***Hyperion Empire***

***Imperial Academy***

Max considered the option of just absconding from his requirement to attend the Academy. Only in his second class and the boy already wanted freedom. It just wasn’t worth it. Perhaps he could run away, maybe join the mercenaries or adventurers to escape this prison in disguise. If only he didn’t have to worry about feeding his glutton of a baby griffin.

Reann Arshan sat next to him in ‘General Studies’. She was the only one he knew, yet he was obviously not the only one she had met. Three Arshan vassal nobility sat around the pair, two girls and a boy, and they were all giving Max deathly looks. The young Soltain was dismayed. He had done nothing to earn the scorn of these kids! Reann had followed him!

There was also the class itself. ‘General Studies’ had to be the most boring class on campus, and he had to take it for four years! The entire classroom was filled, with forty students to one teacher. The boy had spotted the other Thanatos and Rinehart noble heirs from his homeroom, but they couldn’t even be considered acquaintances. There was also the teacher, an aging beastkin with a full head of white hair. His voice was grating and stale, trite enough to make Max drowsy yet equally as irritating to keep a complete state of sleep out of the boy’s grasp. Also considering the fact that the class was twice as long and only half as interesting as his previous, Max was in a conundrum.

The instruction was a mix of mathematics and Mavaine, the most common language in the continent. The man was currently teaching writing skills, skills Max had learned when he was six years of age. The boy had originally tried to distract himself with sketching and plotting more of his magic ideas, but quickly found out there was little more that could be done until physical testing was performed. He made a note in his journal: Sleep in Theory, Ideas in General Studies.

The teacher’s mundane voice came to an abrupt halt when the bell’s loud chiming rang throughout the Academy. Max stood up with a smile before anyone else, he had done it, he had made it through. The boy was too distracted with his release from class to pay attention to the dormwork assignment the teacher was giving the students. He hurriedly moved through the room and left the ‘General Studies’ second building.

It was time for lunch. Kana had Adrios, so he only needed to worry about himself. The boy walked to the western dining hall, he and Arthur never really planned out when they would meet next. Max supposed it was fine to just eat alone, it didn’t really matter to him.

The inside of the western dining hall was moderately busy. It wasn’t as crowded as the dining hall he went to in the morning, but there were some visible differences. The students were mostly juniors and seniors, all eating in there own groups of friends. Students were minding their business, dining and conversing.

Max got a plate of his own food from the buffet line and scanned the area. He planned on sitting towards the middle alone until a voice called out to him. “Hey Max! Over here!” The young Soltain grinned in recognition of said voice. Turning to his left, he spotted a group of juniors and seniors sitting together at the end of one the long tables. The group was also mixed in all forms of the word, be it race, social status, or gender. Daniel was standing up with an empty chair to his right. “Why don’t you just eat with us?”

Max shrugged and obliged his friend. After making quick introductions to a dozen or so fellow students, he sat down. He began eating in silence as he listened to the group's conversation.

A black eyed teen with the insignia of House Arshan was speaking loudly so the entire group could hear. “As I was saying before Daniel so rudely interrupted…” A few of the teenagers chuckled at his comment. “...the prince’s birthday is only for appearances! Not only are Hyperion nobles arriving, but so will other foreign dignitaries, Imir, Sudites, even Aarus! All sending the prince their most beautiful maidens in hopes of marriage. He has to be the luckiest man in the world! If only I was in his shoes!”

A blonde-haired commoner girl snorted. “No woman with eyes would want to marry you Jace. Blessing to the gods you aren’t in the prince's’ shoes.”

Max and the rest of the teens laughed at the jab towards the youth named Jace. Though Daniel shook his head thoughtfully. “Who told you Aarus and Sudite nobles would attend? We’re not exactly allies.”

“Were not enemies either.” Another nameless girl countered.

Jace nodded. “Precisely. Though it doesn’t stop there. The weirdest part is the Royal Family has invited any women of age B-rank or higher in the Adventurer's Guild.”

The rest of the group clamored in disbelief. One of the beastkin boy’s at the end of the table reacted first. “Why would they do that!?”

Jace shrugged and waved his hands dramatically. “Hey, hey, I don’t have all the answers. This is just what my older sister deemed to tell me. She’s planning on attending as well.”

The girl next to Daniel spoke up. “Aren’t most of these nobles just wasting their time? The Emperor wouldn’t let his heir marry anyone other than a bloodline woman. I mean, imagine living only a part of your life and your spouse dies.” She mock shivered. “That sounds horrible.”

Daniel took a bite of his food and swallowed. “Another valid question. If you think about it, only a fraction of the women attending would have the lifespan of the prince. Maybe they hope to find some women of hidden bloodline amongst the Guild?”

Max continued to listen to the party’s debate as he ate. He didn’t really have thoughts or opinions about the prince’s marriage prospects. The only opinion he had of the man was that he was strong, far above himself. Daniel’s friends mentioned how the prince would be turning thirty years old, yet Max wasn’t even eleven yet. So the boy conceded that difference in strength was acceptable at the moment.

Even so, Max would not settle. Gaining power would be a by-product of his real goal. There was a reason Draconians ruins could be found all over the known world, because they once ruled it. Max had a desire for knowledge long forgotten, as knowledge was just as useful as any other ability or spell. Perhaps with this knowledge, he could assure the safety of those he cared about. There lives would be secure, no matter the dangers they faced or enemies they made. He would make it so.

The boy turned around at the sound of commotion towards the other side of the room. There was a group of half a dozen students throwing their food at a party of three; all elves. One of the elves chose to respond to the attack and threw food from his own plate. Max watched with mild interest until he realized one of the elves being attacked was the girl who sat next to him in homeroom.

Kathryn ignored the taunts and jeers of the kids assaulting her. She had never met the two other elves before, but if they usually had to deal with this, she would sit somewhere else. The girl deftly avoided the food being thrown in her direction, but could not save her own food from the inevitable collateral. She frowned when a piece of colored potato landed in her drink, splashing on her own meal.

The boy in front of the group, a senior standing at almost six feet, yelled to the trio of elves. “Get out of here you vermin! I will not eat at the same table as elves!”

“Shut your mouth you prick! We can eat when we want!” The elven boy who retaliated spat. That only served to enrage the tall senior. He moved over to the elven boy and a brawl ensued. The six students in turn surrounded the three elves.

Max got up from his seat but Daniel quickly grabbed his hand. Shaking his head, he warned the young Soltain. “I wouldn’t do that. The Society is not an enemy you want to make. Just wait for someone to alert the guards.”

Max glared down at Daniel. “What do you mean Society? Those are just bullies!”

Jace answered for Daniel. “The Humane Society. It’s one of the official clubs in the Academy as a branch of the Theocracy. You know what a club is?” Jace asked.

Max just nodded, watching the fight between the students. The elven youth was now on the ground being helplessly beaten. The second-year elven girl was screaming for them to stop and Kathryn continued to eat wordlessly. Though Max found relief when four armored guards moved in and quickly broke up the fight. One of the guards even picked up the now battered elven boy and left the dining hall.

Jace continued as everyone watched the guards question the students. “The Humane Society is the biggest club in the Academy. About an eighth of the entire second through fourth year student population are members. That's almost two-hundred students, all human. Also, that doesn’t include the amount of first-years they’ll surely recruit.”

“I am waiting for the part where you explain why it is okay for them to bully the elven students.” Max said with unbridled anger.

“Just watch.” Jace replied.

So Max did. The guards took questions from all the eight students involved, even asking Kathryn for an explanation on the events. Max expected the aggressor human students to get punished or sent to the administration, but was shocked to see the entire group get off with a verbal warning. The guards released the students in light that the elven boy was the one who started the fight, so he would be sent to administration after his recovery.

“The Theocracy has deep pockets, not only are the guards being influenced, but there are multiple teachers who are known sponsors of the Humane Society. While most clubs have one teacher sponsor, they have more than a dozen. They don’t just pick on the elven students, dwarves and beastkin are no different. But they know not to push it too far with the beastkin students, considering they have just as much clout as humans in the Empire.” Jace explained.

Max was confused. Blatant corruption in the faces of not only future Imperial leaders but also noble children? How did that work?

“I know what your thinking... But the Theocracy is just as powerful as any empire. They have deep ties with certain Hyperion nobles and are the foundational religion of both Sudite and Aarus. Our empire differs provincially, but usually allows all citizens to practice any religion as long as they are inherently good, and on the surface, the Theocracy just promotes the best out of humans.” Daniel said, he then pointed at the tall and scrawny senior youth who had a smile on his face. “That is James Charmant, son of the bishop of the Theocracy’s branch in the Hyperion Empire. He’s also the club president, so after the princess, he probably has the most sway in the Academy.”

“The Theocracy? If they're so powerful why haven’t I seen them in Soltain?” Max asked.

Daniel chuckled. “You can thank your family for that. If I remember correctly it was your grandfather who outlawed self-serving religious practices over a century ago. Temples were allowed, but all the gods, goddess’, and titans must be recognized inside. Major or minor, religion was to be done in one place. No priests or ministers for any ethereal beings, just one’s own faith through word of mouth. You can have your beliefs, but don’t go trying to change the beliefs of others. Soltain province doesn’t give any preferences to anything, and doesn’t allow religion to build past the family.”

Max grimaced. Had he been taught this? He probably had been, but simply didn’t care about it at the time. His parents had been rather lax in religious education. His mother and father were two different people from two different Great Houses and both believed in different things. So they elected to just tell the boy what they personally held as supreme, and allow Max to come to his own conclusions. They did the same thing for Skylar, and would do the same if they had any future children. His family was made of people who got things done themselves, they didn't blame their troubles on the gods and absolutely didn’t thank the gods for their blessings.

Max pulled his hand out of Daniel’s grasp and scowled at the teen. “You can hide if you want, but I am going over there.” Daniel just sighed and followed. Max was the son of his current lord and brother to his future lord, as a Knight Prefect in training, his allegiance was to the younger boy. The duo approached Kathryn, the only elf still eating. Max stood over her, glancing at the six students now sitting over a dozen seats away.

He then sat down to her left. Grabbing a napkin and cleaning the table so he could rest his arm. Academy servants soon arrived and began clearing the rest of the area like the fight never even happened. Daniel stood behind Max with his arms behind his back at attention, trying to look professional even though he really didn’t have too.

Max looked to the silent elf girl with puzzlement. “Are you okay?”

Kathryn turned to Max and a soft smile appeared on her face. “Hello Max. How is your first day of school going?”

“What? No, forget about that. Did they hurt you?” Max wasn’t quite sure himself, but based on first impressions he liked the elf girl. She was more subdued than most, but seemed to be rather competent. She had also given his friend Arthur a pen when she didn’t even know him. Although that was a rather insignificant action by itself, it was a favor. She had done a favor for someone important to him, Max would not forget that. It also didn’t hurt that the girl greatly resembled his master, a resemblance that became more and more prevalent as he catalogued the details of her face.

Kathryn giggled at the young Soltain’s concern. “Children will be children. My father told me to pick and choose my battles to my terms.” She turned to the now more than a dozen human students eating together. “I didn’t know the elven students, nor the human students. I may be in need of friends.”

Max looked at the Thanatos insignia stitched into her jacket. “Couldn’t you tell the Thanatos boy or something? If you want I can go beat them up.” He said with reassuring confidence. Daniel couldn’t help but frown at the boy’s comment. Sure, they would most likely be able to beat those teens in a fight, but they would still get in trouble. The administration would undoubtedly alert his father about unsanctioned fighting. It sounded bad until the future Knight Prefect came to a realization. If his father heard how Daniel loyally and dutifully aided the lord’s son in battle, he would definitely be rewarded and praised. It was a win-win situation.

The soft smile placed on Kathryn’s face remained unchanged. “While I do appreciate the offer, I think I’ll just ignore it for now.”

Max tilted his head in confusion, why was she so willing to leave things be? “Fine. How about this, you should eat with my cousin Arthur and I. We’re both pretty strong so we can protect you from them. You did help us out in homeroom, we owe you one.” He tried to compromise, something needed to change.

The bells started ringing and the elven girl nodded. “Thank you. Then I will dine with you two in the future.”

Max stood up and the two quickly exchanged meeting information and locations. Daniel waved goodbye to the pair and left the dining hall with the flocking bands of students. The two walked out of the hall together and also separated, as they both had different classes. Max was in a good mood while he walked to ‘Beginner’s Elements: Air’. Not only had he done a good deed for the day, but he also made a new friend.

-------------------------------------------

An attractive woman appearing to be in her twenties scanned the twenty-five students in front of her. She had dark-blue hair, blue eyes, and sported a rather vicious grin. “Welcome to ‘Beginner’s Elements’. I am one of the many mages in the Academy qualified to teach spells of the air element. My name is Joyce Prentis, you may call me Mrs. Joyce or Mrs. Prentis.”

The entire class was currently standing in one of the multiple large structures labeled Magic Training Building. Eighty identical magic training buildings spanned the entirety of the northern part of campus. Each building contained a training area cleared for all types of magic use, and the walls and roofing were enhanced by enchantments for added stability.

Most of the students seemed to be rather excited for the class, but Max was not. He had done this years ago, this class had the potential to be just as bad as ‘General Studies’. Reann stood next to him, her spider on the shoulder closest to the boy. Max would try to slowly waddle away during the teacher’s speech but Reann would follow him like a lost puppy.

Max had no qualms with Reann. Yet Lord Fuzzyboots unnerved the boy greatly. In his eyes, Lord Fuzzyboots was about as grotesque as a creature could get. Perhaps it was it’s multiple beady little eyes, or it’s spiky and furry legs, or even the weird point that stuck out of it’s butt. All in all, Max preferred to keep a good distance from the spider. Despite his constant subtle attempts at escape, Reann eventually caught up.

In the midst of his predicament, Max found himself floored by the teacher’s announcement at the conclusion of the speech. “So basically, I will teach a new spell every week. If you can perform the spell during my tests at the end of the week you pass. This class is entirely molded around the student. I am sure you have all observed that there is no end time to this class on the schedules. That is because elemental mastery is solely based on the student’s ability and practice. I will remain in this building until I am no longer needed for assistance.”

Max’s hand shot straight up in front the crowd. “Yes?”

“So we can leave whenever? As long as we can perform the spell?” Max asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

The mature woman smiled at the boy, showing off two rows of pearly white teeth. “That’s right.” She then clapped her hands together and extended her palm straight towards Max. “This week’s spell is called ‘Air Gust’!” She yelled. Next, Mrs. Joyce loudly spoke the incantation to the spell, enunciating every single word clearly so all the students could hear. “Bless me Goddess of Air, for I wish to unnerve my enemies!”

Max was insulted. The woman shot the gust of wind straight at himself. He could hear students behind him panicking yet was surprised to see Reann unmoving. Max quickly channeled mana into his left hand and countered with a ‘Greater Air Gust’. Intrinsically the spells were the exact same, yet Max had channeled way more mana into his counterattack. The boy’s destructive capabilities were always high, so the spell he fired ended up being around five times as powerful as Mrs. Joyce spell.

The woman laughed as Max’s enormous burst of air hurdled towards herself. “Bless me Goddess of Air, for I wish to obstruct the advance of my opponent!” She exclaimed, again pronouncing each word so all the students could listen. She raised both her hands up and an immense wall of air conformed in front of her. The wall stood strong at the initial clash brought by Max’s ‘Greater Air Gust.’ Most students covered their faces as wind burst in all directions, blowing people's clothing and hair away from the source of the impact. The spells eventually both fizzled out, leaving a laughing Mrs. Joyce.

Reann was softly mumbling to herself next to Max who now had a ball of air again forming in his left hand. Though Mrs. Joyce proceeded doing something completely out of the boy’s predictions. The teacher slowly walked up to Max and fixed his hair. Some of the students were now cheering and clapping, and Max was standing stiffly as the overly friendly woman started to now mend Reann’s messy hair.

“I know who you two are. What kind of teacher would I be if I held both of you back, forced to relearn spells you have already mastered?” She shook her head and started calmly straightening other student’s hair and clothes. “That would just be counterproductive. If you can cast the spell efficiently and properly, that’s all I ask.”

After assisting all the students back to normalcy, Mrs. Joyce put both her hands on her hips. “Now who want’s my help learning magic?”