Last Lesson

{ 6 YEARS, 10 MONTHS, AND 9 DAYS LATER… }

It was March 1st, 1422.

Thin rays of light filtered through the classroom, slipping between the large arched windows and barely illuminating the ancient maps and worn parchments on the walls, which seemed to carry the weight of the centuries.

There were only two people in the room: Mirac, the student, and his teacher.

"And with this…" said the man, standing in front of the desk, closing with a decisive gesture the heavy tome he held in his hand, "…we have officially concluded our course of study, young Prince."

The rustling of pages turning blended with the soft sound of Mirac's quill as he carefully jotted down his final notes, even though there was nothing left to write that he didn't already know.

What today had been, in fact, was just a long and simple review of the topics covered in the first months of this year.

When he finished, the young Prince closed the notebook with a satisfied sigh and lifted his gaze towards the professor.

'Finally!' thought Mirac as he stood up, giving a half bow to his teacher. "I thank you infinitely, Professor Warnock!"

Just three weeks after the disastrous incident with Klark, Mirac found himself under the guidance of a new instructor: Professor Kenneth Warnock.

He was a man who perfectly embodied the archetype of the middle-aged teacher. His black hair was streaked with fine silver veins, while a round frame rested precisely on a straight, not too pronounced nose. His stocky build contrasted with his plump, cushion-like face, which was framed by a flowing, angular beard.

Unlike his predecessor, Warnock proved to be extremely strict and inflexible, a man who rarely showed any signs of warmth and never tolerated distractions. Each lesson was structured with strict discipline, with a scrupulous focus on the young Prince's progress.

It was precisely because of this rigorous method that Mirac made significant improvements in his knowledge, to the point where he noticed the difference compared to his lessons with Klark.

Indeed, Klark had always simply read passively from the textbook, assigning trivial tasks and moving at an exasperatingly slow pace. A difference that Mirac only realized after beginning his studies with his new, and finally "true," teacher.

With Professor Warnock, Mirac not only filled the gaps left from the first year with "Professor Shirkenn," but he also deepened every subject, excelling particularly in history, geography, military strategy, and politics.

"You don't need to bow, young Prince," replied Warnock with a hint of a smile, a rare expression on his austere face. "It is an honor to have been your teacher."

With that, Kenneth approached his black leather bag, resting on the chair by the desk, and took out a bundle of documents. He picked one from the pile and handed it to Mirac.

"Here, take this. It's your report card, with the results from the latest exams."

Mirac took the paper with a mix of curiosity and satisfaction.

The report card was printed on fine paper, its color a blend between pure white and beige, with a subtle ivory hue that gave it an elegant and solemn appearance.

The golden crests for the various subjects were neatly aligned along the edges, while a refined pattern of heraldic symbols adorned the heading.

At the top center, the official crest of the Flinkell Academy, from which Professor Warnock came, stood out.

Each line of the report card was printed with well-defined and uniform characters, stamped with slightly glossy black ink that gave the document a sense of authority.

Mirac's eyes carefully scanned the grades, while a sense of pride warmed his chest.

1. Leadership and Politics [100/100]: A discipline focused on developing the skills necessary to exercise power with wisdom and authority. It includes the study of legal principles, the administration of the royal council, conflict management, and court etiquette. Special emphasis is placed on military strategy and tactics, with the analysis of historical battles, army command, and the optimization of military resources. The art of protocol provides guidelines for proper conduct during official ceremonies and institutional events.

2. Diplomatic Relations and Alliances [100/100]: A set of knowledge necessary for managing relationships with other kingdoms, aiming to ensure stability and prosperity. The analysis of treaties and international agreements enables the negotiation of strategic alliances, while espionage and counter-espionage techniques support national security. Managing ambassadors and foreign delegations plays a key role in building lasting and beneficial diplomatic relations.

3. Economy and Administration [100/100]: A field of study aimed at the effective management of the kingdom's resources and maintaining economic stability. It covers accounting and finance for the administration of the royal treasury, internal and external trade, and court expenses. Economic administration addresses taxation, management of productive resources, and trade. Fiscal regulations provide the legal framework for a fair distribution of wealth, while infrastructure organization focuses on public works such as roads, bridges, and water systems.

4. History and Culture [100/100]: A study area focused on gaining a deep understanding of one's own roots and the historical dynamics of neighboring kingdoms. The analysis of the kingdom's history and royal genealogy allows for the tracing of dynastic lines and understanding of social transformations. Understanding external events helps assess alliances and rivalries, while myths and legends may conceal relevant information. Heraldry provides tools for identifying noble symbols, crests, and flags, which are essential for official representation.

5. Religion and Philosophy [100/100]: The study of spiritual and moral principles fundamental to governing the kingdom. A deep understanding of the Elemental Pantheon forms the basis for religious and social unity. Ethical and moral principles offer guidance for decision-making, while active participation in ceremonies and festivals strengthens the bond with the population and preserves traditions.

6. Survival and Exploration [100/100]: Skills necessary to face unexplored territories and hostile situations, ensuring the safety of the sovereign and the kingdom. The study of navigation and cartography enables the planning of strategic movements, while survival techniques include identifying and procuring vital resources, such as drinking water, materials for starting a fire, and building shelters. Knowledge of mythical creatures provides useful tools for confronting or avoiding potential threats.

There were only two subjects that Mirac had studied little over the years: math and magic.

The latter because, to everyone's knowledge, Mirac had never shown any sign of awakening a Sintony.

Yet, both Grand Knight Leonard and King Arthur could perceive with the naked eye an intense flow of mana flowing through the young Prince.

From this observation, they hypothesized that Mirac belonged to the category of "Incompatibles," individuals who, while possessing mana, never awaken any Sintony.

Although not able to use magic in the traditional way, the Incompatibles possess a greater-than-normal amount of mana, which they skillfully harness in combat through various techniques.

Thus, by pretending to be an Incompatible, Mirac had managed to keep his true nature as a Chaotic hidden, along with his Anomalous Sintony with Math!

By continuing along this path and acting with the utmost caution not to reveal his powers, his secret would remain safe for the rest of his life, thereby avoiding the death sentence for him and his family!

An additional reason why Mirac had fortunately not been subjected to more thorough checks was the common belief that, if he had developed a Sintony with Fire—as everyone expected from King Arthur's son—he would certainly have announced it with pride, not kept it hidden.

And now, with the approach of his fifteenth birthday and after all these years without any sign of the Awakening of the Sintony, this belief had firmly taken root in everyone's mind.

For all these reasons, Professor Warnock had deemed it unnecessary to spend too much time studying magic, considering it a remote possibility for the young Prince. However, basic knowledge had been consolidated, such as identifying spells and their corresponding protections, the study of relics and artifacts, the anatomy of magical beasts, and dungeon exploration.

As for math, Mirac only possessed basic knowledge.

Over the years, the hours dedicated to this subject had been progressively reduced, a decision made by mutual agreement between Professor Warnock and King Arthur. Both believed it was more appropriate to focus the Prince's time on subjects deemed crucial for his future role as sovereign. Moreover, the administration of calculations was entrusted to the royal accountants, making the study of math even less necessary for Mirac.

Despite the limited time dedicated to the subject, Mirac had still managed to acquire new skills, with the last topics being arithmetic expressions and plane geometry.

From these few additional concepts, as expected, Mirac had gained new abilities related to his Sintony with Math…

"You've really made my job easier with these impeccable scores," Kenneth remarked with a hint of satisfaction. "I didn't even have to use a drop of ink to correct your answers."

'So, he can be pleasant and kind, huh?' Mirac thought, surprised by this unexpected side of his teacher. He had never seen him smile in class, nor had he ever let himself engage in casual conversation.

"It's all your doing, Professor Warnock," Mirac replied with a polite smile. 'Your doing and my genius!'

Kenneth, with one hand behind his back and the other thoughtfully stroking his flowing beard, barely smiled.

"You flatter me, young Prince. But remember: I have only imparted the knowledge to you. By itself, it will be of no use without field experience. Therefore, we will discuss your future and imminent educational trip later, at today's lunch."

Mirac nodded.

"Alright," he replied, with a flat tone that hid his excitement.

"Good," Professor Warnock continued. "As for this document, you may keep it. I've already prepared three more copies: one for me, one for the academy, and the last will be delivered to His Majesty the King. With these results, I am sure he will be truly proud of you!"

At the word "proud," Mirac's smile slowly faded as he lowered his gaze to the paper in his hands.

"Proud, you say?" Mirac sighed. "Yes, I hope so too, Professor Warnock…"

* * *

After the final goodbyes and bows, Mirac left the classroom and headed to his room. He carefully placed his notebooks and books on the desk, pausing for a moment to look at them.

"Now that I've finished my studies, most of these books will no longer be needed. Later, I'll go to the library to return them."

Then, taking a deep breath, Mirac left his room to join the special lunch of the day.