Zane woke early the next morning. Sunlight streamed through his window, and he could hear the sounds of students moving about in the dormitory buildings nearby. He got out of bed and stretched, feeling the familiar flow of Aura through his channels.
There was a soft knock on his door, and Eliza entered with a tray of breakfast. "Good morning, Young Master. I got these from the dining hall earlier. Thought you might want to eat before classes."
"Thank you." Zane sat at his desk and examined the food. Fresh bread, eggs, and some fruit. Simple but well-prepared.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as Eliza poured him some tea.
"Better than yesterday." She set the teapot down. "Those three haven't come back, so I think your warning worked."
"Good." Zane ate slowly, thinking about the day ahead. According to his schedule, first-years had Mana Theory in the morning, followed by Combat Fundamentals in the afternoon. The assessment tests would begin later in the week.
After breakfast, Zane changed into his uniform and gathered his supplies. A notebook, some writing tools, and his student identification badge.
"I'll be back after classes," he told Eliza. "If anyone bothers you while I'm gone, don't engage with them. Just come find me."
"I will. Be careful, Young Master."
Zane left his dormitory and headed toward the main academic building. The campus was busy with students heading to their first classes. He noticed several people staring at him and whispering, but he ignored them.
The Mana Theory classroom was on the third floor. Zane arrived a few minutes early and found a seat near the middle of the room. Other first-years were already there, chatting nervously or reviewing notes.
Zane pulled out his notebook and waited. More students filed in, and the room gradually filled up. He recognized a few faces from the entrance ceremony, but no one approached him.
Then Seraphina walked in. She spotted him immediately and made her way over.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked, gesturing to the empty seat beside him.
"Go ahead."
She sat down and arranged her materials on the desk. For a moment, she seemed like she wanted to say something, but she hesitated.
"What is it?" Zane asked quietly.
"Nothing." She shook her head. "Just... be careful today. I heard some students talking this morning. Word about last night has spread."
So she knew. Zane wasn't surprised. News traveled fast in places like this.
"I can handle it," he said.
Seraphina looked like she wanted to argue, but she held back. Instead, she just nodded and focused on her notebook.
A few more students entered, and Zane's attention was drawn to a girl with long black hair and striking blue eyes. She moved with quiet confidence and took a seat near the front of the classroom. Several male students watched her with obvious interest, but she ignored them completely.
Zane recognized her from the novel's descriptions. Zara Luminelle, the first heroine. In the original story, she'd been a talented mage from a minor noble family who caught Liam's attention during the assessment tests. She was kind, intelligent, and had a strong sense of justice.
She was also destined to fall for Liam despite his indifference toward her, and her unrequited feelings would eventually become a source of conflict in the story.
Another student entered, and the atmosphere in the room shifted. This girl had platinum blonde hair styled in an elegant updo and cold gray eyes that seemed to judge everyone she looked at. She wore her uniform perfectly, and expensive jewelry glinted at her ears and neck.
She surveyed the classroom with obvious disdain before taking a seat in the front row, as far from everyone else as possible.
Freya Valemont. A minor antagonist from the novel. Daughter of a powerful duke and known for her exceptional ice magic. In the original story, she'd developed an obsessive hatred for Zara and had attempted to kill her during one of the assessment tests. The attempt had failed, and Freya had been expelled.
But that wouldn't happen for a few more days. For now, she was just another student.
The door opened again, and this time a young man walked in. Zane's attention sharpened immediately.
Liam Ashford. The protagonist.
He looked exactly as the novel described. Average height, brown hair, and unremarkable features. Nothing about his appearance suggested he was special. But Zane could feel it—the faint pressure of Aura that marked someone with real power.
Liam was already at Apprentice III, far ahead of most first-years. And according to the novel, he would reach Adept tier by the end of the first year.
Liam scanned the room with disinterest and took a seat near the back. He didn't acknowledge anyone, didn't make eye contact. He simply sat down and waited for class to begin.
Several students tried to approach him, but he ignored them completely. His expression made it clear he had no interest in small talk.
Battle-obsessed, just like the novel said. Liam only cared about fighting strong opponents. Everything else was irrelevant to him.
A few minutes later, the instructor arrived. She was a middle-aged woman with gray-streaked hair tied back in a bun and sharp green eyes that missed nothing.
"Good morning, students. I am Professor Aldwen, and I will be teaching Mana Theory this semester." Her voice was crisp and professional. "This class will cover the fundamental principles of Mana manipulation, elemental affinities, and the theoretical framework that underpins all magical practice."
She moved to the blackboard and began writing.
"Mana is the fundamental energy that flows through all living things and the world itself. Unlike Aura, which is generated and stored within the body, Mana is drawn from the environment and channeled through the user's core. Understanding this distinction is critical to effective Mana use."
Zane took notes as Professor Aldwen continued the lecture. Most of what she covered was basic information he already knew from Zane's memories and his own training, but he paid attention anyway. There were always details that could be useful.
"Elemental affinity is determined at birth and cannot be changed," Professor Aldwen explained. "Most individuals have affinity for one or two elements. Rare cases may have three. Having no affinity at all is extremely uncommon but not unheard of."
She gestured to a chart on the wall showing the basic elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness.
"The six primary elements each have their own characteristics and applications. Fire is destructive and fast. Water is adaptive and flowing. Earth is stable and enduring. Wind is swift and cutting. Light is healing and revealing. Darkness is concealing and consuming."
A student raised her hand. "Professor, what about rare elements like lightning or ice?"
"Those are considered derivative elements—combinations or specialized forms of primary elements. Lightning is an advanced form of wind magic combined with specific energy patterns. Ice is a refined application of water magic. We will cover derivative elements later in the semester."
The lecture continued for another hour. Professor Aldwen covered Mana core development, the differences between internal and external casting, and the importance of visualization in spell construction.
When the class finally ended, students began packing up their materials. Zane noticed Liam leaving first, not bothering to speak to anyone. Zara gathered her things carefully and left shortly after. Freya departed with a dismissive sniff, as if the entire class had been beneath her.
"That was more interesting than I expected," Seraphina said as they stood up. "Professor Aldwen seems competent."
"She is. I've heard she used to be a court mage before retiring to teach."
They walked out of the classroom together. The hallway was crowded with students moving between classes.
"Do you have Combat Fundamentals next?" Seraphina asked.
"Yes. You?"
"Same. We're in the same class block."
They made their way to the training grounds, a large open area behind the main building with multiple practice rings and equipment storage. Several instructors were already there, organizing students into groups.
Zane and Seraphina joined the gathering crowd. He spotted Liam standing off to the side, arms crossed, watching everything with a bored expression. Zara was there too, stretching and preparing for whatever exercises they'd be doing.
Freya arrived last, looking as cold and aloof as she had in Mana Theory.
One of the instructors, a muscular man with a scarred face, stepped forward.
"Listen up, first-years! I'm Instructor Bram, and this is Combat Fundamentals. This class will teach you the basics of armed and unarmed combat, regardless of whether you focus on Aura or Mana. Even mages need to know how to defend themselves in close quarters."
He gestured to the practice rings.
"We'll start with basic assessments today. I need to see what level you're all at. Pair up and show me what you can do."
Students began finding partners. Zane was about to pair with Seraphina when someone bumped into him from behind.
He turned and found himself face to face with a tall student with brown hair and a cocky grin. The boy looked him up and down and smirked.
"You're Morgenstern, right? The disowned one?"
"That's right," Zane replied evenly.
"I heard some crazy rumors about you showing Apprentice-tier Aura last night." The boy laughed. "But looking at you, I don't buy it. Want to partner up and prove me wrong?"
Before Zane could respond, another voice cut in.
"He's already partnered with me."
Seraphina stepped forward, her expression cool. The boy glanced at her and his smirk faltered.
"Lady Ashcroft. I didn't realize—"
"Now you do. Find another partner."
The boy hesitated, then backed off. Seraphina turned to Zane.
"You don't have to fight every idiot who challenges you," she said quietly.
"I know. But thank you."
They moved to one of the practice rings and faced each other. Around them, other pairs were beginning their sparring matches.
"Don't hold back," Seraphina said, drawing a practice sword from the equipment rack. "I want to see how much you've improved."
Zane drew his own practice weapon. "Are you sure about that?"
She smiled. "Positive."
They both assumed ready stances. For a moment, they simply watched each other, gauging distance and timing.
Then Seraphina moved first. She lunged forward with her sword aimed at Zane's shoulder, and he parried smoothly before stepping back to create distance. She pressed the attack with a series of quick strikes, and Zane blocked each one with minimal movement.
She was good. Apprentice I in Aura, with solid fundamentals and precise technique. But Zane had trained intensively for two weeks with enhanced growth rates. The difference showed.
He waited for an opening, then countered with a strike aimed at her side. She blocked it but was forced back a step. Before she could recover, Zane followed up with a low sweep that nearly knocked her off balance.
"You've definitely improved," Seraphina said, breathing slightly harder. "But I'm not done yet."
She channeled Aura into her legs and burst forward with increased speed. Her strikes came faster now, more aggressive. Zane matched her pace, his own Aura flowing through his body as they exchanged blows.
The sound of wood clashing against wood echoed across the training grounds. Other students stopped their own matches to watch.
Finally, Zane saw his opportunity. He feinted high, and when Seraphina raised her sword to block, he changed direction and swept her legs out from under her. She hit the ground hard, and Zane's practice sword was at her throat before she could recover.
"Match," Instructor Bram called out, having wandered over to watch. "Well done, both of you. Morgenstern, your fundamentals are solid. Ashcroft, work on not committing too hard to high blocks. It leaves your lower body exposed."
Zane lowered his sword and offered Seraphina a hand. She took it and pulled herself up, looking frustrated but not angry.
"I shouldn't have fallen for that feint," she muttered.
"It was a good match," Zane said.
Around them, he noticed several students staring. Some looked surprised, others skeptical. He could hear whispers starting.
"Did you see that?"
"He beat Ashcroft?"
"Maybe those rumors were true..."
Near the edge of the training grounds, Liam watched with half-closed eyes. His expression hadn't changed at all. After a moment, he turned away and focused on his own training partner, clearly unimpressed.
To someone like Liam, a match between two Apprentice I students was completely uninteresting. He probably wouldn't pay attention to Zane until he proved himself to be truly strong.
That was fine. Zane wasn't trying to impress the protagonist anyway.
The rest of Combat Fundamentals passed without incident. Instructor Bram had them run through basic forms and conditioning exercises. By the time class ended, most students were sweating and exhausted.
Zane returned to his dormitory in the late afternoon. Eliza was there, reading a book in the common area.
"How were classes?" she asked.
"Informative." Zane sat down and pulled off his jacket. "Any problems while I was gone?"
"None. It's been quiet."
"Good."
Zane spent the evening reviewing his notes from Mana Theory and practicing his Aura control. Tomorrow would bring more classes, and the assessment tests would begin in a few days.
He needed to be ready.
As he meditated, channeling Mana through his core, he thought about the people he'd seen today. Liam, who barely noticed him. Zara, who would become the first heroine. Freya, who would soon attempt murder.
The story was moving forward, and he was right in the middle of it.
But he wasn't following the script anymore. He was writing his own path.
And whatever came next, he would face it on his own terms.