,

  "Dear students, it is our rank one duty to ensure the Academy's standards are met - not to exclude, but to have you unfold your full potential. As such, I wish every single one of you the best, and that you may prosper on the path ahead of you."

  His words trailed along the lines of placing importance on intellectual curiosity, the necessity of mutual respect, and that the student body is incredibly diverse.

  "I will not have any kind of bullying at this institution. For one, all of you are expected to act like a mature adult - and a fine one you shall grow into, under the leadership of our array of professors. Speaking of which..."

  His words did paint a vivid picture of an institution that demanded much of the very best, but in return, it promised unparalleled education and the forging of lifelong bonds amidst the students.

  Nervous energy thrummed through me as the principal concluded his speech, like a thrill of sorts, expecting the unexpected, and not knowing what lay on the path ahead.

  Though I knew about the next part of the ceremony: it was the division of students into their respective classes. Here, one by one, names were called in full, and each student was directed to designated areas of the large, ornate hall. My breath caught in my throat when mine was called.

  "Lady Fia of Soriam.. to Class 1-S, please.", one of the assisting staff said out loud. Erica's name was called immediately after, and when I heard that, a wave of relief washed over me. Likewise, she was also directed towards Class 1-S, where we stood, exchanging joyful glances. It was nice knowing we would be together.

  We gathered with the other students who were designated for the S-class, and I was incredibly curious, as I had overheard little whispers amongst the other students about the different class divisions.

  Where A-class, as it was claimed, stood primarily for students focusing solely on the arts of magic, the B-class would cater to aspiring warriors training in melee combat.

  Weirdly enough, Erica wasn't B-class; standing next to me was proof enough.

  The S-class, which the two of us were part of, seemed to be an enigmatic designation. Apparently, they reserved it for students with mixed aptitude or those otherwise deemed to possess.. special potential. Needless to say, we fit right in. My gaze wandered and met the other students of class 1-S. Many of them seemed like nobles, alright, raising some doubt in my head over whether or not deshumans would be.. discriminated against, or not. Given my status, though, I should be fine.. and Erica hopefully as well.

  While I busied myself sizing the other students of our class up and down, a kind-faced woman approached our group with a warm smile, bearing intelligent eyes, which were framed by wire-rimmed glasses. Her figure, ample and inviting, exuded a comforting, maternal aura. Her words were softer still. "Welcome, students of Class 1-S," she announced gently but clearly, "I am Professor Luciens Venorice, and I will be your instructor regarding fundamentals of magic, and your class' advisor for the rest of your studies."

  Miss Venorice's gaze swept over us, seemingly unconcerned with any outward displays of status or nobility, immediately putting me at ease in her presence.

  "Since the division into classes is mostly finished, let me explain. Professor Silenia Tenelli," she pointed to the stern-looking woman in elegant attire and aristocratic bearing hinting at noble lineage, "will teach Class 1-A, as she focuses on magic, many types of them, in fact. As such, many of you will have classes with her. Do your best, alright?"

  Whispers from students, like chatter, followed, such as rumors that Professor Tenelli was a strict disciplinarian and also a firm believer in human magic's superiority.

  "Class 1-B," she showed us Professor Warren Renolph, "would be under the tutelage of Professor Renolph there, renowned as a paladin for his swordsmanship and wonderful proficiency in the arcane arts."

  I had heard of him before, from Adalbert. Said to be a friend of his, they served together in the army of Silvale much before Adalbert rose to military high command. Renolph was described as an instructor more demanding than most, but one who greatly valued hard work and dedication above all else, including innate talent, going so far as renouncing talent entirely, and pushing his students to constantly strive for improvement. It was a professor Erica was looking forward to meeting and studying under, she would tell me on and off.

  Following the initial ceremony, we were directed towards the academy's living quarters, and I was baffled by the dormitory building: it was at least as impressive as the main hall, with its corridors lined with sturdy wooden doors of expensive ebony and oak. Excitement bubbled within our little group, and when we split, Erica and I searched for our respectively assigned rooms. Notably, they weren't the same, so we hoped for them to be close by each other.

  Luck, it seemed, was on our side, as they were not only on the same floor of the girl's dormitory, but situated right next to each other!

  When I entered mine, there was nobody inside. Erica's roommate, I heard, was called Nadja Peshkar, a young noble lady bearing the crest of the politically neutral House of Peshkar, a prominent noble family in the kingdom. From what I heard, Nadja possessed quiet demeanor and a somewhat reclusive air, but her initial greeting to Erica was kind, neutral, and devoid of the haughtiness I had sometimes encountered from other nobles.

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  My own roommate was.. Zierlicht Estenberge, another noble, this time from the esteemed House of Estenberge, part of the royalist faction.

  Rumours had it that.. Zierlicht was peculiar. Most of it gossip, but she seemed rather lethargic. During the day, she introduced herself with that name, but later that evening, she would call herself Zwielicht. It sounded odd, but I decided not to make any judgements before meeting her myself. Our initial interaction was brief, as I had seen her when our group assembled, where she offered me but a curt nod. When I was in my room, unpacking my belongings, she came in, plopped down onto her bed with a sigh, and promptly fell asleep, before I even had a chance to say as much as a hello, more than a polite greeting.

  I understand her, though. We were given a tour of the sprawling academy grounds, and its sheer size and scope was astounding. The institution had a massive training hall, open from the early morning hours until late in the evening, and it was already filled to the brim with students who were practicing swordsmanship, archery, and various forms of magic and combat training. Multiple academic buildings housed classrooms, lecture halls, extensive libraries, and laboratories to experiment, all in all holding an endless trove of knowledge.

  There was also a grand cafeteria, where meals would be given and had, its ceilings high and echoing with chatter of present students; the stately meeting hall, designed for larger gatherings and formal events, was already known to us, but equally as impressive. The dormitory was a sprawling complex, divided into two parts, designed to house the hundreds of students who were attending the academy at this moment.

  For the rest of the day, we were free to explore and begin planning on our individual timetables. Surprisingly, the academy operated on a rather flexible system, allowing the students a significant degree of autonomy in choosing their courses of study.

  Erica, who was ever the practical one out of us both, immediately gravitated towards subjects more combat-heavy, inclined towards enhancing her battle prowess. To that end, she enrolled in the classes Battle Tactics, Sword Fighting, Ranged Weapons, and decided to attend a course for Battle Magic, specifically tailored for melee users, like herself. We also discovered, though, that the two of us shared a lecture on mathematics, a subject that, while not inherently magical, was most foundational for many of the arcane disciplines. She dreaded it, though.

  Me? My own curriculum leaned heavily into the theoretical aspects of magic and mathematics, as well as science. Not only did I enroll in advanced mathematics courses, but also Theoretical Magic, Physics, and a general course on combat magic and strategic planning.

  I also, interestingly, learned that each student gets to choose a mentor, that is, a more experienced mentor of the faculty, who would provide guidance and support throughout one's time at the academy, to facilitate growth. That piece of information caused a surge in excitement for me, since the prospect of having a dedicated mentor and teacher to guide my development was a great chance to learn from a master.

  Later that afternoon, Erica and I found a quiet bench, nestled beneath a blossoming Valkoyra tree in the academy's central courtyard. Filled with a delicate scent of blossoms, the air around us swept through the grounds, and the gentle breeze rustled the newly emerged leaves. In comfortable silence, we just sat together for the moment, simply absorbing the vibrant atmosphere of our new surroundings.

  "Can you believe it, we're finally here. We actually made it! Really... I'm so glad to be here with you, Ophi..", Erica said, her voice filled with excitement, but getting sentimental. "Together, at the academy."

  "It.. feels amazing, yet surreal," I admitted, but a wide smile spread across my face. "I can't wait for the lessons to begin! There's just so much we can do here. So many people to meet, too."

  "Me neither," she agreed with me, "Though I.. have to admit, I'm a little nervous about that one Professor. Renolph, they said? Adalbert did say.. he could be intense."

  "You'll be fine, if you survived him, you can take anything", I heckled her a little, "but on another note, Professor Venorice seems incredibly kind," I offered, hoping to ease some of her apprehension, "and I've made a friend. Zierlicht. Haven't you, as well?"

  I noticed a flicker of something, like jealousy, cross Erica's features, but it was quickly replaced with a warm smile. "I'm happy to hear, Ophi. Me too! I made a friend.. Nadja, my roomate. She's a noble, but.. very neutral? I think. Kind, but also a little withdrawn."

  As the evening approached, we returned to our respective rooms. I decided to just spend some time reading Der ?ther, eager to delve into more of its ancient wisdom.

  Not long after I had settled onto my bed, Zierlicht entered the room. I greeted her with a simple hello, but she didn't respond, not even spared me a gaze. Weird.

  Zierlicht entered the bathroom, and, upon coming out, offered me a brief, almost awkward "Hey..", before collapsing on her bed again, this time accompanied by a heavy sigh.

  "Are you okay, Zierlicht? Also.. hello, it's nice to meet you. We couldn't introduce ourselves before. I'm..", she cut me off, "Lady Fia, right?", in a tone most would consider rude, but it sounded more direct to me, than anything. "Call me Zwielicht, please. And, my apologies for offending you.. I just feel really lethargic during the day. Don't take it personal."

  I chuckled softly to myself at her bashfulness. "It's nice to meet you, Zwielicht. Weren't you called Zierlicht, though?", I pushed her a little, curious about the name change.

  Rolling her eyes into the back of her head, she just said, "Well..", beating around the bush. "I go by both. Use whatever, then. Anyway, good night.."

  Before I could get another word in, she fell asleep, or pretended to be asleep. Either way, I wasn't about to force her to make awkward conversation with me, and succumbed to my own exhaustion, though still excited about all the novelty of this place.

  In the Principal's office.

  Within the grand office of Paliphilis, a room lined with towering bookshelves, adorned with portraits of the past's luminaries of the academy, sat Professor Feingert, a man whose scholarly appearance belied a sharp and insightful mind, positioned right across Principal Paliphilis. Feingert, complete with a neatly trimmed beard and spectacles perched precariously on his nose, noticed the long shadows cast by the late afternoon sun across the room, while they illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air.

  "This new cohort.. seems promising, Professor," Principal Paliphilis remarked, his gaze thoughtful, as he perused a stack of student profiles. "Especially the Prophetess, Lady Fia of Soriam, will be of particular interest to us. Her arrival has certainly caused quite the stir, both within the academy, and amongst the noble houses. We have work to do, if we wish to contain the nobles causing an uprising about her race and standing."

  Professor Feingert nodded, adjusting his spectacles. "Indeed, Principal. Lady Fia seems to possess a remarkable aptitude for magic, with a raw talent quite... extraordinary, I must say, and intelligence matching ours, to boot. Her companion, Lady Erica, while perhaps less magically inclined, excels with formidable determination, a keen strategic mind, and cunning senses, that benefit her combat prowess quite nicely."

  "And the other students?", Paliphilis inquired, his gaze more intent. "We have a.. significant amount of aristocrat and royalist faction children enrolled this year, Principal. Among them, I spy House Perenaye, House d'Arco, House Charybdis, and House Neros. Those families, I must admit, hold considerable influence, not just in the capital, but the senate."

  "They're a diverse group, " Professor Feingert replied carefully. "Some show genuine promise, others.. well, less so. Their noble lineage certainly affords them our expectations, but talent, as we both know, is not always.. inherited, unfortunately."

  A shadow dauntingly crossed Paliphilis' face, his expression graver than before.

  "There is something else, I must admit, Professor. Something.. something that concerns me personally, and very deeply so. It aggravates me, but, we have reason to believe there may be a spy.. from the Eyes of the Beast, amongst this new student body. Not just that.. in the old students, as well." He paused, fixing his gaze on the Professor. "Two young beastkin boys, Relun and Leonidas. From what we know, they are not aware of each other...", with an interruption to his warning, he said, "But keep close watch on him, Feingert. More importantly... on Lady Fia, too. Instruct her, warn her. Tell her to be cautious, so that the insidious Eyes of the Beast, their reach far wider than many realize, wouldn't wreak havoc. I hope it won't come to this. Alright.."

  "You should get rest, Principal. Let us resume our talk another day.", Feingert excused himself, heading out of the office, amused at the happenings.