Disciplinary Committee

A/N: Before this chapter starts, I want to address everyone a belated Merry Christmas(to those who celebrate it) and a Happy New Year! I hope that this year will bring you some memorable experiences that will last a lifetime!

If you're ever in a tough spot, always look up with hope. you'll get through this, someday.

That's about it! Thank you everyone for the wonderful year I had on this site and I wish you too had a good time here!

Maligayang Bagong Taon sainyong lahat!

—————

-Goodsky PoV-

Anos Voldigoad

A name I have learned about only recently but has already become a significant point of concern or opportunity based on his actions.

Anos' enrollment to the academy was recommended to me by Vincent Helstea, a good friend of mine. He told me that he could use blue flames, which for his age was incredibly impressive. But it seems that Anos' powers extend beyond the ordinary.

The capability to mercilessly overwhelm someone with just the sound of his heartbeat, the power to kill someone with just a snap of his fingers, and even the ability to use an unheard of resurrection magic. The sheer potential Anos Voldigoad possesses is both intriguing and worrisome. I worry that if he was to be left unchecked, he could potentially plunge not just this academy, but the entire continent into chaos. I needed to recruit him to my side, using whatever means necessary.

"You might be able to, but can you protect those close to you from the consequences of that attention?" I paused, choosing my words carefully. "What were their names again? Gusta and Izabella Voldigoad?"

Anos' expression remained calm, but I detected a subtle shift in his demeanor. It was clear that the mention of his family had struck a chord.

Suddenly, the air in the room became heavy and it was hard for me even breath. I maintained eye contact with Anos, but all I could see was an endless sea of darkness within his gaze. An overwhelming force emanated from him, causing me, a high silver core mage, to be frozen in place. Anos' voice cut through the silence, low and commanding.

"Do not mention their names lightly, Goodsky. If even a single strand of hair of my parents is harmed, I will personally wipe this country off the face of the world."

The intensity of his words sent shivers down my spine, and I was even about to urinate myself from the sheer intensity of his aura. Anos' power was on an entirely different level, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of being I had just provoked.

'I-I need to p-pacify the situation somehow,' I gathered my composure, maintaining a calm exterior despite the internal unease.

My composed demeanor slipped for a moment as I stammered out an apology. "I-I apologize if my words were out of line. I didn't mean any harm."

Anos released the pressure, allowing me to breathe normally again. His eyes, once filled with darkness, returned to their usual calm state.

"Haaah... Huff..." I panted as beads of sweat formed on my forehead. "I-i-in any case, I came here with a proposition, Anos. Join the disciplinary committee, and I'll be sure to grant you special privileges and protection."

"Hmm... Interesting. I might consider joining under some conditions," Anos replied, hid calmness returning.

I immediately picked up on Anos' change in demeanor and adjusted my stance. This young man was not to be taken lightly, and I needed to tread carefully if I wanted to secure his cooperation.

Of course, I'm willing to hear your conditions," I replied, choosing my words carefully.

"I have a few conditions," he stated, holding my gaze. "First, I will be the commander of the disciplinary committee. I do not wish to be under anyone's authority."

I considered his demand. Clearly, he possessed skills far beyond most mages, and he may potentially also have good leadership skills as well. Making him the commander might actually work to our advantage. "Agreed. What else?"

"Second, I will have authority equal or above the highest-ranking faculty members. I won't be restrained in my actions if I deem it necessary."

I hesitated for a moment but nodded. "Understood. What's the third condition?"

Anos leaned in slightly, his piercing gaze never leaving mine. "I want an all-access pass to the academy's restricted areas, including the library and all of its books, and no questions shall be asked about my activities within those areas."

This request was pushing the boundaries, but having Anos on the disciplinary committee was a significant advantage. "I can arrange for that, as long as it's within reason. Anything else?"

"Finally, I want the disciplinary committee to be autonomous with its decision-making. No external interference, especially from the nobility or influential figures. Our judgments and actions will be based solely on the best interests of the academy."

I took a moment to weigh the implications of this condition. An autonomous disciplinary committee meant less external pressure but also the nobles might not be pleased. However, Anos seems to be a greater asset compared to the funding the academy would receive from the nobility.

"I can arrange that, although it might lead to some conflicts with influential figures. However, your presence in the committee should be enough to deter most opposition. Anything else?"

Anos shook his head. "That covers it. With these conditions met, I'll join your disciplinary committee."

I extended my hand, sealing the agreement. "Agreed. Welcome to the disciplinary committee, Anos Voldigoad."

Anos grasped my hand firmly, sealing our agreement. The weight of having someone of his caliber in the committee was undeniable, even if it came with certain concessions.

I took a few items out of my storage ring and handed them to him. "Here is your new uniform and the knife of the disciplinary committee. You can customize your uniform to some degree, as long as the color scheme and the knife doesn't change."

Anos accepted the items, examining them briefly before putting them away. "Do you have any questions before you leave?"

"I only have one question," I replied, looking directly into Anos' eyes. "What is your mana core stage right now?"

Anos smiled mysteriously. "None."

"None?" I paused, surprised by his answer. "How is that possible? Every mage has a mana core stage."

"I'm not an ordinary mage," Anos replied cryptically. "You'll find out more in due time, Director Goodsky."

With that, he gestured towards the door, indicating that our conversation had come to an end. I left the room, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety. Anos Voldigoad was an enigma, and having him on the disciplinary committee might be a double-edged sword.

—————

-Anos PoV-

As I saw the director leave, I noticed a small note attacked to the pocket knife of the uniform she provided. I unfolded it, revealing a brief message.

"The disciplinary committee will have a meeting tomorrow at the auditorium early in the morning. It'll be before the club rush. Be there on time."

'Hmm... It seems the director is wasting no time in getting things in order.'

With a snap of my fingers, my current uniform and the new she provided swapped, leaving me in the disciplinary committee uniform.

The new uniform I had received from Cynthia didn't look too different from my scholar mage uniform. It consisted of a white dress shirt with a single black stripe on the mid-arm above the elbows and a light gray vest and dark gray pants. The vest was made from a different material than the pants, though, and there were special engravings on the inside of each that made me suspect that they had protective qualities. In place of my pocket watch on the breast pocket was a strap that went across my chest and snugged in around my shoulder, holding my sheathed silver knife over my heart. A gold string around my collar replaced the red string, giving my attire a more royal look overall.

'Goodsky said I could customize the uniform. I'll make some adjustments to better suit my taste later.'

After changing into the new uniform, I stood up, leaving the room and making my way to the academy's dining hall for dinner. As I walked through the corridors, the students I passed looked at me with a mix of curiosity and fear. Word must have spread about my earlier confrontation with Zepes.

As I stepped in, the hall turned quiet and I could feel the stares of the students as they studied me. Ignoring the glares and the occasional curious glances, I made my way to the line and got my food, situating myself in a back corner.

I grabbed a fork and placed a piece of roasted meat in my mouth. The taste wasn't as good as Mother's specially made mushroom gratin, but it was acceptable. As I ate, I observed the students around me, recognizing some faces from the earlier commotion.

Two students approached my table, one was a battle mage and the other a scholar mage.

The scholar mage student was a young preteen boy around 12 years old with long auburn hair and azure blue eyes. He was the same boy the director was looking at during the opening ceremony. The other one, a battle mage student, was a raven haired boy with black eyes wearing glasses.

"Hello, can we sit here?" the scholar mage student asked.

"Sure, go ahead," I replied, gesturing to the empty seats.

They sat down, and the scholar mage student extended his hand towards me. "I'm Arthur, Arthur Leywin. Nice to meet you."

I shook his hand. "Anos Voldigoad. Likewise."

The other boy introduced himself as well. "I'm Elijah Knight."

We exchanged pleasantries as we continued our meal. Elijah seemed quite talkative and easygoing despite his appearance, while Arthur remained more reserved.

It seemed the three of us share a class together— that being the Fundamentals of Mana Theory. I particularly had no need for further education in mana theory, but it could be an opportunity to gather information about the current state of magic in this era.

Aside from that, Arthur and I also share Practical Mana Manipulation in the morning, and Team Fighting Mechanics I in the afternoon.

During our meal, we had both been aware that people were talking about us and shooting looks in our direction every now and then. However, none of them had actually come up to us—until now. A group of students in battle mage uniforms walked up to our table, completely ignoring my existence. The leader of the group, a tall boy with wavy brown hair parted in the middle, stuck his hand out to Elijah.

Interesting. Two thousand years ago, not a single person out there was bold enough to not acknowledge my existence. It seems peace really did wonders on people's behavior.

"My name is Charles Ravenpor II, of the famous Ravenpor family. I'm sure you've heard of us, right? I couldn't help but notice that you're spending time with someone beneath you. I'm being especially courteous today in offering to let you be in our group." His chin stuck out, confident that Elijah would take his hand.

"It's an honor to be part of the Ravenpor group," one of the subordinates echoed in the back.

"The Ravenpoop family? Never heard of a family named after bird feces. Have you, Art?" Elijah gave Arthur an exaggeratedly clueless look, making him laugh through his nose.

"No, but I'd be very embarrassed to be in family like the Ravenpoop, even if I did know of them." He tried to hide his smile as he played along with this immature exchange.

"Y-You… How dare you mock a prestigious family like Ravenpor House?" Charles slammed his fist on our table, emphasizing his name, which made them laugh even more. "I am a second-year student who should be shown respect! I reached out to you, a newbie, because I didn't want a battle mage student to lower himself by being with scholar student trash, but instead you spit in my face like this?" His hand was already twitching to reach for the wand strapped to his right leg.

Elijah looked him dead in the eye and said, "First of all, they're scholar mage students. Arthur and Anos are just as much a mage as any battle mage student. Second, why would I go with someone who blatantly looks down on my best friend and roommate? Third, it's obvious you're not here out of kindness toward me but because of hostility toward Anos, so stop your childish show and go piss off."

I had to admit that when Elijah put on a serious expression, coupled with his naturally sharp features, he did look quite formidable for a teenager.

Issuing duels inside a facility not designed for battle was prohibited; using magic inside the dining hall would result in a harsh punishment, but that didn't stop the boy with bird feces as his last name.

Wind gathered around him as he struggled to keep his anger under control. "Jack!" he roared. The wind settled down as one of his minions stepped forward, a boy with the face of a thirteen-year-old but a body that looked much older.

"Show these brats how things work around here," Charles growled, stepping back.

Jack looked a little hesitant but Charles barked that he'd be properly compensated. At this, Jack revealed a wicked grin as he slid a pair of clawed gauntlets over his fists. "Sucks for you," he said with a smirk, cracking his neck before splitting the table in half.

The dining hall was in a commotion by now as the students all gathered around, some standing up on the tables to get a better view.

Elijah threw his hands up in surprise, protecting his face as the table split into pieces. I remained unfazed, however, sitting still with my legs crossed as I took a sip from the cup of water I was holding.

"Are you crazy? This is a dining facility!" Elijah shouted as he stood up to face Jack, who flexed his clawed fists.

"Doesn't matter. Boss is going to take care of everything anyway. Keep your teeth clenched now." His right fist glowed with non-attribute mana.

He was a second-year student as well, judging by the two stripes on his black tie, but even without an attribute, his core was still dark orange—which, for this era's standards, was pretty somewhat good.

Elijah's right hand glowed, his two rings a dim yellow as he prepared a spell, but I'd already noticed that Jack's killing intent was directed at me.

Sighing, I stood up from my seat, setting my cup down gently. "You know, I'm simply trying to enjoy my meal, yet you're causing quite the disturbance. Know your place, clown."

My mana-infused words restricted the movement of his body as he froze in place. People with weak magical resistance could easily be defeated using a simple verbal jinx. Finally, Arthur stood up and approached the perpetrator of this commotion.

"Hah! What are you going to do!? Harm an innocent student and face the consequences?" Charles sneered, thinking Arthur was coming to challenge him.

However, Arthur's intention was different. Without a word, he walked up to Jack, who was still struggling against the invisible force restricting his movement, and... pulled down his pants, showing his Excalibur in all of its glory, although it's not like there was much to show for, anyway.

The Ravenpor group was dumbfounded, and the entire dining hall erupted into laughter. The unexpected turn of events left Charles exposed and humiliated, his face turning bright red.

"Oh... I never thought of this method, but I must say, it's quite effective," I remarked.

The people of two thousand years ago didn't care much for the size of one's manhood. As long as you had power, intellect, or an undying will, you were respected. Times have indeed changed.

Charles was now discreetly trying to make his way out of the dining hall. He was by the wall, almost in front of the main doors, when I unsheathed the disciplinary committee knife I'd received from the director and threw it. The knife cut through the air and pierced his blazer, pinning him against the wall.

"What the hell?" he yelped as I came face to face with him.

"I find it pathetic when children from noble families beat their chests about something they never even earned. Blood and titles does not define one's worth. Only your own actions and abilities do," I said, my eyes filled with disappointment.

With one swift gesture I pulled out the knife he was struggling to remove; then I walked through the door and left, not looking back. The brisk autumn air greeted me as I closed the door, my breath becoming visible in a cloud in front of me.

"How this academy manage to maintain itself with such childish behavior among its students is beyond me," I muttered to myself.

—————

The next day, I was inside a small room at the end of the auditorium, waiting for the other disciplinary committee members to arrive. I sat on a couch that was pushed against one of the walls, reading a book on the upstairs balcony's library.

I had modified my uniform to better suit my preferences. Instead of a white dress shirt, I opted for a black color, and the light gray vest was replaced with a black, unbuttoned jacket with golden accents. The jacket was folded up to my elbow, while the dress shirt was folded up to my mid-forearm. The pants remained dark gray, and the gold string around my collar was moved to the lapel. The strap holding the sheathed knife over my heart was removed, and the sheathed knife was instead placed on the breast pocket of my jacket.

If possible, I would've worn the clothes I wore 2,000 years ago, but it seemed the director wanted to maintain some level of uniformity. A shame, really. The clothes from my era had a certain flair that seemed to be missing in this age.

The door opened, and a girl with bright red hair entered. She wore the same disciplinary committee uniform, and her striking red eyes scanned the room before locking onto me.

"Good morning. You must be Anos Voldigoad," she greeted, a hint of skepticism in her tone.

I closed the book I was reading and stood up. "Indeed, I am. And you are?"

She extended her hand. "I'm Claire Bladeheart. The former captain of the disciplinary committee."

I raised an eyebrow at her title of 'former captain.' "So you were supposed to be the commander of the disciplinary committee if not for my arrival?"

Claire nodded. "That's right. Although if you're the one the director chose, there should be a good reason for it. And if you can be an even better leader than me, I'll gladly defer to your command."

"Then I'll be sure to make second-in-command; if you can prove yourself capable, that is," I replied with a smirk.

"Oh, is that a challenge?" Claire's eyes gleamed with determination as she shook her hand with mine.

"I can't just give that position away without a test of competence, can I?" I said, maintaining a confident demeanor.

Claire chuckled. "Fair enough."

As we continued our conversation, other members of the disciplinary committee started entering the room.

The first was a teenager that had the body of an adult. He was muscular and tall, and had black hair with a brown streak. He introduced himself as Theodore Maxwell, a fourth-year student.

Next was a pair of siblings, specifically the prince and princess of the Kingdom of Sapin. The prince, Curtis Glayder, was a boy who looked to be around 17 years old, with brown eyes and mahogany-colored hair. He mentioned he was a fifth-year student and an augmenter specializing in fire.

His younger sister, Kathyln Glayder, was a girl around my physical age, with long black hair and an emotionless expression. She was a first year-student and an ice-specialized conjurer.

After them was an elven boy around the same age as Curtis but was also a fellow first-year named Feyrith Ivsaar III. He had long, flowing blonde hair with green eyes, and his pointed ears marked his elven heritage. He said he was a water-elemental conjurer.

Then came a student that has a frail appearance with a tall and lean frame. His hair was light gray, and his eyes are narrow slits. His introduced himself as Kai Crestless, a fourth-year student like Theodore.

Following him was a short dwarven girl with oak brown hair and a muscular physique named Doradrea Oreguard. Unlike most female uniforms, she wore short parts instead of a skirt. She was also a first-year student.

Finally, the last member to arrive was a familiar face I met at the dining hall last night. It was Arthur Leywin, the one who showed Jack a rather unconventional way to defeat his opponent.

"I'm excited as to what this semester will bring us! We're going to be a team from now on, guys! We'll get lots of chances to bond and get closer, so let's look forward to it!" Claire piped up in a cheery voice as she put her hand out.

"I'm looking forward to it." Kai put his bandaged hand on top of Claire's, his face still wearing a mocking smile.

"Aye! Sounds like we're going to have some interesting times." Doradrea stood on her tiptoes to put her beefy hand on top of Kai's.

"Yes—let's do our best." Curtis placed his hand in as well, Kathyln wordlessly following suit.

"I'm sure it'll be a blast," Arthur said as he placed his above Kathyln's.

"I'm unfamiliar with this gesture, but I assume it's to show unity and teamwork," I stated, placing my hand on top of the pile.

Theodore put his large hand on top of my hand, making the whole circle stumble a step forward. He gave a silent nod, and Claire flashed a big, confident smile and shouted, "To us! The disciplinary committee!"

—————

"Before the club rush commences, the student council would like to formally introduce to you, the students of this academy, a group that was personally picked by the director to resolve and prevent disputes amongst students, as well as enforce punishments for troublemakers. While the student council's main job is to help the director make sure this academy and the events held here run smoothly, this group's purpose allows them to use magic appropriately to uphold the peace and safety of students, whether against other students or trespassers. Please join me in welcoming the disciplinary committee!" Tessia's voice rang at her last words.

The auditorium was filled with applause as the red curtains in front of us were raised. We stood there, shoulders squared and hands glued to our sides. As we stood in front of the students of Xyrus on the stage, side by side, we pulled out our knives and held them out in front of us so the insignia showed. Unsheathing our knives, we proceeded to offer a small bow as a group before saluting the crowd.

I proceeded to give a short speech on behalf of the disciplinary committee. "I don't want to take up much of your time, so I'll make this quick. Us, the Disciplinary Committee, will have a zero-tolerance policy for those who disrupt the harmony of this academy. We will not tolerate violence, malice, injustice, and discrimination. Break a single one of these rules, and it will not matter if you're a battle mage or a scholar mage, a noble or a commoner, a professor or a student, rich or poor, you will face my wrath. Call me a tyrant, call me unjust, I care not. Our duty is to maintain peace, and we'll fulfill it without hesitation. I advise you all to focus on your studies and contribute positively to the academy. Thank you."

The crowd's response varied, some applauding, while others exchanged glances. For some students, the disciplinary committee would serve as a shackle to prohibit their spoiled behavior. For others, we would be a shield protecting them from the threat of harm.

Either way, it would be an interesting school year.

—————

"Hey isn't that the commander of the DC officers? I think his name was Anos, right?"

"Isn't he only a first-year? How was he able to get on the disciplinary committee? He must have connections or something."

"That's dumb. Even if he does have connections, he'd still have to be really strong to be the commander of the disciplinary committee."

"I heard he beat Zepes pretty easily too."

"He's kinda handsome, no?"

"Yeah, he's totally my type."

"He looks kinda scary though."

Hmm. It seemed my existence has been quite the topic for gossip. Well, students were known for their wild gossip. There was no real problem with letting them say what they wanted.

I sat toward the back of the classroom with Arthur next to me at my left. Elijah sat at the seat towards Arthur's left. The constant murmurs and whispers that echoed against the walls were quite loud.

The professor for our first class, Fundamentals of Mana Theory, had yet to arrive, and the discussions about this morning's ceremony seemed to be unending.

"Look at how popular you are, Mr. DC Commander." Arthur nudged me with his elbow while giving me a sarcastic smirk.

Before I had the chance to respond, a man—the professor, I assumed—strode confidently into the room.

He seemed pretty young—in his mid-thirties, at most. His brown hair was kept neat and styled with a wide part. His face was freshly shaven to reveal a narrow jaw. He was on the thinner side, but by no means out of shape. His proportions were good for a conjurer, which the wand strapped to his side identified him as.

He used the folder he held as a gavel, thumping it on the podium before speaking. "Now, now… I realize that there are many wonderful things to talk about, but you aren't very good at gossiping. If the subject of the conversation is in the same room and can hear what you're saying, then it really isn't gossip, now, is it?" He looked in my direction and gave me a wink.

Some of the students shrank down in embarrassment, but most of them just laughed.

"My name is Professor Avius, and I must say that it's great to meet you all. This is technically a basic class and some may think it's unnecessary; I, on the other hand, believe this class is the foundation for what will make you a great mage. We won't be doing much casting, but there will be fun assignments and projects that I will assign along the way. That's something we can look forward to!"

The class erupted in a synchronized groan at the thought of doing projects. I couldn't imagine what sort of projects he was going to assign twelve- to fourteen-year-olds, but thought they should be rather easy.

"On that note, I think today is a fine day to have a lecture. No one's going to get any younger, so absorb as much knowledge as you can while your brains are still fresh! Take out your notebooks and writing utensils." His thin face wrinkled as he smiled.

Elijah adjusted his glasses and promptly took out a fresh new notebook and pen and eagerly wrote the title of the class and today's date. I just leaned forward and rested my chin on my hand to listen.

"Today's topic will focus on the segregation between conjurers and augmenters." He wrote messily on the chalkboard. "There is a deeply embedded discrimination against augmenters by conjurers on the premise that augmenters are 'brutes' or 'savages' who can only fight by getting themselves dirty." He used his fingers to air quote. "This is a rather ignorant stigma, which everyone should get rid of right here and right now." He leaned forward, his face turning serious.

His words caused a few murmurs of disagreement and some of acknowledgement.

"Speaking as a conjurer, it is silly to say we are above augmenters simply because our bodies are better suited for influencing mana remotely, as this advantage is present only while we are in lower levels." He scribbled some key points on the chalkboard. "When a mage's mana core reaches the silver stage, in conjurers and augmenters alike, the ability to manipulate mana becomes much less restricted. There becomes less of a distinction between the usage of mana veins and mana channels, because the purity of mana produced by our mana core enables us to freely manipulate mana both remotely and directly." He underlined the words 'remotely' and 'directly' and circled 'less of a distinction.'

These terms didn't particularly apply to me, as I didn't have a mana core in the first place, but it was an intriguing insight into the dynamics of magic in this era.

I heard Elijah make an 'ooh' of understanding, and he furiously scribbled the statement into his notebook.

"So tell me, class: If, in the end, two mages—one conjurer and one augmenter—both reach the silver core stage, who would have the advantage? I say it would either be evenly matched, or even that the augmenter would have an advantage." This statement evoked an even louder protest from the students.

"Before you shoot me down, think about this: Until the silver stage, assuming we have both the talent and luck needed to get there, both conjurers and augmenters train in developing their magic. However, augmenters also train in hand-to-hand combat, refining their bodies along with their skills from the time they awaken, which is usually during the prepubescent years. As the augmenter becomes stronger and reaches the later stages of his core, he will continue to develop his long-range skills, although those may be inferior to a conjurer's at this point.

However, as the augmenter comes closer and closer to the pinnacle of his core development, casting long-range spells will become more and more natural, and the augmenter will, naturally, still keep his combat skills. So, tell me—are conjurers really the more noble, more dominant type of mage?

Some old-fashioned mages continue to believe that conjurers are the superior mana manipulators, but Director Cynthia and many other influential figures on this continent are trying to change this assumption. I implore you youngsters to keep this in mind. Augmenters, don't let it go to your head—at this stage, you are still clearly at a disadvantage against conjurers. Conjurers, don't just mope around at this news—develop your combat skills. While it may be harder for you to defend yourselves without the natural competency in forging mana around your body, you can still use spells to strengthen your body. So learn how to fight hand-to-hand." He closed his notes and looked around, leaving a moment of silence for us to digest what we had just heard.

This was the reason why people of my era always trained in both close and long ranged combat. One was neither too close-ranged or too long-ranged. This was to prevent the enemy from getting a significant advantage once the environment of the battle changed.

"Any questions?" he asked, giving us a warm smile.

Elijah's hand immediately shot up, and the professor pointed at him.

"Professor, if what you're saying is true, what would the end results for the two categories of mages really be, when they reach the silver stage or higher?" he asked seriously.

The professor looked down at his notes before he responded. "Good question… Elijah Knight. The end result is two mages with different preferences in styles of fighting. The conjurer at this stage will be able to imbue his body with mana—just like an augmenter can at lower stages—but his fighting style will lean more toward long-range combat, using many layers of spells to weave around and trick an augmenter, who may be more adept if they get close." He wrote down some of the major points in his explanation on the blackboard.

"As for the augmenter, while long-range spells will become more natural for them, just like the conjurers at this stage, they usually lean more toward fighting up close and using projectile spells more straightforwardly. Augmenters, after all, are not as accustomed to remote fighting as conjurers who, in order to distance themselves from close-range threats, prepare many layers of spells through multi-casting and chain-casting." He circled the keywords for us to remember.

Elijah just nodded in understanding as he wrote down, almost word for word, the professor's explanation.

There were a few more questions from various classmates, then the bell in the giant tower rang. The professor wrapped up the discussion and we prepared for our next class.

As I walked through the densely packed hall, I sensed some gazes here and there as people recognized me or my uniform. On the way to my next class, Practical Mana Manipulation, I saw quite a few students who had bonds. Most weren't very impressive, like the horned rat I saw on a student's shoulder, but there were some rather large beasts that students were proudly showing off. One boy—perhaps fifteen, his chin jutting out proudly—rode through the halls on top of a giant lizard. I didn't know what the creature was called, but judging by the amount of mana inside its beast core, it couldn't have been more than an insignificant pest.

When I reached my next class, I noticed right away that the layout of this room was very different. It was shaped like a miniature arena, with a battling platform in the middle encased in a barrier field, and rows of seats circling around it.

I chose a seat near the edge of the arena, and Arthur took the seat next to me. The room started filling with students after a few minutes. While most were first-years, there were some second-years who had, I assumed, decided to take this class later.

"May I sit here?" I turned my head to find Kathyln standing beside me in her disciplinary committee uniform.

"Sure, go ahead." Her expression didn't change, but she did give me a slight bow before carefully straightening out her skirt with a refined gesture, then took a seat.

"Well, look who we have here! If it isn't Commander Anos, Princess Kathyln and my rival, Arthur Leywin." From the door at the front of the room, Feyrith walked confidently towards us.

"Aren't you loud this morning." Arthur leaned hid head on his hands as he looked at him.

"Well, it is a fine morning. Didn't the welcoming ceremony make you excited?" He harrumphed as he took the seat on Arthur's other side.

"Although it is a bit late into the morning, it is still technically morning so… Good morning!" An upbeat man wearing light armor clapped to get everyone's attention. He was bulky, looking more like a low-class adventurer than a professor, but when I inspected his mana core level, I saw that he was at light yellow stage. Looks can be quite deceiving.

"Well, we have quite the crowd of students. I knew my class would be popular but I'm honored to have this many students. My name is Professor Geist. Welcome, ladies and gents, and welcome, DC officers. It is a privilege to have you in my class."

Hmm...? An interesting attitude he has. Although, that is to be expected. Some people gain some arrogance as they grow in power.

The professor spent the better part of an hour going over his accomplishments as an adventurer, regaling us with stories featuring his competency in magic and sword while deep in some dangerous dungeon against a 'fearsome foe.'

Finally, Professor Geist slammed his sheathed sword on the ground, waking up those who had dozed off during his gloating.

"Enough about me, though," he exclaimed in his deep bass voice. "This is Practical Mana Manipulation, or PMM, as I like to call it. That means we will be doing things very practically. "Practically,' in my definition, means 'through example,' because what better way to learn than through hands-on experience, right?

I know most of you are first-years, and many of you may have just awakened not too long ago. Now, many parents these days are dedicated to teaching their children as soon as they awaken before sending them to the academy. However, for the sake of equality, I shall assume that every first-year is a beginner in mana manipulation—with a few exceptions, of course, such as the three sitting right there." He pointed to the three of us and gave us a wink, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

"I'm sure we are all curious as to what sort of ability the members of our newly-formed DC can boast. After all, they'll be responsible for protecting the students of the academy, right?"

Several shouts of agreement sounded around the room.

I sighed inwardly, already knowing the purpose of this spectacle. It seemed that no matter the era, there will always be people trying to desperately prove their fragile sense of superiority. I leaned back, observing the unfolding situation.

"Well, if Professor Geist insists." Feyrith got up from his seat, placing his right hand over his heart proudly. "On behalf of the disciplinary committee, whose members have been chosen personally by Director Goodsky, I myself shall volunteer to demonstrate the abilities of our group."

Sigh.

"That's more like it!" the professor said with a hearty laugh. "Feyrith, correct? Come down to the stage."

Feyrith hopped effortlessly down from his seat into the battle arena in the center of the large classroom. Some of the students cheered for him, while others were eager for blood.

The professor rubbed his chin, studying him. "Hmm. By my guess, you are a light orange stage conjurer with water specialization, correct? Pretty good for a fifteen-year-old, even as an elf."

"That is correct. And by the fact that I cannot sense your mana core level, I assume that your level must be quite a bit higher than my own. It is an honor to receive your tutelage." While Feyrith's response was very well-mannered, he had a slightly arrogant tone, as if implying that even though the professor was a higher level, he could stand his own against him.

"Of course! Now, I am at the light yellow level stage, so to make things more fair, I will only use long-range attacks in this demonstration." He pulled a two-handed sword from a dimension item attached to the buckle of his belt and stabbed it into the stadium behind him.

I could tell Feyrith was about to protest that it wasn't necessary, but before he could, Professor Geist added, "This way, if I were to lose, I will at least have an excuse. Please cut this old man some slack." He winked at Feyrith as the other students laughed.

He sounded sincere, but I could tell he was confident of winning against Feyrith, even with this handicap.

"Feyrith is going to lose," Kathyln said softly.

"Oh, really? How can you tell?" It seemed she had quite the eye. To think she could accurately predict that with just a glance.

"Let me quickly set up the barrier before we begin, so our audience is safe from mana projectiles." The professor mumbled a few incantations, and a space around the arena started glowing dimly. "Let us begin!" He grinned as Feyrith took out his wand and prepared for a spell.

"Water Serpent!" A stream of water circled around Feyrith and molded into the form of a gigantic snake. "Flood Domain," Feyrith said, setting off a domain spell—a higher-tier technique to make the territory more advantageous to the casting mage—immediately after the water serpent spell formed. Soon, a pool of water rose up to their knees in the arena, and the water serpent dove into it.

"Fireball," Professor Geist said to my surprise. This low-tier spell, which every fire-attribute mage knew, formed in Professor Geist's palm—but rather than the normal reddish-orange color, the spell glowed a dim blue.

The blue fireball shot out of Professor Geist's hand and flew toward Feyrith, who appeared to have no idea how strong that spell actually was. "You'll have to do better than that, Professor!" Feyrith confidently flicked his wand up and manipulated the layer of water on the ground to form a thick wall in front of him. At the same time, the Water Serpent spell Feyrith had conjured erupted out of the water beside Professor Geist and lunged at him.

Our professor summoned a blue flame, which enveloped his left arm, and braced against the force of Feyrith's spell. As the water serpent struck Professor Geist, a cloud of steam erupted, hiding him from view.

Meanwhile, the blue fireball smashed into the wall of water. The professor's spell bore through Feyrith's defense with a sharp hiss, diminished but not destroyed by the barrier.

Feyrith's face paled as he realized he was defenseless against the fireball, but he was able to form another layer of water in front of him, reacting just in time to minimize the damage.

"Oof!" The fireball was reduced to the size of a fingernail by the time it reached Feyrith, but it still left a hole in the protective uniform he was wearing and knocked him back a couple of steps before he stumbled onto his behind.

"Do you surrender?" Professor Geist gave a wide grin as he walked out of the cloud of steam, juggling two more blue fireballs in his hand.

"Yes, I concede." Feyrith trudged back to us, his head hung in shame and his uniform soaking.

The students had begun mumbling amongst themselves, expressing doubts about whether the members of the disciplinary committee were actually capable of protecting them.

"You did quite well, Feyrith." I cheered him up. And he had done well, considering that he hadn't known what he was up against.

"Would anyone else like to volunteer?" he said, looking at Arthur, Kathyln, and me.

I was about to raise my hand but Kathyln suddenly shot up from her seat. She bowed formally to the teacher, then stepped lightly into the arena.

—————

A/N: That should be a good place to end the chapter. Next chapter will have Kathyln's fight with Geist.

Again, I wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!