Kalle's next few days with Nikoli was peaceful, during those times Kalle realized how uncomfortable Nikoli was interacting with other people.

  'Introvert' As Victor calls it, although despite his shyness he is extremely talented in his own craft, he told Kalle that his parents works at the main duchy as inventors.

  This surprised Kalle and Victor of course, neither of them imagined that technology and science would find it's way back, now that the world is filled with magic.

  They also discovered that Nikoli just like Kalle was yet to have any magic, as it appears that he obviously had more interest in inventing things rather than learning magic.

  One night, before the start of the classes Kalle decided to wander around the town, he planned on looking for a short sword ever since he arrived, because Nikoli said there would be combat training which he disliked, On the other hand Kalle doesn't seem to mind. He had always been good with sword ever since, Gabriel thought him growing up.

  The problem was he still doesn't have a sword, he already planned on purchasing one but he always ends up doing something else or just completely forgetting about it.

  It was afternoon then, Kalle told Nikoli about his plans, which Nikoli just nodded off as he continued to fiddle with his pocket watch.

  Kalle got out of their room, he walked the hallways of the academy. He have grown familiar with the place, but that wasn't always the case because at first he had a hard time navigating through the academy due to its enormous size.

  Not long afterwards he arrived at the gates, he showed the identification that Richard had given him, it was a small emblem with the mark of a snake.

  The man guarding the gate allowed his leave.

  Kalle walked aimlessly at the empty streets, he heard occasional bird chirping during his walk.

  He wondered where he would be looking for a short sword at a time like this, most of the stalls are already closed.

  'That's why you shouldn't procrastinate' Victor's voice sounding sarcastic.

  Over the period of time they have been together, Kalle have been growing familiar with Victor's use of words.

  "I didn't, I just forgot about it"

  'You have almost four days and you only remember it the night before the classes?' Victor said in which Kalle just replied with a sneer, the longer he had been with Kalle the more annoying he grew.

  Kalle then proceeded to ignore Victor's remarks and continued his walk.

  While walking, he found a strange looking monument.

  It was a stone sword that is pierced through the ground.

  Below the sword is a carved name that says:

  Excalibur

  'There is your sword' Victor joked.

  "Funny" Kalle said, as he tried to observed the sculpture.

  There were markings within the sculpture, it's obviously an old one, withered by time.

  But what really caught Kalle's attention is a crystal embedded on it's hilt.

  ‘isn’t that..’ Victor said in Kalle’s head, almost as a whisper.

  When Kalle looked more closely, he realized that it was not a crystal rather than that it was actually a cross.

  The cross had a pure black color, And on a closer inspection he saw two letters carved in it; one in each side of the cross.

  He widened his eyes as he recognize the letters that read:

  V, H.

  Somewhere near the border of Alcor a woman with curly hair just took her rest in one of the inns. She had been travelling most of her days on horseback. She could still remember the time she talked to Gabriel about Kalle.

  “What do you need with Kalle” Gabriel’s voice was sharp When he talked to the woman.

  “I don’t intend to cause him harm, I just wanted to meet him because he has what I own” The woman explained.

  That moment Gabriel understood what the woman meant, She matches the description of the woman that had dropped the necklace based on Kalle’s story.

  The woman saw the hesitation in Gabriel eyes so she decided to introduce herself.

  “I am Sophia Elpida” The woman said as she extended her hand for a handshake.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Gabriel took her and and shook it as he also introduced himself.

  “Gabriel Stonefield”

  After the brief handshake Gabriel spoke again.

  “May I ask how you knew my connection with Kalle? Or how did you know Kalle’s name in the first place” Gabriel asked.

  “I asked around, Described him, Found his name, Then ended up finding out he lives here” The woman said which isn’t exactly a lie, she can’t tell him her secret either.

  Gabriel knew the woman wasn't telling the whole story.

  “Well unfortunately Kalle ran from us and I didn’t know where he was now” Gabriel lied, He didn’t know if he could trust this woman and even if he could, she would probably lead trouble to Kalle, which he wouldn’t want.

  Sophia picked up the lie, She had a talent only few people knew, and even fewer people have:

  Telepathy.

  The ability to peek into ones mind.

  With that, Sophia says her gratitude as she lefts the tavern already knowing where Kalle was.

  Altair Academy.

  The woman realized That she had been travelling for over four days, barely stopping to eat or rest each night. At her pace, she decided that she would arrive at Altair tomorrow afternoon.

  Sophia figured that it would be best for her to sleep already as she would have to leave early tomorrow.

  Kalle stared dumbfoundedly at the cross embedded in the stone sword, he recognized the initials V, H.

  "Care to elaborate?" Kalle spoke, talking to Victor.

  'It was one of the things I had crafted before, not the sword only the cross' Victor paused.

  'When I got my magic for the first time. Crafting captured my interest, imbuing your own magic in a material making it stronger, last longer, sharper or even more powerful' Victor explained.

  Kalle knew about this of course those such things exist even now, there were various blacksmiths that sells magical tools, weapons or armors.

  What surprised Kalle was the fact that a single item could last several millenias. The cross looked like it wasn't scratched or damage in any way possible too.

  'Take it' Victor instructed Kalle.

  This made Kalle raise his brow, he didn't know what use this cross could be to him.

  Despite his doubts, he took a dagger in his pocket, one with a handle that is made with black wood.

  The same dagger he stole from Olivia.

  Carefully, Kalle used the dagger to pluck out the cross from the stone sword, trying not to damage the stone.

  Slowly, the cross fell off.

  Kalle felt the cross texture, he had a feeling that it was special.

  He was right.

  The next morning Kalle was woken up by Nikoli.

  "Hey why are you still asleep?, we have to leave now the class would be starting in a hour" Nikoli spoke urgently.

  Kalle realized that he overslept, his discovery last night had kept him awake almost all night.

  He moved his hand closer to his pocket, taking the cross.

  Kalle felt it's cold surface as he returned it back to his pocket.

  Immediately, he changed his clothes, fixed his hair and worn the blue robe given to him by Richard.

  It was embedded with a snake pin same with the one on the emblem.

  When Kalle finished fixing himself, he and Nikoli rushed through the corridors.

  The two of them got out of the academy still running towards the grounds, where their first class would happen.

  While running within the grounds Nikoli saw something that made him halt. He crouched to inspect it closer.

  It appears to be a crystal with a greenish color, just like a emerald, but this one is thinner.

  When Nikoli took the crystal in his hands, he inspected it closer to found out the it had a slightly concaved shape along with its sharp edges.

  "What are you doing Nikoli!, we would be late already" Kalle exclaimed, he was already far from where Nikoli was crouching.

  Nikoli put the strange crystal in his pocket and promptly followed Kalle.

  When they have arrived at the center of the grounds there were already a bunch of students wearing the same robes as them.

  Within the crowd Kalle could see Anthon and Eli waving at him.

  While walking towards Anthon and Eli, Kalle heard other students murmuring about something.

  "Have you heard? They said they're hiding something there." One student said.

  "What do you think they're hiding?"

  The other student replied.

  "I don't know..."

  The murmuring slowly fades away.

  Kalle greeted Anthon and Eli, he also introduced Nikoli to them.

  "Nice to meet you" Anthon said, his hand extended.

  Nikoli shyly shook his hand.

  Meanwhile Eli merely nodded at Nikoli.

  "Hey what are they talking about?" Kalle asked Anthon, implying about the murmuring in the crowd.

  "I don't now, I think there talking about the myth in the third tower" Anthon answered.

  "Third tower?" Kalle asked absent mindedly.

  "Well the thing is, as you now there were three towers in the academy. One is for the observatory, one is for the library and as for the tallest tower, the third tower apparently no one knew what it contains not even me and Eli" Anthon explained.

  This obviously confused Kalle, why wouldn't Anthon and Eli know what is in the third tower when their father is the head of the academy.

  "What do you think is in there" Kalle asked.

  "Honestly I don't know, it could be a storage for documents for all I know" Anthon said, shrugging.

  The chatter with the students continued for a while, until finally the professor arrived at the grounds.

  It was Leo Swiftstrike, the same person that guided Kalle in his first time in the Academy. Along with him was rack with wheels attached, the rack was filled with training swords, dagger and even bows.

  "May I have your attention, everyone" Leo spoke, his voice firm.

  Suddenly the chatter of the students stopped.

  "Very well" Leo paused.

  "I would be your basic combat instructor, I assume it is your first class?" Leo continued.

  The students nodded in unison.

  "Our academy is known for our magic, yet you must all understand the importance of short range combat, wether it's for your personal safety or a skill you would like to use, it is essential to learn the basics of combat" Leo once again paused.

  "That is why I wanted to see your current skills with combat" Leo proclaimed.

  The crowd of students gasped at the declaration, they obviously didn't expect anything at the first day of class.

  "I would pick two students randomly to undergo a friendly sparring"

  The crowd murmured, some in anticipation, some in the fear of being chosen.

  Kalle felt indifferent, he knew the chance of being chosen was extremely low considering the huge amount of students around.

  "Anthon Winterheart would be the first representative" as Leo said this the crowd roared with anticipation, clapping and shouting their cheers.

  Anthon was obviously known here, Kalle almost felt bad with the student who would be paired with him.

  "Kalle Thyllos" Leo called.

  Kalle widened his eyes in shock, his mouth slightly gapped.

  'that has to be on purpose' Victor said.

  Kalle knew Victor was right, although he would say he didn't know the reason why.

  He thought that it might be a way to see his skills, Kalle knew himself as someone who is good at combat although with magic he would easily lose.

  Kalle stepped forward along with Anthon, he saw Anthon smiling widely at him. He decided that it was atleast someone he knew he would be sparring with.

  Leo explained the rules, he said that he would interfere if the spar had turned too dangerous for either Kalle or Anthon. The spar could also end when someone conceded.

  The main rule was the use of magic was limited to only one spell.

  After discussing Anthon and Kalle decided that they would be sparring with swords.

  Anthon conjured a frost blade, something similar with a short sword using his magic.

  The crowd then again roared in cheer with Anthon.

  "Do you have a weapon?" Leo asked Kalle.

  Which Kalle just nodded as he took a familiar black cross from his pocket.

  He hold the cross tightly as suddenly it began to change form.

  The cross grew larger, turning in to a pitch black short sword. The crowd stepped back both amazed and confused of what Kalle just did.

  Even Leo tilted his head, but then he quickly returned to his normal demeanor as he declared the start of the spar.

  Kalle looked at the blade deciding that the name Victor gave it is very suiting.

  Midnight.

  "Begin" Leo declared firmly.

  Kalle looked unsure, he hold the sword on his left hand waiting for Anthon to initiate.

  Sure enough Anthon charged at him, slashing him by the side, which He easily parried away.

  The barrage of attacks continued from Anthon, the sound of clashing metal echoed throught the whole grounds.

  Anthon realized that despite his continues attack on Kalle none of his attacks could land a solid hit, Kalle merely continued on parrying and taking a step back every time.

  Suddenly, Anthon halted, sensing Kalle wasn't taking him seriously. He stared straight at Kalle, his one hand on his waist as he spoken the words.

  "I would be insulted if you continue it what way" Anthon said sounding disappointed.

  Kalle thought that the sparring was unfair, Anthon does not specialize in a short sword.

  He knew that Anthon continuously switches weapon and uses his ice magic to alter the terrain, but with the minimum restriction on magic, Anthon wouldn't be able to fight at his best.

  Kalle finally decided that it would be best to indeed take it seriously as a form of respect towards Anthon.

  Suddenly Anthon felt the aura shift, he could've sworn he saw a smile at the corner of Kalle's lips.

  Kalle then switched t

  he sword from his left hand to his right.

  Anthon felt a small shiver run throught his body, he flinched and took a step back, for a second he wished he didn't asked kalle to take him seriously.

  The two stared at each other for a short while.

  then the spar continued.