The next student stood up slowly. She had a quiet grace about her in the way she carried herself. "My name is Elowen Ashfield," she began her voice soft and calm. "I'm sixteen years old, and my cultivation rank is Mana Disciple – Mana Flicker. My bloodline is called Aetheris Ascendant Bloodline."
Her eyes briefly flickered to Valerius, sharp and unreadable, before she quickly turned away and settled back into her seat.
A quiet hum of whispers spread through the room, a mixture of awe and curiosity.
'That's the daughter of Count Ashfield...'
'Looks like she didn't inherit his bloodline...'
'What is that bloodline, anyone know?'
'She's pretty, though.'
Elira's voice broke through the murmur of conversation. "Great, let's continue." She nodded with a smile.
The introductions went on, each student standing and speaking in turn, but Valerius felt like he started to lose track of their names, and their faces blending as his thoughts were drifting somewhere else.
Then, suddenly, the door to the classroom slammed open, and a student burst inside. His cheeks were flushed, his breath ragged. "Sorry I'm late teacher," he said, his voice awkward and apologetic. "I woke up really late."
The student was a bit chubby, his features soft and round, though his eyes stood out, one was a faint blue, and the other was a sickly green. His hair was a mix of silver and ash, and it stuck out in a disheveled mess.
Elira's gaze flicked toward him, a small frown on her lips, though she didn't seem overly concerned. "It's okay," she said, her voice calm. "We're just starting. Just make sure not to be late again. Now, introduce yourself and take a seat."
The student nodded quickly, looking more nervous by the second. "Ah, okay. My name is Cassian Delacroix. I'm sixteen years old, and my cultivation rank… is Mana Core – Mana Embryo. My bloodline is... not awakened yet."
His words rushed out, his voice faltering as if he were afraid of being judged. The moment the words left his lips, the whispers started.
'Haha, he's also at Mana Core – Mana Embryo… '
'I know him! He is also a noble, damn we have so many nobles in class...'
Cassian shifted uncomfortably under the weight of their gazes, his hands fidgeting at his sides.
"Quiet!" Elira's voice cut through the murmur of laughter like a knife. The room fell silent instantly. "Take your seat now," she added, her tone was firm.
Cassian, still a bit nervous, hurried to find a seat, he looked at the empty seat behind Valerius and took his seat down.
Valerius cast a glance over his shoulder as Cassian settled into the seat behind him. Then, feeling a brief stir of curiosity, Valerius turned slightly and offered a polite smile. "Hi, I'm Valerius."
Cassian hesitated for a second, his eyes wide with a mix of nervousness and excitement. "Hello, I'm Cassian." He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Haha, but you probably already know that since I introduced myself earlier. Hm.. By the way, you look a bit familiar I must have seen you before, the way you look… oh, I know now! Valerius... you're the fifth prince of our empire!" His voice carried a bit of awe, his tone tinged with disbelief. "That's amazing!"
Valerius raised an eyebrow, unsure how to respond to the sudden burst of enthusiasm, but he nodded politely.
Cassian then leaned forward a little, speaking faster now as if the words were tumbling out of him. "Can I tell you something? Did you know my father's a count?" He smiled. "He's also an alchemist. And he keeps telling me I should become an alchemist as well. But honestly… I don't really want to be an alchemist. I mean, I haven't awakened my bloodline yet, so I'm not sure what's going to happen, but… yeah, definitely don't want to be one."
Valerius nodded quietly, absorbing the rapid flow of words. He wasn't sure where this was going, but Cassian seemed eager to talk.
Cassian paused for a moment, glancing up at Valerius, and then his eyes lit up. "What about you, though? What do you want to be when you grow up?" His voice held a touch of genuine curiosity now, a slight smile on his face as he waited for an answer, though he still looked a bit nervous playing with his fingers.
Valerius hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting downward as he considered the question. He wasn't sure how to put it into words, but he knew what he wanted. His voice was low as he spoke. "Well when I grow up, I don't know really, but for now I just want to be stronger, strong enough to control my own fate..."
The weight of his words lingered in the air, as his thoughts drifted away. Cassian blinked at him, a confused expression seen across his face. He tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing. "Hmm... sounds interesting," he said, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of Valerius's answer.
Before either of them could say anything further, a sharp voice cut through the moment. "Hey! You two, stop talking. I'm starting the lesson!" Elira's tone was firm.
Valerius and Cassian quickly straightened in their seats, both turning to face the front. Elira stepped forward, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips as if amused by their sudden attention. "Alright," she continued, her voice now more professional, "Now that all of you have introduced yourselves, let me give you a breakdown of what your first year is going to look like."
Elira cleared her throat, her expression turned to something more serious as she addressed the class. "Your first year will focus on the basics," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Mana control, History, basic cultivation knowledge, elemental manipulation, and the basics to your bloodline's potential. And I will be the one who will teach you all those basics. Of course, I will also be checking your progress regularly to make sure you're studying properly so no slacking off, and besides those basic courses we also have combat classes which will be right after my class."
Valerius straightened slightly in his seat, his mind ticking through the subjects. He had a decent grip on mana control and combat, those were the skills he had practiced in his past life. Elemental manipulation, too, wasn't too difficult for him. But the history of this world? He knew little. The fundamentals of cultivation in this world, he got the general knowledge of it, and the idea of bloodlines... that was something he was still trying to wrap his head around, it was a completely new concept for him.
A quiet sigh slipped from him, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. There was a lot he'd need to catch up on.