Chapter 48: Marcus and Elen

Another key change I noticed was the appearance of a character who was meant to be in Kyle’s class according to the original timeline. This character wasn’t part of Kyle’s main group, but his significance to the broader world couldn’t be underestimated. Sitting near the front of the classroom was the heir of the Ironhold family, one of the four Great Ducal Houses in Luminara. He had long dark brown hair and sharp hazelnut eyes that seemed to assess everything carefully. Even at our young age, he was remarkably built and muscular, standing nearly 1.9 meters tall, an impressive physical presence that made him stand out. House Ironhold controlled the mountain districts to the north, their territory marked by banners displaying a brown bear rampant on an earthen field. Their Earth Bear bloodline offered tremendous defensive capabilities and unmatched endurance, making them formidable in prolonged conflicts. As far as I could recall from the novel, they never crossed paths with the protagonist significantly and consistently avoided major political troubles. Their family philosophy seemed to be "steady as stone, strong as mountain". A doctrine of patience and durability over flashy displays of power. They built things to last and avoided unnecessary conflicts. Throughout Luminara, their influence was evident in the city’s infrastructure: the most durable bridges, the strongest defensive walls, and the most reliable public works all bore the subtle marks of Ironhold craftsmanship and engineering expertise. His presence in this class instead of Kyle’s represented another significant deviation from the established timeline. I observed him discreetly as Sylvia continued her lecture. He took careful notes of important events, embodying the patient, thorough nature his family was known for. His very presence suggested that the social dynamics of both elite classes would be fundamentally different from what I had expected. This was yet another variable I would need to account for as I navigated this increasingly unpredictable version of the academy storyline. A few more students caught my eye, individuals I knew from the novel had good potential and would make valuable allies in the challenges ahead. I decided to approach one of them during the brief break Sylvia had given us to review our course materials. Elen Brightwater sat right ahead of me, her distinctive clear blue hair and eyes were the same striking shade, an unnatural coloration she had gained after awakening her water-element bloodline. She came from a noble family, like most students in this Elite class, though they were positioned at the lower end of the aristocratic hierarchy. Not much had been detailed about the Brightwater family in the novel, but Elen herself had been described as one of the top-performing students who would play a crucial role in defending the city during a major crisis in our second year. I stood up and made my way over to her desk, noting how she stiffened slightly as she saw me approach. Her reputation for excellence in theory was well-deserved, based on the neat organization of her notes and the thoughtful questions she’d been asking during Sylvia’s lecture. "Elen," I said, keeping my tone casual and friendly. "I noticed you were taking detailed notes about the practical applications section. Are you planning to sign up for any of the optional modules?" She looked up at me with hidden wariness, her blue eyes assessing my intentions carefully. "Adrian," she replied with polite but distant formality. "I... yes, I was considering the alchemy module. I thought It would complement my water abilities well." I could sense her discomfort immediately. Like other nobles, she was clearly familiar with the original Adrian’s reputation for pursuing females relentlessly. "That’s a smart choice," I said, pulling up a nearby chair but maintaining a respectful distance. "I was thinking about alchemy as well, along with blacksmithing. Practical skills seem more valuable than just theory, don’t you think?" Elen’s eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. "Blacksmithing? That’s... unexpected. I wouldn’t have thought you’d be interested in such hands-on work." "Why not?" I asked. "N-Nothing. It was just a feeling." I nodded before saying. "The reason I picked it was similar to yours, I wanted to make my own sword that I felt comfortable and resonated with." She studied my face for a moment, clearly trying to determine if this was some elaborate approach disguised as casual conversation. "I suppose that’s... cool." "What made you interested in alchemy specifically?" I asked, trying to steer this conversation to her. Elen relaxed slightly, her passion for the subject overriding her previous wariness of me. "Water manipulation has so many applications beyond just combat. Purification, healing solutions, even enhancement potions - alchemy would let me explore those possibilities properly." "That’s fascinating," I said, and I meant it. "I hadn’t considered the purification applications. Would that work on contaminated water sources?" "Theoretically, yes," she said, becoming more animated. "Though it would depend on the type and level of contamination. Some magical pollutants require very specific counter-agents." "You’ve clearly thought this through thoroughly," I observed. "Have you done any preliminary research on the academy’s alchemy facilities?" Elen nodded enthusiastically. "They have one of the most advanced laboratories in the kingdom. Access to rare ingredients, proper safety equipment, even some experimental techniques that aren’t taught elsewhere." "Would you... mind if I asked you about the coursework sometimes?" I asked carefully. "I’m genuinely interested in learning, but I suspect I’m starting from a much lower knowledge base than most students here." She hesitated, still clearly uncertain about my motives. "I... suppose that would be acceptable. As long as you’re serious about actually learning." "I am," I assured her. "Thank you, Elen. I appreciate your willingness to help." As I returned to my seat, I caught her watching me with a puzzled expression, as if trying to reconcile this conversation with whatever she’d heard about Adrian’s previous behaviour. It was a start, at least. Shortly after, Sylvia took control of the classroom and began explaining the academy’s point system. "As members of an Elite class, you will each be given 100,000 points which will serve as your currency within the academy," Sylvia announced. "Each class receives a monthly allocation based on their performance, so maintaining your position in this Elite class should be your priority, if you do bad in your upcoming team based examination, you could very well drop this semester." Just as she finished speaking, we heard a chime from our student identification cards. [100,000 Points has been credited to your account]