Professor Giggs slowly walked back toward the podium as the lesson came to an end.

Beside him, Morgan stepped forward and began gathering the teaching materials that had been neatly arranged across the podium. After switching off the holographic screen, the floating blue display gradually dissolved into countless tiny particles before disappearing completely.

With the lecture finally over...

The tense atmosphere inside the classroom naturally relaxed.

Several students stretched their shoulders after sitting for hours, while others let out quiet sighs of relief before closing their notebooks. The soft sound of pages turning and pens being capped echoed throughout the classroom as everyone began packing their materials into their Spatial Bags or also known majorly as satchels.

Just as many students were preparing to leave...

Professor Giggs suddenly stopped.

"Oh..."

He smiled innocently, as though something had only just crossed his mind.

"Before I forget."

The moment those words left his mouth...

Nearly every student froze.

Elena slowly narrowed her eyes.

"...Not this again."

A few students who had already stood up quietly sat back down.

Others looked toward the professor with expressions that clearly said they had seen this coming.

Professor Giggs tilted his head.

"Why the long faces?"

He still wore the same harmless smile.

Page couldn’t help speaking up.

"Professor..."

She looked at him with a faintly frustrated expression.

"We’ve been exhausted since yesterday. And today alone we’ve already received two enormous assignments."

She sighed.

"Please don’t tell us you’re about to add another one."

Several students nodded vigorously behind her.

Even Ravenor quietly looked toward Professor Giggs without saying anything.

"Hahaha!"

Professor Giggs burst into hearty laughter.

The classroom immediately became silent.

Many students stared at him.

Some twitched slightly.

Others looked visibly offended.

He’s actually laughing...

Almost everyone shared the exact same thought.

Professor Giggs casually waved one hand.

"Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it."

His answer sounded so natural that it almost made everyone even more speechless.

"Besides... You students are still young. You’ve got plenty of energy. I’m sure you’ll survive."

His playful tone made several students clench their fists.

"Professor!"

Many voices rang out together.

"Are you kidding us?"

The entire classroom echoed with complaints.

Professor Giggs simply smiled as though he hadn’t heard anything.

Ezra quietly watched the scene from his seat.

...I can already imagine how many assignments we’ll be receiving throughout our academy life.

He thought to himself with the same calm expression.

Assignment after assignment.

This is only the first day.

Professor Giggs lightly clapped his hands once.

"Alright. Your assignment is simple."

He paused just long enough for several students to become hopeful.

"I want everyone to draw all the Fundamental Elements. To the best of your current ability."

The hope that had just appeared on several faces immediately disappeared.

Grace slowly stood from her seat.

"Professor Giggs."

She looked genuinely dissatisfied.

"Isn’t this assignment unfair?"

Professor Giggs looked toward her.

"Oh?"

Grace respectfully continued.

"This assignment heavily favors students who are already at the Intermediate Level of Alchemy Circle Conversion."

She calmly gestured toward Ezra, Vera, Ravenor, Page, and several of the more experienced students.

"I know I’m already a decent Beginner-Level Alchemy Circle Converter...But what about those students who only started learning today?"

Her hand shifted toward the newcomers sitting farther back.

"They haven’t even practiced drawing the symbols yet."

Several students looked at Grace with gratitude.

To them...

She looked like someone willing to stand up for the entire class.

Miss Grace...

You’re our savior...

Many silently prayed that Professor Giggs would reconsider.

Professor Giggs rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Hmm...You do make a reasonable point, Miss Grace Evergrey."

A few students immediately brightened.

Perhaps...

Their workload would finally be reduced.

The classroom quietly waited.

Professor Giggs smiled.

"But... It’s simply their own luck."

The room instantly became silent.

Grace stood completely frozen.

The hopeful expressions around the classroom also stiffened.

Nobody had expected that answer.

"...Eh?"

Several students blinked.

Professor Giggs merely shrugged.

"There will always be students ahead of others. That’s normal. If today’s assignment is difficult... Then work harder for tomorrow’s own. That’s also part of learning."

He looked around the room one last time.

"Submission will be during our next lesson. Which is Wednesday. I’ll see all of you then."

Without giving anyone another opportunity to protest...

Professor Giggs waved cheerfully before walking out of the classroom together with Morgan.

The classroom door quietly closed behind them and silence lingered for several seconds.

Finally...

Elena let out a long sigh.

"Well...That went well."

She looked toward Grace with sympathy.

Grace slowly lowered herself back into her chair.

"...I tried."

She sighed helplessly.

Ezra didn’t remain seated any longer.

He quietly packed away his notebook before standing.

As he reached for his Spatial Bag...

A familiar voice spoke from beside him.

"Are you going to the library now?"

Vera rested her cheek against the long-shared desk.

Her dark eyes calmly followed Ezra.

Although she looked completely relaxed...

Her voice remained as flat as ever.

Ezra adjusted the strap of his bag.

"Not yet. We still have ten minutes before self-study begins."

Vera gave a small nod.

"Okay."

Her expression didn’t change.

"See you..." She paused briefly. "...if I see you."

Her tone remained perfectly plain.

Whether it was a farewell or a joke...

Only she knew.

Ezra quietly looked at her for a second.

"..."

He simply accepted the strange farewell without asking any questions.

Soon afterward...

He turned and walked toward the classroom door.

More students gradually began leaving as conversations filled the room again.

Willow watched Ezra disappear into the hallway before turning toward Vera.

"Is he always like that?"

Her voice remained calm and serious.

Vera looked at her without the slightest change in expression.

"And how is that your problem?"

The question came so naturally that it sounded almost casual.

Willow remained completely unaffected.

"I need to know. So, I’ll understand how to speak with him from now on."

She answered honestly.

Vera tilted her head slightly.

"And why would you want to do that?"

"Because... I intend to ask him for advice whenever I encounter something I don’t understand in this course."

Her answer came without hesitation.

Vera casually pointed toward another student.

"You could ask Ravenor. He’s quite skilled too."

Not far away...

Ravenor happened to hear his own name.

He slowly looked up from the Zphone Tablet resting on his desk.

Until that moment, he had been quietly reading through several documents by himself.

Why did my name suddenly come up?

He watched the two girls carefully.

Please don’t tell me Vera has decided to drag me into another one of her conversations.

If she starts...

I’m jumping through the window.

His expression remained calm.

Only his thoughts had already begun planning an escape route.

"Vera."

Willow called.

"I intend to ask everyone who’s ahead of me in this field."

Her tone remained firm.

"And by everyone... I mean everyone."

She continued calmly.

"I’m already familiar with Ravenor Burnwick. I know Page Laverdale fairly well from the noble social gatherings we’ve attended since childhood."

She looked toward Vera.

"The same goes for you."

Her gaze shifted toward Diane.

"And this sleepy beauty."

Diane had somehow already fallen asleep again.

One hand rested loosely on the desk while her breathing remained soft and steady.

A small smile almost appeared on Willow’s face before she looked back at Vera.

"The only person I barely know... is Ezra Ashenlocke. So, I’d appreciate it if you told me a little about him."

Vera looked at Willow for another quiet moment.

Then...

She stood.

"Let’s head out first."

She completely ignored the question.

As though already expecting that answer...

Willow simply stood as well without pressing the matter further.

Vera gently tapped Diane’s shoulder.

Almost immediately...

Diane lazily raised one hand like a sleepy zombie.

Without even opening her eyes completely...

She grabbed the edge of Vera’s blazer.

Willow quietly waited.

A second later...

Diane’s other hand slowly reached out and caught hold of Willow’s shirt.

Only then did she stand.

Still half asleep.

Still holding onto both of them.

The three girls quietly left the classroom together.

Leaving behind another group of students who could only watch the unusual sight with helpless smiles.

Like that...

Time quietly flowed onward.

Students gradually left the Optional Course classrooms and dispersed throughout the Royal Academy first year district.

This period wasn’t reserved for lectures.

Instead, it belonged entirely to the students.

Some gathered with classmates inside a quiet classroom to study there.

Others traveled through the mini-streamliner to their faction headquarters they had joined to attend discussion sessions organized by their seniors.

Quite a number of students naturally headed toward the Royal Academy Library.

Ezra was among them.

Vera and Diane also made their way there shortly afterward.

This time, however...

Willow didn’t accompany them.

She had already accepted an invitation to join one of the academy’s official factions. As the newly appointed First-Year Leader of that faction, she had her own responsibilities to attend to.

Instead of going to the library, she headed toward the faction’s meeting hall, where the first study session for its newest members was about to begin.

The academy gradually settled into a peaceful rhythm.

The loud conversations from earlier slowly faded, replaced by quiet discussions, the turning of pages inside the library, and the distant sounds of students practicing in various training areas across the campus.

Hours passed before anyone truly noticed.

Soon...

The final academy bell rang across the grounds.

Its deep chime echoed through every corridor and courtyard, signaling the end of the day’s activities.

Students began leaving the academic buildings in groups.

The academy roads slowly became lively once more.

Rows of Noble Steam Carriages waited neatly outside the academy gates, while servants and attendants stood respectfully beside them, ready to welcome their young masters and mistresses home.

Members of the Royal Family, on the other hand, were escorted toward their own private Royal Phantom Rolls, each one guarded by Royal guards stationed nearby.

Ezra quietly walked alone toward his ordered Noble Steam Carriage.

Lucy had already been waiting for him.

The moment she saw him approaching, she gracefully bowed.

"Welcome back, Young Master."

A bright smile naturally appeared on her face.

"How was your first day at the Royal Academy?"

Ezra stopped before the carriage.

He looked at Lucy for a brief moment before narrowing his eyes slightly.

"It was as stressful as I expected."

His answer remained completely plain.

Lucy couldn’t help smiling a little wider.

"Then I suppose that means everything went well."

Ezra didn’t respond.

He simply stepped inside the carriage.

The driver respectfully closed the carriage door before climbing onto the driver’s seat.

Moments later...

The Steam Engine rumbled to life.

A steady rhythm echoed beneath the carriage as steam escaped from the exhaust pipes.

The Noble Steam Carriage smoothly pulled away from the academy, carrying Ezra back toward the Ashenlocke residence.

By the time Ezra returned home...

The sun had already begun sinking toward the western horizon.

After greeting the household staff, he headed straight to his room.

He changed into more comfortable clothes, washed away the dust from the academy, and freshened himself up before walking directly into his study.

The room had already become one of the places he spent the most time since arriving in this world.

Shelves lined with books surrounded the walls.

Stacks of research notes rested neatly across one side of his desk.

Blueprints, engineering sketches, and Alchemical references remained exactly where he had left them.

Ezra calmly sat down.

Rather than immediately beginning another invention...

He first reviewed everything that had been taught throughout the day.

Then he organized the important topics one after another inside his notebook, deciding which subjects required deeper study and which could wait until later.

Fortunately...

He had already completed every assignment that needed to be submitted the following day during his self-study time.

That left him with enough free time to focus entirely on expanding his own understanding instead of rushing through homework.

The evening quietly slipped by.

Just as it always did.

Before long...

Night gave way to dawn, and a new morning arrived.

Golden sunlight spread across the capital as another academy day officially began.

Unlike yesterday...

The students didn’t gather inside their regular classroom.

Instead...

Everyone assembled on one of the academy’s large outdoor training grounds.

The cool morning breeze swept gently across the open field.

Students stood in orderly rows, chatting quietly while waiting for the instructor to arrive.

Today’s attire was also different.

Every student wore the Royal Academy’s official training uniform.

The boys wore cream-and-black training tops paired with black training trousers.

The girls wore the same cream-and-black top, matched with black skirts and fitted training leggings designed for easier movement during combat practice.

Ezra’s appearance immediately stood out because...

Beneath his uniform...

He wore a black long-sleeved inner shirt.

Black gloves covered both hands.

Over everything...

He wore the academy-issued cardigan.

Compared to everyone else...

He looked far more prepared for the cold morning air.

Several students couldn’t help glancing toward him.

Curious whispers quietly spread among those nearby.

"Isn’t he dressed a little too warmly?"

"I thought the weather wasn’t that cold."

Ezra ignored every curious look.

The cold had never been something he intended to underestimate, not even once.

Not far away...

Cherry also wore her cardigan.

She stood beside Maxwell while quietly adjusting the sleeves.

After her first academy experience...

She had become uncomfortable with the amount of attention her figure attracted whenever she wore lighter clothing.

It was exactly the same reason she had kept her academy blazer on throughout the previous day.

Before long...

A familiar figure walked onto the training field.

Professor Kent.

"Good morning, students."

His calm voice spread across the open field.

Several students politely greeted him back.

Kent slowly looked across the crowd before a faint smirk appeared on his face.

"I trust everyone slept well."

The moment those words left his mouth...

Many students’ expressions immediately darkened.

The memory of spending nearly the entire evening completing assignments returned all at once.

Logan quietly leaned toward Gareth.

"He’s trying to annoy us, isn’t he?"

Gareth folded his arms.

"I think he’s just enjoying it."

Kent pretended not to notice the dissatisfied looks directed toward him.

"Before we begin...Everyone should submit yesterday’s assignments to Karla."

He casually pointed toward his teaching assistant.

Karla stepped forward carrying an organized folder.

One after another...

Students reluctantly walked over to hand in their completed assignments.

Several rolled their eyes toward Professor Kent while doing so.

Others silently prayed there wouldn’t be another assignment waiting for them today.

Karla accepted every paper with a professional smile before neatly storing them inside her Spatial Bag.

Once everyone had finished...

Professor Kent clapped his hands once.

The sharp sound echoed clearly across the training grounds.

"Now. Let’s get to today’s lesson."

Basil raised one hand with a grin.

"Professor Kent. Are we going to be jogging today?"

A few students standing nearby laughed.

Kent looked at him.

"Actually... No."

Basil blinked.

Kent calmly continued.

"Normally... I’d spend some time explaining what this course is about, then we would start with basic warm ups before the real practical class starts."

He looked directly at Basil.

"But today... I’m not really in the mood."

"...Really?"

Basil scratched his head.

He honestly couldn’t tell whether he had somehow offended the professor.

Kent slowly looked across the entire gathering of students.

"So many talented young Alchemists... All gathered in one place, and in one year. Each one, hoping to become stronger while studying at the Royal Academy."

He placed one hand beneath his chin.

"Hmm..."

A thoughtful smile slowly spread across his face.

Then...

Snap.

His fingers snapped together.

The sound had barely faded before an overwhelming surge of Cognis burst from beneath his feet.

The energy shot across the ground with incredible speed.

Many students couldn’t even follow its movement.

They only saw countless streams of violet light racing across the sand surface.

Within a single breath...

Those glowing lines expanded across the entire training ground.

An enormous Spatial Alchemy Circle bloomed beneath everyone’s feet.

Layer after layer of intricate symbols ignited one after another.

The entire ground lit up with brilliant violet light.

"A Spatial Alchemy Circle again!"

One student cried out in panic.

Elena instinctively hugged her shoulders.

"I hate this feeling..."

She muttered nervously.

The memory of being transported by Spatial Alchemy was still fresh in her mind.

Professor Kent simply smiled.

"Relax. There isn’t any reason to panic."

He looked around at every student.

"Today’s lesson... will be a combat competition."

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Many students’ eyes lit up with excitement.

Even those who had looked exhausted only moments earlier suddenly became alert.

Professor Kent’s smile widened.

"The rules are simple. Each of you must search for a numbered gem. The number on the gem corresponds to your assigned participant number."

He slowly raised one finger.

"Once you’ve found your own gem... You may head straight for the exit and finish the exercise."

A mischievous grin appeared on his face.

"Or... You can beat up your fellow students... take their gems... and climb higher in the rankings."

Excited murmurs immediately spread throughout the students.

Professor Kent folded his arms.

"The student who collects the highest number of gems...will receive..."

He deliberately paused.

"Ten thousand Academy Points."

Several students’ breathing immediately became heavier, because that reward was enormous.

Professor Kent casually waved his hand.

"Good luck."

The Spatial Alchemy Circle suddenly shone with dazzling violet light.

The glowing symbols rotated rapidly beneath everyone’s feet.

In the next instant...

Every student vanished from the training ground without a trace.