Chapter 101 Capacity [ 1 ]

Oriana Mengral's point of view.

Finally, the second month at the academy had begun.

This meant that the real classes were about to begin.

First year cadets would be awarded credit points, a total of 500. One way to earn these points is by exploring assigned and available dungeons within the academy. If no dungeons are available, the cadet will be compensated 100 credit points.

This rule applies to all cadets. Although there are dozens of dungeons in the academy, due to the large number of students, it is difficult to keep enough dungeons available.

Like cadets, teachers also have credit points, but in their case, the situation is different.

"They get them through the lessons they teach cadets."

As professors, they don't go into dungeons; their only way to earn points is by teaching.

You may wonder why they are rewarded for lessons if it is their obligation to teach them anyway. The reason is that, like cadets, teachers need credit points for their daily needs. This system functions as their source of income.

Of course, cadets and teachers can do business with each other or apply for loans, either from others or from the academy's dungeon management center.

However, loans are not recommended.

Oriana is not the type to ask for loans.

She earns her credit points by teaching cadets.

This point system, which also affects teachers, serves a second purpose.

What if teachers didn't teach because they get nothing in return?

So, this credit point system ensures that both cadets and teachers can earn their points without any problems.

Although, of course, from time to time drawbacks do arise. In those cases, the dungeon management center steps in to solve the problems, whether you are a teacher or a cadet. If the center learns of a conflict between the two, they don't hesitate to step in to resolve it.

Oriana stared out the window.

Dawn was near, it was just after four in the morning. She was currently in her office, but soon came out and headed for the training section.

It's not uncommon for a teacher to train, but being a teacher doesn't mean they don't need to train.

In fact, it is essential that they do. Teachers are also looking to push their limits and move up to the next circle.

It's something they need too, to break their barriers and reach new heights to become stronger.

Oriana had a goal.

One that she would probably reach at some point.

But first things first, Oriana reached into her pocket and pulled out two mints.

Her first step is to relax the stress and clear her mind with the sweetness of peppermint.

It's really relaxing for her; mint is her mental strength in these situations, and of course, it clears her thoughts.

A few minutes passed, and when she finished savoring the mint, she rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, positioned herself in the center and first closed her eyes.

"Inner energy flows with mana."

"A gentleman's aura combines with mana."

"Let both flow throughout the body, and then..."

He opened his eyes and looked at his body.

A blue cloak covered his entire being; his muscles, tendons, organs and bones became tougher and stronger.

You could say he became five times stronger than before.

This is what is called "knight aura", an energy similar to mana, but developed by knights who, unable to use mana, sought their own source of power.

Discovering the aura is an extremely difficult and risky process, endangering the life of every knight.

However, Oriana felt no such difficulty in obtaining the knight aura.

She asked herself one question, over and over again.

"Why can I use mana and knight aura?"

The two energies are not supposed to be compatible, then another question arises.

"What would happen if I combined them?"

At best, Oriana would discover a new energy, one far more powerful than normal, capable of reaching unimaginable heights.

At worst, however, that same energy could kill her instantly due to the incompatibility between the two forces.

Of course, Oriana was well informed about it, but she had already discovered something crucial.

"I am capable of using both energies, but I have not yet succeeded in combining them."

Her goal is to merge aura and mana into a single energy that would allow her to achieve superior power.

Now, with the news that a dimensional rift has appeared, Oriana is more determined than ever to find a way to combine both energies and become at least as strong as a ninth-circle mage.

However, she still wasn't sure if this would work.

"I could die."

She was aware of that. But if the dimensional rift opens in a few years and monsters descend that no one can defeat, her only option is to risk her life to push her limits and be equal or stronger than a ninth circle mage.

He has a strength that no other ninth circle mage possesses, the same goes for his endurance, speed, reflexes and senses. All his physical aspects are superior. However, in the magical aspect, his level is not so high.

He lacks mana and lacks skills to control it.

These are things he needs. If I were to compare the amount of mana he possesses to that of a mage, it would be like that of a fifth circle mage.

That's very little mana for someone who is stronger than a seventh-circle mage, but still can't stand up to an eighth-circle mage, no matter how hard he tries.

From the eighth circle onwards, the power is incredibly great, so great that a seventh circle mage cannot even comprehend it.

"Haa..."

Oriana sighed.

Then she looked around, decided to sit on the floor and begin her meditation. The real classes will start in a few hours, but for the time being she will try to combine both energies.

***

-Scene change.

-Gloriana Mengral's point of view.

She had finished getting ready and was on her way to the classroom, but Eliza's voice echoed from her right shoulder.

"It's a very nice place."

"..."

Gloriana was nervous, however.

"You won't be seen by others, will you?"

"No, only you can see me. It's a presence concealment spell, so only you and your boyfriend can see me."

"..."

Gloriana felt defeated trying to explain that Asher is not her boyfriend... for now, at least.

Every time she tried to explain to Eliza, Eliza would interrupt her before she could even begin to speak.

Although this annoyed Gloriana, she knew better than to get mad at Eliza. After all, she is incredibly powerful, so powerful that no human in this world could defeat her.

Her power is close to the mythical and mysterious power of the tenth circle, that power that gives you the title of a god.

"Haa... Okay."

"Come to think of it, will you always train me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"We fairies don't train humans. We only do when we establish a newly appointed contract, but after that there is no training."

"I understand, but you would at least help me in a dangerous situation, right?"

"No."

"..."

Gloriana remained silent.

Despite having someone so powerful sitting on her shoulder, looking in all directions, she would receive no help or training.

So what was the real purpose of having a contract with a fairy?

However, he dismissed that idea. Thanks to Eliza, he can now use light magic and some skills she taught him.

What else does he need? Nothing more, of course.

Gloriana was more than satisfied with what she had been given; she wouldn't seek more.

But she knows she needs to become stronger, though power doesn't come quickly.

"I understand. Even if I'm about to die, you can't help me, right?"

"That's right, we fairies don't help humans. They must seek their own answers to their questions."

"Hehe."

"..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Gloriana sighed and kept walking. Soon she reached the classroom of class one, which was already full of cadets. Her gaze wandered over to a group of six people who had been sitting in the same spot since the first day at the academy.

She hurried to take a seat next to Luna and Asher, her favorite spot.

More than anything, Gloriana was eager to see what changes the classes would bring starting today.

Today was the start of the real classes at the academy, which meant that the training and lessons that the teachers would be giving to the cadets would begin.

It was not only she who was this curious; as she watched the others, she could see that everyone was anxiously waiting to find out what the teachers would be teaching starting today.

Also today, credit points would be handed out and they would have the opportunity to enter dungeons.

From now on, trainings would be every day.

"Haa..."

Gloriana sighed, but Luna looked at her and asked:

"You look tired."

Indeed, she was. Training with Eliza in the fairy world to be able to use her light magic had left her exhausted both mentally and physically for a long period of time.

Other than that, however, she was fine.

"Mmm, yeah, I'm.... kind of tired."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing important, I just trained, that's all."

"You didn't do anything different, did you?"

"..."

Gloriana looked Luna in the eyes, meeting her ash gray gaze.

"What do you mean?"

"You know..."

Luna pointed at Asher, and then Gloriana realized what she meant. She immediately tried to deny it.

"I don't know what you're talking about, don't think weird things, Luna."

"Hahaha, just kidding. Coming from you, you'd never do something like that with him, would you?"

"..."

Gloriana shrugged her shoulders.

Luna was right. Gloriana knew it was impossible for her to get closer to Asher, such as talking more casually, like friends who had known each other for a long time would.

Kind of like what Luna was doing, not paying attention to Gloriana's status and position, being one of the princesses who will inherit the throne.

"Yes... you're right."

"..."

Luna then looked into Gloriana's red eyes.

"Haa..."

"Alright, then you won't mind if I'm his bride..."

"Not that, I won't let you take him away from me..."

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere became uncomfortable for Gloriana.

Clank.

The door to the living room opened.

Oriana walked through the door and stood in the center of the podium, looking at the cadets earnestly.

"First year cadets, the real classes begin today..."

He paused, looking around at all the cadets.

"Credit points will be handed out in about three days, after an evaluation."

"..."

All the cadets murmured among themselves.

Evaluation? What exactly was he referring to?

"The evaluation will be done every three months. It is to measure all of your capabilities: strength, endurance, speed, reflexes, skill control, and the amount of mana you currently possess."

His words carried great meaning.

It was a way to determine if the cadets were really advancing and becoming stronger than before by evaluating them in all aspects, both physical and magical.

Of course, the strongest cadets already knew this. This assessment would now determine true potential and who was the strongest in the class and in the entire first year.

Quickly, however, everyone turned their gaze to Asher.

Somehow, everyone seemed to know that he would be the one who would score the best in all aspects.

"The ability assessment has three stages: physical, magical, and one of the most important, mental. They should already know what tests they will face in each stage."

Of course, everyone knew. At first, Oriana explained the first two stages, physical and magic, but few knew about the mindset stage.

"It's a way to assess whether they are mentally strong, whether they are capable of not succumbing to a mind-controlling wizard or to monsters that manipulate humans."

As if she had read the thoughts of all the cadets, Oriana went on to explain.

"All cadets, make your way to the class one combat section."

The cadets stood up. This evaluation would take place in the training section, a large enough and sturdy enough place, perfect for a time like this....