Zero Langham
Morning light stretched across the Academy courtyard, spilling between tall marble pillars and reflecting off the stone paths that cover campus. The early spring air carried cool breezes. Students were already gathering outside, some talking in small groups, and others training.
I leaned against the railing overlooking one of the training platforms, watching two first-year students spar below. Their wooden blades clacked awkwardly against each other as they circled, both of them trying a little too hard to look confident. They were both tall with a medium build. One was blonde-haired, so blonde it almost looked white. The other had slicked black hair combed neatly, an obvious contrast to the blonde boy.
One of them lunged forward with a swing that was so wide it made me cringe. Toho stood beside me, arms folded as he quietly watched the exchange. I glanced at his eyes, with dark circles around the perimeter. Neither of us got much sleep the previous night. We snuck out of the Academy again, hunting down petty, street-level thugs. We even met a couple of second-years who snuck out to party. When we arrived back in our dorms, we were wasted and nervous about the possibility that someone might have spotted us.
"They look nervous," Toho said, smiling, pointing out the obvious.
"Yeah," I replied. "I would be too if that many people were watching."
The blonde-haired boy attempted another attack, this time channeling Essence through the blade. A faint glow flickered along the wood for a moment. He leaped forward, cutting through the air and making contact with his opponent's sword. Flickers of flame ignite on his sword, creating a path of fire from the slash. As he followed through with his attack, the wooden sword began smoking up, and in the blink of an eye, it ignited into flames.
His opponent stumbled back, while the instructor conjured up a water spell and drenched the boy who burned his sword. The surrounding students burst into laughter while the instructor scolded him.
"What are you possibly thinking of using Fire Essence alongside a wooden sword! You lost your damn mind?" The dark-haired student picked himself back up, snickering while his opponent was getting chewed out. The instructor continued yelling, "Do you have rocks for brains!"
As the crowd laughed while the boy took his scolding, I glanced toward the academy building behind us, thinking to myself:
Class starts soon. Plus, there's someone I've been meaning to talk with: Terra. I wonder if she's made a decision yet.
"Let's get going to class," I abruptly interrupt the silence between Toho and me.
The two of us made our way toward the main hall, merging into the flow of students moving through the campus. Voices echoed through the corridors once they stepped inside, conversations overlapping as students hurried between lectures. As we rounded a corner, Terra nearly walked straight into us, the person I've been wanting to see. She stopped abruptly, yelping. She clutched the stack of books in her arms before letting out a small sigh of relief. "Oh! Sorry, somehow this always happens."
"Hey! Morning," I said. Toho greeted her politely as well. I
Terra adjusted the books in her arms before speaking again. "Did you hear about the new professor?"
"New professor?" I tilted my head, slightly confused. I never knew the Academy accepted new professors after the school year started.
"Apparently, someone just got hired," she explained as they began walking down the hallway together. "No one really knows much about him yet." The three stuck close together and made their way to class. The hallways became more spacious as students filtered out.
"That's not that strange," Toho said. "The Academy actually brings in instructors all the time." I nodded understandingly. A fact I never knew, despite how much I pride myself on my association with this school.
We continued along our walk to the classroom while making small talk. Out of the blue, I brought up our situation on teams: "Terra, you haven't decided on whether you're joining or creating your own team, right?"
Terra looked at me, giving almost a shameful nod, "Yes, that would be correct. This whole thing is a big step, so I'm just carefully thinking."
"That's smart," I said blandly before speaking up again, " I just wanted to offer you a position in my team. If you do go the route of creating your own team, then obviously good luck… or if you find another team, that's obviously fine too," I murmured the last part.
The truth is, having people I know from the start on my team is necessary. Loyalty is a key part of a team, at least that's what Professor Gohan said.
"I really appreciate that, Zero. I might even take you up on that offer," she looked at me suspiciously, like I had ulterior motives. "No hard feelings if I don't?" She asked.
"Obviously. No hard feelings, we'll still be friends."
Toho and I separated from Terra after we reached our classroom and slipped inside along with the rest of the students. The room was already filling with quiet chatter as people settled into their seats. Professor Todo stood at the front of the class, organizing several folders across his desk. His sharp eyes flicked up briefly as the final students entered.
"Take your seats," he said calmly.
Professor Todo, our Essence Theory instructor. The number of spells you can execute and create is almost endless due to the fact that you can combine different types of Essence. The way spells can be manipulated to be direct attacks or AoE attacks also adds to this. All these contributing factors, and more, make up Essence Theory.
Once everyone had settled, Todo placed his hands behind his back and addressed the class. "Before we continue today's lecture, there is a small announcement." This caught the attention of us students. Several of us leaned forward with interest.
"The Academy has recently welcomed a new instructor, Professor Ruhtra," he continued. "He will be assisting with certain combat training courses as well as theory classes for the foreseeable future."
Most of the class sat back in their seats. We thought this would be some different news, but almost everyone has already heard the circulating rumors about a new professor. I quietly groaned, fitting in with my peers, as if I had not learned the news minutes earlier.
"You may encounter him during your training sessions or lectures," Todo said. "I expect all of you to treat him with the same respect you would any other professor." He paused briefly, letting the room settle again before turning toward the board. "Now then." With a piece of chalk, he wrote a single word across the board: Routes
Professor Todo continued on with the lesson: "You already understand the foundation of Essence affinity," Todo continued. "Every sorcerer possesses a natural connection to certain forms of Essence. However, some individuals take that connection further." He underlined the word slowly. "When a sorcerer dedicates themselves entirely to a single affinity, they may begin walking what is known as a Route. As time passes, and you improve your connection with an Essence type, a Route belonging to that Essence type may emerge in your body, like a calling." He paused, smacking his lips. "Following a Route strengthens that connection beyond normal limits. You can become exceptionally skilled with that Essence type." Todo explained.
I rested my chin on my hand as I listened. Most of this information is standard knowledge. Everyone is expected to know this. As a kid, when I learned what Routes are, I was amazed. I thought I'd definitely pick whatever Route emerges within me. Then later, I learned the catch.
"But," Todo added, turning back toward the class, "power always demands something in return." He set the chalk down. "To fully commit to a Route means abandoning the ability to use other Essence types. Once that path is chosen, there is no turning back. Some sorcerers see this as the ultimate form of mastery," Todo continued. "Others consider it a gamble." His gaze swept across the room. "Either way, it is a choice that defines the rest of a sorcerer's life. You can pick to be excellent, far above average in one type of Essence, but at the cost of the ability to use any other type."
The professor let the silence linger for a bit. He grabbed himself a drink of water before leaning back on his desk, "The last information about Routes, something a little less known, is that it can evolve your Innate ability. If you do choose to follow your Route, abandoning all other types of Essence for one singular type, it will also evolve your Innate Technique. Your ability will be similar overall, but improved in a way related to the type of Essence Route you have."
The lecture continued after that, shifting into examples of well-known Route followers throughout history. By the time the class finally ended, most students were already eager to escape the stuffy room. I stretched as they stepped into the hallway.
"Training yard?" Toho asked.
"Yeah," Zero said. "I feel like I haven't practiced properly in a few days. Last night felt more like we slacked off."
Toho and I had the same schedule, primarily because we requested it from the Academy. Our schedules have a large gap after our Essence Theory class. Our next class isn't till late afternoon, and it's unfortunately a History class. Toho and I spend our free periods either going out, sleeping, or training. It's a dull life, but it's only a step in my journey.
The two of us made our way back outside toward the combat fields. The training yard was quieter than earlier that morning. Only a handful of students remained scattered across the stone platforms, practicing techniques or sparring in small groups. I stepped onto one of the empty platforms and drew my sword. A light blue color, with black straps around the handle. The familiar weight settled comfortably in my hands. I exhaled slowly before stepping forward and swinging. I stopped abruptly, my hands shaking, my breathing uncontrolled. Holding this sword kept giving me flashbacks of my fight with Aldren, what I did to him.
No... no, no, no. I had to do it. I HAD to. It was either him or me, life or death. Does that make it right for me to kill a man? I killed someone before, yet this one makes me more scared. Is it because if his body is found, the consequences would end my career before it started? But it's not possible to find him, there's no way.
I tried pulling myself together. I looked like some sort of crazy man in the middle of the field. Across the field, Toho stood several meters away, practicing Essence control. A small sphere of energy hovered between his palms as he concentrated, its faint glow pulsing softly. My brain began reminding me of the smell, the smell after the battle. The world around me began spinning, making me dizzy. I squeezed my eyes shut, speaking to myself again,
It isn't possible to find him at all. The body is hidden. The aftercare team didn't find anything suspicious. Lucius's, Terra's, Toho's, and my reports all accounted Aldren as another Mark under the hand of Jango. Plus, I lied in my report that the crater from my fight was already there. If the aftercare team, which reports the details of each mission after its completion, didn't find anything, the case was closed. But then, why do I still feel like this?
I regained my composure, taking in deep breaths. I opened my eyes, and the world stopped spinning. I glanced around the field, Toho still training, but I found an anomaly. A man stood beneath the shade of a nearby tree, watching all the students train. He wore the dark coat of an Academy instructor, his posture relaxed as he observed the field with quiet attention. For a brief moment, our eyes met. The man gave a wide smile and waved at me. I hesitated before reciprocating. While I waved to him, I thought to myself:
Probably the new instructor, Ruhtra. Didn't expect this guy to look old. Why's his hair so greasy, damn.
I began packing my things, tossing my used towel inside my bag. I'm giving up on training for today, maybe catch some sleep and fix this. I sheathed my sword, returning it to my spatial bag. Spatial bags are these bracelets given to us by our school. They can be bought almost anywhere and let you store items of any size. However, they are space-limited, and larger bags can be bought but are much pricier and worn only by the wealthy. After a few more minutes, I looked over and caught the instructor grabbing his bags and heading inside the Academy building, most likely for class.
Toho approached me from across the field. "Finished already?"
"Uhm, yeah," I responded, hiding my current state. "I'm gonna go catch up on some sleep."
Toho glanced toward the tree where the man had been standing, but the spot was now empty.
"Who was that?" he asked.
I picked up my bag, holding it over my shoulder, "The new instructor, I think. He was wearing an instructor uniform."
We left the training yard shortly after, while discussing whether to eat dinner in the dining hall or in our dorms. Neither of us noticed the instructor now standing on the second-floor balcony of the nearby building.
Ruhtra
I watched the two students walk across the courtyard below, resting my hands lightly against the balcony railing. I glanced over again at the training grounds, a wide smile creeping on my face.
Young talent. Makes me happy to see this generation isn't soft. These students have the rage, the passion to want to be better. Reminds me of my school life here.
I looked over past the Academy gates, over at the horizon. For a moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the quiet. Soon after, I shifted my gaze toward the walls of this city. The large gates permit entrance, and the massive walls guard this capital. I closed my eyes, taking in the fresh air. I turned in my spot, facing west. I open my eyes, glaring at the large castle that towers over the nearby buildings. The World Council building, their headquarters.
I pushed myself away from the railing and turned back toward the hallway behind him. The first class I will be teaching is in only five minutes. I couldn't help but smile, yet my palms grew sweaty. I took one last deep breath and walked towards my class.