Stepping through the spatial threshold, the swirling light vanished, depositing the two right at the back of Class 1-A.
Instead of a roaring lecture, they were greeted by an eerie silence. The vast room stood entirely empty, lined with rows of glossy, dark-wood desks that shimmered under the morning light. A pristine blackboard hung at the front, completely untouched by chalk, next to a neatly placed box of writing supplies. The classroom walls were coated in a soft beige paint, subtly detailed with intricate, winding leaf patterns, while large glass windows set in ornate metallic frames overlooked the manicured campus grounds.
"Looks like we’re the first ones here," Arthur noted, looking around the vacant space.
Elaine nodded, smoothing down her skirt. "It seems like it."
"So, how does the seating work around here?" Arthur asked, adjusting his collar. "Is there a strict arrangement? By family name? Age? Or do we just claim a spot?"
Elaine giggled softly at his practical, military-style questions. "Relax, Arthur. The academy isn’t that uptight. We can sit wherever we want."
Arthur shrugged carelessly. "Alright then. I’m taking the desk right next to yours. Wherever you choose to go, that is."
Elaine smiled, a tiny flush returning to her cheeks as she walked across the room to claim a desk in the back corner right beside the grand window. True to his word, Arthur pulled out the heavy wooden chair adjacent to hers and sank into it.
It didn't take long for the quiet sanctuary to shatter. A few moments later, the heavy doors pushed open, and students began trickling in. One by one, the empty desks were occupied, and the heavy silence was quickly replaced by a wave of lively chatter and laughter.
Arthur leaned back, casually scanning the incoming crowd. Huh. Not a single eye tracking my way, he thought, watching the noble heirs cluster into their own little social cliques. They're completely trapped in their own worlds… Aunt Alice really did a flawless job. They don't even remember seeing me covered in leaves at the gates, let alone the arena incident.
Beside him, Elaine caught his gaze. She offered him a subtle, lingering look—half-confused by how normal everything suddenly felt, but deeply relieved that the target on Arthur's back had vanished.
The heavy classroom doors pushed open, and the chatter instantly died down as the instructor arrived. She was a striking woman with vibrant blonde hair and sharp, violet eyes. She wore a neon-purple, elegantly tailored robe lined with shimmering gold trim. Beneath the open robe, a vibrant neon-blue blazer marked her status with intricate, high-ranking designs that separated the faculty uniforms from the students', paired with a dark indigo skirt, black thigh-highs, and tall, violet high heels.
"Settle down," her smooth, feminine voice commanded, easily cutting through the remaining murmurs.
Once every noble heir had slid into their respective seats, the woman cleared her throat, scanning the room.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Eleanor Hawthorn," she said, a confident smile playing on her lips. "I am one of the high-ranking mages stationed at this academy, alongside the Headmistress herself. Personally, I enjoy active spellcraft far more than staring at administrative paperwork, which is exactly why I chose to teach instead of locking myself away in a high government position." She let out a light chuckle. "You may all call me Miss Hawthorn."
Opening her palm, she gave a slight flick of her wrist. A crackle of magical energy rippled through the air as a brilliant, searing blue flame materialized, dancing gracefully above her palm.
"I specialize strictly in high-level offensive magic," Miss Hawthorn continued, the reflection of the azure fire dancing in her purple eyes. "Which means I will be instructing you on how to turn raw mana into lethal self-defense."
A collective gasp of awe rippled across the room. The entire class leaned forward, their eyes wide with mutual surprise and skyrocketing excitement.
Eleanor smiled softly, the blue flame instantly vanishing into thin air. "I have always preferred showing over telling. Everyone, follow me outside. The very first rule of practicing high-tier offensive magic is simple: NEVER attempt to cast a destructive spell indoors."
With an elegant, fluid stride, she turned on her heel and headed back toward the double doors.
The energized students scrambled out of their chairs to follow her lead, eager to see a real master at work. Sitting at the back of the line, Elaine and Arthur exchanged a quick look before falling into step, calmly following behind the rest of the class.
A few moments later, the class arrived at the boundary of the academy grounds, standing on the vibrant grass line that separated the manicured school campus from the dense, looming forest surrounding it.
"Alright, settle in!" Eleanor called out enthusiastically, turning to face her new students. "Before we begin the practical side, does anyone here have a genuine idea of why it is so critical to master offensive magic?"
A male student near the front quickly raised his hand. "To protect oneself, Miss Hawthorn!"
"For basic self-defense!" a female student followed up right after him.
One by one, the noble heirs threw out variations of the same textbook answers, eager to impress their high-ranking instructor. Within minutes, the entire class had spoken, leaving only Elaine and Arthur silent at the back of the crowd.
Eleanor turned her sharp, violet gaze toward the quiet pair. "How about you two? Any thoughts?"
Elaine shifted on her feet, answering in a soft, hesitant voice. "To... well, the others have already said it..."
"To protect the people we cherish," Arthur said, his solid voice cutting through the open air without a single hitch.
The casual, absolute certainty in his tone made Elaine’s heart skip a beat, and Eleanor’s smile widened with deep approval. "Exactly. That is the true heart of a battle mage."
She turned her back to the class, her expression hardening as she faced the vast expanse of the forest. Extending her arm forward, she opened her palm. "Now, allow me to give you a live demonstration of what high-tier offensive magic is truly capable of."
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The air pressure in the courtyard plummeted. With a deafening roar, a colossal torrent of blinding blue fire erupted from her hand. The localized inferno ripped through the treeline, vaporizing everything in its path as it surged toward the nearest mountain peak. The moment the blast slammed into the stone facade, it split violently into two sweeping directions, carving a dual path of destruction that incinerated hundreds of lush, green trees in a matter of seconds. Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky, blotting out the morning sun.
The entire class stood frozen in suffocating, speechless shock. It took several seconds before a wave of collective gasps, frantic murmurs, and trembling whispers washed over the students.
Eleanor turned back around, completely unbothered by the devastation behind her as she gestured casually toward the burning mountain ridge. "With enough training, discipline, and dedication, every single one of you can eventually achieve what I just did."
"Alright! Let’s start with the absolute basics," Eleanor said, clapping her hands together to draw their attention away from the smoking forest. "I want you all to extend your dominant hand forward. Close your eyes, visualize a spark of pure fire, and allow that energy to manifest and rest harmlessly on top of your palm."
One by one, the noble heirs began their attempts. Sparks hissed, smoke sputtered, and after a few minutes of trial and error, almost everyone managed to make a stable, glowing ball of flame appear.
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Standing near the back, Elaine effortlessly conjured a bright, warmth-radiating orange ball of fire that danced gracefully above her skin. Arthur, on the other hand, just stood there with an empty, motionless palm.
Eleanor’s sharp violet eyes immediately locked onto the anomaly. She sauntered over, her violet heels clicking softly against the grass as she stopped right in front of him. "What seems to be the problem?"
"I don’t know. I just can’t seem to channel magic," Arthur replied smoothly, keeping his voice entirely level.
Eleanor squinted her eyes, studying his blank expression with deep suspicion. "Really? Perhaps you aren't visualizing the focus sharply enough. Try concentrating harder."
Before he could answer, she stepped around to his side, moving behind him. Under the pretense of instructor guidance, she placed her arm directly beneath his, lifting his hand to help him position it better. The physical proximity was tight, and she leaned forward, whispering directly into his ear. "Are you truly certain you can't use magic, Arthur?"
Arthur glanced back at her from the corner of his eye. What a total pain, he grumbled internally. First Aunt Alice earlier, and now Miss Hawthorn…
Eleanor’s lips curled into an amused smile, leaning in even closer until her blonde hair brushed his shoulder. "What exactly are you hiding, Arthur?"
"I’m not hiding anything, Miss Hawthorn," Arthur said, his tone unwavering. "I genuinely cannot cast standard magic. That is the entire reason I enrolled in this academy—in hopes of finally learning how to use it."
She let out a low, knowing smirk. "Is that so? Then surely you wouldn't happen to be the mysterious student I spotted earlier, flawlessly jumping across mid-air magic circles while carrying a female student in his arms, yes?"
Arthur looked directly at her, his face remaining a perfect mask of unbothered calm. Internally, however, a tactical alarm was ringing. She’s cornering me… she’s sharp. Really sharp.
Before the silent standoff could break, Elaine sharply interjected, stepping closer to them. "Arthur was with me the entire time, Miss Hawthorn. We got completely lost in the campus hallways before the orientation. He really can’t use magic—if anything happened out there, we would just run for our lives."
Eleanor stared at Elaine for a lingering beat, her violet eyes tracking the princess's protective posture before she slowly let go of Arthur's arm. Her intense expression melted back into a soft, professional smile. "I see. In that case, Arthur, it looks like I will just have to personally focus my attention on you from now on. We need to make sure you catch up with the rest of your peers."
Several hours later…
The chaotic outdoor training session concluded, and the students of Class 1-A found themselves back in their seats, packing away their things as the school day wrapped up.
"Alright, that will be all for today. You are all dismissed," Eleanor said, a soft, charming smile playing on her lips as she waved back at the noble heirs filtering out the door. "Enjoy the rest of your afternoon~!"
As Elaine and Arthur walked together toward the exit, Arthur paused briefly, his gaze locking with Eleanor’s sharp violet eyes one final time. It was a silent, intense beat of mutual understanding before Arthur broke the contact, stepping out into the fresh hallway air.
Once they walked out to the main courtyard, Arthur turned to the princess beside him. "Elaine?"
She looked back at him, her soft blue eyes meeting his. "Hm?"
"Thanks for earlier," he said, letting out a low chuckle as they walked. "Miss Hawthorn really had me backed into a corner out there. I was completely trapped."
Elaine smiled softly, a warm sincerity in her voice. "It’s no big deal, Arthur. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. You’ve protected me from a demon vanguard, shielded me from unwanted attention, and saved my dignity. Honestly, I could never thank you enough."
Before Arthur could formulate a response, the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed across the cobblestones. A luxurious, high-society carriage pulled up right in front of them. The brown wooden frame was adorned with breathtaking, intricate engravings, boasting shimmering gold tracing along its outlines, and pulled by a pair of pristine white horses.
"The carriage has arrived, milady. It is time to return," the coachman called out respectfully from his seat. At the same time, a footman emerged from the cabin, opening the door and stepping down to bow deeply before Elaine.
Elaine looked back at Arthur one last time, her smile lingering. "See you tomorrow, Arthur."
Arthur gave her a reassuring nod, a rare, genuine smile gracing his features. "Yeah, sure. Take care on the way back."
He stood alone as the royal carriage rolled away, the dust slowly settling in the afternoon sun. But the quiet didn't last long. Suddenly, a familiar, velvety feminine voice echoed directly inside his mind, bypassing his physical senses completely.
“Arthur? Come meet me in my office tonight. Let’s continue where we left off this morning.”
Arthur arrived outside the Headmistress’s office not long after hearing Alice's voice, knocking thrice on the heavy mahogany door before pushing it open. He stepped inside, expecting a quiet family discussion with his aunt—only to halt in his tracks.
To his genuine surprise, Eleanor was casually lounging on one of the plush Chesterfield couches, while Alice stood near the grand window, her back turned as she quietly gazed out into the starlit night.
The moment the door clicked shut, both women turned their sharp eyes toward him.
"Welcome back, Arthur," Alice said, her tense expression softening into a gentle smile.
"Took you long enough," Eleanor added, trailing a finger along the rim of her couch.
Arthur raised a brow, his voice tinged with genuine confusion. "Miss Hawthorn?"
"Oh, just call me Eleanor when we’re behind closed doors, Arthur," she replied, her lips curving into an alluring smile.
"Except you two are very clearly not alone," Alice interrupted smoothly, not missing a beat.
Eleanor let out a playful huff. "Oh, shush. You know exactly what I mean." She leaned back deeper against the cushions, shifts in her posture subtly accentuating her figure.
With the playful banter pausing, both women locked their attention back onto him. Alice gestured to the empty space across from the instructor. "Please, take a seat on the opposite couch, Arthur."
"Nonsense. You can sit right here beside me if you want, Arthur," Eleanor butted in, patting the leather cushion next to her with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Arthur let out a soft, amused chuckle, entirely unfazed by the weaponized charm. "Maybe some other time, Miss Hawthorn."
"Hm? What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you," Eleanor teased, leaning forward as if straining her ears.
Arthur shook his head with a quiet sigh, a rare, lazy smile playing on his lips. "Maybe some other time, Eleanor. But I appreciate the generous offer."
Eleanor's smirk widened into a victorious grin. "There we go. That’s much more like it~"
Alice cleared her throat loudly, cutting through the thick playful energy. "Let us focus on more important matters, Eleanor." She turned her full, serious gaze back to her nephew. "I have already filled her in on the details of your situation, Arthur. You can put yourself at ease around her. She can be trusted."
Arthur gave a firm nod, sinking into the opposite couch as his veteran instincts locked back in. "Alright. Where exactly do we start?"
To Be Continued…