Cassian sighed, clearly realizing that arguing wouldn't get him anywhere. "You really don't care, do you?"
"No," Lindarion said. "Not at all."
Cassian shook his head, muttering something under his breath before stabbing his food with his fork.
Luneth finally spoke. "It was handled efficiently."
'So she saw it as well?'
Lindarion raised an eyebrow as Cassian shot her a look. "That's not the point."
Luneth blinked. "Isn't it?"
The conversation—or what little of it there was—died again. The three of them returned to eating, lost in their own thoughts.
A tray suddenly slammed down on the table beside them.
Lindarion didn't react, but Cassian nearly jumped. Luneth barely looked up, her expression as unreadable as ever.
The voice was new, but the tone was the same as the third-years from earlier. Amused, condescending. Irritating.
Lindarion didn't even glance at the newcomer as he took another bite. "Who's asking?"
The boy sitting across from them had silver hair, sharp golden eyes, and an air of entitlement that immediately rubbed Lindarion the wrong way. His uniform was crisp, the insignia on his chest marking him as a second-year—but he just seemed like a wealthy one.
The type who had never faced real consequences in his life.
He smirked. "I heard you caused some trouble earlier. Gave a few of my acquaintances a hard time."
Lindarion finally met his gaze, unimpressed. "And?"
The boy tilted his head, as if studying him. "Just wondering if that's how you usually act. Arrogant, reckless. Making enemies before you've even had time to settle in."
Lindarion wiped his mouth with the edge of his sleeve and set his utensils down.
Cassian tensed beside him. Luneth simply watched, her gaze unreadable.
"Is there a point to this conversation?" Lindarion asked.
The boy's smirk widened. "Not really. Just thought I'd introduce myself. Nathaniel Veyre. You'll probably be hearing my name a lot."
Lindarion didn't respond.
Nathaniel leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the table. "A little advice, from someone who actually understands how things work here. You might be strong, but strength alone doesn't matter at this academy. You're new. You don't have connections. That makes you vulnerable."
Lindarion arched his brow. "Is that a threat?"
Nathaniel chuckled. "It's a warning."
Lindarion stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, he leaned forward as well, his voice lowering just slightly.
"I don't care. I'm not scared of you or your little friends either."
Nathaniel's smirk twitched.
Lindarion tilted his head. "You want to act like you run this place? Fine. I won't stop you. But if you come to me, looking for trouble…" His voice remained calm, but the air around them grew heavy. "Then don't expect me to just let it slide."
Nathaniel's expression didn't change, but his fingers twitched slightly. He felt it. The pressure. The subtle warning beneath Lindarion's words.
The tension stretched for another moment. Then—
Nathaniel exhaled a quiet laugh. "Interesting." He pushed himself back from the table, standing smoothly. "You're different from the usual first-years. I'll give you that."
He turned to leave, but paused just a step away.
"Oh," he added, glancing back. "You might want to watch your back. Just a thought."
Lindarion didn't respond as Nathaniel walked away.
Cassian let out a breath he'd apparently been holding. "Yeah. So. That was… something."
Luneth took a sip of her drink. "You attract attention easily."
Lindarion sighed, pushing his tray aside as he looked at Luneth.. "I didn't plan to attract this kind of attention. I hate people like them.
Cassian groaned. "You and me both."
Lindarion leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he watched Nathaniel disappear into the crowd.
He hadn't been at the academy long, but one thing was already clear—
'This place is going to be a little annoying.'
Cassian cleared his throat. "A-Anyways, our next class is Mana Studies with Professor Nyx Astrel.."
'…who the hell is that..?'
Lindarion didn't have a single clue about who she was…but he couldn't even be bothered about it right now.
The three of them stepped into the classroom, and Lindarion immediately noted how bare it was.
No extravagant decorations, no unnecessary frills—just rows of desks, heavy black-and-white curtains draping over the tall windows, and a single massive chalkboard at the front with a ginormous table..
'So it's just like our own classroom. The only difference is… more seats.'
Lindarion slipped into the back row, Luneth wordlessly following suit. Cassian hesitated for a second before sitting beside him, a small, uncertain smile on his face.
He probably doesn't know many people yet.
Lindarion glanced at him before looking away.
'Not that I do either.'
The people he did know… well, he didn't exactly have the best memories with them.
Luneth, as always, sat perfectly straight, staring ahead with that blank, ghost-like expression, as if she weren't really there.
More students began pouring in, filling up the seats, until the classroom buzzed with conversation. Everyone sat. Everyone waited.
A familiar figure strode into the room.
Lindarion's stomach dropped.
'Oh, you've got to be kidding me.'
The woman's emerald-green eyes gleamed like sunlight filtering through a dense forest, her long, jet-black hair tied up neatly. The faint reflection of daylight bounced off her thin-rimmed glasses as she smiled at the class.
'So her name is Nyx Astrel.'
The woman from the tenth tent.
Nyx cleared her throat lightly before addressing the students.
"Well then," she said, her voice smooth, amused. "Let's begin."
Her sharp gaze flicked over the students, scanning them as if mentally checking off names.
Nyx turned her attention to Vivienne, who simply shrugged.
Nyx hummed in acknowledgment, clearly unfazed.
"Well, that's a problem, then. I'll report it to your homeroom teacher."
She set her notes down on the desk, then strode toward the board with unhurried confidence.
"Today, we begin with Mana Cores."
Nyx moved like a shadow, her robe flowing behind her as she stepped into the center of the room.
She clasped her hands behind her back, her gaze flickering between the students.
"Magic without control," she said softly, "is chaos. And chaos without understanding is weakness."
Her voice wasn't loud, but somehow, everyone heard her.
"All of you possess mana. But possessing something and wielding it properly are two entirely different things. So tell me…"
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly.
"What is a Mana Core?"
The class remained silent for a moment before a hand slowly lifted.
He hesitated, then said, "…I-It's where magic comes from?"
Nyx let out a quiet breath through her nose. It wasn't exactly a sigh—more like a mix of mild disappointment and amusement.
She flicked her fingers.
A ripple of dark energy shimmered through the air. In the next instant, a glowing orb of swirling violet and indigo materialized in front of her.
It pulsed—slow, steady, like a heartbeat.
"A Mana Core," she said, her voice steady, "is the heart of a mage's magic. It is not merely a source—but a vessel, a refinery. It absorbs raw mana, purifies it, strengthens it."
The orb dimmed slightly as she twisted her fingers, shrinking to the size of a marble.
"A weak core," she murmured, "means limited mana."
Then, with a flick of her wrist, the orb expanded—doubling, tripling in size, swirling like a small storm.
"A strong core," she continued, eyes gleaming, "is what separates mages from legends."
The class leaned forward slightly, drawn in by the display.
Lindarion's eyes narrowed slightly.
'The amount of control she has…is insane.'
Cassian and Luneth remained silent, watching with rapt attention.
Nyx let the orb hover for a moment before closing her fingers. The energy collapsed in on itself—silent, seamless, gone.
She turned back to the class, continuing as if nothing had happened.
"Your Mana Core is not static. It can be strengthened, refined, expanded. And there are three ways to do so."
She held up a single, slender finger.
"One—Mana Circulation. A disciplined mage cycles mana through their body, refining and expanding their core over time. This can also be done through meditation. However, what about those who do not do this?"
She smiled, the curve of her lips almost playful.
"They stay weak. Forever."
A second finger rose.
"Two—External Boosters. Potions, relics, artifacts. Some rely on these. They may work—temporarily. But what happens when you remove the crutch?"
A third and final finger.
"Three—Experience. The simplest, yet the hardest. Your Mana Core grows when pushed to its limits. Combat, real-life application—pressure forces it to adapt."
She lowered her hand.
Her gaze swept across the classroom once more, her tone light yet firm.
"Some of you will grow stronger." A small pause. "Some of you will not."
"That is magic. And that… is reality."
'Interesting, I actually class so far.'
Lindarion thought as a heavy silence followed Nyx's words.
Then, Nyx turned, chalk in hand, and wrote something on the board in elegant, sharp strokes.
"Now, let's discuss core ranks—and why most of you will struggle to reach the top."