[Lifespan Remaining: 20 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes.]
Apollo, who was just a few seats away, turned toward him with quite an unreadable expression. "Something wrong? What do you mean by that?"
He slowly approached, taking a glance at the leech before bringing his full attention to Noct’s crystal on the desk. However, by then, the energy inside had turned back into the somewhat translucent haze.
Noct explained his situation. "The energy keeps changing, and it’s quite unstable. Though suddenly, it turned into another type that isn’t mentioned in the textbook..."
"...I see."
Noct watched alongside him, waiting for the thicker substance to appear again. But after a few more minutes, the energy kept alternating between its liquid form and the soft haze.
"I could’ve sworn I saw something else," Noct muttered. "The best I could describe it was something like a semi-solid, something kind of slimy or goopy? It clung to the sides."
Apollo watched the energy disperse again, his expression looking a lot more serious than when he first entered the room. "Hmmm, can I take this sample of your energy to study it?"
’He believed me?’
"S—sure."
Noct had been hoping the instructor would tell him that this was something they occasionally saw. An unexpected result, perhaps, but one that already had an explanation. Instead, Apollo looked just as interested in finding that explanation as he was.
And he hadn’t even seen the strangest part yet.
***
Energy Control ended shortly after that. A lot of the other students moved on to things like manipulating their energy from within the crystal, but Noct had to simply sit the lesson out. However, the strange energy state never appeared again, even after Apollo moved on to inspect the other students.
’Whatever. I’ll figure it out later.’
He put his textbook away and stood up, only to find Finn already checking his schedule. Annie stood next to him, frowning.
"We should get going," she said. "The Merchantry class is on the other side of campus, and I don’t wanna be late on the first day."
"You’re studying Merchantry?" Noct asked the prince. "I thought you’d be studying Nobility and Governance?"
"I’m actually studying Wartime Tactics," Finn answered, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "It’s in the same direction, so I thought I’d just go with Annie."
But before Noct could point out the skewed reasoning, the third prince cut him off first. "Do you know where your next class is?"
"Yeah, but I’ve got a lot of time before it starts."
"Then we’ll see you later."
The two hurried toward the door, joining the students already making their way into the corridor. Noct watched them leave before taking out his own course schedule to check it again.
Sure enough, there was a gap before his next lesson. Enough time to get something to eat, or maybe he could explore campus grounds for a little while.
"Are you heading back to Phoenix?" Alice had finished packing as well, holding her books against her chest.
"Nah, I have quite a bit of time in between," he sighed. "I would love a nap, but I’m too lazy to head back to the dorms. What about you?"
"Summoning."
"You chose that?"
"Of course! Didn’t you hear who’s teaching it?"
"Ahh...yeah, I have."
Alice was already heading toward the door, so Noct followed her out before the next group of students began entering.
"The Witch of Black Ice," she continued. "I never thought I’d actually get to learn from someone who had been so important and powerful! She’s even part of the Wayfarers!"
Noct wasn’t sure if he could understand the excitement. Sure, before he met her, he was scared to death that she would turn him into a block of ice. However, after seeing her in half-buttoned pajamas and the bird’s nest she called her morning hair...
Suffice it to say that his first impression was quite broken afterward. Still, that reminded him of something. Wasn’t she supposed to be in Altaire right now?
’Some Guardian of the Ley Line...’
"Mind if I come with you?"
Alice raised an eyebrow. "I heard Finn say you choose Artificing and Alchemy, though?"
"I did. Just wanna take a look, that’s all."
"Changed your mind?"
"Not quite."
She didn’t seem particularly bothered by the distinction. If anything, she looked pleased to have someone accompanying her. They made their way toward the class, getting lost somewhere along the way before finally reaching the class.
Actually, they managed to find the right classroom because Noct managed to recognize the witch’s voice from inside.
"...Offering the same thing to every spirit is a terrible idea. You wouldn’t bring a fish to a wind spirit and expect it to be grateful, you know?"
It seemed like a chat with the instructor had already begun before class even started Though it wasn’t just freshmen, however. Dozens, if not hundreds of upperclassmen were present as well, listening to her insight.
"There are exceptions. I once knew someone who insisted it worked, but when I asked him to demonstrate, he suddenly had business elsewhere. Personally, I suspect he never had a contract in the first place..."
’Yep. That’s her.’
They both approached the door, with Alice already taking a step in. But Noct himself froze at the doorway, not intending to come inside.
"Class hasn’t started yet. Don’t you want to come inside and ask her a few things?" Alice asked. "It would be valuable experience."
Lenia, meanwhile, had managed to catch a glimpse of the familiar maroon eyes and dark hair through the small gap between the classroom doors. The corners of her mouth raised as she decided to change the topic.
"I know many of you wish to become a direct disciple. Unfortunately, I won’t be taking any this year. The same thing applies to a teaching assistant, but that’s because I already have one."
’She already has one?’
Apparently, the rest of the class was just as shocked as Noct upon finding out. It was quite unfortunate. He had been counting on the position to earn enough merit to move out of Phoenix.
Though considering who was teaching the course, missing out wasn’t even that bad. Whoever was her teaching assistant would probably be subjected to a lifetime of servitude and stress.
Around the classroom, several students exchanged disappointed looks. One upperclassman even lowered the hand he had been holding up.
"May we ask who it is, Professor?"
Lenia smiled at the question. "Actually, it’s someone who I met during my stay in Altaire. A rather interesting young man. He’s lacking in some areas, but he knows a few things that even I found quite surprising."
Such a comment coming from a member of the Wayfarers was high praise. A few people who had been unpacking their supplies stopped to listen.
At the front, Lenia clasped her hands together. "I was really hoping to introduce him today. Unfortunately, it seems he has decided to stand outside my classroom rather than entering."
All eyes flocked to the classroom door where the two of them had been standing. Because of such a shocking announcement, Noct had accidentally let slip of his control, allowing a faint glimmer of green to expose itself on his right eye, one that Alice instantly caught.
"Don’t tell me..." she muttered. "Is it actually—"
"Everyone!" Lenia said loudly. "Please welcome my teaching assistant..."
"Noct de Arcadia!"