Brawl In The Hall

As soon as the entire class noticed the changes, they cast him strange glances. Contrary to what Robert anticipated, they didn't treat him like a genius. Forming a spell earlier than everyone else seemed to make him more of a freak.

"Alright!" Cul exclaimed, shifting everyone's attention to himself. "Glad to see that someone's getting the hang of it".

Robert furrowed his brows. "Why hasn't my grimoire formed?"

Cul laughed response to his question. Half the class didn't know why Cul was laughing, but Robert asked a question and he laughed in response, so then he must've asked a dumb question, right?

As soon as Cul started laughing, half of the class unceremoniously burst out into fits of laughter.

Cul frowned. "Can anyone tell me what's wrong with Robert's question?"

Cul's sudden and unexpected question instantly shut everyone up. Some even went as far as looking away, their cheeks stained with a brief shade of red due to their embarrassment.

"Then why were you all laughing?" Cul asked.

Robert didn't react in anyway to their laughter, nor did he react in anyway to Cul's reproach. His expression never changing from the eerie calmness that was etched onto his face.

To him, the class didn't matter. They were just passers by, acquaintances that he would be forced to make in his path to greatness. So why should he worry about what they think.

Cul turned to face Robert. "You haven't firmed a spell yet, that was just a manifestation of your element".

"What's a manifestation?" Robert asked. Cul chuckled resulting in a few hidden snickers and chuckles.

"A manifestation is the materialization of one's innermost opinion of their element". Cul explained. "For example, I am a fire elemental mage. I think fire is dangerous and fierce hence my manifestation".

As soon as he said those words, flames burst out from his body. The flames formed a brief outline around his body, instantly increasing the temperature of the classroom.

Almost immediately, the entire classroom burst into applause. Even Robert who would've seen himself as difficult to please couldn't help but raise an eye brow.

"It's nothing". Cul said while bowing slightly. The applause started dying down and he frowned. "Did I tell you to stop clapping?!"

As soon as he said those words, the tempo and crescendo of the applause increased once more. Robert smiled. He was beginning to like this teacher more and more.

"Now, until five more people manage to get a manifestation of their element then no one leaves!"

Nobody seemed to have a problem with Cul's words. In their opinion if an evil demon could manage to do it then why couldn't they?

What Cul failed to mention was that it usually took the average person about one week of practicing before they could so much as form a brief manifestation.

He didn't know what kind of monster that the academy had inadvertently admitted when they took in Robert.

The entire class spanned for two more hours. No one else managed to form a manifestation of their elements, much to their chagrin. They felt that they shouldn't have been outdone by some devil spawn. Only Ben and the boy that spoke to robert earlier seemed not to be discriminative.

"What class are we having next?" Robert turned to his side and asked the boy.

"Name's Archy by the way". The boy muttered. Robert nodded to show that he heard the boy's hidden sentiments and urged him to answer. "And like I said earlier, this is the first day of school".

Robert's head cocked upwards, suddenly remembering that he had asked that question a few hours prior.

They spent the next two hours memorizing random dates and landmarks. Robert felt that they shouldn't be subjected to learn history in a school that teaches magic, but it was clear that the higher ups didn't share his sentiments.

They were released for the lunch break after the history class. Robert smiled, amusement flickering in his eyes as he saw the way young adults rushed out of the classroom like young children.

He expressed mild shock as even Ben stood up from behind him. He asked for Robert's permission and sauntered out of the classroom like the rest of the students.

He calmly stood up and walked to the door. He hated himself soon afterwards, he saw Archy on the floor, two figures standing over him. He groaned internally.

His first reaction would've been to walk away and pretend as if he didn't see anything, but then he couldn't just pretend as if he didn't know Archy, that would be another type of heartlessness.

He sighed and walked lazily towards the pair that stood over Archy.

"Leave him alone". Robert said softly. The tone of his voice made it seem like talking to them was a chore.

"Or what?" One of the figures started walking towards Robert while cracking his knuckles. Robert talked his cane lightky on the floor as of enlightening them to the fact that he had a weapon.

"You think I'm scared of a stupid cane". The figure smirked. Without any words of warning whatsoever, he punched at Robert. His first mistake.

Robert struck out with the cane, hitting the fist of the figure. He winced slightly and withdrew his fists. Robert struck out with his cane again and the figure fell on the floor while clutching his head.

"Wh-what's he to you?" The other figure seemed to be scared after seeing his partner in crime dropped after two moves.

Robert smiled. "He's my lackey". He struck out with his cane. The second figure dropped to the floor. "And nobody messes with my lackey".