"Come on, you lazy bum. Time to wake up." Jason called out, throwing a pillow straight at Theo. "Just because you got here at dawn doesn't mean you get to sleep past noon."
The pillow landed squarely on the boy's head.
"Jason…" Theo mumbled.
"Yeah?"
A pillow was hurled right back at him.
"Breathe, study a little. Time keeps moving, and you keep wasting it just to annoy me."
"Here you go again with your existential crises… Man, I don't think I've ever seen someone as unhinged as you," Jason said, tossing a suitcase onto Theo's lap. "Professor Beatrice scheduled our practical class for today."
"I miss my day off…"
"You've only been here for a week, man. And you spent your day off fighting other knights and helping villagers."
"It was better than yours."
"Yeah, definitely. Now get ready already."
"Hell…" Theo grumbled, rubbing his eyes and gathering the courage to get up.
☽✪☾
Several teenagers began gathering inside a gymnasium. The place was divided into multiple sectors—training grounds, combat areas, running tracks, among others—where students of Wispells Academy practiced different activities at the same time. Theo and Jason walked through the space, watching other agents train.
"So, where are we supposed to go again?" Theo asked.
"To the designation wing. Looks like today we'll receive our class cards."
"Finally."
They stopped in front of a massive door that was already open. Many students were gathered before a makeshift stage. The two looked for a bench to sit on while waiting for Beatrice.
While Jason socialized with most of the students, Theo stayed reserved, leaning against a corner. He counted seconds in his head as memories resurfaced. His leg trembled with anxiety, and his breathing grew heavier.
A hand rested on his shoulder. Theo looked to the side and found someone familiar: a woman with light-brown curly hair, pink eyes, wearing a white tunic covered by a blue one.
"Are you okay?" Beatrice asked.
"Yes."
"Did you sleep well?"
"No," he replied, averting his gaze.
"Am I going to have to scold you again? Well, pay attention today."
Beatrice walked toward the stage. As she climbed up, Jason stared at her shamelessly, following every movement of the novice teacher's monumental body. Theo punched him in the face.
"What was that for?" Jason complained.
"Respect," Theo shot back coldly.
Jason rubbed the spot where Theo had hit him and asked,
"Why are you two so close? She looks like your mom."
Theo leaned back on the bench and sighed.
"She was my teacher from kindergarten through elementary school. I used to have insomnia and dyslexia, so I drew a lot of attention."
"You used to have dyslexia?" Jason joked.
"Idiot."
Beatrice clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Can everyone hear me clearly?" she asked, her voice flowing through the students' ears like a breeze wrapping around their bodies.
"Sound and wind attributes?" Jason asked.
"Yes."
Since Jason didn't know much about elemental attributes, he often relied on Theo for explanations. Beatrice used her sound attribute to amplify her voice, then her wind attribute to spread it throughout the area, ensuring every student could hear her.
"For all newcomers accepted into Wispells Academy and officially inducted as agents of the Order of Vagus, we know how eager you are to discover your occupations and levels. That is why the Headmistress and I scheduled the designations for today. Please look at the floor in front of the benches you're sitting on. You'll see ribbons of specific colors. Take the ribbon that matches you and wait until your color is called."
Theo looked down and found a green ribbon. Jason had an orange one, meaning they would be in different classes. A sense of unease settled in their stomachs.
"I don't know why, but I'm nervous…" Jason muttered.
"Those with green ribbons, head east," Beatrice announced.
Theo said goodbye to Jason and headed toward the eastern wing, where only two others were waiting. A short-haired black-haired girl stood beside a black-haired boy with a single light-blue streak. The three exchanged glances for a moment before Theo looked away and opened the iron door beside them.
On the other side stood a scientist wearing a white lab coat, hands tucked into her pockets, visibly anxious.
"Hello, I'm Ster. I'll be responsible for the designation of the three of you. Who wants to go first?"
"Me." Theo raised his hand before the others could react.
"Great. What's your name?"
"Theo Augustus de Lawrence."
"Alright. Sit down and place your hands on this crystal."
Ster pretended not to care about Theo's surname, focusing on professionalism. On their continent, simply having a surname carried weight—but the name Augustus bore the burden of the imperial family itself.
Theo complied as Ster reviewed several documents.
"Theo Augustus de Lawrence." She paused, drawing in a deep breath. "Perfect scores in physics every year, first place in chemistry in the state of Nethuns. The same goes for history and geography. Do you like science?"
"Yes. I love its laws and theories."
"Then why didn't you become an agent of Fulmenbour? Or Myrddin?"
"Vagus is more exciting."
"I see… Very well, press the crystal."
Theo applied light pressure. The crystal glowed intensely, shifting through blue, lilac, purple, red, yellow, orange, and green.
"Now act as if you're transferring energy into it."
"Okay."
A faint, colorless aura began radiating from Theo's hands. The crystal's color started to settle into green, yet continued to alternate between neutral green and white. A small burst of mist-like energy spread through the room.
Ster was momentarily stunned, watching Theo closely to ensure his safety. Once she confirmed he was fine, she made a few notes on a document and handed it to him.
"Take this to your instructor."
☽✪☾
"I'm Grade One, Class Eight!" Jason bragged, showing the card in his hand.
"What's your energy type?" one of the students asked.
"Mana."
"Nice. Mine's ki."
A red-haired girl slammed her head against a wooden table in frustration.
"Chloe? What happened?" Jason asked.
"I'm stuck in chakra cycles. I'm going to end up as nothing but an alchemist. Theo's going to mock me…"
"Why would I do that?" Theo asked, approaching an outdoor table.
"Because you always said I'd end up an alchemist."
"And that's exactly what happened. Don't be sad—alchemists play an important role in society."
"The cousin brawl is about to start…" Jason whispered to the others.
"Give me that." Chloe snatched the card from Theo's right hand and began reading. "Grade Two—we already knew that. Energy: Ether?" Her voice went shrill at the last word. "Special Class… Damn it, privileged brat."
"So we're not in the same class?" Jason grumbled.
"No. But we're not restricted to our class sectors, so we'll still see each other plenty."
"Here." Chloe tossed the card back to Theo. "At least Agnes is there. That's a plus."
'Special Class Mentors: Paul Llamarada and Amiah Neidr…' Theo read on the card. The second name was familiar. 'Ether energy… This is going to be a headache.'