Arthur spent the rest of the day in his lab aboard the Dreadnought Mk XI, tinkering with some Chimerian tech he copied on the battlefield, and running simulations. His mind, however, was only half-engaged in the work. 

The interrogation earlier still lingered in the back of his mind. The UFE was paying attention to his actions, and he had to be careful with how he introduced new technology. Too much or too fast would raise suspicion. He needed to control the flow.

By the time the designated night cycle arrived on the space station, he shut down his lab equipment and returned to his quarters. Locking the door, he activated his technopathy to scan for surveillance devices. Satisfied that no one was watching, he took out the Obelisk and activated it. The air around him shimmered as a portal formed, and with one step, he was back in his dorm at Velcrest Academy.

The moonlight seeped through the window. Checking the time, he saw that there were still a few hours before sunrise. Without wasting time, he lay down on his bed and drifted into sleep.

…

Arthur woke up at the crack of dawn, his body well-rested despite the days of near-constant warfare in the other world. His time at the academy had passed quickly, more than a month and a half since he first arrived.

As he stepped out of his room, he saw Finn exiting his own room.

“Morning, Arthur,” Finn greeted, stretching his arms with a yawn.

Arthur gave a small nod. “Morning.”

The two walked side by side toward the training field. The academy grounds were still relatively quiet, with only a few early risers moving about. When they arrived, they found Leon already there, standing near the edge of the field.

“You’re early,” Arthur remarked.

Leon grinned. “Figured I’d get a head start before Instructor Garrick makes us regret being alive.”

Finn snorted. “Yeah, well, might as well suffer together.”

The three chatted for a few minutes before Instructor Garrick arrived, carrying his usual no-nonsense demeanor. The moment he stepped onto the field, all idle conversations stopped.

“Alright, you know the drill. Warm-ups first, then we get to the fun part,” Garrick announced.

Everyone groaned internally, knowing full well that ‘warm-ups’ under Garrick meant an hour of grueling endurance training. Arthur barely felt the strain, but he could see Finn and Leon pushing themselves to keep up.

After finishing the standard physical training, Garrick moved them to combat drills. Arthur stepped forward for his usual sparring session with Garrick, who had long since realized that Arthur was far from an ordinary student. Their bouts were always intense, with Garrick pushing him harder than the others.

After their morning routine, the students returned to freshen up and made their way to the main hall for class.

…

Arthur, Finn, and Leon arrived just before it hit 10 o’clock, settling into their usual seats. The classroom buzzed with conversation, students discussing their training progress and rumors about upcoming academy events.

As the clock struck the hour, Prof. Elaine entered. After taking roll call, she reached into her spatial ring and pulled out something that looked like a scroll, its surface inscribed with intricate runes. The room fell into a hushed anticipation.

Elaine’s gaze swept across the students. “I see that all of you have reached at least Mage Apprentice realm. That means it’s time to learn your first spell.”

Excited murmurs broke out among the students. Some of the nobles, including Eva, already had training in magic and knew at least one spell. But for most of the class, this was their first real exposure to spellcasting.

Leon’s eyes shone with excitement. “So, they’re finally going to share spells with us.”

Finn, standing next to him, crossed his arms and smirked in a mockingly condescending manner. “Heh. What’s there to be excited about? I already know a spell.”

Leon deadpanned. “Yeah, well, not all of us have an ancestor who was a mage in their family.”

With their friendship deepening, Finn had already shared about his family and they knew Finn was already a Mage Apprentice before enrolling in the academy. Finn let out a laugh, and even Arthur chuckled lightly.

Prof. Elaine cleared her throat, regaining their attention. “The spell you all will start with is called Mana Bullet. It’s a basic spell that does not require any specific affinity to learn.”

She turned her gaze toward Eva. “Eva, come forward.”

Eval stood up and walked gracefully toward the podium. Prof. Elaine extended the scroll to her.

“Place your hand on the scroll and inject some of your mana. You will receive the spell formula directly.”

Eva nodded and pressed her palm against the scroll. The runes shimmered brightly as mana flowed into it. After a few seconds, the glow dimmed. Eva removed her hand and stepped back.

“Good. You may return to your seat and attempt to summon the spell.”

One by one, the students were called forward. Each followed the same process, placing their hand on the scroll and absorbing the spell’s knowledge. When it was Arthur’s turn, he did as instructed, feeling the foreign information seep into his mind. It was…interesting.

Unlike technology, which required systematic knowledge and precise calculations, magic worked intuitively. The formula for Mana Bullet outlined the necessary mana flow, control, and execution process, but it was up to the mage to shape it properly.

Returning to his seat, he processed the information. Mana Bullet was one of the most basic of offensive spells, forming a condensed projectile of raw mana that could be fired at a target. It was far weaker than physical weapons, but for an unarmed mage, it was still a vital tool.

Once every student had received the spell, she took every student to the training ground for magic spells. Prof. Elaine addressed the class again after reaching the training ground.

“Now, follow the formula and try to summon the spell. Since it is a basic spell, it does not require any chanting.” 

More complex spells often required spoken incantations to stabilize their structure, but basic spells could be cast purely through mental control. However, there had been mages in history who possessed such immense mastery over mana that they could cast even high-tier spells without chanting, a level of skill that took decades, if not centuries, to achieve.

For now, though, their task was simple.

All around him, students concentrated, reaching into their mana reserves to shape their first spell.

Eva was among the first to succeed. A small, glowing orb of blue energy formed above her palm before shooting forward in a straight line, dissipating upon impact with a practice target in front of them.

Leon struggled at first, his mana flickering weakly before finally stabilizing into a crude Mana Bullet, which fired off in an unstable trajectory.

Finn, on the other hand, smirked as he summoned his before Leon, clearly enjoying showing off.

Arthur focused. Mana control was new to him, but his ability to quickly analyze and adapt kicked in. He carefully followed the spell’s pathways, allowing his mana to flow smoothly along those pathways. Within a few minutes of trying, a Mana Bullet hovered above his palm. With a flick of his fingers, he sent it forward, striking the target.

Miss Elaine, who had been observing the class, took notice of everything.

“Very good, Eva,” she said with approval. “You too Arthur. You have excellent mana control.”

Arthur simply nodded, but inwardly, he was already thinking ahead. Mana Bullet was basic, but it gave him insights into spell structure, mana flow, and casting techniques. If he could learn this quickly, mastering more powerful magic was only a matter of time.

…

The rest of the class was spent refining their control over the spell. Some students struggled, their bullets fizzling out before they could properly form. Others, like Eva, Arthur and Finn, had already gotten the hang of it and were now practicing accuracy by firing their mana projectiles at conjured targets. Arthur experimented as well, adjusting the density and shape of the spell, quickly grasping its mechanics.

By the time Prof. Elaine dismissed them, most students had at least managed to form a stable Mana Bullet, though accuracy and efficiency varied wildly.

As they packed up their things, Finn turned to Arthur and Leon with an eager grin.

“Hey, you guys wanna go to the market later? The Merchant Guild is holding an auction today,” Finn said, fishing into his pocket and pulling out a few slips of parchment. “My dad sent me some passes.”

Leon snorted. “Dude, I don’t even have money to buy the cheapest item in an auction.”

Finn rubbed the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed. “Well, we can attend just for fun. It’s not like we have to buy anything.” Then, turning to Arthur with a sly smirk, he added, “Well, someone can try.”

Arthur chuckled at Finn’s playful jab. “No promises I would buy anything, but it could be interesting.”

With that settled, they made their way out of the academy grounds, weaving through the bustling pathways of Velcrest Academy. The city beyond the academy walls was just as lively, filled with students, traders, and adventurers.

…

The Merchant Guild stood as one of the grandest buildings in the city. Its sheer size alone dwarfed many surrounding structures, a testament to its wealth and influence. The exterior was a masterpiece of craftsmanship polished white stone adorned with golden accents, towering pillars carved with intricate patterns, and banners bearing the emblem of the guild: a golden coin encircled by a serpent. Large, ornate doors stood at the entrance, guarded by men in dark, well-tailored uniforms.

“Wow,” Leon muttered, tilting his head back to take in the full height of the building. “This place is massive.”

“It’s the heart of trade in Velcrest,” Finn said. “Pretty much anything valuable passes through the guild at some point.”

They made their way to the entrance, where a long line of well-dressed merchants, mages, and nobles were waiting to be admitted. Finn confidently approached one of the guards and handed over the passes. The guard took a brief glance, then gave a nod.

Finn, Arthur and Leo followed the line and entered the venue.

Inside, the auction hall was an architectural marvel. A vast circular chamber, its ceiling stretched high above, adorned with an elaborate crystal chandelier that shimmered with mana-infused light. Rows upon rows of seats filled the space, arranged in a tiered fashion so that every attendee had a clear view of the stage. 

At the center stood an elevated platform with a long, polished podium, where the auctioneer would oversee the bidding. Behind it, a heavy velvet curtain concealed whatever treasures were waiting to be unveiled.

The hall was already bustling with activity. Hundreds of people were taking their seats, their conversations filling the air with an excited hum. Many were well-dressed merchants, adorned in expensive robes lined with embroidery. Others were mages, their outfits decorated with enchanted accessories, some wearing rings and amulets that were surely spatial devices.

The trio found seats in the common area. At the upper levels, private booths overlooked the auction floor. These VIP rooms, enclosed with tinted glass windows, were reserved for the wealthiest patrons.

Finn leaned closer to Arthur and Leon, whispering, “That’s where the big shots sit. Nobles, high-ranking mages, and the super-rich merchants. They get to bid while showing off their status.”

Leon scoffed. “Of course they do. Gotta keep their egos intact.”

Arthur merely observed, taking note of how status dictated positioning even in something as simple as an auction. He wasn’t particularly interested in the politics of it all, but understanding the power dynamics of this world was valuable.

“Alright,” Finn said, rubbing his hands together. “Let’s see what kind of treasures they have for sale today.”

As they settled in, the lights dimmed slightly, and a well-dressed auctioneer stepped onto the stage. The murmurs in the room quieted.

“Welcome, esteemed guests, to this special auction hosted by the Merchant Guild,” the auctioneer announced, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. “Tonight, we have prepared a selection of rare and valuable items, artifacts, enchanted gear, potions, and even some… extraordinary surprises.”

A wave of excitement rippled through the audience.

Arthur leaned back in his seat, intrigued. This might be more interesting than he thought.

***

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