System, please just shut up

It had been thirty minutes since Theo had told him about his supposed feat.

But Kael still couldn't believe it.

He remembered well that before passing out, that bastard Elderbeast had still been filled with energy.

So how? Was he possessed by a spirit? Or did the previous owner of the body take over?

Nothing made sense.

Theo sat across from him, quietly watching Kael cycle through a thousand ridiculous theories, but didn't interrupt him.

They sat like that for a little while longer before Theo sighed, a soft, almost imperceptible sound.

"I don't know why you're overthinking it," Theo said, his voice flat. "What you said is true: I did see you weak on the ground, about to pass out. But after you did, the Guardian followed quickly. You must have probably done more damage than you think." He finished with a shrug, as if discussing the weather.

Kael sighed. "It's not that I don't want to believe, I just find it hard to accept. The pressure I felt from it wasn't the kind of something that was about to die."

"That's normal. It was an Elderbeast."

"Yeah, I've been wondering, what exactly are they?"

Theo leaned back against the desk, his hands resting on his knees. "Alright. Beasts are categorized by class. At the bottom, F-E class are called Lesser Beasts. Low intellect, no magic and usually require one Trainee or a Novice Sigil to defeat. Next, we have D-class, or Basic Beasts. They possess basic magical power, some intellect, and usually operate in packs. You'd need two to five trained Novice Sigils to defeat them swiftly."

He paused, letting Kael absorb the information before continuing. "Then comes the C-Class, a Greater Beast. These have elemental abilities, minor intelligence, regenerative traits, and some other annoying stuff. They'll take one Master Sigil, or close to fifty Novice Sigil experts, to deal with effectively – and that's only if they've studied everything about it before engaging."

Theo's gaze grew a shade colder as he spoke of the next tier. "And then there's our little friend, the Elderbeast. These are usually B to A class. We're talking bloodlines, high mana reserves, human-like intellect, reality-warping powers, strategic awareness, you name it. They're a truly terrifying bunch. That's why your Guardian was killing candidates for fun, because no one below Master rank is supposed to even be able leave a scratch on one."

Kael, who had been listening attentively, couldn't help but ask, "Then why did the school give us something like that, when they know we stand no chance against it?"

Theo shrugged again, a gesture of casual detachment. "I don't know. I don't think they were really expecting us to actually kill it. I think it was more of a lesson, that we aren't always going to face things we can handle. Well, that's my theory, anyway. Also, I guess they didn't account for a monster like you this year. You're already quite famous all over campus. I'm pretty sure some factions are already eyeing you up."

"Okay, slow down. This is already too much for me to process. I think I might need to go back to sleep for another week," Kael said, rubbing his temples.

Theo raised a brow. "Sleep? Didn't you hear what I said? You've missed the first few days of school and are already behind the others. Besides, you don't want to get on the bad side of your instructors, trust me they can make life difficult for anyone."

"Wait, I said slow down. Instructors? What are you talking about?" Kael asked, genuinely lost.

"Oh, right, I forgot you don't know anything."

Kael shrugged. "I have amnesia."

"We both know you don't. Anyway, the first year is separated into four classes: A, B, C, and D. As you can tell, class placements are determined by exam performance, and yes, we are both in Class A. So since a single class usually have more than twenty thousand students th.."

"Wait, hold on," Kael interrupted him midway. "How can a single class have more than twenty thousand students after we're split into four? Did everyone pass the exam or something?"

"Oh no," Theo clarified. "The only way to move to Year Two is by advancing to Master Sigil. So all the first-years that fail to do that by the end of a school year repeat the class until they do, causing the bulking up. The number of students reduces the higher you go."

"Oh, I see," Kael mumbled, but he already had a bad feeling when he remembered his new task…Advance to Master Sigil in six months.

"Anyway," Theo continued, standing up and dusting off his perfectly neat uniform. "Since the number of students in each class is too much, the school uses instructors to ensure students are well-taught. There will be general classes for the whole class for some subjects, then the instructors will act more as private tutors for smaller sub-groups. You, for instance, have already been selected by a pair which just shows how popular you are, since usually you have to apply to an instructor."

He motioned towards the door. "You've already been absent for introductory classes, so I would suggest you get dressed for the next."

Kael blinked. "What? Now?"

"Of course, your first sub-group session is already over, but there are still some general courses. After you are done I will explain the school mechanism in more detail."

"What about you? Aren't we in the same sub-class?"

"No."

Kael didn't know why, but he felt a little down hearing that.

"You don't have to feel sad. We will still see each other everyday."

Kael's lips twitched. "Who said I felt sad?"

Theo ignored him and walked to the door. "Get dressed. I'll show you the way to class. I feel like this class might be... interesting for you."

"Wait!" Kael suddenly called out.

Theo turned with a questioning look.

"How long exactly does it take someone to advance to a Master? No, what's the shortest recorded amount of time someone has ever gone from Novice to Master?"

Theo looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, his expression unreadable. "Two years."

And with that, he walked out and closed the door.

"..."

Kael stood alone in his lavish room, the silence amplifying Theo's last words.

'I'm so fucked.'