You know, you’d think that after entering an entirely different world, things would change. Well, to be fair, some things did change. He looked better, for one. And sure, Michael might have been somewhat shallow for naming that as the first item, but when your physique was lacking for the major part of your life, having a more athletic body, if only in part and a lot better skin really helped with your self-esteem.

And yes, other things were different too. Magic, for example. Magic changed a lot of things. Magic made the world go around in Gnosis. Maybe even literally. Magic, meeting exciting new people, belonging to exciting new races. Being wanted by not one, but multiple powerful factions. Getting tutored by an aggressively flirting gorgon, older than you were by… not a lot actually… Anyway, yes, a gorgon, who had a vested interest in making sure you learned rare pieces of magic. It was different. Things did change. But you know what didn’t change?

Michael’s luck with women.

“But we aren’t even together!” he complained.

“Don’t tell me that, tell it to her.”

“But… just how did she think we were a thing? How?!”

“Michael, calm down.” Alex laughed, trying to make his young friend see reason.

Not that Michael was all that much younger than him, really.

Yes, Michael reached out to the only person that knew Erea and who seemed to have a sane head on his shoulders. Even though he was a martial. Michael privately thought that Alex being a martial was the martials prime selling point.

And so, after a punch to the face that nearly knocked him out, Michael thought to approach him. He needed to know just what made Erea react like that. True, the elf never said, but Alex knew her well enough to figure out the reason. That was why he agreed to meet with Michael, the morning after the punch, right around the corner from their Alchemy Class.

“Look, I don’t think she thought of you as her boyfriend. Mainly because I don’t think Erea would allow herself to think in those terms.”

“But if she didn’t think of me like that… what’s with the jealousy?”

“Well, she learned what happened and after you confirmed it-“

“Nothing happened. And that was a trap!” he snapped. “She asked me if I saw Sinestra naked and I did. But by accident! I didn’t do anything with her.”

Alex fixed him with a disbelieving look.

“Why not? And if you didn’t, then why is she avoiding any questions about your ‘tutoring sessions’ by blushing and being evasive.”

“Because she’s a pervy old hag! A manipulative one too! She thrives on tormenting me!” he yelled.

“Alright, alright, calm down.” He laughed. “And she’s not that old. I wouldn’t mind… but I digress. Let’s say I believe you, only because I’ve heard rumors of how much she likes to play with her food.”

“That expression doesn’t do it justice.”

“Can I ask what do you do during your tutoring sessions?”

“Can’t.” he winced. “Sorry. Bound by an oath. Magical oath. But I promise I really am tutored. I’m not doing anything else. No matter how much time she spends hinting.”

“Right. Well, in this case, here’s what I think happened. Erea is something of a loner. You can’t usually tell, because she’s not shy, but outspoken and she’s usually part of this fighting group or that. But she is. She doesn’t make friends easily. I’d… cautiously wager that I’m her closest friend. And you saw how we interact.”

“Businesslike.” Michael said.

“Eh… ish. We’re less businesslike outside missions, but you’re not far off track. And more than that, I’ve never seen have someone… romantically. I’ve never even seen her attracted to someone.”

“You call that attracted? This is the second time she’s attacked me.”

“Nobody said she’s any good with her feelings.” He grinned. “But yes. She is attracted to you.”

Michael’s thoughts roamed back to how Erea sat outside his room for hours, just so she could drag him with her on a quest together. It was… kind of romantic, in the way a tiger would probably see romance.

“I guess I can see that.” He said. “But from being attracted to me to thinking we’re a couple?”

“I don’t think she thought of you as a couple. Like I said, she wouldn’t allow herself to think like that… yet. But she did think of you in that direction. And when she found out that you were otherwise preoccupied with an untouchable Gorgon…”

“She took her frustration out on me.”

“Precisely.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Alex, I really appreciate the help. Really. But I don’t think I’ll be joining you on missions for a while.”

“She’s still ‘grounded’ this Friday. Cleaning duty. Just in case in makes a difference.” He grinned.

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Fine, I’ll consider a mission on Friday. Maybe.”

“Sure, maybe.”

He left Michael after that, going to his own Class. Yet what he told him rand true for him. Erea had been jealous, true. And it wasn’t for a good reason. But seeing things from her perspective and with her mindset… maybe. He still didn’t think he deserved that punch, but he guessed he could understand her.

On the other hand, there was that widely known expression of not sticking your… feelings in crazy. So he saw absolutely no chances for the elf to get what she wanted. He just hoped she wouldn’t get more disappointed by that. Or pissed.

It was as he entered in is ‘alchemy’ Class, that he saw his two friends, who had saved him a seat. Micah was still playing the goody two shoes around Michael, perfectly aware of how much he screwed up. Bob, meanwhile was just largely uninterested in his ‘lovers spat’, no farther than how it affected his own reputation among the martials.

“So.” He said. “What are we learning today?”

“How to pick up a good potion. Again.” Micah answered.

“Are we still on that? I imagined we’d be learning to brew them by now.”

“Given the number of mages who do not make to their second year, the academy saw it useful to first instill practical notions.” Bob said. “Namely, how to select quality potions out of an assorted range.”

“So that idiot mages who flunk Gnosis could still be useful in life.” He concluded. “Smart.”

“Be useful, make decent adventurers. The like.”

“And the small price for that is that we get to be bored for the first few lessons. If not the entire year.” Micah said.

“Don’t jinx it, please.”

In truth, Michael knew that this sort of knowledge was valuable. After all, not all places where like Gnosis, where potions and materials tended to start at a good quality level. He just didn’t see a life outside the academy for himself. And he couldn’t wait to start learning how to actually do things. But perhaps he was unfair. He should know these things.

Right?

“Alright, settle down, everyone. I hope you’re ready for another exciting lesson in ‘Practical Alchemy’.” Their professor said, walking inside the classroom, a box stock full of potions floating in after him.

Professor Gerald was human, old and old. He still had hair, but it was all white. And he walked with a slight hunch. He was perfectly normal, his main excuse being that he thought his Class to be much more exciting than it actually was. At least for the time being. If not for the magic ring he used to channel magic with, Michael wouldn’t have thought the man out of place in his old college.

“Today, we will be comparing two types of Potions. Haste Potions and Agility Potions. Isn’t that fun?”

No one answered him. They all received a set of six potions, three of a kind and started to analyze them, going by information offered before the Class. It actually was kind of interesting. Soothing, for an analytical mind. They had to deduce which one was of the highest quality by minute changes in the potion’s characteristics, like floating debris density, color and how liquid it was. Though, this kind of class would have probably been hell on those more gung-ho.

Wonder how Erea survived this Class?

Shaking off those thoughts, Michael went to write down the first of his answers and moved on to the second. They would find out their answer at the end of the Class and their professor would know who got it right and why.

They weren’t exactly graded, though if you did really good you usually got a reward. Instead, at the end of the year, you could be tested on matters where you showed a lack of knowledge. Why test you on things you’ve already shown to know?

Michael liked this approach. And it was common in more than one class.

Of course, your final test usually also contained one more component, either something you really excelled at, aimed at ushing your limits or just something… else. The upper years were hard to get information out of.

That being said, Michael was halfway into analyzing his second type of potion when he heard a sound. He ignored it, but the hissing sound came again.

Looking to his right, he saw that it was Micah trying to get is attention.

“What?” he mouthed.

The lycan pointed, grinning and Michael finally saw it.

At the back of the class was a freshman, but not a usual one. It was, however, one of those old, passed through life types. One of those who usually only found their magical potential after encountering a life-or-death scenario. Going by his scars, the man was either a former soldier or adventurer. Must have been around forty.

And next to him, was the professor, going redder and redder in the face.

“Excuse me. Alric, is that your name?”

“Uh, yes, professor.”

“I was looking at your potions and noticed that one did not look at all like the others.”

“…no- I mean, no? Sir?”

“No. Tell me, does this not look like a Haze Potion to you?” the old man asked, straining his jaw.

The entire class was now watching.

“No, sir.”

“And a rather poor quality one at that?!” he asked, shouting this time.

“…no, sir.”

“No? Because it looks to me like someone, I wonder who, was stupid enough to believe that a Haste and a Haze Potion actually couldn’t be discerned because they have the same general color! Though, given the stupidity of this person, they might have also thought this because their names are similar.” He yelled in the man’s ear.

No… Did he really…?

The former soldier of fortune was sweating buckets, an irate, but probably very powerful professor going red over his shoulder.

“Because it looks to me, Alric, that someone tried to swap a high-grade Haste Potion with a worthless Haze one.”

“It wasn’t me, professor. I- I- Someone must have changed them. I was just looking at them.”

“Nobody else touched them, Alric. I’ve enchanted them myself.”

“Sir, please. I- I didn’t do it.”

“That’s alright, Alric. I believe you. Perhaps a lower grade version slipped in my samples. Perhaps it truly is a Haste Potion after all.” The professor smiled.

“Yes, sir.” The man said, managing to catch a breath.

Oh, I really don’t like the look of that smile.

It seemed that every member of Gnosis had a hidden dangerous side.

“But we must be sure, Alric. No one else touched them, but you. I suppose a faulty, low-grade potion must have slipped in. But we must know for sure!” the man grinned, right next to his ear.

“Oh, this is so good.” Micah breathed.

“How- how could we know sir.”

“Oh, it’s simple. You drink it.”

“…sir-“

“Drink. It! Or I will be forced to expel you myself.”

“Sir… I- I- I can’t. What if it’s harmful?”

“Oh, as a seasoned adventurer, I’m sure you know exactly how harmful it would be.”

The professor waited. Five seconds, ten seconds. No one moved. He then straightened, smiled and walked on.

“Leave the potions, Alric. And gather your th-“

The sound of drinking interrupted him.

Professor Gerald turned, disbelieving, as the adventurer downed the entire potion.

“I drank it, sir.” The man said, with a strained voice. “I’m fine. See?”

That last word came out like a squeal. Their professor didn’t stick around to talk to him. He didn’t waste time. He turned on a dime and shouted.

“Everybody out! Evacuate the roo-“

But his voice dies out. Michael saw a blast of smoke appear, enveloping him. He barely heard him choking, when the wall of smoke hit him. His lungs instantly felt like burning and he smelled something like puke and blood in the air. His head felt dizzy. His hand grabbed the desk, but it felt numb. He didn’t remember falling down. He just remembered seeing a lot of legs and bodies falling.

This would be the lamest death ever.