Nico walked up the thirty-six large bluish granite steps leading up to the main entrance of Pendin Hall. Inside the large and chandelier lit lobby, there were several registration tables set up for the different field of studies.

Nico registered for the herbology test. He had been going to class and studying additional information from Professor Stance, Elmara and the other assitants.

Although Elmara seemed cold, she answered all of Nico's questions without any hint of irritation.

After a few weeks, she suggested that he attempt the testing tower. With his current knowledge, he should be able to attend Herbology 301, where students began formal practice of Alchemy.

Although Nico had a general idea of what was required for creating an alchemy pill, he did not have the practical experience to attempt the One-Plus Pill. He needed to be especially careful since many of the ingredients were expensive and difficult to attain.

He stood in line and waited to take the test. There were ten people ahead of him, but the line moved quickly. As soon as one person entered the door, another person immediately entered.

When it was his turn, he walked up to the tower entrance. The door was similar to the dorm room, it had no knob or key. However, the door was decorated with an elaborate engraving. His badge glowed as he approached the door and he willed it to open.

He entered the round tower, but there was nothing inside the 5m x 5m space. The door shut from behind.

The stone walls and soaring tower disappeared, leaving him in an empty open space. He felt like an astronaut looking beyond the galaxy.

Suddenly, questions appeared and floated everywhere in the boundless space. Nico read through a question. As soon as he thought of an answer, the question disappeared and a new question appeared in its place. Nico had no time to think about what was going on, he simply answered as many questions has possible.

Afterward, the test stopped, the tower reappeared and the door opened.

The proctor outside instructed Nico to leave.

"Eh? It's over already?" Nico walked out the door, a bit confused.

He appeared on a other side of the tower.

The room was a large lobby that opened up to the rear courtyard. He saw a crowd of students looking at several large bulletin boards.

The bulletin board for Herbology blinked and the order for the ranking reorganized itself. The orders were constantly shifting like the numbers on Wall Street. Nico had moved up to #8870, allowing him to attend Herbology 301. Suddenly, it moved down to #8871.

"Mister, if the board shift like this constantly, how would I know my ranking?" asked Nico.

"It's common for students to take the highest ranking for the semester," the proctor replied. "You had #8870 right? Then that would be your ranking. There would naturally be many people with #8870 ranking as well. Only the top 100 students are ranked according to the latest ranking order "

"Ah, I see," Nico nodded.

Afterward, Nico signed up for the Sigillogy test.

On the 1st day of the week, Nico walked into the Herbology 301.

Some of the students looked suspiciously at Nico, who stuck out like a blue balloon in a sea of green robes.

"What is a blue robe doing in Herbology 301?"

"Who's the kid?" Asked green robe student.

"Don't know, is he lost?" asked another green robe student.

"Hey you, are you lost?"

Nico was pretty sure this was Herbology 301. "Herbology 301?"

The student who asked nodded.

"Y'all annoying," complained a rough looking student sitting by the corner of the lecture hall. "He obviously belongs in the lecture hall if he could pass through the doorway."

Nico looked at the doorway, it was enchanted like many of the doors in the school. Nico hadn't tried entering a lecture hall that he wasn't allowed in.

Nico sat down.

"It looks like we have another blue robe in the 301 class," commented a student.

There's another blue robe? Nico thought as he looked around. There were green robes and even red robe students of all ages, very different from the 101 classes.

Just as he was scanning, a blue robe student walked in, and Nico recognized him.

"Xavier!" Nico called out and waved.

"Ah, hey! Hey! You're Nico, right?" Xavier seated himself next to Nico. "Wow, I didn't know you're in Herbology 301 as well. Or did you just pass the test?"

"Yeah, I passed the test two days ago," Nico responded.

They watched as the seat filled up. Unlike the 101 class, there were only thirty students in the 301 lecture hall.

Professor Wenlet looked sternly at the student. He began exactly when the clock struck nine.

"We will briefly review last week lessons, anyone remember the first step of Alchemy?" The professor asked.

"Refining." One of the students answer.

"Yes, the first step of Alchemy is refining the raw materials. The next step?"

"Amalgamation."

"Yes. Amalgamation is the mixture of different refined materials. Many people uses the layman term mixture. And what is the last step?"

"Solidification."

"Good, you have been paying attention. R.A.S. is the three main processes of alchemy. Today, we will review them in detail.

Let's look at the process of refining the Ratagon and Julipo, the two main ingredients for strength based pills. Does anyone know the the primary shadow symbol found within the Ratagon and Julipo?"

Silence.

"You should have memorized these manaherbs in 201. Ratagon consists of approximately 70% Zu shadow symbols and the Julipo consists of 60% Zu shadow symbols. The purpose of refining is to remove the unnecessary symbols within the herb until only the main shadow symbols remain."

A student raised her hand. "Professor, why would we need Ratagon and Julipo when they both have the Zu shadow symbols? Couldn't we make it simple and just use the Ratagon or Julipo?"

"Good question. This is the primary lesson for Sigillogy 301, but I will briefly explain. Although they both contain Zu shadow symbols, the formation and structure of the symbols are different. How different, we aren't sure ourselves.

Now then, back to the lesson. In order to refine the ratagon, we need to use the black flame. And for the Julipo, we need the blue flame. This is one of the reasons why cauldrons are important. A poor cauldron have 1 flame setting and a good cauldron have 3 flame settings. The three main flames used in alchemy are red, blue and black flames.

This process is repeated until all the ingredients are refined.

The next step is amalgamation. It is the process of combining the refined ingredients and adding enough flame to melt the ingredients together. This is where magicians excel over cultivators. Magicians can use their aura to manipulate the heat and speed up the process.

Solidification is a natural process of maintaining the flame until a pill is formed. A successful pill may take hours or even days to complete. That is why alchemist have partners to maintain the flame or excellent grade cauldron to run the flame for a long period of time.

Even when a pill is formed, there are still high chances of it becoming defective."

"Professor Wenlet, why do we only have one formula available in the school?" asked one of the students.

"Since pills are important trade secrets and extremely valuable, many formulas and methods are not distributed. It is a closely guarded secret protected by the Alchemy Guild. The Alchemy Guild protects Alchemist rights and handle many formula transactions.

We will begin experimentation next class, and it will be on the sleeping pill, so make sure you study the formula."

Xavier and Nico both waited for the next class, Sigillogy 301.

"I heard from Anya that you, Vincent and Jack made it in the Academy," Xavier conversed. "But I didn't think you would enter this class so soon."

"You made it in as well!"

"Well, I have been studying from the famous Kelseran Library ever since I was little. My parents help run the place, so I have the opportunity to read a lot of books."

They watched as students walked in and out. As two more red robe students entered, everyone stopped to stare. A tall stern looking student walked in with a pretty student.

"Oh my goddess, that's Hobin and Juliana," the students fawned at the two incoming students.

"Wow, can't believe we are seeing the academy royalty."

"Are all the red robe students treated as royalty?" Nico asked Xavier.

"Just them two, they are two of the youngest foundation stage students in the Academy."

"Where have I seen her before?" Nico thought as he examined Juliana.

She had high cheekbones, long black hair, and light blue eyes.

Nico was sure he never met her before.

"Who is that?"

"Juliana Pinaton."

"She's a Pinaton?"

Xavier nodded. "Isn't she from your hometown?"

"I've heard of her, but I've never seen her before."

Juo had reddish hair and dark eyes, but his facial features did bear some resemblance to Juliana.

Juliana walked toward her seats, ignoring all the other students as though they were non-existent.

"Oh my gosh, she looked at me!" One of the boys gasped.

"Pssh, yeah right, in your dream."

Hobin walked her to an empty seat, but she also paid little attention to him.

"She's really different from what I've heard," Nico commented. Juo had always called her a little brat, so Nico thought she would be a lot younger.

"She's the goddess of the academy," Xavier explained. "From the moment she entered the school, Lady Tessa wanted her as a student. Her spirit is a bow and arrow, so the Cultivation Branch had been trying to recruit her. The Magic Branch probably offered her a better deal."

It wasn't the first time Nico hearing about the rivalry between the two branches. "What's with the competition between the Magic and Cultivation Branch? Does it really matter? It's just the libraries that are restricted."

"There's more to it than that. A lot of the teachers belong to either the Magician Society or the Cultivator Society. They have a long history of fighting. Always trying to prove what method is the best."

"There's no in between?"

"After graduation, almost all practitioners become a hybrid of some sort, but still specializing in either magic and cultivation. The few that open both auras and meridians in equal amount are called Failed Practitioners because their level are very low and they can't compete on the same level as cultivators or magicians."

"But that means high level practitioners can use magic and cultivate?"

"It's usually a magician that have some meridians open to assist with their magic or cultivators with some auras to assist with cultivation techniques. Juliana can use strong magic, but uses a bow and arrow as a secondary weapon. She's a very good archer. She's already being recruited by the Kelseran Empire. Hobin is even more impressive. He's the magic swordsman, his Obsidian Edge sword is enhanced by his use of aura."

"You sure know a lot."

"I'm writing a book, so I need to do a lot of research. The Hunter Guild has a department that deals with intelligence gathering and regularly publish the top twenty Big Shots."

Xavier stopped talking as soon as Professor Wenlet looked at him.

"Professor! He's new, I am just explaining to him the previous lesson," Xavier explained.

Professor Wenlet presented the next lesson on Sigillogy.

Nico missed the first few lectures, so it was a bit confusing. Xavier explained some of the concepts in between the lessons.

"Talismans are important to learn, as it leads to a better understanding of Egos," Professor Wenlet orated.

"Egos are another form of mana?" Nico asked.

"Egos are basically man-made mana construct that performs a contain task," said Xavier. "Alchemy pills are made from Egos that enhance the body. There are also Egos that program crystals to perform a certain task such as voice and light manipulation. These are what you see powering the projector and speaker crystals."

"No wonder. Whoever came up with these are geniuses."

"All these knowledge are accumulated through centuries of research by magic scholars. In today research field, the most famous is probably Scholar Nil Eda. He is my idol. The projector and speaker crystals are both his invention. It was developed five years ago, but since they are extremely expensive, only wealthy clans, royalties and academies have them. "

"I see, so I guess you are planning to be a scholar?"

"Yep! Although cultivators and magicians are prized, scholars are also valued because it takes a full time scholar to understand and develop new Egos. Scholars often collaborate with magicians and cultivators to form new manacrystals."

Nico was learning something new everyday.

"Ah, so that's why mineralogy has its own field of study."

"Yeah, mineralogy is very difficult though."

Nico was still learning about the different minerals in the 101.

Nico turned his attention to the next portion of Professor's lecture, it was a topic he was familiar with, talismans.

"We will practice making talismans next class," said Wenlet. "You should by now have memorize all the 108 shadow symbols and at least 150 different personas symbols. These knowledge will allow you to create talismans. For a demonstration, Hobin, would you like to volunteer?"

Hobin nodded and stood up.

He walked up to the front and sat down before a desk lined with many different equipment.

"Before the demonstration, can anyone tell me the three equipment needed to make a Talisman?"

"Manapaper, mana-ink and a quill," said Xavier raising his hand.

"Correct," said Professor Wenlet. "We will attempt to create the Windbreeze Talisman. Hobin, start writing the persona symbol."

Hobin inked in the Windblade Talisman on the parchment. His stroke was slow and deliberate.

One stroke....

Two stroke...

Three stroke...

Why is it so slow? Nico was starting to fall asleep by how slow it was taking.

It took eighteen strokes to finish the persona symbol.

It's ugly, Nico thought.

"Beautiful!" Professor Wenlet praised and clapped. "Now add the four shadow symbols of pa, cu, vin, and min. Min is a seal based shadow symbol that is required to seal the magic in the talisman."

The process of adding the shadows took almost the entire class time. In the meanwhile, Professor Wenlet described the steps of adding each shadow symbols.

"Form the shadow symbols with your aura. For cultivators, using spirit force is possible, but it is twice as slow. For Hobin to be on par with a magician says a lot about his talent."

Finally, Hobin completed the Windblade Talisman.

"Good job," Professor Wenlet held up the finished talisman for everyone to see.

Wenlet pointed the talisman to the window and activated it. A light breeze opened the window.

That's a talisman? Nico thought.

"This Windblade Talisman usually takes an hour to make for apprentice talisman maker. Hobin did an excellent job for a beginner. I hope you will also succeed next lecture."

By the end of class, Nico had a better understanding of the magic used in this world.

"Thanks for explaining some things," Nico said as he walked out with Xavier. "Wanna go out for lunch? Anya, Jack and Vincent will be there as well."

"Sure!"

Nico brought Xavier along to Killo's Restaurant Inn.

"Xavier, heard you made it in the Academy!" Jack welcomed Xavier to their table.

"So you guys eat out here, no wonder why I don't see you guys during lunch."

"Cafeteria food sucks."

"It's not that bad on the 2nd floor," Ashe had been up there before.

"I've been trying to find you guys after I heard you all made it on the combat team shortlist," Xavier got out a notebook.

"Why?" Asked Jack.

"I have data on most people except for you guys. It's for research."

"Don't talk to me about it. I'm so nervous my stomach is killing me!" Anya complained. "This is even worst than the exam."

"How the hell did you make it on the list anyway? I've never seen you fight before," Jack wondered.

Anya gave him an ugly look. "Just because you haven't seen me fight, doesn't mean I'm not good!"

"Then are you good at fighting?"

"You'll see."

"You probably got in just because you hang out with us. Not a single dorm can brag that all the roommates are on the shortlist." Jack loved to brag about everything.

Pak!

Ashe whacked Jack in the back.

"Hey!"

Ashe ignored him and looked at Anya. "We've never asked you about your spiritual root," Ashe wondered if that may be the reason.

"It's a Light Mirror spiritual root."

Jack laughed. "Pssh! What can it do?"

"Want me to show you instead?" Anya asked.

"Hey, doesn't that sound like a challenge?"

"It can be. You're up for it?"

"You're on!"