(Alex, 17)

"This is gonna be weird," Barry says, fidgeting with his uniform.

Barry and Sarah both made it into the Royal Knight University, as D-Class students. Their skill was ranked higher, but their education needs a little improving before they can find themselves in a better class. They'll probably make it into C-Class next year, possibly B-Class. That's my estimates. They ain't Magi, so I doubt they'd have an explosive growth in ability, even if they can study up pretty well.

"Good luck," I tell them. "Ya ain't gonna have the best of friends in that group, so stick together and make sure ya got each other's backs."

They both nod, then enter the lecture hall their first lesson of Mondays will be in, where I'd be if I hadn't gone up a couple of ranks. Now that I've seen them off, I make my way to my new lesson group, B-Rank.

Several of my fortyish lesson mates give me glares, while a few actually give me interested looks. Because of my background as a street rat, I ain't liked in many of its levels. Unfortunately, all of my friends are either in D-Class or S-Class, so this might be a bit rough for me.

"Hey, rat," the person behind me leans forward once I have taken my seat. "I don't know how you managed to make it into B-Class, but this isn't going to be as easy as D-Class. Here, they actually put us to work and make us train hard."

"Interesting," I turn and meet his gaze. "I'm only in this class because my academics are low. Ya might want to try and keep up with me when it comes to training."

"Big talk for a little guy," he scoffs. "Your academics are likely the only qualifying thing for this level of training. It will be fun watching as they realize your skills are subpar and kick you back down to D-Class. Well, you don't even belong there, so maybe they'll finally kick you out of university as a whole? Send you to one of the ones for lesser people."

I turn around and face the instructor who enters. He's in his forties, with hair that's beginning to grey.

"Welcome to the students who managed to move up into this level," he says. "I am Instructor Elte, one of your combat training instructors. To the two of you who came here form C-Class, please be advised that we perform practical training against each other when using blade skills in this level. Be advised that attempting to perform any lethal or long-lasting damage will not be tolerated. Save it for the training dummies or for the practical training sessions. You can also sign up to be a Hunter and go on hunts, if you wish to not hold back."

"Yes, sir!" The two of them respond.

"This term," Instructor Elte continues. "We will be covering the groundwork needed for Three-Step blade skills, which is the goal for you to manage by the end of the term."

"Heh," the student behind me leans forward and whispers as the instructor continues. "A rat like you isn't even worth responding to."

The instructor continues on with his introduction to this term. We're at the back of the lecture hall, so he can't hear us.

"Now," Instructor Elte says. "Let us move to one of the training rooms. There, a demonstration will be performed, then I will begin your lessons in using Multi-Step blade skills."

We line up and follow him out of the lecture hall and to a training room larger than the ones we are ordinarily permitted to use outside of lessons. Or rather, D-Class and C-Class students. I forgot that B-Class and up can use bigger rooms, due to using much more powerful skills. But it's requested that we put in a notice requesting its use ahead of time, to make sure everyone has their own time to train if they wish it.

With the warehouse Sage Alyssa enchanted for us, I ain't have to worry about that, as I've a place to train just a nice.

Several racks of wooden training swords sit outside of the arena portion of the training hall, and we are told to sit on the benches which ring it.

"Alex Amarxik," Instructor Elte calls as he pulls a sword off the racks. "Take a sword, then meet me in the center."

"Yes, sir!" I stand, then approach the racks and selects the sword.

It seems the professor wishes to make a statement. Jason warned me that Prince Jacob had told him about this possibly happening, and it does not bother me. I already know what sort of statement he wishes to make is.

"Limit it to Three-Step blade skills," Instructor Elte says as I meet him in the arena. "Otherwise, fight me serious. Enhancements are permitted, but only the normal ones."

I wouldn't think of using layered ones against a person in a training or demonstration match. Not a normal person, anyway. That ain't the best of ideas.

"Yes, sir," I say.

We ready our swords, then he calls for us to begin. Immediately, he rushes me, and I deflect his sword, sparks dancing from his sword to the ice that surrounds mine. The ice breaks, and our swords collide again. At the same time, electricity arcs out of his sword and towards me, and shards of ice follow the path of my sword.

I jump back, allowing his lightning to miss me, then rush forward, our swords colliding once more. For several minutes, the two of us fight, neither managing to gain ground on the other, despite the difference in our experience. He has decades more of it, yet I am holding my own.

Once he finally starts pushing me back, I grit my teeth and begin another combat skill. Not exactly a blade skill, but he didn't forbid it, yet has to know I can do these. Water begins to trail from the tip of my sword as we fight, yet Instructor Elte doesn't tell me to stop.

As he knows what I'm doing, he must have wanted me to do this. As soon as I start it, he pushes me harder. The brat was holding back a bit. Were I going all-out, that wouldn't be an issue. Judging by the blue glow of his barrier every time my sword clashes against it, I could easily over-power him with my full abilities.

The moment I'm ready, my water leviathan appears, the string of water trailed through the arena thickening and expanding to take on its form, tinged with the yellow of my magic.

It begins to fight in harmony with me, striking when I strike, blocking when I cannot. Instructor Elte begins pushing me even harder, but with my construct, this fight is not something he can win. A few times, I catch the expressions of the other trainees, who have realized this as well. My construct guarantees that blade skills alone will not be enough to take me down, even for a knight with blue magical power.

"Stop!" Instructor Elte eventually calls, I move back, standing in a rest position as my leviathan wraps around me, keeping a two-foot distance from me while leaving enough gaps for me to still be seen clearly and for me to see clearly. "Good job, Alex. You may dismiss it."

"Yes, sir!" I dismiss the construct, which falls to the ground, nothing more than water at this point.

"Remain here," Instructor Elte tells me, so I face the other trainees as he continues speaking. "Trainees! Remember that as students, you are all on the same level of treatment! If you misbehave, you will be punished according to the rules regardless of if you are royalty or from the streets. If you do well, you will be advanced according to the rules regardless of if you are royalty or from the streets. It is not often we have someone from the streets here, so I want to make you all aware that I will not tolerate any form of bullying, harassment, or hazing. As you can see, Alex Amarxik was capable of pushing me into a draw. His combat abilities are ranked among the second-year S-Class students, and he is only in B-Class because of his academics. The next time I hear a student making any comments degrading him for his previous social status, they will be under punishment for one month. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir!" My fellow trainees say.

Several of them, including the man who made the comments to me, look unhappy. Several of them look intrigued, and a few even looked attracted.

"Good!" Instructor Elte calls. "Now! It is time for you to learn the difference between the blade skills you have been using until now and Multi-Step ones! Some of you may have been using Two-Step blade skills! In fact, three of you did several times throughout the previous term! Can anyone here tell me the difference!"

I do not raise my hand, but I know the difference. As Quinn, I am the one who developed the concept of it among societies. When Nolan trained the Magi, he never taught us such a simple thing as the explanation, we learned and developed our skills without thinking of such things. Normal people, however, required it broken down more.

So when Quinn began teaching others, he broke blade skills down into their steps. Most people can only manage One-Step blade skills. If someone makes it into the Royal Knight University, they will be able to use Three-Step blade skills, once trained.

No one raises their hand, and I can see the uncertainty on their faces, sense it in their minds. I'd rather be seated right now, but Instructor Elte has not told me to move yet.

"Amarxik!" Instructor Elte says. "What is the meaning of the steps in blade skills?"

"Sir!" I say. "Blade skills are any spells used in conjunction with a bladed weapon! The potency of the spell, the complexity of it, and its resiliency to external effects are all dependent upon its Step Count! The higher its Step Count, the stronger it can be, the more complex it can be, and the more resilient it is against interference!"

"Indeed!" Instructor Elte responds. "It might not have looked it to most of you, but Amarxik here used Two-Step and Three-Step blade skills throughout our duel. A normal sword-sharpening enhancement is a One-Step blade skill, an enhancement which increases the durability and sharpness of a sword is Two-Step, which is what he had active at all times.

"In addition to that" He continues. "Nearly every one of the blade skills Amarxik used while attacking me, in addition to that one, was either a Two-Step or Three-Step blade skills! Amarxik, how do we define the difference?"

"The easiest way to show a difference," I say. "Would be to verbally incant the blade skill."

Something most of them still need to do, and all will likely need to do if a fight lasts more than half a minute or two.

"The longer the incantation," I say. "The more likely it results in a higher Step Count. This is because longer incantations help create more clear images in your magical eye for what the spell will be. As a result, this can create more powerful and more complex blade skills."

"Thank you, Amarxik!" Instructor Elte calls. "Please demonstrate the difference between a One-Step, a Two-Step, and a Three-Step blade skill! Use the same base, and speak them aloud so they can hear the difference as well as see it!"

"Yes, sir!"

I hold up my training sword and take a fighting stance, then inhale.

"Fluid as wills and swift as rivers, slice through my foes with your liquid might."

Water begins to swirl around the blade of the training sword. Quick-moving, and rather basic. Everyone in this university can cast such a basic spell, which is mostly useful for fighting against more fire-aligned creatures, and not just creatures with fire powers.

"This is a One-Step blade skill!" Instructor Elte calls out. "Simple, short, and basic! Amarxik, Two-Step!"

I release the blade skill, and water drops to the ground.

"Fluid as wills and swift as rivers, slice through my foes with your liquid might. Swirl unhindered by wind or flesh, cut my foes down to their bones."

The same skill activates, but the water is more compact and moves much faster now. With the quicker speed, the water is akin to a blade on its own. A single strike of it against flesh would result in the flesh likely being pierced before the blade itself actually touched it. Even once the blade touched it, the water would continue to swirl, ripping through the flesh and possibly through their bone. The water would renew itself as it was used up. Depending on how I visualized it, either the water would continue to cut under the edge of the blade, or it would wrap around whatever was struck, cutting into it in a ring. The latter would not be able to cut through bone unless I put a lot of magical power into the spell, but it would otherwise function the same.

"Thank you!" Instructor Elte says. "This is a Two-Step blade skill! As you noticed, it was longer, and had a second part added to it! Amarxik, perform a Three-Step blade skill!"

"Yes, sir!"

I release the spell, and the water drops to the ground.

"Fluid as wills and swift as rivers, slice through my foes with your liquid might. Swirl unhindered by wind or flesh, cut my foes down to their bones. Cold as night, let your icy bite freeze their bodies."

When the spell forms this time, it is nearly identical to the previous version, but a light, frosty mist radiates from it. The temperature of the water is below freezing, and only its high speed keeps it liquid. The moment it stops moving, such as when I slice into someone with it, it will freeze, meaning their injuries will freeze shut as well.

While that might not sound like the best of ideas, it ain't a bad thing. Someone might be able to keep moving through pain and injury during a fight, but if the muscles are frozen? They will lose functionality.

Instructor Elte allows it to remain for a few moments, then instructs me to release it.

"Today," he says once I do and am back in a rest position. "We will be focusing on Two-Step blade skills! For the first half of the term, you will be training with them at least three times a week, in order to ensure swiftness and ease of use! The longer a chant is, the more likely your opponent, if a person, comes up with a defense to it! The more likely it will be that you are interrupted! Which is why starting this term, we will also focus on chantless casting! You will be pushed hard to train you into the fine warriors you can all become, and that involves ensuring you can rapidly cast your blade skills!

"This becomes easier," he continues. "If you focus on the same ones or similar ones! The more you use a spell, the more familiar you become with it and the more easily you can visualize it! It is the same as with training any other ability of yours – regular use equals muscle memory. Or in this case, magic memory!

"What I want you to do!" He continues. "Is to come up with a simple blade skill you use regularly and will use regularly. Then, expand it into a Two-Step blade skill and train both! We will begin shortly! Are there any questions?"

Most of the students raise their hands, and Instructor Elte calls on one of them.

"What was that leviathan he created?" She asks. "How many steps was that blade skill?"

"That was not a blade skill!" Instructor Elte responds. "But rather, a combat construct! It is a Lost Art, but from what is known of them, they require twelve steps to their spell to perform!"

For a basic one. Please don't lump my pride in with those weaker things.

Aaaand now everyone is staring at me, and it takes a moment for Instructor Elte to realize that he just told them I can perform Twelve-Step spells in moments and without incantations. That was definitely not his intention there, even if he did want to make a point about my skills being above theirs. That's what the demonstration was for.

Great.

(Niko, 16)

Lina and I sit on one of the benches lining the training hall Jason's training group uses, the other students from this university within this group entering. We just have the few from the Royal Knight University to arrive, then the session will begin.

Until then, though, I am enjoying sitting beside Lina. We are perhaps sitting a little too close for the code of etiquette, but no one says anything about it. Jason sits at the front of the room, floating on the air with Bear Alpha sitting on his lap.

The stuffie golem showed up halfway through lessons today, startling everyone, and just sat on the desk with Jason's belongings. Everyone decided to act like he was not there, Jason included, though I do wonder why the stuffie golem decided to come to university.

"What are you doing after the training group?" I ask Lina.

"My plans are empty for today," she answers. "So I will return to the palace and speak with the ladies there. I may train some more as well, though I do wish for a break from it."

Between university and the training group, we are all under a lot of training, regardless of our skill level. It can be exhausting. Had we not just the memories, but the experiences of our past lives right now, we would likely not be bothered. Our current level of training is light compared to what we went through as the Magi.

"In that case," I say. "Would you like to attend a performance at the amphitheater with me? One will begin an hour after we finish here. I have some food prepared as well, so you need not worry about eating."

"Thank you," she gives me a sad smile. "But it might not be a good idea for me to attend the performance. You have likely already felt some of what is happening, Niko, being my betrothed."

"You are worried about those who know you are a Magus and wish ill upon you?" I ask, and she nods slightly. "I grew up in a kingdom where magic was abhorred and seen as heresy, Lina. While I might be bothered some, what is said affects me much less than when I am home."

"My apologies," she gives me a sadder smile. "I sometimes forget that you have been called a heretic and treated foully for it for sixteen years."

"It is likely worse for you to bear," I tell her. "Because you are not accustomed to it. We all have our own troubles and our own burdens. I love you regardless."

Several students enter the room who are not a part of the training group as students from both universities arrive. I recognize Adam, Elise, Connor, Hailey, Sarah, and Barry from the special training group. A few others, I do not recognize, though the mages look familiar, likely from us passing each other here between lessons or during lunch.

"Welcome, new applicants," Jason says after a few minutes of the group of applicants just standing there, waiting. "There is an increase in ability required. With a new term, standards are raised for each level of studying at university, and the same holds true for this training group.

"Adam, Elise, Connor, Hailey, Sarah, and Barry," Jason picks them out. "The six of you participated in my special training session over the holiday, so I am already aware of your abilities. You are all accepted into this training group. As for the rest of you, the new requirement is lower yellow magical power, two levels higher than it was last term. That means you and you do not qualify."

Jason points at a female knight and a male mage, the latter of whom seems to be thoroughly pissed by the statement.

"And if you have an issue with this," Jason fixes his gaze on the male applicant. "We can perform another read with a magic reader. Over the last term, I used them at least once a week on each of my trainees so that they could be fine-tuned better, so it is even more accurate now than before. The cost of them has increased from one hundred Varilan Varru to two hundred and twenty thousand."

The student pales, then hastily leaves, though he still looks angry.

"Advancement from middle orange to lower yellow in a single term is not easy," the female knight tells Jason as Lina informs me about what happened at the start of last term with James Holdir, the mage Jason just rejected. "All of the members of this group are there? I heard that the majority were only middle orange."

"Trainees," Jason says. "Exert magical power between your hands."

We all do so, including the six he just accepted only two minutes ago. Everyone has at least yellow magical power, while mine is a rich blue, the highest of Jason's trainees.

The knight applicant looks stunned as she looks at our magic, then she turns her attention back to Jason.

"This was managed in a single term?" She asks.

"Actually," Jason says. "Everyone here is at least middle yellow. I put the bar for entry one level lower than the lowest. It is not impossible for someone who studies at either of these two universities to meet the requirements for this by the end of the term, even if only middle orange right now. Train hard, train well, and you can succeed. Thank you for coming, but we should be moving on to the next part of applications."

"Thank you," she gives him a slight bow, then leaves.

Jason turns his attention to the remaining ten applicants. Only two are in our year, the other eight are above us in varying levels.

"This term," Jason says. "All applicants must meet a new set of requirements to enter. In addition to being lower yellow, they must also be able to sustain a barrier of force magic at least three feet in diameter for three minutes while it is consistently struck with force magic every five seconds. They must be able to sustain manipulation of at least one element for two minutes. They must be able to perform at least two different types of special magics. If you do not believe you can perform this, you are still welcome to try, but if you know you will not be able to, please do not waste everyone's time."

One of the three second-year students leaves, and Jason begins the auditioning process. By the end of it, both of the first-years, one of the second-years, and a fourth-year are accepted into the group, everyone else unable to pass Jason's stricter requirements.

Ten new members to the group of fifteen. How many will still be here by the end of the term? The six from the special training group will most definitely remain, but of the other four? There chances are high only one will continue with us through the end of term.

"Now that everyone is here," Jason says. "And the time for applications is over, there are some things I wish to go over. It is a reminder to old members, and an informative session for new members. If you wish to remain a part of this training group, you must obey me at all times during it. If I say to do something, you do it, no matter what. If I say to hold back, you hold back. If I say to increase the power of something, increase it. If I say to stop, you stop. You are to arrive on time, and leave only when I give permission. Failure to comply will result in either punishment or removal from this group.

"To the ten new members," Jason says. "You must prove to me that you are capable of obeying my rules. Until then, you are a part of the basic training group, which means every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Advanced training group members meet on those days, as well as on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sordays. If you are ever late or miss a session, you must have a good reason for it.

"As students of university," he continues. "University and training groups come first for nearly all things. This includes jobs. I do not want to hear 'I cannot make a session because I have work', or 'I have to leave early because of work'. Even Jacob, the Crown Prince of this kingdom we are in, cannot make that excuse except in rare circumstances. If you need to miss a session or be late, you must have a good reason for it. Even I will not miss it without a good reason. If I do miss it, I will have either Alex or Niko lead the sessions."

"Sir," one of the first-years asks timidly. "The way you said that makes it sound like you have a good reason."

"He does," Alex speaks up. "Jason ain't exactly healthy right now. He's recovering from fighting a war and is injured heavily."

"Indeed," Jason says. "I should not, in fact, be moving around at all, yet I am here. This is setting my recovery back some, and it is already expected to take at least two or three more months. In the future, do not interrupt me unless there is a good reason for it."

"Yes, sir," the new member responds.

Jason might be a friendly, goofy person, but when it comes to the rules of his training group, I have only seen him more serious about working on his enchantments and eating. Well, and Alex as well.

"Now that that is out of the way," Jason says. "Let us begin today's session."

Jason pushes us as hard as he always does, and the four new members to Jason's instruction struggle to keep up with the rest of us. Within a month, I am sure any of them still here will find themselves having improved a fair amount, though it will not seem so due to Jason increasing how much they must do, as he does with all of us.

At the end of the session, Jason dismisses us, then pales.

"Bear Alpha," he says. "Take me home. Now."

A gate appears, then Jason floats through it with the stuffie golem, and nearly everyone gives the gate a confused look as it fades away.

"Why did he seem in such a hurry to leave?" Lina asks as we pull our coats on.

While I know she is musing and not expecting an answer, I feel obliged to answer.

"It is not something which should be said to a lady."

Lina raises an eyebrow, and I make sure to wrap my scarf around my neck.

"Niko," she says. "You know the source of his panicked expression?"

"Yes."

"What was it?"

"It is not something which should be said to a lady."

"Niko," she says firmly.

"He needed to puke."

Her cheeks flush as she realizes I was serious. Jason has been feeling rather ill all day, though I know he was avoiding informing anyone of this. There were a few things I noticed which matched up with memories from my life as Benjamin, and the expression on his face as he spoke to Bear Alpha was the same one I saw on Nolan a few times.

"Come," I tell her. "Let us visit the amphitheater. It should put your mind to more pleasant things. I spoke with your papa this morning to request permission, and he said you may as long as you wished to."

"Okay," she smiles gently. "Let us do that, then."

As we make our way outside of the university so I can open a gate, I give Lina a kiss, though I do make sure no one is around to view us first. Otherwise, his Majesty would likely speak to me regarding our actions again.

I cannot help myself, though. I love Lina, and I do not wish to abide by these social customs of nobility. Were we commoners, no one would care if we kissed, held hands, or hugged outside of 'select circumstances'.

Once we are outside of the university's anti-gate ward, I open a gate to the amphitheater. We step through, then pay for our tickets and enter, taking seats in the back row of it, holding each other our usual way as her guards stand behind us. Eli will likely join us soon, and he will sit beside me.

Due to the stories of how heretical Lina is, people are paying us more attention than usual, and I know she is uncomfortable. I must act as if it does not bother me, so that she can draw on that for herself. This is necessary to help her ignore the treatment and not feel as terrible over it. When she is alone, their expressions will haunt her, and she will need something to remind her that everything is okay.

I never had that, so I know how important that is.

"Excuse me," a tiny voice says, then Lina and I find something wedging itself between us. "Sorry, but you must sit at least this far apart."

We look down and find Bear Alpha pushing at us until he can sit between us without issue.

"There we go!" He says. "Now you two are proper!"

"Did Jason send you here?" I ask.

"No," he answers. "King Zachary was at the mansion, and when Jason mentioned you two were coming here, His Majesty asked me if I could make sure you two didn't have your legs touching."

Lina and I sigh in unison, then look at each other and laugh. We still hold each other's hands, though, and Bear Alpha does not stop us, even though our arms are resting on his shoulders for it. This is enough for us, though I know we will likely kiss a few times during the performance.