(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

Power stones people, Gimme it.

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The groaning finally died down, though the atmosphere still vibrated with disbelief. Rhaena seemed delighted by it, practically glowing as she stood at the center of the platform. Jessica, off to her right, maintained a calm expression—though her eyes held the faintest flicker of amusement.

"Now that you're all appropriately terrified," Rhaena said cheerfully, "let's move on."

A soft hum echoed through the hall as spatial runes lit up near the ceiling. The air shimmered, then a massive rectangular screen unfolded above the platform—the same type used for trial results, though far larger. It hovered in place, gleaming faintly.

"Take a good look," Rhaena said, lifting her arm toward it. "This is the structure of the curriculum you will be drowning in—uh, I mean, studying."

Jessica gave her a look.

Rhaena cleared her throat but continued smiling.

The screen brightened and text arranged itself neatly into two columns. An organized list—clean, simple, impossible to misread.

In large, crisp lettering, the categories appeared:

Combat Department Courses

Mana Control and Analysis

Skill Efficiency and Integration

Physical and Armed Combat

Survival Analysis and Exploration

Group Combat (Leadership and Subordinate Procedures)

Monster Subjugation and Analysis

Spatial Study and Manipulation (Theoretical)

Spatial Study and Manipulation (Practical)

+2 Scholar Courses

Scholars Department Courses

Introduction to Financial and Monetary Management

Introduction to Magical Medicine

Introduction to Art, Law, and Magical Oath

Introduction to Magical Engineering

Research and Development

Rune and Sigil Analysis

Spatial Study and Manipulation (Theoretical)

Spatial Study and Manipulation (Practical)

+2 Combat Courses

Whispers erupted immediately.

Seris leaned over Orion to poke Caelum. "Look at that. Your suffering has categories."

Caelum looked like he was reconsidering his entire life.

Rhaena clasped her hands behind her back, beaming as though she'd just unveiled a festival game instead of an academic minefield.

"Yes, take a good long look," she said brightly. "This is the arrangement of your suffering—"

Jessica cleared her throat sharply.

Rhaena corrected herself without an ounce of shame. "—your structured and meaningful academic growth."

Some students laughed. Others looked betrayed.

"Now," Rhaena continued, pacing slowly as the lists glowed overhead, "unless I've been attending the wrong academy my whole life—or I'm very bad at counting—each department has exactly ten courses."

She raised both eyebrows. "Ten. Not seven. Not five. Ten."

A few groans echoed around the hall.

"Despite this academy offering fourteen courses in total," she went on, "you will only be able to avoid four of them. Four. That's it."

The despair was palpable.

"Each department has eight prerequisite courses," she explained. "Two of these eight are shared by both departments—specifically the Spatial Studies courses. After those eight, the remaining two will be courses you select from the opposite department."

She pointed upward. "Choose those two very carefully. Some of them are… ambitious. Others are downright terrifying."

Seris whispered, "I'm avoiding anything with 'analysis' in the name."

"Impossible," Caelum replied dryly.

Rhaena continued as if she hadn't heard the whispered bickering, "Your counselors will help you understand each course. Bring your questions. Bring your confusion. Bring your fear. They've seen it all."

She clapped once. "Now! I'll give you five minutes to look over the list properly. Think about what each path means. Who knows—maybe staring at them will help you make a wiser decision than certain energetic individuals I've known."

The hall fell into active murmuring as students hunched forward, squinting up at the screen, whispering among themselves.

Orion leaned back slightly as Selene quietly noted how many theorical courses were clustered under her preferred department. Seris counted the physical courses under CD and looked disturbingly excited. Caelum muttered something about ten being an unreasonable number.

Orion simply studied the list with calm eyes. Decisions were never formed in moments—but information mattered.

Exactly five minutes later, Rhaena clapped again.

"Alright! Time's up."

The screen dimmed but remained hovering.

"So—" she began.

Jessica cleared her throat loudly.

Rhaena froze mid-sentence. "Right! I forgot."

She resumed with dramatic flair.

"I forgot one of the most important systems in this academy of ours."

Her smile widened, bordering on playful mischief.

"What is a meritocracy," she said slowly, "without money?"

A ripple of laughter spread before confusion replaced it.

"And when I say money," Rhaena continued, "I don't mean that silly old currency we use outside. No, no—here, we use something far better."

She lifted her arm.

A bracelet gleamed on her wrist—sleek silver, fitted with a thin band of glowing blue light.

She tapped it twice.

A massive hologram shot upward from the bracelet, expanding until it hovered above the platform: a shining golden coin engraved with the towering image of the Main Spire.

Gasps echoed.

"Welcome," Rhaena announced proudly, "to the world of points."

The golden hologram rotated slowly, its surface shimmering with runic inscriptions.

"In this academy," she explained, "points can do almost anything. And I mean almost."

She wiggled a finger. "There are limits, of course—but those limits differ from person to person. Some of you will be exceptional at navigating the points system. Some of you will be disasters. I speak from experience."

Jessica muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Too much experience."

Rhaena waved her off.

"With points," she continued, "you can purchase materials, supplies, training privileges, , spell modules, research access, alchemical reagents, personal instructors, practice hall reservations, even dorm upgrades and more. Much more."

The hall buzzed with amazement.

"When you leave here today," Rhaena continued, "you will each receive a bracelet just like this one."

She held up her wrist again.

"It responds only to you. It records your current points total, displays your transactions, and links directly to your identity. No one else can use your bracelet—not your friends, not your siblings, not even me."

A boy in the back shouted, "What if someone steals it?"

Rhaena smiled sweetly. "Then it will explode."

The hall froze.

Jessica shot her a warning look.

Rhaena sighed. "Fine. It will not explode. But it will turn into a useless piece of metal until returned to its rightful owner."

Relieved murmurs followed.

"As for earning points," she said, tone growing more serious, "the methods are numerous—missions, research contributions, sparring evaluations, academic achievements, monster hunts, special tasks, competitions, and sometimes… unexpected opportunities."

The hologram faded.

"And let me assure you—points are a lifeline. Never underestimate them."

She flashed one last grin.

"Trust me. You'll understand soon enough."

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