"I can't believe this! Why do you always come to me?! Do you think that I've nothing better to do than help some student or something?" Vance was fuming as he led Alix to the headmaster's office.
"All you do all day is train by yourself and stay in your office. You are the very definition of someone with all the time in the world." Alix retorted. Vance looked at the girl from the side of his eyes.
"Well, I'm sorry if I value my personal time over helping a rude brat!" Alix rolled her eyes and looked down to Mo.
'You see? This is why I refuse to ask this man for help." Mo nodded in agreement.
'He does seem to have some sort of vendetta against you? I wonder why?" Mo responded telepathically.
'It could be because we fought him a few days ago?" Nuka guessed but Mo, Alix and even Trouler all shook their heads.
'No, he's been gettin' frustrated at our girl since before then."
'Ooh, maybe he's just a really angry person and he's taking all of his frustrations out on my savior because she's so cool and stuff!" Trouler suggested, he was excited to participate in the conversation.
'That is a good one, Trouler. I think you might just be right!" Trouler's eyes shined as Alix complimented him.
"Why are you being so quiet back there?" Alix looked back up to Vance who was currently glaring at her. "What? Are you talking to those pets of yours about how much you've tormented me in the few weeks that you've been here?"
"Actually, we were talking about how me and Nuka beat you and Risky Business a few days ago."
"Hey!" Vance winced as he realized that he yelled. He scanned the surroundings nervously before moving next to Alix and whispering to her.
"Keep quiet about that! Me and Rasque didn't tell anyone that you had a connection to the monster from the attack!" Alix's eyebrows scrunched together.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because, it could cause problems for you in the future if the information got out that the monster that suddenly appeared and set the city on fire was actually commanded by you! All we told the headmaster was that we found you at the dock in a similar condition to everyone else." Alix's eyes squinted in suspicion.
"That still doesn't explain what you or Business get out of it. Unless, all of this was to get me indebted to you two so that you could blackmail me using my secret to force me to stay in the Martial Uni!"
"Why woul-You know what? Just, I don't care anymore." Vance almost got caught up in Alix's game again but he would not let that happen today. He was silent for the rest of their journey across campus to a small little stone building with a single wooden door. Above the door was a small wooden plaque that read, "Home of Headmaster"
"Here we are." Vance gestured to the building half-heartedly. "The headmaster's building. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some actual work to get done." With that Vance left in a huff.
'I think ya finally broke him, Lexi?" Mo said while watching Vance stomp away.
"You might be right. And I wasn't even trying to get under his skin today." Alix turned away from Vance, refocusing her attention on the headmaster's building. 'Okay.' She thought to herself.
'It is time to truly begin my school life. Or at the very least see if it is possible.' Alix took a deep breath in and opened the door. Through the entryway, Alix immediately felt like this place had more of a homey vibe than that of an office. The walls were made of stone while the floor was made of dark wood planks.
The inside was rather warm likely due to the lit fireplace on the left side of the room. There was also some rather comfortable looking chairs set up next said fireplace. There was a pair of dark wood bookshelves against the right wall. Alix smelled a very calming scent flowing through the air, one that reminded Alix of how felt with her father growing up. It was very comfortable in here.
Alix's eyes also caught sight of a large painting above the fireplace. She moved closer to get a better look at it. In the painting stood a man dressed in light armor and woman similarly dressed. They were looking down at another man sitting on the ground and leaning against a tree looking rather exhausted. Alix tried to understand the meaning behind the picture when she heard a door creak open from the other end of the room.
"Oh, it seems that I have a visitor? I did not have hear you knock. My old ears may finally be giving out." Alix turned and saw Edgar Noslen walking out of a door in the back of the room.
"As true as that may be, I did not actually knock so you should not worry about it." Alix approached the man with her monsters at her side. Edgar paused for a moment and chuckled.
"Well, I guess that would explain it! Oh my! You seem to be quite the brash young woman."
"Most people like to call me insolent, actually." Edgar let out another small chuckle.
"That may be another way to describe you, yes! Now, what brings you to my little home, Ms. Ren?" Alix flinched, she was caught of guard by the man saying her name.
"You know who I am?"
"It would be impossible for me to not know you. You have been quite the thorn in both Vance and Rasque's sides. Whenever they drop by for a visit we can barely talk for a few seconds before they begin ranting about the trouble you've been causing them." Edgar slowly walked over to one of the chairs next to the fireplace and gently took a seat.
Alix let out an interested grunt. 'So those two complain about me to the headmaster? They really have nothing better to do.' Alix let the thought pass and noticed that the headmaster was gesturing for her to sit in the chair next to his. Alix obliged and sat in the chair.
It was rather comfortable.
"Now..." The headmaster cleared his throat as he spoke. "...what are you here to inquire about, Ms. Ren?"
"I would like to transfer universities." Alix didn't waste any time getting her point across. Edgar tilted his head to the side and raised one of his eyebrows.
"And why might you have come to this decision? I hear that you are quite the talent when it comes to the Martial Universities teachings."
"That may be true..." Alix set Mo down realizing that holding a fish bowl may take away the weight behind her words. "...but I am not someone that is pursuing the martial path. I am not my mother, no matter how difficult it may be for most of the people here to see it."
"I see." Edgar slowly leaned back in his chair. "Where were you hoping to transfer?"
"The Spellcaster University!" Alix quickly answered. It looked like her words were getting through to the man. Edgar let out a sigh.
"I thought as much." He stared past Alix into the distance like he was remembering something. "Not a martial fighter like your mother but instead a lover of magic like your father." Alix's eyes slowly widened. She looked up at the headmaster in shock.
"Y-you kno-"
"I know your father, yes. In fact, I was quite close to your mother and father in their younger years."
"H-How? They were both very secluded people so, how do you know them?" Edgar shook his head.
"I understand that you must be filled with questions and anxiety right now Alix but you don't have to worry. I have no intention of exposing your true identity to the anyone."
"While that is very comforting, sir that was not my question!" Alix had to admit, she was currently spiraling in her mind about what might happen to her since the headmaster knew her parents. But more than anything she was filled with curiosity.
Growing up she'd never heard anything about her parent's past. Not that she didn't ask, they just weren't very vocal about it. Almost as though they were hiding something. It was to the point that Alix didn't even know how famous her mother actually was until she made it to this school!
So now, having someone before her that claimed to have met her parents when they were younger. It was her chance to learn more about them. Sadly, Edgar once again shook his head.
"If your parents didn't tell you anything then it is not my place to do so in their stead. Sala must have a reason for keeping her silence on the matter. Now, back to the matter at hand." Alix let out a defeated sigh. She really thought that this would be her chance to learn about her parent's past. She felt a soft nuzzle from Trouler on her leg and Nuka rubbing against her cheek.
'Don't worry, Lexi. You'll get another chance someday! For today, let's focus on setting you up on the correct path!' Alix looked down at Mo. A warm smile slowly crept onto her face.
'Yes, you're right. Thank you all, for comforting me." With the support of her monsters Alix met eyes with Headmaster Noslen and waited for his response to her original inquiry.
"Alix, I am sorry to say that, in accordance with school rules, A-class students are not allowed to transfer out of their university." Alix felt a wave of disappointment flow down her entire body. Yet again she had been told that she couldn't transfer all because she got placed into A-class of a path that she didn't even choose. This was all just a useless-
"At least, until the end of the year that is." Edgar added. Alix perked back up.
"R-really?" Edgar nodded and started explaining.
"You see, the founders of our school here understood that leaving the decision of the students' path selection to the principles could lead to several students being unhappy with where they had been placed. Even if they exhibited high levels of talent in the particular area that they were designated. Which is why, the first headmaster added a clause to the rules that made it so that any student in A-class that still doesn't feel like they belong in their university by the end of the school year may transfer to whatever school they feel more suited to!"
"But why do I have to wait until the end of the school year? I already know that I want to pursue magic!" Alix lifted herself out of her chair slightly as she grew more and more excited.
"You say that now, but there is always the chance that after a year in your current curriculum you may feel differently. Which is why it is so heavily encouraged that you give whatever path you are in a genuine chance before flippantly switching because you didn't get what you want." The chair squeaked slightly as Alix lowered herself back onto it. She was obviously still a bit upset but more understanding of the situation now.
"That all makes sense but, the entire reason that I came here in the first place was to expand my magic knowledge. I've been using the library to do that for now but that place can only get me so far. I want to learn about all forms of magic to try to improve my own and that is best done through instruction."
"I understand your plight, Alix. So I would like to offer you an opportunity to get what you want." Alix watched as Edgar rose from his chair. The headmaster was now staring down at her and she was staring back ready to hear his proposition.
"If you would like, I can adjust your schedule to include classes from the Magic University. Though, you must understand that this is adding upon your current schedule meaning you will still be required to attend your Martial path classes. It will just have the addition of Magic path classes after that. That could leave your schedule very packed causing you to feel very exhausted and possibly make you lose all of your passion. Do you wish to take that chance?" Alix's eyes seemed to glow with appreciation.
"Of course, I'll take that offer!" She shouted as she jumped up from her chair. "My passion for magic is deeper than anything that you could ever understand headmaster! A mere overly packed schedule isn't enough to deter me!" An amused smirk creeped onto the old man's face.
"I thought as much. You are truly just like both of your parents. Determined like your mother and passionate like your father." Edgar looked at Alix with nostalgia. He felt like he could see the young pair standing before him again just like he had all those years ago now.
"I'll send Principle Chancy a notice to set up your schedule and have Vance pass it to you. You'll start within the next few days." Alix nodded resolutely.
"I wouldn't have had it any other way!" With that Alix rushed out of the headmaster's building with more vigor than she had going in. I mean, sure she didn't get exactly what she wanted but this was close enough! She'd finally get to learn magic in a school filled with spellcasters of various types.
"Uh? Does this mean that our days will get longer than they already are?" Mo asked hesitantly.
"Of course it does!" Alix responded. "What did you think we could take on more classes and somehow finish the day sooner?" Mo let out an exhausted sigh.
"I was afraid of that."
"What are you getting so upset about? I told you earlier that Allie's the one taking the classes! You'll just be floating around for longer than normal!" Nuka reminded the fish. Mo scowled at the avian.
"I'll have you know that floating is exhausting! And boredom drains energy just as fast as flapping those dumb wings of yours!" He insulted. Nuka opened her mouth appalled.
"You did not just compare sitting around doing nothing to the focus and hard work that it takes to fly through the air!"
"Oh, there you go! Flappin' that beak of yers again like those damned wings!"
"At least I have something to flap instead of flopping around like a dumbass out of water!"
"Okay, you've gone too far beak face!" Alix watched the back and forth between Mo and Nuka. Her focus specifically on Nuka. Her old friend. One that she'd forgotten for quite some time. She's now back in her life and they have grown even closer than they were before.
She thought over everything that had happened since she got to the city and could confidently say rekindling her flame with Nuka was the best thing to happen in these past few weeks. The people that she'd met since getting here were...interesting as well but Nuka was who truly made this place feel like home again.
It was thanks to Nuka that she didn't feel alone in her torment anymore. It was thanks to Nuka that she'd even met other people that she could talk to. Even if they could get annoying sometimes.
It was all thanks to Nuka.
Alix walked while holding Mo tightly in her arms while Trouler trotted along next to her and Nuka rested comfortably on her shoulder.
This school, the pursuit of magic. The reason that she originally agreed to return to Pesinwok yet somehow that didn't seem to matter as much anymore. Well, the pursuit of magic still mattered a lot but the school didn't.
Alix was just happy that she managed to reignite the flame of her kinship with Nuka.