The next few weeks were filled with weird stares from some of the teachers.

‘So it seemed Mr. Colbert still informed some of the teachers in spite of what Flamel said.’

I was not necessarily intimidated or bothered by this, but it did irritate me a little bit. Early in the morning when I usually go out to exercise and train my sword play, I would see some teachers I don’t even know specifically intercept my path just to catch a glimpse of me. I suppose Flamel made them leave me alone, at least until he had fully tested my project.

A few days before the final exams began, I was called to the principal's office. As I walked towards his office I noticed that even more teachers than was usual were eyeing me. I stood in front of the door but before I could even knock-

“Come in.” I opened the door and entered.

I noticed immediately that the room was occupied by three people. Flamel, the principal and someone I didn't recognise. The principal was an old genial looking man in what I’m assuming to be his last leg of life, though you never know as he is still in possession of a stressful job. He had a wrinkled face with spots dotting it, long white hair and a long white beard reaching down to his waist. We were never made aware of his level so it was sort of an urban myth in the school. Beside him was a chubby generic looking man who had brown hair and eyes. Flamel was the first to talk.

“Young Solis, it was a success. I truly have to commend you for what you have developed.” I wonder why they were not asking more questions. I guess in hindsight for them, it uses the very basic runic concepts taught in first year and anyone can come up with the array but just never did. The heavy lifting came by way of calculating all other variables, which I did.

“This is an old friend of mine and a lawyer that I arranged to get your patent in order, you don't need his name. He’ll just go over some documents with you and go into the city to set up an account separate from your family’s, assuming that's what you want.” Yes, it’s what I want.

What followed was a stressful afternoon of going over a lot of documents for and setting up an account. I was a high noble so a lot of the laws were a little lax for me and I took advantage of all of it fulfil my ‘adult supervision’ requirement. By the time we were done, I was on my way back to the academy in a carriage accompanied by Flamel.

“I have deposited 1,000,000 platinum coins into your account. Just take it as the payment for being the one to jumpstart my research after 5 odd centuries. Expect your full paper to be in Runsight publications in the next issue coming out by the end of this month, I made sure to expedite it.”

That was a lot to take in. First of all, !,000,000 platinum coins was an absurd amount of money. 1 platinum coin equals 100 gold coins, 1 gold coin equals 100 silvers and 1 silver equals 100 bronze coins. 1,000,000 platinum coins also entered into the category of a mid-sized noble family’s whole net worth and he just gave it to me like it was nothing.

Also, did he say it’s coming out this month, that is in the next few days? It was more than expedited then, someone with paramount authority must have personally done all the tests. Then I looked over at Flamel to see him smiling at me.

‘Him. Well, I did know he was excited about things but this is still a bit of a surprise.’

The rest of the day went like I could have expected, nothing really interesting. The following few days before the finals was filled with frantic energy before the d day arrived.

The following days passed in a similarly frantic frenzy till we finished the last paper for the year. I left my last exam room and headed to my room. There was one week left that mostly consisted of free time and some exam review to see what we did wrong, though I wouldn’t be needing it. As I approached my room door I saw a familiar face, once again in consternation.

‘Brandon, Brandon, Brandon. Will you ever learn?’

“Since I unlocked my sorcery, I’ve never made so many false statements on a particular and singular thing or situation. Usually, I know an approximation of things around me…… but you. You are different. I thought the princess was the monster of our year, but no. That was you. She was but a child to you, wasn’t she.” He looked deeply at me before he reached into his bag and pulled out what seems to be a magazine.

“You got published in your first year of the academy.” He threw it at me and I caught it and looked down. There, front and center with a picture of my project in full and my name splattered on it was my first year runes research.

‘Shit, things are about to get irritating.’ I looked back up to him to see that he seemed to be battling some sort of inner demon, before he sighed. He then stood up tall and looked me in the eye.

“I may also seem like nothing but a child to you, but like I said before. I will catch up to and surpass you, even if that means that I must now surpass the princess to do so. A seeming impossibility, or at least that is how I had already etched it into the back of my mind. I must once again thank you for breaking this for me. Get ready.” He turned and left with a renewed vigour.