The Dawnward convention hall was once again filled with people as they were once again told to gather. This time however it was to welcome a new member of their institution, an Outsider.

Mixed emotions can be felt throughout the hall. Fear, curiosity, antipathy, and indifference all mixed together into a thick choking atmosphere that now befell Dawnward.

Most, if not all, of the students couldn’t accept the fact that an outsider was allowed entry and was even endorsed by the Grand Scholar himself. They worked their very hardest, sacrificed a lot of time and effort just to obtain the right go past the gate, yet here comes an alien just waltzing into the institution like nothing.

In short a lot of them felt insulted, but not all of them.

There was a relatively large portion of the student body curious about the outsiders, especially when news about their latest achievements reached the ears of Dawnward. They were curious as to how a magic less people were able to command such power, as they always thought magic was absolute. To them the outsiders defied common sense, and this fueled their interest and curiosity.

And then there’s Burning Rose.

She stood with her friends in the hall with her arms crossed, still fuming over her encounter with the outsider. She couldn’t believe someone so arrogant would become her partner. She couldn’t accept that someone so powerless has the nerve to look down on magic and treat as a simple problem that he can solve.

How dare he, Burning Rose thought to herself.

Noticing her foul mood her friends then tried to talk to her.

“Hey, why the sour face?” Bright Sun asked.

“Yeah, you look worse than usual,” Serene River chimed in

“Haaaah. Guys I’m not in the mood for this. Today is one of the worst days ever in my life. Period!” Burning Rose declared.

“Did you meet the Outsider already?” Cursed Bat asked which agitated Burning Rose.

“That damn ingrate,” Burning Rose said before her fiery outburst.

“How dare he look down on me? How dare he look down on Magic!?” Burning Rose said in an angry voice.

“Uhh what happened?’ Her three friends asked in unison.

“That arrogant jerk is the worst possible person you could meet. Oh look at me and the things my kind has achieved! Artificial THIS, Artificial THAT! Who cares?! And what great heights? You are probably spouting that nonsense because you’re tall!” Burning Rose unleashed an angry tirade that her friends found rather amusing.

“Oh, so that’s what it feels like to look in the mirror,” Serene River said in a playful mocking tone.

“You, are saying I’m just as bad as him? Excuse me, I have ACHIEVEMENTS. I have something to show unlike him who just spouts hubris and gibberish!” Burning Rose angrily replied.

“You do realize you just proved Serene River’s point, right?” Cursed Bat replied

Burning Rose was about to retort when suddenly a commotion can be heard near the entrance of the hall. It seems that the Grand Scholar has arrived and with him, the Outsider.

The people began whispering amongst themselves the Outsider came into view. He and the Grand Scholar were then given a path through the crowd and made their way to the podium at the center of the hall.

Both of them ascended the spiraling stairs of the podium, but because it only had space for one speaker the Outsider stood at the highest flight of stairs next to the top. Even then, he was in full view of everyone in the room.

The crowd was quite surprised by his appearance, because he looked too normal. Aside from his uncommon attire, his features were relatively common.

The Outsider had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a bit taller than usual.

“Huh, so that’s what an Outsider looks like,” Bright Sun declared.

“He looks normal, aside from his clothes,” Cursed Bat added.

“Don’t let his outside appearance fool you. He is nothing but an uncultured ingrate!” Burning Rose angrily exclaimed.

“You say that but honestly speaking, he is pretty good looking. I’d say 7-8/10?” Serene River interjected.

“Excuse me?!” Burning Rose couldn’t believe what she heard.

“Yeah I agree, he scores a high 8 for me,” Bright Sun added in agreement.

“An 8 for me too,” Said Cursed Bat in a monotone voice.

“Ugh! I can’t believe you people!” Burning Rose was reaching the limits of her patience again.

“Hmmph. Don’t worry we don’t plan on taking him away from you,” Serene River said in a sly tone.

“You’re really lucky to have someone like that all to yourself. Oh how cruel is the world! Huhuh!” Serene River continued in an annoying overly dramatic voice.

As Burning Rose was about to go on another raging tirade the Grand Scholar finally started the introduction.

“My fellow Sorcerers!” Silver Eye began his speech.

“Today we welcome a new member of our institution! An Outsider who seeks the knowledge that we all want to discover, and I believe that through this cooperation we will find the greater truths of Magic! But enough from me, now let me present to you; Seeker Karl Hoffman!” Silver Eye declared with great enthusiasm, something the crowd didn’t really share.

Grand Scholar Silver Eye then went down the podium and let Karl Take over. Once on the podium, Karl then looked all over the room as if looking for someone. Then a few moments later he began to talk.

“Good evening to all you,” Karl began.

“I am Professor Karl Hoffman but inside these walls I am known as Seeker Karl Hoffman. As my title implies I am here to seek the hidden rules of magic. I believe that finding the fundamentals of something so profound would allow us to better use it, for the fundamentals will show u-“ Karl’s introductory speech was then interrupted by a shout from far the far end of the hall.

It came from a middle aged man who screamed voiced his anger and discontent with Karl presence.

“SEEKING FUNDAMENTALS? BETTER USE? STOP SPOUTING RUBBISH. MAGIC IS AN EXALTED ART ONLY USED BY THOSE WHO ARE WORTHY AND TALENTED!” The man screamed in anger.

“BETTER USE OF MAGIC STEMS FROM TALENT AND ABILITY! THINGS THAT YOU, AN OUTSIDER, DO NOT POSSES! GET OUT OF THIS INSTITUTION!” The man continued.

The crowd then started to agree with him and the hall was then overrun by voices of discontent and anger. However it didn’t have an effect on Karl, instead he simply smiled.

How predictable. Karl said in his head.

“A-ahem can I please continue with my speech?” Karl calmly asked.

“NO GET OUT, NOW!” The middle aged man shouted in reply.

“Hmm I see, then let me ask you a series of questions. If you answer all of them then I will happily move out of this institution.” Karl declared.

“What happens if I fail to answer all of them?” The man asked, his voice a little interested.

“Nothing much, but it will prove that all of you are nothing but a bunch of fools,” Karl declared in a chilling voice.

“Now then,” Karl said as he smiled.

“Shall we begin?”