Class was about to end, and most of the groups hadn't achieved any significant results, except for three groups, which included the genius duo Abigail and Enzo, Douglas and Dorian, and me and Marlene.
During some small talk in class, I learned that the white-haired student's name was Douglas Niles. He was the result of a mutation that allowed him to wield both miasma and mana. Honestly, it sounds like he could be the main protagonist if this were a fantasy book.
Marlene was also quite fascinated by the existence of such a mutation. Generally, mutations are very rare and often result in disabilities, whether physical or mental. Only a few mutations are successful, which made Douglas truly one of a kind, rare among the rare.
Our table was set, and the result achieved with the synthesis of the darkness of Abel Hanth. It was a blob of crude crystalline, jagged-edged, sharp enough to cut at a touch. Once it formed, Marlene used anti-gravity magic to lift it onto the glass plate, ensuring it wouldn't react with other materials. After she enclosed it, I glanced around and saw the other two groups doing the same.
The professor approached the groups to review their results. She was impressed by the genius group, but what she didn't expect was that our group would succeed as well. However, being fair, she gave us good marks too.
During this, my gaze shifted to the table of the other group. Abigail and Enzo were glaring at Douglas with disdain in their eyes. Something was clearly wrong between them—perhaps a fight had broken out earlier. Since I had just joined the upper class, I was clueless about what had happened.
Abigail sneered at Douglas. "Might as well decontaminate the others."
Douglas replied evenly, "That's necromancer's work, isn't it? To defile."
Before things could spiral, Dorian gave Douglas a reassuring pat on the back. "Shh. There's no need for you to get mixed up with them," he said, his voice steady yet firm. He cast a sharp glance at Abigail and Enzo. "Only families on their last leg can afford to waste time like this."
No one said a word after that. The tension lingered, heavy and awkward in the air. Abigail was the first to break eye contact, mumbling something under her breath. Enzo followed suit, gathering their notes with a swift, almost angry motion. Douglas remained motionless, his expression impossible to read, while the rest of the class busied themselves with pretending to pack up.
As I was packing up, cleaning the apparatus, and discarding the leftover material, Marlene softly whispered in my ear, "They had a fight during the practical class."
Well, that much I had assumed.
She continued, ignoring my expression, "You'd better stay away from that Douglas fellow. His miasma is so contaminating, it gives me the creeps just standing near him. I've never seen such a thick miasma on anyone. He might not even be human."
I nodded at her, offering a faint smile as I thanked her for her help today before leaving.
With some time before the next class, I decided to return to my dorm and unpack my luggage. Since I had been hurriedly sent to the upper class, I hadn't had a chance to settle in and organize my things. Now that I had the time, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Walking down the hallway toward the dorm rooms, I took in the academy's layout. It was divided into six chambers, with the practical combat grounds situated in the middle. The rest of the chambers were split between dormitories and classrooms. Some classes were specifically for dark mages and necromancers, requiring more underground chambers for their lessons. Our first summoning class had been held in one of those underground rooms, and the dark mages had their own separate class as well. I hadn't seen Douglas, so I assumed he must have been registered as a dark mage. As I navigated through the practical grounds to reach the dorms, I was glad that my room in the lower section, meaning I didn't have to walk too much.
The door to my room was open. I figured Dorian had returned, maybe looking for something, or just too tired to close it behind him.
When I stepped inside, I found him sitting on his chair, while Douglas rested on the edge of my bed. The two were deep in conversation, their voices low, the air around them faintly thick with miasma. Whatever they were discussing, it wasn't casual.
Dorian looked up as I entered. A faint smile crossed his face. "Well done. Marlene was really helpful," he said.
"Yes, she was," I replied, unsure if he was being sincere or testing me.
When I asked what they were talking about, Dorian leaned back and said he was tired, that he'd simply invited Douglas over to talk. Douglas nodded in greeting, his expression calm but unreadable.
"You can tell him," Douglas said quietly, his voice firm.
Dorian nodded slowly. "Alright, if you say so." He leaned forward, speaking in a low tone. "There is a family war going on, as you know. Abigail and Enzo are attempting to usurp leadership of the Death family. Both of their houses are seeking to join forces to strengthen their claim. They plan to take over the smaller families, subjugating them. House Serpentine is one of their targets."
I said, "Well, so...what does it mean?" My question was genuine; I had no idea what Dorian wanted to tell me.
"There will be a fight for power," Dorian said, his voice low but steady. "They will showcase their strength to prove themselves and gain the approval of the lesser houses. It is no secret." He looked at me with a faint trace of pity. "The Todesmal family grows weaker with each generation."
Douglas spoke up, his tone measured. "So, to maintain balance, it is crucial that we oppose them."
Dorian nodded, finishing the thought. "The lesser houses will be annihilated if such a war occurs. Only those who side with them will survive."
I asked, "So why do you want to protect the main family, to keep Todesmal in power?"
Dorian's eyes glinted. "I do not want that," he said evenly. "But there is no other choice. Changing the throne requires sacrifice, and the cost will be the lesser houses. I want to avoid that. Whether Todesmal remains the main house is not my concern. Our concern is to stop the smaller houses from being wiped out when the struggle begins."
There was sense in his words, yet something about the situation felt off, someone's agenda didn't quite belong here.
I turned my gaze toward Douglas.
He continued before I could even speak, as if he already knew what I was about to ask. "I'm receiving support from his family. Common folk need a noble's approval to work under the king's authority."
In short, he was asking for freedom in return. Common dark mages and necromancers, if born outside the noble line, were bound by law to serve under the constant surveillance of a noble family. But if one earned a royal recommendation and worked directly for the king, they could, in time, petition for freedom. Once that happened, the nobles would have no say over them ever again.
Dorian looked me straight in the eye and said, "So, what do you say?"