Third Year Begins - Part 1

Samuel awoke the next morning well in time and prepared for the day ahead, the entrance ceremony would take place in a few hours so he spent his time preparing himself and having a quick breakfast with Faleah before she had to return to work.

She wished him well with a hug before leaving him and Samuel couldn't help but smile and feel at home in her embrace, they had really become family after some time had passed.

Samuel noticed his academy robes had one more large stripe making it three in total which symbolized him as a third year student. He was prepared to see most former third years working at the school as assistants, roughly 80% of all third years that graduated chose that path to continue learning magic at higher levels.

But Samuel knew he wasn't going to do that, he had other more important matters to tend to after he graduated. With a final sigh and goodbye to the staff he took his leave and made his way through the city back to the teleportation circle.

Like the years before, when he arrived at the house of dimensions the queues were long with new first year students. A smaller line for second years that had a much faster time passing through, and lastly a small exit for third years.

The guards at that one confirmed the students of the third year with a few recognizable scans before allowing them to pass through, Samuel knew that the real deal would start at the third year. Thats where his faction would be properly created and he wouldn't be surprised if Vuloc had already turned in the applications beforehand.

He passed through the gates and saw the long lines of first years, many of which were looking around at this place with innocent new eyes, seeing the marvelous magical sky city for the first time.

He noticed a looming shadow block his path and turned to witness who was blocking his path when he saw Amanda Switchtrix, looking victorious as ever she had about fourty other students at her side or behind her.

"Looking smug as ever princess!" Samuel smiled and he felt a presence behind him. Markar stood at least three heads taller than Samuel with his arms crossed, slowly enough walking up from almost every direction on the side, his entire faction quickly joined in.

Some were second years, but most of them were third years. All his friends and allies stood behind him, and suddenly Amanda wasn't looking so smug anymore, instead she looked shocked because although the amount of people behind Samuel were fewer in number, she quickly realized it was quantity versus quality.

Samuel looked to the side where the long lines of students had all turned their heads toward the big groups, so with a big grin Samuel let loose allowing his magic aura to roar, anyone with magic in the vicinity could feel the immense pressure of pure mana.

It made Amanda take a step back as several guards and teachers looked on with worry to see if they needed to step in. But Samuel just walked forward with confidence and with each step closer the members of Amanda's faction were slowly moving to the side, which allowed Samuel to walk up right in front of Amanda.

She and one of her followers were all that were left standing, Samuel didn't hesitate to utilize his pressure to stare her down. Reluctantly she stepped to the side with a scoff, and soon enough Samuel and his faction all passed through.

Samuel turned his head to one of the assistants looking at the situation, it was Khazan looking proud as he stood leaning towards a nearby wall, he nodded at Samuel who tapped his heart once in return.

All the guards and teachers quickly relaxed, a scuffle between third year factions could get messy. But mostly because of the people that were a part of Samuels faction, they all looked and felt like strong people.

Intuition usually never lied, as the sparks in the air quickly dispersed and Samuel made his way all the way to the assembly area where he took his place with all the other third years. The second years in his faction took their leave to stand with the second years, but he didn't stand alone as he had all the third years in his faction with him.

They kind of surrounded him in a formation almost like a king. The wait took quite some time as all the new first years had to get through and once that was done the headmaster and the main staff assembled quite quickly after it.

"Welcome young and new souls to this sacred institution!" Vazal began his usual speech, and kept it going mostly the same until the end, where he suddenly changed demeanor. "Our nation has had quite a lot of strife lately... young people like yourself dying, needless death has filled this college, and this year we will be working a lot more towards safety..."

"Too many people have lost their life because of incompetence, so this year there will be zero tolerance to fights between factions and students hurting other students won't be looked at kindly. Break our laws and you will find an easy way out of this college, fights haveto be mediated if you do feel the necessity to resort to violence!"

"I hope I make myself clear!" His voice thundered far and wide enough for every person present to hear it, Samuel could only sigh out of relief. He didn't need to worry much about anyone messing with him or his faction directly.

"Otherwise I bid thee welcome to this school, academy, college!" The headmaster finished his speech and everyone started clapping, but were silenced by one of the head teachers taking place and instructing the first years to follow into formations for new classes to be formed.

The second years and third years were quickly sent in the right direction, and thats where Samuel nodded to his faction and they all split up. Funnily enough, none of his faction members were in the candidate class.

Candidates although specially selected because of their unique skills didn't mean that others were also just as unique. But the college could only accept the most promising looking ones into the candidate classes.

But even joining the college in the first place ranked you among the elite, no matter which class you were a part of. Samuel quickly made his way over to the classroom where the small introduction would be held.

He was one of the first to arrive and sat down with a sigh at the top where his team would usually sit, he sat alone now... until another student came and sat down next to him.

It was one of his classmates, he couldn't remember the name because he usually never cared about them, but his recent classes in being a part of the Gillfall family had made that change, now he was regretting not putting the name to memory.

"Vazmarx..." The young man with black hair and a fierce and sharp face spoke... "s m'ah name!" He turned to Samuel and he could see that the hair was mostly sharp with a tint of red to it and the mans eyes were red in color.

"Samuel..." He replied with a nod and Vazmarx leaned back with a sigh. "In one way I am glad to not be the only one to have lost my entire team, but in another way I am sorry..." The young man spoke with a heavy sigh.

Samuel of course realized instantly what the man meant, the class of candidates that had started with fourty had been reduced to twenty six. "My condolences!" Samuel replied and Vazmarx nodded.

"Say you wouldn't have some more room in your faction? I'd like to join!" His question took Samuel by surprise but eventually Samuel shrugged. "Plenty of room if you can make yourself useful!"

"From one child of the mana to another, I am pretty sure I know how to fight!" The man grinned at Samuel who raised both eyebrows in surprise.

He instantly took a more defensive look at Vazmarx who seemed completely relaxed. "Hey I like keeping things to myself alright!" Vazmarx said with a shrug. "That does not help your situation in the least!" Samuel replied.

"I can swear on whatever you like that I have no ill intent!" Vazmarx said with a grin, Samuel was about to reply when the door opened and Professor Leipeg came in with his big books, the entire class had assembled at that point.

Samuel kept quiet but remained on guard. "Welcome to the third year students, I am glad to see so many of you are still here, but I am also saddened for the reasons the others cannot join us!" The professor spoke with his old grovely voice.

"Now for this year, things will be a bit different than originally planned, as you may have already understood!" The professor took out a few books and started magically writing on the board.