139 Reunification

Jayde as her fellow classmates packed away their textbook, and after bidding Stora Trifer farewell, they walked together to the northern wing, since their next class was Magic Fundamentals which was a compulsory subject for all of them.

Walking through the double door, Jayde was amazed at the modern layout of the interior of the lecture hall. The seats and desks were in a common tier layout, with aisles leading down to the teaching area, which contained a small podium and stool.

The lecture hall was quickly filling up with students, the muffled sound of whispering and laughter could be heard over the din of footsteps. Seats creaked as students shifted on their chairs. The air was filled with the combined smell of cologne and perfumes, with an underlying harsh scent of vinegar, which must have been the cleaning detergents used.

Feeling someone tapping on her shoulder Jayde turned around.

"There's Raven," Nova said pointing to the seating above them. Looking in the direction that Nova was pointing too, Jayde saw Raven standing and waving at them. Smiling Jayde and the four boys made their way up to where Raven was sitting with two other girls.

Raven introduced the two girls with her, Atia Cotta and Camelia Cotta, they were cousins and were Raven's portal magic classmates. The Cotta Clan was a powerful merchant family in the Ayon Kingdom, even Jayde had heard about the clan during her travels to Damonia. Surprising both girls weren't stuck up and greeted the five newcomers shyly.

The two girls shared similar features, both had long blond hair with pale blue eyes, dainty heart-shaped faces with a small button nose and pouting pink lips, while not classically beautiful they were both nevertheless seductively pretty. The biggest difference between the two was Atia was a good ten centimeters shorter than Camelia with an hourglass figures and plump breasts, whereas Camelia was tall and lithe.

While waiting for their teacher to arrive, Jayde and Raven caught up on each other's latest news, Raven was delighted when she found out that Jayde had also taken formation magic.

"That's great, Atia and Camelia have also taken Formation Magic, so the four of us will be together," she said.

Atia and Camelia both sent Jayde a shy grin hearing Raven's comment. Girls were outnumbered over four to one in Damonia, so it was quite uncommon for four girls to attend the same class. Jayde also found out that Atia and Camelia shared a private cottage near them, and the girls agreed to meet up this coming Sixday.

While Jayde was anxious to spend more time in the artifact cultivating, she was delighted to have met up with the Cotta girls, befriending them would be really beneficial to her, as the plan she had been working for the Freeholds would require a powerful merchant family like the Cotta's.

"Quiet!" a cold authoritative voice called out.

Looking down at the teacher's podium, Jayde could see that a tall, thin mage stood in the middle. His skin was sallow, and even from where Jayde was sitting she could make out that he had a large, hooked nose. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair which framed his pasty face.

His navy blue robe looked as though it was several sizes too big for him as it hung on his stick-like frame. His cold, black eyes glared at the students around him.

"My name is Professor Chalinus Floren, and I will be your teacher for Magic Fundamentals, Magic History, and Government and Law."

As soon as the student heard his title, everyone sat up straight and the cheerful looks on their faces faded away as they all became serious. Only teachers who were employed directly by the Mages Guild could claim the title professor.

Hmm seems like the rumors are true, Jayde thought. During her travels, Jayde had overheard numerous whispered conversations and complaints in the taverns she had visited about how the Mages Guild was overreaching itself and interfering with the magic schools.

"Firstly I want to congratulate you all for being accepted into such a prestigious school like Damonia. Just by sitting here you have proven that you are among the best of your generation," said Professor Floren.

With an ingratiating smile, Professor Floren said, "You are the future of the Lower Realm, once you graduate you will go on to become powerful members of our society, most of you will join the elites of our society, you are destined to become our future's new leaders."

As the young men and women heard Professor Floren's speech they sat up even straighter, most began to show a proud and arrogant look.

"It is because of the power you will wield in the future that I must bring up a very serious matter, something that threatens the very foundation of our society," said Professor Floren, his face serious.

Shaking his head sadly, Professor Floren went on to say, "So many young mages are being led astray by people with bad intentions, these people want to sow discord and unrest among us. These people don't want YOU to succeed, they want to suppress your power. Make sure that you can never walk among the greats of our society. They want YOU to spend the rest of your life toiling away in the lowest ranks of our society."

As Jayde listened to Professor Foren's speech she felt a bad premonition, looking at the thin mage on the stage she thought. What the hell is this guy up to? Sounds more like a political rally than a lecture.

"Do you want that? Do you want them to take away your power? Deny you your gods' given destiny?" Professor Floren said loudly.

"No!" Most of the students yelled.

Seeing the students becoming fired up, Professor Floren smiled, this reaction was just what he had been aiming for.

"I am sure you have all heard the rumors about the Mages Guild, about how we are interfering in matters that don't pertain to us?"

The lecture hall fell dead quiet at Professor Floren question, everyone had been talking about how the Mages Guild was trying to take over.

"Don't be shy, you heard those rumors right?" Professor Floren said a bit louder.

A tall lanky teenager sitting in the front nodded his head hesitantly.

Professor Floren grinned to himself with delight, just what he had been waiting. Pointing to the teenager, "What your name, son?" he asked.

Standing the teenager answered: "Lydus Gala, Professor." Lydus was so nervous answering Professor Floren's question that his voice broke halfway through his answer.

His thin lips curling into a kind smile, Professor Floren ask: "Gala clan, from Toxres?"

Lydus head bobbed nervously.

"Good, strong clan. I am sure your family must be proud of you being accepted into Damonia."

"Yes Professor," said Lydus, beaming at Professor Floren compliment. He was thrilled that Professor Floren knew of his small clan, he would not wait to get back to his dorm and write home to tell his parents about it.

"Lydus, have you any idea why these people are bad mouthing the Mages Guild?" asked Professor Floren.

"No, Professor Floren," answered Lydus, speaking more confidently.

Looking up at the students Professor Floren asked: "Do any of you know why?"

Most of the students shook their heads.

"Because they want to bring down the Mages Guild!" he yelled, "They want to divide us, they want unrest, and more importantly they want us to stop us!"

Waving Lydus to sit down, Professor Floren said in a softer tone, "You most likely wondering what they want to stop us from?"

Numerous head bobbed.

Professor Floren opened his arms wide as he declared: "Reunification!"

Gasps filled the lecture hall.

"Yes that's right, for hundreds of years, the Mages Guild in Lower Realm in partnership with the Mages Guild in the Mid Realm and UPPER Realm have been working together to reunify the realms to repair the damage done since the sundering."

At Professor Floren emphasis on the Upper Realm, most students eyes widen in shock, when the rest of his statement sunk in the hall exploded into excited chatter.

Jayde's eyes narrowed, as she stared at Professor Floren coldly. Unlike the student sitting in the lecture hall, Jayde had been trained to recognize the danger signs of propaganda and fear mongering.

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