36 The Potion-Making Class [1]
As the wand selection ceremony concluded, rumors of Caius's extraordinary achievement spread like wildfire among the students and faculty of the academy. While some dismissed the rumors as mere exaggerations, the undeniable truth remained that Caius had become the owner of the unconquered wand, Celestia's Star.
Inside the grand office of the academy, an elderly man with white hair and a long white beard sat behind a magnificent desk. The dean of the Starlight Academy had heard the intriguing rumors circulating about the wand selection ceremony for the new first-year students.
With a knowing smile, the dean turned his attention to Scarlett, who stood before him. Her expression was composed, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.
"I've been hearing quite fascinating rumors about this year's wand selection ceremony," the dean remarked, his fingers intertwined. "And it seems the rumors are true. Caius has become the owner of Celestia's Star, the unconquered wand."
Scarlett nodded in confirmation, her voice steady as she replied, "Yes, the rumors are indeed true. Caius now possesses Celestia's Star."
The dean's eyes sparkled with interest as he stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "Ah, intriguing indeed," he muttered. "Tell me, Scarlett, did your wand also resonate with him?" he inquired, curiosity evident in his voice.
Scarlett hesitated for a moment, her gaze meeting the deans. "Yes," she replied softly. "Even my own wand resonated with him."
The dean's mind raced with intrigue. "Haha, so he chose Celestia's Star over a legendary wand," he mused inwardly. "What an interesting young man."
Scarlett's next revelation piqued the dean's curiosity even further. "Not only that," she continued, her voice filled with amazement. "His wand was able to transform into a sword as well."
!?
The dean's eyebrow arched in surprise, his curiosity further piqued. He sat in thoughtful silence as if contemplating something significant.
Scarlett, sensing the dean's deep knowledge and experience, couldn't help but inquire further. "Have you ever encountered something like this before, Headmaster?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
"No, I haven't personally encountered something like this before," the dean replied, his tone contemplative. "However, I do recall reading about similar occurrences in ancient texts."
Scarlett's eyes widened with anticipation. "Could you elaborate on what you read, Headmaster?" she pressed, eager to uncover any insights.
The dean paused, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Hmm, let me try to remember," he responded. "...Unfortunately, I can't recall the exact details of what I read. Ah, the challenges of old age," he chuckled lightly, acknowledging his own limitations.
"....."
Scarlett regarded him with a skeptical look, unconvinced by his vague response. "I see. I would greatly appreciate it if you could at least remember the name of the book or its source," she requested.
!!
Amusement twinkled in the dean's eyes as he observed Scarlett's unwavering interest. "You seem quite intrigued by this student as well, Scarlett. Is there something about him that has caught your attention?" he inquired curiously.
Scarlett paused for a moment, contemplating her response. "...Well, as his teacher, it is my responsibility to guide him on the right path. To do so, I must understand the true extent of his powers," she explained, her dedication evident in her voice.
The dean nodded approvingly. "It is heartening to see such attentiveness and dedication from you, Scarlett. I have always believed you would make an exceptional teacher," he remarked warmly.
"You flatter me, Headmaster," she replied with a smile. "Now, if you do happen to remember the source of that information, please let me know. I would be deeply grateful," she said politely with a slight bow, before turning and leaving the headmaster's office.
Click—
As the door closed behind Scarlett, the dean sat in silence, deep in thought. His fingers absentmindedly stroked his long beard as he contemplated the significance of the recent events.
"The Arcanum Guardians seem to have already begun selecting individuals to inherit their wisdom and power," he mused, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wonder how many other candidates there will be this time."
Lost in his contemplation, the dean's gaze drifted towards the window, his eyes fixed on the vast expanse outside. A mix of anticipation and uncertainty filled his heart as he muttered to himself, "A new age is upon us."
***
Caius walked through the academy's bustling hallway, passing numerous classrooms. Damien strolled alongside him, engaging in casual conversation.
"What lectures are you planning to take, Caius?" Damien asked casually. "Weapon training or martial arts, perhaps? And do you know how many credits we need to pass and proceed to the next semester while remaining in the Elite class?" Damien inquired, his curiosity evident.
Caius paid little heed to Damien's questions, his focus fixed on a specific classroom. He came to an abrupt halt, prompting Damien to glance up at the nameplate displayed above the door.
!?
"...Why did you stop? This isn't the weapon training class," Damien observed, perplexed by the sudden change in direction.
Unperturbed by his remark, Caius confidently turned the doorknob and entered the room.
Click—
!?
The sudden entrance of Caius and Damien into the classroom caught the attention of both the students and the professor. The professor's eyebrows raised in surprise as he recognized the Elite class students standing before him.
"...Oh, students Caius and Damien from the Elite class, right?" the professor spoke up in surprise. "Are you both here to join our esteemed potion-making class?" he asked, his voice filled with bewilderment.
The potion-making class primarily attracted commoners who sought to learn the art of potion-making as a means of earning a living. The noble students, on the other hand, showed little interest in the labor-intensive process of potion-making and instead preferred to purchase ready-made potions.
The unexpected presence of Caius, a noble with a notorious reputation, sent ripples of unease through the room. The other students, all commoners, exchanged apprehensive glances, wondering why Caius had chosen this particular class.
"Yes, I am here to apply for the potion-making class," Caius confidently declared, stepping further into the classroom.
Damien, however, wore a look of utter disbelief. 'He can't be serious, can he?' Damien thought, his shock evident on his face.
Suddenly, a test tube clattered to the floor, shattering the silence. One of the students, in the midst of crafting a potion, had dropped her equipment upon hearing the news of Caius's enrollment.
Clink—
The clink of shattered glass echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention.
"....."
Just as the atmosphere was trying to recover from the shock, the classroom door swung open once again, revealing the wide-eyed entrance of none other than Nerine. She stood frozen in astonishment, her jaw practically hitting the floor as she took in the sight of Damien and Caius already in the class.
!?
"Huh? Am I in the wrong classroom?" she mused, her voice tinged with disbelief.
However, the surprises were far from over, as Aria and Ember also made their way into the classroom. It was as if a spotlight illuminated them, with invisible confetti raining down from above. Caius couldn't help but imagine a caption bubble above their heads saying, "Ta-da! We're here to steal the show!"
"....."
As they all stood there, frozen in a comically awkward tableau, Nerine's internal frustration reached new heights as she found herself surrounded by an unexpected gathering of familiar faces. It was like the universe had conspired to turn the once-peaceful class into a reunion of elite troublemakers.
"Seriously, can't I just have a nice, quiet class without all this chaos?" Nerine mumbled to herself, feeling overwhelmed by the absurdity of the situation.
Little did she expect that several renowned students from the prestigious Elite class would stoop down to the level of the humble potion-making class. It was like witnessing superheroes deciding to do mundane chores for a change.
While Nerine secretly longed for a larger social circle, the sudden influx of exceptional students also meant one thing—fierce competition. The once-easygoing potion-making class would now be a battleground of wits.
Because the increased enrollment of exceptional students meant that the competition within the class would be intense. Nerine realized that she would need to work even harder to stand out and prove her own abilities among such talented peers.
