The first class with Professor Sylpha had been so absorbing, so heavy with knowledge and presence, that most cadets hadn’t even noticed the hours slipping past. It was only when she left that the spell broke, and the lecture theatre filled with the shuffle of movent, the scrape of chairs, the murmur of voices ready to spill out into the corridors.
But just as they were about to exit, a lodic voice crackled from the beautiful speaker embedded above the stage.
"Cadets, you have now been assigned your Major and Optional Courses. Each of you must complete two Mandatory Courses... Basics of Cultivation and Introduction to Supernatural Ethics & Law. You must also choose one Major Course, based on your elental affinity, and two Optional Courses of your choice in order to pass the term. Please press the blue button on your personal device for further instructions."
A ripple of curiosity swept through the hall. Eleanor, who had risen with the others, sank back into her seat and tapped the blue button on her wrist device. A translucent screen unfurled before her eyes.
[Course Selection: Primary Term]
Mandatory Courses:
1. Basics of Cultivation
2. Introduction to Supernatural Ethics & Law
Major Course: Contact the Departnt of Combat to choose your discipline.
Optional Courses: Select any two within five days:
1. Introduction to Alchemy
2. Basics of Forge
3. Cultivation History and Paths
4. Healing Arts
5. Introduction to Formation and Arrays
6. Wilderness Survival
7. Fundantals of Psionics
8. Magical Botany & Herbology
9. Music of the Spheres
10. Familiar Handling & Care
Instruction: Contact relevant departnts for further inquiries. Your academic profile will now be accessible on this screen.
[Tap the blue button to open or close the screen.]
Eleanor exhaled through her nose. As expected, no alchemy... no forging. "Nora," she asked in her mind, "what do you think?"
Nora’s voice answered at once, calm and analytical. "Master, this was predictable. Without fire-related ability, alchemy and forging are closed to you. But notice... Fundantals of Psionics has been offered. The academy clearly recognised your bloodline. They must be expecting you to take it, and I advise you to do so."
Nora’s tone sharpened slightly. "As for your second optional, all four are valuable. Cultivation History and Paths and Familiar Handling & Care you can study later, from books. Introduction to Formation and Arrays suits ... I will excel at the calculations. But Wilderness Survival is critical for you. Your Trial in Vanaheim will not forgive ignorance of the wild. So, my recomndation is Psionics and Survival. The final choice is yours."
Eleanor closed the screen with a soft tap, lips tightening in thought. The hum of voices around her seed very far away.
Eleanor thought for a mont, then said in her mind, "We don’t have any more mandatory classes today. Let’s head to the Departnt of Combat and select my major. There are no textbooks given for that subject in my dorm; maybe they’ll have a library. After that... we’ll decide what’s next."
"Good decision," Nora agreed smoothly in her mind.
From beside her, Maira leaned in, curiosity in her eyes. "Eleanor, which optional courses did you pick?" Her seat was close, thanks to their cadet number sequence.
"I haven’t confird yet," Eleanor replied. "But I’m leaning toward Fundantals of Psionics and Wilderness Survival."
Maira tilted her head, puzzled. "Psionics? I’ve never even heard of that course."
Eleanor kept her tone even. "It’s not usually offered to first-terms. You’ll see it later if you return for advanced studies."
Before Maira could ask more, Kiara and Ophelia ca up behind them, catching the tail of the conversation. Ophelia spoke first. "Ma’am, if you’re taking Wilderness Survival, I’ll join that class too. My major is under the Departnt of Shadow, so I’ll use combat as one of my optionals."
Eleanor raised a brow. "Combat is available as an optional for you?"
Ophelia nodded. "Yes. One of the choices."
Eleanor gave a small smile. "I don’t have that luxury. Combat’s my major. No elental affinity ans the academy expects to learn it properly. Honestly, I like their system. They’re not just teaching us... they’re preparing us for the real threats ahead. I’m heading to the Combat Departnt now. You’re welco to co along."
"I’ll take combat too," Maira decided quickly. "Let’s go together. But why Wilderness Survival, Eleanor? I was thinking about Familiar Handling & Care. I’ve always wanted a pet."
Eleanor’s eyes softened, but her voice remained firm. "Survival is for the unknown. We all know our trial will be in Vanaheim, but not what we’ll face there. No complete guides. No help on that spot. I’d rather be prepared for every disaster than hope for comfort. That’s why I chose it."
She let her words hang for a mont before adding, "But don’t let sway you. Choose what calls to you. If you love familiars, take that class. It’ll be useful after your trial, when you go to Molgrath to stabilize your core... you’ll have the chance to bond with one then."
Before the group could move, another voice called from the doorway. Jaciara greeted them politely, then turned to Maira. "Young Miss, we need to visit the Water School. Your mother gave strict instructions that we et a professor there imdiately."
Maira’s face fell, and she scratched her head sheepishly. "Oh! I completely forgot. You’re right. We should go there first." She looked back to Eleanor apologetically. "Then we’ll et you at the Combat Departnt later."
Eleanor nodded once. "Go on. We’ll see each other later."
And with that, the group naturally split... one headed toward the large do of the Water School, the other toward the simple building of the Combat Departnt.
***
The Departnt of Combat stood not far from the main academy building, a compact three-story building like others in the academy. Its design mirrored the academy’s other buildings... red bricks, tall windows, and a sign bearing the na of the institution. At the entrance, a plain iron sign declared its purpose in bold letters: Departnt of Combat.
No embellishnt. No exquisite patterns. Just proper functional information.
Eleanor, Kiara, and Ophelia stepped through the doors into a wide reception hall. The air slled faintly of oil, leather, and steel. Sunlight slanted across polished floors where a few cadets moved with a mix of nerves and excitent. At the far end of the hall sat a white-robed official behind a desk marked with a neat wooden sign: Reception. A cluster of students shuffled before her, flipping through slim booklets.
The three approached the desk. "Good morning, Miss. We ca to choose our combat classes," Eleanor said.
The receptionist looked up with a practiced smile... polite, professional, but not unkind. "Welco, cadets. Do you have preferred weapons, or would you like to know more before choosing?"
"I prefer daggers," Ophelia replied without hesitation.
"Archery," Kiara said firmly.
Eleanor gave a small, wry smile. "I haven’t decided. Combat is my major course, so I’ll need guidance."
"Ah... you are a non-elental." The woman’s tone softened, respectful but matter-of-fact. "Then please wait just a mont. You’ll choose after your friends."
She turned to Kiara and Ophelia. "Are you absolutely certain of your preferences? Once entered, your school assignnt is locked for this term."
Both nodded without wavering.
"Very well. Place your device on the scanner."
Kiara went first, pressing her wrist device to the small panel. The receptionist tapped rapidly at her laptop. "Kiara Raynor, Cadet number 10156672... admitted to the Archery School. This is now your major subject. You must pass its examinations at term’s end."
Next ca Ophelia.
"Ophelia Blanc, Cadet number 10156675... admitted to the School of Close Quarters Combat. This will count as your optional subject. Term examination required as well."
When it was Eleanor’s turn, the receptionist studied her for a mont. "You, I suspect, are neither dagger nor bow. We offer a broad range of weapons here... spears, sabers, axes, war hamrs, halberds, whips, even unard disciplines. Take this booklet and review it." She slid a slim text across the desk. "Seats are over there. If you have questions, I’ll be here."
She turned back to the others. "Your schools are upstairs on the first floor. Archery is room 104, Close Quarters is room 102."
The three thanked her and split paths. Kiara and Ophelia headed upstairs while Eleanor settled into a chair with the booklet.
She leafed through the pages. The sheer variety impressed her: The School of the Saber, The School of the Axe, The School of the Spear, The School of the War Hamr, The School of the Halberd, The School of the Urumi & Whip, The School of Mixed Martial Arts, The School of Close Quarters Combat, and The Archery School.
Eleanor dismissed most without much thought... sabers and axes felt cumberso, hamrs and halberds too brute for a lady like her, whips too unwieldy. That left her between spear and mixed martial arts. Both had rit. Both could suit her bloodline’s precision and instincts. She frowned, lost in thought... until the final page made her still.
At the bottom, beneath lists of instructors and offices, was a single na... Head of the Combat Departnt: Supre Grandmaster Scáthach na hAlpa.
Her eyes lingered. The na thrumd like a chord pulled from legend.
She rose, walked back to the desk, and leaned forward slightly. "Excuse , Miss. I’d like to ask sothing about the head of the departnt."
The receptionist looked up from her typing. "What do you want to know?"
Eleanor’s voice was quiet but edged with awe. "Is she really... The Scáthach? The Witch of Dún Scáith?"
The woman’s lips curved in a rare smile, pride gleaming in her eyes. "Yes. She is the one."
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