Author's Rant:

Hello everyone! To those who are waiting for this story to catch up with the original, there should only be 1 more week left before I get to. Sadly by 'catch up' it will not necessarily be on the ten year time skip as that will take a long time and I may or may not actually do the time skip again. This story will seem different but all the events in the original story still do happen here. The new things that come up are set ups for future things to happen and fill in the holes in the original story.

I also realize that I could have probably merely added or edited the chapters of the original story but the thought did not occur to me as I began this one and I wanted to leave the original chapters alone. That being said, I will continue adding the chapters here as I've already started it. I'm sorry for any inconveniences that you all might feel but we all have those days where we don't think of everything.

Sorry for the long rant and I hope that you all continue supporting me as you have. I am very thankful for all of you. You guys are awesome!

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“Come,” said Salazar as he took me from that place and dragged me outside.

I watched as the ceiling fell down towards the city burying it. The magnificent city that I saw without hate towards the other race.

We entered the registering room and it was in shambles and blood covered the floor and walls. The ceiling shook and small pebbles rained down. One of the roofs of the tower slid down and crashed in front of us. The whole fort was crumbling as we left it through the gates.

At the bridge, we saw the lake drying up as a whirlpool of water appeared on its northern banks. It devoured the water as if it was a monster thirsting to drink. In minutes, the fort was a crumbled ruin and the lake became a crater as the water drifted into the whirlpool.

We were at the edge of a forest by the bridge when the scene finally ended. Salazar had already put me inside of a carriage where I was being checked up by the palace healers.

The healers took their time as it was already dusk when they finished. Salazar came in when the healers left. He looked exhausted and I asked him about it and he said with a smile, “I’m alright, just haven’t had much sleep. Too much work to do.”

I just accepted that and we had our dinner there in the carriage.

A few days passed and we were finally entering Asmodeus Academy. Salazar and his personal guards escorted me there. My brother was way too protective but I guess he didn’t want a repeat of what happened again.

The Academy had five sections to it. The northern, southern, eastern, western and central section. The eastern section was for grades 1 – 3, northern for 4 – 7, western for 8 – 9 and the southern for 10 – 12. Each grade was a number corresponding to a student’s rank.

Age was sporadic but it usually only happened from grade 4 and up. Grades 3 and below were usually only filled with children but some of them could become outstanding enough to attend different sections.

The central section was left out to be where the teachers would live as well as the arena or Dome. The Dome was the center of practical combat classes that I would be unable to attend until grade 6. It was also the place where the yearly Tournament of the academy was held in.

The tournament attracted many people of different races. It also attracted many different organizations looking for potential recruits. Of course, these organizations are ones that deal with magic.

Along with the teachers was a group of students known as the Magus Council. This council was in charge of keeping the students in line and not cause too much trouble to anyone. They were powerful people that all of the members always have attained a position within the Magic Guild.

These were the things that my brother told me about on our journey.

As we neared the gate of the academy, three figures could be seen at a distance. The gate themselves didn’t look imposing as it merely looked like an archway, but I was assured by my brother that the gate had magic cast on it to prevent anyone from entering unless they had permission from the school.

A few minutes passed and we stopped right in front of the gate. I got out of the carriage first and there I saw Leon, Principal Artemia and a boy I didn’t recognize.

Leon was wearing a silver long sleeved collared shirt with black pants. Artemia was wearing her green and gold robe along with her black staff. The boy had black hair, brown eyes and skin, and he was the first person I saw that wore glasses. He wore a blue robe with yellow trimmings. He exuded a calm and responsible feeling.

Salazar and I changed clothes before we got here. Salazar was wearing a red shirt and white pants, while I wore my blue long sleeved shirt with black pants.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” said Leon as he hugged me.

I hugged him back and when he released me Artemia said, “I’m glad you are safe Prince Zed and I must say, even though we were expecting something to go wrong, we were unable to respond to the news your eldest brother brought to us.”

She shook her head lightly and said, “It is thanks to the gods that you are safe and we have made arrangements to get you acquainted with the school today and have you attend tomorrow, isn’t that right Sieg?”

“Yes, principal” said the boy named Sieg. His voice almost sounded like a girl’s but he was definitely a guy.

“I’m very sorry for the trouble I have caused,” I apologized bowing.

“I-its no trouble at all,” she replied flustered.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Salazar staring daggers at Artemia. I touched his elbow and he looked at me and changed his expression to a kinder one.

“That being said, we welcome you to Asmodeus Academy, Prince Zed,” said Sieg. “We’re sorry that we couldn’t make it as grand as you would have liked but current matters could not let that happen.”

He said the word “grand” with such emphasis but I couldn’t understand why.

“It’s alright, I’m responsible for the trouble caused by my kingdom. It is only natural that something of a grand scale could not happen,” I said lowering my head thinking of the lessons with Malakir.

In one of his lessons, I learned that Asmodeus Academy is within the lands of the Rigel Kingdom but is not controlled by it. The Academy itself could be considered a kingdom within another kingdom. Though my kingdom has no power within the Academy, it can still limit the supplies that the Academy receives.

“Since you would arrive late, we decided to do it right when you got here,” said Artemia as she held out her hands to Sieg.

Sieg pulled out an orb from his robes and handed it to Artemia. It was smaller than the orb that tested my affinity a month ago.

“It’s the same way as your affinity test, just place your hands on the orb and inject your mana inside.”

I practiced this with Malakir. We decided that it would be best to hide the fact that I could use Ethereal magic and since I could already summon Malakir that we just reveal that I can use summoning magic.

I touched the orb and released my mana after converting it into summoning mana. The orb glowed and revealed a circle filled with runes that I had no meaning of.

“Summoning magic,” said Artemia, “with this we your schedule will be the same as the students that have it. Sieg will bring you your schedule tomorrow. As custom, you will also be serving as a Magus of the school under Sieg.”

I nodded having heard about the Magus group from my brother and I asked, “If I do not want to serve as a Magus, what then?”

They all seemed to be shocked by my question but I had my reasons. I didn’t want to be restricted by this group as it looked to be too much trouble than what it was worth.

“But its custom,” said Artemia.

“I realize that, but I think it has too much power and too many duties,” I said. “I would think it would be best to separate the duties.”

“How do you think of doing that then?” asked Sieg in a bit of an angry tone.

“A creation of a disciplinary group. This way the Magus council can take care of the students and their interaction with the outside world while the disciplinary group will be in charge with making sure the students comply with the rules,” I suggested.

“That’s a great idea,” said Salazar.

“Yes, it is,” said Leon, “Principal Artemia what would prevent the creation of this group that my youngest brother just suggested?”

Principal Artemia thought about it for a second and said, “Nothing. If anything really, it would be just the name.”

“Ravenex Corps. That would be the name,” I said smiling.

“Very well,” said Artemia, “I will make the Ravenex Corps and I supposed you would want to be its leader?”

“Yes and no,” I said.

“Please explain,” she said.

“‘Yes’ because I would like to be able to make sure that the group is able to function correctly but also ‘No’ because I fear that the older students would not accept it,” I explained.

“Nonsense,” she said, “Sieg here is the leader of the Magus and he is merely fifteen. Our oldest student is 30 and he as well as all the others accept it.”

“But Sieg has experience and I do not,” I said.

“I believe in you,” said Leon.

“Hey! Don’t forget about me!” said Salazar.

“We will provide as much help as we can,” said Artemia.

I was silently thinking of whether I could do it when I heard Malakir say, “I will also help you master.”

With that I said, “Alright, I’ll do it.”

“Great, now that it is settled let’s move to my room to discuss the final arrangements of the Ravenex Corps,” said Artemia, “I’m afraid this is where you must say goodbye Prince Zed. Your brothers cannot enter the school.”

I turned to them and said, “Thank you.”

“Its what brothers are for,” said Leon.

“Its what the best brother is for,” said Salazar.

“Who’s the best brother?” asked Leon, “Just because father told you to get him doesn’t make you the best brother!”

“Well that’s because you haven’t been practicing combat in a while,” said Salazar, “I may be lower in rank than you but I can still beat you in a spar.”

“You want to spar right now?” asked Leon as he got into a stance.

“Why not? I’ll add this win to the record!” said Salazar as he too got on a stance.

“Guys!” I shouted.

They stopped what they were doing and laughed.

“Sorry, sorry,” said Salazar.

“We got carried away,” said Leon, “Stay safe.”

“I will,” I said as we hugged each other.

They then got on the carriage and left the academy.

Artemia, Sieg and I walked to the faculty building in the central section.

The building looked like a red crate with windows every two meters. Inside, it looked like it was my castle as the floor was immaculately clean. The decorations were spread out to bring out the charm of the hallways.

Artemia’s room was in the middle of the building and it spanned to the top floor. There were three flights of stairs inside her room that connected to the three floors inside the building.

Her room looked like the inside of a tower but it was well decorated. The top floor had paintings of past principals while the first floor contained bookshelves. The second floor acted as her office as this was where her desk and some chairs were set up.

She sat down behind her desk and started writing on a piece of paper.

“How many total members should there be?” she asked.

“5 members as the ruling body with 1 as the head, 10 members under them and 50 members under the 10,” I said as I thought of the positions.

“What would you like them to be called?” she asked as she wrote down the number of people.

“1 Captain with 4 lieutenants as the ruling body, 10 sergeants and 50 enforcers,” I said.

She wrote down what I said and said, “You will be subject to the rules as well as control by the Magus as well as the faculty.”

“I disapprove,” I said.

“You disapprove!?” asked Sieg barely audibly enough.

“Why?” asked Artemia as she slumped back a little.

“I want the Ravenex Corps to be on equal footing to the Magus Council. Of course we will still listen to the faculty but I believe that letting the students handle their own issues will make it much easier for everyone,” I explained.

“And you are adamant about this?” asked Artemia after a moment of silence.

“Yes.”

She sighed and said, “Very well.”

“Sieg, come with me,” she said as she stood up and walked to the door on the second floor.

“Wait here, someone will take you to your home, Sieg and I will arrange everything to be done tomorrow. I hope you have a well deserved rest,” she said as she turned around to face me and bowed.

They left through the door leaving me in the room.

Soon enough the door opened and a familiar figure came in.

I was reminded of the one who I couldn’t save, the one who thought I betrayed him, the one who I buried in my deepest thoughts.

“Alex!” I shouted.

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