Chapter 23: Winter Blues 3

Early in morning, snow was falling. Arden wore his cloak and coat ready to go the academy. He carried nothing but his pouches located behind his waist. Snow was falling hard, so he hid his head from the snow. While walking he noticed that people were still working. He passed through streets and arrives at the Academy where the usually practicing students are busy carrying their materials for the tests.

During winter when the temperature is freezing, students of the Mesh Academy are tested on what they have learned for the year. Arden has spent years in this Academy but overall every winter he manages to pass his exams. This winter is his last so he was more careful, not daring to fail. He entered the interior of the Academy. Great decorated walls filled with silver décor and furniture. Paintings and sometimes armor are displayed in the glorious halls of the Academy.

Normally plebeians like him wouldn’t be allowed to step on these halls. But with how he is a magus apprentice he could be allowed to step in the glorious halls. Arden thought that at first, he got a bit scorn as a commoner. Like the others, commoners were badly treated until they prove their worth to the nobles who might recruit them. Arden didn’t prove any of his worth. Among the students, he was the weirdest and the eccentric for his foolishness. Many student circles have pushed him away not daring to make acquaintance with him.

He was all alone in this Academy. It didn’t bother Arden and no matter what they do he would help them. This made him what he is known for in the Academy. But lately, his actions when dealing with those four nobles, made people see him in a different light. ‘If he was good at it then why is trying to become a magus?’ such questions popped into the heads of the people. Arden got asked by his instructors how he should change into a magic warrior instead. Arden refused simply because he rather worked as a Magus. Magic Warriors are nothing but glorified guards to him.

Arden went to his classroom. He saw his unfriendly classmates. They didn’t even bother to speak to Arden or greet him. They merely took their usual glance and left him alone. Arden sat on his usual chair. He then put his hands on the long desk that is shared by everyone and then waited for the instructor to arrive. It took about thirty minutes before the instructor arrived. They were given another set of exams. Arden read through it and find out it was the usual things that the instructor wrote on the chalkboard.

Arden scoured the paper and started writing his answers using a pen. It is a wooden pen that uses horse tail hair as a brush. He had this for years and since using an ink and quill feather was prohibited. It is messy and they do not need it for such trifling thing. Nobles use the ink and quill since it was more elegant. But even so, they are forced to abide by the rules of the Academy.

Arden wrote his answers on the paper. It was fairly easy to do so. He had learned most of them so answering them was no problem at all.

...

Arden finished his test. He went to the instructor and gives his answers. The instructor saw his test paper. Scouring it for a bit, he raises a brow, turned to Arden with a strange glance. He told Arden how weird he was. Lacking in talent as a magus yet great in comprehending the magic system, it was strange. Arden could only wearily smile as he lets himself out of the room.

He was no genius. In fact, the reason why he is able to be great in understanding the magic system is due to the imprint given to him by his foster father. If it wasn’t for the imprint then he would have a hard time finishing his exams. Done with his exams he can only go to the library to take a read. In the library, he read a book about an arrogant knight who went on a journey with her noble escorts. The noble and her escorts were surrounded by a dire beast. Many of her escorts died and only one, who she hated the most stayed with her. The noble was quite strong yet her lance broke into pieces. Leaving her empty handed. Then she found out that her last escort died. Alone the noble use most of her magic just to escape.

After reading the book he put it back to where it was and went roaming around the campus. While roaming he heard a lot of people and saw a lot of people wanting for help. These people saw Arden and made use of him. Even though they do not give Arden thanks. They slightly respect him and even tells him to stop being so foolish. Arden hears that phrase a lot. “Stop being foolish” a phrase that most people he would help told him.

They say that out of kindness. Most of the ones that tell Arden that actually worry for the foolish yet kind Magus. They know that they don’t thank him a lot but still, his false kindness makes it enough for them to advise him. Arden, of course, listens to them but it never affects his dulled heart. His purpose was set in stone. It would take a lot for him to be moved. And knowing these most people has given up on him.

So after helping around on the campus, he went back home. Striding through the same streets, as usual, Arden stride until he reached the Inn. He went to the Cher Duo and asked if he can help. The bar was busy so they allowed Arden to help around. Carrying trays of food and beer, Arden did his job without uttering a single complaint.

Valera walked shamefully around the Campus. She saw their snide remarks, their scornful glances. The news of her escorts has been somehow released to the other nobles. Because of this, she hit low and mostly, her reputation was that of a pitiful noble who could not even kill a death knight. She grits her teeth as she stretches her legs across the halls, her velvet cloak fluttering behind her.

She walked away from the Academy with heavy steps. While walking she saw a glimpse of the foolish magus leisurely ambling out like her. Seeing such Magus, she thought that the fool must not have answered greatly in their exams. This made her mad, she was about to approached the foolish magus and berate him but stopped when she saw the other nobles coming out of the Academy. Valera didn’t want to get mocked more than she was already so she left with veins popping on her head.

She went back to the noble district and spent the afternoon gnarling her teeth in embarrassment. She couldn’t live with the shame, almost as if she was being cursed. This made her angry, and before long her mind became rather twisted. I might as well rant on my escorts, Valera thought. There was no way she wouldn’t do that when the times comes. Her servant quietly stood near her serving her drinks. She never saw her mistress become this angry. She could understand how hateful it was to lose and be berated by her own relatives.

She wished she could something for her. But with how she was a mere servant that would follow her. The best thing she could do was keep silence.

“Gisela bring me more wine.”

“I understand milady.”

Gisela said while taking a bottle of wine and pouring it into her mistress’s glass. Valera sipped on the glass, the wine flowing down her throat. She was wearing a velvet dress; it was a casual wear that she usually wears. It was risqué; it shows her cleavage and her bare shoulders. Since this was her room the lady was quite letting her guard down.

Valera’s family wore velvet colors. They pride themselves as great spear knights that could cast do well in hand-to-hand combat while at the same dominate in magic. So her failing in the ritual of mettle was a huge blow for the overconfident Valera. It was like she eats her haughty words and even though the others failed. They at least didn’t fall as hard as her.

She became a butt-monkey of all things. She hates it. She rather battle it out with two death knights rather than listen to them. That is why even though the ritual of ascension was coming. She still was not happy simply because of the test of mettle went on.

How could she be proud in failure?

Valera doesn’t accept that. Hence in this room of hers, she began to complain endlessly. Drinking wine, and letting her soul waiver. Her mind, her mana becoming brittle, her foundations weakened. The lady of House Asmara hasn’t noticed it yet.