A school for aspiring alchemists and mages.

It has a land area of about 30 km² excluding the great mountains in the south for practical exams and training areas. It consists different buildings of specialization and other structures. It records more than five thousand population which students, teachers and instructors, alumni and other staff and workers. It welcomes hundreds of new enrollees per year and advocates equality and employment opportunities after graduation.

"Ryder, wake up! The teacher already ended the class."

Black hair. Golden eyes. Attributes for those people with high status and mana capacity. A Royalty.

He yawned before doing some stretching for his numbing body due to his awkward sleeping position.

"Why are you always sleeping during the class? Are you mistaking this place as your bedroom?"

She sighed in frustration as Ryder just looked at her with sleepy eyes.

"Sienna, you are still loud. My eardrums are breaking."

Sienna just hit his head with the book she was holding before walking out, pissed off.

"Hey! The book is for reading purposes, not for hitting!"

"And the school is for learning and studying, not for sleeping, idiot!" she rebuked.

Sienna went out of the room with his friends while Ryder just blew up some air as he touched his aching head.

"Oh! Oh! Is this a marital spat?"

A man suddenly clung on Ryder, making the latter look at that person.

"What the hell are you spouting, Johannes?" He brushed off his arm before going out of the room too.

"Anyway, are you sure that you will ask for that person's help regarding your situation, Prince?" He followed him along.

"Don't be too formal with me, Johannes. Also, I am determined to meet that person."

"Your call. But I am hearing rumors about how crazy he is."

"Like what?"

"Like..."

Johannes was unsure if he wanted to share those pieces of information with him.

"What is it? I also heard some nasty rumors about him but I know that he is the only one who can help me."

Johannes just shrugged off, giving up on convincing Ryder to forget his plan.

"Well, your call. But I heard that he was using some weird alchemy and mana manipulation so it's a bit troubling."

"That's okay. I also heard about it but—"

"What are you looking at, you filthy pheasant!"

They both got interrupted by the commotion in the training ground in the academy.

"Like I said, I don't have enough badge to—"

"Are you taking me for a fool?"

"No, Zervis. I am just really trying to earn badges for my monetary rewards this month. My little sister needs medicine for her sickness."

"Your sister's condition is not my concern. I'm asking for your badge. Remember that you have to pay for the price since you lost to me last training practice."

She was cowering in fear as her eyes were filled with a sense of inferiority and dominated on the well-built, towering body of the person in her front.

"I'm sorry... but you said, I could pay for that in installment."

"But I've got in a pinch today so I already need it."

All the students couldn't interfere as they were all afraid of the consequence of making an enemy of that person.

"Zervis... just for this month... I promise that I will..." Her voice was getting weak and small.

"You damn—"

"Ahhh!! The flies are annoying!"

One person shouted making them turn their gaze in his direction.

"They are all bitching and ganging up on an innocent person!" He sighed. "I'm too innocent for their trashy talk."

Johannes laughed but tried to hold it in as he watched Ryder walk towards the commotion.

"Well, well, well. Who do we have here? The academy's genius alchemist. Ryder von Grevallis, the trashy prince of Grevallis Kingdom," Zervis sarcastically announced.

Ryder acted like embarrassed as he approached them while rubbing his head with a forced smile.

"Zervis, he's still a prince. Don't step--"

"Shut up! Let's make it clear here. He's just a fourth line in succession with a little bit of intelligence but no practical abilities. He sucks in using magic and even, alchemy."

Zervis continued to belittle and scorn him which he just silently accepted with a smile. The students that were present in the area started to gossip.

"Even if the teachers favor you because you're smart, this is an alchemy and magic academy. Knowledge is just a minor thing. We need results and real power here."

Ryder's eyes got darker and his face got serious as he looked at Zervis directly on eyes.

Zervis flinched as he felt a little intimidated by the golden eyes of the royalty but able to get himself back in usual composure.

"Huh? What's with that look? Did I hurt your sensitive heart with the truth I said?" he teased him.

Johannes approached them, making the three students in Zervis' back afraid.

"Zervis. Let's stop for now. That's the sole inheritor of the White Magic Tower. Johannes von Rutherford," one of the three said.

"The hell I care." He looked at Ryder. "Then, should we have a duel, Self-proclaim Genius Alchemist? Or are you scared that you won't win with your trashy abilities?"

Ryder was about to take his student crest when his hand stopped mid air and clasped with the other.

"You're probably right."

Ryder laughed, acting like all Zervis said about him was true. Johannes just sighed while Zervis had an anger mark in his forehead but still trying to control his anger.

"You look pitiful." He walked away. "My day was already ruined. Let's get out of here."

His fledglings followed him as the tension in the air eased up. The other audiences also started to continue their own business.

"Tch. You coward."

Sienna clicked her tongue as he watched the outcome of the scene. She just came at the same time with Ryder's interference and witness what happened.

"I thought, you will accept his provocation, Ryder?"

"Like I would." He looked at the student victim. "Are you okay? Uhmmm..."

"Senior?" Ryder asked.

"It's okay. Thanks... but... you will be his target next time."

"Yes. Senior is right. And also, you always act like that. Your reputation will just continue to go downhill."

"Ha! It's the least of my care. You already know my bad reputation within the family and citizens in the kingdom. There's nothing to worry about on getting a hate treatment at school."

Johannes just smirked and gave up because of his stubbornness.