Men's Dorm, Mage Academy Campus.

"You were doing that just to spite them huh?"

Drake placed his hand on Tohsin's shoulder

as they entered through the double doors into the lobby

"I shall neither Confirm, Nor Deny"

Tohsin smugly dismissed Drake

"ooh, if I didn't know any better, I'd lump you into the Stuck Up Nobles category"

"Says the guy that managed to get in here for free"

Tohsin Scoffed.

Their short exchange had to cut short as they came face to face with their worst enemy. Stairs.

After exchanging glances, They limply walked up the staircase.

As he took the stairs, Drake recounted the events of his first day

He rode on what could be one of the most advanced carriages in the empire.

He Got into BattleMage Academy free of cost.

He met Tohsin by almost getting into a fight.

He attended his first professional lecture.

However his Ethnicity was brought into the spotlight in a negative way, yet again.

Drake was conflicted, He wanted to become a Soldier to become a well respected figure, But the Question of his Heritage keeps on haunting his path.

"What am I doing here?"

He thought to himself.

Drake was well versed in Mana, Anthem and Sword arts thanks to his training with Nord, He also taught Drake the basics of Language and Arithmetic. Drake never had to attend school.

Yet he still found himself inside Mage Academy, the place he strove to be at since he was 8, For the sole reason of becoming a soldier.

but what for? If he wasn't being scorned, He had no purpose.

"All in due time, see the World through different eyes"

Drake muttered inadvertently

"What?"

Tohsin asked, Confused.

"It's something my Master used to say, Everytime we went to a town I had not been before for a job"

"A job? what kind?"

Tohsin's curiosity began to mount

"My master was a sort of Exterminator. He didn't work for the Mercenary Guild but he took odd jobs exterminating Magic Beast. And they would more often than not come from places outside Vaillance, Such as Dacre or Favreau in Richesse. He took me along with him a lot."

Drake recalled

"Oh? What does the saying mean?"

"I think it has to do with Finding Determination through Hardship, Although he would say it to me Every Time I saw or experienced something new"

Tohsin was taken Aback

"Determination through hardship eh?"

He hid a smile as he turned away from Drake.

~~~

"FINALLY"

Drake exhaled as he climbed the final. set of stairs before reaching the fifth floor

"There has to be a more convenient way than these steep as fuck stairs, What about those Floating rock platform thingies in Raven Trading?”

“Oh those things, I doubt they’d be cleared for use here since they make use of some sketchy technology”

“I see”

Said Drake after Tohsin shut down his idea

The two boys made their way back to their dorm room, mentally preparing for the next class in the morning.

They unwound and got ready for lights out, as they lay in bed waiting for the onset of sleep, Tohsin asked Drake

“Hey, What kind of Anthem do you think you will Awaken?”

“I wouldn’t know, I just hope no matter what element chooses me, I can master it and achieve a top spot in the Mage corp. My entire life I have been scorned and rejected for something out of my control. My hope is that I become strong enough to let people see that I am more than what my looks say I am”

Tohsin lay with a smile on his face, Drake was quite unlike the idealistic people he had grown accustomed to

“What about you,Tohsin? What kind of Anthem do you think you will Awaken?”

Tohsin’s smile disappeared

“You shall see, maybe sooner, rather than later. I came here this academy not for Ideals,I joined because I am allowed to follow my own path here, and I shall go wherever this path takes me, even if it means I must sully my hands.”

Drake decided not to pry further as he rolled over to his side.

“Let’s leave it at that for tonight. Get some sleep.”

He said to Tohsin

“Yea”