Independent Study
"There is a reason there are no 'virtue Facets.' That is because the Vice Facets ARE those virtues. Each Facet of this category holds the truths of both extremes within them. A Greed Mage can just as easily grow strong by being a selfless philanthropist as he can hoarding every Light he finds.
"The same is true for all of these Facets. Pride, Gluttony, Sloth, all of these will require you to explore both sides down the line."
"This misconception is very hurtful not just to Mages like you and me, but also to our perception of our Facets. That's why it's important to clear this up as soon as possible.
"If you have the Sloth Facet and refuse to work even when stuck in a comprehension rut, you will never break past and into the other half of your Facet. And yes, I said HALF. A Vice Facet is like a coin, with two sides. Only by placing both of these sides together can you create a completed product.
"I must warn you all. As Vice Mages, you will often be met with scorn or ridicule by the mortals or even the more ignorant Mages, those who do not know just how deep your Facets can truly go.
"They may see Wrath Mages as brutes, Sloth Mages as lazy, Pride Mages as full of false confidence and bravado, but you will know the truth. Each of you can be capable of great things and terrible things, and may even experience both in your search of understanding.
"If you remember what I've told you just know, then anything is possible. Dismissed."
The students shuffled out of their chairs, happy to get out a few minutes earlier than the scheduled time. Fate was among these students, but stopped when he heard Professor Andena call out to him and the kitsubus girl.
"Fate, Cait, hold on."
Fate and the fox girl shared a glance as Professor Andena walked over to them.
"Yes, professor?" Fate asked.
Andena's black eyes flicked from Fate to Cait and then back again, her eyes stopping on the former as she made up her mind to talk to him first.
"Your Radiation professor, Professor Trept, thinks this back-and-forth between category classes isn't doing you any good. I see you've become a Journeyman like Cait, but all accounts say that this happened in Enchantment Development.
"Principal Alessandra wanted me to ask you personally if you think this is helping you. I only bring it up because I didn't feel your Facet stir in the slightest during class. Cait, on the other hand, experienced an improvement, if an astronomically small one."
"I don't know, professor," Fate admitted. "I feel like this information *could* be helpful, but no matter how much I think, I can't find a way to relate these to my Facet."
"Why is this so difficult for him?" the fox girl asked skeptically, her lengthened canines flashing in the light of the glow crystals as she spoke. "He's a Vice Mage, isn't he?"
"Actually, his Facet is Negativity." Andena shot a withering glance at the girl. "And it is not your turn to speak."
"Sorry, professor," the kitsubus replied, giving Fate the stink eye when the professor turned away.
Fate could only mourn his bad luck. She didn't think it was his fault, did she? Looks like he made an enemy of yet another noble.
"Anyway, the principal thinks we should give you independent study. This way, you can advance your Facet through your own research. No one here at the Academy has anything more than a fleeting guess on how yours works, so you'd be able to teach yourself better than any of us can."
"What if I feel that the only way to improve is to go to class?" Fate asked. While the information he learned in class today didn't feel relevant to him now, it could become important later.
"You'd be free to do so, as long as you aren't disruptive. As a perk, you'd have access to everything in the Academy library, even those reserved for higher-grade students."
"It's worth a shot, I guess," Fate replied. He had taught himself before, and he'd even be able to go to classes whenever he felt it necessary.
"Then go to Alessandra's office after the rest of your classes today and tell her your decision."
Fate nodded and left, leaving the kitsubus Cait and the professor to discuss in private.
His other three classes passed by swiftly, history in particular requiring a test that he was confident he passed. The time arrived for him to meet with Alessandra, after which he would finally be able to get a Familiar.
As always, he knocked on her door before entering, taking a seat behind her desk as he patiently waited for her to finish the paperwork she was working on. When she finished, she placed the stack in a tray on her desk and it vanished in a flash of light.
"I assume you're here about the independent study offer?"
"Yes. I've decided to accept."
"Alright, then. I've already drafted up all of the paperwork. Just sign here, and you'll be enrolled in independent study."
As Fate signed, he asked curiously, "Has anyone else ever done this?"
"It's uncommon, but it's happened before, yes," Alessandra told him. "Every now and then we get someone that can't wrap their heads around their category class, or even regress from the teachings. Then we offer independent study, and they usually advance by leaps and bounds afterward."
"Usually?"
"There's always one student every year that just isn't fit for their Facet," she said sorrowfully. "It pains me, because these students often display great talent in other areas, or even other Facets.
"They were just born with the wrong Facet for them. Something that by all account should be impossible, and yet I've seen it more than I'd like."
Fate finished signing and slid the paper across to her. She nodded as she took it, placing it in the same tray as earlier.
"And now you don't have to show up to your category classes unless you want to," she explained. "Whichever class you think would help you, you can go to. I expect great things from you, Fate."
"Thank you, Principal Alessandra," Fate said.
"The gathering for the Familiar rally starts soon. I suggest you hurry."