Supreme Magus

nce, it seemed to have a capacity of at least two hundred students.

In any other circumstances, Lith would have admired the perfect lighting of the room, the magnificence of the marble floor, the refined craftmanship of the desks. Each one was made with the best materials available, drawing a merciless comparison with his old college.

At that moment, however, his eyes were only noticing how all those present had sighed in relief seeing him. Judging from their positioning and nervousness, they were clearly trying to lie low and go unnoticed.

Lith had walked enough in their shoes to know what it meant, and how futile their effort was.

- ”Poor guys, you still haven ’t learned that you can ’t avoid trouble when it ’s the trouble looking for you, uh? Just like in middle school, the preys come early to avoid contact, while the predators take their sweet time. ”-

He chose a seat in the middle row, not too close, but not too far. He would still be able to see clearly the professor and read from what appeared to be a chalkboard.

- ”Sigh, I would love to sit in the first row, but I bet that ’s the cool kids ’ gathering spot. It ’s better to avoid useless arguments and stay in the safe zone. If someone comes to bother me, it would be on purpose. ”-

Lith took out his notebook and inkwell, to prepare for the lesson, hoping things to go smoothly.

According to Nana, the real class hierarchy would be established from day one. Both he and Solus remained alert the whole time, while the classroom was getting filled with people.

Some sneered looking at him, others shook their head with a sad expression, deeming him too dumb or naïve to know his place.

- ”It ’s very interesting. ” Solus said. ”The worst mana core I detected is bright green, all the rest are different shades of cyan or deep blue. It ’s not a surprise that so many of Lark ’s proteges failed at the admission. ”

”Yeah, peachy. Not only I am not the top dog mana core-wise, I cannot use any magic outside the fake one. Eyes on the prize, Solus, this is Sparta. Based on the glances I received, the situation may be worse than I expected. ”-

When only fifteen minutes remained before the scheduled start of the lesson, three girls waddled in like they owned the place. Lith threw a quick glance in the back rows, and judging from the cowering behind the desks, the queen was in the house.

After shaking his robe ’s right sleeve, he braced for impact.

They were chatting among themselves, looking around the class like hungry wolves in a butcher shop. He could hear the one on point, a red-haired girl, say:

”Let ’s give the new guys a proper welcome. ”

They walked up the stair, until they were in front of Lith ’s desk.

”Hey, shorty, what are you doing so close to my desk? Your filthy peasant smell makes me nauseous. Scram to the last row together with the rest of the garbage! ”

Said the red-haired girl, that was barely five centimetres (2 inches) taller than him, while her two companions giggled and sneered eerily.

- ”What the f*ck?! ” Lith thought. ”This seems out of Aesop ’s ’The wolf and the lamb ’ fable. I bet that even if I was already sitting in the last row, she would harass me for not respecting my seniors or something.

She is looking for a fight, no matter what I do. Solus, let ’s go with the worst-case scenario contingency plan. ”-

”I am sorry? ” Lith replied with his most innocent tone. ”According to the White Griffon rules, I have the right to sit whenever I want. You have no authority to order me around. Please, leave me alone and we can all forget about this incident. ”

Lith was really disappointed inwardly. A least on Earth bad girls were hot stuff, these three, instead, were barely cute, with average curves and the charisma of a rotting opossum.

”You insolent fool! ” She snarled at him. ”Don ’t you know who I am? I… ”

At that point, Lith activated his Hush spell on both his ears, preventing himself to hear the load of bullsh*t the girl was spewing.

He knew his temper enough to know that otherwise he would have probably lost his cool, especially if she mentioned his family. Falling for their provocations would mean giving them and others an excuse to harass him.

- ”Hey, Solus, I can ’t read lips, but I guess she is making herself appear high and mighty, flaunting her family status. All while belittling me and my physical appearance. How close did I get? ”

”Very close. By my maker, this girl really has a way with words. If I had a body, I would kick her a*s already. The things she is saying about you! She is just the worst! Not to mention those two harpies, ganging up with her at the right time. ”

”Please, do not give me any details. I am already outraged, don ’t add any more fuel to the fire. It ’s time to put the Headmaster ’s word to the test. I won ’t stand for this sh*t one more… ”

Before he could complete the thought, Solus interrupted both him and the spells.

”That ’s your cue! ”- Lith barely made in time to listen to the:

”Are you listening to me? ”

”For the gods ’ sake no, sweetheart. Your voice is so squeaky that it would make me rip my ears off, if I had to actually listen to all your whining and ranting. ”

The three girls were silenced out of shock.

”Sweetheart? ” Someone in the classroom echoed.

”It ’s just a figure of speech, of course. ” Lith replied as it had been the leader of the pack speaking.

”You ’re not blind. I ’m pretty sure that, despite your over inflated ego, you know deep inside your rotten heart that you are almost as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside.

We have nobles even in my backwater village, but you win the prize for the one with the longest stick up her a*s and biggest sh*t in her nose hands down, that much I have to give it to you. ”

Lith had only one way out of that situation, the least he could do was let off his chest all the pent-up rage.

”How… How dare you?! ” The girl face had turned purple, her eyes were popping out of rage and brimming with mana.

”Look, kid, the lesson is about to begin and I ’m already bored. Maybe you are used to scare people with your ugly mug and annoying voice, but I faced much worse in my life. Now scram, before I report you for harassment.

This isn ’t your home, this is one of the six great academies, it has rules! ”

Since they meant to harm him anyway, he would give them all the rope they wanted, hoping they would end up hanging themselves with it.

The girl laughed heartily.

”Rules? I don ’t give a damn about the rules, I could kill you right here and now and get away with it in less than an hour. Do you think any of these cowards would dare to say a word?

That anyone from a noble or magician family would waste even one breath for a filthy peasant? The likes of you shouldn ’t even be here, your kind does nothing but taint this place and ruin magic ’s good name. ”

Lith stood up indignant, ready for the grand finale.

”How dare you? I spoke with the Headmaster when I enrolled, he said… ”

The girl on his left cut him short.

”Who? That loser? My father says he is so young that he probably still wets himself at night. ”

”He is just a strawman, like all the Headmasters. ” Added the one on his right. ”He is just a puppet in the hands of the great families. You are all alone in here, country sh*t. ”

The leader of the pack had regained confidence, her arms were crossed in front of her chest, a smug grin going from ear to ear.

”Now get your filthy a*s out of that chair, kneel to me and lick my shoes clean. If you do it, I promise not to beat you too hard. ”

Their fists were now set ablaze, their mouths and hands moving in unison, each one casting a different spell.

Lith just took his right hand out the robe ’s long sleeve, revealing a small black sphere. Magic was gently coursing and pulsing within it.

He put it front of her horrified face, the smiles and spells had disappeared, the whole class fell silent.

”Once more, with feeling ”