9 Arc 1; First Mission

Days passed by peacefully.

After the first day, many trouble makers steered clear of Xed after witnessing his brutality.

Shirley also didn't bother him anymore, except the occasional glances along his way, tempting other classmates to act out. Still, no one dared to get on his nerves. Xed was feeling rather bored by this serene circumstance.

This was when Miss Aria announced the exciting news, " From tomorrow onwards, the mission month starts. Every mission month, you are required to complete a minimum of one mission. If you fail to complete it twice consecutively, you will be expelled from the academy. We don't need wastes in our academy.

Now go to the mission board and submit your mission notice in the office. Best of luck. Hopefully, you all will be alive next month."

She left after dropping the huge bomb to the class. But most of the students were not surprised by this shocking news because they have already seen their seniors coming back from missions half-dead and injured. They knew the Imperial magic academy's prestige doesn't come solely from their quality of education and talents, but also by the strict real-life missions and practical sessions.

The students soon began discussing amongst themselves the various tips and tricks to survive and complete their missions.

Xed even spotted some book named 'Mission month for dummies' and " Survival tips 101' among the stacks of books on some student's table. He got amused by it and focused on the students' discussion.

" You know, mission board has missions ranging from F to SSS depending on the difficulty."

" After completing each mission, we even get points in addition to the rewards, that can be exchanged for techniques and items from the office."

"I also heard F is the easiest, but less rewarding whereas SSS is the most difficult, even categorized as impossible but the rewards are the most bountiful. Even so, most students of our 1st semester take missions of E and F as those are they are the only missions 1st and 2nd circle students can complete."

"At most, even the final year students compete for the S level missions only."

" Then who do you think are those SS and SSS missions for?"

" I heard in addition to the students, even teachers sometimes take up missions, although it is not compulsory for them."

" No wonder! The rewards for those and the points are too salivating. Even teachers need a large number of resources to become stronger!"

"This is also why you hear Imperial Magical Academy is a haven for the strong. They are too rich and rewarding."

After listening in about the major details of the mission month, Xed left the class for the mission board.

The mission board was placed in a large hall near the entrance of the academy. Xed entered the room filled with all kinds of people swarming together like bees after some delicious nectar.

He noticed that the missions ranging from F to SSS are arranged from one end to the other.

The section of SSS and SS were the least crowded with most of the people just looking at out of curiosity. Whereas the F and E sections were the most crowded. He even spotted some of his fellow classmates there.

Xed walked towards the E mission section.

' Mission : Find and submit 40 Thunderbird eggs from Thunder fall forest.

Reward : 100 Mana stones + 150 points

Rating : E '

'Mission : Kill 50 fire antelopes from Magody mountains.

Reward : 150 Mana stones + 250 points

Proof : Horns of the fire antelopes.

Rating : E+ '

'Mission : Find and submit 25 thunderleaf seeds.

Reward : 85 Mana stones + 100 points

Rating : E- '

Xed saw many missions and found them to be rather boring. He also saw some of his classmates plucking off the mission notices he viewed earlier and going to the office.

He then kept scouring for more interesting missions and finally found one at the topmost corner of the board. He then plucked off the notice and moved forward to the office.

' Mission : Escort the Rafe family's business vehicle and kill shadow assassins along the way.

Reward : 250 Mana stones + 450 points + 5 points for each assassin killed.

Proof : Rafe family's proof + assassin body parts

Rating : E ++ '

Finally, a mission involving killing. It's not that he doesn't want to do other missions, it's that he prefers bloody missions more. Killing is always exciting, whether it is done for duty, profit, or fun. It never fails to offer him the kind of satisfaction he longs for.

He went to the office and submitted the notice to one of the receptionist and said, " Xed Kalkin, Class A, 1st sem."

"Are you sure you can take on an E++ mission? You have to be a minimum of Two magic circles to do it!" The receptionist asked in return.

" It's ok! I can." Xed replied.

" Ok, then please place your hands on this globe to measure your magic circle. Each time your circle increases, please update in the office." The receptionist handed over a globe and said to Xed.

"Ok, then." Xed placed his palm over the globe and faked it until the globe measured a level of 2 magic circle.' Petty tricks, 'he whispered in his mind.

" Ok. Here is your mission card. Please go to the Rafe family's office near the plaza in the Academy city and show it to them. If you fail to reach there by tomorrow evening, your mission will be declared failed. Further details will be discussed there. Best of luck." The receptionist handed him a slim, pitch-black rectangular card with his name and rank along with Imperial Magic Academy printed on with golden letters.

" Ok, " Xed walked away and soon left for his residence from the office.