Inside the great dining hall, Ethan was eating alongside the members of his Manor.
Since their number was smaller compared to the other Manors, they had a table reserved for themselves that sat up to thirty people.
The other Manors, of course, had their own section, where they ate. However, on this particular day, there were two extra people sitting at the Dud Manor’s table, which made their members look at them with curiosity.
“What are the two of you doing here?” Ethan asked Chloe and Nicole who sat beside him. “Don’t you girls have your own table over there?”
“The food served to everyone is the same,” Chloe replied. “It doesn’t matter if I eat there, or I eat here. The taste will not change.”
“She’s right, you know.” Nicole supported Chloe’s statement. “Also, this place is a lot quieter compared to the other Factions. Over there, It’s like constantly hearing a buzzing in your ears while everyone eats and talks at the same time. This is heaven compared to that place.”
Ethan then glanced at his Head Prefect, Henry, and the latter just nodded his head.
“We don’t mind if the two of you stay here,” Henry stated. “Just as long as you don’t disturb anyone else.”
“Thank you, Senior Henry,” Chloe replied with a smile.
“Much thanks, Senior.” Nicole winked.
True to their word, Chloe and Nicole just ate, and only started to chat with Ethan after they finished eating.
“There are two more days before classes start,” Nicole said. “Have you picked the courses that you’re going to take, Ethan?” 𝐎𝑽𝐥xt.𝐂𝗈𝚖
The blue-haired boy nodded as he shared with them his daily schedule.
“Hmm… Martial Arts Training and The Study of Magical Creatures in the morning,” Nicole muttered as she read Ethan’s daily schedule. “History of Magic, Spell Casting Classes, and Flora and Fauna of the Magic World in the afternoon. Wow, you got all the basics covered. I’m quite impressed.”
“We share the same schedule for Study of Magical Creatures, and Spell Casting Classes.” Chloe sighed. “I didn’t get Martial Arts Training, History of Magic, and Flora and Fauna Classes. My other courses are Advance Spell Control, Beast Bond Mastery, and Potion Making.”
“Well, I also have Martial Arts Training, and The Study of Magical Creatures, and Magic Knight Training Classes in the morning,” Nicole commented. “In the afternoons I have Spell Casting Classes, and Advance Spell Control.”
Ethan was quite happy that they all had similar classes together. He didn’t know how his academy would turn out once classes officially started, but he was really looking forward to the possibility of learning how to use magic.
He didn’t set his expectations too high because what happened in the Flying Broom shop still made him feel anxious. Also, he had tried to cast magic using the wand that had recognized him in secret, but the results were quite disappointing.
The blue-haired boy wasn’t able to create even a small spark, and the vision of the mermaid he saw back then never appeared again.
It was as if everything that happened was just a daydream, making him almost lose heart in his current situation.
In the end, Ethan made a decision. He would stay in Brynhildr Academy for a year, and if things didn’t turn out well for him, he would not continue through his second year and just go to a normal academy instead.
Since he was a Dud, he wouldn’t be missed, and the Professors in the Academy wouldn’t find his decision an impulsive one.
In fact, some of them even supported this change in pace because Duds that studied in Brynhildr Academy often felt depressed due to their peers being able to use magic, while they could only watch from the side.
‘It’s fine to dream,’ Ethan thought as he walked back to his Manor, while being accompanied by Chloe. ‘But, I don’t want to chase an impossible dream.’
Truth be told, it was hard to not feel envious of his cousin, who could use magic whenever she wished. They had also decided to become a Duo during practical tests. His role would be to act as the close combat fighter, while Chloe dealt with magical bombardments.
“Hey, Chloe, does your family have the lineage of Wizards and Witches?” Ethan asked.
According to the book he read in the library, most Wizards and Witches inherit their magical powers from their parents. Of course there were exceptions, when a Wizard or Witch was born from completely normal parents, who didn’t have a drop of magic in their blood.
“Yes, it runs on my mother’s side of the family,” Chloe replied. “Have you not wondered why our Surnames are Gremory instead of our father’s name? It’s because the women born from the Gremory Family will always carry their surname to their own children, regardless of the surname of their husband.”
Ethan stopped in his tracks after hearing Chloe’s explanation. He had indeed wondered why his Grandma still had the surname Gremory even though she was married to his Grandpa. However, he didn’t expect that their family name had such a rich and magical history.
“Is your mother a witch?” Ethan asked. “Is Grandma a witch too?”
Chloe firmly shook her head. “My mother, my Grandma, and your Grandma are both normal people. Even if you are born into a Wizard and/or Witch family, that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be born with magical powers.
“Of course, since they are part of the Gremory Family, they know a thing or two about the Magical World. So, it will be best if you write Grandma Agnes a letter and tell her the truth. Maybe, she can even answer some questions that I can’t answer due to my lack of experience.”
Ethan had been putting off writing a letter to his grandma because he was having a hard time deciding what he was going to write in his letter.
After Chloe’s shocking revelation, he was finally able to piece together the unbelievable things that his grandma had done over the years, like pull a spiked club out from under her skirt, which Ethan had long thought to be an impossible act.
‘I guess I really need to write a letter to Grandma,’ Ethan thought. ‘I also don’t want her to worry about me so much.’
The blue-haired boy was raised with love and care by his adoptive family. They had always been honest with him, and although it was a difficult choice, they told him the truth that he was adopted when he was thirteen years old.
Ethan had already had his suspicions in the past, so their revelation about being adopted didn’t come as a big shock to him. But, this time, it was different.
He had accidentally stumbled into a Magical World of Wizards and Witches, and he found this world scary and fascinating at the same time.
Since his Grandma’s family had a magical background, it would make sense that he could confide the fears he was feeling in his heart to her.