Sinestra was gone. Not gone-gone, but locked away in her chambers and incommunicado. Nothing reached her, not |Message| Spells, not normal messages, no golems and no mages. Her private abode was warded to the sky and back.

Knocking didn’t work either. Michael tried.

And mostly everyone thought it was hilarious. Given her recent sightings with Kelunad, the vast majority of mages thought it her sudden disappearance had something to do with that. A lover’s fight, most probably. Michael had to yell at Micah two times to knock it off with the stupid jokes.

He still didn’t get the world of mages. Everyone knew that loosing one’s magic was the worst thing ever. Assuming it could even be done. Yet everyone also presumed that the golem had been wrong or that Sinestra simply refused to provide a magical signature or a myriad other reasons.

To be honest, Michael wasn’t sure if he was being paranoic for thinking this was a cover up or if mages were just that shallow as a whole.

Then again, the people back home weren’t much better either.

Or. Perhaps only Michael was taking it seriously since only he had witnessed the gorgon’s meltdown the day before.

Well. He needed to consult about this with someone out of his age group. Kelunad still wasn’t answering and Michael wasn’t sure he would have asked the orc regardless, so he turned to his only other mentor.

Regitris.

Surprisingly or perhaps not so at all, after his falling out with the Martial leader, he and Regitris had started to become closer as mentor and pupil. Michael’s new Gnosis-related gift certainly helped that matter, but no matter the reason, their tutoring sessions have started to happen more often.

The elf taught Michael magic, but not like Kelunad who only named a Spell, told him why it was advantageous to learn and maybe gave him a few pointers. Or like Sinestra, who was focused on only a a single school of magic. Regitris talked to Michael of magic like a historian did, which was right up the young man’s alley.

He told him how magic was seen by different races and his own personal opinion. How it shapes the world and its denizens and is shaped by them in turn. He talked about the supposed origin of magic and times when magic had almost ended. And unlike most others, he told Michael about how magic interacted with other |Classes|, a subject often forgotten in Gnosis.

“That is why even here, a rare few learn swordfighting. A |Spellsword| is not as capable as a |Mage|, but you would not want to meet a high-Level one in combat.”

“Sounds like something a Martial would want to be.”

“True, true.” The elf laughed. “Yet joining Classes is something that requires a lot of patience and perseveration. Something the Martials of now are not inclined towards, as…. their leader has noticed.”

Yeah. Kelunad was still a sore subject, for the both of them.

Michael went on with his line of thinking.

“So, theoretically, can anyone have their Classes join?”

“Yes. Some Classes are not as compatible towards one another as are others, yet circumstance and Level matter towards such unions. I know that some of the libraries in Gnosis hold books on this subject, yet I am unsure if any of our |Historians| or |Researchers| are currently working with such knowledge.”

“I see. Are there any advantages, other than levelling up two Classes at the same time?”

“I believe that is not exactly an advantage.” Regitris smiled. “At least, it does not happen as you think it does.”

“What do you mean?”

“The more Classes one has, the slower the leveling process becomes, across all of them.”

Because of XP.

“Why is that?”

“Why, because of experience of course.”

And now I’m leaning more towards the game, rather than the story paranoia version for this world.

“Consider how one normally levels, Michael. Yes, study is helpful and plays an important part itself, but a person levels, as lower levels individuals well know, by doing. If one is a |Mason|, working with stone will provide the experience. If one is a |Pugilist|, the same is applied for fist-fighting. We |Mages| are lucky, because we can both study and practice magic, but we must not forget that the practice part plays an equal part in growing our Class. Greater then equal, speaking from experience.”

“Right. And since every Class demands a certain type of experience and there are only so many hours in a day, one can’t become as good at two things and one can at a single one.”

“Precisely. Oh, there have been mages that have experimented with time magic and mind magic in order to get around this limitation, but extremely few of them have had any measure of success. I’m afraid the Class laws are very well made, if indeed we can say they were actually ‘made’.”

Huh. Good to know there’re min-maxers in this world too. Or at least wanna-be ones.

“I think I get it.”

The elf nodded.

“When you also add into equation the fact that a Class becomes harder to level the higher the Level one had reached in it, then it becomes easy to understand why few reach for such an option. And of those that do, why very few accept more than two Classes. But to answer your question, there are benefits.”

“Yes?”

“Oh, yes. Some rare Classes can only be obtained by the merger of two normal ones. Rare Skills that are usually obtained only at high-Levels become more common. Sometimes even twenty Levels lower than one would expect them. And a Class shapes a mage, just as it is shaped by them. If one Class reveals your personality in most cases, a joint Class hints at a mage or individual who has embarked on a soul elevating project and came out stronger for it. Though, sadly, few do in real life.”

“I see. Thank you, Mage Regitris. I’ll remember that.”

“Think nothing of it, my boy. But I have to ask, is this subject we have approached beneficial to you personally? I will not discourage you from choosing a second Class, but I would advise you, if you’ll permit me.”

“Oh, no sir. I wasn’t thinking about me. At least, nor for the moment. I was… thinking about Professor Sinestra. Her disappearance worries me.”

“As it does me. And I understand. I know she was your mentor also and that you must have been close to her.”

Michael nodded and went on.

“I don’t understand that thing with the golem. Could she have truly lost her magic?”

“One does not simply loose one’s magic.” The elf kindly smiled. “Once you gain the Class, magic becomes part of you. Even before that, some say, as there are races and species that have innate magic and Spell can even be learned without a magic-oriented Class. Though why anyone would bother, I do not know. No, I believe what happened to be either a golem malfunction or a… well, prank.”

“Prank, sir?”

“Yes. A mage incapable of manifesting a magical signature is a sign some see as a weakling. Of course, Mage Sinestra is a capable one, but some would imply the fact only to mock her. Like any high-mage in Gnosis, she must have her fair share of enemies and rivals.”

“Oh. Good. I, uh, though something must have happened.”

“I too have heard the… distasteful rumors currently circulating our academy. But no, no amount of intercourse can remove or even block one’s magic, no matter the race.”

I’ll be sure to let Micah know.

“Right. Err, thank you.”

“Again, think nothing of it. But, tell me, why do you think multi-Classing had something to do with it.”

“It was just something she said once. Uhm…”

Sinestra didn’t hold him to the secret and he wasn’t about to blurt out the entirety of it, but… Michael was still kind of worried. Sure, this was probably a prank. Kelunad most likely had a whole battalion of would-be suitors and the rumors that had begun to spread about him and Sinestra no doubt put some of his admirers in revenge-mode. But… he wanted to be sure.

“She told me this in confidence so I will not discuss the details.”

“Naturally, Michael. I’m not asking you to break your oaths.”

Did he say ‘oath’ on purpose or…?

No. Enough paranoia. I can’t do this without at least a little trust.

“Sinestra talked about having multiple Classes once. Not she herself, but… yeah. I only wandered if her magic fizzling out had something to do with… something she may have done or not.”

Great job, Michael. That was the worst poker face in the world. Both worlds!

Yet, thankfully, Regitris didn’t look like was analyzing Michael’s statement to closely. He simply took his words at face value.

“I understand. Then allow me to take your fears to rest. There is nothing Sinestra could have done involving Classes that would have diminished her magic, let alone stamp it out. Why, the closest thing I could think of pertains to a myth and that-“

“Mage Regitris.” Narh said, bursting into the room.

The chubby centaur got over his legs being damaged by Regitris by the wonders of magic. And also Hector not sleeping for an entire night. He had even managed to lose some weight. All in all, he was good.

But he didn’t look good now. Instead, he looked agitated. Worried.

“Mage Regitris, all students must report to the main hall. An academy wide announcement is about to be made.”

“Academy-wide? I wasn’t aware the council decided anything major as of late.”

“They just did. It was a snap vote, but it passed.”

“Impossible. They don’t have the numbers.”

“They do, Regitris.” Narh winced. “The Artificers have just joined the Martials an the Bloodlinked.”

Regitris eyes widened and Michael wanted to ask a question, but Narh spoke again.

“I’m sorry, but all students really must be present. Teleportation Spells have already been deployed. Sorry, Michael, I know you’ve had issues with them, but that’s why I ran all the way over here.”

“What do-“

A glowing circle appeared under his feet and Michael was whisked away from Regitris office before he could even comprehend what was happening.

“I have to go too.” Narh said, downing a Stamina Potion and recasting |Haste|. “Are you coming?”

“In a minute, Narh. I’ll teleport.”

Even though he was still out of breath, the centaur still managed a laugh.

“Right. Remember to ask you to teach me that Spell one day.”

And then he was off too.

Regitris remained in his office, mind whirling. The Artificers joined them? Why would they do that? Unless… He remembered their leader being intrigued about the possibility of using the artifact. Could they be this petty?

He didn’t know. It felt like he didn’t know a lot of things these days.

And this business with Sinestra. Regitris was sure the gorgon would reappear after a few days, shamed, but out for revenge on whoever played the prank on her. And then he’d have to endure another public rivalry.

Well, some things were still good. Michael, his successor to Gnosis was shaping out to be a rather fine young man. He could still be manipulated, as the orc proved when he made him ‘test’ his friend. He was still fearful of angering his elders and that was a good thing, current example notwithstanding. But he cared for his friends, that Regitris saw. Deeply. And he even cared for his teachers, though Gnosis knows, Sinestra had a talent for annoying others, even as a young gorgon.

“To think she lost her magic because of Classes.” He laughed. “Classes provide, not take. Only one myth ever spoke to the contrary and that’s mainly a children’s tale.”

He smiled, content… before his expression grew thoughtful. Then serious.

“And yet… I have just witnessed two creatures of legend, if not outright myth, not long ago. Perhaps… no. But… I can spare the time to investigate. There is always more to learn.”

And with that, Regitris stood up and teleported himself in the main hall, just a couple of seconds before the announcement.

***

Michael appeared and instantly wanted to throw up.

Damnit, Narh.

Not that it was his fault. It was just that… teleportation sucked.

He looked around and saw that the main hall was packed. All years were there and by the looks of it, everyone had been called here in a hurry. The students haven’t even separated themselves by faction, as they used to do. They were all standing in a great mob. Some students were still popping up, magically or otherwise.

But he did see a tall shape, just in front of him.

“Bob! Hey, Bob!” he shouted, fighting his was until he got close to him.

“Any idea what this is?”

“Michael. I do no not. I have only arrived a few minutes ago myself. But it seems like it will be important, given the speakers.”

“Huh. Yeah, you’re right.”

Before the crowd, on the podium, stood the high-mages of three large factions. The Artificers, the Martials and the Bloodlinked. But only their faction leaders stood front and center.

“Do you believe our friends are here as well?”

“I mean, they probably have to be. But I can’t see-“

“Greetings, students.” The leader of the Bloodlinked spoke. “For those that do not know me, I am he leader of the Bloodlinked faction. The Artificers and Martials leaders have allowed me to inform you of our decision.”

The man spoke in a somewhat monotone voice, but his words carried weight.

Everyone knew who the Bloodlinked were.

“The formalities do not matter. It is enough to say that the three factions you see standing before you are in accord. Thus, we have enough votes to impose our will, regarding decisions that affect this academy. Our decision is final and will not be questioned. This, I will only state once.”

The few Bloodlinked mages around Michael nodded as one.

And in case it will be questioned, I can see who will be doing the answering.

“And our decision is this. The end of year exams, normally hosted at the ended of the Gnosian school year, will be hosted in a month to this day. That is all.”

And then, and then, the crimson bastard just turned around like he informed them crab would no longer be served in the mess hall.

Of course, pandemonium broke out only a second later.