The Cyan Garden academy was the biggest academy in Europe. It was a floating island about the size of 2 Belgiums combined. All those were attuned to mana, called 'Binders', and had enough talent(or money) could study here.
Even though the entire academy revolved around binders, a few non binders also existed here. Mostly because the Academy had a Mana Catalysis Pod.
Mana Catalysis Pods were the dream of every non binder on the face of the planet. You step into the pod, and you come out binded with Mana. Or just die, the odds were 50-50.
In the Alchemy Lab of Cyan Garden Academy, Professor Rose Eclessia was taking extra classes for one student. On a Sunday. At 10 PM.
Cecil Velhana was a non binder student. His practical marks in any other subject except Alchemy were shit. He was 16, and looked quite thin. Not Skeletal thin, but thin nonetheless. His black hair was messy and he was sweating as he grinded clumps of a yellowish crystal to powder. It was hard to see his grey eyes, but they looked concentrated and composed.
Professor Eclessia was just observing the guy labor until now, her hands on her Lab coat's pockets and finally interjected.
"Velhana. At what heat are you boiling your cauldron?"
Cecil glanced at the Cauldron boiling on a larger than normal stove a few feet away from him.
"Professor it's at Medium...?"
"What's in it?"
"Jaelnuts, Hulvium, Frostbitten Jasmine and... Oh-"
"The Bloodstained Almonds will burn. Turn The heat down."
Cecil rushed at the stove and lowered the heat, before peeking inside the Cauldron. Everything looked normal.
"Jesus Christ kid, you were more concentrated last year than this." Eclessia began, finally standing up. She looked fairly young, with black hair and matching eyes, "You cannot mess up your studies this year. Your slot for the Mana Catalysis Pod is almost guaranteed if you manage to get a 100 in Alchemy." Eclessia was not exactly short, she was about the same height as Cecil, or about 164 centimeters. "I'm tempted to finish the entire course in these extra classes, but then again... Just Clean up and go back to your dorm after you're done."
Cecil just nodded and continued grinding the crystal to powder.
He sometimes wondered why he worked so hard. Even if he binded with Mana, he would have a very late start. The top students in his year are above Level 200. The lowest at 210 and the highest at 230. Besides, if he got a garbage skill like Resin manipulation or something, all his work would basically be for naught.
The crystal was fully powdered, and Cecil took the powder to the Cauldron. He looked at his reflection in the bubbling red liquid. He looked normal physically, but his eyes felt dead like the ash they were colored after.
He slowly added the powder, stirring constantly with a large glass rod. His mind was blank, he was absentmindedly just adding powder and stirring.
The criteria for being a binder was simple.
Have a skill, and by extension, access the status window that all binders have.
Cecil felt a green light beside him, but he didn't turn.
[Observing 'Cecil Velhana']
[Overwrite by Admin03]
[Granting skill...]
Cecil finally finished adding the yellow powder, and the liquid inside began turning into a faint orange color. He turned his head and nearly choked on air.
[Granted skill:Deus Ex Machina(G)]
[You have leveled up!]
[Hp and Mp increased by 10]
[Hp and Mp fully restored]
[
Name: Cecil Velhana
Age:16.33 years
Lv:1
Hp: 10/10
Mp: 10/10
Atk-0
Def-0
Spd-0
Mag-0
Skills-Deus Ex Machina(G)(5 subskills)
]
"Professor...", Cecil spoke out, his voice shaking. "I think I just became a binder..."
Rose Eclessia, stared at him strangely. "Okay, what do you see?"
[
Choose Level up reward
Atk+4
Def+4
Spd+4
Mag+4
All stats+1
Mystery box
]
"I can see 6 options for the level up reward...", Cecil spoke, his voice quiet. His hand rose, but unsure what to select. "All stats +1, +4 for A-t-k, D-e-f, S-p-d and M-a-g, or a mystery box."
Eclessia was, naturally, unsure. But Cecil looked like he was ready to break into tears of joy and Eclessia believed him.
"Alright kid. Whatever you do. Do. NOT. Select the mystery box. Select all stats +1. Form a solid foundation before gambling your level rewards."
As a wise man once said, '99% of people quite just before they win big', Cecil's instincts were screaming at the mystery box, but Professor Eclessia looked like she was ready to drown him in the Cauldron boiling beside him. He selected all stats +1.
[
Name: Cecil Velhana
Age: 16.33 years
Lv:1
Hp:10/10
Mp:10/10
Atk-1
Def-1
Spd-1
Mag-1
Skills-Deus Ex Machina(H)(5 subskills)
]
"Velhana. Tell me your skill's description."
[
Deus Ex Machina-Rank G
Capacity 0/10
Animate any inanimate object to do your bidding.
Subskills--
1 Animate-Variable Mp cost- Animate an inanimate object.
2 Unanimate-0 Mp cost- Turn an animated object inanimate again.
3 Scan-0 Mp cost- Scan any inanimate object
4 Store-0 Mp cost- Store any animated object in a space pocket
5 Retrieve-0 Mp cost- Take out and animated object from your space pocket
Note-unanimating an object without retrieving it outside will cause it to be lost.
]
Cecil read out the entire panel in one breath, and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down. Eclessia was however, wearing a confused expression.
"That's it? That's so vague."
The fuck she meant that was Vague? That didn't seem vague to Cecil.
Eclessia reached into her lab coat's pocket threw a coin at Cecil, "Animate this."
"Uh-wh-
"Huh. Try something bigger."
Professor Eclessia said and opened a drawer, pulling out a reddish chunk of A rock.
"
[Haematite(3 kg), Lv5
Atk-0
Def-10
Spd-0
Mag-0
Sentience-none
Cost-5 Mp
Suggestion-None
]
"
In front of him, The Haematite chunk floated silently.