Special Class (1)

"Come on, you lazybones. Time to wake up," Jason called, tossing a pillow in Theo's direction. "Just because you came back in the middle of the night doesn't mean you get to sleep past noon."

The pillow landed right on the boy's head.

"Jason..." Theo mumbled.

"Hi?"

A pillow was thrown back at him.

"Breathe, study a bit. Time keeps passing, and you keep wasting it by annoying me."

"Here you go again with your existential crises... Dude, I don't think I've ever seen anyone as crazy as you," said Jason, throwing a bag onto Theo's lap. "Professor Beatrice scheduled our practical class for today."

"I miss my day off..."

"You've only been here for a week, man. And you spent your day off fighting other knights and helping villagers."

"Better than your day."

"Yeah, definitely. Now get ready already."

"Hell," Theo grumbled, rubbing his eyes and gathering the courage to get up.

☽✪☾

Some teenagers began gathering in a gymnasium. The place was divided into various sections—gym, fighting area, running track, among others—where the students of Wispells Academy practiced different activities simultaneously. Theo and Jason walked through the spaces, observing the other agents training.

"Where are we supposed to go again?" Theo asked.

"To the designation wing. It seems like today we'll receive our class cards."

"Finally."

They stopped in front of a giant door, already open. Several students gathered in front of a makeshift stage. The two looked for a bench to sit on and wait for Beatrice.

While Jason socialized with most of the students, Theo stayed reserved, leaning in a corner. He counted the seconds in his head as memories flooded his mind. His leg shook with anxiety, and his breathing grew more intense.

A hand landed on his shoulder. Theo looked to the side and found someone familiar: a woman with curly light brown hair, pink eyes, and wearing a white tunic covered by a blue one.

"Are you okay?" Beatrice asked.

"Yes."

"Did you sleep well?"

"No," he replied, avoiding her gaze.

"Am I going to have to call your attention again? Well, pay attention today."

Beatrice walked toward the stage. As she climbed up, Jason shamelessly stared at her, following every movement of the "monumental body" of the new professor. Theo punched him in the face.

"What was that for?" Jason complained.

"Respect," Theo retorted with disdain.

Jason rubbed the spot where Theo had hit him and asked:

"Why are you two so close? It's like she's your mom."

Theo settled on the bench and sighed.

"She's been my teacher since kindergarten through elementary school. I used to have trouble with insomnia and dyslexia, so I got a lot of attention."

"Used to have dyslexia?" Jason joked.

"Idiot."

Beatrice clapped her hands to get the students' attention.

"Can everyone hear me clearly?" she asked, her voice floating through the students' ears like a breeze wrapping around their bodies.

"Sound and wind attribute?" Jason questioned.

"Yes."

Since Jason didn't have much knowledge about elemental attributes, he often turned to Theo for clarification. Beatrice used her sound attribute to amplify her voice and then the wind attribute to make it echo through the environment, ensuring her voice reached all the students.

"To all the newcomers who were accepted into Wispells Academy and became agents of the Order of Vagus, we know how eager you are to discover your occupations and levels. That's why the headmistress Wispells and I scheduled the designation for today. So, please, look at the floor in front of the benches you're sitting on. You'll see ribbons with specific colors. Pick up the ribbon with the corresponding color and wait until your color is called."

Theo looked at the floor and found a green ribbon. Jason had an orange one, meaning they would be in different rooms. A sense of apprehension settled in their stomachs.

"I don't know why, but I'm nervous..." Jason muttered.

"Those with the green ribbon, head to the east wing," Beatrice announced.

Theo said goodbye to Jason and headed to the east wing, where only two other people were waiting. A girl with short black hair was accompanied by a boy with black hair but a single light blue streak. The three exchanged glances for a moment. Soon, Theo looked away, opening the iron door beside them.

On the other side was a scientist wearing a white lab coat, hands in her pockets and looking anxious.

"Hello, I'm Ster. I'm responsible for your designation. Who wants to go first?"

"Me," Theo raised his hand before the other two could react.

"Great. What's your name?"

"Theo Augustus de Lawrence."

"Alright. Sit down and place your hands on this crystal."

Ster pretended not to care about Theo's last name, trying to maintain professionalism above all. On the continent they lived in, just having a surname already carried weight. But the name "Augustus" bore the weight of the imperial family.

Theo obeyed, while Ster examined some papers.

"Theo Augustus de Lawrence." She paused, taking in a deep breath. "Top grades in physics every year, first place in chemistry in the state of Nethuns. The same goes for history and geography. Do you like science?"

"Yes. I love its laws and theories."

"Then why didn't you become an agent of Fulmenbour? Or Myrddin?"

"Vagus is more exciting."

"I see... Well, press the crystal."

Theo applied slight pressure to the crystal, which glowed intensely. The colors varied between blue, lilac, purple, red, yellow, orange, and green.

"Act as if you're transferring energy to it."

"Okay."

A small colorless aura began radiating from Theo's hands. The crystal's color solidified into green but continued alternating between a neutral green and white. A small explosion of energy in the form of mist spread through the room.

Ster was momentarily surprised, watching Theo closely to ensure his safety. Once she saw he was fine, she made some notes on a document and handed it to Theo.

"Take this to your instructor."

☽✪☾

"I'm grade one, class eight!" Jason boasted to the others, showing a card in his hand.

"What's your energy type?" one of the students asked.

"Mana."

"Cool, mine's ki."

A red-haired girl banged her head on a wooden table, disappointed.

"Chloe? What's wrong?" Jason asked.

"I'm stuck in the chakra cycles. I'll end up just being an alchemist. Theo's going to make fun of me..."

"Why would I do that?" Theo questioned, approaching an outdoor table.

"Because you always said I'd end up as an alchemist."

"And that's what happened. Don't be sad, alchemists play an important role in society."

"Here comes the cousin rivalry..." Jason whispered to other students.

"Give me that." Chloe grabbed the card from Theo's right hand. She began reading the information. "Grade two, we already knew that. Energy: Ether?" Her voice went thin as she pronounced the last word. "Special class... Damn, privileged."

"So we're not in the same class?" Jason grumbled.

"No. But we're not limited to our class sectors, so we'll still see each other a lot."

"Here." Chloe tossed the card back to Theo. "At least Agnes is there. That's a plus."

'Mentor of the special class: Paul Llamarada and Amiah Neidr...' Theo read on the card. The second name was familiar. 'Ether energy... This is going to be a headache.'