Advent of the Three Chapter 13: The Weakest Black Star [1]

Chapter 13: The Weakest Black Star [1]

The campus was large. It took

about five minutes to get to the main building from the dorms.

[Dorset Hall]

That was where we were supposed to be.

It was one of the seven halls of the institute and where first-year cadets attended their lessons.

".....What class are we in?"

The Hall was large.

It was one big building with a pathway flanked by vibrant flowers and trees that guided toward the entrance, where a row of statues stood in solemn formation.

It overflowed with students.

Most troubleso were the gazes they looked at

with. So avoided , while others seed to be openly hostile.

I was fine with that.

It ca as a result of my actions on the first day.

"Our class should be there."

Leon pointed towards a certain door. At first glance, it didn't seem all that impressive.

But...

"Why is there nobody going there?"

Unlike the other classrooms, which were open and filled with cadets passing through, this one seed rather isolated. As if people were avoiding it.

"....Did you not read the manual?"

"Manual...? Ah."

I took a small leaflet from my pocket. I rember receiving it yesterday, but because my focus had been on my training, I forgot all about it.

"This?"

"Yeah."

I scanned through the contents.

In short.

"We're late."

".....That's right."

"And you didn't tell

about it?"

"I thought you were aware."

"..."

There were tis when I just really wanted to strangle this guy.

If not for the fact that he was helping

and that he was stronger, I'd already be at it.

That said,

'I wonder what his end goal is...'

I was still not sure why he was helping . He said sothing about it benefiting him.

How so?

'As expected, I still can't trust him.'

The sa was true for him to .

In a way, we weren't that much different.

Staring at the door to the classroom, I sighed.

I felt strangely nervous. It wasn't so much because I was scared of people challenging . I was fine with that. What I was nervous about was my abilities.

They were not up to par at that mont.

I was probably the weakest cadet present.

"Huu."

After secretly collecting my breath, I slowly and carefully approached the door.

Creaaak—

The interior was sleek; long wooden desks lined up the sides, cascading up. They were all filled to the brim, with barely any empty spots.

Imdiately, all eyes fell on .

They were burdenso. But the most burdenso of them all was the one that belonged to the woman in front of .

Most likely, our instructor.

"Cadets."

Her crystal blue eyes shifted between Leon and . She had short brown hair and seed to be in her mid-forties.

Alternating her gaze between the two of us she finally opened her mouth to say,

"....You're late."

I was already aware.

Things would've been easier if I just apologized, but I recalled Leon's description of the previous Julien and answered flatly,

"That seems to be the case."

"Seems to be the case...?"

My answer left her exasperated as she made a face. I felt a little sorry for her, but I didn't show it on the outside and kept my face stoic.

She opened her mouth but closed it right after.

"Just go. Take a seat."

".....Thank you."

I did just that.

Finding the nearest seat I could find, I sat down and took a breath.

That was easier than I expected.

She was probably a lenient teacher. Or so I thought.

"You're late! Get out of my class!"

Staring at the student who had just entered the class and got kicked out, I opened my mouth to say sothing when I realized I couldn't say anything.

Why....?

I looked to my left, where Leon sat. He looked at

and then shrugged.

"Probably our looks."

Oh.

The lecture resud.

"Continuing from where I was... As you all are currently aware, magic is subdivided into three different categories. [Mind], [Elental], and [Body]."

The classroom fell into silence.

The instructor's voice smoothly echoed throughout the classroom.

"Each category is further divided into subcategories. Take the [Mind] classification as an example. With the [Emotive], [Telekinesis], [Spirit], and [Telepathy] it contains a total of four sub-categories. Or so like to say, 'paths'."

I strained my ears to listen closely to the lecture. All information was vital. I needed to pay close attention to all that was being said.

"....As is known, everyone can practice magic. If you can manipulate mana, you have the qualifications to beco a magician or knight. That of course, isn't a problem for all of you present."

She seed to eye certain students; her gaze eventually falling on .

"Talent is rely a factor that indicates the rate of your improvent. It does not limit you in the practice of other paths."

I took note of this piece of information in my mind.

My talents currently lie in the [Curse] and [Emotive] subcategories.

If it was possible for

to practice things outside of those two categories, then it was worth considering for the future.

"Now, ti for a question."

The lecturer looked around the classroom. I felt her gaze linger in my direction for a brief mont.

What sort of...?

She smiled.

"Of all the categories, which do you deem to be the weakest?"

The weakest?

Murmurs filled the classroom as the students discussed among themselves.

Eventually, one of the cadets raised their hands. He stood out imdiately with his tall height, blonde hair, and blue eyes.

The fact that his appearance garnered the attention of many of the people present told

all that I needed to know about him.

He was strong.

Probably amongst the higher-ranked cadets.

"Yes? Cadet Anders."

Oh?

I suddenly felt his gaze.

As his mouth parted open, he answered slowly. As if he wanted

to hear his answer.

"....Emotive."

A clear provocation.

Multiple eyes fell on .

"Emotive?"

The instructor's gaze fell on

for a mont. She seed to have been influenced by the others in the class.

"What makes you think that's the case?"

"It's the longest category to learn. Not only that, but you must be able to touch your opponent to influence their emotions. If they can't touch you, they're useless."

"That's not the case."

With a shake of her head, the instructor corrected,

"That's rely on the basis that they are on the first level of mastery. At a higher stage, they can influence soone with re words. Further down the path, and they can read emotions."

I listened to her words carefully.

The [Emotive] sub-category was still an enigma to . Unlike with my [Curse] sub-category, I couldn't practice it through repetition training.

The only way for

to further the [Emotive] path was through the understanding of emotions. The more I understood, the more I improved.

But that was easier said than done.

'Now that I think about it... She ntioned sothing about first-level mastery.'

I was reminded of the notifications I received almost daily.

The only regarding [Fear] and Exp.

'....So if I improve it, I'll be able to influence people with words?'

The thought excited

for so reason.

Was there more to it?

The Cadet continued,

"That is indeed true, but it's also true that it's not easy to achieve. It may take a lot of years to get to a level where one can influence another's emotions. To be able to influence them through words?"

He scoffed.

"...You will need to be as old as my father to be able to get there."

"That's not necessarily true."

The instructor shook her head.

"There are many cases where people achieve such a state at a young age. Keep in mind, that there are states above that. Being able to influence soone through words is still considered entry level."

Entry level...?

Influencing with words was just entry-level?

I thought back to my powers. Ever since the examination, I had hardly touched the other field.

It wasn't because I didn't like it.

That was the furthest thing from the truth.

The reality was that I was unsure whether I was capable of handling it. The after-effect from last ti left a scar in my mind.

Like a ntal block, it made

avoid it.

I was just not ready.

But...

'You're telling

I rely scratched the surface of what's possible?'

"Cadet Julien."

Feeling the instructor's gaze, I turned to face her.

"....As an Emotive Mage yourself, what do you think about Cadet Anders's answer?"

What did I think about it?

He's right.

All his words made sense. From what I experienced, he was right in absolutely every way.

The [Emotive] field was a path that would probably take soone ages to master.

It encompassed all the experiences of one's life and molded them in the form of emotions. Unless soone constantly experiences all those emotions, they won't be able to improve.

In that regard, it was the weakest of all the other paths.

But...

I turned my wrist slightly.

My eyes fell on the clover tattoo.

Was that the sa for ?

"...."

The classroom fell silent.

They all were seemingly awaiting my answer. 'What's he going to say?', 'How will he answer with?'

Their faces all said the sa thing.

And I looked back to face the cadet.

Anders was it?

I found the corner of my lips lifting slightly.

"....It's bullshit."

An answer flowed out of my mouth.

"Weakest? There's no such thing."

I wasn't just bullshitting at the mont.

These were my true thoughts.

"There's only a weak person. No weak path."

Just because the Emotive field was the hardest to progress in didn't an it was the weakest class.

From the start, the question was wrong.

"You say that it takes a lot of ti for an Emotive mage to be strong. On what basis do you say that?"

"What basis?"

The Cadet looked at

as if I were stupid.

"It's common sense. Take a look at all the strongest mages in the world. Our Empire has seven Monarchs. How many of them are from the Emotive field? None!"

He pointed his finger at .

All of a sudden, he started talking about sothing different.

Most probably what he wanted to say from the start.

".....Do you think none of us see it? Your mana flow is weak. You don't even seem to be capable of properly controlling your mana. On good god, I don't know why you're ranked first."

His words seed to echo the thoughts of many of the people present in the classroom, with many of them nodding along.

I took in the sight.

"My best guess is because of your achievents in the Emotive field. Even then, I doubt you'll be able to do anything to ."

When he finally said what he wanted to say, with a look of scorn, he added,

"Simply put, you're not fit for the role. You're weak."

Once again, the room fell into silence.

All eyes were trained on .

"Haaa...."

With all attention on , I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

'....So they noticed.'

It wasn't as though I didn't expect it.

Everyone must've noticed it during the first day. The fact that I was weak. That I wasn't on the sa level as them.

I understood this even more clearly than they did.

It was for this reason that I provoked everyone.

Trained to the point of insanity.

His words made sense, and there was nothing wrong with them.

Still,

"You're wrong."

My eyes were still closed, so I couldn't see.

All that I saw was darkness.

In that darkness, I could feel my hand move towards my forearm. Where the four-leaved clover rested.

I was a little hesitant at first, but then, I was reminded of my goal.

That was when my mind beca firm.

Right.

To achieve my goal, I need to make full use of all the advantages I have.

Therefore...

My finger pressed down on my forearm.

'...Nobody but

can be the Black Star.'