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Austin barely avoided bumping face first onto an orc woman’s breasts as he glanced at the chats on his phone while walking. “Sorry,” he muttered, his gaze meeting the warm smile of the towering, green-skinned woman.The campus grounds of Mythica Academy teemed with a diverse mix of humans and parahumans, each engaged in their own activities. He decided to keep his eyes up, he didn’t want to bump into a burly student on the first day and get into a fight even before the classes began.He stopped just close to the academy building, the Hall of Fame stone nearby catching his attention, where the names of esteemed alumni were etched into the stone. His eyes quickly scanned for a familiar name when his phone buzzed with a message from Larissa, the girl he was meeting. She was his mom's friend's daughter.“I’m almost there. Geez, there’s so many students here this year. What are you wearing?” Larissa’s text popped up on his screen. Glancing down at his attire, Austin replied, "Green overcoat over a white t-shirt and black trousers."Austin knew no one in this city or academy personally. His mom had talked with her friend, Iravi, a Moonelf, whose daughter Larissa was the same age as him and was going to attend the academy. Austin heard that Larissa was familiar with this place, and she could help him around. He was glad to have some help and accepted the offer.He’d chatted with her a little and seen her in a photo, the only one available on her social media profile, but never met her in person. She seemed like a cute moon elf in the picture, he wondered if she really matched how he’d imagined her to be. He wouldn’t admit it publicly, but he was actually looking forward to meeting her. After all, he was a 19-year-old dragon with raging hormones. And a young guy like him would deny the company of a beautiful woman.A smile spread across his face as he put the phone away in his pocket and scanned the surroundings once again. He couldn’t believe that he was actually here. He’d been training for years so he could join the famed Mythica Academy. It hadn’t been a particularly joyful journey, there had been many ups and downs, but many great days as well. But now that he had an aim to achieve, it wasn’t the time to keep holding on to the past.After beating himself up with guilt, he understood one thing. What happened in the past couldn’t be changed. It wasn’t particularly his fault at all, that one event that changed his life—one he couldn’t forget—was the reason for many emotional hardships he faced.I will try to win over their trust again. He promised himself, reading the names of alumni again, hoping to see his own name engraved one day somewhere on this same stone. His eyes roamed all over the text until he finally stopped at one particular name, it was his mother’s ‘Cassandra Blackthorn’ A dragon just like him and a former Dungeon Ranger who was very popular in her younger days.“Austin,” He heard a feminine voice call his name and felt a hand on his shoulder. Austin brought up his best friendly smile as he turned to greet Larissa, personally meeting her for the first time.She actually looked even better than in the picture. Larissa’s skin was blue like a bright summer day’s clear sky, her eyes were also blue but a shade darker, shoulder-length black hair framed her delicate face while her ears rose to the points, she had a slender figure with medium-sized breasts and eye-catching hips too.“You have a nice fashion sense.” Larissa eyed him up and down.Austin gazed upon her likewise. “You look great too.” She was wearing a light pink tank top that showed off her flat tummy and denim jeans that clung to her slim waist and curvy hips.“It’s nice to finally meet you, Larissa.” Austin extended his hand, and Larissa shook it. Her touch was soft and warm, he felt like reaching down and kissing her hand but decided against it. It hadn’t even been a minute since he’d met her, and he was already feeling some desire flare up inside him, his draconic instincts were on an all-time high.Larissa's blue eyes twinkled playfully, only fueling the fire even more. "I can say the same, Austin," she said, a hint of shyness evident in her voice. "Why don’t I get you a small tour of this place before we find your dorm?"“Yeah, sure.”Austin followed the Moonelf through the throng of students who were standing on campus ground, some were chatting with their friends, some were trying to flirt with others already, and I even saw some people that looked like couples. There were a variety of students, orcs, various races of elves, humans, beastkins, and fae.Every few steps showed him a new kin, many of whom he hadn’t even seen before. It was quite an exhilarating experience for someone who had mostly grown up in a smaller, more laid-back city."I heard that you were homeschooled," Larissa asked, walking beside him.“Uh, yeah…” The memories flooded back into his mind. He wondered how his life would’ve turned out if the incident hadn’t happened and he had stayed in high school and graduated like everyone else. “I dropped out of high school due to some personal reasons.”Noticing a change in his demeanor, Larissa tried to lighten the mood. "I hope I didn’t hit the wrong chord," she said with a gentle smile.Austin smiled slightly. “Ah, it’s nothing.” He chided himself for feeling bad again. I have to forget my past and use it as a learning tool to make a better future. He had decided that while studying here, he would fix the most important issue in his life: a lack of social life.An opportunity was right before his eyes. Larissa could be a great potential friend. Austin cleared his throat before continuing, “It’s a long story, I might tell you about it someday as long as we get to know each other better and become friends.”Surprised by his openness, Larissa blushed slightly. "Friends?" she echoed, her blue eyes widening in surprise. "Why not? Our moms are great friends, so it seems right that we get to know each other as well."“Right,” he nodded. “I don’t know a single soul here apart from you. I hope you wouldn’t mind me sticking close to you.”Larissa blushed and tucked a strand of her hair behind her pointy ear. “It’s always good to have some company, besides, I might be familiar with this place, but I don’t know anyone here either. Come, let’s explore.”It was true that Larissa’s mother, Iravi, used to be a teacher here until a few years ago, before she decided to retire.The campus was spread over a long area, it seemed like a little town in itself. There were 7 or 8 dorm buildings on one side. A large stadium-like place loomed further away from the dorms. But the biggest monument on the campus was the academy building itself.It seemed to be divided into various sections and classes. It wasn’t exactly how he pictured it; the building wasn’t like a wizard castle at all; it was a perfect blend of traditional and modern architecture. Some structures reminded him of Roman monuments.Since its conception a thousand years ago by Morgana Le Fay, Mythica Academy has stood the test of time. Only the students with magical affinity could study here, for it was for the sole reason of training these individuals in the magical arts to safeguard the rest of the population that this academy was created.As they strolled through the grounds, Larissa pointed out various landmarks and shared anecdotes about the school's history. Austin listened intently. He found himself drawn to her, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she spoke."So, what made you decide to come to Mythica?" Larissa asked, her curiosity piqued.Austin hesitated for a moment, considering his response. "Well, after everything that happened in my teenage years, I needed a fresh start," he admitted, his gaze meeting hers. “I’ve always wanted to be a Dungeon Ranger like my mom, so this place seemed like a good place to fulfill that dream of mine.”Larissa nodded understandingly. "I can understand that," she said softly. "For me, I've always felt like I didn't quite fit in with anyone. But here, it's different. It feels like I might finally meet people I could relate to."Austin smiled, feeling a sense of kinship with her. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he said. “I’ve faced something like that too.”As they walked, Larissa couldn't help but wonder aloud, "By the way, why did you come here so late? Most students arrived three or four days ago and finished their entrance exam. Did you go through any entrance exams before coming here?"Austin's surprise was evident. "An entrance exam? I had no idea," he admitted, furrowing his brow in confusion. “My mom didn’t tell me anything about it.”“It may be because it started last year. The staff sends an email to students informing them of the date and time they’re to give an entrance exam, and in some cases, teachers themselves visit the students and test the potential students’ abilities before deciding to give them an enrollment here.”He retrieved his phone, frantically searching his inbox for any mention of an exam. Larissa leaned in to peer at his screen, her curiosity piqued.However, all Austin found was the enrollment confirmation email.Larissa pulled out her phone and showed him the email detailing her entrance exam. Austin pondered for a moment, considering the possibility that his mother's connections might have exempted him from the exam. She was friends with the headmistress and many teachers here, after all. He breathed a sigh of relief at the thought."Looks like they didn't ask you for an exam," Larissa observed, handing his phone back to him. "Maybe we can talk to the headmistress later and ask her about it. It's not your fault if someone forgot to send an email.""Good idea," Austin agreed. They resumed their stroll through the campus and entered the academy building, its grandeur evident as they entered the main hall. Austin marveled at the sight of the glass chandelier, its ethereal glow casting a mesmerizing light.Larissa guided him through the hall, pointing out the large sets of stairs leading to different classes. Austin chuckled at her informative tour, appreciating her knowledge of the place.The walls were adorned with plain beige tones, interspersed with tapestries bearing the words "Mythica Academy."He looked up and noticed a large glass chandelier hung on the high ceiling. It glowed with fire, which seemed to have no source; the fire was just suspended inside the chandelier, casting a crystalline and ethereal glow inside the well-lit hall. “As you can see, this is the main hall. Most of the seminars happen here. They have cleared the chairs for the time being, but this place will be filled with them tomorrow.”Pointing to some staff distributing digital wristbands, Larissa explained their significance. "This is a Chronoband," she said, lifting her wrist to reveal her own. "It serves as your student ID and has various functions we'll learn about in class. You can't live here without it."Austin admired Larissa's knowledge. "You really know your stuff," he remarked.Blushing shyly, Larissa glanced at him before averting her gaze. "Thanks," she said softly. "It's just basic stuff—the perks of being the child of a former teacher. You should go and get your own CB."Austin approached the staff member. Noticing she was a faun, he observed her unique features—a pair of small horns protruding from her brown hair, fur covering her legs, and hooves instead of feet."Hi, I'm a new student. I was told to get my ChronoBand from here," Austin said.The woman greeted him and asked him his name. Austin told her his name and gave her his enrollment number. The woman pulled out a brand new ChronoBand out of a box, connected it to the PC near her, finished doing some last-minute adjustments, disconnected the CB, and held it out to Austin with a warm smile. “Welcome to the Mythica Academy, Austin. I hope you’ll make lifelong memories and connections here.”Austin was elated to hear that. “Thank you,” he said, taking the Chronoband. Now, he finally felt like a new chapter in his life was beginning.Austin put the Chronoband on his wrist, and it latched around on its own. It resembled a smart watch, but it seemed to have many more unique functions. He didn’t want to mess things up, so he didn’t touch anything he didn’t understand.He walked back to where Larissa was waiting for him. “It should have your ID, some basic information, and a dorm room number as well. I think the icon makes it self-explanatory.”Austin nodded and clicked onto an icon that resembled a student ID card, and immediately a holographic image of his ID appeared over the watch.Name: AustinAge: 19Race: ClassifiedClass: 1ADorm: Maverick Hall, Room No. 9Larissa’s eyes perked up upon seeing the dorm name and number, but she didn’t say anything, she looked at it and then at Austin’s face, who was amused by the things Chronoband could do. And it wasn’t even the start; there was so much more to it.“Hey, about your dorm, can I take you there?” Larissa offered, and Austin noticed her smiling a little more than before.But he had a thought. “I appreciate it, Larissa. But I want to find my dorm room on my own. I don’t know, it just feels exciting. I want to do this one thing on my own. You can show me the rest of the area after I’m settled in.”"Sounds good," Larissa agreed. "If you need anything, just give me a call. I've texted you my number. I'll see you soon."Austin couldn’t help but smile as he watched the moon elf go. She had a spring to her step, but what he found even more delightful was the view of her plump ass in those pants. Larissa suddenly turned back and looked back at him. He quickly pulled his gaze to her face, but by the way she was smiling and blushing, he was sure that she’d caught him staring at her ass.He let that thought drop for a moment and walked out of the hall and out onto the campus grounds, this time walking in the direction of the dorms. Luckily, the dorms had name boards, so he didn’t have any problem finding the Maverick hall.Finally, he spotted room number 9. His heart was beating way too fast, after all, he was going to spend the next few years living with this person. He wondered who his roommate was. He certainly didn’t want to share the room with a bully; he wished for someone friendly.Taking a deep breath, Austin reached out to knock on the door. His hand hesitated for a moment before finally making contact with the wood. With bated breath, he waited, his mind racing with possibilities.As the door creaked open, Austin's pulse quickened, his eyes widening in surprise as he found Larissa standing on the other side."Hi again, roommate." Larissa greeted him with a playful smirk, her eyes sparkling. "I hope you don’t mind sharing a room with a Moonelf who also happens to be a night owl."A grin spread across his face. Winking at Larissa, he replied, "Perfect! I think we’ll have fun keeping each other awake at night."A soft blush painted Larissa's cheeks; a delicate hue of pink danced across her face, even the tips of her ears were glowing with the same shade. In that moment, he knew he’d get many more chances to make her blush like that again and again.
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As Austin stepped into the dorm room behind Larissa, he couldn't help but be amazed by its size. It was far larger than he had expected, and he couldn't shake the feeling that some kind of spatial magic was at play to make it larger from inside. The presence of a small kitchen to the right and an attached bathroom to the left only confirmed his suspicions.Taking in the layout of the room, Austin noticed a large cupboard on one side, a study table, and two beds positioned side by side with a few feet of space between them. And a bedside cabinet was set next to each bed."Wow, this room is incredible," Austin exclaimed, his eyes scanning the space with awe. "I didn't expect it to be this big."Larissa grinned, clearly familiar with his reaction. "Yeah, it's pretty nice, isn't it?" she agreed, walking further into the room. "I'm glad we ended up as roommates. This place feels like it has so much potential, but it feels..."“Empty?” Austin said he expected her to say.Larissa nodded. “Yeah, I think we need to do some shopping and make it more homely, after all, we’re going to spend the next three years here.”“Girls and shopping—a never-ending saga.” Austin rolled his eyes playfully. The bed near the window and cupboard was already taken by Larissa, so he took the other one.He put his bag near the bed and sat down. The mattress was quite soft. Larissa walked over and sat next to him.His desire stirred again, and his dragon instincts were really flaring up. He couldn’t help it because there were so many beautiful girls; he had been trying to suppress it since he entered the campus. And now he was alone in the room with a Moonelf and somehow it was more difficult now.Larissa was an attractive girl, no denying that. It was going to be a hard battle to curtain the desire he felt for her, but he had to control himself around her, lest he do something stupid to embarrass himself or, worse, upset her.He pushed that thought away and broke the silence. “That reminds me, our classes start tomorrow, right? I didn’t bring anything apart from my clothes and some other stuff. Do I need to buy any uniforms? My mom said that she used to wear a uniform back in the day.” I started pulling my stuff out of my bag.Larissa watched him unpack. “No, not really. Uniforms aren’t a requirement anymore. It was a cost-cutting decision, and not many students like wearing them.”“That’s true.” Austin finished unpacking and sat next to her, considering something that had been on his mind for minutes since he met her. He felt like he could trust her, after all, she already knew about his draconic kin.A hundred years ago, a civil war had begun between dragons, and it ended with many innocent people losing their lives; hundreds of dragons died and thousands of civilians too. Ever since that day, people started seeing dragons with fear and contempt. It took years for dragons to gain a better reputation again. Many people understood that the ones who started conflict were some bad apples in the basket who tried to ruin the reputation of the whole kin but some people still harbored those thoughts, and he couldn't blame them.He was glad that Larrisa seemed like the former, her behavior so far suggested that she was comfortable in his presence or didn’t hate him for being a dragon."Can I ask you for a favor?" Austin asked, his tone serious."Try me," Larissa responded, feeling more at ease with him by her side.Austin took a deep breath before speaking. "You know that my mom is a dragon, and I inherited her genes. It's obvious that I'm a dragon too. But nobody apart from the teachers knows about it." Larissa read the sincerity in his expression. "I want you to keep the fact that I’m a dragon secret, at least for now. I don't want my potential friends to judge me based on my race. Unfortunately, there are still people who harbor negative opinions about dragons."Larissa's heart swelled with empathy as she listened to Austin's plea. "You can trust me with your secret," she assured him, her voice filled with the sincerity he had expected.Austin felt a wave of relief wash over him. Just as he began to relax, Larissa's mischievous smile caught his attention."But there’s a catch," she added playfully, tapping her chin with her finger. "I’ll only keep my mouth zipped if you agree to fulfill my wish."Curious, Austin leaned in, eager to hear her request. "Sure, if it's within my limits. What's your wish?""I want to ride you," she blurted out before her brain caught up with her mouth. Larissa's cheeks flushed as she realized the unintended meaning of her words.Austin blinked, his eyes widening with amusement as he caught her meaning. "Well, that's quite a wish, Larissa," he teased, unable to resist poking fun at her slip of the tongue. “I was hoping to take you on a date first, but if that's what you want, I see no problem with it. I like the forwardness.” He winked at her.Flustered, Larissa playfully punched him in the belly before correcting herself. "I mean your dragon form. I want to ride on your back while you fly.” Larrisa’s eyes glowed with a twinkle, and a slight pinkish blush was apparent on her cheeks and tips of her ears. “It’s been my wish since I was a child. I used to draw myself sitting on a dragon’s back. I wondered how it feels to see the world from up there in the sky.” She looked at him intently.Chuckling at her embarrassment, Austin couldn't help but tease her further. "Your wish is my command, Madame," he replied with a playful wink. Her wish was as cute as she was, and he really wanted to fulfill it.
…With nothing else to do, Austin decided to accompany Larissa on a shopping trip. He found himself enjoying her company more and more with each passing moment. Despite her initial shyness, Larissa was beginning to open up, and Austin found himself drawn to her more than he had anticipated. That unintentionally funny conversation about Larissa wanting to ride him had broken the ice between them even more.As they walked side by side, Larissa couldn't help but smile to herself. She knew she would have remained secluded and not made any friends like usual if her mom hadn't encouraged her to reach out to Austin.The area around the university was bustling with activity, with malls, hospitals, markets, clubs, and various necessities all within walking distance. Their first stop was a clothing store, where they picked out some new outfits. Then, they ventured into a stationary shop unlike any Austin had seen before. It was filled with all sorts of magical items, from enchanted notebooks to mana-fueled pens.Amidst the magical wonders, Larissa and Austin each found items that caught their interest. Larissa opted for enchanted notebooks, a mana-fueled pen, and a few other essentials, while Austin bought the same things.Their shopping trip concluded with a meal at a nearby restaurant. As Larissa perused the menu, Austin couldn't help but notice her expressions as she scanned the dishes, which were both amusing and endearing. She would keenly look at some dish, but a second later, her eyes would widen with surprise upon seeing the price.Catching his gaze, Larissa playfully wiggled her eyebrows. "Hey, watcha looking at?" she teased.Austin chuckled, a mischievous thought crossing his mind. Glancing around at the other diners, he couldn't help but notice the couples and groups of friends filling the tables nearby."People might think we're a couple on a date," he remarked, meeting Larissa's gaze with a playful twinkle in his eye.Larissa leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with the same playfulness. "Does that bother you?" she inquired."Not at all," Austin replied, mirroring her playful demeanor. "In fact, I want people to think that way.""And why is that?" Larissa asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.Austin chuckled, a hint of mock arrogance in his tone. "I want people to see how lucky you are to have landed a handsome man like me."Larissa laughed and leaned back in her chair. "Oh, it's only been a day since we’ve met, and you're already hitting on me?""You bet I am," Austin quipped, unable to contain his laugh too.After finishing their dinner and returning to their dorm room, a comfortable silence settled between Austin and Larissa.They each settled onto their respective beds, feeling content in each other's presence. He glanced over at Larissa, who was already drifting off to sleep on her bed.Closing his eyes, Austin let himself relax, he couldn't help but wonder what the first day of classes would bring.
…As the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Larissa was already up and bustling around the dorm room. With a playful nudge, she roused Austin from his slumber. "Wake up, lazy bird," she teased, her voice laced with affection.“Five more minutes, Mom.” Groggily, Austin mumbled a protest, his words muffled by the warmth of his covers.But Larissa was determined to get him moving. "You're not at home anymore, we have a class to attend, Dragon Boy." With a mischievous grin, she made a bold move, tugging the covers away from him, revealing his form clad only in his boxers.To her surprise, a blush crept up on her cheeks as she caught sight of Austin's bare torso. She quickly averted her gaze, the sudden rush of warmth in her cheeks betraying her unexpected reaction.Sitting up, Austin rubbed the sleep from his eyes, a lazy smile playing on his lips as he caught Larissa's gaze lingering on him. "Sorry to scare you with my hot body," he quipped, "but I prefer to sleep in my boxers only."
Larissa, her arms crossed defensively, attempted to mask her flustered state with a stern glare, though the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. With a playful yet pointed look, she waited until Austin finally relented and dragged himself out of bed, disappearing into the shower.While Austin refreshed himself in the shower, Larissa busied herself in the kitchen, the comforting scent of breakfast filling the air. By the time he emerged, she had prepared a hearty meal for them both, a warm smile gracing her lips as she gestured for him to join her at the table."Wow, you're really wife material, Larissa," Austin chuckled as he took in the sight of the breakfast spread before him, a playful twinkle in his eyes.Larissa couldn't help but roll her eyes at his comment, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "You've already promoted me from your friend to girlfriend to wife in less than 24 hours," she retorted, her tone teasing yet affectionate. "Who's being so forward now?"Austin laughed, the warmth of her playful banter filling the room. "Well, can you blame me?" he replied, a hint of mischief in his voice. "With cooking skills like yours, I couldn't resist."Larissa's cheeks flushed pink at his compliment, a shy smile gracing her features. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Austin," she teased, her gaze meeting his with a playful spark.As they shared breakfast together, their conversation flowed easily.After grabbing breakfast, they exited Maverick Hall and entered the Academy building. Just as Larissa had mentioned, the hall was filled with rows of chairs, mostly occupied by hundreds of students. “'Are these all freshmen?” Austin whispered to Larissa as they navigated towards some empty seats in the middle rows, surprised by the sheer number of students.Larissa took a seat, and Austin settled beside her. “Yeah, there are almost 500 students each year. But the numbers dwindle as the semesters progress, leaving only the best in magical studies to graduate.”“I wonder if any more students slipped through without taking the entrance exam. I don’t think I’m that special.” Austin surveyed the nearly-filled hall.“'Oh, you're humble too.”
Before Austin could retort with a witty remark, the hall lights suddenly extinguished, leaving only the stage illuminated. 'Nice way to grab everyone’s attention,' he muttered.The sudden sound of flames filled the air, followed by a large ball of fire landing in the middle of the stage. Within it, a feminine silhouette figure could be seen standing with ease, the flames didn’t seem to burn her or her clothes. The flames died out with a hiss as a large blast of water sprung from the figure’s hands.The woman slowly walked forward, engulfed in vapor. As the flames dissipated, a gust of wind dispersed the remaining vapor, sprinkling drops of water onto the students seated near the stage.Austin leaned forward, eyes wide with amusement, thoroughly impressed by the spectacle before him. As the vapors dissipated, a fiery-haired lady stood out. “That’s her,” Larissa whispered to him, unable to contain her excitement over the woman she idolized. “Our headmistress, Amber Cross,”Even without Larissa's introduction, Austin recognized her instantly; Amber Cross was one of the most recognizable faces in the world.With a flick of her fingers, Amber conjured a small portal beside her and retrieved a glittery red mic. "Greetings, students," she announced, her voice carrying through the auditorium. 'I’m your headmistress, Amber Cross.' The auditorium erupted into cheers, applause, and whistles for the redhead at the helm. Draped in a green overcoat over a white shirt and matching green skirt, her attire complemented her fair skin and unmistakable red hair.Austin was mesmerized by her too—how could he not be? Amber wasn’t just a Dungeon Ranger who had saved the world many times; she was also a highly acclaimed actress with a large fan following. Although he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, he once hung a poster of hers in his room. He had promised himself that he wouldn’t let his fanboy spirit take over, but he struggled to contain himself as he started cheering for her along with the other students.He glanced towards Larissa, and she, the rather shy girl, also seemed to be in the same mood.The teachers and staff, standing on the sidelines, looked at Larissa with admiration and fear. And their fear was justified.As much as people liked her, they also feared her a little. She was known to be a quite ruthless warrior who had once cleaned the entire floor of a dungeon in less than an hour.Amber suddenly snapped her fingers, the sound echoing throughout the hall and instantly silencing everyone. Her expression shifted, becoming more stoic. “What I just showcased was a simple trick,” she began, her voice carrying to the back of the room. “Many of you might’ve found it really impressive, but for me, it’s as simple as making tea. Once upon a time, I was also a beginner, like all of you. I had my shortcomings and insecurities, but if I can reach this stage in my life, so can you. I’m not going to waste your time with a long speech here.'"Amber stayed silent for a moment, reading the atmosphere of the room.“We’ll carry on a centuries-old tradition on this day. I want to introduce you to the five strongest students this semester. We’ve chosen them based on their skills and the levels of their mana pool.”Amber eyed the students for a few seconds before her gaze settled on one specific girl. “Zahra, please join me on the stage.”Austin noticed a tanned-skinned wolf girl stand up and walk onto the stage. Zahra looked confident, poised, and sexy.“Tomas Breven,” Amber continued, and another student stood up. He had blonde hair, with two leopard-like ears protruding from amidst the golden strands, while a tail emerged from behind. Tomas, tall and lean with a muscular physique, carried himself with regality and a stoic expression as he made his way to the stage.“Kara Laavis,” Amber announced next, and a blonde Siren quickly jogged to the stage. Her scaly skin gleamed under the light as she stood next to Zahra and Tomas.“Arthur Stone,” Amber said, gesturing towards a dark-skinned guy with a fade cut. He grinned and hurried onto the stage, his attention seemingly drawn to Kara, the Siren girl. They both blushed at each other, their mutual attraction evident to everyone in the room.Austin wondered if he’d be able to stand among them one day. “Maybe next semester,” he promised himself.“Austin Blackthorn.”He kept smiling to himself, lost in his thoughts as he heard the last word. Only when Amber smiled directly at him and Larissa nudged him did he realize he had been called.“Wait, you’re one of the five strongest students. Why didn’t you tell me?” Larissa asked, her eyes almost bulging out of her sockets. Suddenly, everyone's attention was on him.“I didn’t even know it myself,” Austin said, rising from his seat and walking towards the podium. He felt hundreds of eyes on him, and it wasn’t as cool as he thought it would be.Throughout his teenage years, he trained and pushed himself to his limits to get into this academy. He had strengthened his mana pool and made himself stronger than most people back in his hometown, but he often knew that there would be many students stronger than him in this place. What caught him off guard was realizing he was one of the strong ones.Austin ended up standing next to the leopard guy, Tomas. He flashed a friendly smile at him, but Tomas didn’t show any hint of emotion.Turning to the rest of the students, he was relieved to see all three of them smiling warmly at him.All the students in the hall were chattering, but Amber’s snap silenced them all again. “These are the current strongest freshmen. I want the rest of you to see them not as enemies but as competition, so maybe next semester you could be standing in their place.”Amber turned to the five and then to the rest of the students. 'We’re a privileged lot,' she continued, 'only 40% of the population gets the chance to use magic and live the life that many non-magicians envy. We’re lucky that we have powers to make our lives easy and to defend ourselves against any danger, but we must learn to use these powers with responsibility and make the world a safer place for everyone. If you need any help, just visit me in my office; I’ll be sure to help you. And lastly, best of luck.”With that, her eyes locked on Austin. He looked back to see if he was wrong and she was staring at someone else, but then she smiled at him and nodded silently, confirming that she was indeed staring at him.With that, she pushed her mic back into the small portal. Her stance changed as she opened her palms to her sides, facing the ground, and bright flames thrust out of her palms, shocking everyone in the room. Amber, the crimson-haired woman, thrust the fire faster, the swift flames propelling her off the ground. She smiled at Austin one last time before flying off.With Amber gone, all the students started walking away towards their first classes of the year, while some waited as they had chosen a different subject and had to wait for their class to start. Austin was among the latter.Austin walked back to Larissa. 'You’re not in Alchemy class, are you?' Larissa asked, getting up and ready to leave for her class.'Nope, I don't have much affinity for chemistry or potions,' Austin replied. 'My first class will be in an hour. Elementalism 1.' He clicked his ChronoBand and showed her his schedule for the week.Monday:9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Elementalism I10:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Spatial Magic12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Dungeon Diving2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: ZoologyTuesday:9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Elementalism II10:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Spatial Magic12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Arcanology2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Dungeon DivingWednesday:9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Elementalism I10:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Zoology12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Dungeon Diving2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: ArcanologyThursday:9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Elementalism II10:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Spatial Magic12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Zoology2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Dungeon DivingFriday:9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Elementalism I10:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Spatial Magic12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Dungeon Diving2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Arcanology"Only four classes a day and two days off,” Austin said. “That gives us a lot of time for other things too.”The students had to choose their subjects during the online admission process, but they could change their subjects if they couldn’t handle the chosen subject.Larissa clicked her CB and showed him her schedule too. She had almost the same classes, save for alchemy and zoology. Instead of zoology, she studied necromancy.“I have the same lecture too. I guess I’ll see you later.” Larissa put her bag on her shoulders. “Don’t flirt with any girl while I’m gone,” she chuckled before walking away.Austin found his gaze drifting to her irresistible ass, and she caught him once more. But instead of blushing, the moon elf just winked at him and walked away.With Larissa gone to her Alchemy class, Austin headed to the cafeteria and ate a sandwich while waiting for his next class to begin. The idea that he was one of the strongest students in the class had done what he was avoiding doing.Now some of the students around him, specifically those who were in the orientation, were either looking at him with a bit of fear or outright just avoiding him.“Well, at least I have one friend,” Austin said to himself, thinking about Larissa. He decided to pass the time until his next class started and pulled out his phone when someone tapped him on the shoulder.“Hi, I’m Zahra,” the raven-haired girl from orientation with wolf ears said as she stood next to him.Zahra was wearing a white top and blue denim jeans, her attire snugly hugging her figure. If Austin didn't believe in gravity for most of his life, he did now, especially after seeing the girl’s rather gifted globes. Don’t stare. Don’t stare!Austin couldn’t stop his eyes from roaming over the rest of her impressive figure before he looked up at her face again.“Hi, I’m Austin,” he said, shaking her hand and finding her sapphire blue eyes a little mesmerizing. She had tanned skin and spoke with a bit of an accent that he found quite cute for some reason. “Please, have a seat,” he offered.She noticed his staring but didn’t say anything, a small grin appearing on her lips before she sat down next to him. “So, you also have a large mana pool?”“Yeah,” Austin replied. He didn’t see any reason to deny it since it was all out in the open, and she knew it too.He looked around and noticed that people were looking at Zahra the same way they looked at him. “Ah, so you’re facing it too. The stares and all. I really didn’t plan to tell everyone about my abilities.”“I'm neither, but I guess it’s an academy policy to single out students with bigger mana pools so they don’t start challenging others to find out who’s the strongest. We can’t do anything about it. That reminds me, did you go through the entrance exam or not?”Austin decided to be honest with the girl. “To be honest, I didn’t. I didn’t even know there was such a thing until my roommate told me about her experience.”Zahra’s eyes widened with delight, and her ears twitched. “Thank the gods, I thought I was the only one who hadn’t given the exam.” She scooted in her seat, and Austin was suddenly aware of her chest pressing up against his arm. “I was feeling guilty that I got to skip a procedure that was compulsory for others.”Her smile infected him, and he smiled back, feeling his stomach flutter the more he looked at her. His draconic instincts were tingling again. Zahra was very attractive, and she clearly didn’t have an issue with his presence. He figured it couldn’t hurt to get to know her, especially if she was in his class and faced similar issues.“Well, now we both can feel guilty together,” Austin said. He watched as Zahra bit her lip to muffle giggles at his words and looked him up and down. She ran her fingers through her hair.Austin offered her a sandwich, and she started eating it in small bites.The silence stretched between them before she finally continued.“You’re not a human mage, I can tell.” Zahra's gaze lingered on him. “Human mages rarely have this much mana.”Austin didn’t know if he could trust her with his secret. He barely knew the girl, so he decided to keep his mouth shut for the time being. “Yeah, I’m not a human mage. But I can’t reveal what I really am, at least not yet.”“Oh, I’m in the same boat,” Zahra giggled.“What do you mean? I can tell that you’re a wolf girl.” Austin raised a brow, his gaze flicking to the ears sprouting from her hair and then a dark furred tail behind her.“No,” Zahra giggled, her deep blue eyes shimmering. “I’m a jackal girl. I have my own secrets too, not the ones pertaining to my appearance but regarding my family.”“Oh, sorry. I’ve never met a jackal-kin before.”“No problem. Most people mistake me for a wolf. I’ve gotten used to it.” Zahra placed her elbows on the table, clasped her hands, and rested her chin on it before looking back at him.Austin unconsciously ended up doing the same as he listened to her.“I’m hiding my true identity becau—”Austin cut her off by completing what she was saying. “Because you don’t want your friendships to be influenced by your family’s name.”“Touche,” Zahra rolled a few strands of her black hair around her finger.Austin kept staring at Zahra silently, enjoying her company. Zahra was only inches away, her scent accumulating around him in an invisible but hard-to-ignore cloud. He couldn’t identify what it smelled like—sweet vanilla with a touch of something spicy?
“So, you don’t have a problem flirting with guys, huh? Why the silent treatment for me then?” A man’s voice interrupted Austin's thoughts.He was snapped out of his reverie and found the leopard guy from orientation, making his way towards their table. Zahra’s expression quickly changed, and she tightened her jaw. “Ugh!” She grunted, annoyance clear on her face.“For the hundredth time, I’m not interested in you, Tomas.” Zahra’s tone was cold as she turned to face the guy who had stopped just before them. It was obvious from his walk and expressions what his personality was, 'I'm the campus bully, don’t you dare come in my way’ was written all over his face.Austin took a better look at the man this time and noticed his golden hair and two panther-like ears popping out of his hair. He had fair skin and wore a white shirt with sleeves rolled up to show his muscled arms and an intricate leopard tattoo on his left arm. “You can try, Zahra, but I’m not going to stop until I make you mine.”Then his gaze shifted to Austin. “Consider this as a warning, kid. STAY. AWAY. FROM. HER,” he walked up to Austin, leaning over the table, his face inches away from Austin’s. Then he grabbed the collar of Austin's shirt and pulled his face closer. “She’s mine.”Austin felt something stir within him—a need to show Tomas who he was talking to. He could show the guy how it felt to mess with a dragon, but this was not the time or place for it. He didn't want his new classmates to look at him with fear like his high school classmate had.He closed his eyes and took deep breaths to control his instincts. He didn’t want to create a scene, but the fact that Tomas needed to learn a lesson remained. Austin let the aggressiveness wither away from his mind.Tomas seemed like the kind of guy who loved to dominate others, who loved to show his superiority, his reputation was all he cared for. Reputation was a weak point for guys like that, and Austin decided to use it as his tool.Austin opened his eyes and defiantly smiled at Tomas. “Come on, man. Don’t come so close. I don’t want rumors spreading around the academy that you were begging me to fuck you in the ass, and when I refused, you decided to hit me. People might think I’m gay, and while there's nothing wrong with that, I'm just not into guys. But it looks like I can’t say the same for you.”Zahra giggled when Austin finished speaking and mischievously grinned at Tomas. It was followed by laughter from the people in the hall.Tomas’ eyes were clouded with rage, and Austin noticed a vein pop on his forehead. If Tomas had guts, he would have hit Austin right then and there, but he seemed a little scared, not of being hurt but of being expelled if word got out that he got into another fight. Just like Austin expected, Tomas’ reputation stopped him from lifting his fist for blood.“I’m letting you go this time, but if I see you with this chick again, I’m going to mess you up. And don’t think that just because you have a strong mana pool, you can beat me. Royal blood flows in my veins, so think before you act or you might regret your decisions.”With that, Tomas released Austin's collar, stared at Zahra for one last time, and strode away, not turning back as he walked out of the cafeteria.Only then did Austin notice that all of the people in the cafeteria had stopped what they were doing; the whole place had fallen silent. But when Austin looked back at them, everyone started talking amongst themselves as if they hadn't been enjoying the verbal fight just moments ago.Then, Austin realized something. The guys weren’t avoiding Zahra because of her strength, but because of Tomas. They didn’t want to clash with the bully and were trying to avoid what Austin had just experienced.“What the heck is his problem?” Austin asked Zahra, noticing the tension on her face had lessened.“He's just some minor panther-kin nobleman's son who thinks he’s beyond everyone else and wants to get me into his bed and make me one of his ‘girlfriends.” She used finger brackets as she said the word ‘girlfriend’. “He’s been persuading me—more like stalking me—since I arrived here. And now he pulled you into this mess because of me?” She slumped and looked down.Austin placed a hand on hers. “Hey, it’s not your fault. Jerks like him just try to find excuses to show their superiority. By the way, I think you can handle him yourself. He’ll be very humiliated if a girl were to put him in his place.”That seemed to cheer her up, she looked up at him and smiled weakly. “Sounds like a good idea. Okay, let’s not focus on that trash,” she said, looking down at her phone. “It’s almost time for our class. Elementalism I, it is.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Austin walked towards the classroom, Zahra by his side. He glanced at his phone, a message from Larissa lighting up the screen. She had just finished her class and would be joining him soon.The classroom was larger than the others, more like a gymnasium with an open roof than a classroom. Rows of bleacher-like seats lined one side, while a massive sliding door stood opposite, devoid of any extra stuff except for a few lights. And the floor of the room was not furnished with wood or cement, it was just bare ground.Austin took a seat, reserving the spot to his left for Larissa with his bag, while Zahra settled in beside him.Zahra noticed his gaze drifting toward the entrance. "Waiting for someone?""Yeah, my roommate," Austin replied. Just then, Larissa entered the room, scanning the crowd until her eyes landed on him. He waved, a smile spreading across her face as she made her way over."How was the class?" Austin asked, pulling his bag onto his lap.Larissa sighed, sinking into the seat. "Fun, for someone like me who enjoys potions and chemicals.""Great," Austin said, before realizing Zahra was there too. "Oh, hey. Larissa, this is Zahra, from the orientation.""Hi, Zahra, I'm Larissa," Moonelf said, extending her hand."Nice to meet you, Larissa," Zahra replied, shaking her hand.A playful glint danced in Larissa's eyes as she turned to him. "I'm gone for just an hour, and you've already replaced me, huh?"Zahra's expression faltered, thinking Larissa was serious. "Oh no, Larissa, I didn't know you two were dating. It’s not what it looks like."Larissa chuckled. "Don't worry, Zahra, it's just a little banter between us. We're not dating or anything."Austin jumped back into the conversation. "Yeah, she just playfully likes to call herself my girlfriend."Larissa pouted her lips and shot Austin a playful glare before turning to Zahra. "Honestly, he started it by teasing me for just a slip of tongue."Austin rummaged through his bag, retrieving a tiffin box filled with sandwiches. "I figured you'd be hungry, so I brought this," he said, offering it to Larissa."Awww," Larissa cooed, taking the tiffin box. Then, in a sudden move that caught both Austin and Zahra off guard, she leaned in and planted a kiss on Austin's cheek. "If you keep being sweet like this, I might actually consider being your girlfriend."Austin’s inner dragon told him to pull her onto his lap and show her how much he appreciated her company, but that would’ve been too forward. Instead, he just stared into Larissa’s eyes and licked his lips, trying to communicate his feelings without speaking, and she held his gaze, her pupils dilating a little. He found his mind clouded with an intense desire for the Moonelf and decided that he'd ask her out on a date soon."Ugh, get a room, you two," Zahra teased, her amusement evident, a small blush creeping her own cheeks upon seeing the two. She couldn't deny noticing the chemistry between them and felt a little jealous.She found herself growing fond of Austin after he stood up for her in the cafeteria. Most guys would have backed down in the face of Tomas' aggression, but not Austin. Maybe sticking close to him would deter Tomas from bothering her again.After all, Tomas only overpowered her because he had his friends' support while she was alone. She made a mental note to discuss this with Austin later."Good morning, students," echoed the feminine voice throughout the stadium-sized hall. Then, a woman descended gracefully from the open roof, landing with poise on her feet. Her skin bore a deep crimson hue, her long black hair cascaded down her back, and a pointed tail swished behind her. Two horns peeked from beneath her hair, and two sleek black wings spread wide behind her.Her body was perfectly fitted into a black leather suit that left no curve unnoticed. The top of her suit was slightly unzipped, exposing a good deal of cleavage. This succubus teacher obviously had no problem flaunting her skills in front of her students."I'm Natalie," she declared, her smile wide as she stepped onto the stage. "I'll be your instructor for Elementalism I. We'll be delving into the intricacies of fire, water, and earth, along with their respective subtopics."Her voice rang out with infectious enthusiasm, echoing off the walls of the hall. Natalie's eyes sparkled with excitement as she addressed her class, her wide smile lighting up her features."In this class, we won't just be mastering these elements for combat; we'll also learn to control them for the protection of ourselves and others," Natalie continued, her gaze sweeping over the attentive students. "Each of you possesses the capability to manipulate these core elements, otherwise, you wouldn't be here. Now, I won't waste time teaching you how to conjure a simple fireball. That's basic knowledge, which I'm sure you all possess. If there's anyone who doesn't, well, I'm not sure how you managed to enroll in this academy." A chuckle rippled through Natalie's words, echoed nervously by the students.With a flick of her hand, a portal materialized to her left. Stepping through it, she reappeared a moment later, followed by over a dozen skeletons obediently lined up behind her, each sporting a star-shaped target on its forehead."Alright, time for some target practice," Natalie announced, her enthusiasm washing over the students. "It's easy to hit a stationary target, but what if it's a moving being? That's where the real challenge lies. Don't worry, though—I'll be here to guide you every step of the way."Summoning a fireball in one hand and a water ball in the other, Natalie grinned mischievously. "You can choose two out of the three elements and try to hit the target on their forehead. Once you've chosen, there's no turning back! These skeletons will defend themselves with all three elements, but don't fret—they'll only use simple defensive tactics. After all, I wouldn't want any of my students to get hurt on the first day!"Natalie scanned the eager faces of her students, her gaze landing on a burly figure among them. "Mason!" she called out, beckoning the minotaur forward with a grin. "You're first."With a confident stride, Mason approached, his muscles rippling beneath his fur. "I choose fire and earth, Miss Natalie," he declared proudly, a smirk playing on his lips. He seemed certain that he could win the challenge effortlessly."Excellent choice," Natalie replied, nodding approvingly. "Now, your task is to hit the star-shaped target on the skeleton's forehead. Are you ready?"Mason nodded eagerly as Natalie gestured for one of the skeletons to step forward. Natalie's wings started fluttering before she flew over the ground. With a countdown from Natalie, the battle began.Mason wasted no time, conjuring a fireball and hurling it at the skeleton. But the agile creature dodged with surprising speed, narrowly avoiding the fiery projectile. Undeterred, Mason unleashed a barrage of fireballs, but the skeleton danced and weaved between them effortlessly.Frustration flickered across Mason's face as he struggled to land a hit. Fire elements often took a lot of effort and mana to be used, Mason’s fur was glistening with sweat in just a few seconds. It was never a good idea to use so many fireballs in such a short amount of time.But Mason wasn’t a strategic guy, he often went with his gut feelings, and his guts were telling him to hit the skeleton with a large-range attack and end the battle as soon as possible.He joined his palms, mana surged through his body and formed a large ball of fire between his palms. He didn’t throw the ball away but used it as a source of attack. Finally, once the desired amount of mana had turned into a raging ball of flames, he unleashed a powerful flamethrower attack, a large wave of flames hitting the white bones and engulfing the skeleton in flames.However, the fire also licked the stadium walls, casting dark shadows across the surface.The skeleton swirled around, summoning water and using its mana to extinguish the fire. The white bones of the skeleton were now dark and stained, but it hadn’t lost the fight yet.Mason's determination only grew upon seeing it. He launched more fireballs, but the skeleton countered with earth magic, erecting walls of earth to protect itself.A smile crept across Mason's face as he welcomed the challenge. With a surge of earth power, the Minotaur also conjured two massive walls larger than the ones skeletons had summoned and closed them around the skeleton from both sides with a swift attack, crushing the skeleton between them while leaving only its head intact, which tumbled onto the floor. With a final fireball, he struck the target on the skull, completing the task.Natalie landed back on the ground, applauding Mason's effort. "Well done, Mason," she praised, though her tone held a hint of disappointment. "But remember, control is key. Collateral damage can have serious consequences. Keep that in mind for next time. Oftentimes, in fights, we are surrounded by our allies, and sometimes we could have some people to rescue as well. If you attack your opponent rashly, you can hurt the ones you didn’t intend to. Your lesson is to think before attacking, not the other way around."Mason listened attentively, nodding in understanding as he returned to his seat.A few more students tried their hand at the target practice, some failing to hit the target and some doing it with much effort. Natalie pointed out mistakes that students made and also gave tips on areas where they had to improve. Most magic users stayed proficient in only two or three elements. It was a difficult art that required a lot of effort, but once learned, it wasn’t so hard.Only a few selected individuals—those who pushed their limits or had natural affinity—were the only ones with the ability to control all the core and sub-elements.This practice session was proving to be an eye-opener for many, over a dozen students decided to drop the subject and join an easier class.“Tomas, you’re next.”Austin watched the leopard guy, always wearing that stone-cold expression and never letting any emotion slip. A showdown with him felt unavoidable now, especially after the cafeteria incident. Austin wanted to know what this guy was capable of so he could be ready for when they eventually faced off.Tomas and a new skeleton faced each other in the center of the arena. "Tomas, since you're one of the top five, I think this might be too easy for you and the others. So, I'm making an exception for you five by granting the skeletons the ability to fight back."The succubus retrieved a badge from her pants pocket, bearing the same star-shaped target image, and tossed it to Tomas, who caught it. "Pin it on the right side of your shirt. Now, you'll also have to protect your own target while trying to hit the enemy's."With the badge pinned to his chest, Tomas prepared himself for the battle ahead."Okay, why don’t we change the scenery a bit?" Natalie snapped her fingers, and in an instant, all of the students and skeletons were teleported out of the class and near a lake situated behind the Academy building.Tomas wasted no time in choosing his elements: earth and water.The skeleton took the first step by leaping into the water, and Tomas followed suit. However, instead of diving in, he utilized his water-control abilities to freeze the water's surface. With each step forward, the water beneath his feet solidified, turning into ice and creating a path for him to walk on.The battle commenced as the skeleton jumped out of the lake, riding a small wave of water, and launched mud pellets at Tomas, trying to hit the target badge on Tomas’ chest. But Tomas was quick to react, summoning a tall wall of water to melt the mud bullets before they could reach their mark.The skeleton mimicked the leopard's move and stood up on the surface of the water, freezing it just like Tomas had done. In response, Tomas summoned water into his palm, which began to freeze as it collected, eventually taking the shape of a sword. The skeleton followed suit, summoning its own sword of ice before charging towards Tomas. Tomas also ran towards it.The two combatants clashed, their swords meeting in a resounding clash before shattering into hundreds of pieces.The skeleton swiftly threw a punch towards Tomas, but the leopard raised a dense wall of wet earth from the lake’s bottom to block it. However, displaying its ingenuity, the skeleton manipulated the water, summoning a large wave to crash against the muddy wall. The force of the wave was so strong that it melted away the earth, sending Tomas washing ashore.Realizing that the skeleton was copying his attacks and turning them against him, Tomas knew he had to change tactics. With a swift motion, he summoned a massive wave of water towards the skeleton turning the creature’s trick on itself, distracting it as it struggled to control the sudden deluge.Seizing the opportunity, Tomas tapped into his earth power. He dropped to his knees on the ground and placed his palms onto the wet ground near the lake. As the skeleton managed to save itself from being damaged by the wave, a large palm made entirely out of muddy ground sprung forth from the lake, catching the creature off guard. Tomas closed the earth palm around the skeleton.The skeleton struggled against the earth's grasp. Tomas, undeterred, lifted one hand off the ground and flicked the water of the lake. A single drop of water flew towards the skeleton. At the last moment, Tomas transformed the drop into a splinter of ice, aiming directly at the target on the skeleton's forehead.With a satisfying crack, the splinter hit its mark. Austin glanced at a specific group as they cheered for him. Among them was another leopard kin, a girl with golden hair like Tomas. She carried herself with the same air of importance and wore a resting bitch face expression. Austin wondered if she was related to the guy. He looked at her for a few moments, and the girl must've noticed him staring because she coldly stared back at him before turning away.A few more students tried their hand at hitting the target, before Larissa’s turn came. Austin was bracing for his own turn but Natalie didn’t seem to call him, her gaze would land upon him but she’d smirk and pick some other student instead.Larissa walked before the skeleton, she removed her shoes, put them aside and stood barefoot. Before anyone could gather what was happening, a branch from the nearby tree snaked its way towards her, she broke the branch and then beckoned some roots out of the ground.“She’s commanding the tree using her Earth magic,” Zahra whispered to Austin, impressed by the Moonelf.Larissa used the thick branch as the bow and used the roots as strings, creating a workable bow. And then grabbed another few more branches, to use as arrows.The skeleton was just on defensive mode, it didn’t attack because Larissa wasn’t one of the five.With practiced ease, she aimed and let loose an arrow towards the skeleton. At the same time, she started tapping her foot onto the ground as if tap dancing, she’d move back and forth, side to side, her aim never flattering as her feet tapped onto the ground.The skeleton, however, was not to be outdone. With a swift motion, it clapped its boney palms together and sent a wave of air towards the incoming projectile, deflecting it effortlessly. Larissa nocked another arrow and fired, but the skeleton once again intercepted it. Unbeknownst to the skeleton, Larissa continued tapping her feet on the ground rhythmically.Austin, keenly observant, noticed Larissa's subtle movements. While the skeleton was preoccupied deflecting arrows, roots began sprouting from the ground around it. As the skeleton attempted to burn away the entangling roots using fire, Larissa ceased her arrow barrage and focused on summoning more roots. The roots wound around the skeleton's legs, creeping onto its structure and snaking their way into the ribcage, constricting its movements and anchoring it in place.With the skeleton effectively immobilized, Larissa seized the opportunity. She grabbed the bow and arrow, drawing it back with precision. With a confident smile, she released the arrow, and it soared through the air, finding its mark on the skeleton’s forehead.With that Larissa turned to Austin with a smile, who returned it with a playful wink.As it came to Zahra's turn, she wasted no time in demonstrating her prowess. With a mastery of Air and Water elements, she swiftly engaged the skeleton in combat. Zahra's agility and quick thinking were on full display as she deftly dodged the skeleton's fiery attacks using water shields.However, Zahra's real moment of triumph came when she cleverly manipulated the air currents, altering the trajectory of the skeleton's flames and redirecting them back towards their source. Caught off guard, the skeleton found itself engulfed in its own fiery assault.But Zahra wasn't finished yet. With precision, she conjured an ice dagger and sent it hurtling towards the confused skeleton, striking it squarely in the skull. With a resounding crack, the skeleton crumbled to the ground, defeated by Zahra's quick thinking and skillful manipulation of the elements.As the battle concluded, Austin couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within him. He knew that soon it would be his turn to face the challenge, one after another Natalie called all the remaining students on the ground to test their abilities until solely he remained.“Austin, you're the last one.” Natalie’s words made him nervous and excited at the same time.Austin walked over to the ground and welcomed the opportunity to prove himself."Since everyone has already demonstrated various combinations and attacks, I believe it would be simple for you to mimic any of them and swiftly complete the challenge," Natalie stated as she approached Austin. "However, I think we should raise the stakes a bit for you. Perhaps you can showcase to me and the other students why you are one of the top five." With that, Natalie handed Austin a target badge, just like the one she had given to Tomas, Zahra, Arthur, and Kara.Austin pinned it to his shirt. “Yeah, I’m ready. Ms. Natalie. I choose Earth and Water.”Natalie suddenly summoned a blindfold in her palm and then walked behind him to tie it over his eyes. Her breasts lightly brushed against his back, and that small contact made him shiver a little. “Do your best.” He felt the succubus’ breath on his ear as she fastened the blindfold."Now," Natalie's voice resonated next to Austin, drawing his attention. "It's time for everyone to focus on Austin's actions. He won't be able to see anything, and this scenario is common in dungeons or when facing enemies in any other realm. There might be darkness in a dungeon due to a lack of light sources. The important thing to remember is that even when our eyes fail us, we possess an innate ability as magic users to sense the mana around us. We can harness this ability to our advantage." With those words, Natalie ascended into the air and began counting to three.Austin embraced Natalie's words, recalling his training from his teenage years. His mother had mentored him in the use of this very ability, known as Mana Sight. As he stood blindfolded before the skeleton, Austin centered his focus on the mana that permeated his surroundings.He began the process, initially attuning himself to the mana within his own body. With a concentrated effort, he visualized this internal mana and then extended it outward, channeling it in all directions to discern his environment.The result was breathtaking. Waves of mana radiated from Austin's body, manifesting as ethereal blue light that cascaded over the area surrounding him. Spectators gazed in wonder as these waves intersected with trees, stones, the earth itself, and even the students themselves, before reflecting and converging back upon Austin.With the return of these mana waves, Austin's senses expanded, granting him a vivid visualization of his surroundings. Every aspect of nature pulsed with mana, from living beings to inanimate objects, each imbued with its own unique energy signature.With his inner sight, Austin sensed the skeleton before him, its mana pulsating in shades of purple. As the skeleton unleashed a fireball in his direction, Austin reacted with agility. Dropping to his knees, he pressed his palm firmly against the ground, drawing upon the earth's essence to shape a protective rocky gauntlet around his first before punching the fiery projectile aside.Yet the skeleton remained relentless, launching another fireball toward Austin. This time, the dragon conjured a water ball of his own to counter the flames and extinguish the threat before it could reach him.The skirmish intensified as the skeleton continued its assault, manipulating the elements with precision. Fireballs surged forth in rapid succession, each aimed at the target on Austin's chest, testing his resolve. Undaunted, Austin evaded each one, retaliating with well-timed punches to deflect the fiery assaults, his heightened senses attuned to the mana of fire hurtling toward him.In a sudden surge of heat, Austin felt the scorching touch of another fireball. His shirt burst into flames as the skeleton unleashed a barrage of three fireballs. Swiftly evading the first two, Austin missed the third, its fiery impact scorching a portion of his shirt. Though fire couldn't harm him because he was a dragon, he still had his pride to maintain and the badge to protect. He couldn’t let his clothes burn down and let his classmates see his nude form.Recalling his training, Austin swiftly rolled onto the ground, the earth coating around him and forming a protective armor of rock. With the badge secured, he was ready to retaliate.Empowered by his newfound defense, Austin surged forward with earth magic. A massive block of rock materialized beneath his feet, propelling him towards the skeleton with astonishing speed. Caught off guard, the skeleton could only watch in bewilderment as Austin, encased in rocky armor, unleashed a powerful blow with his gauntlet fist.The force of impact shattered the skeleton's chest, sending bones scattering across the ground. Standing triumphant over his defeated foe, a grin spread across his face."Sorry about that," he chuckled at the skeleton, a playful tone in his voice. "Just a little showing off." With a swift kick, he sent the skull soaring into the air, then swiftly launched a splinter of rock towards the target on its forehead. As the splinter struck true, the earth armor dissipated from his body, flowing off like liquid before returning to its original space from where Austin had absorbed it.After removing the blindfold, Austin was met with the cheers of his classmates. He noticed Natalie’s claps for him before she landed before him. "That was outstanding!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying for all to hear. Then, lowering her voice to a more intimate tone so only he could hear, she added, "You're hardworking, and you possess the same spark your mom had. I’m excited to see your growth." Natalie finished it with a wink, making him blush a little.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
As the class came to an end, out of the 97 students who had initially joined the class, only 47 had chosen to continue with Elementalism-1 as one of their core subjects. The rest had opted to switch to other disciplines better suited to their strengths."Thanks for today, everyone," Gathering the attention of the class, Natalie addressed them with a warm smile. "The intent behind this exercise was to allow me to assess how you deal with basic problems in the field, as well as your proficiency with these elements. I wanted to see how you think, how you fight, and what your natural inclinations are. Now, I can tailor my teaching to each of you, and help you refine your strengths and also address your weaknesses."With a snap of her fingers, Natalie brought them all back to the classroom. "See you in the next class," she added with a smile. "We'll learn more about these elements and dive deeper into them together."As students began to leave the classroom, Austin made his way over to Larissa and Zahra. He could feel the weight of curious eyes on him, the whispers about his verbal fight with Tomas having spread quickly. He also noticed people stealing glances at Zahra.Ignoring the murmurs and stares, Austin asked, "So, you guys wanna grab something to eat before the next class?"Larissa rubbed her belly with a grin, "Yeah, using earth magic really drained me. I'm starving."Zahra nodded in agreement, "The next class is spatial magic, and then there's Dungeon Diving. We should fuel up now because both of those will definitely make us work up a sweat."The trio made their way to the nearest cafeteria. As expected, it was bustling with students taking advantage of the break between classes to grab a bite to eat. Despite the crowd, they managed to collect their lunches and find a table where they could sit together.Larissa picked up on the whispers and stares from nearby students directed at Austin and Zahra. She quickly asked, "Did something happen? Everyone seems to be looking at you two."Austin began explaining, "I was going to tell you about it. There was an incident..." He recounted the events, with Zahra chiming in to support his account.Listening intently, Larissa sighed, "So, that leopard guy is our enemy, got it." She then reached out and took Zahra's hand, offering comfort. "Don't worry, Zahra. If he wants to fight you or Austin, he'll have to go through me too.""Thanks, Larissa. And you too, Austin," Zahra responded with gratitude.As they continued eating, the conversation shifted to a lighter topic.Leo turned to Zahra, "So, what dorm are you staying in?""I'm in Maverick Hall," Zahra replied, taking a sip of her mango juice.Larissa's face lit up with a smile. "Hey, we're in Maverick Hall too. Room number 9."A smile spread across Zahra’s face. "Really? I'm in Room number 8.""We're practically neighbors, wow," Austin added with a grin.“Zahra, if you ever need anything or just want to have some girl talk, you're welcome to our room," Larissa said enthusiastically. "And don't worry, we'll kick Austin out while we have some private chat.""Hey, I'm still here, you know," Austin teased, poking Larissa's side to make her giggle. The elf girl was opening up, and he found himself enjoying her company even more.Zahra caught Austin's gaze as he looked at Larissa, sensing a hint of something in his eyes. Austin simply smiled back at her. Not missing a beat, Zahra decided to tease him a bit. "My roommate is a girl too, she's a goblin. I'm sure she'd love to meet you two. Larissa might have seen her in the alchemy class."Larissa nodded, "Oh, there were a few goblins, both guys and girls. I didn't really make any friends in that class, so it would be good to get to know her."An idea sparked in Austin's mind as he listened to them. "Hey, why don't we go out for dinner tonight? It’ll help us get to know each other better. Dinner's on me. You can bring any of your friends along too.""That sounds like a good idea," Zahra agreed before pausing, her lips pursing into a line. "I don't really have any friends here, apart from my roommate, that is.""And now you have us. We're your friends too," Austin reassured her, with Larissa echoing the sentiment. "It's settled then, all four of us will go out tonight."…"Who do you think our Spatial Magic teacher will be?" Austin asked as Larissa and Zahra settled into their seats next to him.Larissa replied, "I heard someone from Olympus was going to teach the subject this year, but I'm not sure if that's true."Austin noticed that the class had fewer students compared to the previous ones, with only 25 or 30 students present. Spatial Magic was a more advanced form of magic, requiring more effort and mana to use effectively. That explained why there were less than 5000 spatial magic users in the world, and even fewer who could use it with precision.Tomas was in the class too, sitting with his distinct group of friends. Most students chose to sit away from them. Austin also noticed the leopard girl from earlier, sitting to Tomas' right, while an elf woman sat to his left. His attention was drawn away when Zahra called out, "Corra, over here! We saved a spot for you."As the newcomer smiled and raised a hand in greeting to Zahra, Leo couldn't help but glance at Corra as she walked towards their row. Standing at almost 4 feet tall, the girl was wearing black t-shirt and jeans, her skin was a pale green like leaves, and her hair was a darker shade of green too, actually more teal than green and she also had pointy ears."Corra, these are Austin and Larissa. I met them today, and it turns out they live next to us," Zahra introduced her roommate as Corra joined them."Oh, so this is the guy who stood up for you against Tomas. Everyone's talking about it," Corra said, taking a seat next to Zahra. "Nice to meet you, Larissa and Austin."The chatter in the classroom suddenly quieted down as a woman walked in and shut the door behind her.The woman appeared to be in her early 30s, she had blonde hair and she walked confidently, making her presence known and there was an aura about her that was undeniably powerful. Austin could feel her Mana give off a radiant glow, causing his own mana to ripple in response. She was no mere mortal. She was a divine being from the myths that mankind had heard for centuries."Greetings, students. I'm Persephone, your Spatial Magic teacher," she announced, her sharp gaze made her appear even fiercer than Headmistress Amber.All the students seemed incredulous and captivated by the teacher’s presence, with the exception of Zahra who looked at the woman as if she was just another ordinary person. Persephone looked at the students before her gaze locked with Zahra and they both shared a knowing nod."You know her?" Austin asked, surprised to see the goddess acknowledging Zahra in a room full of students."Yeah," Zahra replied nonchalantly, "She's a friend of my dad's."Austin, Larissa, and Corra exchanged stunned looks at this revelation. Before they could ask anything, Persephone redirected their attention.The teacher delved into the basics and complexities of spatial magic. She emphasized that mastering it was no easy feat. However, even learning simple teleportation could give students an edge. It was a skill that required patience and practice; some might struggle at first, while others might excel right away."Just like elemental magic, spatial magic allows us to manipulate space and the objects within it," Persephone explained. "Everything you see is space; you just need to learn to feel and shape it according to your will." With a swirl of her finger, she conjured a marble out of thin air."While spatial magic may not be primarily used for offense, it offers valuable defensive capabilities. Some techniques I'll be teaching include creating dimensional pockets, telekinesis for object manipulation, teleportation, and crafting a space mantle—an invisible shield to protect against long-range attacks."With a quick flick of her wrist, the marble glowed briefly before Persephone tossed it into the air. All eyes followed the gleaming orb as it ascended before gravity pulled it back down. It was about to fall somewhere on the students who were sitting behind Austin, but the marble vanished into thin air. Students looked around, trying to find where it had gone, but there was no sound of it hitting the floor, so it meant that it didn’t fall."It's here," Persephone announced, holding the marble once again. "That's basic teleportation for you—transporting an object from one place to another. Now, form groups of four and hold out your palms." She swirled her index finger, conjuring a pouch of marbles this time, the pouch glowed for a second too.In a swift motion, she emptied the pouch, but before the marbles could hit the floor, they began to disappear, reappearing in the open palms of the students. Austin received one, as did Larissa, Zahra, and Corra. The rest of the class followed suit. The room was filled with murmurs, but Persephone's voice rang out like thunder, "Silence!" Austin realized she was not someone to be trifled with."That's better. Each of you now has a marble. Your task is to toss it into the air and teleport it back to your palm before it hits the ground and shatters. Don't worry if it does break; I've enchanted them to reform in a few seconds. In simpler terms, try to do what I just demonstrated. You may begin."The room was spacious enough for everyone to stand comfortably in their groups without crowding. "Take turns and go at your own pace. Try it on your own first, and then I'll explain the proper technique," Persephone instructed."Who's going first?" Corra, the goblin, asked nervously. "I'm not really sure about this. I'd like someone else to start."As Austin had anticipated, all three girls turned to him. "I was going to say 'ladies first,'" he said with a sheepish grin, "but I guess you three have already made your decision.""You're the minority here, Austin. You gotta go first," Zahra chuckled.Hoping for some support from Larissa, Austin turned to the moon elf. However, she simply grabbed Zahra's arm and gestured for him to go first. "You heard the lady," she said with a teasing smile.Sighing, Austin tried to recall Persephone's actions. He closed his eyes and focused on the marble, trying to sense the mana swirling within it. However, he couldn't seem to affect it. He could feel the space around the marble and even the space the marble occupied, but controlling it was proving to be a challenge. He realized he needed to control the space the marble occupied and somehow summon it back into his palm.Frustrated, he couldn't figure it out. Persephone had simply tossed the marble into the air, and then it was back in her hand. Had she used some secret spell, or was it just a trick of the hand?Austin opened his eyes and tossed the marble into the air. As it ascended and then began its descent, he tried to focus his mind on it, attempting to feel the space around the marble. However, his concentration faltered, and the marble plummeted to the floor, shattering upon impact. Almost immediately, the shattered pieces began to move on their own, reassembling into the marble, as if magnetically attracted to one another."Shit," Austin cursed, scratching his head. He had no idea how Persephone had accomplished the feat, and neither did anyone else in the class."Good try," Zahra said, attempting to mimic Austin's actions but failing as her marble also hit the floor. Larissa and Corra tried next, with the same result. Looking around, they noticed that the entire class was struggling."Theory will only take you so far," Persephone stated, silencing the room once more. "The goal of this exercise is to test your observation skills as well. Now, I'll demonstrate the technique again. Pay close attention; even a small detail can provide a significant clue."Austin watched Persephone attentively this time. The marble glowed briefly before she tossed it into the air. As it descended, Persephone allowed it to fall until it was just a few inches from the floor. At that moment, she teleported it back into her palm."I believe at least one of you might have caught on to what I did. If not, that's okay. You'll learn with time. I want each of you to try a few more times before I reveal the trick," she concluded.As Austin picked up his marble again, he replayed every detail of Persephone's demonstration in his mind. The glow. The brief moment when the marble had glowed before she tossed it. Could that be the key? He pondered over it, convinced that he had stumbled upon something. There was only one way to find out.Persephone's keen eyes observed the room, noting the change in Austin's expression. She could sense the shift in his mana and felt that he had reached a conclusion. She was curious to see how close he was to deciphering the technique she had used.Closing his palm around the marble, Austin shut his eyes and visualized the mana coursing through his body. He channeled it out, letting it flow through his muscles, much like water flowing in pipes. He directed it into his arm, finally focusing it into his palm and pushing it into the marble. Contrary to his expectations, the marble exploded in his hand. Fortunately, as a dragon, his skin was resilient enough to prevent any harm."Too much mana," Austin muttered, realizing his mistake.Capturing the attention of every student in the room, the small explosion had certainly made a loud noise. The marble, however, did not revert back to its original form this time. Persephone observed from the side, a small smile beginning to form on her lips."Larissa, can I have your marble?" Austin requested, sensing that he was close to unlocking the trick.The moon elf handed him the marble, noticing the determination shining in his eyes. He was onto something, and she could see it.All eyes were on Austin. Everyone had paused their attempts to observe what he was about to do. He couldn't afford to fail again.Taking a deep breath, Austin began the ritual once more. He channeled mana into his palm, but this time, he approached it differently. Instead of concentrating the mana in the palm holding the marble, he gathered it in his left palm. Carefully, he pressed the index finger of his left hand onto the shimmering surface of the marble. He allowed a small amount of mana to flow from his finger and infused it into the marble.As he did this, the marble began to glow with mana, just as it had in Persephone's hand.Austin didn't celebrate just yet. He tossed the marble into the air, watching as it started its descent after brushing lightly against the ceiling. Within the marble, he felt the mana he had infused, swirling like mist. It felt controllable, like an extension of himself.He sensed a subtle connection between himself and the marble, a magnetic pull. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the pull of his own mana, drawing the marble towards him, much like a magnet attracting metal. Trusting his instincts, he focused on that connection, and just before the marble could hit the ground, he pulled it back into his palm.A few gasps echoed around the room, and he felt the familiar weight of the marble settle in his hand. He opened his eyes to see the marble on his palm but the mana he had infused into it was now gone, evaporated."That's good, Austin," Persephone said, approaching him. Her smile wasn't broad, but there was a hint of genuine admiration in her eyes. "You've got it.""Teacher, what just happened?" Arthur approached, curiosity clear on his face."Your classmate caught onto the technique I demonstrated," Persephone explained, conjuring another marble into her palm. "While he failed initially, his quick thinking led him to a breakthrough. You see, you can't teleport an object unless you've established a connection with it—by imbuing it with your mana. It's akin to elemental magic; the fireballs or any elemental constructs you create are infused with your mana, enabling you to manipulate their shape, movement and direction."She continued, "When you infuse an object with your mana, you also gain control over the space it occupies. This allows you to manipulate that space to your advantage." Demonstrating her point, she injected her marble with mana, causing it to glow brightly."Always remember to inject just the right amount of mana," Persephone cautioned, "Excessive mana can overwhelm the object, causing it to shatter, as we saw with Austin's initial attempt. Once an object is infused with your mana, it becomes connected to you. You can sense its presence, allowing you to use your mana like a magnet to draw the object back to you."With a flick of her wrist, Persephone sent her infused marble flying out the window. Moments later, she summoned it back into her palm. "Now that you've seen the technique, try it again."The students eagerly attempted the task. While some managed to succeed, others broke their marbles by infusing too much mana. Zahra succeeded effortlessly, but Larissa and Corra weren't as lucky. Persephone had to provide replacement marbles for those who failed.Amidst the attempts, a cheer erupted from Tomas' group. He had succeeded too. Austin's eyes met with the leopard girl's, only for her to quickly avert her gaze, as if dismissing him as unworthy of her attention.After several attempts and a few shattered marbles, Larissa finally managed to teleport the marble. However, it didn't land where she intended; instead, it appeared in Austin's hand. Persephone observed each student's progress closely, offering guidance where needed.When Larissa's turn came, Persephone whispered, "I know it's hard to ignore attraction at your age, but try to focus on the task at hand during class, you can daydream about your friend once the class ends." Larissa's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but thankfully, Persephone's voice was low enough that only Austin's group heard her comment.Zahra playfully nudged Austin with her elbow, a smirk forming on her lips as she noticed his blush. Austin's heart skipped a beat, realizing that Larissa had been thinking of him even while attempting the exercise.Just as Persephone was about to move on, Corra posed a question, "Teacher, I understand that the marbles shattered due to excessive mana, but why didn't they reform like before?""That's an insightful question," Persephone responded, her pride evident. "The marbles were originally infused with my spell in a precise proportion. The excessive mana disrupted the balance of my spell, preventing the marbles from reverting back to their original form."As the class concluded, most students had successfully teleported their marbles into their hands. Those who struggled were encouraged to practice and showcase their progress in the next session. Once Persephone departed, the classroom filled with the buzz of excited chatter.Austin had a burning question for Zahra. "Your dad's friends with Persephone? The Persephone? Queen of the Underworld Persephone?"Zahra shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "Yeah, it might sound impressive to others, but that's just everyday life for me.""That's awesome," Corra chimed in. "Your secrets won't be secrets for long at this rate."Larissa joined in, her curiosity evident. "Your dad must be cool. Being friends with a goddess isn't something you hear every day."Dropping her voice to a whisper, Zahra responded, "You have no idea. When you meet him, you'll see just how extraordinary he really is."Austin chuckled. "You're just teasing us now! I can't wait to learn more about you."Zahra smiled warmly, "I won't keep you in suspense for long. Since it looks like we're going to be good friends, you'll learn all about me soon enough."Austin glanced at his ChronoBand to check the schedule. "So, who's joining me for the Dungeon Diving class?"All three girls eagerly raised their hands. The Dungeon Diving class was highly anticipated among the students.Dungeon diving was a dream of many, it was thrilling, but also dangerous. Only those with courage and zest for becoming stronger could excel in it and ultimately graduate into a Dungeon Ranger. For Austin, this was the moment he'd been waiting for his entire life, and it was finally here. To finally enter a dungeon and kill monsters.