"Hah! Whatever helps you sleep at night!" said Riki before he turned and started to walk away.

"You are now my new target peasant! And I will have my fun with you soon enough," Riki said, glaring menacingly at Ryuji, then continued towards his seat.

"Ignore that jerk," said Yuki. "He just loves causing trouble for everyone around him."

"So... You're the hero's son?" Ryuji asked, curious about the young knight.

"Yes, I hope that doesn't change your opinion of me," said Yuki.

"Heh! You said you don't judge people based on their status, but rather on their skills. It's only fair that I return the same courtesy. Besides, my father used to always tell me stories about the heroes' triumphs and how they brought peace to the land, so it is my utmost honor to be acquainted with his son. I promise I will continue to treat you in the same dismissive way," Ryuji said with a cheeky smile on his face.

Yuki was surprised by Ryuji's words. They shared a laugh before the class started, and the professor walked in.

Professor Tomo enters the class and commands all the students to take their seats as the class has already begun. He looks at the back of the room and sees Ryuji in his class. Professor Tomo sighs, knowing this was already planned by the headmaster.

"Today, we have a new student in our class. But judging by the looks on your faces, I assume you all got acquainted," said the professor.

"Ryuji, you weren't in this school last year, so let's do a bit of catching up," said the professor. "Kindly summarize what we currently understand about magic and stand before you answer. I don't expect commoners to grasp proper, eloquent behavior, but I shall overlook it this time," he added dismissively.

Ryuji begrudgingly stood up, slightly irritated by the professor's words.

"Magic, as we understand it currently, is the manipulation of the mana particles that exist within all things. Magic is defined as controlling the mana particles to change, enhance, or create different elements. Magic is typically inherited from one of the individual's parents," Ryuji answered calmly, but with a hint of defiance.

He continued, "So let's say, for example, the father possesses fire magic, and the mother possesses water magic, their child could end up with either one of the elements, but extremely rarely would the child be proficient with both."

"People with inherited magic find it easy and natural for them to enhance their magical strength and manipulate their element, but find it extremely difficult to control different elements. Although it's not impossible, as proven by none other than our headmaster. Who dedicated his life to mastering a lot of magical elements," Ryuji said, his voice steady.

"Not all humans are born with inherited magic, and only a few truly master it. There is even a small chance for people with magical parents to be born elementless," Ryuji finishes.

Professor Tomo scoffs, "Quite a comprehensive answer for a commoner, perhaps your presence will inspire your betters to improve themselves." The professor said provocatively.

"As we all know, humans and demons have obvious, distinct physical characteristics. The most prominent difference is in their lifespan. So, tell me, Ryuji. How old can demons live and is it possible for humans to catch up?" the professor asked again.

Ryuji replies, "Demons typically live up to an average of three hundred and fifty years: yes, humans can catch up to them through severe body and mind training starting at a young age. However, both suffer from the same symptoms of rapid aging".

"Very good. Now, explain to me what Rapid Aging is," said Professor Tomo, showing sparks of excitement.

"Rapid aging, as the name implies, is the accelerated aging of a person. To go more in-depth, a trained human or demon will continue to grow until they reach the age of eighteen. After that, their bodies will stop aging till they reach the age of thirty-three. Once they reach that point, their bodies will age rapidly within a single year and transform them into an older version of themselves appropriate to that age."

"The same pattern repeats between the ages of thirty-three and seventy, and so on". Ryuji replied.

"Well, it seems you're all caught up! Unexpected. Who would've thought there would be a well-educated villager?" the professor said mockingly as the class laughed.

"You would've probably met quite a lot of them if you were a bit more open-minded, professor," Ryuji replied with a sly smile.

"Silence, boy!" The professor yelled angrily, "Let's continue the class. Take your seat, boy!"

Ryuji sat back down on his chair with a slight, cheeky smile on his face, a small victory.

"That was fun", Ryuji thought to himself. "But maybe I should be more careful. It's bad enough that the students despise me. I don't need to add faculty members to that list."

The class continued... and ended. Dull, as expected. The information these students are learning is nothing new to Ryuji. A new class starts and a new professor arrives, and it ends just the same. Nothing caught Ryuji's eye.

"Hey, shall we get lunch?" said Yuki to Ryuji.

"Alright, lead the way," Replied Ryuji.

As they're walking through the halls, Yuki looks to Ryuji and says, "So now you know I'm the son of the hero, but what about you? Who are you, really? I heard the professor call you a villager, but the bloodlust you showed earlier is nothing short of an expert warrior." Yuki asked. Curious about the mysterious young knight.

"I'm nobody, just a commoner from a village near the border. I'm interested in learning magic, and yes, I am technically a warrior if you would consider me as such. I have spent an entire year working for the Adventurers Guild, doing all sorts of quests for them, fighting and killing monsters in the dark forest. I've even reached the rank of B while doing so," Ryuji replies.

"B rank? That's very impressive for our age. But how did you end up joining this school?" Yuki asks.

"I'd rather not go into much detail. But let's just say that while I was working at the guild, I met the headmaster there, and we made a bet. One that I lost, and my punishment was to join his school." Ryuji replied.

"Calling it a punishment is a bit overdramatic, don't you think?" said Yuki with a little laugh. "But still, reaching B rank and fighting monsters in the dark forests, where did you learn to fight exactly?" Yuki asks curiously.

"I..." Ryuji hesitated, caught off guard for a moment, "I had a teacher… an old knight who served in the kingdom of Hikari, who retired to the countryside where I resided. She taught me how to fight and survive," Ryuji said with a sad look on his face.

Yuki noticed the sad look on Ryuji's face, realizing something must've happened to Ryuji's teacher.

"Is she no longer with us?" Yuki asks.

"No... She's gone..." Ryuji replied, sadness and guilt clear on his face.

"I'm sorry for your loss. But… do you mind my asking how it happened?" Yuki asked.

"Just… cruel fate... I'm sorry, I don't wish to talk about this anymore," Ryuji replies with a sad look on his face.

"I understand," said Yuki.

"I'm sorry for prying. This topic must weigh heavily on your heart. Come, let's head to the dining hall before I completely ruin our appetite," he finished, trying to change the subject to a more pleasant one.

"Weigh heavily on my heart? More than you could possibly know," Ryuji thought to himself.