Arcane Heir: History's Strongest Mage

Rumors flew around the academy after the headmaster's announcement. The scandal of the Bishop family's premeditated attack on a first-year was something that rocked the students.

Since most of the students were from noble houses themselves, they had also suffered oppression from the elite noble families. So it wasn't surprising when many felt a certain sense of schadenfreude at the expulsion of Troy and Randolph.

It didn't take long for everyone to figure out that it was Michael who was the one who suffered the beating. But apart from a few lingering gazes and whispered words as he walked past, nothing changed for him.

Even Braydon had yet to stir any trouble, perhaps because of all the attention on Michael.

Like this, three months slipped by.

By now, Michael and his two friends had grown closer—becoming almost inseparable. Besides their different elective classes, they all sat next to each other in every other class.

With the first semester approaching its end, the first official break was on the horizon. The students would be allowed to return home for two weeks—or remain at the academy depending on one's circumstances.

However, this also meant that exams were coming up.

Each class would have their midterms in the week leading up to the break. This was a time of stress and anxiety for the students, as failing would require the offender to take additional classes in the second semester.

Not only did this add on to an already long day—it would also increase their workload.

It was already bad enough having to attend classes six days a week.

Which was why leading up to the exams, the mood in the academy shifted. The rumors surrounding the Bishop's and Michael quickly became forgotten, and everyone changed gears.

Even Rudy had begun to take his classes seriously—petitioning both Melody and Michael for extra tutoring, something that seemed impossible just a few weeks prior.

As the trio walked out onto the fields for combat class, Rudy's gripped his hair in frustration, looking defeated. "This is disastrous…" he groaned, "I can't even get halfway through my magic circle before it collapses."

"It's because you're an idiot." Melody replied simply, as if it didn't require any additional explanation.

"Big bro… you have to help me~" Rudy cried, ignoring the jab from the blue-haired girl, as if he was already used to it.

Michael clicked his tongue, "You only ever call me big bro when you want something," he said, shaking his head. However, a small smile tugged at his lips a moment later, "I'll guide you through it tonight."

Melody groaned, rolling her eyes. "You fall for it every time…"

Rudy jumped for joy, once again ignoring Melody, as if she was an annoying fly.

"Hurry up, gather around!" A shout called from the center of the field.

Professor Quinn was dressed in her usual attire, a serious expression on her face. The field had changed significantly since they first started the semester. The once lush green grass had turned into dirt on the inside fence—thanks to their constant running of laps.

There were plenty of places along the route where students had either collapsed, or emptied the contents of their stomachs.

Melody was one such student.

Her eyes narrowed as she sent a brief glare to the professor. Even after months of combat class, the one-sided grudge had only grown thicker between Melody and the professor.

However, regardless of her obvious dislike for the woman—Melody's fitness had improved by leaps and bounds.

No one tarried, jogging their way over to the field before the professor decided an arbitrary punishment to inflict. It had been a tough learning curve, but the first-years cooperation was now seamless.

Everyone wanted to avoid the punishment.

A satisfied smile crept onto the bright face of professor Quinn, her eyes roaming over the students as she opened her mouth to speak. "The end of semester is coming up. Which means you'll be taking your first exams."

"As you might expect—my class is a little different." She said with an amused expression.

The atmosphere turned tense as the first-years waited to hear the details of the exams. They were like criminals, solemnly waiting to hear their sentence.

The woman didn't speak for some time, as if reveling in the despair of her students. This was not uncommon, but no one dared to speak up—they had learned their lesson through the many punishments over the long months.

"Since this is combat class," she began almost casually, "we will test how you perform in combat of course."

"In groups of three, you will face a tier two ferocious boar—using only what I have taught you. There will be no weapons, and spells are prohibited." She stated sternly. "I shouldn't have to remind you, but any unauthorized use of spells will result in automatic failure…"

The class stiffened.

Fighting a magical beast in only their first year without the use of spells? This seemed almost impossible. Even Michael shuddered, his mind traveling back to the time when he was forced to traverse the woods between Velmara and Whitevalley back then.

Seemingly uncaring for her students despair, professor Quinn smiled sweetly, "And I don't have to remind you the punishment for failure right?" she said, her gaze moving across the students.

"Additional training." She added, eyes shining.

The air of despair suddenly shifted. The first-year students who were looking pale just a moment before suddenly tensed up—as if they'd all reached the same resolve.

They would rather die than have to take additional classes with professor Quinn.

Michael felt it too, the determination to pass the exams. His eyes moved to Rudy and Melody beside him, their gazes meeting.

A wordless understanding between them.

"Oho? Seems like you're all fired up." Professor Quinn clapped her hands together, seeming pleased. "Well, let's use that resolve and begin our training for the day, shall we? I've been thinking of upping our training lately—and now seems like the perfect time."

The collective resolve within the first-years suddenly shattered, replaced by horror.

But no one dared to speak up. After all, the punishment drills were always far worse than the actual training.

"Alright! Let's work up a sweat!" the professor shouted, starting her jog around the field.

Despite the despair, everyone swiftly began to run as if their lives depended on it. Though the professor might seem in a good mood, getting passed by her meant suffering.

By now, there wasn't a student who wasn't aware of this fact.