SCHOOL ARC
Aftermath of the Battle
The arena was silent. August sat on the cold stone floor, arms wrapped tightly around herself, cheeks burning red. The noble who everyone believed to be a boy was, in truth, a girl. Torn clothes left her scrambling to cover herself as whispers spread through the crowd.
Jimmy stepped forward, blinking once before speaking calmly. "So… you're a girl."
August looked down, ashamed. "Yes. I'm a girl."
Jimmy tilted his head. "Then why hide it?"
Her voice cracked as she answered, "Because I didn't want to seem weak. In my family, only men are considered strong."
Jimmy's eyes hardened. "Who says that?"
"My father. My brothers. My uncle," August whispered bitterly.
"And what do they say about girls in the stories?" Jimmy pressed.
"That we're weak. That we can't be heroes." Her hands shook as she held the remnants of her uniform tighter around her body.
Jimmy crouched down so she could see his eyes. "That's not true. No one is born weak. Some people simply struggle more than others, and that's why others call them weak. But strength isn't about being male or female—it's about pushing past what holds you down."
August's eyes widened, her voice breaking. "You… mean it?"
Before Jimmy could answer, the headmaster stepped into the arena, staff in hand. His presence silenced the whispers instantly. "Jimmy is right. It does not matter if you are boy or girl. A hero is not bound by gender. A hero is defined by choice, by courage, by sacrifice."
Tears welled in August's eyes. She bowed her head. "Thank you… Jimmy. Thank you, Headmaster."
The headmaster gave a small smile, then looked to the stands. "Alice."
The math teacher, Alice Longhorn, stepped forward with a calm nod. "Yes, sir." She removed her coat and tossed it gently over August's shoulders. "Come on, young one. Let's find you proper clothing in your size."
August clutched the coat tightly, hiding her trembling. For the first time, her proud defiance softened into something vulnerable.
The headmaster turned back to the class. "I believe today's lesson is finished. You all have one more class before the day ends. Chemistry begins in ten minutes—do not be late."
The students quickly scattered, buzzing with gossip and excitement about what they had just witnessed.
Adam leaned toward Jimmy as the crowd rushed out. "You do realize… half of them are running in the wrong direction, right? Chemistry isn't even that way."
Jimmy smirked, adjusting his scarf. "Let them figure it out."
With that, the two friends walked calmly toward the chemistry lab, leaving the chaos behind.
CHEMISTRY CLASS
The classroom smelled faintly of herbs and burning incense. Rows of cauldrons and glass vials gleamed under the lantern light. The chemistry teacher, a sharp-eyed man in his thirties, clapped his hands to quiet the chattering students.
"Today we begin with something simple," he announced. "A floating potion. You'll work in groups of three. Cooperation will matter as much as precision."
The students shuffled about as groups were assigned. Jimmy and Adam ended up together, unsurprisingly. To their surprise, the third member of their group was none other than August von Scraner.
"She's late," Adam muttered, tapping his quill nervously.
The door creaked open. Heads turned.
August stepped inside, no longer in her shredded dueling uniform, but dressed casually in a green hoodie and blue shorts. Her long red hair tumbled freely down her shoulders.
The room went silent for a moment, then erupted into whispers. A few boys in the back nearly fell off their stools, gawking.
"W-wait… that's August?" one whispered."She's… a girl?!" another stammered."She's… actually kind of cute," a third muttered before getting smacked by his partner.
Jimmy raised an eyebrow while Adam shook his head. "Great," Adam muttered. "Now half the class is simping."
August ignored the stares, her cheeks faintly pink as she walked straight to Jimmy and Adam's table. She sat down without a word, pulling the hood over her head.
Jimmy smirked faintly. "Nice of you to join us, Hoodie Princess."
August shot him a glare, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "Shut up and let's just brew this potion."
Adam chuckled nervously, setting out the ingredients. "Well… this is going to be interesting.
Jimmy leaned on the desk, staring at the empty cauldron. "So… where do we even begin?"
August crossed her arms. "You're telling me you don't know how chemistry works?"
Jimmy shrugged. "Nope."
Adam sighed, already flipping through the textbook. "Then we'd better start simple. According to the recipe, we need three things: corodex frog eyes, angel wings, and powdered crystals."
Jimmy raised an eyebrow. "Alright… frog eyes, I get. Crystals, sure. But how exactly are we supposed to get angel wings?"
Adam hesitated. "Uh… I don't know. But for the frog eyes, we just need to catch a corodex frog. Those should be easy."
At that moment, the professor chuckled from the front of the class. "Ah, yes. Students—you're probably all wondering about the angel wings. Don't worry, you won't be hunting actual angels." He reached into a box and held up a jar filled with glowing white feathers. "The academy keeps a supply of enchanted replicas for practice."
The class let out a collective groan of disappointment.
One boy muttered, "I was ready to fight a real angel…"Another girl sighed, "There goes my chance to prove myself."
Jimmy snorted. "Wow. Everyone's disappointed they don't get to risk their lives. What a school."
Adam ignored him, pointing back to the instructions. "So… frog eyes it is. Where do we find a corodex frog?"
The professor raised a finger. "Look no further than your own benches. Each group has been assigned an aquarium with one corodex frog inside. That's where you'll collect the eyes."
A student in the back called out, "But our tank's empty!"
The professor adjusted his spectacles. "That's because you need to imagine the frog is there. This exercise isn't just about ingredients—it's about focus. If you believe in what you're brewing, the potion will respond."
The room buzzed with whispers. Some students looked confused, others skeptical.
Jimmy scratched the back of his head. "So… we're supposed to pretend there's a frog and just… scoop out its eyes?"
August rolled up her sleeves with a grin. "Sounds easy enough. Watch and learn."
august reache doan and without looking grabed somting and said look a frog
August crouched down in front of the aquarium, rolling up her sleeves. Without even glancing inside, she reached a hand straight into the tank. A few seconds later, she pulled her hand back out, holding a small, squirming creature by its leg.
"See?" August declared proudly, dangling it in the air. "Got one. A frog."
Jimmy blinked. "Uh… August… you sure that's a frog?"
The creature glared at him, its face scrunched up like a scowl. Its bulbous eyes narrowed as though it were deeply offended.
"That thing looks more like a toad," Jimmy said. "And a really grumpy one."
Adam leaned closer, studying it. "Hmm… maybe it's a corodex frog? They're supposed to look unusual…"
The toad-like creature let out a loud croak that sounded suspiciously like an angry groan. Its little arms flailed as if it were protesting the insult.
Jimmy raised a brow. "Yeah, no. That's a toad. And judging by the face, I think it knows you just called it a frog."
August frowned. "It is a frog! Look at its webbed feet—see? Definitely a frog." She shook it slightly, earning another indignant croak.
The students nearby started laughing at the sight of the red-haired noble arguing over whether she was holding a frog or a toad.
Jimmy crossed his arms. "Fine. Let's say it is a frog. Are you really going to be the one to, uh… take its eyes out?"
August froze, staring at the squirming creature in her hand. Her confident smirk vanished. "…Wait. We actually have to do that?"
Adam sighed, covering his face. "This is going to be a long class."
Jimmy leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Alright, August. If you're so sure it's a frog, then why don't you show the teacher?"
August blinked, still holding the squirming creature by its leg. "W-What? No, I don't need to—"
The toad let out another deep croak, glaring at her with the unmistakable face of someone who definitely wasn't amused.
Jimmy shrugged. "Come on. Prove it. Show the expert."
A few students who had overheard began whispering eagerly, nudging each other. "Yeah, show him!" one boy snickered.
Red-faced, August stomped toward the professor, the little beast dangling from her hand. She set it down on his desk with a plop.
The creature sat there, puffing up its cheeks, looking as though it had been dragged into the most humiliating day of its life.
The professor adjusted his spectacles and bent down to examine it. He hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm. Interesting. A fine specimen indeed."
August straightened proudly, brushing her hair back. "See? I told you. A frog."
The professor looked up at her with a completely straight face. "…Miss von Scraner, this is very clearly a toad."
The entire class burst into laughter.
Jimmy slapped his hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh too loud, while Adam shook his head, whispering, "I told you it looked grumpy…"
August's face went scarlet. "Wha—But—I…!" She scooped the toad back up, glaring at Jimmy's smug grin. "This is all your fault!"
Jimmy raised his hands innocently. "Hey, I just said to prove it."
The toad gave another offended croak, as if agreeing with him.
Jimmy leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Alright, August. If you're so sure it's a frog, then why don't you show the teacher?"
August blinked, still holding the squirming creature by its leg. "W-What? No, I don't need to—"
The toad let out another deep croak, glaring at her with the unmistakable face of someone who definitely wasn't amused.
Jimmy shrugged. "Come on. Prove it. Show the expert."
A few students who had overheard began whispering eagerly, nudging each other. "Yeah, show him!" one boy snickered.
Red-faced, August stomped toward the professor, the little beast dangling from her hand. She set it down on his desk with a plop.
The creature sat there, puffing up its cheeks, looking as though it had been dragged into the most humiliating day of its life.
The professor adjusted his spectacles and bent down to examine it. He hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm. Interesting. A fine specimen indeed."
August straightened proudly, brushing her hair back. "See? I told you. A frog."
The professor looked up at her with a completely straight face. "…Miss von Scraner, this is very clearly a toad."
The entire class burst into laughter.
Jimmy slapped his hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh too loud, while Adam shook his head, whispering, "I told you it looked grumpy…"
August's face went scarlet. "Wha—But—I…!" She scooped the toad back up, glaring at Jimmy's smug grin. "This is all your fault!"
Jimmy raised his hands innocently. "Hey, I just said to prove it."
The toad gave another offended croak, as if agreeing with him.
August clenched the squirming creature in her hands, cheeks burning. "H-How do you know it's not just an angry frog?"
The professor adjusted his spectacles, staring at her flatly. "Because, Miss von Scraner, toads are the only frog-like creatures with permanently grumpy expressions."
As if on cue, the toad puffed up its cheeks and croaked in irritation, glaring at August like it was personally offended by the argument. The class erupted into more laughter.
Adam's chinchila, perched on his shoulder, leaned forward curiously. Its nose twitched as it sniffed the air, whiskers brushing against Adam's cheek. Then, with a sudden squeak, it let out a high-pitched growl at the toad.
The toad growled back.
The classroom went silent for a beat—two tiny animals, staring each other down like rival warriors.
Jimmy leaned closer to Adam. "Uh… is your chinchila about to fight her toad?"
Adam held his pet back gently. "Easy, easy… it's not worth it."
But the chinchila's fur was already puffed up, and the toad's throat bulged as if it was ready for battle. The students roared with laughter again, cheering for the unlikely showdown.
August threw her hands in the air. "This is not what class is supposed to be!"
Jimmy smirked. "Well, you did say it was a frog. Maybe your frog just wants to duel Adam's chinchila."