Jinn slowly settled the inner satisfaction of watching the kids squirm under pressure and focused on the point he wanted to know most about.
The only things he knew about the Nightshade academy were rumors or the information Agnes passed on to him.
Father Augustus also gave him a brief overview of the place, but even he did not have any idea how the academy taught their students.
"As I said before, there are two types of categories of power wielders, the Spiritualist and the aurer. Despite their powers, the base of every strength is the same. The Dragon Energy." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noⅴelfire.net
Jinn recalled reading something similar in the book provided by the head priest.
"Power without control is an accident waiting to happen, so all of you will attend a mandatory class until you gain acceptable control over your powers. The core belief of this academy is to nurture the future of the students here, so your classes will be assigned based on the life you have planned for yourself for your future."
Aurer Mary closed her eyes, and her straight hair started floating upward. A stream of aura covered her body without exploding outwards, which showed how deep her control was over her power.
Even Jinn could not help but feel inferior before her.
Then, right before everyone’s astonished eyes, two dark orbs faded into view on her body. The two chakra nodes glowed with different colors. One was green, and the other was blue.
Their pale lights matched the radiance of the aura around the lady. As the spooky woman opened her eyes, a light flashed within them before the ashes rose upon her command.
With fluid motion, Mary controlled the ashes to fly towards the pristine wall behind her and used them to form words.
Her actions made the supervising man wince in annoyance. "I am not cleaning that up, not this time."
- Medicine and Healing
- Intelligence Gathering
Jinn looked at the six names etched on the board with narrowed eyes while his thoughts churned at great speed.
Aurer Mary’s voice grew louder, overwhelming the starting whispers, nipping them in the bud.
"Six courses, six different roads that this academy can help you carve. You can take more than one course as long as you can handle it. But remember this: this is YOUR future, and we are just here to help you along the way."
Turning her head to the grumbling supervisor, she sent a discreet signal, which the man caught. Conjuring several papers in the air, he walked from student to student, passing them each while they remained seated.
"Once you fill out the form after deciding the future you want for yourself, we can get you the schedule for the classes." She paused, seeing the confusion and panic on several faces before adding. "No need to panic, wusses. You have a week to decide; once you are done filling the form, you can pass it off to any of us."
As much as she liked to see the children panic, Mary was more concerned about them causing a commotion, which would only annoy her.
When it was Jinn’s turn to take the form, he gave it a quick read. There was an identity column at the top with several, followed by a blank space to fill in his choice and a signature column in the right-hand corner.
"Now that everyone has received their forms, it’s time I tell you about your living situation. As I said earlier, you will not be going home for the next years, which I know the academy mentioned in the acceptance letter you have received as well. You will be—"
Just as she was about to say something, a panicked voice cut her off.
"Bullocks, I was so excited that I forgot to read the letter properly." The young man who interrupted Mary stood up hastily, not caring about the looks passing in his direction. "I don’t even have luggage; forget that. I wonder if my parents read—"
His words were cut short when his own shadow came to life and bound his mouth like a tape and pulled him back into the seat.
His face was forcefully turned in the direction of Mary, who made it all possible.
"I don’t like being interrupted." She swept her gaze all over the room once more as if warning the rest as well. "If you have any problem like that, you can get in touch with this kind sir here after I am done."
’Damn it. This is work harassment, abuse of power!’ The supervisor knew he could only force a smile and suck up as more work was thrown on him.
His initial responsibility was just to settle the students in the room and make sure they did not create a fuss or move around, but now...
He lost count of the things he would have to do.
"You will be randomly allotted a room that you will be sharing with another one of your students in the same year as you."
Several faces twisted in distaste and revulsion at the mention of having to share a room with someone else.
As if seeing their disdain, Mary added with a slight smirk, "Don’t want to share a room? Pay up. For 100 Kal a month, you can get personal quarters with a lavish bedroom, bathroom, and everything."
Jinn stilled, just thinking about the price. Hundred Kals were the same as a single Tula coin, the largest currency available in the kingdom. For the same price as they were charging for a two-year stay in a personal room, anyone could buy a small piece of land or even start a business.
’I am fine with sharing the room.’ Without a doubt, Jinn decided to be frugal with his savings until he found a way to make money.
But unlike him, some kids seemed eager to throw the money for better living conditions.
Snapping her fingers, she released the boy she had restrained, letting him breathe a sigh of relief.
"You can use the week to settle in the dorm and think over your decision. Find me once you are done with the form." Finally, when Mary was done speaking, she stepped to the side, wanting to leave, when a young woman approached her.
"I am already done with the form. Can I give it to you now?" she asked.