Mages Requiem

"Welcome to the Founding Fathers Academy. I'm Joshua Hoberman, the deputy headmaster of the Academy."

Said the deputy headmaster Joshua Hoberman, a chubby blonde middle-aged man, with whiskers on his chin, forming somewhat of a goatee, in a grey suit.

"After the Headmaster's welcoming speech, an upperclassman will be assigned to you to help you explore the school. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the campus, meet the teachers, and introduce yourself to the classes you're interested in joining. A week later, you will officially become part of our school community."

As the students shifted in their seats, Liam's mind raced. The curriculum at Founding Fathers Academy wasn't just standard education—it was a game board filled with opportunities.

The key was choosing courses and activities that would align with his goals: acquiring power, influence, and resources. His Index Record hummed, cross-referencing each subject with the knowledge he already possessed from his former life, highlighting which would yield the best strategic advantage.

The Headmaster, Stanford S. Strickland, stood tall and thin, his long silver hair giving him the look of a Santa Claus figure, all while clad in red wizard robes. He exuded an aura of authority, which contrasted with his whimsical appearance that could easily lead one to underestimate him. Liam, however, was wise enough not to judge a book by its cover—particularly in this place. At this academy, each individual had something unique to contribute, including the venerable wizard presiding over the podium.

As the headmaster's voice echoed across the auditorium, Liam leaned back slightly, absorbing the atmosphere. Each word of the speech was calculated—it wasn't just an orientation; it was a message. Founding Fathers Academy was a place where status, knowledge, and connections determined your future.

Every course, every relationship, and every encounter held the potential to alter the trajectory of his life. With the future knowledge cataloged in his Index Record, he knew that his path to power started here.

Once the speech ended, Liam's group was assigned to an upperclassman—a tall, laid-back student with messy hair and a mischievous grin. He motioned for the group to follow, starting the campus tour. Liam focused on two things: understanding his options and keeping an eye on the students in his group—potential rivals and allies.

As Liam's group was handed off to an upperclassman for a tour, his mind locked onto the challenge at hand: selecting the four electives. These decisions weren't just academic; they would determine who he would interact with, what resources he could access, and where he could make profitable deals.

Main Course Classes:

Arithmancy:

A magical discipline that studies the magical properties of numbers, including the use of numerology to predict the future. Essentially, it's akin to a math class.

Alchemy:

A magical discipline that entails the creation of potions, elixirs, and poisons, paralleling science and chemistry.

English/Language Arts:

Focused on teaching students to write coherent essays, think critically, conduct research, and construct grammatically correct sentences.

Social Studies:

The study of American history, encompasses geography, significant events, documents, and foundational concepts.

Modern Magic Theory:

An exploration of the essence of magic, examining the mechanics of spellcasting. This theory integrates various occult disciplines, including astrology, the magical attributes of gemstones, and inventing spells.

While the main courses were essential, extracurriculars were where Liam could build alliances and access rare abilities. The activities he chose would determine not just his skillset but also who he'd meet and influence.

Extracurricular Activities:

Transmutation:

The alteration of an object's form or state, such as transforming lead into gold.

Healing:

The practice of restoring health, treating diseases, and regenerating limbs.

Enchanting:

The art of endowing objects with magical properties.

Illusion:

The craft of modifying the perception and reality of targets.

Conjuration:

The act of summoning creatures or objects from other realms.

Herbology:

The study of magical plants, herbs, and their medicinal uses.

Divination:

The practice of foreseeing future events through magical means.

And other Classes.

Liam's Final Selection of Extracurriculars

Enchanting:

Crafting enchanted items to increase ones influence and profits.

Illusion:

Altering perception grants both tactical and social advantages.

Herbology:

Essential for gathering materials needed for Alchemy.

Conjuration:

Summoning creatures or tools will give the caster an edge in emergencies.

---------------------------

With his courses and extracurriculars carefully chosen, Liam knew he was on track to accumulate influence and power quickly. Arithmancy would allow him to predict patterns, and Alchemy would give him the resources to bargain or sabotage. Modern Magic Theory would ensure that no spell was beyond his grasp, while Social Studies would keep him aware of political undercurrents within the academy.

Meanwhile, his extracurriculars—Enchanting, Illusion, Herbology, and Conjuration—would let him create tools, manipulate others, gather resources, and summon help on demand. Together, these skills would make him a force to be reckoned with, both in and out of the classroom.

As the tour continued, the upperclassman guide pointed out various classrooms, training grounds, and recreational areas. Soon, they arrived at the first classroom, and the upperclassman announced,

"This is where you'll meet your Modern Magic Theory instructor. Be respectful; Professor Cyrus Adams is one of the toughest teachers on campus."

Liam's mind immediately filed the information. The harder the class, the fewer students would pass—which meant that excelling here would set him apart. He made a mental note to observe the instructor's weaknesses when they met.

Throughout the day, Liam introduced himself to key faculty members, charming the ones he could and carefully noting the mannerisms of those who seemed harder to manipulate. With every encounter, his Index Record stored crucial data, waiting to be sorted and utilized.

Liam silently committed to his choices. His electives would position him to gain power incrementally—through knowledge, crafted goods, and alliances. His Index Record would let him learn faster than anyone else, while his Sales Contract would give him the leverage to make deals others wouldn't dare refuse.

Now, all he needed to do was survive the first week, build connections, and lay the foundation for his plans. Every teacher, every student, and every interaction was a potential resource—waiting for him to catalog, manipulate, or acquire.

The upperclassman guiding the group turned back, giving them a polite but distracted smile.

"Almost done, folks. After this, you'll have time to explore the campus and talk to the teachers."

Liam returned the smile with a polite nod.

"Perfect. Time to introduce myself to the future."

He'd make sure that by the end of this year, no one at Founding Fathers Academy would see him coming—until it was too late.

By the end of the tour, Liam knew his way around the campus and had already formed a preliminary mental map of potential allies and threats. His future self's knowledge, combined with the resources at his disposal, meant that no one would see him coming.

He glanced at the upperclassman who had led them through the campus, giving him a polite nod. The other students in his group looked tired but excited—already planning their dorm lives and friendships. Liam, however, was focused on something far greater.

This academy was just the beginning. If he played his cards right, he wouldn't just graduate from Founding Fathers Academy. He would control it.

And from there? The world.

"Time to get to work."

Liam whispered, a faint smile curling on his lips.

"One step at a time."

The Merchant System functioned on the basis of bartered goods instead of conventional money transactions. Thus, Liam interacted with his peers casually. He would walk up to a classmate and propose a deal.

"How about I give you this snack in exchange for a week of your lifespan?"

he'd joke, only half-serious. The classmates, eager for a quick snack or cash, would agree, believing they were engaging in harmless banter.

He next nonchalantly traded $5 for a week of their lifespan through his Sales Contract. The students didn't ponder the consequences, merely accepting the money without truly understanding that they had traded away part of his life. Later, Liam partook in minor contracts at school, trading simple items for a portion of someone else's physical fitness or a month of their lifespan in exchange for cash.

With each deal struck, Liam felt a subtle surge in his vitality, though he chose to ignore it. They treated it like a game, betting months of their lives or fractions of their physical fitness for Liam's cash or assistance with trivial school tasks.

But the Merchant System Liam possessed was far from playful. It tracked every exchange he traded to it with precision, amassing a growing pool of MSP (Merchant System Points) with each trade. The currency was directly tied to the essence of life itself: strength, vitality, and lifespan. In a matter of hours, Liam had accrued an impressive 7,900 MSP, without any of his classmates realizing the significance of their seemingly innocuous trades.

The Sales Contract wasn't just a tool for bartering—it was a living, binding agreement that took what was offered then it must be fulfilled by both parties no matter what. Whenever Liam accepted a piece of someone's lifespan or a fraction of their physical abilities, the contract executed the transfer flawlessly, and he sold off the contracts providing him with the equivalent value in the Merchant System.

The MSP he gained could later be spent or used to bolster his own abilities. If Liam wanted to, he could enhance his fitness, restore lost vitality, or even gain other people's latent skills using these points. However, the true potential of the Sales Contract was yet to be fully explored.

At first, Liam saw this as harmless fun—an easy way to clear off his debt, score favors, and entertain himself between classes. But with every contract, Liam realized he was subtly growing more powerful, even if only incrementally. His classmates joked about trading parts of their fitness or vitality, but the more they "played," the more Liam's edge over them widened.

He began to see how the Sales Contract could be weaponized in more strategic ways. Perhaps, instead of simply trading for money, Liam could aim higher. He could bargain for skills, influence, or even knowledge. In a world where magic and ability were highly valued, Liam's Merchant System offered him a unique advantage: the ability to slowly accumulate power in plain sight, with no one any the wiser.

As the school year unfolded, Liam would need to balance these seemingly trivial contracts with a deeper understanding of his power. Would he continue trading lifespans and strength for small favors? Or would he start to weave a more complex web of influence, taking from those who didn't realize they were giving away more than they bargained for?

Whatever the path, Liam's 7,900 MSP was just the beginning—he was poised to become one of the most dangerous players at Founding Fathers Academy, one trade at a time.