Chapter 148 - The 5 Csses of Mages

  We all stood still in what seemed to be ay floor, dimly lit by a few globes of light fixed along the walls. There were some statues decorating the area, as well as swords in dispy cases, their gleaming bdes drawing attention with their beauty. The door behind us had closed, leaving us uain about what was i. The air was thick with tension, and no one had any idea what to expect.

  "There was supposed to be a senior here," Chloe said, her voice breaking the silence as she gnced around, trying to spot any sign of life.

  I quickly searched for Syvis and Thyra, who seemed to uand how things worked here better than the rest of us, but they were o be found. Cyl, by my side, went unnoticed by the other students. Only someone familiar with moon panthers would reize her for what she really was. As we passed the other students, they likely saw her as just an ordinary magical cat. Moon panthers were so rare that maiaries didn’t eveion them, sidering them practically extind something no one would ever see in their lifetime.

  The only thing that immediately gives her away as a Moon Panther is the white circle on her forehead, but that's a detail only those who've researched the species would reize. Even then, she's just my familiar. There are people out there with monstrous boars that could definitely cause way more damage than a little cat.

  I had seen a number of dangerous familiars among the other students, and I’d heard that some seniors even had bears.

  "Everyone, calm down. There must be a reason for this," a voice tried to soothe the growing tension in the room.

  At that moment, the grouh us began to shake.

  "Are we going to fall again?" Chloe asked, her voice a mix of ay and nervousness as she looked around.

  But this time, the floor didn’t colpse. Instead, it started to move—upward.

  As the floor asded, the globes of light on the walls lit up one by one, illuminating our path as we climbed higher and higher. The sensation of rising filled the room, and the speed of our ast gradually increased. We all held on tightly, trying to keep our bance as the movement became more intense.

  Just as suddenly as it began, the trembling stopped. The sensation of movement ceased, and we realized we had arrived somewhere.

  A door opened, revealing a staff member in a white coat, the academy’s logo proudly dispyed on his chest. His smile was weling as he greeted us.

  "Wele, udents. Please proceed down the corridor to the right," he said in a calm, collected tone.

  Some of the more eager students dashed ahead immediately, causing a bit of fusion in the hallway, especially with the rger and slower familiars in tow. I, Chloe, and Cyl took our time, the surroundings through the windows along the corridor.

  "We're ba the surface," I ented as I looked outside. The sery was vastly different from the dungeon; tall trees were visible in the distance.

  "We must be far from the entrao the grounds. That underground transport must have taken us quite a distance," Chloe remarked, analyzing the distahrough the window.

  A familiar figure, Syvis, the blonde elf, joined us, overhearing our versation.

  "That's why no one see much of the academy from the outside. It’s located in the middle of a wilderness area he city, surrounded by a wall of trees," Syvis expined.

  "I live here already, so having to make that trip with you guys was a waste of time, but at least I got to check out the underground tunnel," Thyra chimed ione cheerful.

  Chloe looked surprised. "You live at the academy?" she asked, wide-eyed.

  "Of course," Thyra answered casually. "My aunt is the director. The staff has homes on the academy grounds."

  "I imagihere’s a surface path to get here," I ehinking of how ve it must be for those familiar with the pce.

  Syvis nodded in agreement. "My father studied here and told me a few things. We took that underground path just so the udents could see the Ied Tower. Everyone wants to explore it as soon as they learn about it."

  When we finally reached the auditorium, we looked for a pce to sit.

  "How about that row?" Chloe suggested, pointing to oowards the back. I walked with them, carrying Cyl in my arms. Most of the familiar animals had been taken to a designated area, but since Cyl was small, I could keep her with me.

  "Is that what I think it is?" Thyra asked, eyeing Cyl curiously. "She's going to grow up big and dangerous, isn’t she?"

  Thyra tried to reach out a Cyl, but Cyl bared her cws and growled, giving Thyra a clear warning to back off.

  Thyra let out an amused ugh.

  "That’s right, little panther, strike anyone who es near you," Thyra said, fshing her own cws pyfully.

  This girl is crazy...

  The auditorium was filled with curious whispers as all the students settled in. There was a buzz of anticipation in the air. The lights dimmed until the room itch dark, and then, the stage lit up.

  Chloe lightly squeezed my hand, and Cyl snuggled into my p, getting fortable to watch the show.

  A graceful figure appeared in the ter of the stage, her movements fluid. She wore a long bck dress with purple ats, adorned with accessories that shimmered in the spotlight. She exuded an air of quiet authority.

  "Wele, udents," said the woman, her voice clear and strong as it echoed through the auditorium. "I am Ellise, professor of Advaructures and strus. Today, I’ll give you a brief introdu so you better uand how the academy works and the mage csses present in our society."

  The professor raised one hand, and with a smooth motion, summoned a stone golem that formed beside her, its rocky body letting out a deep rumble as it moved.

  "Ah-element summoner," Chloe whispered to me, impressed.

  Ellise tinued, a slight smile on her face. "During your first year, you will all take general csses c various subjects. But by the end of this period, you will o make a choice that will shape your curriculum going forward. Don’t worry, you’ll still see your friends and cssmates, but you’ll have specialized lessons with those who choose the same path."

  With a wave of her fingers, five smaller golems emerged from the ground, each carrying a different object made of stone.

  The first held a sword, the sed a bow, the third a potion fsk, the fourth a helmet, and the fifth a heavy hammer—all made of solid stone.

  "These represent the symbols of the five mage csses in our society," Ellise tinued, pointing to ea in turn. "bat Mage, Archer Mage, Healer Mage, Engineer Mage, and Builder Mage."

  Each word seemed to weigh oudents, who stared in awe and curiosity at the representations of the csses.

  "By the end of this first year, you will decide what you wish to bee iure," Ellise said, her voice carrying across the room.

  The students began whispering to one another, exging curious and anxious gnces.

  "We will help you discover your true potential throughout the year," she assured us. "So don’t worry, you’ll naturally find where you fit best." She snapped her fingers, and the five smaller golems crumbled into dust before our eyes, disappearing as if they had never existed.

  The rger golem, however, remained, stepping forward with a heavy, resounding thud.

  "The first category is the bat Mage," she decred. The golem summoned a stone sword and performed a few fluid movements, demonstrating on handling. "bat Mages are magical knights who fight on the frontlines, using their ons in tandem with offensive spells. They form the vanguard in battle."

  With a snap of her fingers, the stone sword transformed into a bow.

  "The Archer Mage, oher hand, operates from the bae, casting le spells. They specialize in precise, strategic attacks. You'll discover which css you belong to by your mana type."

  Another snap, and the stone bow morphed into a potion fsk.

  "The Healer Mage is vital for keeping batants in the fight," she expined. "Their magic has healing properties, allowing them to keep their allies fighting. Although they assist in battle, it’s crucial that they stay out of direct flict due to their essential role in keeping everyone alive."

  The golem then ged the potion into a helmet.

  "The Engineer Mage," Ellise tinued, "is the magical architect of our society. They are responsible for creating magical devices, rune entments, and even magical barriers."

  Finally, the helmet turned inte stone hammer.

  "And stly, the Builder Mage," she poio the hammer. "They are the ones who shape the world around us. A mage of this css use the earth element to raise structures, the water element tate crops and create rivers. With fire, they heat the soil in winter, ensuring agricultural produ, or fuel the energy stohat power our cities. The wind element help transport heavy objects or clear snow from roads during winter."

  With a final snap of her fingers, the rge golem dissolved into dust, just like the others.

  "These are the five main mage csses. The choice will be yours, and your journey begins now."

  Professor Ellise walked across the stage, eyeing the students.

  "Each mage css is fual to our society, and here at Apsalon Academy, you will learn to bee the best in the css you choose. A mage will always find work, but a mage trai Apsalon will never be without a job," she said, her faow dispying a fident smile.

  She paced the stage, her eyes sharp like those of a predator, the rea of each student.

  "Over the five years, you will work hard to bee not just good mages, but EXCELLENT mages. We do not produce mediocrity—we produce the best. Those who fail to meet our standards will be discarded, and I don’t care what surname you carry. Here, everyone is equal. What we demand are results. If you don’t have what it takes to achieve them, we won’t waste our time on you."

  An absolute silence fell over the auditorium. The weight of her words hung in the air like a thick fog, and many students, exged discreet but tense gnces.

  The professor smiled again, this time with an air of challenge. "A little reality check does some spoiled nobles good," she added with a sharp, acidie.