The next day came. Zeke, with the help of Fredric's magic, was finally able to get a good full night of sleep. This time, the two woke up on time, made their way smoothly to the monorail station, and walked peacefully to class. As they strolled through the front door, Zeke thought about the disabled girl he saw the day before, but today, she was nowhere in sight. "I wonder if I'll get to see her again," Zeke pondered in silence. The two headed to their classes. First, there was mathematics—a subject that had largely remained unchanged since the times of the Great Cataclysm. Zeke found the concept of mathematical properties and laws intriguing, hoping to adapt them to his use of magic. He paid close attention to everything the professor said, taking comprehensive notes on all the important topics and marking those he wanted to study further. Meanwhile, Fredric found the class incredibly boring, using his textbook as a makeshift pillow, drifting off, and sleeping through the entire lecture without a care. The next class was history. The class was taught by a snobby professor who seemed more interested in pushing his own narrative than teaching historical facts. His name was Mr. Hemmings—a balding man of short stature, always wearing a sweater vest and a mismatched shirt. "Good day, class. Today we will discuss the 2010s—a time before the Great Cataclysm. Back then, the world was much different than it is now," the professor said, clearing his throat before continuing. "The world was far less advanced and civilized, with many classes being discriminated against. You would find the world back then much more cruel than it is now." "In what way?" Fredric asked, sounding intrigued. "What?" The professor questioned, visibly annoyed, his bottom lip bloating slightly as he bit down on it, like a child. "In what way was it more cruel?" Fredric repeated his question. "Well, if you had just kept quiet and continued listening, I would have explained it eventually. But since you insist, I will spoil the intrigue for you and your classmates," Professor Hemmings cleared his throat yet again. "During those times, the world was much harsher. People were categorized into slaves and non-slaves based on their upbringing and treated accordingly." "Yeah, that makes no sense," Fredric smirked. "What's your name?" the professor asked, growing more annoyed by the minute. "Fredric Lacro," he replied. "Well, 'Lacro,' you might not be aware, but people used to starve back in the day," the professor retorted with a smug expression. "I'm pretty sure people still starve, despite the much lower human population," Fredric replied. "The Earth used to be ridiculously polluted, with atomic reactors going off all the time," the professor said, visibly frustrated. "I'm pretty sure the ecosystem has been irreparably damaged by the appearance of demonic creatures," Fredric countered. "There were constant wars and plagues going on all the time," the professor said, subconsciously raising his voice. "I don't reckon that posed a bigger threat than demons who could literally trample this city in minutes," Fredric smirked. "Only the privileged had a chance at higher education!" the professor stated. "Yeah? Well, barely anyone in this city actually gets to go to this academy," Fredric replied. "The world was cruel, and people were constantly under pressure to live up to societal standards!" the professor's tone grew more aggressive. "Hey, professor?" Fredric asked. "What?" Professor Hemmings questioned. "What are we arguing about?" Fredric giggled. "We are arguing about why you don't agree with me," the professor sighed.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Thank you for clarifying, Professor Lemmings," Fredric folded his hands. "It's Hemmings!" the professor growled. "That's what I said, Lemmings," Fredric smirked. "IT'S HEMMINGS, YOU LITTLE SHIT!!!" The class ended. Zeke and Fredric went to the cafeteria to have lunch. The cafeteria was an expansive, cathedral-esque building, with towering stained-glass windows and vaulted ceilings, connected to other academy corpuses by countless bridges and walkways. It stood in the middle of the campus, adjacent to the grand library, its presence commanding attention. The building consisted of two floors, with the second floor offering a panoramic view of the bustling activity below. The ceiling was an intricate network resembling a complex spiderweb, reinforced by countless metal trusses, their silver frames gleaming under the natural light. In the middle of the roof, an elongated skylight ran along the entire apex, casting beams of sunlight that illuminated the spacious hall, creating a serene yet lively atmosphere. The food was cooked and carried to everyone seated by droids. To place an order, students simply needed to scan their student card on the terminal located at their table, and shortly after, their food would be delivered by a droid. The meals were highly balanced, prepared with nutrients in mind, based on the blood tests conducted every month, supplementing all necessary minerals. Zeke and Fredric sat on the second floor, at a table overlooking the entire cafeteria. "Not a bad view, huh?" Zeke asked. Fredric looked down, observing the countless students bustling around on the first floor. The sight of the lively crowd, the hum of conversation, and the energy of the place gave him a sense of grandiosity—a sensation of significance and connection to something larger, a feeling he rarely experienced. "Did you always sit here?" he wondered. "No, but I always wanted to," Zeke smirked. "I guess I was just too scared back then." "Scared of what? The bullies?" Fredric asked. "No, I think I was just anxious about coming here. I thought that if I could see everyone from here, surely everyone could also see me," Zeke sighed. "But here I am, and honestly, none of that matters." "Well, don't be too hard on yourself. We're all afraid of something," Fredric remarked with a dazed, entranced look. "Why did you do it?" Zeke asked. "Do what?" Fredric replied. "Piss off Hemmings. You know he's gonna be on your ass for the rest of the school year," Zeke clarified. "Yeah, I couldn't bear to keep letting that clown speak his nonsense," Fredric explained. "Even then, most people just choose to avoid confrontations with him," Zeke remarked. Fredric sighed. "I'm not most people." He smirked, grabbing his chin. "A guy like that shouldn't be a teacher in the first place. But seeing as he is, I might as well make his life miserable." "And what if he fails you?" Zeke asked. "He won't. I can't see him wanting me to repeat his class," Fredric laughed. "You're one strange guy, you know?" Zeke asked rhetorically. "I know." Fredric smiled. "But enough about me. How are you feeling about what happened with the bullies yesterday?" "Why do you even care how I feel about that?" Zeke wondered. "Because we're friends, dickbag!" Fredric frowned. "Friends, huh? I guess we are," Zeke smiled in a strangely smug way. "Speaking of which, why are you even staying at my place? Don't you have your own?" he asked. "Your place is closer to the academy, plus it's more convenient that way," Fredric replied. "Convenient, you say," Zeke sighed. "Don't worry, I'll pay rent," Fredric said, closing his eyes. "I'll hold you to that," Zeke replied with a warm smile.

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