Once in the cafeteria, Elwyn joined Loyd, Arimélia and Sylaria at the back of the room, in the same seats as during breakfast, after serving themselves at the buffet.

  — What were you doing? asked Loyd, after swallowing his piece of meat.

  — I had a question to ask.

  — Ah… Did you get what you wanted?

  — In a way.

  Silence fell around the table. Sylaria and Arimélia did not really seem to want to speak.

  — By the way, how is it that you manage the last class so well, even though you’re not noble? asked Loyd, to fill this unpleasant silence.

  — Mother-Ophélia is a magician who studied at this academy. She prepared me for all these classes, even though I don’t really understand the point. I don’t plan to parade around in a castle my whole life.

  — Mother-Ophélia? That’s a very strange way to talk about your parents, remarked Princess Sylaria.

  — That’s true, why not just use “mother”? asked Loyd.

  — Because, I already have a mother, even though I never knew her.

  Suddenly, Loyd and Sylaria felt bad because of their remark, forgetting the young boy’s past, even if it did not seem to affect him.

  — Sorry, they replied at the same time.

  — It’s nothing.

  A new silence settled for a few seconds, but was quickly broken by Elwyn.

  — Princess Sylaria, which class will you attend right after the meal, “Theory of Magic” or “Manual Versatility”?

  — Since I have magical abilities, I will have to take “Theory of Magic.”

  — Humm… Then, in that case, I wish you good luck for the rest, replied Elwyn simply, once the status of magician was added to the princess’s knowledge.

  — Why wish me good luck? the princess asked, not at all reassured by these words.

  — According to Mother-Ophélia, it’s the worst class at the academy. You had better prepare for it.

  — Are you serious? she asked, apprehensive about the rest of the day.

  In response, Elwyn nodded.

  — What are we going to do there? she asked, panicked.

  — Ah, that, I’ll let you discover. Perhaps things have changed since.

  — Ah, no! You can’t leave me in the dark, not after everything you’ve told me, she pleaded desperately.

  — Simply vocabulary and grammar, that’s all, he said, after seeing that same look as this morning regarding his hairstyle.

  — Just that?

  — Yes, just that.

  The princess sighed with relief.

  — You scared me, I thought I was going to have to read tons of magic books for two hours.

  — Uh…, I think you didn’t understand something, remarked Loyd.

  — Oh yes, and what exactly? asked the princess, annoyed by this remark from the person least gifted in the group in terms of intellect.

  — You’re probably going to have to read a lot of magic books and also write a lot of stuff to integrate the complicated magic words, right?

  The princess’s face suddenly turned ashen and slowly turned towards Elwyn, who simply approved Loyd’s words by nodding once more.

  — It’s a joke, isn’t it? she asked incredulously.

  Elwyn shook his head negatively.

  — It’s not the case, he added.

  — It’s a joke, isn’t it? she asked again this time to Loyd.

  The nephilim of War eventually remembered something said during the first class of the day.

  — Didn’t the teacher say something like, “If a magician has a weak vocabulary or major grammatical weaknesses, he risks injuring himself or someone else.”?

  At these words, the princess’s cerulean eyes finally lost their brightness, as if life had just left her body.

  Meanwhile, Arimélia seemed far away from this discussion, as if she had erected a soundproof barrier between herself and the other three comrades. She had completely isolated herself in her bubble, pensive. Elwyn noticed this state of affairs, but did nothing, as he didn’t know what to say or do to remedy it.

  A long peaceful silence settled around the table.

  Dong

  The bell rang again, after an hour-long meal break. The students of the different years once again went to their respective tower.

  The four professors were once again lined up facing the hundred students and waited for a moment of calm to begin the class assignment.

  Professor Caria then stepped forward, with her usual strict look, and announced the next events.

  — For the next class, you will once again have to divide yourselves into four groups. However, all students with the ability to use magic must form a single group, which I will personally oversee.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Once again, the groups formed and Princess Sylaria had to abandon her comrades.

  After a quick count, thirty-one people made up the group of magicians. Four halflings, seven dwarves, eight elves, three gnomes and nine humans. The rest were divided into three groups of twenty-three individuals. Loyd joined a group where he found the most familiar faces and was followed by Elwyn and Arimélia, who could not join their friend for this class.

  The group of magicians left first, taking in the process the missing chairs along the way to the fourth floor, and the three other professors continued to face the students.

  It was now Luth’s turn, the halfling professor, to step forward.

  — Well, for the class you will attend from now on, you will have a rotation of professors each day. Each of us has our own knowledge and skills to teach you. This is to compensate for the fact that magic makes it possible to accomplish a great many things, notably ways to ease everyday life or even in difficult situations, he declared in a calm and assured voice, despite a slight childish tone.

  Without wasting any more time, the three professors selected their group one by one. Loyd, Elwyn and Arimélia then ended up in Professor Luth’s group and entered the study tower once again for the second floor.

  The floor was identical to the first, but a stepping stool, running the length of the blackboard, and a sort of riser for the professor’s chair were there. In addition, located to the right of the blackboard, was the door leading up to the first block of the Great Library’s floor.

  Once everyone was seated, Professor Luth sat on his chair and fixed his gaze on the students for a short moment.

  — Dear students, I would like to begin by warning you that the “Manual Versatility” class will give you the knowledge and means to act to survive in difficult, even hostile, environments.

  The students’ looks mostly showed surprise, even incomprehension for others.

  The hand of a dwarf girl seated at the back raised.

  — What do you mean by that?

  — What I mean is that the world we live in is not safe. Whether it is the Chaos beasts appearing at random, the war that can break out anywhere and anytime, bandits lying in wait on the roads or monsters hiding in the forests and mountains. It is so easy to end up in a situation where our life is in danger.

  Loyd then raised his hand.

  — Yes, but for all these problems, a good sword strike and you can move on. Not to mention the army, the guards or even the adventurers on the roads who are all trained to handle such events, he remarked.

  The professor nodded in agreement.

  — You are absolutely right in what you say, especially since you, yourself, are fully capable of handling such situations, thanks to your Domain.

  Loyd was relieved by the professor’s approval.

  — However, we are not you and do not have your powers and skills. Moreover, guards, soldiers, and adventurers are not everywhere at all times, the professor added.

  A certain disappointment then appeared on the face of the nephilim of War.

  — Not everyone here is inclined towards adventure or combat. Most people are primarily looking for peace and tranquility.

  Several people nodded in agreement to these words.

  — Unfortunately, this tranquility can be disturbed overnight and force us to adapt, whether by taking up arms or fleeing far away. Whatever your choice at that moment, it would be useful to know how not to die from a neglected wound, which then became infected, or from hunger and thirst, if you flee without knowing where to go. Accumulating knowledge is a good thing, but not dying when you leave your home is better, he concluded.

  Once the interest of the class was understood, the students were eager for the rest of the program.

  — For this class, you will therefore have theoretical class hours and especially outdoor hours to apply them. I will take care of everything related to travel and orientation, as well as map reading and especially, cooking. Professor Darius, on the other hand, will take care of everything concerning the fabrication and maintenance of tools, weapons, and sewing. Professor Sylvia will take care of everything botanical and medical, as well as everything concerning survival in nature. In short, a fine program.

  A human, surprised by the explanation of the class, suddenly raised his hand.

  — Professor, you said that people seek tranquility and not adventure. I don’t see what’s tranquil about all that.

  — An awkward remark, coming from someone far too tranquil… Answer my questions. What would you do if a hostile army were coming to your home?

  — I would leave with my family. I am not a soldier.

  — Good. Where would you go in that case?

  — Where there is no war.

  — And where is that on a map? Do you know how to get there? How many days of travel? Would there be enough food and water for everyone during the journey? And if on the road there are dangerous beasts, what would you do? Or, if someone got hit by an arrow while fleeing, do you know how to treat that kind of wound?

  The professor’s questions piled up as the answers fell silent.

  — I… I don’t know, professor… he finally replied.

  Light mockery arose within the class, which irritated the professor, who slowly swept his gaze over all the students.

  — I return all these questions to you as well. What would you do in his place?

  The mockery then instantly disappeared.

  — That’s exactly what I thought. For most of you, you are still children. The future is still far from your sight… Anyway, let’s begin the lesson, we have lost enough time.

  _________________________

  Meanwhile, on the fourth floor, Professor Caria was about to begin her class. The blue-gray gaze of the magician swept over her class, waiting for complete silence once her students were settled. Besides, the latter had butterflies in their stomachs after having seen the big book placed on the corner of each table.

  — Well, young students, who can give me the definition of what magic is?

  An elf raised his hand.

  — It is the art of manipulating and transforming ether.

  — That’s just passable as an answer. Who can make it more complete?

  A human then raised her hand.

  — It is the art of manipulating and transforming ether by using one’s will, in order to reproduce various phenomena or simple natural elements.

  The professor nodded in agreement.

  — Much better. Magic is an art just like that of the sword. It requires concentration, discipline, practice and above all, a lot of knowledge. However, it is much more dangerous to master. Both for oneself and for others. You will therefore have to assimilate a lot of things before practicing anything. Do you understand?

  The entire class nodded, but with a great apprehension, a trembling look in the corner of their eyes facing the massive book on their desk.

  — Well. Now, I will ask you to read, understand and assimilate the various words and definitions in the dictionary located on the corner of your desk.

  A dwarf raised his hand, a little trembling.

  — Professor, why must we do that?

  The professor sighed slightly.

  — Because magic needs words to be properly shaped according to the will of its user. Each word has its own meaning, its sense and its power over the mind of people, and each of you has your own sensitivity. Magic is just a simple puzzle of words to line up correctly to obtain a desired result, at least in theory. So, before you start casting spells, you will have to understand the world around you and its functioning, in order to then be able to reproduce its famous phenomena or natural elements.

  Princess Sylaria raised her hand.

  — What about silent magic?

  Caria’s gaze suddenly hardened.

  — Not for this year. This use of magic requires undisturbed concentration, so as not to end up in a natural disaster. It also requires the ability to imagine things, while keeping the logic and functioning of the world.

  — What do you mean by that? asked Sylaria.

  — If you want to make fire, use the word fire. If you use silent magic, you will have to imagine fire.

  The professor then raised her right hand to her chest and suddenly, a flame appeared in the palm of that hand.

  — By the way, what is fire? A destructive natural element, turning everything it touches into a burning liquid or ash? Or a source of light and heat, allowing life in this world? It is all of that at once. However, you must also know that fire needs open air to continue burning and a fuel upon which to settle, here, the ether. In short, understand the world, its laws, its logic and you will be able to bend it to your will. That will be all. If you have no additional questions, please begin working in silence, she concluded, before making the flame disappear by closing her hand over it.