7 "The First Lesson"

Even though Ivory arrived at the academy with a coachman and in a horse-drawn carriage, the mean looks from her classmates made her feel like she still didn't belong. After all, everyone got their Servants with them, except for her.

"The audacity to step inside Qawiun Academy after getting rejected by her Servant? How bold of her!"

"How can she go further with the lessons without her Servant?"

The first years were classified into random sections, and Ivory and Lucius were in the same class. Their adviser, who has black hair, a long face, and a pointed nose and piercing eyes arrived and called the class to order.

"Good day, welcome to section Blue Gem. I am Titus Daionus, your adviser. Today, I'm going to give you a short briefing about your classes here in Qawiun Academy," he said before fixing his eyeglasses with a chain. "The five core subjects that will be taught in your first year are Tactics Class, Swordsmanship and Archery Class, Speed Class, Defense Class, and Magic Class, which are all going to be taught by powerful Educators. I will be the one to supervise you in your self-training time."

As he discussed it with them, he wrote on the chalkboard in front and drew a class timetable.

"As chosen children of our Goddess Destinia, it is your duty and responsibility to improve yourselves and be useful to the kingdom. Together with your Servants, you will learn how to fight and as time goes by, the bond and trust between you and your Servants will make your mana stronger. I will be your adviser for your three years here in Qawiun Academy, so if you have any problems, feel free to approach me."

Titus then looked at the time from his chained pocket watch, "Alright, the first lesson will start soon. Always bring your pocket watch with you to know the time. I'll leave you now for your next class, so please wait for Educator Alphonse."

He placed his watch inside his pocket before leaving, "Miss Sprucemint? May I talk to you outside?"

It's just the start of the day, but she was already embarrassed. As Ivory came walking with the adviser, her classmates blabbed about her again.

"Maybe she'll get expelled. Everyone knows you can't train without a Servant."

"She's dumb and weak. That's all I know."

"Servants and Masters must help each other, train with each other and get stronger as time passes by…"

"I'll bet 60 silver coins, she won't be able to graduate!"

"I'll bet 100 silver coins on her failure, too!"

"She won't graduate! I'm betting 300 silver coins!"

"She won't, I bet 500 silver coins."

"Then… I'll bet 600 silver coins if she graduates," a female classmate said while they glared at her. "Count me in."

The other ones looked at each other and laughed. The girl, who bet more than them, looked calm. She has a small stature and has gray eyes and purple gray-colored hair with layered bangs.

"You're dumb as her! Are you hearing yourself? You're spouting nonsense!"

She then took a quill and an ink, plus an empty scroll from her bag. "Place your names, please. This will be a contract between us."

"What a weirdo betting on a weakling."

The five girls then signed their names on the bottommost part of the scroll.

"Hey, write your name, too!"

"Of course," she wrote her name in cursive.

"Arcea Knightwing… We'll remember you! You better pay up on graduation!"

Arcea smiled at them and nodded. She felt like she's going to waste her money on a useless bet, but she placed her high hopes on Ivory anyway. She was interested in how long she could stand the people around her judging her. Besides, if she won the bet, she could take all their money!

Just beside the door outside the room, Titus talked to his poor student, "I know this is unfortunate, but you can't come to class without your servant."

"But sir… I…"

"If you can't find your Servant soon, I'm afraid you'll have to leave Qawiun Academy-"

"Don't be too harsh on your student, Titus," a veiled Educator with black, long hair and dark yellow eyes came walking towards them while holding a furry white cat in his arms, "At least give her some words of hope."

"Ah, Educator Alphonse Iceburgh…" the adviser was intimidated by his mere presence, making him leave after they exchanged greetings. The brown-skinned Educator, looking like a desert prince in his bejeweled veil and robe, hailed from Hunter Town just beside the Golden Desert in the Land of Sandria.

"Hello there, fortunate student who summoned the Vampire," Educator Alphonse said as he offered to shake hands with her, "I'll be your Tactics Class teacher. I'm Alphonse Iceburgh, and this is my Servant, Sabretooth."

"Meowrr..." the cat glanced at Ivory and responded as if it understood its Master's statement.

"Nice to meet you! I am Ivory Sprucemint," she replied, and shook the Educator's hand, which had multiple rings with colorful gems on them.

"Since I am your Educator in your first class, I can have the authority to make you do something. Consider this a very important activity."

"An activity?"

Educator Alphonse nodded, "Miss Ivory Sprucemint. I'm not going to mark you absent, but you have to find your servant this morning before my class ends at eleven forty-five."

"I uhm… I'm sorry, but I don't have a pocket watch," she pursed her lips.

The Educator was surprised by her reply. She must be living a very poor life if she couldn't afford one.

"You need a pocket watch? Take mine, then," Lucius, who just arrived, responded as soon as he heard Ivory. He took her hand, placing his pocket watch on her palm.

"Thank you, Lucius… and thank you also for the carriage that you lent me," she held his watch tight in her hand as she looked at him.

"Not a problem," he gave her a shoulder. "I saw Ebleu by the Academy gate. Go now!"

"Thank you!" Ivory bowed at them and waved goodbye. With all her might, she ran as quickly as she could. It's already nine-fifteen in the morning and wondered where her Vampire Servant might have been.

Three big cities surround Qawiun Academy; on the leftmost is Omegalion, the central city is Alpharion, and the rightmost city is Betania. She wondered where she would start looking first.

Her carriage was different from Lucius' because it was partly open, which Ivory also preferred because she liked the feel of fresh air on her skin. "I'm sorry I had to seek your help, Mister Ebleu," she told him as she sat behind him.

"We're going to Omegalion first, left to right. What do you think, Miss Ivory?" Ebleu suggested.

"Yes, please. I'll leave the directions to you."

The horse started to move, and as she felt the warm wind brush her face, the feeling of fear of being rejected again slowly surfaced, but she still anticipated to see her Servant as soon as possible. With sheer determination, she had decided to do everything to convince him to come with her.