Emrys walked through the campus, his head held high as the other students mocked and laughed at him. "Look, it's a low grade," one of them sneered. "He thinks he's special."
Another chimed in, "What a joke. Who does he think he is?"
Emrys's shoulders slumped, but he tried not to let them see how much their words stung. He hurried towards his classroom, hoping to escape their taunts. As Emrys steps into the classroom, he is met with the same cruel laughter that he has grown all too familiar with. Ignoring the sniggers and whispers, he walks silently to his desk and plops down on his chair.
His classmates continue to snicker and cast mocking glances in his direction, their eyes filled with malicious joy. Emrys, feeling like an outsider in his own classroom, tries to tune out the taunts and focuses on the teacher's lesson.
Emrys was sitting quietly at his desk, avoiding eye contact with his classmates who were still snickering at him. Suddenly, a classmate next to him leans in and speaks softly.
"Don't listen to them, man. They're just trying to intimidate you because you're in Bronze grade."
Emrys looks up, surprised at the unexpectedly kind gesture. He whispers back, "Really?...but why do they hate me so much?"
" Well, that's how the lower grades are being treated. I was once a victim like you but ever since I upgraded to silver grade the intimidation became less", sola explained,
" What's the grades all about?"Emrys curiously asked. Suddenly, a girl named Lina leaned in and whispered to him.
"If you want to know more about grades, meet me in the library after class," Lina says with a soft smile. Emrys is taken aback by Lina's offer, but he hesitantly nods his head. He glances around the classroom, noticing some of his classmates shooting him dirty looks.
Emrys looks at Sola quizzically, his mind still racing with thoughts of the different grades and the people who possess them. He remembers Lina asking him to meet her in the library and wonders if it's connected to Sola's words.
"Um, Sola," Emrys begins, "And who is Lina?"
Sola smiles softly again, "Lina is one of the members of the Witches Cycle, and she's in the Emerald grade. That means she's pretty powerful."
" Hmmm…Does that mean her grade is higher than yours", Emrys asked,
"Exactly…whenever Lina is upset she possesses an evil force beyond control"
Emrys listens attentively to Sola, his curiosity piqued.
"Wait, so Lina, who's an Emerald grade, can possess an evil force that's beyond her control when she's upset?" Emrys asks, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Sola nods his head in confirmation, his expression turning solemn.
"Yes, that's correct. When Lina loses control of her emotions, the evil force takes over, and she becomes unpredictable and dangerous," He explains. Emrys leans in, his eyes fixed on Sola, eager to understand more.
"So, does that mean the Emerald grade is the most powerful?" he inquires, his curiosity growing with each passing moment. Sola considers his question for a moment before responding.
" No… Emerald grade is not the most powerful grade", Sola answered. Emrys raises an eyebrow, surprised by Sola's revelation.
"Wait…Emrys pauses for a moment, digesting the information. He then turns back to Sola, his interest growing stronger.
"So if the Emerald grade isn't the most powerful, which grade is the most influential then?" he asks curiously.
Sola looks at him thoughtfully, considering his question before answering.
"The Ruby grade is considered the most influential grade," He explains, his voice steady. "The Ruby grade holds significant power and commands respect among the magical community." Emrys looks impressed by Sola's explanation.
"Wow, so the Ruby grade is the most powerful and influential," he muses, scratching his head thoughtfully. "But what makes up the Ruby grade exactly?"
Sola smiles at his curiosity, seeing the eagerness in his eyes.
"The sorcerers only", sola answered,
Emrys nods in understanding, the pieces starting to come together in his mind.
"So the Ruby grade is rare since it's made up of sorcerers only," he murmurs, his voice tinged with a touch of wonder.
Sola smiles, pleased with his comprehension. "That's right. Sorcerers are known for their exceptional magical abilities and control, making them rare and highly sought-after individuals. It's not every day that you come across someone from the Ruby grade",
"Unfortunately…" Sola paused,
" Unfortunately, what?", Emrys curiously asked,
"After the ultimate battle with Dark Dumas, the sorcerers were all wiped out. The loss was devastating, and the magical community has never recovered from the tragedy",
Emrys' eyes widened in surprise at Sola's revelation. "No more sorcerers?" he repeated, a mix of disbelief and sadness in his voice, Sola nodded gravely, his eyes downcast.
Emrys listened intently as Sola continued to explain.
" After the battle, the system grades changed. Now the only grades that exist are for witches and wizards, which occupy the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald grades," Sola said with a sorrowful look in his eyes.
Emrys could feel the weight of his words. The loss of the sorcerers had not only taken a toll on the magical community but had also reshaped the grading system as they knew it.
Sola sighed, a heavy burden visible on his shoulders. "Since the sorcerers are gone, the Guardians have stepped up their efforts to strengthen the witches and wizards. They're doing everything in their power to make sure we're prepared to face the dark forces that still threaten us."
Emrys nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation, as he absorbed the information.
The school bell rang, signaling the start of lunch break. Sola stood up from his seat, gathering his books and preparing to leave. Emrys remained seated, his mind still swirling with all the information he had just received from Sola.
Sola looked back at Emrys, noticing his pensive expression. "I have to go now," He said with a gentle smile. "But remember, don't listen to the mean things people say about you. You're stronger than you think." Sola turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving Emrys alone with his thoughts.