When I awoke this morning and began my routine, I noticed a package sitting on my chest of drawers with a message. "Marshall Rolf asked me to put this in your room last night," Dorm Master. The Dorm Master was in charge of the servants in our dorms and oversaw our nightly security. I rarely interacted or saw him, unless Vincent was complaining about some problem or 'unsatisfactory service.'

Inside the package was a note from Marshall Rolf, "Here is your guild welcoming package commander. I asked Master Thaddeus want to get you and recommended the following herbs and pills to help your cultivation; and gold dust and mana cores. Also, included is your commander pin." The commander pin, was the similar to the Guardians' guild membership pin, I was handed earlier. Except, this shield pin was imprinted with the academy cross swords, and a star above the gap between cross swords. "This pin will identify you as one of the five guild commanders on campus. Please wear this pin with honor," was the last message from Marshall Rolf.

I knew the herbs and pills were common items to help young mage's refine and purify their mana pools. But the gold dust and mana cores, why would Elder Thaddeus tell Marshall Rolf, I needed these items? I was so confused. It's been a week since I've seen the elder, maybe I would see him today. If not today certainly tomorrow for my quest.

Putting on my new pin, I ran to dining hall to join my fellow classmates. The dining hall was crowded early this morning. The first week cadets staggered in at various times. Some came early like me to chat with my friends and some come just before enough to eat and make it to class. I just realized my two hour breakfasts, lunches, and dinners would become more infrequent as new responsibilities like quest and guild matters became more time consuming.

After adding pork bacon, toast, oatmeal, and milk to my tray, I made my way over to our stag table. As I put my tray down to eat, half our class stood up and saluted me. "It was to early for this, what's is going on now? What's going on now, is this a joke? Very funny," I said sarcastically. Everyone seemed to smile but Vincent, who looked so angry or constipated, looked like he would explode out of his uniform.

"No commander, those of us in the guild have to salute the Guild Master, commanders, captains and sergeants" Evan said.

"Half the class joined the Guardians," I was stunned.

"Some of us didn't have a choice did we?" Vincent said grating his teeth. "Nobles are required to join the guild, at least male nobles!"

"I didn't know that," I said questioningly

"Well not all of us idiots with dumb luck," Vincent shouted at me.

"Vincent shut your mouth, that's not how you speak to a commander. Will has every right to bring you before Marshall Rolf for insubordination. Do you remember the penalty for insubordination?" Evan rebuked him.

All of a sudden Vincent turned as pale as ghost and his breathing became shallow. I couldn't help but inwardly chuckled. I played along, just because I thought it funny.

"Guild member Vincent, just this once I press this matter, but next time I'll file a subordination complaint," I said in my best commander voice.

Vincent stood up and gave me a slight bow and mumbled a soft "thank you" before returning to eating his breakfast.

"So what guilds did everyone else join?" I asked.

Mark and three of people (two women and another man) joined the Golden Knights; Anna and Chole joined the Valkyrie; one student joined the Black Night guild, two joined the Wayward Knights; one joined the Merchant Knights. Myself included, ten us joined the Guardians guild. All the proper nobles joined the Guardian guild, except Chole.

The only exception was Samuel who joined the Black Night guild. To be honest Samuel was the only member of our class that scared me, he was quiet, his eyes were always glossy, rarely spoke when we ate, and when he did speak it was very soft and required you to lean in to hear what he said. Now, I know why Samuel gave me the creeps, he wanted to be an assassin for a living. I was not a stranger to assassins, I hired a few back in earth to kill the competition or throw business into chaos to lower its stock value for a hostile bid and takeover the a company. Merger and acquisitions became easier and share holders would rejoice at the lower price point. But now, I would an easy target for an assassins. Even though, the Black Night mostly operated on foreign soil, it was still common for the king to use them to put down domestic rebel leaders.

After breakfast I made my way to library. I had finished reading the advanced history of the kingdom and I returned my borrowed books, expect the diary. Elder Li told me Elder Thaddeus would return the Knight's Academy library tomorrow for my quest. I bowed and thanked Master Li for letting me know.

"Now that you turned in you books, what do you want to read now? Do you want to learn more about beastmen, elves and dwarves?" Elder like purred.

"I would like to read about arrays, please? I really what to learn about different arrays and rune craft," I replied.

"Very interesting...Thaddeus said...hmm...never mind. Only the Elder Thaddeus can approve those items being checked out. We don't carry those books here, you'll need to loan them from the Mage's Academy next door and only the Master of Libraries can approve such a transaction," she said.

"That's okay, how about I read about beastmen, elven, and dwarven customs. That way when I met them I'm somewhat familiar with their customs and greetings," I said.

"Are you planning on be a slave trader, then" Elder Li looked at quizzically.

"Gods no! I want to sell beastmen, elven, and dwarven products to humans," I said.

"Really?" Elder Li looked at me doubting my intentions.

"Yes, I believe slavery is wrong. I think people be that humans or humanoids are more productive when they work for a living. Slavery is also bad for economy, it decreases the tax base and inhibits market capitalization" I said.

"Are you really 13?" Elder Li observed me for a minute not saying anything else.

She walked me to my table and pulled out a three books one for each group. Then she left me to read in silence.

The rest of the day followed as normal and I was off to sleep excited to began my first quest.