The notice appeared the next morning.
It was pinned to the main board near the central path, written in clean, official handwriting.
Euryale noticed it because people were standing too close.
"Hey—move."
"I can't see."
"What does it say?"
He waited until the crowd thinned a little, then stepped forward.
NEW COURSE Adaptive Theory and Elemental Resonance
Instructor: Master Rouis
Selected Students Only
Attendance Required
Euryale scanned the list.
His name was there.
He blinked once.
"…Okay," he murmured.
That was all.
He stepped away.
By midday, the academy felt strange.
Not louder—just heavier.
People stared when Euryale walked past.
Some whispered openly.
"That's the one."
"The test-skipping kid."
"I heard his family paid."
"Why else would they let him in?"
Euryale heard everything.
He kept walking.
Explaining never helps, he reminded himself.
The directions led him somewhere new.
Not a tower.
Not a hall.
The path curved down beneath a massive willow tree. Its roots formed walls, twisting naturally into an open chamber.
Light filtered in softly through cracks in the bark above.
Euryale stepped inside.
About twelve students were already there.
They stood awkwardly, unsure where to sit.
A noble boy with sharp eyes folded his arms.
A girl beside him whispered, "Is this everyone?"
Euryale chose an empty stone seat and sat quietly.
No one greeted him.
Master Rouis Arrives
Footsteps echoed.
The room went quiet instantly.
Master Rouis entered calmly, hands behind his back.
No dramatic entrance.
No raised voice.
"Sit," he said.
Everyone sat.
"This class exists," Rouis said, "because magic does not behave the same way for everyone."
A student frowned. "Isn't that why we have chants?"
Rouis nodded. "Chants guide magic. They do not explain it."
He passed out thin papers.
"Basic chant instructions," he said. "Read them."
Pages rustled.
"Begin."
A boy muttered a chant.
Light flickered between his palms.
"Yes," Rouis said. "Controlled. Again."
A girl whispered carefully.
A small flame formed—steady, warm.
"Good," Rouis said.
Then his eyes moved.
"You," he said, looking at Euryale. "Try."
Euryale glanced at the paper.
Then he set it aside.
Whispers erupted immediately.
"He's not even reading it."
"Is he serious?"
"So arrogant…"
Euryale closed his eyes.
He didn't chant.
He didn't force anything.
He simply let the feeling rise.
Magic answered.
It gathered quietly, smoothly.
The room fell silent.
Rouis stared.
"…Again," he said.
Euryale did it again.
Same result.
Someone whispered, "That's impossible."
Rouis finally spoke.
"That was not luck," he said.
The noble boy stood abruptly. "That's not fair. Everyone needs chants."
Rouis looked at him calmly. "Magic does not care about fairness."
The boy clenched his jaw and sat down.
Another student muttered, "So he really didn't need the test…"
Euryale stayed silent.
The lesson ended early.
As students left, tension filled the room.
One boy brushed past Euryale hard.
"Don't think you're special," he muttered.
Euryale didn't respond.
Only Rouis remained.
"You didn't hide it," Rouis said quietly.
"I didn't mean to," Euryale replied.
"It will test your patience," Rouis finished.
Then he turned and left.
Outside, the academy continued as usual.
Students practiced magic.
Euryale walked slowly.