chapter six—the mage-class.

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—Roland continued to wander through the bustling streets of Silver City, his eyes wide as he still tried to make sense of the strange new world around him.

Everywhere he looked, the citizens began to be locking eyes at the young man, who had been lost in the same street for a few hours. The citizens began to notice his confused and petrified expression, and the gossip quickly spread throughout the market and the vendors.

"Who is that man?"

"He looks like a noble?"

"Why does he look lost? Should we help him?"

"I don't think so. He's acting a little strange. His robes aren't very familiar."

"Maybe he's from another island."

"A noble is a noble. Stuck up, bastards. I say leave him. He's not our problem."

Roland's anxiety only worsened as the attention of everyone around him grew heavier.

With each passing moment, it felt like more and more eyes were watching his movements. The pressure became unbearable, and he knew he had to find a way to escape. He darted down an empty alley, his heart racing at the thought of finding refuge from the eyes of the public. Panting, he leaned against a wall and took deep breaths to calm himself.

Looking up at the floating lands of rocks and other floating structures in the sky, Roland felt like he was in some kind of bizarre fairytale land. He couldn't help but wonder if the stories of witches and magic were really true.

As he tried to process the unimaginable world around him, one thought kept repeating in his mind: he had to find Elodie. She was the only person he knew who could possibly make sense of this place. Roland knew he had to get out of here before he totally lost his mind. "I need to find Elodie. This place is madness!"

"Halt, you there!" Roland froze as soon as he met three figures in long dark cloaks.

Their faces were covered with blank masks, with no markings or characteristics. It made them hard to recognize. Except the one in the middle revealed her locks of platinum-blonde hair from her mask and cloak. She spoke to him, her voice sounding low and menacing. "We've been sent to fetch you. You're coming with us."

Roland flinched, taking a step back.

"Who are you people?" he asked, trying to keep his voice even. The figures didn't respond, instead staring at him silently. His unease grew as he noticed the hairs on his arms rising with goosebumps.

Suddenly, the middle figure extended her hand towards him. Her hand was slender with pale skin, and she was wearing a black blazer with long, loose sleeves.

"You're coming with us," she repeated.

"And if I refuse?" Roland hesitated, but before he could, the figures snapped their fingers. He felt a wave of dark energy and Roland was lifted off the ground and suspended in the air, feeling like he was choking.

He could hear the sound of the figures' voices getting further and further away. He struggled to catch his breath, but the energy around him grew stronger, pulling him closer towards it. He closed his eyes, feeling himself slip into unconsciousness.

"We captured the Eartherner. That's our job done. Let's go."

The hooded figures sunk into the shadows of the alleyways, fading away from sight.

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Zelda swung open the door to the Principal's office, her tone filled with glee.

"Oh, Principal Vox! I brought the new student!" However, as she and Elodie entered, they were greeted with nothing but silence. The room was empty.

"He's not here. Should I wait for him?" As Elodie looked around in confusion, a sly male voice came from behind them.

"Quite the contrary, I've been waiting for you, madamoiselle!"

They turned to see who it was, but there was nobody there.

"Down here, darling." Elodie lowered her gaze and saw a purple-furred cat speaking to them. Elodie was taken aback.

"The principal is a cat!?" she exclaimed outwardly, shocked. The cat's face seemed to convey amusement at her reaction.

"Not always, it's a habit of his," Belhaven said, sighing with frustration. "Sir, what happened to decency?"

The cat looked up at her with a smirk before speaking in a low voice. "Decency? Pshha! That's so overrated, my dear. Who needs it when you have me and the whole school to run?"

Elodie remained speechless, still trying to process the situation. She never expected the principal of such a prestigious school to be a talking cat. The cat prowled past the two girls and jumped onto the desk, resting near the name stand that wrote the words; 'PRINCIPAL VOXCENT'.

"That would be all, Belhaven," pthe cat then gestured at Zelda to leave the room with a nod - leaving Elodie with the magenta feline.

"Pardon moi for my tardiness. I had an early excursion out. The world is exciting when you're on your paws."

"Uh...I guess it is." Elodie answered, absent-mindedly.

"Alright. As you know, I'm Principal Reuben Voxcent and yes, I'm a human Gaian. I so happen to specialize in—"

"Shape-shifting. That's a type of Fate. But no one can use it willingly, without a Keeper. Not even low-level Arcanists." Elodie answered forwardly, surprising the principal.

"D'accord, I like you already. I see that you were taught about the homeworld while you were raised on the Earthern Realm. But I believe you have questions you want to ask me, Ms. Charmswell." He purred her real last name once again.

"Yes." The office became quiet for a bit. Vox's tail swerved side to side like a very slow metronome catching its own rhythm. Almost like the ticking motion of a clock. Elodie's heart pounded with excitement and anticipation as she prepared to see her sisters, Xakheia and Pandora, once again.

She had spent her whole life on Earth and needed to know what had been going on ever since they left to the homeworld. She had always been curious about Gaia and wanted to be reunited with her sisters as soon as possible. As she was about to speak, the cat let out an exasperated sigh amd spoke first.

"Elodie, my dear," the cat said in a calming tone, "I know what you are thinking. But I'm afraid the answer is no. Your sisters, Xakheia and Pandora Charmswell, are not here."

Elodie's heart quickly sank as the words sunk in.

She had been so eager to see them again, but now it seemed like that wouldn't be possible. She clenched the fabric of her coat, and embers of her Nature Magic threatened to burst out with slight anger. Her voice trembled with concern as she waited for the cat's explanation. "W-what do you mean...they're not here?"

"My dear..." Vox began, the tone of its voice shifting to a solemn one, "There is a reason why Gaia had to lock away the Lychgate to the Earthern Realm. Because of after...the incident."

'Incident?' Elodie's confusion grew, and she didn't understand what the principal was referring to. She had been away from her homeworld, and had no idea what kind of incident could have occurred that forced Gaia to close off the Lychgate. It made sense why the train never returned to Earth.

"What ncident? What are you talking about?" she asked, her confusion turning into fear. "What could possibly have happened that prevented my sisters from coming to see me?"

The purple cat let out a soft hiss before continuing its explanation. "Malheursement, my dear child. Right now, Gaia has been going through a quite...gruesome era, it had to be done to protect those who reside both inside and outside."

"But, Xakheia and Pandora were only fighting. Just a small argument about going home." Elodie's confusion turned into disbelief as she listened to the words of the Principal.

"Sadly, the argument you speak of, turned into a full-scale war," the cat said, the tone turning cold.

"Your sister Pandora is now an enemy. And your other sister, Xakheia, disappeared."

Elodie's world began to spin around her as the words from the cat hit her like a ton of bricks. She couldn't believe what she was hearing; how could this be true?

Pandora? The person who always protected her and taught her magic. A traitor? The sister who was always by her side when she needed her. How could she be an enemy?

And Xakheia, her other sister who was always so kind and loving, had gone missing?

Elodie felt her heart break as the tears came streaming down her face. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It wasn't fair. "I...I don't understand," she choked out. "What even happened? How could they both be gone? Where are my sisters?"

The cat watched her with a mix of pity and sympathy.

"It's hard to believe, my dear, I know..." he said gently. "But sometimes events take a turn for the worst. And sadly, this is one of those cases. She assassinated a noble from the House Of Light. Which started the war. Much that the Orion Dominion, the Land of Light, has turned to a different path of sovereignty.

Your sister, Xakheia, was brought in by the Divine Council to stop Pandora. That fight ended 5 years ago. And still to this day, her body was never found."

Elodie's eyes widened. "No...that can't be. Why didn't you bring me here earlier? I would've—"

"I cannot speak for the Council's judgment, but I do know that they make the best decisions for all of us. It is their duty to protect the realm, and sometimes that means making decisions that are hard on all of us."

Elodie nodded numbly, still struggling to process what was happening. She didn't know what to do. All she knew was that she had to find her sisters, no matter what it took.

"I need to find them," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't give up on them. I need to find my sisters."

The cat nodded. "I understand your need, my dear. But I'm afraid I can't let you, there's little that can be done here. And even if you could, it would mean navigating Gaia right into chaos."

Elodie took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever may come. She refused to accept that she had lost her sisters, especially Xakheia.

"Did you ever..."

"Search? We have. Many many times after the war. We only assumed the worst for Xakheia." Vox leaned his head down and fluted his tail around. "Even now, Gaia still feels divided."

"I see..." Elodie solemnly frowned.

"Ma fille, it was wise to know that Xakheia's final wish was to bring you here. Though, the world of Gaia is not one to be taken lightly, especially for someone who has never been here. The dangers of our realm are great, and you must be prepared to face them head-on. Thats why you're here."

Elodie nodded agreeably, a newfound determination in her eyes. "I understand," she said firmly. "I won't give up on my sisters. And I'll make sure I'm prepared for whatever comes my way."

The cat watched her with a mix of admiration and concern. "Very well," he said finally. "But please remember, the decision is yours and yours alone."

"That's alright, I'll stay in Crestwood. Then I'll find my sisters," she muttered.

"A wise answer," Principal Vox approved. "Maintenant, as you've been accepted here, you'll be starting your first year in the Mage-class. Your sisters graduated here from their Mage-classes too. The best to ever come out of Crestwood.

And the mantle now bares on to you, the last Charmswell of the family." He said with an amiable tone.

"No one here knows about my last name, right? Not even the teachers?" Elodie asked, cautious.

"It's between you and mee...ow..." The principal cooed before plopping back on his office chair.

'Did he just...meow at me?' Elodie thought, a cold sweat ran down her temple.

"Oh right. Almost took a cat nap and forgot. Here..." Vox pounced back next to her on the desk and his beady cat eyes began to glimmer.

Elodie only had a second to blink and realized that her clothes transformed. She was adorned in the official Crestwood school uniform, a royal purple with a purple-plaited skirt with shoes and white socks.

A small shine appeared on the left side of her chest, and a small golden brooch pin rested on her blazer. The brooch was shaped like a Star, which represented her as a member of the Mage-class.

Her suitcase had also vanished along with the grimoire where Alasdair and Trixie were in. "Your belongings have just been teleported to your dorm room. Your teacher of the class will be Professor Emerson Belhaven. You'll find him in Classroom 2808. À bientôt."

Elodie respectfully bowed at the cat principal before leaving out the office. She held out her arms at how well fitted the uniform was on her. And how the principal was good at Teleportation. He was possibly a high-class Arcanist to pull it all off while in his feline form.

Elodie then began wandering down the halls of the school, looking for the room number Vox specified. She was lucky to be on the floor with rooms starting from 2800.

"2800. 2802...2806...oh, there it is." Elodie finally reached a wooden brown door with the numbers written on a gold plaque. Elodie softly knocked on the door and immediately heard a response.

"Yes, it's open."

Elodie stepped into a large lecture room, her gaze immediately drawn to the rows of student desks arranged in a grid pattern. Seated at the front of the room was a teacher, who was not the expected Professor Zelda Belhaven, but rather her foretold brother.

The teacher's hair was a mixture of orange and gray, with deep black eyes and a strict persona. He wore a red suit with a fluffed bow tie and carried himself with professionalism. As she introduced herself into the classroom, the teacher's expression never wavered. "You're late. Class started 20 minutes ago," he said sternly.

"I apologize, sir," she replied, bowing. "My name is Elodie Charleston, and I've been assigned to this class."

The teacher cocked a brow as he listened to her name, muttering something under his breath. "Charleston, you say? I could have sworn you said something else."

Nevertheless, he allowed her to take her seat. "Next time—BE on time. I have no patience for tardy students. Unless they want to be demoted to the D-class. Permanently," he stated firmly.

Elodie silently gulped at his deeply stoic energy and sat down next to her assigned seating partner. As the teacher began his lecture, she couldn't help but stare at him. He was a Skymaid dressed in the Crestwood uniform, Elodie immediately remembered that Skymaids all have purple eyes and cloudy hair, as well as the signature sapphire-blue scales they were known for. They were abcially the same but still had different features.

Her seating partner looked to be around her age, but given the way his kind aged more slowly than Gaians, there was a chance he was much older. Still, she appreciated having a friendly face and smiled at him.

"Hey, I'm Sonus," he murmured with a sweet voice. "Nice to meet you, Elodie."

"Nice to meet you as well," she replied, nodding.

"Since we have a new student in our class, I would like to reiterate the rules." Emerson stated. "My class will not be treated like a social hub for you to chatter about. If you do that, that's low points. And if you receive points lower than 60% by the end of the semester, you'll get demoted to the pathetic Normal-class for the rest of your years on Crestwood. And you can never be promoted back.

Understood?"

Elodie felt her heart sink at the thought of being demoted to the Normal-class. She didn't know much about it, but then headed Zelda's words.

Maybe it was students who couldn't keep up with the demands of the other classes. And she definitely didn't want to be associated with anyone in that kind of class. Suddenly, she understood how important it was for her to maintain a high grade, no matter what.

"Yes, Professor Bel!" The students all chorused.

"Understood, new student? You're behind this semester, so you'll have to maintain your points. Right now, your points are at 85%. A 15 percent cut from being late to class on your first day. Completely unprofessional." The professor's tone was stern, and Elodie couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated. She had never gotten in trouble for tardiness before, and now she was being penalized for it in her first semester of Crestwood.

"85%?" Elodie blinked. She had no idea what her point system even was or how to maintain a high score. She turned to Sonus and whispered, "What's with the point system?"

The Skymaid boy smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, I'll help you out. Basically, it's just a way Professor Bel judges our performance in class. You get points for participating in class, making it on time, and following rules. But if you break any rules or don't do your work, you lose points."

Elodie felt a sense of terror in her chest at the thought of being exiled to the Normal-class. She turned back to the teacher, determined to never let that happen.

"Right. We've wasted a lot of time talking instead of learning. Let's continue with the Arcane Conducts. Charleston, conjure your textbook and quill pen so we can get started," Professor Bel stated before flicking his finger for his chalk to magically start writing on the board.

"Uh..." Elodie froze. She heard what her teacher said. To conjure. It would need her to use a Fate to conjure up a book and pen. Elodie felt her heart race at the task presented to her. She had no idea how to conjure a book and pen. The teacher looked back with a questioning gaze.

"Charleston? I don't see a book and pen in your hands..." The students were struck silent and all eyes were immediately on her. Sonus stared at her with wide eyes. The professor turned around and suddenly the air felt so cold.

"It's alright, Professor Bel! I'll conjure one for her!" Sonus quickly raised his hand and immediately conjured one out for her, as well as a quill pen. Suddenly, she felt a wave of relief wash over her as

Sonus conjured a quill pen and textbook for her.

"Thank you..." Elodie sighed. Sonus nodded back at her. But she couldn't help but notice the stares and whispers being muttered around. She could tell that her classmates were curious and puzzled by her inability to use a Fate, which only served to heighten her anxiety.

Just as the class continued, one student with dull dark green hair and yellow clandestine eyes, stared at Elodie with a mix of curiosity and surprise. "Hm..."

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[ AUTHOR: heyo, hope you've enjoyed so far! Please vote and comment on what you think about it! It would mean so much if you supported this book! Ill try to update, about 5 chapters per month. I don't have much time because of college and other matters. But I hope you liked it. TSYM! ]