Casual Heroing

:Chapter 207: Study Group

I take my gaze up from the Omnium Compendium, feeling some movement from below. I hear some swearing and a very loud yawn. Looking outside the window, I realize its morning already.

Huh.

Would you look at that?

Well, Ill sleep tomorrow. In a world of fantasy and magic, I dare say that losing some sleep is not a tragedy. Plus, considering that the Fellows might have come knocking with Marcellus still sleeping downstairs, its better that I didnt sleep. The short Elf would have needed me to protect him.

I stop reading about why [Sleep] spells would fail on a person and take out a thermos of relatively fresh coffee. Man, I really like this new blend of spices. I would have definitely sold it atwhatever.

Yo, I say at Marcellus, whos already munching on some food. I take a croissant for myself and sink my teeth in it. I miss the ingredient that Stan used to source for me. The butter that I used for these croissants wasnt the best; that made it almost impossible to create a perfect flakiness.

May the morning. shine favorably on you, Gioeius!

You too, I say while chomping on my breakfast. Did you sleep well on the couch?

It was more than adequate, thank you. True nobility resides in our hearts, not in the weakness of limbs.

What?

Sure, buddy. Lessons start in less than an hour. Have you already found some of the elective classes?

Errrnothing in particular. I was hoping that something would catch my eye today. On top of that, why would you worry about the electives? Its usually second-year students and older ones that look for them. I mean, people wait to graduate to gather information on what secret classes might be lurking in the darkness.

Do they? Meh, whatever. If you have any idea what you would like to know more about, just tell me. I think I could hook you up with something.

I see a flash of hope in his eyes that is rapidly replaced by sadness.

For free, Marcellus. I dont need money, I rotate my finger to highlight how rich this place looks. Despite the mess, Ive still splurged more than a few coins here. So many that it wouldnt be weird if some [Assassins] or [Investigators] came to me. Thats why I also worked hard on the wards.

Really?

For real, buddy. What kind of [Mage] would you like to become?

At the question, the short Elf starts scratching his head with an embarrassed smile.

I dont really know. [Illusionist] sounds cool?

I laugh.

You are young, right? You can spend a few more days with me and maybe I can see if I can put together a list of classes that may be of interest, what do you say? Only if your noble butt can take the couch again.

Marcellus is definitely broke. Like, really broke. I have no idea why. Nor I have investigated his class yet. But I get the impression that all the posturing is the making of a low-leveled [[[Actor]*]]. Maybe a [[[Thespian]*]]? God knows. But this kid seems cool at times, until he forgets that hes supposed to act, like he just did when I told him that I would tell him where some secret classes are located.

Anyway, lets grab some food for the others and head to class.

I look at the [Professor], or maybe [Historian], with wide eyes. Never in my life I have been so interested in history. Back on Earth, it was what I considered the subject fit for dumb people. I had this edgy period where I thought that anyone really interested in history was just too dumb to understand the future, and thats why they looked into the past. Now, even though I have retracted such a thesis, I have still some reserves on the extensive study of history.

But this is the first time I see an actual Foxman. Or Foxwoman. I have yet to ask what the denomination is. But do you know how some Disney characters like the female tiger in the Lion King look kinda hot? Well, thats what Im talking about here.

She has fluffy ears and the fluffiest fox tail. A huge fox tail. God. Plus, her face is mostly Human, but with some foxy connotations. Its hard to explain, but imagine the blue things from Avatar, but now the movie is called Fox. Yeah, like that. #Foxman

[[[Professor]*]] Aliuna.

Thats her name.

[[Aliuna]].

I think. I wasnt paying too much attention when she was introducing herself to the class.

I wonder if its a trait of this clearly superior species or if shes just particularly gifted, but theres another part of her thats huge. And Im not talking about the previously mentioned tail. [[Aliuna]]

She teaches History of Epretos I. And she has gone right to the meatiest topic that we will study during her course. To try and give a somewhat impartial look at the history of the continent, they had chosen someone who was not an Elf.

The famous death of [Great Prince] [[Vespasianus]] is what everyone knows about the Extermination War. Some argue that we should use the plural, Wars. And thats because many Elves accuse Humans of having tried to exterminate them during the first real Continental War of Epretos. The nomenclature is, sadly, not uniform. Many books were written on this topic, especially here. But few authors were proper [Historians] and fewer still were impartial. As you can imagine, theres a lot of present politics still involved. Maybe too much to ask for a neutral recounting of the facts.

Everyone is pretty much bored to death by the explanation. The only thing thats keeping me awake is the fact that [Professor] Aliuna is a smokeshow.

So, I can see that many of you are trying to sneak a nap during the first class of the day, she says with a nonplussed face. But that why a class like mine is essential, here. [Ringing Voice]. Now, this should help with communication. And to keep you awake.

Suddenly, I can hear the professors voice as if I was listening to her with headphones. At full volume. And just a touch too loud to be comfortable with it. Her voice rings so much that I can feel my eyes ring from the part thats inside my skull.

As I was saying, very few wonder why the last war started. Why? Well, because everyone pins it down to the [Great Prince]s death. But, to be honest, its much more complex than that. Elves and Humans alike had a very intertwined politics until then. And the war bled both parts to an incredible extent. Entire classes were canceled by that war. Even though it was a massacre, a lot of Humans ran to [[Teiko]]. To this day, you could trace many Humans heritage to Epretos. And thats why its so interesting to study history. Humans came to Epretos, then Elves came. Humans fought Elves. Elves repelled Humans and sent them back to Teiko. Thats an essay in three sentences, beautiful, right?

God.

My ears are literally ringing, but every single word was spoken with incredible clarity and it impressed itself in my brain. This woman is definitely using multiple skills to enhance her lesson. Theres no other way I could be learning history otherwise, especially Elven history.

But then, if it wasnt the [Great Prince], what was it? What great event could have brought two races to fight to the last? The famous war of Ahali and Vanedenis has lasted for centuries and only now some [Historians] say that it could come to an end in the next fifty years. The [[Extermination Wars]] lasted around two hundred years. Remember, there are several events that [[[Historian]*]]s use to indicate the end of the war. But theres not a widespread consensus. The war was relatively swift for a conflict so big and dragged out. But the last fifty years were the so-called [[Desert Persecutions]]. The Elves sought out every single member of the Human army, even the deserters, and brutally executed them. Now, many peace treaties are in place, but its impossible to acknowledge the enmity that these actions brought upon the two races. And as for the why

The professor looks above the desks of the class where hundreds of students are laying.

I believe in collaboration. And I believe that the greatest feats can only be accomplished by a carefully formed group. Thats why you will be each assigned to a group. The assignment for our midterm is to write a comprehensive essay on why the Extermination War started. And Id like to point out that History of Epretos I is a mandatory class. Therefore, if you fail, you will fail the year and have to retake the entrance test to the academy. Assistants, please.

Several Foxmen started scuttling around the place, distributing sheets.

I have personally handpicked each group based on your affinities and my skills. If your bond is conductive, you are grouped together. If you are friend, but you only waste time when you are together, you will be split in different groups. My skill is able to put together the best groups. Before I landed this job, I worked for the Adventurers Guild, the central one. And I was in charge of forming and training special Gold-ranked and above groups. Few people could have better pairing.

As I scan the sheet that Ive been given, I immediately find the others right below mine.

Gioeius, team leader, I groan.

We have all been placed in the same group, I hear Amelia cheer from two seats to my right.

Anneus sighs and shakes his head.

Marcellus simply smiles warmly toward the piece of paper.

Zahra looks at me with her I know you are up to something look.

Alba cranes her head forward, embarrassed.

I notice that there are more names on the list. Names I dont know.

Adrastus, Aurelia, Sabina

They all sound like Elves.

Im Sabina, a feminine voice says. I raise my head to look at the speaker while the rest of the class starts moving toward their respective groups, degenerating in a massive chaos.

Hi Sabina, Im Gioeius, but you can call me Gioei. These are

While the others present themselves, I look at the guy I talked to during the ceremony before I saw Anneus being bullied.

Gioieus? Im Adrastus, we already spoke, he tells me with a pained expression.

Yeah, man. You stuck with us?

He nods with a sigh.

No offense, he adds a moment later.

No offense. We are a bunch of idiots. But lets try to make the best out of this, right?

Adrastus nods, but his heart is not in it.

We are only missing Aurelia, then.

Im Aurelia, the last Elf appears among three people who were stepping up the stairs. She dodged them with grace and elegance, pirouetteing in front of us.

Great. Nice to meet you Aurelia. Why dont you three sits with us? I guess its going to be necessary from now on.

Everyone starts sitting with their respective group and in around ten minutes we are all done.

Perfect, the professor drops the skill and speaks normally. Now, you will have the entire semester to ponder on the question. Ill still give out assignments that will count toward the midterm. Every assignment is collective. Theres no individual work here. And, lucky you, I have asked the other professors and most of them agreed to mark your tests based on your group. So, the group you just formed will be responsible of whether you are going to fail the other classes as well. This shall keep everyone accountable. If you dont work as a team once you are out of here, you will die. I have seen countless arrogant [Mages] not listen to orders and dooming their entire team. This time, Ill nip the issue in the bud. Oh, and since I can hear some of you already protesting. All those who just protested got their team minus two points on the midterm. So, better ace those assignments if you dont want to fail out.

Theres definitely some anger in her tone and shes left slightly panting at the end. After a quick glance at my teammates, no one seems to have protested. Some look resigned, but at least they were smart enough to keep their mouth shut.

Lesson adjourned!