Inside the great dining hall, Ethan was eating alongside the members of his Manor.
Since their number was smaller compared to the other Manors, they had a table reserved for themselves that sat up to thirty people.
The other Manors, of course, had their own section, where they ate. However, on this particular day, there were two extra people sitting at the Dud Manor’s table, which made their members look at them with curiosity.
“What are the two of you doing here?” Ethan asked Chloe and Nicole who sat beside him. “Don’t you girls have your own table over there?”
“The food served to everyone is the same,” Chloe replied. “It doesn’t matter if I eat there, or I eat here. The taste will not change.”
“She’s right, you know.” Nicole supported Chloe’s statement. “Also, this place is a lot quieter compared to the other Factions. Over there, It’s like constantly hearing a buzzing in your ears while everyone eats and talks at the same time. This is heaven compared to that place.”
Ethan then glanced at his Head Prefect, Henry, and the latter just nodded his head.
“We don’t mind if the two of you stay here,” Henry stated. “Just as long as you don’t disturb anyone else.”
“Thank you, Senior Henry,” Chloe replied with a smile.
“Much thanks, Senior.” Nicole winked.
True to their word, Chloe and Nicole just ate, and only started to chat with Ethan after they finished eating.
“There are two more days before classes start,” Nicole said. “Have you picked the courses that you’re going to take, Ethan?”
The blue-haired boy nodded as he shared with them his daily schedule.
“Hmm… Martial Arts Training and The Study of Magical Creatures in the morning,” Nicole muttered as she read Ethan’s daily schedule. “History of Magic, Spell Casting Classes, and Flora and Fauna of the Magic World in the afternoon. Wow, you got all the basics covered. I’m quite impressed.”
“We share the same schedule for Study of Magical Creatures, and Spell Casting Classes.” Chloe sighed. “I didn’t get Martial Arts Training, History of Magic, and Flora and Fauna Classes. My other courses are Advance Spell Control, Beast Bond Mastery, and Potion Making.”
“Well, I also have Martial Arts Training, and The Study of Magical Creatures, and Magic Knight Training Classes in the morning,” Nicole commented. “In the afternoons I have Spell Casting Classes, and Advance Spell Control.”
Ethan was quite happy that they all had similar classes together. He didn’t know how his academy would turn out once classes officially started, but he was really looking forward to the possibility of learning how to use magic.
He didn’t set his expectations too high because what happened in the Flying Broom shop still made him feel anxious. Also, he had tried to cast magic using the wand that had recognized him in secret, but the results were quite disappointing.
The young man wasn’t able to create even a small spark, and the vision of the mermaid he saw back then never appeared again.
It was as if everything that happened was just a daydream, making him almost lose heart in his current situation.
In the end, Ethan made a decision. He would stay in Brynhildr Academy for a year, and if things didn’t turn out well for him, he would not continue through his second year and just go to a normal academy instead.
Since he was a Dud, he wouldn’t be missed, and the Professors in the Academy wouldn't find his decision an impulsive one.
In fact, some of them even supported this change in pace because Duds that studied in Brynhildr Academy often felt depressed due to their peers being able to use magic, while they could only watch from the side.
‘It’s fine to dream,’ Ethan thought as he walked back to his Manor, while being accompanied by Chloe. ‘But, I don’t want to chase an impossible dream.’
Truth be told, it was hard to not feel envious of his cousin, who could use magic whenever she wished. They had also decided to become a Duo during practical tests. His role would be to act as the close combat fighter, while Chloe dealt with magical bombardments.
“Hey, Chloe, does your family have the lineage of Wizards and Witches?” Ethan asked.
According to the book he read in the library, most Wizards and Witches inherit their magical powers from their parents. Of course there were exceptions, when a Wizard or Witch was born from completely normal parents, who didn’t have a drop of magic in their blood.
“Yes, it runs on my mother's side of the family,” Chloe replied. “Have you not wondered why our Surnames are Gremory instead of our father’s name? It’s because the women born from the Gremory Family will always carry their surname to their own children, regardless of the surname of their husband.”
Ethan stopped in his tracks after hearing Chloe’s explanation. He had indeed wondered why his Grandma still had the surname Gremory even though she was married to his Grandpa. However, he didn’t expect that their family name had such a rich and magical history.
“Is your mother a witch?” Ethan asked. “Is Grandma a witch too?”
Chloe firmly shook her head. “My mother, my Grandma, and your Grandma are both normal people. Even if you are born into a Wizard and/or Witch family, that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be born with magical powers.
“Of course, since they are part of the Gremory Family, they know a thing or two about the Magical World. So, it will be best if you write Grandma Agnes a letter and tell her the truth. Maybe, she can even answer some questions that I can’t answer due to my lack of experience.”
Ethan had been putting off writing a letter to his grandma because he was having a hard time deciding what he was going to write in his letter.
After Chloe’s shocking revelation, he was finally able to piece together the unbelievable things that his grandma had done over the years, like pull a spiked club out from under her skirt, which Ethan had long thought to be an impossible act.
‘I guess I really need to write a letter to Grandma,’ Ethan thought. ‘I also don’t want her to worry about me so much.’
He was raised with love and care by his adoptive family. They had always been honest with him, and although it was a difficult choice, they told him the truth that he was adopted when he was twelve years old.
Ethan had already had his suspicions in the past, so their revelation about being adopted didn’t come as a big shock to him. But, this time, it was different.
He had accidentally stumbled into a Magical World of Wizards and Witches, and he found this world scary and fascinating at the same time.
Since his Grandma’s family had a magical background, it would make sense that he could confide the fears he was feeling in his heart to her.
After all, aside from Chloe, the only people that he trusted in the world was his family.
“Have you received any news from Ethan?” Ethan’s Grandpa, Benjamin asked.
“No,” his wife, Agnes, replied. “He should be busy chasing after the skirts of noble ladies like I told him he should be doing. Both of us are not getting any younger, I’d like to at least hold my great grandson before I kick the bucket.”
Benjamin shook his head helplessly before opening the newspaper on his lap.
“I already taught him all of my moves,” Benjamin stated. “As long as he uses them, he will definitely bring a nice lady home in no time at all. By the way, I thought you were rooting for Chloe? Did you change your mind?”
Agnes, who was busy knitting a scarf, paused for a bit and glanced at her husband.
“Well, I’m still rooting for them, but Chloe has gone to ‘you-know-where’,” Agnes replied. “She might find someone outstanding in the Academy, just like any young lady her age would. Also, she and Ethan don't belong in the same world. I don’t want to have false hope.”
Benjamin sighed after hearing the worries of his wife.
Before marrying her, Agnes told him what her family circumstances were like. At first, Benjamin didn’t believe it, but after seeing Agnes pull out things out of thin air using her storage ring, he had no choice but to believe that she was telling him the truth
Even so, that didn’t change the way Benjamin felt about her, and the two of them had been happily married ever since.
Although their one and only son had left to who-knows-where in search of someone important to him, he would still visit them from time to time to make sure that they knew that he was still alive.
Because of their son’s absence, they had poured all of their love into Ethan, who grew up as a healthy and lively boy, who could run for miles without even breaking a sweat.
Suddenly, a White Raven flew inside their home through the window, and landed on top of their table.
Agnes and Benjamin both exchanged a glance before the old lady hurriedly stood up from her chair to untie the long cylindrical black case that hung around the raven’s neck, which bore the messages from Wizards and Witches.
Even though she was surprised to see the White Raven, she was more concerned about the message that it carried to her.
Benjamin also stood up and stood beside his wife to peek at the handwritten message in her hands.
—---------------
Dear Grandpa, and Grandma.
I’m sorry for writing this late, but there was a good explanation for this. You see… I accidentally rode the wrong train and ended up in Brynhildr Academy.
—---------------
Agnes almost dropped the letter in her hands after reading the familiar name of the Academy her sisters’ had gone to when she was young.
Benjamin, who also knew of the existence of the Academy couldn’t help but gasp in shock after realizing that his grandson had somehow found himself on a train headed for the Magical Academy that Agnes had talked about a few years ago.
After getting past their initial shock, the two continued to read the letter to get the latest news of their grandson whom they hadn’t seen for nearly a week.
—---------------
The train ride was an eye opening experience because I saw a Dragon fly past our train.
I thought I was just seeing things, but when I arrived at the Academy, I saw more unbelievable things, which made me realize that Magic was real.
To my surprise, the Appraisal Stone that determined which Manor a student would belong to, found an incy-wincy-spark of magic in my body. Because of this, I was sent to the Dud Manor, allowing me to stay here at Brynhildr Academy to study magic.
Frankly, I don’t have very high expectations because the more I stay here, the more I feel that I don’t belong here.
However, I met someone here that I didn’t expect to see and that was none other than Chloe. Because of her, I was able to find out that Grandma’s side of the family has the lineage of Wizards and Witches.
Although I don’t know what the future holds, I’ve decided to stay here in Brynhildr Academy for a year. If things didn’t really work out, I’ll follow Grandma’s advice and go to an ordinary Academy to study.
I hope that both of you are safe. I’ll write letters on a regular basis and update you on what I’m doing here in the Academy.
Yours truly, Ethan.
—---------------
Agnes slowly sat down on a chair, supported by her husband. She re-read Ethan’s letter one more time to confirm that she had read it properly.
Benjamin, fetched a bowl of water, and a piece of bread to give to the Raven, who had traveled a long way in order to deliver their Grandson’s message to them.
“I can’t believe it,” Agnes said softly. “Our Ethan is a Dud, and he is now studying in Brynhildr Academy to learn magic.”
The old lady then shifted his attention to the White Raven who was busy pecking the bread that was given to it.
“Is he really doing well in the Academy?” Agnes asked the White Raven, who immediately stopped pecking the bread.
It bowed its head twice towards Agnes, telling her that the handsome teenager was doing fine.
“What is the name he bestowed upon you?” Agnes asked. She was familiar that the Ravens of the Magical World weren’t ordinary creatures because they held a bit of power themselves.
“Dantalion.”
That was the name that Agnes heard inside her head before the Raven returned to peck the bread that was already half-eaten.
“Make yourself at home, Dantalion,” Agnes said as she stood up to look for a piece of paper and a quill to write a reply letter to her grandson.
There were many things she wanted to ask that she needed to put on paper. She understood that a Magical Academy was very different from an ordinary one, and she needed to give Ethan some pointers on what to do and what not to do when it came to dealing with senior and adult Wizards and Witches.
While this was happening, Ethan was inside his room and reading all the books he had borrowed from the Academy’s library.
There was only one day left before classes started, and he wanted to cram as much knowledge inside his head as possible to better understand the Magical World that he was currently living in.
"Knowledge is Power," Ethan muttered. "Although it's not Magical Power, the more I know, the better I can fare in the academy."
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