"Fate of the Unchosen"

Everyone was shocked because they just thought that their classmates were just latecomers. From thirty students to just eighteen, it was certainly unbelievable!

"The Educators said it's normal…" Adviser Titus said and sighed. "I guess not everyone can handle the lessons."

Arcea raised her right hand.

"Yes, Miss Knightwing?"

"Sir… What will happen to them if they quit the academy…?" she asked curiously.

"Well… They are going to be taken to the Oracle in the Silverblade Castle to return their mana to Destinia."

"But sir, if their mana is to be taken, how will their Servants replenish their mana?!"

"That's the end of being Destinia's chosen one. The birthmark will also disappear… together with their Servants."

Noisy murmurs were then heard from the panicking students. Some of them wept for their old friends who had quit, while some were terrified as they imagined themselves in their places. Not everyone is destined to be chosen by the Goddess Destinia, so it would be such a waste if the powers would just disappear.

However, having immense powers bestowed to them means they had to bear the heavy responsibility of serving and protecting their Kingdom...

The adviser then hit the table with his fist, and the loud bam made the students settle down. "Listen, everyone! Qawiun Academy is only for the brave. If you have no guts, no determination, and no skill, you will never be allowed to graduate."

One student muttered, "Maybe they could not handle the pressure because our batch was chosen by the Goddess to participate in the Servant Competition…"

And another one said, "Perhaps they have no confidence to beat their batchmates…"

"Class, we have to think positive amidst this predicament," Titus told them. "There's a higher chance of winning the Servant Competition with less numbers."

"But those few numbers are the strongest ones, then isn't it harder for us to win?" asked a student, and the whole class agreed either by nodding or saying yes.

Adviser Titus scratched the back of his head, not knowing what to say anymore. "Alright, alright. Calm down. Whatever happens, just do your best," he then reached out for the chalk and scribbled on the black board.

Ivory murmured as she read them, "Special… Specialization?"

After writing, Titus then wrote the names of the remaining eighteen students and faced the class. "Starting your second year, you will all spend more time honing your special skills. Perhaps in your first year, you have a favorite topic or something that you think you are good at. You can write anything you like, and me and the Educators will organize a special class for your specializations… Starting from the first row, Miss Knightwing…" He extended his arm and gave the piece of chalk to her.

Arcea just wrote 'swordsmanship', while Lucius wrote 'elemental swordsmanship'. On the other hand, Ivory was unsure what to write.

"Miss Sprucemint, are you still undecided?" Adviser Titus then gave a different chalk to the student who was next to her turn.

Ivory wanted to put in 'healing', but they might all find it weird. After all, it was not known how she managed to heal herself from those deep wounds. Aside from this, Sigmund had also told her before that she could accidentally do Conversion Magic when in danger. And she did it twice already by transforming Water into Air, condensing it to form a fog. It was a type of Advanced Magic.

Sigmund, who noticed that Ivory was taking so long in front, stood up from the window sill and approached her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the side. He then whispered to her ear, "Bird brain. Did you forget how to write?"

Sigmund's deep voice made Ivory's heartbeat quicken. While being too close with her Servant, she blushed, thinking that he was too near her… and that she never gets tired of being embarrassed because of his presence.

The two stood on the side while Ivory was watching the other students writing on the board. She looked up to Sigmund, "I don't know what to write…" and sighed. "Should I put in 'healing', 'conversion magic', or 'elemental magic'... I am really confused. Can you help me think, Sigmund?"

"Of course," he said proudly. He stood up straight beside her and explained. "Put in 'elemental magic' because if you can truly master the elements, you can do Conversion Magic in any form."

"Hmm… You're right!" She waited for another student to finish and went back to board, and with cursive letters, she wrote 'elemental magic'.

"What the hell is that writing?" Sigmund said with a smirk as she returned to her seat.

Ivory pouted, "Hmph. Meanie."

When everyone else was done, Adviser Titus copied these into a blank scroll before he announced that the day was a free day for the second years because the first years would summon their Servants, and all Educators were needed in the coliseum.

While on the way to the school gate...

"Are you both going home right away?" Arcea asked Ivory and Lucius.

"No, I'll go to Alpharion and buy something for my mother," Lucius replied.

"Eh? I'll go to Alpharion, too! Why don't we go there together?!" Ivory reacted.

"Then," Arcea ran in front of them and said excitedly, "Why don't we all go together! I suddenly want to go shopping!"

With their respective carriages, the three, with their Servants, proceeded to the lively streets of Alpharion City. The carriages were parked in a designated space, and they started walking, leaving their coachmen behind.

Ivory almost drooled at the display of freshly baked baguettes in the bread shop, and Sigmund teased her by covering her mouth. Meanwhile, Lucius went to the jewelry shop, and his friends followed him inside.

"Ah, Sir Lucius Goldwine! Welcome, what can we do for you?" the shopkeeper asked.

"I want to buy a necklace for my mother. Can you recommend some to me?"

"Why of course!" she excitedly responded. She knew that Lucius was the General's son, and that he could afford even the most expensive one. She brought out three necklaces for him to examine. "Here are our best necklaces."

The first one had a diamond frame ruby necklace which had a big pendant in the middle. The shopkeeper then showed a necklace consisting of three layers of square-shaped emerald stones, and finally, she showed the tear-shaped sapphire necklace.

"Hmm… I don't know what she'll like…" Lucius muttered. He then called the attention of his two female friends, but only Arcea noticed him.

"What is your mother like? I mean, her behavior or her favorites… Anything," Arcea said, hoping some information about her would help him choose.

"Uhh… She's…" Lucius was out of words. He was not sure how to answer Arcea, or if it was alright to talk about it.

Seeing his dejected expression, Arcea just patted his shoulder. "I'm sure she will like anything you give her."

He nodded at her and said thanks. He picked the emerald necklace, thinking that it had a unique design. While Arcea looked on the right side of the shop, Ivory and Sigmund were on his near left side. He heard their conversation.

"If only I had some money, I'd really want to buy that…" she pointed to the moon-shaped crystal necklace. "It's so pretty…"

"It's ugly," Sigmund retorted, and chuckled afterwards, seeing his Master pout in annoyance.

As soon as Lucius heard Ivory, he whispered to the shopkeeper, "I'll also buy that necklace… the one that she just mentioned. Oh, and when she asks, tell her that it's a freebie of the emerald necklace. Don't tell her that I bought it."

And when he said that, the Vampire turned his sight to his direction and narrowed his eyes...