The afternoon classes after lunch weren’t particularly difficult.
What they were, however, was exhausting. I had no energy left to focus on them, so my attention kept slipping like sand through my fingers.
I wondered, was this how it was going to be until the end of the semester?
The timetable was different for each day of the week, but there was no doubt in my mind that Juliana had arranged my schedule with all the malice she could find in her heart.
I knew she had dumped all my difficult mandatory classes together at the start of each day to torment me.
I couldn’t even blame her.
It was my fault.
I’d made the mistake of asking her to create my schedule despite being fully aware of how much she despised me. That one was on me.
Still, I endured. Somehow. I got through most of my classes.
Maybe, in a few weeks, I’d grow used to this exhausting time table. At least, that’s what I told myself.
For now, it was time for my last mandatory class of the day — A Guide to Spirit Realm’s Ecology and Geography.
And it was one class I’d been looking forward to all day.
After all, I was the only person who knew where the future of this world was headed. And so, I was extremely interested in any information related to the Spirit Realm.
It is as they say — Knowledge is a form of power.
Anyway, when I entered the classroom, it was already half-full.
As this was one of our joint classes, the lecture hall was grander than most, with tiered rows designed to fit a large number of people.
Groups of Cadets were scattered throughout the room, chatting animatedly with each other.
It didn’t take long for me to notice that cliques were already beginning to form among the first-years.
The nobles and commoners were still divided into their usual factions, but even within those groups, smaller circles were starting to emerge, coalescing around specific individuals.
Some of these circles revolved around the top-ranking Cadets, while others gathered around prominent high nobles — like my sister, Thalia Kaizer Theosbane.
And, of course, there were the royal twins — Willem Vic. Draken and Alice Vic. Draken.
Wherever those two went, they were surrounded by Cadets eager to bask in their presence.
That made me wonder… Why wasn’t anyone swarming me?!
While disowned, I was still technically a high noble!
To top it all off, I was also the highest-ranking Cadet in my batch!
I was their Ace!
I looked to my left — no one!
I looked to my right — no one!
I glanced behind me… Okay, Juliana was there. But that was it!
Why?! Why were they not surrounding me?!
Why were they not appreciating my greatness?!
Why were they not worshipping me already?!
Shaking my head, I made my way to the back of the classroom.
Jake was waving at me from his seat, probably asking me to join him. I ignored him and headed straight for the window seat instead.
There was already someone sitting there.
“Move,” I said casually.
The Cadet looked up at me, his expression shifting as if he was about to argue. But the moment our eyes met, he froze.
His mouth opened and closed a few times, his confidence crumbling right before my eyes.
Without another word, he grabbed his things and ran off, leaving the seat empty.
—
By that time the last few Cadets had already trickled in. Soon after that, the professor walked through the door.
He was a man in his mid-twenties, dark hair framing his face and light hazel eyes gleaming with a touch of humor.
His soft features and cheerful appearance gave him a youthful yet undeniably handsome charm that could disarm anyone with a smile.
I couldn’t help but smirk. That man was Rexerd Cronwell, the most brilliant alchemist alive today. He was also known as the Concocter.
While he wasn’t particularly known for his strength in combat, Rexerd possessed a mind unlike any other.
He had created the famous Rexerd’s Brew — a pill that could temporarily heighten someone’s focus to an almost unnatural level.
He also perfected the formula for the Mindscape Drug and developed countless Essence Refinement Potions.
He was a true prodigy in the field of alchemy. A once-in-a-century genius.
And if that wasn’t enough, he was also said to be the foremost expert on all things related to the Spirit Realm.
There was no one else in the world who knew more about Spirits than him.
So, as soon as he entered the classroom, a buzz of excitement rippled through the room.
I wouldn’t say everyone in the lecture hall knew who he was, but most of them did.
Rexerd’s fame rivaled that of some of the most renowned Hunters, despite the fact that he was not a fighter.
But most importantly, he was one of the major characters at the start of the game — at least, until Michael killed him.
…However, in this reality, he was someone who I needed to kill.
“Good morning, class!” Rexerd greeted, walking to the front of the room and standing behind the lectern.
He sorted through some papers and flashed us an amicable grin.
“Many of you must already know me. For those of you who don’t, well… just look me up online. I’m sure you’ll find something interesting, like how I single-handedly revolutionized the alchemy world… and how I almost accidentally blew up my own lab last month. But, hey, that’s a story for later.”
The class chuckled, and the tension in the room slightly eased. Rexerd had a way of making even the most serious subjects seem light-hearted.
Even in the game, he was a very charismatic character.
He adjusted his big round glasses and glanced around the room once.
“I’m sure you’re all here because you want to know about the Spirit Realm. Or maybe because this is a mandatory class that you can’t skip. Well, regardless, lucky for you, I’m the expert — but don’t go around telling people that. You don’t want to be the person who claims to know everything about a place that could swallow you whole if you sneeze in the wrong direction.”
A few students exchanged amused looks, but no one dared to break the silence as Rexerd continued.
“Now, I know some of you are hoping to learn some groundbreaking secrets today,” he said, holding up a hand to calm any rising excitement. “But don’t get your hopes up. Spirit Realm’s geography is not as predictable as tomorrow’s weather. It’s a lot more… complicated. Think of it like trying to navigate a maze, except every wall is constantly shifting, and sometimes the walls have teeth. You know, the usual.”
The room was filled with muffled laughter, and the tension had completely dissipated. Rexerd now decided it was the right time to start teaching.
“Though, on a more serious note, the Spirit Realm isn’t just a place — it’s alive, and it hates you. Everything, from the ground beneath your feet to the stars above, is your enemy. However, it’s a realm that all of you will have to enter someday since you’re trying to become Hunters.”
A sense of tension once again blanketed the lecture hall, but Rexerd quickly worked to dispel it.
“That’s why the Academy has made this class mandatory and assigned me to prepare you for its dangers. So, since today is your first day, let’s begin this class by discussing a lighter topic — something that isn’t out to take your life in that godforsaken world.”
He turned and gestured to a massive map pinned to the wall behind him.
It was unlike any map I had seen before. It was a patchwork of distorted shapes and colors that seemed to shift when you looked at it for too long.
“This,” Rexerd said, pointing at it, “is a map of an area in the Spirit Realm as understood by our most skilled cartographers. It is imperfect, incomplete, and often outright deceptive. You’ll learn why as we progress. For today, however, we will focus on learning about the Sanctuaries. These are the safe zones — territories conquered by humanity and ruled by Hunters. But not all Sanctuaries are truly safe.”
As he spoke, a projection appeared above the map, showcasing a three-dimensional rendering of a jagged mountain range.
“For example, this region is called the Black Fangs,” he said, gesturing to the peaks. “It’s a Sanctuary surrounded by hostile zones. These mountains form a natural barrier, protecting the valley within from the ravenous Spirit Beasts. However, the valley itself is home to a creature known as the Eclipse Stag. It is harmless if left undisturbed, but lethal if provoked. A lesson in caution, everyone: just because something looks beautiful doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous… much like my ex-girlfriend, for whom I had to get a restraining order.”
Chuckles rolled through the Cadets, and the mood in the room lightened once again.
Rexerd laughed with us before continuing his lecture. He taught us about some of the most notable Sanctuaries and how conquering those regions impacted humanity’s progress in exploring the Spirit Realm.
Some Cadets were furiously taking notes, while others sat with their jaws dropped. Much of what Rexerd shared was not public information, so it came as a surprise to many of us.
Finally, after an hour, the class came to an end.
“Okay, everyone! Class dismissed. I know you want me to keep talking, but unlike you, I have a life to get back to… for thirty minutes before my next class.”
Another round of faint chuckles erupted throughout the room. Despite the grim subject matter, thanks to Rexerd, everyone was in high spirits.
Most of us packed our things and left.
However, many stayed behind to discuss the class with Professor Rexerd and ask him questions.
To my astonishment, one of those people was Juliana. But that wasn’t the strange part. The strange part was that Juliana and Rexerd were talking casually, as if they knew each other well.
She didn’t look anywhere near as cold and indifferent as usual. She was smiling and laughing more than I had ever seen her laugh.
“Huh,” I scoffed, before leaving the classroom.
A few minutes later, Juliana exited the lecture hall as well with the rest of the Cadets who had stayed behind. She looked a bit surprised when she saw me waiting outside.
Her expression returned to one of casual detachment.
“So,” I began, “what was that about?”
“What was what, Young Master?” She tilted her head, her face as passive as ever.
“Professor Rexerd and you were talking like you knew each other,” I raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“Oh, it isn’t like that,” she shook her head. “I told you I attended the Alchemy Society party, right? He was there, we talked a bit, and that’s it.”
“Right,” I nodded. “Well, I’m going home.”
Our last class of the day was supposed to be our elective. But since I still hadn’t submitted my application form, I had nothing else on my schedule.
The problem was that even if I submitted the form now, it would take the Academy at least a few hours to process it.
So, I was free to go home.
“Right,” Juliana nodded. “I have my alchemy elective, so I’m going down to the lab.”
“Alchemy is also taught by Professor Rexerd, right?” I asked.
Juliana paused for a moment before nodding again. “Yes. Is that a problem?”
I continued to look into her icy blue eyes, and after a few heartbeats, I shook my head. “No, no problem.”
Then I fished the application form out of my pocket and handed it to her. “But after your class, could you submit this form for me? Today is the last day for choosing an elective, as you know.”
Juliana took the form from my hand and gave a brief bow. I turned around and walked off, barely holding back a smile.
Everything was going just as I had predicted.