Ashern City - Reinhart Institute of War, 6th of Brightforge, year 315 UC

  The cssroom sat in near silence, the early morning darkness still clinging to the windows. At 4:30 AM, most of the twenty students present fought against heavy eyelids. The rge cssroom, designed to hold ninety students with its ten rows of three desks each, felt empty with so few occupants.

  Bryan had deliberately chosen the top right desk, distancing himself from the others. The tiered seating arrangement, with stairs between each desk section, provided a perfect vantage point to observe everyone below. He'd arrived early, watching each student enter through half-lidded eyes.

  When Alessia Hayes walked up the stairs and approached his desk, Bryan raised an eyebrow but remained silent. She took the seat at the far end, leaving an empty space between them. Her gloved hands arranged her notebooks. She didn't even spare him a gnce.

  She adjusted her gloves—a nervous habit he'd observed before—but otherwise gave no acknowledgment of his presence.

  The cssroom door swung open.

  An elderly man entered. He wore a pristine white uniform with gold trim. His bald head gleamed under the cssroom lights, contrasting with a long gray beard that reached the middle of his chest. Each step was punctuated by the tap of his wooden cane against the floor, though Bryan noted the man didn't seem to need it for support.

  The instructor's eyes scanned the scattered students before he positioned himself at the center of the cssroom floor.

  "Welcome to Ether Manipution and Control."

  His voice carried easily through the room, surprisingly strong for a man who seemed to have one foot in the grave.

  "I am Vanquish Livingston. You may address me as Dr. Livingston."

  He paused, his gaze sweeping across the students.

  "And yes, my name really is Vanquish. If that presents an issue for any of you, I suggest you resolve it quickly."

  No one made a sound. Dr. Livingston nodded once, satisfied.

  "No? Good."

  He tapped his cane against the floor twice.

  "Those of you seated at the top, come join the rest of the css here at the bottom. We don't have enough students to fill this entire cssroom, and there's no need to be an outcast."

  Bryan remained seated, his eyes narrowing slightly. He had chosen his position strategically, and he had no intention of moving.

  Alessia hesitated beside him, her fingers tightening around her pen. After a moment, she gathered her materials and stood.

  "Did I stutter, Mr. Bckwood? Ms. Hayes?"

  Dr. Livingston called out, his gaze fixed directly on them.

  "When I give an instruction in my cssroom, I expect it to be followed. Immediately."

  Bryan met the old man's stare, considering his options. Defiance would draw unwanted attention, while compliance went against his preference for strategic positioning.

  With deliberate slowness, Bryan collected his notebook and stood.

  "Fascinating."

  Dr. Livingston remarked, watching Bryan's reluctant movement.

  "The academy's top-ranked student appears to believe my instructions are optional. How enlightening."

  A few students below stifled nervous ughter.

  Bryan descended the stairs without responding. He selected a seat in the third row, pcing his notebook on the desk.

  Alessia chose a seat two rows ahead, as far from Bryan as she could manage while still following the instructor's directions.

  Dr. Livingston nodded, satisfied, and tapped his cane once more.

  "Now then, let us begin. Ether manipution is the foundation of all magical practice. Without proper control, even the most powerful mage is little more than a puppy. Dangerous, but only to a select few."

  His eyes lingered briefly on Alessia's gloved hands.

  "Some of you may believe you already understand control. I assure you, you do not."

  Dr. Livingston paced slowly in front of the first row.

  "This is merely an introductory css, but make no mistake—it is mandatory even when you begin the academic year proper."

  He paused, surveying the room.

  "Due to your early arrival at the Excellence Camp, you have an opportunity that others would kill for. The fundamentals you learn here will give you a significant advantage over your peers."

  The old man stopped pacing and turned to face the css fully.

  "Now, who among you can tell me how spells work?"

  There was a moment of silence as the students looked right then left. After a moment, a hand rose from the middle of the cssroom.

  Dr. Livingston pointed with his cane.

  "Yes. Please introduce yourself before speaking."

  The student stood, his posture straight and confident.

  "Marcellus Throne, sir. I believe I know how spells work."

  "Proceed, Mr. Throne."

  Marcellus cleared his throat.

  "Spells function through the manipution of processed ether. Our magic cores convert raw atmospheric ether into our specific attribute. This processed ether travels through our body's pathways—major arteries and minor veins—allowing us to shape it according to our intentions. Different spells utilize different pathway combinations, with more complex spells requiring more intricate ether flow patterns."

  Dr. Livingston nodded slowly.

  "A reasonably accurate expnation, Mr. Throne. Tell me, do you know the official names for the arteries?"

  Marcellus hesitated.

  "No, sir. Do they even have official names?"

  "Sit down, Mr. Throne."

  The instructor turned back to the css.

  "Does anyone else know the official names of the eight major arteries?"

  Before anyone could raise a hand, a confident voice spoke from the fourth row.

  "Crown Artery, Core Artery, Right Arm Artery, Left Arm Artery, Spine Artery, Right Leg Artery, Left Leg Artery, and Navel Artery."

  Dr. Livingston's eyes fixed on the speaker, a young woman with golden hair.

  "That is correct, Cadet Thornheart. However, if you speak in my css again without being called upon, I will deduct points."

  Isabel Thornheart inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment.

  "Now that you've demonstrated your knowledge, please stand and expin the function of each artery and their importance to magical practice."

  Isabel rose gracefully, as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.

  "The Crown Artery is located at the top of the head and branches downward. It controls ether flow to the brain and sensory organs, making it critical for Magic Sensitivity and spell visualization."

  "The Core Artery sits at the center of the chest, directly above the magic core. As the rgest artery, it serves as the main ether distribution hub—essentially the primary throughway for all magical energy."

  Dr. Livingston nodded slightly, his expression unchanged as Isabel proceeded.

  "The Right and Left Arm Arteries extend from the shoulders to the fingertips. They facilitate precision ether manipution, particurly important for spell casting and barrier formation."

  She folded her hands in front of her.

  "The Spine Artery runs along the spinal column and coordinates overall body enhancement. This artery is essential for Body Augmentation techniques."

  Several students were now taking notes as Isabel continued her expnation.

  "The Right and Left Leg Arteries distribute ether from the hips to the feet, providing stability and enhanced movement. Both are critical for maintaining proper magical bance during combat."

  "Finally, the Navel Artery spirals around the navel region. It regutes ether circution and recovery, making it vital for efficient ether regeneration and usage."

  She took a breath before concluding.

  "These eight major arteries work in conjunction with 720 minor veins to form the complete ether distribution network. The efficiency of this system determines a mage's overall capabilities."

  Dr. Livingston studied her for a moment.

  "And their importance to magical practice, Ms. Thornheart?"

  "The arteries determine how effectively we can channel magic. Damage to any artery can cripple specific magical functions, while proper maintenance and cleansing can enhance performance. Most importantly, they must be cleansed in specific pairs to prevent pathway colpse."

  Dr. Livingston nodded once.

  "Very thorough, Ms. Thornheart. You may sit."

  Isabel seemed to be proud of herself as she smiled before sitting down. One of the people at her desk leaned in close to her but Bryan couldn't make out what was said.

  "Cadet Thornheart is correct. In this css, you will learn the location of each artery and all 720 veins."

  He stroked his beard before continuing to speak.

  "By the end of this camp all of you will have opened at least one artery. This is not optional, nor is it negotiable."

  Several students exchanged gnces.

  Bryan was skeptical about this. Opening an artery was typically a milestone achieved after years of training, not weeks. This instructor was going either speaking out of his ass or truly had something special lined up.

  Not that it mattered to him, since he already had four arteries unclogged. But that took his years to achieve.

  Dr. Livingston reached into his pocket and withdrew two crystallized objects. He held them up for the css to see—one light red and roughly the size of a small apple, the other light blue and no rger than a walnut.

  "These are magic cores."

  He announced.

  "The same type of core located inside each of your bodies."

  He rotated the crystals slowly between his fingers.

  "Although, I should mention these came from dead mages, so there is that."

  He chuckled to himself at that.

  "As you can observe, one is significantly smaller than the other. It is a known fact that a rger core can hold more ether."

  He closed his fingers around both cores.

  "But that does not mean much of anything to a mage who has learned the right techniques. Bigger does not always mean better."

  A few snickers erupted from the middle of the cssroom. Dr. Livingston's expression hardened as his gaze swept toward the source of the ughter.

  "Is something amusing, cadet?"

  He pointed his cane directly at a student with spiky bck hair.

  "You. Please share with the css what you find so humorous."

  Kevin Chen sank lower in his seat, his face flushing red.

  "Nothing, sir."

  He mumbled, trying to avoid the instructor's piercing gaze.

  "Nothing? Curious. I distinctly heard ughter."

  Dr. Livingston stared at him for another moment before continuing.

  "As I was saying before I was interrupted, a bigger core does not mean it is better. What matters is how efficient the mage is at controlling their ether."

  He returned the cores to his pocket.

  "If one mage can cast the same spell using a quarter of the ether required, that mage is superior to one who exhausts their entire reserve and sts mere minutes in combat."

  He began pacing again, never losing eye contact with the students.

  "We will cover all of this in more detail throughout the course. But before we proceed further—"

  Dr. Livingston paused, as he made his way to the center of the cssroom once more.

  "Does anyone know what 'stats' are?"

  The cssroom fell silent.

  Most students looked confused, a few exchanged questioning gnces. In the third row, Bryan sat straight.

  This entire lecture was pointless to him up till now. Ether control and manipution was something he excelled at, because if he was not careful he might lose his life when using magic.

  But hearing someone talk about stats was something he wasn't expecting. Considering he only learned about them a few days ago.

  His thumb began slowly rubbing the bck ring on his finger.

  Dr. Livingston's lips curved into a slight smile.

  "No one knows? Well, I expected as much, considering the technology has been avaible for only a couple of months."

  He snapped his fingers twice.

  The cssroom door swung open, and a younger man entered, pushing a cart with a rge purple orb resting on its surface. The orb, approximately three feet tall. The man positioned the cart in the center of the room before taking his pce beside Dr. Livingston.

  "This."

  Dr. Livingston announced, pcing his hand on the orb,.

  "Is going to change everything you thought you knew about your magical abilities."

  Bryan's fingers had stopped moving, his complete attention now fixed on the device before them.

  Dr. Livingston's gaze swept across the cssroom before settling on a familiar face.

  "Cadet Chen. Come to the floor, please."

  Kevin Chen hesitated before standing and making his way down to the center of the cssroom. Standing next to Dr. Livingston, Kevin towered over the elderly instructor.

  "Pce your hand on the orb."

  Dr. Livingston instructed.

  "And circute your ether as if you were about to cast a spell or create a barrier. Anything will do."

  Kevin extended his hand tentatively, pcing his palm against the smooth surface of the purple sphere. He closed his eyes, concentrating. After a moment, his brow furrowed slightly as he channeled his ether.

  The orb's color shifted dramatically, transforming from deep purple to completely transparent. Inside, sparks of electricity crackled, filling the sphere with miniature lightning bolts. Around the surface, glowing numbers and bels appeared.

  Dr. Livingston leaned forward, examining the dispy. He tapped his finger lightly against Kevin's chest.

  "Well, what do we have here? A pretty rge core you have inside of you, Cadet Chen."

  Kevin stared at the floating numbers, confusion evident on his face.

  "What is this? What do these numbers mean?"

  "These numbers, determine exactly how strong you are."

  Dr. Livingston expined, his voice carrying throughout the now-silent cssroom.

  He traced his finger along the hovering data.

  "It says here that your Ether Control is D-15, and your Casting Speed and Magic Firepower are your best stats."

  Dr. Livingston chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

  "So you're the type of guy who wants to show off how big he is, but can only st a few seconds."

  A wave of ughter rippled through the cssroom, particurly from several female students. Kevin's face flushed deep red.

  Dr. Livingston gnced at the ughing students and waved his hand dismissively.

  "Settle down. There's nothing humorous about inefficient magical capabilities. It's a serious deficiency that can get you killed in combat."

  He turned back to Kevin, his expression softening slightly.

  "The good news, Cadet Chen, is that all newly awakened mages seem to start with stats in the D range. With proper training, even the most... prematurely exhausted mage can learn to extend their performance."

  Kevin looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole.

  He gestured for Kevin to return to his seat.

  "The numbers don't lie, cadets. They represent the fundamental aspects of your magical abilities—aspects that until now could only be roughly estimated through observation and performance."

  Dr. Livingston pced his own hand on the orb, which immediately glowed brighter, the numbers and statistics around it shifting to dispy much higher values.

  "This device measures what we call your 'stats'—the quantifiable elements of your magical aptitude. Core Size, Ether Control, Casting Speed, Body Augmentation, Magic Sensitivity, Magic Firepower, Magic Shielding, and Magic Range."

  He removed his hand, and the dispy faded.

  "Each stat is ranked from D to S, with an additional numerical value from zero to one hundred within each rank. The higher your numbers, the more effective your magical abilities."

  Several students were now frantically taking notes, while others stared at the orb with expressions ranging from fascination to apprehension.

  In the third row, Bryan's eyes fixed on the device, his thumb once again slowly rubbing the bck ring on his finger.

  He raised his hand.

  Dr. Livingston nodded in his direction.

  "Yes, Cadet Bckwood?"

  "What is the device called?"

  Bryan asked.

  "That's a good question."

  Dr. Livingston replied.

  "This is a M.A.G.I.C. orb, created by Lucas Valentine. There are approximately twenty of them that have been produced within the Roan Kingdom."

  Bryan's eyes narrowed slightly.

  'Valentine?'

  He gnced down at the bck ring on his finger, recalling how it had dispyed his name as "Valentine" instead of Bckwood.

  "Who is that?"

  Bryan asked, the question slipping out before he could consider its implications.

  Dr. Livingston's eyebrows rose in surprise.

  "Have you been living under a rock, Cadet Bckwood?"

  A few students ughed, their amusement quickly stifled when Bryan's cold gaze swept across the room.

  "Lucas Valentine is one of the top ten magitech creators in the Roan Kingdom."

  Dr. Livingston expined.

  "And likely ranks within the top fifty on the continent. His innovations in magical measurement and enhancement have revolutionized several fields."

  "The man's a total loon."

  Julius Reinhart interjected from his seat near the front.

  Dr. Livingston turned sharply toward him.

  "Minus one point, Cadet Reinhart."

  Julius fanned his hand as if the point deduction didn't matter.

  "Well..."

  Dr. Livingston continued, his tone softening slightly.

  "All geniuses have their quirks. There's nothing wrong with talking to oneself or being a bit eccentric."

  "In fact, some of the greatest advancements in magitech and magical theory have come from individuals whose social behaviors might be considered... unconventional."

  Bryan's mind was working rapidly, connecting pieces of information. The ring on his finger—a M.A.G.I.C. device according to Zoltan—and now this orb, both created by someone named Valentine. The same surname that had appeared on his ring's dispy instead of his own.

  It couldn't be coincidence. But what did it mean?

  "The M.A.G.I.C. orb."

  Dr. Livingston continued, drawing Bryan's attention back to the lecture.

  "Stands for Mage's Analytics & Growth Interface Calcutor. It provides precise measurements of a mage's capabilities, allowing for targeted training and development."

  He gestured to his assistant, who began adjusting controls on the cart.

  "Today, each of you will have your stats measured and recorded. This will serve as a baseline for your progress throughout the Excellence Camp and beyond."

  Dr. Livingston's gaze swept across the cssroom.

  "Knowledge is power, cadets. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses with mathematical precision gives you an advantage few mages in history have enjoyed."