The months passed faster than they ever did before. Hadrian had practiced nearly every hour of the day, mostly duelling - but he never forgot to work on his body.
Throughout the days, his Dragonlord constitution settled and he became stronger, more agile, and more flexible. He didn't have any bulging muscles as he hadn't gone through puberty, meaning his muscles hadn't quite developed yet.
During his time as a full-time Duellist's Apprentice, Hadrian had developed his skills greatly. His wandless abilities had gotten more fluid and he found his magic was more easily accessible.
He had also unlocked a few spells from the Grimoire. Extremely useful spells.
That lead Hadrian to ask Merlin if he could ever unbind himself from the Artifacts. Merlin responded by telling him that he could, but the pain he would feel would be greater than that it took for him to assimilate with the Artifacts.
This all had to do with the Artifacts being keyed to another person. Only through lucky circumstances, ie. being one of the only Dragonlord wizards of his generation, could Hadrian even bind himself with Merlin's Artifacts.
This made Hadrian want to make his very own Artifacts. He'd already had a few ideas of what they could be, but without the necessary training in alchemy, there was no way he could follow through with his ideas.
Aside from training and learning, Hadrian had gotten much closer with his friends; specifically Daphne.
Daphne desperately wanted to become closer to Hadrian, in fear of him forgetting about her or finding better people to talk to when he left to one of the many schools that had personally asked for him.
This annoyed Oliver, but there was nothing he could do. Hadrian had done nothing wrong.
Even if he did, Oliver wouldn't be able to seek retribution, Hadrian had won a duelling tournament against duellists that were 3 years older than him!
As the final term of his year at Aunriton was coming to a close, Hadrian had to think about what school he wanted to attend.
He didn't want to go to another school because his friends were going, he wanted to go to the school that would give him the most benefits.
He had asked Professor Andy to help him research the different schools, and after reading about their courses and lessons, Hadrian was stuck on which one to choose!
Uagadou seemed like a really good option for Hadrian.
Their subjects list consisted of the regular core subjects as well as: Astronomy, Alchemy, and Transfiguration.
They excelled at the highest when it came to Transfiguration. Namely, Self-Transfiguration.
Nearly all their students became Animagus' during their 3rd or 4th year.
Not to mention, all their core subjects were done wandlessly! If Hadrian could learn how to do every magical subject wandlessly, it would give him a wider mastery in magic. It would make him stronger and unpredictable.
The other contender for Hadrian's possible enrollment was Mahoutokoro.
Mahoutokoro was an extremely strict school and appealed greatly to Hadrian because he would be notified the exact level he was at, thanks to their color-changing robes.
There was also the fact that the school was ancient, a place with such an extensive history would be able to help Hadrian learn to his fullest potential.
It was also very famous for its Quidditch! Mahoutokoro had been introduced to Quidditch when one day, Hogwarts students had accidentally arrived on their island whilst attempting to navigate the globe...on broomsticks.
The Hogwarts students taught the Mahoutokoro staff about Quidditch and all its glory, which turned out to be a big mistake on their part. Japan had become one of the greatest Quidditch playing nations in the world, thanks to its strict standards.
Some even noted that students that played for Mahoutokoro trained during stormy conditions and turbulent seas!
Other schools wanted Hadrian, like Durmstrang or Beaxbatons.
"Which school are you guys going to attend?", Hadrian asked the group one day, during lunch.
"I fancy going to Durmstrang.", said Crow, "Well, I say I do - but really, my mother would rather me go there."
"I'm going to Ilvermorny...so's my brother Jamie.", Oliver announced, immediately after Crow had finished talking.
"Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts.", said Theo and Daphne.
Roan flared his nostrils and furrowed his brows, "Why would anyone name their school 'Hogwarts', that just sounds disgusting."
Hadrian laughed, to which Daphne responded by glaring at both him and Roan.
"I'm still going! And so should you!", she finished as she looked at Hadrian meaningfully.
"Why? There are better schools out there, you know.", Hadrian asked.
"Well, which one are you going to then?", asked Crow.
"I haven't made a choice yet.", Hadrian paused to think, "...but if I had to choose, it would probably be between Uagadou or Mahoutokoro."
"...So far away.", Daphne pouted.
"I'm not planning on staying at those schools permanently.", Hadrian declared.
"What do you mean?", Crow asked, voicing the confusion the group felt in response to Hadrian's declaration.
"You can leave school anytime you want. They can't force you to remain in a school. I'm sure if you wanted to, you wouldn't have to even attend."
"So...your plan is to, what? Hop around, school to school?", Crow asked - displeased at his friend's antics.
"Well...yes, but no. Each school has something it excels at; I'll learn the core subjects at the school I'm learning at, whilst self-studying it. My reason for going to those schools is to learn something that they don't teach at other schools. Like Uagadou and its Wandless Magic and Animagus Training.", Hadrian explained.
"We probably won't be hearing from you a lot then.", Daphne remarked.
"We could still meet during the Holidays, right guys?", Oliver said, a pleading tone present in his voice.
"Sure.", Everyone responded. Everyone except Roan.
"Hm? Roan?", Daphne sounded as she noted Roan's lack of response.
"I... don't think I'll see you guys any time soon.", Roan said wistfully.
"Huh?! B-but why?", Theo Inquired.
"My father.", Roan spat in disdain, "I just can't."
"We'll work something out, 'Ro.", Hadrian said.
Roan responded with a curt nod.
'I doubt that, Hadrian.', He thought to himself.
"What about after you finish school?", Crow asked, "I'm going to be the President of MACUSA."
Everyone then looked at Oliver, who was seemingly chosen by the rest of the group to voice his aspirations.
"I don't know!", he confessed, "Probably something cool...like an Auror."
Everyone nodded, and then looked at Theo.
"I have no idea, and I don't want to have one yet."
"What - an Idea? You're going to have to use that brain someday, Theo!", Roan shouted.
Everyone laughed as Theo lunged towards Roan, tackling him onto the ground and began ruthlessly tickling him.
"What about you, Daph?", Oliver asked.
"Erm...a Spell-Crafter or a Duellist.", Daphne answered, shyly.
"Same here. But, I don't want to do one, single job. I want to do lots of things.", Hadrian stated.
"Of course you would.", Daphne reaffirmed as she looked Hadrian in the eyes.
Hadrian smiled back in response.
"What about you, Roan?", Crow asked.
"I'll probably go into the family business - boring stuff if you ask me."
"Oh, really.", Crow dryly remarked.
"Yup.", Roan replied.
The sound of the bell stopped the conversation that was coming to a lull. It left Hadrian more...decisive on which school he would be attending.
It was much better to listen to other's opinions before you formulated your own, although the choice you have in the end should be chosen by you, for you.
Hadrian had narrowed his choices down and finally realized which school he wanted to go to.
Hadrian walked back into his dorm, Professor Andy was teaching a class so he didn't have to go to duelling practice. Not that he had to be dragged to go to duelling practice, Hadrian was all too willing to go!
He made his way to his trunk and pulled out the two-way mirror his grandfather gave him in his first year.
He tapped the mirror with his wand and said, "Grandfather."
Moments later, Charlus appeared in the mirror.
"Hello, Hadrian. Did you finally choose?", Charlus asked.
Charlus was of course referring to the prior agreement he and Hadrian had come to; Hadrian would notify Charlus of the school he had chosen to enroll in and Charlus would contact the school.
He would have asked Headmistress Rosewood, but these matters were better left for Family.
"Yes, I've chosen."
"What lucky school is going to get Hadrian Black?", Charlus teased.
Hadrian smiled and replied, "Uagadou.".