chapter seven—the best class.

—The students were in the middle of another class when Professor Bel stood up and walked up to the front of the classroom with a stern expression on his face.

"Alright, class," Bel spoke in a loud voice that reverberated through the entire lecture hall. "Today's lesson will be on the Fates; a crucial aspect of Keepers. You will need to know their names and their specific duties."

The students all nodded, looking nervous as they were still trying to grasp the concept of Fate and the powers that came with it. 

"Felton!"

"Y-yes, Professor Bel!" A Mage-class student nervously stood up from his seat.

"We know there are Celestial, Primordial and the Cultural Fates.

Name the Keepers in the Primordial Fates!"

The boy in question shivered, Emerson's fierce black eyes focused on his student as he only answered with quiet mumbles. Elodie peered at the student seat far behind her in the next row of the lecture seats. Felton had short dark hair and jade-green eyes in a Crestwood uniform. He was unsure what to answer and was also terrified that he wouldn't answer.

Emerson narrowed his eyes even deeper and he huffed. "Disappointing. 10% out of your points. Any takers will get a 5% increase..."

"How are we supposed to remember all the Keepers?"

"I only know the Cultural Fates. Why couldn't he ask that one?"

"I don't want to fail this class and end up in D-class..."

"Professor Bel is the scariest teacher. I wish I was in the Royal-class right now..." Elodie looked around and her classmates looked anxious, most of them resorted to their textbooks for the answers.

"Everyone is really nervous." She whispered.

"Professor Bel has that influence on others. 5 students were already sent to Normal-class after failing in 5 days." Sonus murmured back. "His questions were always third-year level."

"But I thought we were supposed to know about Fates already." Elodie turned over to the teacher's podium where Bel was observing his deluded students. She rose her hand, quickly catching his attention. "Professor?"

"Charleston. Prepared to answer?" He asked boredly.

"Yes, sir. Primordial Fates are Keepers from the Clockwork Kingdom. The island of Time Magic.

So the Keeper known from there is Horus-Ra."

The students all gasped and silently gossiped amongst themselves. They were surprised she knew the answer. "Hm. Interesting. That's correct." Bel hummed. "However, I said Keepers. As in plural. Horus-Ra cannot be the only one."

"Sir, Keepers are rare in the Clockwork Kingdom. Only one Keeper exists for Primordial Fates. So that was a trick question."

"Intriguing." He cocked a brow in surprise. Of course, it was a trick question, he assumed that she wouldn't know. "No first-year would have ever found that out. You've taken me into interest, Charleston."

"Thank you, sir," Elodie nodded monotonously.

"Then. For extra credit, name all the Keepers in ALL the Fates."

The students gasped sharply. Elodie suddenly sensed a cold energy emanating from the red-headed male known as Emerson Belhaven. He was deliberately challenging her. And hoping she would stumble and fail. It was as if he was used to and waited for a mistake to fall. But Elodie's blue eyes were not fazed.

She just had to remember what Alasdair taught her. "Of course. Celestial Fates are used by Knights of the Orion Dominion. The 7 Stars; Andromeda, Apus, Canis Major, Canis Venatici, Aries, Taiia and...Centarus.

Cultural Fates are found in Neutropolis Continent, with thousands of common Keepers alive. It would mean fairly every Mage or aspiring Mage Arcanist has a Keeper. But the most legendary ones are; Silvanus, Tempus and Sardir."

The students were all baffled. Bel barely showed his emotion of intrigue but his wide eyes said it all. 'This child...'

Elodie sat back down with a plain look and immediately noticed all eyes were on her. "Uh...did I...do something wrong?"

"Correct. You're back at 100%, it seems." A bell rang over the students' heads and everyone levitated their books over their heads before floating toward the door.

"Right class, head to the hall for lunch and return here in exactly an hour. Dismissed." Belhaven huffed and flew out of the class.

Elodie watched her fellow classmates fly over her head and exit. They watched and thought she would float along with them. Elodie gulped, she held her books in her hands and casually walked out of her seat. The students started to whisper amongst themselves.

"She knows all about Fates but she cannot fly?"

"Why is she in the Mage-class if she can't do that? She should be able the Normal-class."

"I wonder where she's from." They murmured.

Sonus held out his crystal trident and floated up in the air with the other students and watched Elodie amble down the halls by herself. "Elodie, wait!"

"Hmm?" The blonde girl turned to see the Skymaid floating up to her.

"Oh, you're Sonus. Right?" Elodie asked.

"Yes. You...wish to eat with me at the eatery hall?"

"Oh, I'd love to. Thank you." The girl smiled. "To be honest, I did not know where it is."

"Oh, then I can help you. Follow me." The blue-scaled boy descends back to Earth and decided to walk beside her. The two sauntered went down the staircase toward a door that lead to a wide cafeteria. Students from first-year to the final years were all seated together. Elodie gasped in wonder before wondering where the food was distributed.

Sonus helped her pick out the right food before finding a seat for them. "You sure adore eating meat, Sonus." Elodie stared at the Skymaid's tray with stun.

"Of course, we're hunters by nature after all. B-but w-ww-we don't eat humans, it's just superstition! I swear!" He flinched.

"It's okay. I know Skymaids love to eat wild ground boars."

"Good, hehe..." the boy shyly chuckled. "Allow me to reintroduce myself. Sonus Skymore. You already know I'm a Skymaid."

"Of course. But...it's funny that a Skymaid is in the Mage-class. I often heard they were fighters, so..."

"I should be in the Warrior-class? That's right. Olympian red giants, Skymaids as well as many other magic beings are in that class." Sonus confirmed.

"Wait, does that mean you can use more than just Crystal Magic?" Elodie pondered.

"No. Crystal Magic is the only thing I can master. Fates can also be performed by other magical beings. However, I only lack in physical combat. But..." Sonus paused. "My Crystal Magic is recognized more in the Mage-class than in the Warrior-class."

"I see. But also, I always thought Skymaids love being in the Gemstone Colony."

"Huh? Don't you know about the new laws implemented?" Sonus gazed at her, dumbfoundedly.

"New laws?"

"Our Queen allowed us to enrol into Crestwood as well as many other magic schools. Instead of going to the Compound to serve her military. We were given a choice for once. There were certain requirements however."

"Oh. Interesting..." the girl hummed. She wasn't up to date with all the affairs that happened in Gaia. A royal was killed, war went off and it was at the fault of her sister, Pandora. A lot really has changed about Gaia.

"Where are you from, Elodie?"

"Eh. The countryside."

"Interesting. Which part of the countryside?" Sonus pondered. Elodie froze and bit her lip. She didn't have Alasdair or Trixie to conjure up an answer. She didn't know any place in Neutropolis besides Silver City. She should've thought it through with the principal earlier. "I—"

"Hey, Sonus!"

"Hmm?" The blue-scaled student turned over to see the students from their class float over to them. "Oh Felton, Paige."

"You're with the new student? Fascinating..." Paige murmured. Her yellow eyes dotted right in Elodie's direction. Her dark green hair was shiny and thin. Her facial appearance almost looked like a serpentine.

"Mind if we sit with you all?" Felton took a chair and scooted over to Sonus while Paige silently took her seat next to the new girl. "Paige. Paige Simmons. Pleased to meet you, Elodie Charleston." The girl firmly nodded.

"And I'm Felton Thorburg!" The brown-haired, jade-eyed young man added. "You certainly surprised us today in class."

"I did?"

"Paige is technically the smartest in our class, and even she didn't know the answer to that question."

"I did know the answer." Paige illiterated with a blank expression. "I assumed that I should give others a chance. And for you to know it was a trick question even baffled me. I was..surprised."

"And yet, you never show a colorful expression, Paige." Felton sighed.

"I apologize. Is that...bad?" Paige turned over to Felton.

"You're hopeless."

"Don't tease Paige like that, Felton." Sonus reprimanded.

"So, Elodie. If you can't fly, or use Fates. Would that mean you're good at an Arcane type? I'm a Thunder Magic user and I have a Keeper." Felton boasted.

"I work on Ground and Air Magic." Paige added.

"2 beta-Arcane types? At first-year?" Elodie blinked at the serpent-like girl, fascinated.

"Paige is the strongest in our class. She still has 100% on her points. No one else can perform 2 Arcane types from the Mage-class 1st year division." Felton informed. "She's also good at performing a few Fates without a Keeper."

"Is that possible?"

"Well, Principal Vox doesn't have a Keeper and he knows Teleportation and Shape-shifting. It takes hard training to reach that level."

"That's right!" Elodie realized.

"Do you also have a Keeper, Elodie?" Felton boisterously asked.

"Well, yes. Where are yours?"

"In our dorms. We don't have Keeper's Ed until Friday." Sonus added. "Magic beings like me don't own one, so I don't have Keeper's Ed in my syllabus."

"Everyone! Everyone! The Royals are coming!" A first-year student from the Warrior-class ran into the eatery hall, in panic and hysteria. "The Royals are coming this way! THE ROYALS ARE COMING THIS WAY!"

"The Royals? Right now?"

"Here? But they have their own VIP Hall!"

"Why are they coming here?!"

"Where is my foundation? I need to clean myself up!?"

Elodie looked around the room, trying to make sense of the frantic energy around her. Finally, Sonus grabbed her arm and ushered her towards a line near the doorway. Paige was standing right beside her, her expression dull and unenthused.

"What's going on?" Elodie whispered, feeling bewildered.

"It's the Royal-class. The most respected and powerful students in the school. And 4 of them are from the Royal Houses." Paige responded matter-of-factly.

Elodie's heart rate quickened as she heard Paige's words. She knew that the Royal Houses meant the Royal families of Gaia, and that they possessed the strongest Arcane Magic that no ordinary Gaian could perform, unless they had the Dragon God bloodline.

"The Royal Houses?!" Elodie muttered under her breath, unable to contain her dread.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and a group of students entered the hall. The room immediately fell silent, and everyone hurried to bow their heads as the students walked in.

"Good day, Your Highnesses," the students and teachers chanted in unison, bowing their heads deeply.

Elodie joined the others, bowing her head and trying not to let her curiosity get the best of her. But she couldn't help but look up, her eyes meeting the gaze of the group as they walked past.

The Royals were walking down the carpet, their heads held high and their shoulders squared, exuding a sense of authority. Their brooches, shaped like crowns, represented their class faction. Elodie could feel the immense flow of Quintessence radiating from them. Royals with direct Dragon blood had massive levels of Quintessence, more than a regular Arcanist. Their families had a direct connection with the legendary Dragon Gods, and the Dragon God bloodline, which provided them with incredibly powerful magic.

Elodie took in the sheer magnitude of their presence, feeling both intimidated and in awe. She couldn't believe that these students could possess such immense power, and she wondered what it would be like to study alongside them. Despite her reservations, she couldn't resist the pull of their mystique, and she found herself wanting to learn more.

They had the appearance of gods in human form. A male Royal-class student, with short, slicked-back white hair, led the group. His eyes were burning suns that shone an intense yellow, and you couldn't see the irises. They were tall and lean, with fair skin and a serious expression.

Others followed his lead, all noble students. It seemed he was their leader. A girl with an icy blue shade of hair and a white-fur scarf around her shoulders walked along with them. She had white eyelashes that looked like they were made of tiny snowflakes. She was the embodiment of an ice queen.

"Why are we in the commoner hall? We don't need anything from these lowly peons," the girl scoffed. "Oh, Prince Theo..."

"Be quiet," the starry-eyed student known as Prince Theo said bluntly. "I heard the news from Principal Vox, and I must see it for myself."

"And? What's so important about them? None of them are regal." The ice queen rebuked.

"As I said, I want to see for myself," the Royal said, reaching the end of the hall. He turned to face the entire student body of first-years, who tabbled at the appearance of the Royals. Nobody dared to make eye contact with them, let alone with Prince Theodore Orion, from the House of Light, himself.

"First-years of Crestwood, I, Prince Theodore Orion from the House of Light, have a declaration to infer.

Who among you, is Elodie Charleston?"

The girl in question stiffened as the other classes whispered among themselves. However, then the Mage-class turned their heads to focus on their new student.

"Here she is," Paige grabbed Elodie's arm and raised it up.

"Paige?! What do you think you're doing?!" Sonus and Felton both exclaimed with shock.

"What?" Paige shrugged, unfazed.

"Elodie Charleston, step forward!" Prince Theo commanded. Elodie gulped nervously as she stepped out of the line and revealed herself from the dozens of students. She lowered her head to avoid their gazes, walking over to stand in front of the Royals.

"Yes, Your Majesty," she bowed, still not lifting her head to look up at them.

"Elodie Charleston...you are hereby challenged to fight against the Royal-class!"

"W-what?" Elodie exclaimed in disbelief, now looking up at the Royals with wide eyes.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Why does my brother get all the luck?"

Professor Zelda Belhaven sat in the teacher's lounge, clinging onto her older brother Emerson, as she voiced her frustration. Emerson, with his arms crossed, looked annoyed as he tried to enjoy his lunch break.

"Be an adult, Zelda," Emerson said sternly.

"It's not fair! I want a re-roll!" Zelda whined like a child and tried to grab her brother's arm.

"And do you even know what that word means in this context?" Bel asked, raising an eyebrow before taking a sip of his tea from the coffee table. "Besides, there's nothing special about Charleston. While she was a bit astute earlier, Paige Simmons might not be the only competent student in my class."

"Emy-wemy, you know what you saw in her as I do. You just won't admit it!" The gingerette happily cooed.

"Can you stop with these awful baby names?" He gruffed back at his younger sister. "You're revolting, sometimes."

"Emmy-wemy doesn't want to admit it," Zelda whined, "but I think the principal knows something about Elodie Charleston that we don't. It's just a hunch, ya know?"

Emerson frowned. "That hunch is gonna get you in trouble, as per usual."

Two more teachers entered the lounge. One was dressed strangely, with a bright orange-and-yellow striped suit, a top hat equipped with a white feather, and a monocle over his left eye. He also had a wooden cane with a golden top. On the other hand, the second teacher was dressed quite plainly, with a dark blue uniform and an ordinary pixie hair cut.

Zelda quickly greeted them. "Hey, Fraser and Donna! You know about her?"

"I certainly do," the monocle man, Fraser, hummed. "I've been wondering about her ever since Principal Vox told me. Emerson, I can't help but to say I'm quite envious that she isn't my student."

"You agree with me, too!" Zelda exclaimed.

"You as well?" Emerson stuttered. "Why does Charleston intrigue you? Is it because of the curiosity of something unknown?"

Fraser chortled. "No reason, no reason at all. You can always enjoy the thrill of curiosity."

They all took a seat and began to discuss their thoughts on the matter at hand. But Emerson didn't understand why they were so interested in her.

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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! TSYM! ]