By the time they finished talking after noon was about to hit and the sky was about to darken, both Syndra and David hadn’t checked the time at all as they were lost in their conversation.

What they talked about was pretty much everything they could think of, David began with simply asking questions about the Academy that the student handbook didn’t answer, while Syndra was more than happy to answer everything he wanted to know.

From there their conversation changed to daily school activities and classes, David got to know a lot from that as there were generally only 3 essential classes in this school that one had to attend plus 1 optional class you could choose for free while everything else costed money to attend.

These 3 essential classes were called magic theory, spellcasting and arcane knowledge.

What they taught was basically self-explanatory with magic theory explaining how magic worked and how each and individual spell was cast and constructed. While spellcasting was a more practical class in where it taught you how to best cast spells in which situation and how to best make use of them.

Arcane knowledge on the other hand taught anything and all remotely related to magic or the arcane which was the academic term used to describe magic.

Syndra gave a brief outline to what each class taught, since David was a freshman he would start from the very beginning meaning he would first be trained in how to feel his magic at all.

Hearing this made David extremely relieved as he once again clarified with Syndra coming to realize that every freshman who came here was basically just like him completely clueless regarding magic.

The reason David was relieved was because he thought for a moment that he needed some base knowledge of magic before being able to understand the classes in this academy, since David only knew his single book on mana control, he had no other knowledge in regards to magic, if everyone else but him knew far more advanced knowledge and were expected to know something like that he would have become an embarrassment in his class for even attending the academy even though he was expected to know something like this, he already felt extremely conscious about the fact that he was common born.

Plus, listening to Syndra describe the nobles only made him warier of them as they didn’t seem to be a nice bunch, thinking about it again made David also realize that most likely the crowd of students behind the little girl were also mostly all nobles maybe even freshmen just like him.

For a moment David considered whether or not it was wise for him to chase after the unpopular and maybe even hated Syndra then simply staying with those students.

On one hand, they likely all would start socializing and he wouldn’t be able to fit in because of his birth and lack of social skills and on another hand Syndra was extremely approachable and nice as he somewhat found a friend in her, if she also considered him a friend that is.

While all of this was happening and seeing his somewhat worried expression, Syndra could to some degree tell what David was thinking, she couldn’t help but feel that it was her fault if David now wouldn’t be able to fit into his class because of her, but at the same time she was also delighted for the first time in her life to have found a person like him who talked to her normally without any prejudice, through all this talking she started to consider David as her friend, but also found it hard to really call him by that as she still didn’t know what he thought of her.

It didn’t help either that he was bewitchingly handsome and seductive to boot, more than once in their conversation did Syndra find herself simply staring at him not able to take her eyes off him as she started to get charmed, every time she caught herself doing so she berated herself calling herself a slut and a harlot for being so easily bewitched by a man only for the next second to do the same thing and repeat the cycle.

-(In either case, if anything happens in his class and he gets isolated because of me or picked on, I will do everything I can to help him and maybe even take him under my wing…)

Fantasizing a bit, Syndra swore to herself that she would do anything to help as she happily continued talking with David about school, she hadn’t realized that she was already doing things way beyond an acquaintance or a friend would do even though they had just met.

It was clear that Syndra had already fallen in love, even though she wasn’t aware of it, she likely would have done a lot of things for David if he just as asked her at this moment, it wasn’t because David was a good talker, but because Syndra simply never had any experience with the opposite sex or what falling in love was like since everyone she knew avoided and felt disgusted by her which David never did or showed throughout the time of getting to know him, adding to it were David’s charming looks, his kindness and sincerity.

Talking to him was like an incredibly fresh breeze and a whole new world opening up at the same time, she felt liberated by having someone like a companion she could exchange words with, never before did she use her throat as much as she did today, it was already starting to hurt even though she was controlling herself in the conversation to not seem too desperate and make David have a weird opinion of her she still wanted to continue and not stop as her feelings of happiness still kept going and not stopping greedily wanting more.

Unfortunately, all things needed to end, and the end came when the waiter finally decided that he needed to inform them of something and slowly came to their table making it a slight point to avoid Syndra as he faced towards David before politely saying.

-Ehm…excuse me you two mis…ehh I mean missus and mister, but we are soon going to close, I would like for you to politely clear the area as we won’t be operated for today, thank you.

Having said his part David paid for the meal they didn’t eat, the waiter accepted the money and left with quick steps clearly not wanting to stay any longer then he had to, seeing his quick retreat made David once again feel displeased by the waiter as he clearly left so quickly because of Syndra, he really felt that the waiter was rude, but at the same time he didn’t have the gut to really say that as the waiter didn’t actually do anything wrong.

The only wrong thing the waiter did in his opinion was momentarily ruin the atmosphere between Syndra and him as Syndra clearly took it a bit harder the way the waiter acted towards her then she did at the beginning. She hid her face this time as well covering it with her hair as he could briefly see Syndra clench her fist so tight that it shook, she was originally hiding it under the table, but since David always had a keen sense of observation from all the avoiding he did in his high school and university years he knew exactly what was going on.

He didn’t let his awareness be seen though as he simply pretended not to know anything while gather his baggage thinking to himself.

-(Strange, why is she so angry right now? She didn’t even twitch when that guy acted like that towards her when we came in, the most she did was hide her face with her long hair, did the waiter perhaps so something rude? No, I didn’t catch anything like that, though maybe at the beginning he was about say something strange before stopping, no better not think of it, Syndra is clearly bothered right now and ignoring would be better, I still don’t know her too well for me to ask such a personal question about her, I am sure time will tell sufficiently.)

Thinking optimistically, David turned back around the moment he finished organizing his stuff, smiling he looked at Syndra before saying.

-It was a bit of a shame since our conversation was cut short, but I think it’s time we go.

He proposed still not realizing that it was getting dark, Syndra on the other hand only now realized that it was starting to get dark as she looked out the window, she couldn’t believe that they had actually talked for this long, the surprise made her completely forget about the waiter’s earlier rudeness and how it ruined their moment which caused her anger, replaced by slight shyness for holding him up for this long and regret that she could only talk for so long.

Noticing how Syndra had suddenly turned towards the window, David also looked outside and saw how the sun was about to go down, remembering earlier how the waiter told them to leave since the restaurant was closing, he only now realized that it was closing because it was getting dark work hours were about to be over.

The fact that they talked for so long surprised David, but immediately after he realized how much time he wasted sitting with Syndra talking that he completely forgot about the academy!

Starting to get a bit worried whether or not he could still make it or whether or not it was already too late he turned towards Syndra wanting to ask her.

Syndra in turn looked at David and immediately understood why he looked like that, she felt a bit apologetic for holding him up for so long and immediately tried to calm his worries.

-Don’t worry, the Academy doesn’t actually start in a week or so, currently it’s just the waiting period for people to arrive, in fact you came really early, most of the students who attend the academy usually come at the very last moment, though even if they come late it’s not like they get kicked out hehe…

She explained, immediately making David feel calm as he once again needlessly worried about something he shouldn’t have, Syndra in turn couldn’t help but laugh, even though it was a bit mean she couldn’t help but feel like she liked it whenever she saw David slightly distressed and how he looked at her for help, for the first time she got to know how it felt like when someone relied on her and to be honest it felt great to her.

David on the other hand didn’t know how to react really, but since he saw that Syndra was happy, he didn’t say anything and simply laughed along with her.

Afterwards they got ready and quickly went out of the eatery, the streets of the city were slowly starting to come to life as well as lights came out from each establishment and new people started to come out, the night life of this city was just as prosperous as day time…

-Thinking about it, I don’t actually know the name of this city…

Unconsciously muttering those words, Syndra picked up on them as she immediately explained.

-The city here is called Ravennest city, since the entrance to Ravenwing academy is in the very middle of this city it took its name from the academy, on a side note Ravennest is just as prosperous as the royal capital of our kingdom, Goldthrone, but the unique thing about this city is that most of all Wizards come here because Ravennest is also the largest market for magic materials such as reagents and magic items.

-Oh, really?

David smiled wryly, replying as if he understood even though he didn’t really understand what reagents or magic items were, Syndra noticed this and explained what those things were without looking bothered at all as she was more than happy to explain anything to David.

From this David came to know that reagents were used to cast spells that needed them, spells that required reagents were usually more powerful than those that didn’t require them while magic items were tools with magical effects, common magical items are swords enchanted with sharpness or toughness which made the swords to be either sharper or tougher meaning they would last longer.

Already David, was captivated by the many forms of and applications of magic, he couldn’t wait to attend the academy and learn more, through their talking they were also quickly about to reach the academy gates, upon seeing them both of them had differing expressions as David couldn’t help but feel happy and nervous that he finally arrived while Syndra felt a bit sad since she couldn’t keep her excuse of staying with David any longer since they already arrived.

For a moment she thought about maybe showing him around the school or to his dorm, but quickly extinguished that thought as it was already starting to get dark and the male dorm was a off limits zone for the girls just as the girl’s was for the boys.

On top of that Syndra didn’t want to bother David with unnecessary rumors, if somebody saw them together she could already tell that there were would be massive whispering going around, David was different from her after all, he was a prince compared to her who was the beast.

Because of this as soon as they saw the gate Syndra resolved herself to not bother David anymore, she quickly turned towards him and told him that once he got to the gate he only needed to show his letter to the gatekeeper before someone would come and arrange everything for him, after that she made the excuse of having something to do before immediately disappearing from David’s sight as she ran off.

David now alone, was a bit dumbfounded by Syndra’s sudden escape, he for a moment couldn’t help but think that maybe he done something that offended her for her to run away so quickly, but he quickly erased that thought not liking what he was thinking and simply convinced himself that she was busy and that he had already taken a lot of her time, once he got into the academy he was sure they would get many more opportunities to meet and talk so he shouldn’t think anything bad as of yet.

Cheering himself up, he stepped forward towards the gate, it was massive up close and looked intimidating to boot, it didn’t help that he was the only person present here, David imagined that most students likely came midday and that he was one of the rare few that came in the afternoon.

Checking his pockets, David pulled out the invitation letter looking at it again he couldn’t help but feel that the piece of paper he was holding was far more magical then any magic item he had seen on those markets coming here, but then again it could be just a durable piece of paper.

-Your letter may I see it?

-Ehh?!

Surprised, David jumped a tiny bit as he hadn’t expected somebody to talk to him all of sudden, since he was sure that he was alone it was natural for him to be surprised, but as he turned towards the voice, he couldn’t see anyone making him feel cold as chills down his spine.

-(Was it a ghost?! Or am I just imagining things?)

He wondered, now really starting to feel like going to this academy wasn’t a good idea as he thought, and on a second thought maybe he should return back tomorrow when its bright, since no one was here, there was no point in David bothering anyone to come if they already went home.

And just like that David convinced himself turning around, thinking about looking for a hotel, but just as he was about to leave the voice once again called out to him.

-Hey! Where are you going! I told you to show me the letter lad! Don’t you hear me! No not there! Look down you fool!

Finally, David had found the origin of the voice, surprisingly it actually came from a black kitten that was standing next to his baggage the entire time, when he turned he hadn’t noticed the kitten because of how well it blended into the dark, looking at it only its gold yellow eyes were the most distinct as everything else about its body was difficult to discern.

The moment David saw the kitten and realized it was talking to it him he froze in place not sure what to think, even though David had already experienced a lot of magical things, talking animals was one thing he hadn’t expected, he had heard of beast people before who lived on the far southern plains but they were described as humanoid individuals with animal traits not total animals.

-(Calm down David, you can’t just constantly be surprised by everything new you see, you are going to attend a magic school after all this is likely just par of the course, don’t be an idiot and mess it up, just be cool)

David calmed himself, slowly taking his letter and giving it to the kitten, the kitten in turn took the latter with its tiny pawn somehow and started to read it, after a while David could see its eyes shone with a yellow light before the letter itself shone in blue light and dispersed into tiny particles.

-Hmm, I see so you are the talented freshman the headmistress had talked about, you’ve come quite early though also quite late, but it doesn’t matter, normally someone else would be telling you this but since that person isn’t here listen closely, from today on you are a student of Ravenwing academy, you will study here for 5 years for free plus be given anything else you require like food and shelter, etc, each week you will be also given stipend, basically an allowance, and if you can become a third circle Wizard in the 5^th year you will graduate, if you become a fourth circle Wizard in the 5^th year you may be allowed for an extension of your studies, but if you can’t fulfil neither of those things then you will be immediately kicked out after your 5^th year, do you understand David from Murrtail village?

The kitten spoke, for some reason looking a bit more serious as a more official aura surrounded it, David, simply gulped at that and nodded his head before answering.

-Yes, I understand, thank you for having me here sir…

-George.

-Yes, thank you sir George.

He bowed to the kitten called George, it looked as if it accepted his bow as it turned towards the gate, using its tails it gestured David to follow and as they started to come closer to the gate, the gate growled a metallic growl before opening all by itself letting them enter.

Behind the gate there was a long road towards the tower, no other building other than the tower itself was present making David feel strange for a second as he imagined the academy to be more than just a single tower, but alas he ignored that for a moment as he followed the kitten as they walked towards the majestic tower.

========================================

If you want to read more, over 10 chapters of this series is on my site https://kakemonoko.wordpress.com/ please check it out if you like.