Chapter 11: First Steps in Academy: Exploration, History, and Knowledge

Following the warm yet formal welcome from Headmaster Eldrin, the new students were directed towards their dormitories. Aria, with a light step, followed Sylvia and Sylvana down the cool, historically resonant stone corridors. The three of them found a spacious room, furnished with three neatly arranged sturdy wooden beds and a large study table in the center, which emanated the scent of ink and old paper. After setting down their simple belongings, a sense of curiosity compelled them to immediately explore the extensive academy grounds.

Stepping out of the dormitory, they were greeted by a breathtaking sight. Majestic ancient architecture stood proudly amidst perfectly manicured gardens, colorful flowers blooming among the leafy trees. Winding stone paths invited them to continue exploring every corner of the academy. The sounds of nature blended with the activities of the students, creating a unique harmony. They saw groups of senior students discussing animatedly beneath large trees, while others practiced swordplay or chanted spells in open training areas, their movements reflecting discipline and dedication. In the distance, the rumble of clashing weapons and flashes of magical light from the arena provided a backdrop that emphasized the seriousness of the training at this academy. Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana exchanged amazed smiles, feeling the vibrant energy that flowed throughout the Academy of Heroes Nytharia. This place was not just a school, but a crucible for dreams and the determination to become heroes.

Their steps halted near the arena, where a dense and lively crowd of students had gathered. The sounds of cheers and attentive whispers created an intense atmosphere. Curiosity drove Aria and the two elves closer. In the center of the arena, two young figures were testing their abilities, but the gazes and comments of the onlookers were focused on one of them.

"That's him, Sirius," a senior student hissed to his companion, his voice loud enough for Aria to hear. "Direct descendant of the Wynester family, the legendary Guardian Knights. It's quite ironic to see the downfall of such a great lineage."

"You're absolutely right," the other replied with a sneering laugh. "The strongest knightly family of the past, but look at their heir now. Weak and useless."

"I heard the entire Wynester family is ashamed," a girl with a cynical lip chimed in. "Their great name is tarnished by his existence."

Aria felt her blood boil at the insults. Her eyes narrowed, staring sharply at the gossiping students. "Why are they being so cruel?" she whispered angrily to Sylvia.

Sylvia lowered her head slightly, her expression showing discomfort. "Sirius... is known for not excelling in physical combat at the academy."

"But he always has such ridiculous excuses!" another student exclaimed mockingly. "He says his power isn't for fighting each other, but only for protecting the weak. What a made-up reason!" Guffaws of laughter erupted among them once more. "Just look at his always cheerful and joking demeanor. How could a weak knight have such high confidence?"

"He's really weird," a braided-haired girl murmured. "His family must be humiliated to have a descendant like him."

Unable to restrain herself any longer, Aria clenched her fists. The burning sense of justice within her compelled her to act. She stepped forward, pushing slightly through the crowd and facing the group of mocking students. "All of you!" she called out in a loud voice that instantly silenced their laughter. "Even if that student may not be as strong as you expect, you have no right to belittle and insult him like that!"

A moment of silence fell over the crowd before being replaced by scornful and condescending gazes from the senior students. A tall youth with prominent arm muscles stepped forward, looking Aria up and down with a mocking smile. "Look at this know-it-all newbie. You haven't even been at the academy for a day." He chuckled lowly. "You'd better mind your own business, little kid."

"You really don't understand anything," a girl beside him retorted, joining in the mocking laughter. "Sirius is a disgrace to the Wynester family. He deserves to be treated like that."

Seeing the increasingly hostile atmosphere, Sylvia and Sylvana quickly pulled Aria's arms. "Arthur, don't," Sylvia whispered anxiously, pulling her back.

"We don't need to engage with such narrow-minded people," Sylvana added, trying to steer Aria away from the unnecessary confrontation.

With a clenched jaw, Aria glanced back at Sirius, who was still fighting in the arena, his expression calm and seemingly unaffected by the jeers directed at him. Although her heart still burned with a sense of injustice, she finally yielded to the two elves' persuasion and followed them away from the prejudiced crowd.

The perspective now shifted to another dormitory room, where Xarther found himself sharing a space with Faun. Shortly after, the door opened again, and a chubby boy with bright red hair and rosy cheeks entered with a wide smile. "Hi everyone! I'm Rush! You guys are my roommates, right?" he greeted with a cheerful voice that filled the room.

Faun, who was admiring the intricate carvings on the wardrobe, turned with a polite yet slightly surprised expression at the sight of the child. "Hello, Rush. I'm Faun," he greeted with his characteristic friendly tone.

Xarther, who had just finished arranging his books on the shelf, merely gave a small nod as a greeting without looking up.

That night, the darkness of the dormitory room became a silent witness as Xarther fell asleep. However, the tranquility of his slumber was disturbed by a cold voice echoing in his mind, feeling alien yet menacing.

Xarthos: "So, this is my fragile vessel?"

Xarther stirred in his dream, trying to locate the source of the mysterious voice in the thick darkness. "Who... who are you?"

Xarthos: "I am Xarthos. And from this moment forward, I am an inseparable part of you."

Xarther: "How is that possible?"

Xarthos: "Destiny, little one. A destiny that will grant you power beyond your wildest dreams."

A cold and dark aura enveloped Xarther's mind, trying to creep into every corner of his consciousness. However, his instinct to survive and reject the foreign dominance rose. "I do not desire power from you. Such power will only bring destruction."

A cold and mocking laugh echoed in Xarther's mind, sending shivers down his spine. Xarthos: "How naive you are. Sooner or later, desperation will bring you to your knees, begging for my strength."

Xarther jolted awake, his body drenched in cold sweat. His breath came in ragged gasps as he checked his body. The faint black tattoo on his chest and beneath his eyes seemed clearer and more intense than before.

"Whoa, Xarther! Your tattoos are getting even cooler!" Faun exclaimed from his bed, his eyes sparkling as he looked at his roommate's physical changes. "Like the symbol of a cool hero in stories!"

Rush, who was happily munching on cookies in his bed, chimed in with a full mouth. "Yeah! Black and black like... uh, like soot!"

Faun glared sharply at Rush. "Hey! These are cool tattoos! Not soot!"

"But they're the same color black!" Rush retorted stubbornly, crumbs falling from his mouth. "Soot is black too!"

Xarther could only sigh softly, feeling the presence of Xarthos lurking deeper within him, a secret burden he had to bear alone.

"Why are you two always fighting? You just met," Xarther mumbled quietly, trying to mediate the small quarrel.

"He started it by calling your tattoos soot!" Faun pointed accusingly at Rush.

"No way! You were the one who called me a kid first!" Rush shot back, sticking out his tongue.

Xarther merely shook his head, realizing that life in this dormitory would be far from peaceful. On the other hand, deep within his mind, Xarthos's voice echoed again with a sly tone, "Remember, little one. The power you reject... will always be with you."

The next day, the morning sun illuminated the grounds of the Academy of Heroes Nytharia, awakening a new sense of purpose among the students. Aria, Sylvia, Sylvana, Xarther, Faun, Rush, and Lyra found themselves in the same classroom, a spacious room with long wooden desks and large windows overlooking the academy gardens. The atmosphere in the classroom was filled with a mixture of nervousness and the characteristic enthusiasm of six-year-olds.

Shortly after, an elegant woman with long, neatly styled brown hair and sharp eyes entered the room. She introduced herself as Teacher Elara, and with a warm smile, she began their first lesson.

"Good morning, little heroes-to-be," she greeted with a clear and authoritative voice. "Today, we will begin with a fundamental yet crucial understanding for your future safety and success: knowledge of the various types of monsters, including magically influenced animal variations, and, equally important, the different tiers of Demons and their threat levels."

Teacher Elara then summoned an astral projection displaying a variety of creatures, from the familiar to the terrifying, many of which showed signs of mutation or magical auras, and several figures that clearly emanated a menacing darkness – the Demons.

"Our world is not only inhabited by humans and other peaceful beings," Teacher Elara continued, pointing to the projection of a small, wrinkled green-skinned Goblin carrying a simple wooden stick. "There are various types of monsters, including wild animals that have mutated or gained magical powers, and also malevolent entities from other dimensions that we know as Demons. Understanding their differences, strengths, and threat levels is key to survival and defeating them."

"First, we have low-level monsters," Teacher Elara explained, moving to the projection of a dog-sized Giant Rat with glowing green teeth, or a Poisonous Centipede larger than an adult's arm with venom that could melt wood. "Such as Goblins, Giant Rats that may attack in groups and carry magical diseases, or Poisonous Centipedes whose bites contain deadly venom. Even for those of you who are only six years old, Goblins should be relatively easy to overcome with a bit of courage and the basic magic you have learned. However, do not underestimate Giant Rats in large numbers or Poisonous Centipedes that can strike from hidden places. At this level, we might also encounter Imps, small and weak Demons who are often mere lackeys to stronger Demons, but they are cunning and can use minor, annoying magic."

Teacher Elara then displayed the projection of a Shadow Wolf with jet-black fur that absorbed light and an Armored Bear with hide as hard as steel and claws capable of tearing through stone. "Moving up a tier, we have mid-level monsters. Examples include Hobgoblins, Shadow Wolves that can hide in shadows and attack undetected, Giant Spiders that spit sticky webs mixed with magical poison, Armored Bears resistant to light physical attacks, and Lesser Undead such as Zombies or Skeletons. At this Demon level, we will face Succubi or Incubi, Demons that charm and drain life energy, and Hellhounds, infernal canines with breath of all-consuming fire."

The students' attention became even more focused as the projection shifted to more frightening creatures, a Thunder Roc with feathers crackling with lightning and a Venomous Hydra with multiple heads that spewed various types of magical poisons. "Next are high-level monsters. These include Minotaurs, Thunder Rocs capable of summoning storms, Griffins with feathers that can reflect magic, Venomous Hydras with each head possessing a different venom, and certain lesser Demons that wield dark magic. For high-level Demons, we will contend with Horned Demons who are physically powerful and skilled in Chaos magic, or Pit Fiends, massive Demons with devastating destructive power."

A tense atmosphere filled the classroom as the projection displayed a black-scaled Dragon radiating an aura of ancient magic, alongside it appeared an Ancient Kraken with colossal tentacles capable of crushing ships with ease, and an Archdemon emanating a thick darkness and wielding terrifying magic. "Finally, and most dangerous of all, are catastrophe-level monsters. Prime examples include Dragons, Archdemons who are lords over legions of lesser Demons, Ancient Liches, and the Ancient Kraken from the deep sea. These beings possess almost unparalleled power and are often threats to entire regions. An encounter with a Lord of the Abyss, the most powerful of all Demons, is the ultimate nightmare."

Teacher Elara then explained each category in greater detail, providing examples of behavior, habitat, physical and magical weaknesses, magically influenced animal variations, as well as the hierarchy and unique abilities of various types of Demons, including their vulnerabilities to holy magic or blessed weapons. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the signs of a Demon's presence, such as a pungent sulfurous odor, a suffocating aura of darkness, or a malevolent influence on the surrounding environment.

"Remember," Teacher Elara said with a serious gaze, "this world is full of unexpected surprises and dangers. Animals once harmless can become deadly threats after exposure to magic, and Demons are eternal threats always lurking in the shadows. Vigilance and knowledge are our greatest defenses."

The lesson continued with an active question-and-answer session. Faun asked if Demons were afraid of cat fur (to which Teacher Elara explained the specific weaknesses of some Demons to certain elements). Rush asked if Demons could be befriended (which was met with a firm headshake and a warning about their inherently evil nature). Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana took diligent notes, while Xarther and Lyra listened with intense gazes, perhaps feeling a certain resonance with the topic of darkness.

Teacher Elara concluded the lesson by assigning homework: to research one magically influenced animal monster and one type of Demon from each tier, including signs of their presence, unique abilities, and ways to counter them, and to present their findings next week. "You must learn to respect every threat, no matter how small it may initially seem. Knowledge and courage will be your shields," she concluded with a hopeful smile.