Alaric Blackwood looked at the teacher assigned to their class — Kael Ardentis.
Or should he say, Prince Kael Ardentis.
Teacher Kael was the second prince of his kingdom. He chose to teach the next generation instead of taking part in the fight for the crown.
Prince Kael Ardentis — The Blue Flame of the Crown — that's what he was called before he became a teacher. Now, he was unofficially known as The Blue Flame Prince.
Students sure loved having a prince as their teacher.
Teacher Kael stood about 6'1", with a lean, athletic build — the kind of physique born from years of disciplined swordsmanship rather than brute strength. His most striking feature was his vivid sapphire-blue hair, a shade rare even among nobles — it caught the light like frost-tipped fire. It was usually tousled but well-kept, falling just above his collar, with a few strands often slipping over his eyes when he taught.
His eyes were a deep silver, almost metallic, reflecting light like moonlit steel — calm, piercing, and unsettlingly observant.
He wore a fitted dark navy uniform accented with silver embroidery in royal patterns — a mark of his lineage. Over it, he donned a long ashen-gray coat with a high collar and faint burn marks near the edges, a silent reminder of his elemental affinity.
On his right hand, he wore a ring bearing the royal insignia — a flame encased in crystal — his only visible symbol of royalty.
At his waist rested a sheathed longsword, the hilt engraved with runes that glowed faintly blue when his mana stirred. The blade's name, whispered throughout the academy, was Eidolon.
He had been one of the most active participants during the terrorist attack, yet now he simply stood there, teaching.
Though many girls couldn't concentrate in class — too distracted by his looks.
If I had to say why he's a bad teacher, the only reason I could give is that he's too handsome.
I need to learn and become strong — so people can feel secure with me around.
Thinking that, I realized class was already over.
There were no more classes this week, but next week we had our theory test on the first day.
Since I came late, I hadn't met any of my friends yet.
As soon as class ended, my childhood friend Liora Blackthorn came running toward me.
She was petite but agile — even faster than me. Honestly, I don't think anyone in the first year could beat her in speed.
She had shoulder-length black hair and amber eyes that always carried a hint of mischief. Her academy uniform was slightly modified with dark leather gloves and hidden pockets. Twin short blades — Whisper and Echo — were always strapped to her thighs.
As soon as she reached me, she punched me in the chest.
"I heard you were having fun with other girls."
I blinked, confused, and looked toward Seraphine and Althaea.
They were giggling among themselves.
Trying to put out the fire, I said,
"They're joking. Look at their smiles."
She snorted.
"I meant Seraphine and Althaea."
She continued,
"You didn't come with me and were roaming around."
I explained,
"I went to see the Tournament of Honour."
She sighed.
"I wanted to go too, but Father called me. I was jealous, that's all."
I smiled awkwardly.
"I know."
She narrowed her eyes.
"But you didn't invite me, now did you?"
I protested,
"You didn't even say goodbye to me! How was I supposed to ask you?"
Soon, Roderick Stormrider approached us. He was a spearman — tall and athletic, with sun-tanned skin, sandy blond hair that never stayed combed, and sea-green eyes.
He wore a sleeveless training jacket (often breaking dress code), leather bracers, and had a spear strapped across his back.
Roderick grinned and said,
"Wanna go fight?"
I replied,
"First, you need to pass the theory exam."
He laughed.
"I'll study at night. If I study now, I'll get tired and won't be able to practice."
I frowned.
"Isn't that order completely reversed?"
He laughed again.
"I work differently."
I just shrugged.
Then I noticed the aloof elf walking toward us with Seraphine and Althaea.
Her name was Sylwen Starleaf — graceful and soft-spoken.
She had long silver hair, light-green eyes, and a faint natural glow under sunlight. She wore the academy uniform elegantly, with leaf-like embroidery near the sleeves — a custom from her forest homeland.
Well, I hadn't talked to her much, so I didn't really know her well.
I turned to Seraphine.
"Why were you giggling?"
She looked away, pretending not to hear — or maybe she did hear but didn't want to answer, especially with my childhood friend glaring at her.
I sighed.
Now I had to ask her for help with the theory exam. I'd be an idiot not to know by now that she was really good at theory.
I asked annoyed
" Can you help me for theory exams?"
She smiled sweetly and said, "Okay," then giggled again.
What's up with her and that giggling?
I shook my head.
Meanwhile, Althaea said,
"Hey, she'll help me too."
To which Seraphine replied,
"We can all study together."
So, it was decided — Seraphine, Althaea, Liora, Roderick, and I would study together.
We went to the library and sat down, but then we heard a whistle.
The twin brothers Darian Medici and Alessar Medici were there. Both were sons of a Duke from another kingdom. Alessar was the intelligent one, while his twin, Darian, was more of a hooligan.
Darian was above average, but nothing special. And of course, it was Darian who had whistled.
Althaea glared at them.
"Have something to say?"
Alessar replied in his brother's stead,
"We're sorry. I'll try to educate him."
Maybe he would. Who knows. But his brother didn't seem to learn anything.
He was the son of a duke, but in an academy filled with nobles from other kingdoms, his influence didn't mean much. Otherwise, who knows what he'd have done by now.
---
We studied, and it got more difficult with each passing second — magic formulas that looked way too complicated, monsters with too many characteristics, and world phenomena that barely made sense.
Seraphine asked Althaea,
"Why don't we add magic volatility as a reason for mana poisoning if it lasts more than a week?"
Althaea replied,
"Because mana circulation and expulsion usually solve it within a week."
Seraphine nodded.
"What if the person isn't using mana?"
Althaea answered,
"Then we check for abnormalities in breathing. That could be the reason."
---
Just like that, a week passed.
Today was the day of the theory exam.
It would start at 7 a.m., with six subjects — each two hours long, no breaks, all in one day.
We'd give exams continuously for 12 hours and be free by 7 p.m.
The first subject started at 7 a.m. We all sat at our desks since no one was allowed entry after 6:50.
A blank sheet of paper was placed on our desks, and next to it were six bundles of answer sheets.
As the clock struck seven, words began appearing on the blank paper — the question paper.
We were asked to pick one bundle of answer sheets from the six and start the exam.
I wrote as fast as I could, but time slipped away too quickly.
When one student asked for a supplementary answer sheet, I froze. Was my exam not going well?
But the teacher refused to give him another sheet.
According to him, "In no scenario are we ever provided complete resources — so make do with what is provided."
The poor student paled even more than I did.
I couldn't complete the paper by 9 a.m.
When the clock struck nine, the words on the question paper changed.
The examiner told us to pick another bundle and continue, keeping the previous one aside.
And so it continued.
By 7 p.m., my hands were trembling, sweat dripping down my palms, my pen slipping from my grip. My thumb hurt worse than it ever had while holding a sword.
But more than that, my head — it was throbbing like a drill boring into my skull.
This was pure torture.
At the end, my desk looked just like it had at the start — a blank question paper before me, and six bundles of answer sheets beside it.
Only now, the sheets were filled with writing.
Seraphine came jumping happily, saying,
"It went so well! It was easy. When the examiner refused to give a supplementary sheet, I was a little worried because I had so much to write, but I managed somehow!"
Soon, the others joined us.
I was about to say something to Seraphine, but Liora beat me to it.
Liora shouted angrily,
"What were you teaching us, you idiot?! They asked much simpler questions!"
Seraphine smiled sweetly.
"What can I do if they decided to make it easy?"
Easy paper, my foot. Many were still trying to figure out if they'd even passed.
Some were sure they passed but weren't satisfied with their performances.
Geniuses really are dumb sometimes.