Shattered Sanity

(Meanwhile, inside House Aureate’s common hall, Stacy’s POV)

Stacy had been enjoying her life inside the Imperial Academy, as compared to the hell she had endured in Ashfang and the years she had spent living beneath military supervision, her current lifestyle almost felt like a dream.

Training every day on a full stomach, sleeping upon a soft bed and receiving an education that could help her become stronger were luxuries she had never expected to enjoy.

Even the Academy’s exhausting schedule hardly bothered her, as there was something strangely satisfying about collapsing into bed because she had spent the entire day improving herself rather than following orders she never wanted to obey.

And so, as Stacy sat cross-legged upon one of the couches inside House Aureate’s common hall that evening, she listened quietly while several first years discussed their upcoming elective selections and the first Black Week that was set to begin roughly a month from now.

”It’s almost unbelievable,” Reinhardt suddenly said while barely suppressing his urge to burst into laughter.

”This might be the first time in fifteen years that all three Houses hate one House this much before the first Black Week has even begun.”

Several students laughed.

”Just yesterday, I spoke with a few students from Viridian,” Reinhardt continued. ”Apparently they want nothing more than to beat the snot out of Dawnriver’s cronies after what happened to their people.”

”Orton and the other two?” someone asked.

”Who else?”

Another round of laughter followed.

The fight between Orton, Batista and Flair and several House Viridian students had already become common knowledge, while the three Eastern nobles had apparently made little effort to repair the relationship afterward.

If anything, they seemed proud of it.

”The first Black Week is going to be special,” Reinhardt continued, as an excited grin spread across his face. ”I think Sable might cooperate with us as well. If they do, Viridian, Sable and Aureate could all concentrate on Argent.”

”At first I thought only Aureate hated Dawnriver to its bones,” another boy replied. ”Turns out Dawnriver and his cronies simply have a talent for pissing off everyone.”

”Even their own House is tired of them.”

That earned another burst of laughter.

Stacy remained quiet as she listened, although the corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

Riven really did possess an almost impressive ability to make enemies.

He had barely spent more than a week inside the Imperial Academy, yet somehow House Aureate already despised him, Viridian wanted revenge against his friends, and even several members of Argent apparently disliked the group forming around him.

”My sources inside Argent told me something even better,” Reinhardt said.

The laughter gradually died down. ℴ

”It’s confirmed that Dawnriver doesn’t know a single Storm spell.”

Several expressions immediately changed.

”Seriously?”

”Not one,” Reinhardt replied. ”That Perfect Storm Affinity everyone was losing their minds over during the appraisal is practically decoration right now. He doesn’t even know how to use it.”

Stacy’s amusement faded slightly.

She had seen enough of Riven during Professor Jean’s class to know that the statement was mostly true.

He was learning [Lightning Step], although calling what he currently performed a proper spell was generous.

”He’s strong, I’ll give him that,” another student said. ”Everyone can see it during Mike’s morning training. But after watching him in Jude’s class for the past week, I’m starting to think Gary made him look far more dangerous than he actually is.”

Several students nodded.

”Exactly. Gary dominated most of that fight before Dawnriver started fighting like a lunatic.”

”Don’t talk about that.... Although Gary is not around right now, we don’t want to keep reminding him of that loss....”

Someone said as the others immediately shifted away from the topic.

”The point is that we’ve all watched him now. We’ve seen him during Jude’s drills, and we’ve seen him struggling through Jean’s Spell Mastery classes. He’s physically powerful, but he’s nowhere near as skilled as people thought after the exhibition.”

Stacy quietly rested her chin against her hand.

That assessment was not entirely wrong either.

Riven was dangerous, but anyone expecting the polished combat ability of someone like Gary Ironveil was going to be disappointed.

”The prick won’t accept another one-on-one fight unless there are proper stakes anyway,” Reinhardt continued. ”And Aureate isn’t going to hand us a pile of House Points just because we want to challenge him.”

”But Black Week is different.”

Reinhardt’s grin widened.

”Exactly.”

The surrounding students immediately understood.

”During Black Week, we don’t need his permission.”

A few students chuckled.

”And if Viridian and Sable really cooperate with us, why stop with Dawnriver?” another boy asked. ”Take him and his entire group hostage.”

Reinhardt’s eyes brightened.

”Now you’re thinking properly.”

”If we capture Dawnriver, Orton, Batista, Flair and the others, Argent will have to spend House Points getting them released. We bleed Argent dry while humiliating Dawnriver at the same time.”

Several students laughed again.

”With three houses against one, he really won’t stand a chance.

He will be like a prized rabbit being hunted down by hundreds of seasoned hunters.

It’ll be a miracle if he evades capture for even one day out of the whole week!”

The common hall erupted into laughter once again.

Stacy watched them quietly before thinking about Mary, as while she herself did not care about Riven all that deeply, she knew that her sister did.

’What a mess.’

Stacy thought before releasing a quiet sigh.

With Aureate already waiting to retaliate against Riven, Viridian furious with his friends and Sable apparently considering joining them, the first Black Week was going to be hell for him, however, unfortunately, there was little Stacy could do about that from inside House Aureate.

’I am sorry sister, but I ain’t going to help your boyfriend out of this one.’

Stacy thought as before long, the conversation shifted away from Black Week as several students returned to discussing another approaching decision.

Electives.

Beginning the following week, every first-year was going to select one elective subject alongside the Academy’s mandatory curriculum, with options covering nearly every secondary discipline considered useful to nobles.

Diplomacy and Political Warfare attracted those interested in court politics, while Forging and Runesmithing appealed to students interested in equipment and Aether craftsmanship.

Others considered Potion Making or Basics of Trade and Commerce, while several less practical electives included subjects such as music, dance and other recreational pursuits.

The Academy offered them all.

Very few students, however, appeared interested in spending their single elective upon recreation when the same opportunity could provide them with another valuable profession.

Stacy listened for another minute before uncrossing her legs and rising from the couch.

Unlike many of the nobles around her, she did not need several days to decide.

She already knew exactly what she was choosing.

’Potion Making.’

For Stacy, the decision had little to do with prestige.

She had spent too much of her life without control over what happened to her, and although entering the Imperial Academy had finally given her an opportunity to change that, graduating successfully was hardly guaranteed.

If she failed to become a noble, she needed something else.

A profession.

A skill capable of feeding her without requiring a family name, inherited land or military service.

Potion Making offered exactly that.

’Even if I fail to become a noble, I can still survive as a potion maker.’

Stacy thought as she walked away from the gathering.

’As long as I can make a living brewing potions, I’ll never have to return to the army.’