After magical theory, the students were shipped off to a different room for practical magic application. The moment the large wooden doors opened on the dome structure, Zanzir could feel an increase in his purposefully suppressed magical power. What is this energy flow?

His eyes scanned the room, locking onto a soft blue rune engraved in the corner. Without stopping to consider the fact that the rest of the class was gathering in the center where two teachers stood, Zanzir made a beeline to the corner to examine the writing. 

“This is… used for increased focus and enhancement of magical energy?” Zanzir murmured looking over the delicate craftsmanship.

“I’m surprised you could tell with just a glance. I take it you’re the new student?”

Zanzir turned to see a younger of the two professors approaching him from behind. He was perhaps no more than a couple of years older than the students himself, but the dense magical energy surrounding him was leaps and bounds above the students’. Zanzir nodded as the man’s sky blue eyes swept over him before focusing back on the wall. 

“You have a keen eye. It’s exceptionally difficult to read a rune you’ve never encountered before.”

“It’s new, but it draws on a couple of older concepts.” While the writing was unique, it was still reflective of his own ‘style’ for rune design. The intent in the brushstrokes wasn’t difficult to recognize for someone who made a hobby of creating new runes. “Finally I see something innovative after coming back. Who designed it?”

“Headmaster Siles did several years back. We have one in all of the practice rooms to help the students.”

“Siles… Wylter Siles?” 

The man blinked. “Are you perhaps familiar with the headmaster?”

Zanzir couldn’t help the laugh that rose behind his closed lips. “That old geezer. I can’t believe he actually pulled from my designs to craft something new. He was always such a critic of my work.” He felt the professor stiffen behind him. Zanzir cocked his head back to glance at the man.

“They informed me that the new student was a bit unusual.” He measured each word before he spoke it aloud. “I see that that wasn’t an understatement.”

“Your Insight is too keen to bother hiding it from your eyes. I may as well talk freely.” As he spoke, Zanzir followed the lines of the rune with the tip of his finger. “In fact, I was caught off guard by the room’s enhancements so I probably blinded you both for a moment before I re-wrote the seal. Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Please don’t let it concern you, but truly… you are Lord Zanzir?”

He laughed openly this time. “I don’t remember ever being given a plot of land and becoming a vassal. Imagine the buffoons of the government allowing me that kind of political power. Weren’t we all too busy trying to keep our heads attached to our shoulders? Anyway, I’m playing the role of a student for the time being so you’ll have to use the alias Zelfer. And your name?”

“Reid Dvolt,” he placed one hand on his chest and lowered his chin ever so slightly. 

It was true that there would’ve been no point in hiding his identity from the man. He suspected that if he hadn’t been outed already, it wouldn’t take more than a practical exercise or two for the question to come about; however, if he had a professor bowing their head to him, it would certainly create more problems. I’ll worry about that later. His focus returned to the writing.

“As far as the rune goes, Siles did a good job with it. That said, it’s designed to enhance one’s own power. There’s no doubt that it’s revolutionary, but forcing one to stay under its influence for too long is a bit stressful, no? Especially for those like students with lesser magical control. Has anyone thought about having the room draw power from outside sources instead?” He didn’t need Reid to answer as he was already lightly sketching a second rune on the wall. 

“Reid, have you finished getting acquainted with our new student?”

Both turned to the middle-aged female who had her arms crossed, staring at them over the rim of her glasses. Zanzir clicked his tongue in annoyance, but was already sauntering toward the group of students gathered in the middle of the room.

“Yes professor Rhabin.” 

“Good, then students, divide yourselves into pairs and grab a ball from the bin.”