Michael entered the main hall and was instantly swarmed by his friends. They had questions, though they knew most of what had happened. And Michael did his best to answer them all, for all he was tired. Especially, as it was a pleasant type of tiredness.

“So… you-know-who is in custody?” Melissa asked cautiously.

Funny.

“She is. Her faction got her. And…” Michael said, turning to his two friends who were not part of a certain conspiracy. “Erea. Alex. You two have to be let in on a few secrets. But later. We need privacy wards.”

“You keeping more secrets from me?” Erea asked, amused in her disbelief.

“…maybe?”

“It’s alright. I’ve learned how to deal with my feelings.”

“Grea-“

“Which means I’ll only hit you if they are big secrets.”

She probably meant it too. Averting his attention from the future spellfire, Michael turned to Alex.

“I take it Hector took care of you?”

“Yeah. He told me to say hi. And to do your best from visiting him again to soon.”

“No promises.”

“You, I told him you’d say that.” He laughed. “The… woman was there too. But a few of her mages were keeping her under wards. I got a little bit of the bigger picture from her, but I take it you were also involved? And you guys too?”

Melissa, Micah and Bob just shrugged.

“It was deemed necessary at the time.” The gaindel spoke. “But I am glad we will be able to induct you into our group?”

“Group?” Erea asked. “So, it was official?”

“Yeah. We even have uniforms and everything.” Micah grinned.

“Ignore him.” Melissa said. “Bob is right, though. We… have some secrets to guard. It was necessary to keep a low watch, I believe. But it’ll be better to stop hiding from you.”

“Completely agree. That being said, you two have some explaining to do of your own. That whole ‘Martial rebellion’ thing against Kelunad? What was that?”

At Michael’s question, the Martial and the maybe-Martial shared a look.

“Oh, that will take a while to explain as well.” Alex winced. “We’ll need privacy wards too. And I’m not sure if I can explain it, since-“

“The Martials are under new leadership.” Erea declared.

“Or you could just tell them. That works.” Alex, said, rubbing his face.

“We will share the pertinent details later.” Bob rumbled. “As for what was just said, I believe the coming announcement will include part of it.”

“Yeah. I suppose everyone’s looking forwards to it. I’m surprised they haven’t started already.”

“They’re still waiting on everyone checking out their grades.” Melissa told him.

Oh… Right. Grades. Because this is an actual school.

Easy to forget sometimes.

“Better hurry, then.” Michael nodded. “Where’re they posted?”

He got a set of odd looks in return.

“What?”

“Don’t worry, everyone.” Micah pipped up. “Unlike us, Michael’s from a really backwater village.”

“Hey! I mean… that’s true. But-“

“Dude, just speak your full name out loud and say ‘Grades’.”

It didn’t seem like a joke, so Michael did. And what do you know, a small hologram appeared right in front of him, displaying his results.

Gotta love Gnosis.

Basic Magical Theory – 100/100

Magical Combat Primer (Battle Magic) – 100/100 Bonus – 18/25

Practical Alchemy – 91/100 Bonus – 20/25

Magizoology – 98/100

Introduction to General Races – 100/100

Environmental Adaption Primer – 100/100 (12th place)

Applied Magical Workings – 88/100

Bound Magic Primer – 100/100 Bonus – 25/25

Environmental Adaption… such a bullshit name for PE. I knew I hated that class.

That being said, Michael was pretty happy with the results. No, scratch that. He was ecstatic. Considering how much of his attention had actually been devoted to study, he thought he did better than he should have perhaps deserved. Then again, his study group slash proto-faction helped a lot. Good thing he was expanding it.

He was going to ask how the others did, but the magic displaying his results must have sensed him finishing reading it, because it changed. ‘First Year’ flashed before him, before a new set of lines appeared.

Students are allowed to choose electives based on personal preferences, yet please be advised that the electives have different entrance criteria.

Students are advised to consult professors associated with specific electives regarding entrance to those courses.

Based on test scores, past-year academic conduct and faculty recommendations, the Academy suggests the following possible compatible electives:

-Divergent Magical Theories

-Racial Magics

-Introduction to Hand-to-Hand Combat

-Magical Body Improvements

-Assault Alchemy

-Beast Trainer Primer

-Resources Primer: Beasts & Monsters

-General Culture & History

-Race Based Religion

-Outworld Orientation Primer

-Outworld Geography

-Introduction to General Runework

-Introduction to General Enchanting

“Thirteen electives? Thirteen- no offense, Michael, I saw your scores, really good- but thirteen?” Melissa whined.

“They were good grades. Almost full-marks per class, including the bonus points.” Bob pointed out.

“Yeah, but that student minder guy said that the teachers took it easy on us, because we only had three months out of the school-year.”

“Then why didn’t you get good grades?” Bob smiled at the suddenly preoccupied lycan.

“I’m happy with the grades.” Michael honestly said. “And I’m guessing the more electives recommended to be, the better?”

“You usually get one per class and none if you did bad or if you’re a trouble student.” Alex explained. “Two if you’re promising and some prodigies get three, but that’s rare. By the looks of it, you got two in most classes and one in a couple. And… none in one Class. That’s if my math checks out.”

“Yeah, I think I know which one was the missed one. Not that I mind, really.”

“Don’t go and get a big head.” Erea warned. “Electives aren’t always offered by performance. The teachers have to like you too and seeing how you’re the talk of the hour, that probably helped a lot.”

It was fair. And it was also amusing to see Melissa raise her head up in sudden hope.

The girl really had a competitive streak, if only an academical one.

“That being said, it’s a great result. Honestly.” Alex congratulated him. “You’re in the top ten of your year for sure. Maybe top five.”

“Huh. So, who’s at the very top?”

“No one here.” Melissa said. “But I already have a list of names. One of them even received three electives.”

Both Alex and Bob looked interested at that, but it was Erea who asked the first question.

“You have a list of names?”

“I always try to keep a track on the competition.”

The elf laughed and grinned.

“You’re sure you don’t want to be a Martial? Seems like faction hopping is all the rage now, anyways.”

“Uhm, well-“

Melissa was saved from having to explain just why she wasn’t interested in exploring a new faction, another new one, anyway, by a voice being heard throughout the hall.

“Students. My congratulations on finishing another year at Gnosis Academy.”

Regitris had taken the podium and his magically magnified voice reached them all. Behind seem stood the other faction leaders, the important ones that is and Michael could almost feel the disorientation in the room.

Regitris was back in power? But what about Kelunad?

The orc stood behind the old elf, right next to Ravena.

“It has been a… short school-year. But by the magics that allow Gnosis to function and by the exams both, we must abide by it. Not to worry, we have quite a lot of activities planned for what remains of the actual year. We will not start off with the next school-year right away.”

Barely held in breaths were released from multiple spots in the hall.

Wait. That was an option?

“But first, a few announcements. The three-faction alliance, as you came to know it, has expanded. To it have been added the Ascentionalists, the Naturalists and… one more faction. And we are all in accord about the future of Gnosis. In further news, Mage Kelunad has stepped down as the leader of the Martials.”

Now, that was news. Even the most bored students focused on that.

“Mage Kelunad, you have the stage.”

“Thank you, Mage Regitris. As it has just been stated, I have stepped down as leader of the faction I have so long been a part of. As its head. I do this because… well. Most of you are not in the know of the full story, but I expect it to trickle down in no time. I have acted against Gnosis. Against its principles and against my own faction. I did because of a coming threat, one that Mage Regitris will detail shortly. But also, because I had lost faith. Both in the current generations of mages and also in my own faction. In… what I had perceived them to have become. I found them… lacking. No more. To my… to the Martials I will say this.”

They were not like rebellious children, the Martials. Looking defiantly at their father, who had failed them and forced them to take their destinies into their own hands. But there was something there remaining. A bond, however weakened. So, though they had rebelled, they listened to what he had to say.

The sons and daughters of battle.

“I am proud! Of what you have done. Of you standing up for yourselves. You have defied me and in doing so… you have rekindled my hope. I had before aimed to purge your faction, to cleanse it of what I saw as weakness. Yet, at the end of the road, I learned that it was not you that were in need of change. It was I. You do not need me anymore. The Martials are still lacking in certain aspects, but from this day forth, your destiny is your own. For those that need help, I will always be here. But whether you choose a new faction leader or another method of ruling, its is you what will decide your future. I am proud. And I will not ask for it, because it is beneath you to grant it. But know that I wish for your forgiveness.”

Solemn faces, on the young and the old. The Martials looked at the end of an era come true.

Perhaps though… the start of a new one?

“Thank you, Make Kelunad. Now. Students and members of Gnosis. Now, I must speak to you of the future.”

And Regitris told them, no holds barred. No more secrets and kneed to know information. He told them all what was coming, of the alliance composed of the old enemies and the new. Of old hatred and young arrogance. But Michael noticed with a quiet sense of pride, that none turned sour looks towards the human mages. Nor did they frown at the older races, what few of them were here. Because the distinction was known to all.

There was Gnosis. And there was the rest.

“As for the pathways, the ones most of you have found yourselves already in knowledge of. They will be our forge. Our measure of growth. The coming army lacks in quality, but makes up for it in quantity. So we will nurture our advantage. We will grow! The paths to the lower and upper floors are open to all! By the will of Gnosis and its factions, all students will be permitted to brave them.”

A furor passed through the hall, but Regitris was not done.

“Challenge invites growth, in Levels and Magic both. And challenge is what those passages are. A chance to grow. To reclaim Gnosis. The academy members will act as overseers, for we will not allow anyone to come under undue peril. But if you wish it, we will allow you to go forth. To Level. And when the army comes, they will find an army of or own! Composed of the likes of |Mages| the world has not seen in millennia. Three months have passed in this short-school year. Six more months should have passed, until we would have been able to call this a ‘normal’ school-year. And this is what we will give you. Starting immediately, a six-month period will be given to members of Gnosis, teachers and students alike. Six months, before the next school-year starts. Use them as you will. But know that Gnosis stand behind you, once again ready to be claimed!”

The hubbub that broke out was too powerful to be quieted down even with |Silence| Spells. Everybody was talking. Confusion was present, but excitement was the major feeling. The Martials were looking like they had just been handed an experimental wand to try out without any parental supervision. He other factions looked excited too.

They left the main hall after that, since no more announcements were to be made, even supposing they could have gotten the students’ attention back. Michael and his friends found themselves in the lunch hall, assailed from all directions by requests. They were, after all, known at large. And their reputation as a group for taking on missions was now almost as high as Alex’s.

Students were banding together, forming teams. Laen, Mihli and Quora were assured a spot, but so many others wanted in. And who wouldn’t. There would be danger, but… Levels. Artifact. The sheer thrill of walking parts of Gnosis unwalked for centuries. And… the need to grow stronger. None had forgotten the coming war, though they weren’t sure how long they had to train.

Amusingly enough, it fell down to Michael to handle the negotiations, at least the preliminary ones, since Alex was now in deep talk with a spry looking explorer team-captain. It went on for hours. By the time Michael got to his room, he was ready to crash in his bed. Forget about dreams, fainting sounded good.

But just before he fell asleep, he remembered a final thing. A gift, for a friend.

Groggily, he reached for his vambrace and pulled a book. The one the gnome had gifted him.

And this is supposed to help Sinestra?

Michael moved past the title and opened the book, starting to scan the first few pages. But… it still didn’t make sense. How was this related to Sinestra? Either it was gibberish, which didn’t seem likely since it came from the dwarf or… there was more to the problem than he knew.

He closed the book and placed it back in the vambrace, making a mental note to check on it the day after. But one question still assailed his hazy mind, right before sleep took him. Because of that… term.

What the fuck is a |Jack of All Trades|?