“Now then, Headmaster Greycton has informed us that your Profession are Alchemy and Enchanting, correct?” Professor Altaburry said to me, scribbling rapidly on a spare scroll he’d pulled from the desk. He stopped for a moment to look up at me expectantly, quill hovering in place.

  Good thing I actually had some experience in controlling my facial expression these days without my Middle Ring. I nodded politely to the man. “Yes, specifically Material Enchantment and Medicinal Alchemy.”

  At least, those were the two variants of the base Professions I had received, all the way back in Addersfield. You know.

  Before I replaced everything with Aetherial Melding.

  God, but I was looking forward to getting back to the Profession grind with Grey. It had been too long since I’d had the chance to really focus on it. And with my current fighting ban to recover from my literal brain damage, I had all the time I needed for it.

  “Very good, very good,” Altaburry said absentmindedly, scribbling that down on the parchment. When he was done, he rapidly flipped through the book before scanning a page. “I imagine that you’ve had quite a bit of prior tutoring from the Headmaster in those subjects, as you two possess the same base Profession schools.”

  “Sure, you could say that,” I said, a bit amused at the relatively harmless deception.

  “Hmm, as such, I’m recommending you for the actual Journeyman Alchemy and Enchanting courses,” The Professor said, looking up at me with a smile. “According to the book, there are plenty of spaces left in Transmutation and the Alchemical Process for Alchemy with Professor Valbruni, and Advanced Enchanting: Weaving with Aether with Professor Krevane. Both consummate professionals, although Bernard Krevane can be…” He visibly grasped for words momentarily, a pained expression on his face. “Difficult to get along with.”

  “Alright?” I said, confused. “I can handle difficult, as long as he can teach. But, I’m a bit surprised to hear that…Headmaster Greycton isn’t teaching either of those courses.”

  “Ah,” The Professor said, reaching up and adjusting his glasses. “Well. He used to, of course. However, the workload of teaching Apprentice and Journeyman level Professional courses was a tad…much on the old fellow, in addition to the administration of both the Academy and the Order of the Eclipsed Dawn. These days, he contents himself with the instruction of Master level students. A much smaller class size, in both cases, as I’m sure you can imagine.” Altaburry fixed me with an assessing gaze. “As his apprentice, there will be…expectations that you’ll be able to reach that pinnacle.”

  I hummed noncommittally, keeping my thoughts on the matter quiet. He…didn’t need to know about Grey and mine experimentation with Aetherial Melding, and the possible impacts of that on both my Enchanting and Alchemy work. Frankly, my Profession was broken enough that I could likely blunder through to the Master level coursework now.

  When I didn’t respond, Altaburry changed the subject. “Moving right along, let us settle on your three ‘Majors’, as we refer to them. At the Academy, your courses will be divided into Majors and Minors. With Magi, the Majors refer to the three different Spell schools you shall be focusing on. Given the variant of Alchemy you possess, I’ll hazard a guess that you may be interested in Healing. Have you…given any thought to what you’ll pursue? Have you and the Headmaster discussed it?”

  I tilted my head in thought. “Why don’t you just run down the list for me? Not that I don’t remember them all.” I said hastily, at the Professor's raised brow. “I just want a refresher.”

  “Very well,” Altaburry said doubtfully, before raising his free hand and ticking items off with his fingers as he spoke. “There are thirteen schools of Magic that the Academy recognizes and officially teaches. These can be divided into Evocation, Mind, Thaumaturgy, Spatial, Abjuration, Divination, Illusion, Shapeshifting, Animation, Healing, Ritual, Chronomancy, and Necromancy. I…don’t have to describe what each of those are, do I?”

  I shook my head. “No, no. I understand the basic function of them all.”

  “Very good,” Altaburry nodded, before pausing. “However, I have to warn you that the Academy does not currently possess an instructor in the school of Necromancy. We have been…unable to fill the post, in recent years.”

  Yeah, because the previous one faked his death to become a Lich.

  “So, if you’re interested in pursuing that school, I’m afraid it will have to be entirely self-study.”

  “Ah, no, that wasn’t on my plate,” I reassured Altaburry. “I…pretty much know that I’m going to choose. And you’re right, I do want to take at least a semester of Healing magic.” I stopped for a moment, though, as a thought hit me before continuing with trepidation. “It's…not going to be taught by Honoka…right?”

  I’d probably change my mind if it was.

  To my relief, Altaburry shook his head with an understanding smile. “No, no. The Deputy Headmistress isn’t qualified to teach Healing Magic, as a Cultivator herself. The Magi side of the Healing Department is overseen by Professor Lysandra Morin. She’ll be teaching Restorative Care: Reconstructive Healing for the Neophytes this semester. I’ll just add you to the list.”

  I blinked at that. “Neophytes?”

  Altaburry didn’t look up at me as he continued scribbling. “Well, we can’t exactly call the beginner courses for each School ‘Apprentices’, can we? After all, you have your own Mana by now. Continuing on, what shall be your next choice, Mr. Hart?”

  “Well…” I started slowly. “I was…advised by a powerful friend of mine that I should look into Mind Magic. If only to learn how to defend my own.”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Thanks, Shurenga.

  The Professor paused to raise an eyebrow. “How very forward thinking,” He said approvingly. “In truth, I recommend all Magi do the same. There has been provable research done that shows a mild familiarity with Mind Magic can help ease the strain of Magi Ascension rituals, as you advance up the Circles. Let’s see…this semester, Professor Mollenhart shall be teaching The Foundations of Mental Magic.” Altaburry chuckled slightly, smiling at me. “Quite a similar name, eh?”

  “Yeah…ha ha.”

  At my awkward laugh, Altaburry’s smile slipped a bit before he cleared his throat. “Moving along! What shall be your final pick, Mr. Hart?”

  This one, at least, I had chosen for myself months and months ago. “Abjuration,” I said swiftly.

  Altaburry blinked at me in surprise. “That’s not a terribly popular school, I must admit. May I ask the reason for your interest?”

  “I…was described by some comrades in the war as a bit of a Ward specialist,” I said quietly. “More than that, I do have experience analyzing and breaking Wards and bonds. I was even present for the Break Stone incident. I’d…like to continue that research.”

  The other man went quiet for a moment at the mention of the war. “I see,” He said softly, before looking down and scribbling for a moment. “Professor Stahlbrandt shall be teaching Defensive Magic: Shields and Wards. An old, retired military Ward specialist, he shall certainly help you in that task. And with that, your Majors are settled, Mr. Hart. Now we need to pick three ‘Minor’ courses. These are courses meant to either enrich you as a student or as a combatant. Now, normally, the variety of Minors that you can take for a semester is…a bit larger than the accompanying Majors.” Altaburry chuckled for some reason, while I just stared at him blankly. Seeing that, he coughed into his fist awkwardly and continued. “However, you showed up a tad late.”

  “What?” I asked in confusion. “It’s not even past lunch!”

  “Indeed.” Altaburry nodded wisely. “Too late, for the highly in-demand Minor courses. You’ll…need to accept placement in some of the more common courses. Principles of Aetherology is a given, of course,” He said, scribbling something down on the sheet. “Professor Voss shall guide you through the theory. And…perhaps if you’re interested in History…?”

  At his raised, leading eyebrow, I considered the question. That…didn’t sound too terrible, I suppose. I wasn’t opposed to learning more about the history of Vereden in general. It might even help with my own, personal interests involving the nature of Precursors. Maybe…maybe with my outside eye, if I learned more about the past of this planet, I could spot something the natives might not have recognized. Either about ‘Old Terra’ or even the Netherim.

  Oh, who was I kidding? It was probably just an entry-level college history course.

  Still, I was interested. I nodded at Professor Altaburry to show that, with a small smile on my lips. “Sure, Professor. I don’t mind taking a history course.”

  The answering smile I received from the man was wide and enthusiastic. “Excellent!” He nearly crowed, clapping his hands once. “I’ll just mark you down here and….done. I’ll be teaching my bread and butter this semester, Mr. Hart. A Story of Strife: The Rise of the Aetheric Realms. As I’ve always said, one should start at the beginning if they wish to understand a story. And so, my courses for the Neophytes start at the pre-history of Vereden, all the way up to the rise and fall of the gods.”

  Okay, never mind. That sounded right up my alley.

  However, when he was done marking me down for his class, the Professor’s smile…slipped. “Ah, I’m afraid your choices for the third course are not exactly…numerous. As I’ve said, many spots are already filled,” He said, scribbling down a few things on a new sheet of paper before sliding it over to me. “These four are the only courses left for you to register for, and I suggest making a choice quickly.”

  My eyes slid down, and I grimaced at what I found.

  These sure sounded like very…dry courses.

  The Soldier’s Eye: Tactical Awareness, with Master Evander Koenig.

  The Philosophy of Conflict, with Professor Rolf Hagen.

  Studies in Aetheric Fauna, with Kargath Thunderfoot.

  And…

  “Fundamentals of Aetheric Synthesis,” I muttered to myself, before looking up at Altaburry in confusion. “What does that mean? I’ve…never heard of ‘Aetheric Synthesis’.”

  But I couldn’t help but think the name was remarkably similar to ‘Aetherial Melding’.

  To my surprise, Altaburry’s smile slipped. “That does not surprise me, Mr. Hart. In truth, not many beyond the walls of the Academy have, and the number inside is vanishingly small. The course is…barely one at all, in truth. More of a proof of concept, headed by a young man who graduated just last year. Simeon Veyl was an Aetherology graduate student who particularly impressed Headmaster Greycton with his dissertation. He had some bold claims about the fundamental nature of Aether, enough that he was offered a staff position here at the Academy. This was a…common practice, at the time, with the uncertainty of the war that was sure to be coming. However, young Master Veyl had actually planned for such a thing. He proposed that he teach his theory as a new counterpart to the base Aetherology courses. As you might imagine, this particularly infuriated Professor Voss, whom Simeon had been apprenticed to.”

  I winced. “Yeah…I can see that.”

  “Indeed,” Altaburry said dryly. “I’ve never seen Ilse Voss so irate. Particularly when the Headmaster agreed to Master Veyl’s proposal. As it is, the course is completely new, with this being its first semester. In truth, it’s bound to be as much of a research class for whoever takes it as it is a learning experience. Veyl’s possible new field shall require a great deal of groundwork before his claims are regarded as anything more than youthful enthusiasm. I…caution taking it, unless you welcome the added workload.”

  Ah, well. I was hesitant to take too much onto my plate right now. I was already going to be incredibly busy with establishing myself here in Blutstein. Between caring for Aveline, setting up my own Oninite crafting business, finding a real place to live beyond mooching off of Grey, my apprenticeship with the man, and my own classes, I was going to be nearly overworked as it is. As interesting as the idea of this new course sounded, I’m not sure I had the time.

  Best to just take something else that sounded interesting.

  “Mark me down for Studies in Aetheric Fauna,” I said to the Professor.

  “A sound choice,” Altaburry said, a bit of guilty relief in his voice. He started scratching in the book as he spoke. “Despite his demeanor, I’ve always found Kargath to…be…”

  As he trailed off, I studied the Professor in confusion. He had stopped writing and hunched his shoulders in what looked like shame to me, refusing to meet my eyes. “Ah…is there something wrong?”

  Altaburry finally dredged up enough courage to look me in the eye, a guilty smile on his lips. “I’m afraid that course appears to have filled up, while we were…conversating, Mr. Hart.” He cut me off when my mouth opened in protest, speaking over me. “And, sadly most of the…other options did as well.”

  I sighed, briefly closing my eyes in frustration. “Aetheric Synthesis is the only thing left, isn’t it?”

  I don’t even know why I asked. I already knew the answer.

  “I’m afraid so, Mr. Hart,” Altaburry said regretfully. “I take full responsibility for this, of course. It’s simply that…the number of Neophytes is always large, and Neophyte Minor courses fill up quite quickly. Additionally…you are required to take three of them, and the staff does so dreadfully hate it when we file fill requests. Best to just…attempt the course, for now.”

  “Just put me down,” I mumbled, waving a hand absentmindedly.

  I’m…sure I’d find a way to balance the oversized workload the coming year had for me.

  Surely.

  I sighed aloud.