Ch - 1 No fighting until I've had my strawberry milk break!

"... The most effective way to deal with the 'Frostbite' spell is by using a 'HeatBoost' potion. However, it's tough to drink a potion in the middle of a fight. Does anyone have other ideas on how to defend against it?" The teacher asked the question and then scanned the class watching faces of students. Soon, he noticed a student who was taking a nap during the lesson.

The teacher sighed and called out, "Sam," but there was no response. In frustration, the teacher threw a piece of chalk that he had in his hand towards Sam. Just before it looked like the chalk would hit Sam's hand, Sam quickly caught it between his fingers.

After catching the chalk, Sam got up quickly, trying to shake off the sleep. The teacher looked at him, a bit annoyed but also finding it somewhat amusing. Sam, was in pretty good physical shape. He has an average height, brown skin, ash hair, and striking cyan eyes.

"Sam, any thoughts on how to counter the 'Frostbite' spell?" the teacher asked, hoping to get him engaged in the class discussion.

Still a little sleepy, Sam rubbed his eyes and mumbled, "Um, um. No?"

The teacher sighed and scolded, "Sam, we're talking about important stuff in class. It's not nap time. Focus!"

Fully awake now, Sam nodded with a sheepish expression. "Sorry, sir. Didn't mean to."

The teacher continued, "It's crucial to stay focused, especially when discussing how to counter spells. Sam, go stand outside the class for a moment. Anyone else has ideas on dealing with the 'Frostbite' spell?"

One student, emma, raised her hand, and the teacher picked her. "Sir, you can use either an artifact or 'Heatwave' –"

As emma was sharing her idea, Sam left the classroom and leaned against the wall, humming to himself. He felt extremely tired because he hadn't slept well the previous few nights. A few weeks ago, while he was working at the store, his boss had tasked him with organizing the bottles on a shelf in the storage area. Unfortunately, one of the bottles slipped from his hands and broke into pieces when it hit the floor.

To make matters worse, the potion that broke was one of the expensive ones. The owner didn't spare Sam and physically punished him severely for this mistake, though avoiding his face to escape getting caught for mistreating workers. The owner insisted on reporting Sam to the guards, but Sam pleaded with his boss, promising to work double shifts for less pay to make amends.

If the guards caught him, Sam knew his life at the academy would be over. The academy provided him with food and a place to stay, and if he did well, he was hopeful about getting into the army. He had dedicated much of his time to earning money for his education. With no parents to support him, the army was the only place where someone like him, who was just average, could hope to survive.

After standing there for more than fifteen minutes, the bells started to ring, signaling the end of the class. Sam headed towards the door, eager to get some rest before the next class. With just a ten-minute break between two classes, he wanted to make the most of that time for some much-needed rest.

The teacher, whose name was John Hiler, had finished his lecture and was gathering his belongings. After noticing Sam, he allowed him to enter the class. As Sam took his seat, Prof. Hiler cast one final glance at the class. "There will be a surprise test tomorrow, and these scores will be part of the final assessment, so prepare with dedication. Good luck!" With that announcement, Hiler exited the room.

Sam heard the news and pondered it with his head resting in his hands on the desk. Sam decided to take a short break, feeling tired from the lack of sleep. He rested his head on the desk, hoping to catch a quick nap before the start of next class. However, his plans were interrupted when his friend, Jake, noticed him and gently woke him up.

"Hey, Sam, wake up! You can't afford to sleep now; there's a surprise test tomorrow. You need to prepare," Jake whispered, trying not to disturb the others in the room. John stood tall and sturdy, overshadowing Sam with his robust and towering physique. His physical strength was evident.

Rubbing his eyes, Sam replied in a sleepy and sarcastic way, "Sure, you're a genius, Jake. Thanks for waking me up." He felt really thankful that Jake woke him up at the right time.

"No problem," Jake thanked him, not realizing that Sam had been sarcastic. "Should we leave now or later?" he asked.

"Let's go. You won't let me sleep anyway. It's better to get things done before the class starts," Sam replied. Both he and Jake left the nearly empty classroom. The next class was combat training with Ser Hadrian the Swift. He was Sam's favorite teacher, and it was the only subject where he did really well.