CHAPTER 11

"The irony of history never seems to change."

The office of the Chancellor of , Madelia Page, was a place where sunlight poured dazzlingly through arched windows arranged in an octagonal layout.

"I don't know why, but talent always seems to emerge in concentrated bursts from just one side at a time."

The document she weakly placed on her desk contained the personal information of this year's new students.

"Hubert of the Rohinum School, Lilian of the Rivendell School, Kaiden of the Harimoon School, Nora of the Melev School, Logan of the Chaihark School…"

All five names emotionlessly recited by Chancellor Madelia were surprisingly among the most promising late-stage apprentices from the Empire's prestigious Eight Great Schools.

"Five late-stage apprentices enrolling simultaneously… this might be the first time such a thing has happened."

Each school naturally had different timelines for taking in and training students. But how often did the ages of top apprentices align so perfectly like this?

"Though Warden's viceroy has sent us an outstanding student, handling this alone may prove difficult."

The conflict between the Magician Houses and the Eight Great Schools was deeply entrenched—so much so that it was terrifying.

While full-fledged magicians refrained from overt hostility as they had in their student days, political factional battles remained rampant within the Magic Alliance.

It had been the same even during the recent selection process for the Emperor's direct subordinate magician, the Mage Star of the Imperial Arcane Affairs Bureau.

"It's not pleasant for the faculty to intervene in student conflicts, but it's undeniable that this is a special situation."

Standing in front of Madelia's desk was a female magician with a gentle expression and half-lidded eyes.

It was Caroline.

She had once been Madelia's pupil and was now the mentor of Christa Warden.

"Pass this on to the professors and instructors. It's Domain-2. Have them observe carefully and intervene subtly when necessary. Let's not have unnecessary conflicts break out."

Normally, Caroline would have nodded immediately, but this time, she hesitated slightly.

"Why the hesitation?"

"I think it's a little premature to make that decision."

"Hm?"

"I have a feeling that Christa isn't the only genius to have come from the Magician Houses this year."

It was a peculiar statement, causing Madelia to tilt her head in curiosity.

Unlike the Eight Great Schools, the Magician Houses were family-based institutions. Only direct bloodline members could bear the name of a Magician House.

This was both an honor and a shackle, as it meant that their pool of talent was inherently limited.

"Did someone I don't know enroll in our school this time?"

"No."

"As far as I'm aware, only Christa Warden and Rain Ludwig have come."

"Yes."

"Then you're saying Rain Ludwig—the student you personally admitted through the additional exam—is a genius?"

"Even if I told you myself, you wouldn't believe me. You saw him at the Magician House meeting. I was the same until I saw it with my own eyes."

"You haven't changed, Cat. You know I dislike roundabout talk."

As Madelia sighed, Caroline hesitated before finally speaking.

"It may be a limited perspective, but… I don't think they need much assistance. I'm actually curious to see how they'll handle this situation on their own."

"Oh…?"

Madelia glanced at Caroline's expression for a moment before checking the faculty roster. Her eyebrows lifted slightly.

"No need to wait long for results. Their homeroom teacher is Owen."

Owen. Caroline also nodded in agreement. He was the infamous professor who had expelled 21 students just last year.

"Yes, if he finds them unworthy, he'll expel them in no time."

After the entrance ceremony, Rain received a class assignment notice and moved toward the first-year building, Dragon's Rest Hall (龍眠館).

The pristine white structure was shaped like a dragon lying down in slumber. Both witches of the Republic, who practiced sorcery, and magicians revered dragons equally.

After all, the Black Sun Karenden, the creator of magic, was also the progenitor of the dragon race.

[Cheonggang (清江)]

Walking through the colonnade bathed in soft spring sunlight, Rain arrived at the third classroom.

"Cheonggang, Cheonggang… this is it."

He compared the classroom name on his notice with the plaque before quietly sliding open the back door.

The classroom was simple yet elegant.

Desks were arranged in four rows of tiered seating, each crafted with graceful curves. The arched windows on the left side of the classroom let in a breeze scented with spring blossoms, causing the curtains to sway gently.

'Let's see…'

His assigned seat was by the window in the leftmost row. As he sat down and rested his chin on his fist, a familiar face took the seat beside him with a smirk.

"The heavens are truly indifferent. Looks like they want you to compete with me, Christa Warden, the top recommended student, from the very start of the semester."

As soon as their eyes met, Rain's mouth fell open in disbelief.

No way. Of all people, my first desk partner had to be this guy?

"If I translate Christa's words loosely, he's saying he's absolutely thrilled to be sitting with you," a playful-sounding girl with an elegantly braided hairstyle interjected.

Rain recognized her from the Magician House meeting and glanced at her name tag for confirmation.

[Gertrude Fenton]

The Fenton family was a noble magical house that served the Warden family in the east. Each Magician House had two or three vassal families under its domain.

"Of course, I'm thrilled. So thrilled I could dance. After all, I get to put this arrogant brat in his place on the very first day."

As a gentle spring breeze stirred the curtains, a distant memory tickled Rain's mind like drifting pollen.

"Why, Kies?"

In a small town somewhere on the Adrion Continent, Rain had leaned on the school's fence, watching children play. Kies approached from behind.

"Do I want to go to school? No. There's nothing to learn. It'd be a waste of time."

Kies was mute, but his expressions were so rich and honest that words weren't needed for communication. That was true for everyone in their party.

"Afraid you won't make friends?"

Friede chuckled as she leaned against the fence to Rain's right.

She had suffered a severe wound during the battle to save this town, her arm still bandaged, though it would heal completely in two days thanks to magic. Her eyes, watching the children, gleamed with an uncharacteristically soft smile.

As Friede and Kies watched the children fondly, Lista stood on Rain's left and grinned.

"Lin, school isn't just about learning academics."

"Then what do you learn?"

"People."

Rain sighed.

Did he really have to learn about this person?

Just then, the front door—meant only for professors—slid open, and every student's eyes widened in shock.

A burly man with broad shoulders and a rugged frame strode silently to the podium.

"…Is this real? He looks like a gorilla."

"…Our homeroom teacher is a gorilla?"

Judging by the reactions, he was famous. Rain glanced at Christa and was surprised to see tension in his eyes.

"What's his deal?"

"You don't know Owen? He's the infamous professor from University known for giving out brutal grades."

Expulsion or forced repetition—both largely thanks to the dreaded F-grade he liberally handed out.

And then, Owen spoke.