Chapter 38: Chosen few

His office was nothing special—a simple oak table and chair with a few decorative paintings on the walls and a clean wooden floor with a velvet carpet draped upon it. A single book shelf was leaned against the wall, with another one across it. 

Professor Eugene idly tapped on the desk as he stared at various papers on it. Profiles for all of the students recommended for the new curriculum.

"Lucinda, her help within the festival will be invaluable. She is in her third year, so she is not exactly lacking in experience. She also played a big part in last year's victory; there is not much to improve with her. But it will be prudent to include her in the new curriculum; it will help to get her more accustomed to her would-be team."

As the only spawn of Octavia, her Familial Arts and traits were valued. Not just by the academy but by the nation of Galadriel as a whole. Other spawns could simply not compare to her. She could create never-before-seen spells on a whim and even replicate other Familial Arts with just a glance. All because of a simple trait. 

Being the spawn of a God of magic, war, and navigation gave you a number of advantages. A boundless mana pool, the ability to excel in magic at a frightening rate, and with Octavia also being a war god, Lucinda possessed natural battle ferocity and absurd superhuman abilities. Though there were no traits for the navigation aspect, as it was not a concept Octavia originally governed over,.

Lucinda was powerful—more powerful than maybe even the headmaster. She was only really held back by her young age and lack of creativity.

("For a sorcerer, what matters most is tenacity and creativity. Throughout history, many set spells were created, with specific glyphs and chants created along with the spells. Yet very rarely are those spells exercised.")

Even those lacking in magical talent could create their own spells with enough effort. However, all that came down to their way of thinking and imagination. Could they envision the spell? Could they specify the effects? Could they bring the spell to life?

So what held Lucinda back from truly being the strongest was a lack of creativity. But then again, her being an Inheritor made up for that fact.

("Then there is Elijah's kid and the princess.") Eugene's eyes glazed over two sets of other papers. ("The spawn of the Goddess of creation and a spawn of the God of destruction, quite a duo.") He mused.

("Creation magic is no doubt useful, and from what Alexander told me, this Agatha has already somewhat mastered the art. Or she at least managed to memorize the Gregory Astrothian blue prints.") There was a lack of experience however. ("But with the Gregory family's Familial Arts, it would be foolish not to include her. This is also an opportunity to see if she is an Inheritor.)

("Then Princess Mirabella. Her destructive capabilities are only exceeded by the likes of Lucinda and Aleister; in terms of destruction, not even her older sister can compare. It won't be too difficult to improve her. I know Aleister's Familial Arts well; I should be able to teach her the basics and help her improve. And like Agatha, she might be an Inheritor; the chance is likely, seeing as no one in her family is nor is Aleister.")

("Though less impressive, there is also Victoria. Her capabilities don't lie in battle, but her mind should be her greatest asset. Considering she could create magical objects on a whim or if she's bored, that is a true fact. Though I would like to see her train of thought in battle, The curriculum should be helpful with that. Along with the recommended students, there would be General Mai and Guinevere; the former is not exactly known for her strategic mind, and Lady Guinevere's intelligence lies elsewhere and not really in battle.")

There was also the Stark prodigy, but Eugene hardly knew enough about him.

("Verdantis has a total of at least four inheritors; if we want to win a battle with numbers, this will not be enough.")

Eugene looked at the last three papers and, reaching out, grabbed one.

("Mikoto Yukio, recommended by Alexander himself. I won't underestimate a veteran's keen sense, but I've yet to see this boy's potential. But apparently he was able to keep up with the Gregory heir.") For someone who was not a spawn, that was an impressive feat. 

"That sums up those recommended, five in total. Not enough." He himself had two he wanted to recommend, but the two were too weak as of now. They would not make it with this curriculum. So for the time being, these five would have to suffice.

"Time to gather them."

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The usual sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves have been replaced by a deafening stillness. 

The once-restored vibrant and lush canopy of trees now stood lifeless and wilted, their leaves turning a sickly shade of black and brown. The bark of the trees was cracked and charred, as if they had been scorched by an intense fire. Some of the trees have even been uprooted, their roots exposed and twisted in unnatural shapes.

The ground was covered with a layer of dark, ashen soil that seems to suck life out of anything that comes into contact with it. The grass and foliage that once carpeted the forest floor have wilted and withered away, leaving behind a barren, desolate landscape.

Strange, twisted branches reach out from the scorched trees like gnarled fingers, casting eerie shadows on the ground below. The air was heavy with the smell of burnt wood and decay, a stark contrast to the fresh, earthy scent that usually permeates the forest.

Lucinda could not help, but internally, wince.

("And the forest had just been restored too...") The spawn of Octavia could not help but feel a tad bit guilty due to this.

*Huff* *Huff*

Lucinda directed her gaze to the one mostly responsible for the destruction (she herself may have had a part in it too.), Princess Mirabella.

The princess was breathing heavily due to exhaustion, and her body was decorated with scratches while her uniform was smudged with dirt. 

"Damn... *huff*... you're a real... *huff*...pain." Mirabella managed to squeeze out between breaths. Lucinda could just give a wry smile at the exhausted princess.

"Thanks?" She did not quite know how to respond to that.

"Are you okay?" A squeaky voice asked as the young Juliana approached Mirabella. She threw a glance at the girl before giving her a huff.

"I'm fine, just exhausted." Mirabella stated with a somewhat softer tone as she took in another breath.

"Well, you've definitely improved, princess (if only slightly)." Lucinda informed, initially, when she came to the destroyed forest to examine the destruction, she did not expect the second princess to be there too. Neither did she expect the princess to pick a fight.

Though maybe it would be more accurate to say the princess had sought her out for improvement. 

"Tch, I told you to stop calling me princess; it's Mirabella." She huffed. "And you're talkin' shit. I haven't improved."

"But you seem to have." Juliana spoke up, though she was not very sure of her statement, "Your mana has increased, no?"

"That's all." Mirabella murmured. "I still can't manage complex spells. What a pain."

"Well, you'll get there, don't worry." Lucinda encouraged with a smile. "It's just that I'm not really the best when it comes to teaching magic." Her words merely caused both Juliana and Mirabella to look at her confusedly.

"But are you not the spawn of a Goddess of magic?" Juliana questioned.

"Yeah, magic is like second nature to me because of that fact." Lucinda confirmed. "But that is exactly why I make a bad teacher. Magic is too easy for me; I don't really even need to know the basics to unleash a spell. So I can't really teach you much, safe for helping you become more resilient." She further explained.

Mirabella pondered over her words. Being more resilient could help, but when it came to dishing out destructive punishment, few could compare. But that was all she was good for—large-scale destruction. Hell, she could not even properly master defensive spells.

Which is the way she underwent training to push her agility and flexibility to the limit. If she could not defend, then she would dodge. Yet that would not always be an option.

"Doesn't matter." She finally spoke up. "I'll just bulldoze through my enemies."

"Well, I guess that is an option." Lucinda sheepishly replied. Mirabella was determined; she would give the princess that. Unfortunately, that would not be enough, more often than not. Her train of thought would have continued had a voice not invaded her head.

[Agatha Gregory, Mikoto Yukio, Princess Mirabella, Lucinda, and Victoria Eizenberg, please report to the headmasters office as soon as possible."] Lucinda noted the familiar voice of Professor Eudora, and she took note of how Mirabella seemed to hear the message as well. 

"Invading our heads, how irksome." Mirabella spat. "What do they even want?"

"I am not really sure." Lucinda answered, the festival was still a month away, so it could not have been for that. She also noted a familiar name, the masked boy. What did the headmaster want with him?

She supposed her questions would get their answers soon.