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Part 3 (Written & Edited by DarkAbsolute)

"A... deal? That benefits both parties? What do you mean?"

Synth barely managed to get these few words out from his mouth, due to him still being in a shocked state. The events that had led up to the current situation had happened rather quickly. In truth, only a few minutes had passed from the time when Synth and Verain were still eating in the academy's cafeteria.

"I want to make a contract with you." Verain began to speak, his tone of voice still ice cold. "You won't remember much of what I'm going to tell you afterwards, however. If you value your life, it would be wise of you to accept my terms and conditions."

Synth grimaced. Terms and conditions? Whatever they were, they probably weren't going to work in his favor.

"What do you want me to do?" Synth cautiously asked. He was currently also observing for an opportunity to escape, waiting for the moment when Verain wasn't paying attention for him to silently sneak away.

"The only thing that I want you to do is for you to accept a binding magic being cast on you."

Hearing this, Synth's expression grew ugly to behold. Binding Magic? Verain truly wanted to use a binding magic on him, to force him into a contract?

Binding Magic was mainly used by Invokers when trying to tame and form a master-servant bond with wild magical beasts. Yet, Verain wanted to use this Binding Magic for beasts, on him!

This was an insult!

Synth felt his blood begin to boil, and also grew enraged. "I'd rather kill myself than be bound like a pet to you!"

Verain smirked. "Whether you want to or not isn't your decision."

Suddenly, the vial that was holstered on Verain's waist glowed brightly again, and wisps of dark energy began to latch onto Synth. Verain calmly watched this, tapping the vial every few seconds or so.

Synth, on the other hand, was trying his best to force the foreign energy out of his body. However, the purity of Synth's energy compared to the purity of Verain's energy was vastly inferior, and thus, was unable to slow down the dark energy's invasion. Combined with the fact that Synth had just broken trough moments ago and also did not fully understand how to use his energy only made the corrosion accelerate.

"AHHHH!"

A pain even more unbearable than when Synth's half-formed Origin exploded finally began assaulting his body. This painful burning was definitely not something that Synth could bear, and he once again passed out.

Noticing that Synth had collapsed onto the floor and showed no signs of activity, Verain let out a small smile. Although it was barely noticeable, under the glow of the setting sun, it seemed rather evil...

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Inside the hazy region of Synth's consciousness, a deep, ancient voice resounded.

"Young one, are you awake?"

The tone of the speaker was gentle, yet also full of wisdom; it seemed almost as if a sage was talking directly to Synth.

"Yes."

In this dream-like state, Synth responded, and prepared to listen. His heartbeat gradually began to slow down, and he found that a sense of tranquility and calmness began to envelop him.

"I am the 'Spirit' created by the Contract, here to inform you of the stated terms and conditions."

The elderly voice once again resounded in Synth's consciousness, the tone ever so gentle and harmonious, as if it could lull even an adult to sleep.

"First, your life is directly in your contractor's hands. If he wishes to, he can kill you instantly by severing the link between your spirits, directly destroying your soul."

"Second, you will establish a Spirit Link with your contractor, and will be able to communicate to each other through your consciousness, as long as both of you are no further than one kilometer away from each other."

"Third, you will forget all memories of this happening. More specifically, these memories will be locked inside your inner consciousness and will gradually unseal as you grow stronger. There is also information that your contractor refuses to give you currently, before you reach a certain level of strength."

"Until you grow strong enough, this sealed information will not unlock. Also, if you don't become powerful enough by a certain date, you will automatically become crippled, and the Spirit Link will cease to exist."

"You will forget most memories of what has happened leading up to this event, and only retain the bits and pieces of information that your contractor wants you to know. Until then, farewell..."

The elderly voice softly disappeared, and Synth's inner consciousness grew silent again...

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"Synth, are you awake?"

The first thing that Synth saw, once again, was Verain anxiously looking over him with a worried expression on his face. Sitting up, the vaguely familiar imagery of dorm room #457 appeared into his view once again.

Synth groaned. "Verain? Did I faint once again?"

The last thing that Synth remembered was eating at the academy's cafeteria. Everything after that seemed hazy, and a strange pain assaulted his head. It seemed as if something was missing from his memory, but he just couldn't pinpoint what it was.

"Yeah. I brought you back to the room." Verain chuckled. "Maybe that dual-breakthrough of yours caused some underlying negative repercussions? After all, who knows, you just might have stumbled upon how the Magic Knights cultivated their Energy Base."

The last sentence was said jokingly, with a hint of admiration and astonishment. After all, what else other than the ancient legends of the Magic Knights could train in both the ways of an Invoker and a Chevalier?

Synth shook his head, pushing the hazy area in his memories away. "Who knows? Although I would consider this Energy Base as being bad luck to me. After all, I have no interest in melee combat."

"Hmm. In your case then, I can see how it would be a detriment," Verain added. "However, you still need to work hard, if you don't want to be expelled."

Hearing this, Synth's heartbeat quickened. Expelled? The Head Instructor hadn't said a single word about expulsion during the entrance speech. Synth faintly remembered Lilia saying something of the like, but he wasn't paying too much attention then.

Looking at Synth's frantic expression, Verain couldn't help but laugh. "Hey, did you just sleep through the introduction ceremony? Remember when Lilia said that you had to advance to a Movement Invoker to graduate? Well, there are also certain minimum requirements to stay enrolled in the academy."

"In other words, if it isn't your lack of funds that give out first and force you to leave the Academy, then it'll be your lack of talent, I guess?"

Synth grew even more worried listening to Verain's carefree words. His innate talent was only at the Spark Stage, which was already naturally horrible innate talent. It was literally the baseline requirement to become an Invoker.

"Um... what are the requirements?"

"Well. After your first year, pupils of the academy must reach at least the 4th star Mind Invoker rank. After your second year, the requirement is for one to reach the second realm, and break through to become a Will Invoker. For the third years-" Just as Verain was about to continue explaning, Synth gestured for him to stop. This 'minimum requirement' list to graduate was seriously giving him a headache, making his head hurt even more.

"Please... stop... are you making fun of me or something?" Synth self-deprecatingly joked. Just these baseline requirements were going to force him to have to cultivate almost all the time. Otherwise, there was no way he would accomplish such a demanding task.

It took an average person two years to do what the Magecroft Academy wanted the first-year students to do in one year's time. Considering this rigorous curriculum, it was no wonder that the Magecroft Academy was considered a prestigious institute!

After all, the incompetent would drop like flies, leaving only the outstanding ones behind. Once those pupils graduated and became alumni of the Magecroft Academy, its reputation would skyrocket!

"Oh, are you ready to go to the auditorium again? We have to sign up for our classes. It's Tuesday now, and also nearly 11 o'clock." Verain's voice worked its way through Synth's ears, and Synth stood upright with a jolt.

"Ah..! We need to hurry! It'd be bad if we're late on the first official day of the semester!" Synth hurriedly bolted out the boor, without waiting for Verain.

Verain sighed. It seemed as if the person whom he had placed his bets on was rather... overly energetic. With light steps that seemed almost as if he was dancing, Verain caught up to Synth in a few, short steps.

If things go well, and all the pieces are set... then...! Just wait for me... everyone...

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"Everyone is required to sign up for the Battle Basics and the Runic Languages Class. As for the other classes, you are free to choose what you want to sign up for. Some of the classes will have prerequisites, however. Remember that the minimum number of classes that you can take is three, while the maximum amount is five."

Ignoring the man who was currently on the stage addressing the students and giving out instructions, Verain and Synth both squeezed through the crowd of first-years in the auditorium. Almost everyone was congregating next to two of the many boards that were inside the room, while other boards were rather desolate, with nearly no one populating them.

"Verain, I'm guessing that the two boards where the most people are crowding around are the Battle Basics and the Runic Languages class-signups, right?" Synth asked his roommate, who was currently walking next to him amidst the seemingly massive group of new-first year students.

"That would be a safe bet," Verain replied. "It's best if we find one more class that we want to take during this semester. After all, the guy up there did say that we had to take at least a minimum of three classes."

Synth nodded, acknowledging what Verain had said. This did indeed make sense. They could always sign up for the required classes when there was less of a mob congregating over at the boards, and it was better to just pick their required elective course during this moment.

Walking over to the less populated boards, Synth began to read the elective classes that the academy offered, with Verain looking over his shoulder.

ELEMENTAL CLASSES (1st Years)

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Darkness-Element Class

No Prerequisites

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Light-Element Class

No Prerequisites

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Wind-Element Class

No Prerequisites

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Fire-Element Class

No Prerequisites

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Earth-Element Class

No Prerequisites

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Water-Element Class

No Prerequisites

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"Huh? No prerequisites?" Synth was shocked upon seeing this. "Don't you need to have elemental affinity to use elemental magic?"

Hearing this question, Verain really didn't know how to respond due to his shock.

This question... was truly idiotic and ignorant! Remembering again how Synth appeared with his commoner-esque clothing, Verain pushed away the inward astonishment that he felt before replying, "An Invoker doesn't have to have elemental affinity to cast elemental spells... the only thing that having affinity does is amplifying the spells of that particular element, making it stronger than a fellow Invoker who doesn't have affinity casting that spell. What, do you think that Invokers without affinity would become supports?"

Synth felt confused when he heard this, and questioningly probed, "So, is it better to focus on elemental classes that one has an affinity to?"

"Yes." Verain nodded, then pointed at another, smaller list that had escaped Synth's detection. "Look there. Those classes are suited for people with affinity. Keep in mind however, that these elemental classes mainly teach offensive spells."

ELEMENTAL CLASSES (1st Years)

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Advanced Darkness-Element Class

Prerequisite - Darkness Affinity

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Advanced Light-Element Class

Prerequisite - Light Affinity

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Advanced Wind-Element Class

Prerequisite - Wind Affinity

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Advanced Fire-Element Class

Prerequisite - Fire Affinity

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Advanced Earth-Element Class

Prerequisite - Earth Affinity

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Advanced Water-Element Class

Prerequisite -Water Affinity

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Seeing this new list, Synth went for the pen and signed his name next to the Advanced Light and Advanced Fire element classes. Verain nodded approvingly. After all, those were the two elements that Synth had affinity to, and would be the wisest choice to take. Following that, Verain signed his name next to the Advanced Darkness-Element Class.

"Alright, you can still take one more class, if you want to. Personally, I think I'll stick with three. What about you, Synth? Want to go take a look at the other classes available?" Verain said.

Synth agreed. He wanted to make the most out of every opportunity that he was given, so naturally he would take the maximum number of classes allowed. "Let's go sign up for Battle Basics and Runic Languages first. The line next to that board has dwindled," Synth replied. "After that, I'll go take a look at the other classes available."

Verain silently followed behind Synth, and they both walked over to the required class boards to sign up for the mandatory classes. Synth then once again returned back to the other boards, scanning the class lists trying to find one that he was particularly interested in. After a few minutes of browsing, one finally caught his interest.

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Invoker History Class

No Prerequisite

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"Heh, I found one!" Synth excitedly exclaimed.

"Oh? What did you pick?" Looking at the class that had arrested Synth's interest, Verain almost wanted to cough up blood. Who would chose to learn about the History of Invokers? This class, in terms of utility, was far inferior to the more practical alternatives offered!

"You..." Verain truly didn't know what to say.

Ugh... WHY, out of every single class that's offered, would you chose this useless one!