Reina clasped her hands together and rested her chin on her fingers as she looked at Alec.

"Are you sure?"

Alec nodded.

"Have you tried using it while eating?"

Alec nodded.

"You don't think it's a matter of proficiency?"

Alec shook his head.

"So I don't have to waste my time learning it?"

Alec nodded.

"That's good."

"So, you know another spell that can help?"

Reina was silent for a moment before slowly opening her mouth again.

"I know of a type of spell that is better suited than Scan."

"Meaning?"

"The medical center in the capital has a disease and illness department. I have heard that they have developed extremely specialized spells that reveal secrets of the human body that people like us can't even imagine."

'Like cells?' Alec asked himself with a frown.

"And there's no way to get access to those spells?"

"There is."

"...?"

"Study for a few years. Go to university in the capital and study even more with a focus on medicine. Graduate with the highest honors. Get accepted at the medical center. Climb the ranks. Earn their trust. Make some achievements. If you do all that, you should probably be granted access to the spells you think we need."

"All that for a 'probably'?" Alec asked in disbelief. Not because he didn't believe Reina, but because he couldn't understand the need for such restriction.

Reina nodded.

"Why are spells like that so hard to get?"

"Those physician types have dedicated their lives for these spells. It's the culmination of their life's work, blood, sweat, and tears. It's also what gives them their prestige. If everyone could use these spells, why would they, specifically, be needed?"

"I see…" Alec's eyes narrowed. It was both a complex and a simple situation.

"What are we supposed to do then?" He asked Reina and himself.

'I need a spell to get a better look at the small stuff going on inside my body. Just seeing food move through my intestines isn't enough. I need to know what happens when it breaks down—when it gets transformed into nutrients and building blocks.'

"Give up?" Reina suggested.

Alec shot her a glare.

"Just kidding. But for now, it seems like we've hit a wall, so focus on your upcoming field trip. It probably won't be easy."

"It didn't sound like it would be that difficult based on your introduction earlier?"

"Well, yeah. It won't be for most of you. But most of you won't have to deal with the grudges of nobility. I am not the only teacher who's caught wind of your trouble with a certain noble scion."

Alec's expression darkened.

'That probably means that the teacher accompanying us is trouble.' Alec sighed.

"Alright. I'll be careful."

"You have to be. You owe me a Heartguard."

"I'm still not sold on that name."

"I'll let you decide the name if you create a reliable method for creating them for all mages."

"Do you want one of the moons in your hand while I'm at it?" He asked sarcastically. If it were that easy, others would have done it already.

"Oh, could you?" Reina asked in a cheery voice.

Alec rolled his eyes.

"Do you know if the library has a collection of runes?" He changed the subject.

"It should."

"Good. See you." Alec didn't waste any time and left Reina's office.

Reina smiled and waved him off. She kept her smile while staring at Alec's back. The moment the door closed behind him, her expression sank, and she sighed deeply.

"This is a lot harder than I thought it would be."

***

"Are you ready, Alec?"

"Yep. Are you ready, Taryeon?"

"Totally. Are you ready, Maura?"

"Never been more ready. Erio?"

"Itching to get going already. Isidore looks like he's sleeping."

"Just resting my eyes a little."

"..."

"I am ready, too, in case you were wondering," Reece added hesitantly.

The others turned to look at him, with the exception of Isidore, who still had his eyes closed as he sat on the ground, leaning against the fence outside the Academy.

Taryeon glanced around.

They were the only commoners who had completed their first stars and magic circles. Reece didn't have anyone else to talk to.

"Good. Wouldn't want you to be unprepared," Taryeon said with a smile.

"Mhm. Do you guys know what we're waiting for?"

Erio made a point of looking around.

"The rest?" They were the only ones who had gathered in front of the Academy, where they were told to wait before setting off at the crack of dawn. Dawn had passed over an hour ago.

There was no sign of the field trip taking off.

"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Reece asked doubtfully.

"I double-checked with Miss Woltz. We're where we're supposed to be," Alec answered, also closing his eyes to focus on the pages upon pages of runes he had stored in [Reader] since he didn't have time to read them all properly before the field trip.

"But then…" Reece trailed off, seeing the answer coming from the Academy.

The noble scions chosen to participate in the field trip walked over in one big group, led by an old man with a ram-rod straight back and long, grey hair.

"My name is Shim Lester. You lot will address me as Sir or Magister. Do not act familiar with me." Shim had a sharp look and a cutting way of talking as he set clear boundaries for the commoner students to follow.

'Oh, boy.'

"Understood?" He asked in a biting tone when the commoner students remained silent.

"Yes, Sir." Taryeon was the first to answer, and he did so with a smile. The others followed his lead but avoided making eye contact with Shim Lester.

Most of them were used to his kind and knew that avoiding him was the best they could hope for. They could only count themselves unlucky that he had been the teacher assigned to oversee the field trip.

Shim Lester scoffed before leading the way to a string of carriages that arrived at the same time they did.

To no one's surprise, the commoners had to squeeze into an old, rickety one without padded seats that was drawn by a pair of mules, while the others rode luxurious ones befitting their status.

It was probably for the best that he couldn't read the students' thoughts.

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