Within Unio Academy, there are various types of clubs.
Some clubs cater to people interested in magic or martial arts, others are primarily comprised of members from certain social circles or commoners, and there are many more clubs with varying goals and characteristics.
For the nobility, these clubs primarily serve as social gatherings, while for the commoners, they are a great opportunity to gain a foothold.
The Dralan Club is one such club. A place where both the nobility and the commoners of the Helible Kingdom gather, it can be considered a social gathering for them, as well as an opportunity for the commoners to gain a foothold.
This club is one of the most elite in Unio, typically led by the highest-ranking student regardless of age. So it's no surprise that the leadership of the club has been handed over to the Third Princess Louisa Von Teuer, even though she is still a freshman. Perhaps it was because she was one of the heirs to the Helible throne.
Clingg...
The sound of teacups being set down rang out in the Dralan Group's private room, a cozy, circular room on the third floor of the nobles' dormitory, decorated with maroon carpet and mahogany walls with the Helible Kingdom's flag hanging in the center. This was where the Dralan Group usually gathered during meetings, whether to discuss assignments, class strategies, or simply share the latest news from Unio Academy.
But this time, the atmosphere was different...
"Have you heard this?"
"Bernard lost to a magic-less brat."
"Huh? Seriously?"
"Hahaha... That was great."
A surprised murmur filled the room. The Dralan Group students, mostly from Helible, whispered to each other with expressions of satisfaction mixed with curiosity at the news that Bernard was from their rival club, Eagle Prism, which was dominated by the nobles of the Cryztolia Kingdom. Their defeat, especially by a young man without magic, was too sweet a news to pass up.
"So how will they react?"
"I'm sure they'll shut themselves away after that great humiliation. Hahaha."
"I heard Bernard and his followers planned to retaliate, but Prince Lucius Cryztolia found out about it, and they were expelled from the club," replied Milla, one of the Dralan members.
However, amidst the growing conversation and the rumblings of satisfaction radiating from each member's face, only one remained silent.
Louisa
She sat at the head of the long table, with Yuri still standing guard, her chin propped up with one hand, her eyes gazing out the window, which was beginning to be colored by the sunset. She was uninterested in the euphoria of Bernard's defeat. What bothered her wasn't Wim's victory... but his method.
More precisely, how he managed to teleport.
[Author Note: Teleport and Blink will now be called Teleport for your convenience.]
Teleportation is a very complex form of spatial magic, requiring a complex magic circle and charging time. Arcane players can accelerate it with magic tools or rune pads embedded with teleport runes. However, these tools can only transport the user to a predetermined location. Even high-level Arcane players rarely use them in combat due to the risk of misalignment or delays.
But Wim? He did it... as if it were normal for him. No circle. No teleportation tool. Just a small magic tool in his hand that even Louisa knew didn't have a single teleportation rune.
Louisa: 'Could it be... that wasn't Wim? But something else...?'
Louisa's gaze flicked to the side of her memory. She remembered there was always a small floating object near Wim. An Automaton. She often heard him referred to as Art, shaped like a floating prism, and loved to talk.
Louisa: 'Could it be that automaton that activated the magic for Wim? But how…?'
Speculation after speculation swirled in the third daughter of Helible's head. Until finally...
Tap
Louisa stood up.
Louisa: "Thank you, Mila… for the report," she said briefly.
All the members immediately fell silent.
Louisa gave a slow nod.
Louisa: "Let's end the meeting for today."
They immediately nodded, and one by one left the room. Mila glanced at Louisa curiously, but said nothing.
CREEK…
The door to the room closed slowly, leaving Louisa alone for a moment.
Louisa: "Wim… Who are you, really?"
....
(Alchemy Classroom)
The Alchemy Laboratory building is on the east side of the Unio campus. The room, with its classic cubic architecture, was filled with clear glass ceilings for natural light, and shelves filled with test tubes, chemicals, and dried herbs.
Ding!
The small chime of the doorbell signaled Louisa's entry.
She walked slowly, her eyes sweeping the classroom. The students from Class S were already taking their seats. The pungent smell of sulfur and dried leaves filled the air.
Then...
Her eyes caught something.
Or rather... someone.
Wim
Sitting in the second seat from the front, slightly to the right. And as usual... beside him, Art, the floating automaton bobbing up and down slowly as if awaiting his command.
They hadn't noticed her presence yet. Wim looked normal... ordinary. But for Louisa, this was a rare opportunity. Sitting directly behind them would give her a perfect view.
Louisa: 'This is the moment...'
Louisa walked slowly, choosing a seat behind Wim and Art's right. Close enough to hear and observe, but not too conspicuous.
Tap
She put her book on the table.
Then Louisa sat down, leaned back slightly, and... began to observe. Focus not on the lesson, but on the two figures in front of him
Then...
Krakkk...
The sound of the door opening with the steady stomping of feet on the wooden floor
A woman with square glasses, neatly styled black hair, wearing a black robe with silver embroidery, entered the classroom with sure steps. Her sharp eyes scanned the entire room without giving a smile
Her name is Professor Syit
Professor Syit: "Good morning everyone. Let me introduce myself, my name is Professor Syit. The teacher who will teach you Alchemy."
The students suddenly quieted down, a little intimidated by the perfectionist aura that radiated from her
Then, by some magic. Professor Syit handed several papers to each student in the class
Then Professor Syit continued
Professor Syit: "Your task today is to make a Basic Strengthening Potion. The recipe is already on your respective tables. You have 30 minutes. Don't try to improvise! I don't want to see the results of stupid experiments on my table"
Then the students started making the potion according to the recipe given to Professor Syit
The sound of glassware being shaken, liquids being mixed, and the roar of sparks from burners all echoed in the classroom
The students started to get busy with their potions and tools. But soon, Professor Syit's scolding voice rang out again.
Professor Syit: "What were you thinking, mixing Behelit root into the potion? Do you want it to be addictive?"
Several students tried to explain in a bold tone.
Student A: "Professor, but if I add this, the results will be more effective."
Then Professor Syit interrupted.
Professor Syit: "More effective? Or will the glass break faster?! I don't care! What you're doing is dangerous! And can you still call yourself an alchemist if you dare to do that?"
Student A: "...Sorry."
The other students were shocked by this, including Louisa.
Of all the practical exercises at the academy, alchemy is one of the most complex. It requires precise measurements that cannot be wrong even down to 1 cubic centimeter, and extreme time management that cannot allow for even a second of error. Furthermore, there is also temperature control that cannot fluctuate even by a single degree.
But she remained focused on making the potion. She herself knew quite a bit about Professor Syit from Yuri, her loyal servant, who had provided a list of the teachers at Unio Academy. Professor Syit was no exception.
She was renowned for her greatest discovery at the time: Ashlarium, a liquid metal element that could be easily shaped in the world. This element was even used in almost all magical equipment in the world due to its ability to easily conduct magic circuits without the need to draw magic circles.
Making her highly qualified to teach at this Academy.
However, there was something that always bothered Louisa about this professor. It was the case of plagiarism of an alchemy formula that Syit had been accused of. An alchemist accused Professor Syit of plagiarizing his own formula. After various inspections of Professor Syit's and the alchemist's formula, the accusation was proven false. Consequently, the accuser was taken to the security office by various parties.
However, Louisa was certain there was something she was hiding.
Louisa sat quietly, her hands deftly completing the potion according to the recipe. Her face was serious, yet still intensely focused. She stirred the mixture with precision, carefully monitoring the color and consistency changes.
Until she finally succeeded, and Professor Syit, who was watching, praised her.
Professor Syit: "Wow, that's amazing. Good job."
Louisa: "Uhmm... Thank you..."
Hearing the praise, Louisa forced a faint smile onto her face.
But she had to stay focused on her original goal. She then saw Wim and Art making the potion. Or rather, they looked like they were playing around and experimenting without Professor Syit knowing.
Wim & Art: "Hehehehe..."
Louisa: " What the... They must be crazy..." She muttered in astonishment.
She never imagined that the person who had defeated Bernard in martial arts training would be the same person who wanted to kill himself through an experiment.
On the other hand, a commotion could be heard at Luna's table. She was seen face-to-face with Professor Syit, her face as blank as usual, but her tone revealed a slowly growing courage.
Professor Syit: "Luna, who said you could add ingredients that weren't in the recipe I wrote?"
Luna: "Professor. I think... using Redvitalization flowers is no longer relevant. There are alternatives, Krimsut root and Glavine dust crystals, which—"
Professor Syit: "Do you think I'm blind to references? That method does exist… but it's just a possibility. Are you trying to blow up this entire class over an uncertain possibility?"
Luna: "B-but wouldn't using Redvitalization flowers make the potion take longer to make?"
Professor Syit, hearing this, began to sigh. Then she continued, calmly but also frustrated.
Professor Syit: "Gosh, you can answer that so easy. No wonder your family—"
BOOM!!
A small explosion erupted from Wim's desk.
A thin cloud of smoke billowed, and the smell of burning chemicals filled the room. Surprised voices and small screams filled the classroom.
Wim raised his hands, his face panicked and innocent, yet still... childish.
Wim: "Sorry..."
Professor Syit: "YOUUU...!!!!"
After that, the alchemy class began to fill with Professor Syit's anger at Wim, who had caused the disturbance in the first place.
Louisa continued to stare at Wim, who was being scolded by Professor Syit, but it seemed Wim didn't truly regret his actions. This puzzled Louisa.
However, she noticed something odd about what was happening there.
It couldn't have been a coincidence.
The explosion occurred just as Professor Syit was about to say something inappropriate about Luna's parents. Wim then stopped the professor from finishing her sentence by detonating the potion there.
Considering that Luna was from the fallen Selene noble family in StarBlue, the professor's sharp words could certainly have caused her to lose her mind. Which could very well have an impact on his trauma.
Then she began to consider a possibility.
Louisa: 'Did...' she answered silently.
Louisa: 'Did he... deliberately let Professor Syit catch him to protect Luna? But... why?' she continued silently.
But that was a very foolish possibility for Louisa.
If Wim was willing to be scolded by Professor Syit, it would make his academic life in the future even more difficult. Considering that Professor Syit has deep connections within the Union and several other factions in Anchorage,
Meanwhile,
Professor Syit: "Why are you talking like that? I'll call your parents right away!"
Wim: "Sorry, ma'am, but... I don't have parents."
Alchemy was so fun for Wim in his game that he became so engrossed in it that he completely forgot about the troublesome developments.
While admitting his own stupidity, the scolding went in one ear and out the other, and he continued reading the handwritten notes on his desk.
Professor Syit: "You, you... If you keep acting like that... don't expect me to give you a good grade. Got it!"
After that, she walked past Wim's desk. Although, in truth, whatever Syit said to Wim was irrelevant.
Then, secretly, Wim used his Art Glass to secretly analyze Professor Syit's body.