Chapter 23: Alchemy

Chapter 23: AlchemyThey lost. Kaya tried her best, showing off water and wind spells she hadn’t used yesterday in her duel with Caius. But without anyone to distract the Professor, there was very little chance for real success, so time just ran out without her getting into the inner ring. "A commendable attempt. But an enemy will always aim to divide and conquer. A task like this is difficult to win if you act alone. The moment your partner was too weak to continue, the drill was over," Professor Kragsten explained with an encouraging smile mostly to Kaya who was gritting her teeth in frustration while breathing hard due to exertion. "You did great," Caius told the two ladies when they got back to their seats. Kaya was pouting but Eloise just looked glad it was over. "Thank you," Eloise said with a grin and her palms pressed together. "We lost," Kaya pointed out. "Trust me, you did great," Caius told her and she sighed. "Thanks, I guess," she let out in a low voice. Caius shook his head. Because of his and Aurelius’ success, Kaya must have thought the drill was meant to be won. It wasn’t. And that became clear as the class continued and pairs of students descended into the arena to give the drill a try. Everyone lost. In fact, by the time it was all over, besides the pair of Caius and Aurelius, Kaya and Eloise were undoubtedly the best and that was because they actually ran out the clock. Everyone else had one or both members pushed out of the outer ring. Some students had taken note of the serpent spell’s weakness but seeing as it had been attacked twice, Professor Kragsten was even more careful ensuring it wasn’t so easily targeted. That and an even more intense attack pattern ensured no one got to run out the clock like Kaya and Eloise. By the end of class, Kaya was smiling again. In fact, she was grinning. "Aim for the scale! Are you blind?!" She yelled once at a group that was not aiming for the Lightning serpent at all. She looked to be enjoying the sight of others struggling and falling even worse than she did. Caius just chuckled at her amusement. Despite the all-around losses though, one other group did stand out. A group made up of Aurelius’ friends; Baler Khione and Doran Langston. Baler Khione fought with Ice Magic and Doran Langston with Earth Magic which he used to conjure two giant fists that did well for defense and a brawling sort of attack. The foundations of what Doran would eventually become known for: Earth Golem Magic. Their team lasted the longest besides Kaya and Eloise but when they inevitably lost, Baler Khione yelled at his partner Doran, "You idiot. I told you, DEFENSE!!! You can’t do anything right, you godsdamned peasant!" "Sorry," Doran said and cowered while some in the class sniggered. "Harsh," Kaya said with a little frown. On his way back to his seat, frowning and with Doran walking dejectedly behind him, Baler glanced at Eloise and brightened up as he raised a hand in a wave, "Hey, Eloise." Eloise waved back, her usual smile on her face but when Baler was gone and back in his seat, she saw Kaya looking at her surprised at how naturally she had responded to someone who was just so rude. Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What?" Eloise asked, confused. "Nothing," Kaya said and looked away. The Combat Magic class ended with many of the students aching and yet, while they were frustrated at their losses, the vast majority had fire in their eyes. They had to get better. Even someone like Eloise who had very little interest in combat, thought the class was the right kind of eventful. At the very least, she could watch others get beaten up and stay out of it as best she could. As he walked out of class with Kaya and Eloise by his sides, Caius caught sight of Delia Kragsten and almost like she sensed his gaze, she glanced over and locked eyes with him. She held his gaze for five seconds and then frowned with a look akin to hate in her stormy grey eyes. "What—?" Caius started to ask in confusion but she had already turned away and walked on ahead. ••• The Alchemy classroom was a long corridor journey away and when they all entered, their tables were littered with kits that Caius likened to chemistry sets. Except that no school he had ever been to had such quality-looking materials. These seemed more like the type you’d find in a preppy private school. Which fits considering Lochxen was mostly populated by the Rich and Noble. Most of whom were snobby brats. "Easy. You’re one of them now, remember?" Samantha’s voice suddenly chided in his head. Caius’ eyes widened slightly in surprise, ’When did you get here?’ He asked. "I told you. I’m always here." ’Right.’ The seats were in pairs and Eloise pulled Kaya to her side before she had the chance to sit with Caius which left Caius to sit with Doran Langston since Aurelius and Baler Khione were already partnered up. "H-Hi." Caius took the nervous hand presented to him and shook it. "Hello. I’m Caius." "I-I’m Doran," Doran said as they released each other’s hands. Doran Langston. In a class filled with nobles and children of the wealthy, this nervously smiling young man was really the one with the truly unique background. Lochxen accepted all students regardless of background so long as they fulfilled its one requirement; Prove you’re the best among the rest by advancing to the Blossoming Barrier on or before the age of 20. It was a singular rule but it had ensured 99% of students at Lochxen were Nobles or just had rich parents as those were the only ones with access to good enough interpretations of the Arcane Codex to achieve advancement to the Third Circle before they turned 21. Commoners were rare at Lochxen and Doran Langston was one of the few. He had achieved the nigh impossible by advancing to the Third Circle at Nineteen. And now that he was here, surrounded by his fellow students all of whom hailed from one Noble or Rich lineage or the other, and had had free access to resources and opportunities he had had to strive and struggle for his whole life, he realized how much he hated them. His hate manifested in fear mostly because he also realized how out of place he was. These were all people with powerful backing who could make life and learning difficult for him without him being able to do anything. He knew he had to adapt. So he strove to make himself appear as ’small’ as he possibly could. The nervous way of speaking, the meekness to the point of being a pushover, was all an act. Unfortunately, in [To Kill a Demon Lord...], the decision to put on the act and the many more poor choices Doran Langston made after led him down a dark path that eventually led to his death. But not before he left behind a powerful and terrifying Legend as ’The Mad Golem King’. Caius was reminiscing about reading the interesting but tragic saga when the portal on the wall appeared to announce their teacher’s arrival. Dressed in a gown just as revealing as the one she wore yesterday, and striking a sexy pose that made every boy gulp, was Arlette Louvene. Caius almost facepalmed himself but then decided it was not his fault. Arlette’s lack of real presence in the original story made her so forgettable that he hadn’t remembered she taught Alchemy. Arlette surveyed the class, with a smile on her sexy face that made some of the boys drool. Compared to her, Professor Kragsten might as well have been completely covered up. There was something about Arlette that seemed and felt sexual. Maybe it was the view of her smooth creamy thighs. Or maybe it was the large amount of cleavage she comfortably displayed. Who knows? Whatever it was, hearts were beating fast. Caius knew this because blood was pumping in bodies so hard, the scent was getting overpowering. "Good afternoon students. I am Professor Arlette Louvene and I’ll be trying my best to teach you Alchemy. I say ’trying’ because Alchemy is a very particular expertise. Not all of you will get the hang of it, which is very fine. I expect more than half the class will be gone by the end of the semester to seek out other specializations instead. After all, statistically, you can’t all be Alchemists." Arlette said all that, demoralizing as it was, with such an alluring smile, that Caius could see boys inching forward in their seats. He doubted they’d leave even if they didn’t end up liking Alchemy. Also, she punctuated all that with a wink at him that almost every boy in class started to argue among themselves that it was meant for them instead. The arguments became quite loud, and yet, Arlette watched with a smile like she was having fun. Eventually, she called for quiet and was instantly obeyed with slight hints of salivation from the male crowd before she then said in a gentle but firm voice, "Let’s begin."