Chapter 8 - Class D

The luxurious black car went around a majestic fountain situated in the middle of the C-shape building stopped.

"Big sis, what should I address you by when we are at school?" Staxius inquired still confused.

"I guess we shall find out at the office, get ready, uncle is waiting for us." She replied nonchalantly.

"Is that a car? This is the first time I've seen one of those fabled vehicles, apparently, they run on fire magic. Here I thought only royalty owned them, this is a bit belittling."

"I know right, I wonder who's in it, maybe a cute princess or some ambassador from the other district." The gossip began as soon as the car came into view, everyone was curious, except the nobles. Seeing something so extravagant lowered their ego considerably.

*Inhale,* "My revenge can finally start, I've been planning this for ages now. Father, I'm sorry I relinquished your name for my own selfish needs, but you always told me to never let an opportunity slip by however small it may be."

*Click.* The door opened, our hero stepped out as if he were a prince, as an act of courtesy, he opened the door for his beloved sister. He took her hand and they both walked towards the office building.

"Guys look, the guy who stepped out isn't a student here, his not wearing a uniform. For god sakes, look at that show-off, golden buttons, it's probably pure gold too." A group of mid-tier trainee verbally abused him. The girls, on the other hand, told another story, instead of complimenting the guy, they were also verbally abusing Sophie.

"Staxius, it looks like we've turned heads after our not so grand entrance."

"What did you expect, flowers, and someone asking you out right away?" He replied with a little giggle.

"Don't mock me, you should be happy that you're walking with a bombshell like me." She smirked.

"Well no arguments from me there, I'd have married you if you didn't make me your brother. No matter, director Josiah's office is right here."

"Marry me, you stupi…"

*Knock, Knock. * "Enter."

"A very good and pleasant morning to you director Josiah." Staxius entered with a smile on his face.

"Good morning uncle," Sophie replied monotonously.

"Why is she so gloomy in the morning?" Josiah asked playfully.

"I guess she just realized that instead of making such a handsome boy like me her brother wasn't the smartest choice. I told her that I would have married her if she asked." He replied jokingly.

"Ha-ha-ha." Josiah laughed uncontrollably; his stomach began to hurt.

"It's not funny uncle, my only chance to get a husband is gone forever." She added sarcastically.

"Well, the nobility does marry into their own family to keep the bloodline pure." He winked.

"Let me step in now, this conversation has gone overboard already." Staxius regained control of the room as it was going into some dark alley.

"Anyway you put it, I haven't laughed this much in forever. Let me formally welcome both you Staxius and Sophie into Claireville Academy."

"Both me and Sophie, wasn't sis already employed here?"

"Keen ear, you're right, Sophie is officially beginning her job as a combat instructor starting today.

Also, seeing that you are an apprentice who is training directly under an SSS mage. Staxius you will spend the afternoons in her company to train except on Wednesdays. Sophie will teach all low-tier trainee classes from A to D. This is because we want these future mages to grow under the same roof as equals."

"I got most of that, but in what class do I belong to?" Staxius asked eager to study.

"This is where I'm at a loss for words, should I put you in the D-rank and let you battle it out to A or should I just promote you to mid-tier?" Josiah was out of ideas.

"Uncle there is a simple fix to that, even if we are related, Staxius doesn't need any help, put him in the lowest class and let him prove himself to us. He's not my little brother for nothing and seeing that Julius is in D-rank too, this may prove to be interesting. Sophie spoke with frustration in her tone.

"Very well, seeing as it's already nine-thirty, the courses have already begun. I shall introduce you both to your new class."

After getting up from his chair, seeing Josiah stand for the first time sent shivers down Staxius's

spine. His uncle was massive, his body was very well built, he looked more like a wrestler than anything.

"Both of you follow me,"

Class D, the lowest and weakest bunch of students in the entire academy. People who end up in here are usually untalented or slackers. Luckily, anyone who enrolls at Claireville academy is special so even though they are the weakest, people are wise not to go against them. This year, the class's student count was the lowest the Academy had seen with only five girls and four boys.

"If I may have your attention students, the director has personally come here to announce something." The teacher for the course on logistical appliances of magic announced. Even after hearing the teacher, everyone ignored her. This class was the lowest because most of the students who enrolled here dropped out for some unknown reason.

"Morning students, I hope that your studies are going well." His tone intensified thus gaining the attention he deserved.

"What's his problem, just leave us the f.u.c.k alone, old geezer." A group at the back whispered their discontent to one another.

"I'd like to introduce you to your new combat instructor; you might have heard of her from the countless history courses we teach you. "

"Hello everyone, I'm Sophie Mirabelle, starting today I will be your new instructor, I hope we can get along."

"Damn you're hot, yeah we'll get along or alone, depends on your mood." The three presumably delinquent in the class voiced their opinion loudly, everyone laughed. Hearing the disgusting comment about his sister, Staxius was fuming.

"Silence, I shan't allow such insolence in my presence, you shall all be severely reprimanded after school." The director was mad.

"Director, there's nothing to be angry about, they're just playful that's all." She replied with a menacing aura forming behind her.

*Cough, Cough,* "If we are done with the pleasantries, can I introduce myself, director?" He asked as he entered the class.

"Excuse me, go ahead."

"Hello everyone, I'm Staxius Haggard Mirabelle, and yes I'm related to this 'hot' lady here. I'll be frank with you since we're going to be classmates, I'll kill anyone who dares disrespect my lovely sister here. Disgrace her once again and I shall end you in a heartbeat." Staxius was dead serious, he immediately turned the class against him.

"Director, won't you punish this guy for insulting and threatening us? He's not even wearing a uniform." The leader spoke out infuriated.

"Here in Claireville Academy we believe in equality and that everything should be paid back in full, seeing as you people insulted Instructor Sophie first, I shall stand behind him. To answer your remark about his attire, Staxius here is an apprentice who is studying under an SSS-rank mage. What have you been doing all this time? This is common knowledge, hit the books before you hit on someone who you don't even measure up too." Josiah spoke out before leaving the tense room.

"Goodbye everyone, we shall speak later." Sophie ran away.

Poor Staxius was left alone to fend for himself in this new environment, adapt and survive.

"Staxius please take a seat where ever you want."

"Thank you very much, ma'am."

He slowly walked by everyone present, they all glared at him with either envy or hate, finally, he sat behind, close to a young boy bearing blonde hair. He was left alone by the entire class, a reject.

"Long time no see Julius, I hope you've been doing great."

"Long time no see indeed, Staxius." He smiled.

Hearing the quiet blond boy speak for the first time sent jolts across the entire room. Since the semester started, everyone immediately got away from him, no one made an attempt to befriend him. The typical loner, however, this guy wearing a grey and black suit instantly got a reply.

*Briiiiiiiiiing.* Lunchtime finally arrived,

"Julius, want to have lunch together?"

Seeing Staxius behave so friendly towards him made his blood boil, he was getting pissed about the fact that he was forgotten by the only man who showed him his shortcomings. In a fit of rage, he slammed both hands on the desk and stood up,

"Why are you not mad at me, after all I've done, you should hate me." He shouted while gritting his teeth.

"I get it, people are so easy to read it's humiliating."

"Fine, you want me to be mad at you, I'll oblige your request. Is there an arena here? Let's settle the score there." A duel between two rejects, what a joke. The whole class was against them.

"Hey grey suit dumbass, you can't get access to the arena, we are just low-tier mages, prick." A girl with black hair in a ponytail spoke out, her tone was bitchy.

"I could not care less, just show me the way to the arena, I'll show you all that I can do. Let's make this interesting, you three pricks at the back who disrespected my sister, let's have a go too, 4v1 seems fair." Staxius replied with a c.o.c.ky tone.

Furious, the leader dashed toward our hero in hopes of punching him. The attack was to slow, using his intellect, Staxius already had eight different possible attack patterns and counters ready to go. With a quick sidestep, he used his left hand to catch the attack and slammed down the leader's head against the table using his dominant arm. The counter was so fast no one even registered what happened, the only thing left was some guy unconscious and bleeding on Julius's table.

"I guess it's 3v1, shall we go to the arena now?" He smirked

"Don't get c.o.c.ky kid, we may be D-rank but we are still mages," The pony-tailed girl began her incantation. She was a wielder of lighting magic, one of the strongest in the class.

"Julius, listen to me, I'm not mad at you. Let's be friends, I see that you've been taking care of Autumn. Water under the bridge, want to know how to counter a mage without a magical element? Watch closely." He spoke, meanwhile the long incantation got louder and more obnoxious.

*Whoosh, * The incantation was canceled, she fell onto her knee.

"W-what did you do, my mana, it's draining." She slowly asked.

"You mages are all the same, all talk no bite," Staxius thought to himself as he walked towards the pony-tailed girl. He reached his hand near her chest and pulled out a needle.

"Staxius, did you just cut her mana flow using a needle?" Julius was baffled.

"He did what? The whole class was going insane about how strong this guy was."

"Did I or was it luck? Who knows, I'm off to have lunch, see ya." He walked out,

*Cough, Cough. * "Where is that grey suit freak,"

"Drop the tough guy act, Silvio. This guy is a monster, he just beat the strongest pair in our class like nothing."

"Lucy, what happened to you, I've never seen you lose a fight before."

"Guys, do you know the crimson princess?" Julius finally began speaking to the class.

"Of course, we know, she's our idol," Lucy spoke as she got up.

"I'll let you in on a secret, the crimson family name is Mirabelle. It's not just that, all apprentices have to wear their master's crest. Guess what, his golden buttons were engraved with, a thorny rose. I'm sure I don't have to say anymore."

"Are you telling me that Staxius Haggard Mirabelle is related and studies under the crimson princess, arguably the strongest mage in Oxshield?" Silvio inquired.

"Staxius, you truly are amazing. I hope I can be your friend." Julius thought to himself as the bell rang for the next period.