The aftermath of the duel left the Prism Arena in a bruised state.
The scattered mana of spells and the broken tiles bore witness to the unexpected clash between the Academy's headmistress and Alaric.
As the dust settled, three shadows descended from the viewing platform above.
*BOOM!*
Riven Kael landed with a grunt, arms folded and his brows furrowed together in what might have been concern or mild amusement.
Elira Quen followed much more stylishly as her boots clicking as she touched down, already reaching for the notepad strapped to her belt. And finally, Marius Drayne floated down, as indifferent and calm as ever, the faint glow of a Air magic could be seen below his boots.
Alaric dusted off his coat and glanced up at them with a lazy grin before extending his arms.
"Well? Out of ten?"
"You didn't die," Marius said flatly. "That's impressive."
"Your clockwatch!" Elira gasped, rushing to his side and peering at the clockwatch that was covered in minor cracks with steam pouring out of it clearly showing it's usage had been exhausted
"The pocketwatch.... Don't worry about it, I can fix it myself." Alaric said before putting it back in his pocket.
'i shouldn't have overused it... Another trip to Celia is in order i suppose.'
"Pfffttt even your glasses are broken how are you gonna see now kid?" Riven shaked Alaric around by the shoulders while smiling.
"Uhm it's not really a prescribed monocle I use it for the style."
"Oh that's cool I guess." Riven stopped shaking him around and slammed his hand into Alaric's shoulder. Causing the monocle to fall onto the ground.
The glass frame of the monocle shattered into two.
*Sigh*
"Don't worry about it i brought spares knowing this would happen."
"Ehehe Alright" Riven said while rubbing his neck sheepishly.
"Also if you're ever free visit my tower i promise you a fun time." Riven said.
"That's not the attire a professor of the imperial academy should have." Marius with his arms folded said before muttering,
[Cleanse]
"Oh uh thanks?" Alaric didn't know whether to feel insulted or grateful.
[Cleanse]
[Cleanse]
[Cleanse]
[Cleanse]
[Cleanse]
"Just for good measure." Finally Marius approached Alaric and offered him his hand.
"Professor Marius nice to meet you."
"Likewise you can call me Ashvale, Marius." Alaric smiled skipping all formalities.
Marius simply nodded while staring at him.
"Well then, I'll take a leave first i got some new inspiration for tech." Elira said absent mindedly while jotting down something on her notepad.
"Don't disappoint me, Professor i expect highly for you."
Alaric turned, but she was already gone.
The silence permitted the air as the three stood and stared at each other, Riven smiling ear to ear and Marius staring off into the distance.
'you couldn't have better casting for these roles even if you tried'
"Hahaha! Marius I trust you to take care of the new hire. I got training to do so catch you later!" Riven buckled his knees down before jumping into the air and dissapearing.
'you fucking air head why do you have to leave me alone with him?'
Marius stared daggers at Alaric before finally relenting.
"Come I'll show you around the academy and your own personal tower. First we'll take you to an infirmary."
---
The academy halls stood quiet as Marius escorted Alaric toward the infirmary. Sunlight spilled through the enchanted glass, making patterns on the floor.
Alaric tilted his head, observing a floating crystal sculpture of a legendary archmage mid-spellcast fighting an eldritch horror.
"Mhm you guys sure have a rich history am i right? Alaric said while hugging Marius from the back."
The mana surrounding Marius shone a dull gold before Alaric finally let go of him.
'jeez what a warm reception.'
"This place is dramatic even by my standards."
"It's Academia Imperium, not a tavern."
Marius said as he approached the giant painting.
"The founder of the imperial academy."
"Archmage merlin." Marius muttered softly.
"He was the greatest of our kind. Most of our academy's spells... No most modern spells are based on his theorums and research papers. He was the only one that that had the potential to reach the stage of Grand mage" Marius clenched his fists.
"Thaat eldritch being shown in the picture, the first demon king, Azeroth.. he wasn't originally like this he started out as just another normal demon before conquering not only the demon realm but half of the human world too. It's at that time that humanity got it's saviour, merlin."
"Unfortunately he sacrificed himself to stop the courrpted demon king. If the attack on him was a bit late or the demon king didn't get magically stronger somehow, he would've still been alive and who knows? Maybe even broken through and become a Grand mage." Marius looked away from the painting before again resuming their walk.
'that appearance It can't be him can it?" Alaric dug his nails into his hand if it wasn't for his gloves he would've bled.
Alaric shook his head. 'now's too soon to be thinking of this.'
They arrived at the infirmary, A sleek white chamber glowing with a soft white light. A nurse raised an eyebrow at the professor.
"New hire?"
"A new headache for me to take care of," Marius muttered.
The nurse waved her hand over Alaric's chest. A soothing pulse ran through his ribs. As it glowed with light green mana.
"Minor internal injures, a few broken ribs. It will be okay now."
'Neat. I still haven't reached the stage where I could do that myself.'
Behind him he could hear the footsteps of Marius walking away.
"Thank you nurse, I'll be taking my leave now."
The halls of the academy resembled that of a cathedral with it's rune etched ceilings, floating mana lamps, and stained-glass murals that shimmered with moving illusions of historical mages.
Marius walked a half-step ahead, arms folded behind his back.
"This is the Mage Wing. Theory classes, rune control, and circle construction. Those will cover the basics for the first and second years."
Alaric strolled beside him, hands in his coat pockets, expression amused.
"Damm you guys really went all out for the Hogwarts look. Where's the part with the flying gargoyles?"
"Third floor go and feed them if you want."
"Lovely."
Marius continued. "That's the Lecture Hall used for combat demonstrations and summon containment lessons. The one next to it, is where you'll teach first-years. It's next to the combat hall, library as well as my office if you need any help.
Alaric leaned sideways to peer through the open arch. Seeing it empty he frowned.
"You guys normally teach zero students or is it a holiday?"
Marius didn't even look at him. "This way."
They turned down another hallway lined with levitating memory crystals. Each one showed flickering scenes duels, summon contracs gone wrong, and once, a spell gone so wrong it turned an entire class into rabbits.
Alaric stopped. "can I have one of them? I don't mind having a few rabbits with me."
Marius exhaled through his nose. "Keep walking."
---
They emerged into a courtyard flanked by two tall towers. Students bustled across the grass, some in robes, others in light armor.
"Mage students dorm in the East Tower Elemental Path on the lower floors, Enchantment and curse magic users on top. Titan Vein students dorm in the West Tower. It's... sturdier."
Alaric raised an eyebrow. "Separate dorms but a shared cafeteria?"
"Exactly. Which means daily noble-commoner drama at meal time. Enjoy."
"Coollll are we allowed to bet who comes out on top though?."
---
They reached a sleek building with wide glass doors etched in runes. Through them, a golden glow pulsed faintly.
"The Staff Lounge is here," Marius said.
"Breaks. Tea. Avoid Elira when she comes out of her Alchemy lessons."
"Noted."
"And this " he paused at a massive dome with a giant sphere in the centre.
"Is the Fate Orb Hall. Entrance evaluations are held here. You'll be on rotation, This time."
'Perfecto I'll get to meet the cast as well as Lysander.'
Alaric gave a low whistle. "Looks like a mix between a temple and a theatre stage."
The lounge was warm and filled with the scent of tea and parchment. Marius led him in with a tired voice.
"You'll be teaching Magic Theory and Field Combat. First and second years."
Alaric flopped onto a couch. "So, chaos and even more chaos. Got it."
Marius poured tea with surgical precision and handed him a schedule. Alaric flipped it upside down.
"Looks painful."
"You'll survive."
They sat in silence for a moment. Then,
"Why are you here, Marius?"
The question hung in the air like smoke.
'A mage proficient in not only light magic but holy magic too wouldn't pick to be a mere teacher.'
Marius didn't answer immediately. He simply sipped his tea, eyes distant.
"Because someone has to keep this place from collapsing under its own ego."
'uh huh sure buddy I would've believed you if I didn't read the plot.'
After finishing his tea Marius took Alaric to his Academy alloted tower.
The spiraling structure filled from head to toe with theory books on everything you could think of would've been a dream for a normal mage.
Alaric sat silently on the chair while staring into one of the books.
"The more i look at it the more i forget? Is that how this works?"
He finally threw the book to the side before getting up.
Marius had already long taken his leave after showing him his quaters.
"Might as well visit the bar if there's nothing to do."
The tavern was tucked into a quiet wing of the faculty quarters small, lit with amber crystals, and stocked with bottles that were imbued with mana.
Alaric found Marius there, sitting alone at the bar, nursing a glass of lightly fermented fruit wine.
"Didn't peg you for a drinker," Alaric said, sliding onto the stool beside him.
"I don't drink to forget," Marius muttered. "I drink because the tea here tastes worse."
Alaric snorted.
They sat in silence for a while, sipping.
"You know," Marius said eventually, "I didn't choose this job."
"That's obvious isn't it?"
"When I first came here I never expected anything significant but at least I have friends that I can call family." Marius smiled as he stared into the glass.
Marius's grip tightened on his glass. "They... They said this was a place of excellence. Told me this place was an honor. A place to find purpose."
Alaric didn't interrupt.
"But it was just another way to exile me. Just Wrapped in some compliments. A way to keep me away from the capital."
Alaric tilted his head. "I suppose your family?"
Marius nodded.
"You know i always took you as a prince charming at least now it's confirmed that you're a noble."
"Yes."
There was a long pause.
"Why are you here?" Marius asked,his voice softer. His cheeks had turned a bright shade of red
Alaric swirled the last of his drink.
"Because for once… perhaps I'm not the only failure in the room."
The two continued chatting well into the night before the sun rose.
"Mhm he really is a light drinker isn't he?" Staring at Marius who was unconscious.
"Fine I'll help you this once." Alaric smiled before carrying Marius in a Princess carry back to his office.
---
Two weeks later,
Dawn painted the academy in pale gold. As students poured through the academy gate before having to be arranged into near lines as they approached the towering dome of the Fate Orb Hall.
Selene's voice echoed across the courtyard,
All faculty father in the evaluation hall. This year's candidates have entered.
Alaric stood at the edge of a balcony above it all, coat fluttering gently in the morning breeze.
'Tch not only did it take a fortune to fix the coat and pocketwatch but I even had to get an earful from Celia.'
He reached into his pocket, feeling the cool edge of his die.
Below, hopeful faces watched the orb begin to glow.
Alaric smiled.
"Time to meet the cast."
---