"This way please", the student led him towards William's office.

"Sure", he responded while following her.

They were walking by several classes, which some of them he could hear talking from students or the teachers. Some seemed like they were fun classes while others with a more serious tone.

"Do you know why the director wishes to speak with you?", the student asked in a inquisitive way.

"I have some idea as to why William- I mean the director would", Allen responded while they kept walking.

Truth is, he had a very good idea of why William was requesting for him. After all, William was Allen's mentor from the past. He probably wanted to explain to Allen several different things, most likely including why he's a director at this academy. Finally, they seemed to approach the offices.

"This way please", the girl showed him towards William's office.

When they entered, they saw William sitting at his desk, writing some paperwork. His desk was filled with stacks of paper, indicating he has a lot to do. There were a few chairs in front of his desk, probably for students when he is talking with them. The room was a decent size, despite the various clutter scattered about. He's the same as always, Allen thought. Still can't be clean at all. He noticed them coming in and looked up.

"Ah great, thanks for coming Allen, please take a seat", he said as he indicated towards the chairs sitting in front of his desk.

"Excuse me", the girl said as she started to walk out.

"Yes, thank you for bringing him", William thanked her as she closed the door.

"Take a seat Allen"

Allen took his seat and waited for William to start talking.

"Now then, you can probably already guess why you are here, Allen?", he asked while looking over at him, pausing his paperwork.

"Is it about what happened at the entrance ceremony? Or perhaps about why you are a director at the same school you told me I should apply for several years ago?", Allen asked in a blankly yet jokingly manner.

"Correct, I wanted to explain to you a bit of why I am the director here as well as why I gave you such conditions", he stated while resting his chin on both of his hands.

"You mean about how I was accepted as an F rank, must make it to C rank, and win 4 battles in the tournament? For the conditions", Allen asked.

"Correct. I wanted to explain to you why such conditions were necessary, alongside why I am a director here. Care to guess why?".

"You needed to propose such conditions so that the other directors would agree with your decision, as well as some of the other teachers, correct?', Allen asked him.

"Correct. If I hadn't proposed such conditions, even if they were a bit harsh, they wouldn't have accepted you. That is the unfortunate state of the academy", William sighed.

"But you feel like I can pass such conditions, even given they are difficult?", Allen asked.

"Well yes, but actually no. I do believe you can accomplish it Allen, as you are a strong individual. However, there is no telling how the tournament will go", William sighed.

"What do you mean by that?", Allen asked.

"Well for starters, there's no telling who you will be up against. There will be many difficult opponents in the tournament, and the matchups are random. Although I feel like this year may be different"

"What, do you mean they won't make it random?", Allen asked.

"It's not that, it's a matter of what's currently going on at the academy. Plus given you are going to participate in the tournament. Let's just say, not everyone will be pleased with your participation, even if forced.", William added.

"Not happy with my participation? In what way?", Allen asked, somewhat confused.

"Let's just say there are, certain individuals, who won't be happy with your participation in the tournament later this school year. As with my role as head director, I can do my best to defend your position, but-", he started.

"You can't take favoritism, correct?", Allen asked.

"Correct. Although I know you from the past, I can't let others know that, alongside showing you favoritism. I will do my best, but just know things are uncertain at the moment", he noted.

"Would it be the Council of Magic then? Or perhaps your family?", Allen asked.

"Council of Magic?", William asked with a very confused look on his face. "Oh, I don't think I told you. The Council of Magic was, well let's just say disbanded", William sighed.

"Wait, then who is the governing figure on magic then?", Allen asked. After all, his knowledge was that the Council of Magic was the figure that managed magic use. After the Fire Outbreaks in the early 1500's, the Anti-Fire Order was issued. He had heard from William there was infighting in the council, but nothing about it being disbanded.

"After the death of the head figure of the Council of Magic, the infighting happened, which you already know", he started.

"Correct, you told me that", Allen confirmed his statement.

"However, shortly after a new leader arose and took power, changing the council. He changed the Council of Magic to be called the Triumvirate with, of course, only water, earth, and air being recognized as core elements. The leader is my brother, Solomon Windblade"

"Wait, your brother? Your brother is the leader?!", Allen asked in a very surprised manner. After all, this was news to him.

"Yes, my older brother Solomon took power and is currently leading assaults on fire mages. Which is why you need to be careful yourself. You can only use your air magic, and if you used your fire magic, especially in the tournament, you'll be captured and no doubt executed", he sighed with a slight sad look in his eyes.

"So not only I have to be careful with my magic, but even without using my fire magic, they may intervene at the school?", Allen asked.

"Correct. They view air magic as being the supreme element. If suddenly a mage with weak air magic started to win battles in a huge tournament such as the one you're going to be in, there are going to be some measures they may take. As for what they could do, I have no idea. They are very unpredicable", he noted.

"Well, can't you do something about it? After all he is your brother, isn't he? Couldn't you just try to negotiate with him?", Allen asked.

"That's the thing, and what I was about to get to, as to why I am the director here. Allen, do you know who my family is? The Windblade family? Or perhaps the other big elemental families? Rivertide, and Terrastone?", William asked.

Allen recognized the last one he said. Terrastone. It was Tom's last name. He made note of that.

"Not really, all I know is that Windblade is your last name, and of course now I know your brother is the leader of the Triumvirate, so your family must have some sort of power", Allen noted.

"Windblade, Rivertide, and Terrastone. All three are the highest prominent familes with elemental magic. Air for Windblade, water for Rivertide, and earth for terrastone. Children born from these familes tend to be born with great amounts of magic respective to their type, and almost always turn into excellent mages. However, there are some children born from these families who are considered, exceptions", he explained.

"What do you mean, exceptions?", Allen asked.

"As in, irregulars. They tend to lack the 'gift' the others possess. This could mean they aren't born with all the magic their siblings are given, or perhaps their magic is much different from them as well. They are usually called failures, and tend to be ignored from the familes, or worse, kicked out entirely", William explained.

"So then, what about you? You have said before you are a bit different from your siblings", Allen asked.

"Sibling", William corrected him. "Solomon is my only sibling, least as of right now. I used to have a sister, but she is gone now", he explained with a sad look in his eyes, despite the intimidating look he has with his glasses on. "As for me, I was considered an exception. I was not a failure, as my magic is not weak, however it was much different than my siblings and cousins. My use of magic differs from theirs, so while I am not 'kicked out' from the family, they do ignore me. With my irregular magic and how I am as a mage, people tend to call me 'The Mage in Glasses'. So if I tried speaking to my brother, I doubt he would listen", William explained.

"So then, what about your position of director here at the academy?", Allen asked.

"Yes, as to why I am the director here, is due to they needed someone who is highly capable in using magic as well as overseeing things at an academy. Since I am not involved with my families affairs, and given I fit the qualites they needed, I took the position here. It was shortly after I had finished training you those years and recommending you to this academy. How ironic", William laughed a little.

Allen laughed a little as well. After all, this was the academy William recommended to him, and it turns out he is actually his director. Perhaps this is a good thing, or may end up being a bad thing. Only time will tell. For now, Allen is just glad to be able to see his old mentor again.

William looked outside of his office's window for a moment, and almost jumped out of his chair.

"Dear me, it's sunset already? Well then, I think we've talked enough and it's time for you to head back to your dorm", William told Allen.

"Geez really? How long have we been talking for", Allen laughed a little.

"Long enough. Now then, if you would you can excuse yourself", William notioned to the door.

"Of course", Allen said as he got out of his chair.

"Oh and do be sure to send your parents a letter. They would probably like to know you actually passed", William said as Allen was walking towards the door.

"Oh yes, of course I will. I was already planning on it��, Allen grinned.

"Good on you then. Make sure to tell them I said hello", William said as he was beginning to get back to his paperwork.

"Of course I will!", Allen said as he began opening the door.

"Hey William?", he said right before leaving.

"Yes? What is it?", William asked, looking back up from his paperwork.

"Thank you. For training me back then. But not just that, but helping me get into this school, and helping me start to become a magical knight", he said gratefully.

William sat there for a few seconds, thinking back to when he trained him.

"There's no need for thanks, but I'm grateful you feel that way. Now then, head back to your room", he started to shoo him away.

"Yeah yeah, I will", Allen then closed the door and started to head to his dorm room.

William sat there, leaning back in his chair, and let out a sigh.

"If only he knew why I decided to train him. If only I could tell him the truth. Who his real mother is...", William said to himself. He went back to his paperwork once more, thinking about the past.