MJ— 1

Title: Mage's Journey

Title: Hybrid Freak

"Razael," In a classroom full of aspiring acolytes, a young boy is called forward. As any 15-year-old teenager, the youth looked slightly disheveled. His hair unkempt as if he had just woken up. Of course, a true observation— for the lecturer's call had broken the young one's nap.

"Truly!" The bespectacled teacher huffed in exasperation. The old, grey-haired teacher rapped a wooden ruler against the podium to regather the focus of other students. "Don't you want a better grade for your magic sphere?"

"Uh," Razael flinched slightly before adjusting his collar and hair. A teasing smile touched his lips, "Professor, the first thing all the promising acolytes were made clear was that the grade of our magic sphere is fixed since our birth... my tardiness won't be the cause of my low talents." As he said this, his shoulders slumped down while a depressing thought appeared in his mind, 'All of it would be my parent's fault. Too bad, I didn't get to know them for long.'

Pursing his lips, the professor remained silent. Noticing any lack of response, Razael continued walking on the polished wooden floor as the curious gazes of his classmates didn't stop him from stretching his arm and placing his palm over the podium on an unremarkable, cracked, and dusty crystal.

"The freak's starting his unlocking..." A well-dressed young man, brunette, wearing silk vest and shorts with carved leather shoes spoke up with a hint of anticipation. The feeling wasn't directed towards Razael but his own unlocking. There were plenty more students, boys, and girls, who continued to whisper amongst themselves.

Meanwhile, Razael's pointed ears twitched slightly. He could hear everyone and excitement bubbled even in his freakish heart.

From the age of five, potential acolytes are searched for and trained. Etiquettes, magical knowledge, spells, supernatural forces, and the updated information of flora and fauna. Such subjects are the main focus of a potential acolyte's study. Ten years' worth of specialized training where almost every kid would feel dead and find one's happiness and joy slipping from their disgruntled clenched fists.

Everything for today.

Razael was maybe called a freak but everyone within the classroom knew that it was a compliment. He aced every etiquette exam but never did he try to clean himself up. He aced every theoretical exam but never did he pay any attention to the classes. If one wished to find a flaw in the young boy then it could be pointed out that he had a physique weaker than an ordinary teenager that could be found in the state but that was quite normal. Most of Razael's classmates were physically weak too.

'At least be average,' Razael sighed and closed his eyes.

"Professor, I am ready," the young boy spoke as the old professor nodded.

Under everybody's scrutiny, the old professor whispered a few syllables before the unremarkable crystal began glowing. The earthen glow illuminated Razael's forehead slightly but nothing else happened for the next few minutes yet the students and the professor remained silent completely. In no way or manner did anyone wished to distract Razael from his 'unlocking'.

After all, every unlocking is a sight to behold and even the professors enjoy seeing the same process time and again.

To reciprocate the trend of anticipation in the classroom, an image of a small, fist-sized, pitch-black ball appeared on top of Razael. The boy's eyes were still closed shut but the Professor picked a small device from the podium and directed the 'end' of the 'remote' towards the ball hovering above Razael's head. While everybody felt mystified by the occurrence, the professor knew very well that the seemingly stationary ball was rotating at a set speed.

The measurement of said rotation would reflect on the surface of the device in the Professor's hand.

In a digitized manner, numbers began moving on the recording device.

1...

5...

18...

37...

The moment the numeric value shot past 50, the professor sighed in relief.

'At least, average,' the bespectacled Professor thought internally.

Seeing the pleased look on the professor's face, the other students grew excited, too.

62...

78...

By now, the professor couldn't hide his smile any longer.

The number finally stopped when an entire minute was spent and the recorded rotations were pointed to be 93 rotations per minute or in a narrower term 1.5 rotations per second.

Razael, who had been keeping his eyes closed and counting till 60 finally opened his eyes and gazed at the Professor with an inquisitive gaze.

"So?" He inquired bluntly and for one of the rarer instances, the professor didn't find the freak as repulsive and too much of a jerk.

"Razael Mawer," the professor smiled proudly, "Your parents did not let you down this time. With 93 rpm, you have a solid A-Grade Aptitude!"

"Woah!"

"That's what I'm talking about!"

"The freak strikes again!"

"A-Grade, more like tapping that A-Grade fine booty— Heyo!"

"Alright," the professor glared at the rather indecent girl who just remarked the last comment, "Hori, get the hell out of my class. Your turn for unlocking is the last one now."

The nervousness of all the students was swept away as Hori, too, didn't take the punishment as she should have and even bowed slightly in a good sport before leaving the classroom.

Shaking a few outstretched hands for congratulation's sake, Razael finally settled in his seat and couldn't help but continuously tap the back of his ballpoint pen against the desk.

A-Grade!

'Freaking yeah! For real, I'm the third kind of orphan after all!'

After years of mingling with other orphans, a clear category had already been established in Razael's head in regards to the reasons for stuffing one's offspring in an orphanage.

The third category, as Razael called it, stated that when the couple is extremely influential and the birth of a child might prove extremely scandalous, one might consider donating their 'bundle of joy' to an orphanage.

And for the first time, Razael thought of this category with pleased emotions.

'Maybe I'm the son of the Tyrant, after all... too bad, I'm way more handsome... and human... and without fur... damn.'

---

The class came to an end with every student's aptitude noted for their final evaluation set a week from now. In total, 3 A-Grade Aptitudes were noted, sadly, Hori was not one of them. Those who did not have better aptitudes could only feel sad for a little time for the event had passed and everyone needed to prepare for their final evaluation before starting their life as an acolyte.

The National Academy of Wonder or NAW for short was built by the Democrats with the land coverage and infrastructure that would put even the Capital of the nation in shame for this was the world-renowned hub of magic and research.

Needless to say, Razael lived within the academy, too.

The Learning-Block-A contained the academy for pre-acolytes and the dormitories for the students.

"Huff, what a day, eh, Freak?" Noin inquired while nudging Razael's shoulder as the group of students walked together.

"I don't know," Razael mumbled, "Didn't think you'd bag a 98 rpm, Noin. Maybe it's true. There's always a Goraion better than you."

"Pfft," the surrounding students snickered while Noin rolled his eyes.

"Ha-ha, hilarious," the soft-featured Goraion stated sarcastically, "As a westerner, it's pretty hurtful, and did you forget that in the council of Democrats, the Goraions have the lowest position?"

"Who cares about the council," A fellow D-Grade Aptitude holder shrugged, "It's not like we're gonna ever get the time to play with politics. I mean, just researching our bodies after unlocking the first shackle will take us a minimum of three years... I mean probably, five years for me..." he sighed.

"2 years," a blonde, pockmarked girl stated with curled lips, "I'm gonna leave you two in the dust!" She glared at Noin and Razael as both of them snickered.

"Says the 91 rpm."

"I know right."

"My name's Jiker!" She stomped her foot and walked past the group.

"Oh, well," A black-haired girl with slightly pretty features shrugged, "My dorm is up, meet you guys in a week. Best of luck!" She waved as Razael waved at others and followed the girl.

"Never got around congratulating you, bro," she smiled at Razael as he grinned, "Good, or I would have seriously questioned all my hard work for the past ten years as being the younger in our relationship. I mean, Mawer siblings have a zing to our names, right?"

"I don't know... Lilia Mawer..." Lilia mumbled, "I mean, it's not even the name of our orphanage that troubles me... it's the thought that my parents screwed me and left me at C-Grade aptitude. You've got lucky. Your mom must have had the best time of her life to pop an A-Grade."

"Maybe I'll write a thesis on sexual relationships, the process of sex, and its effect on aptitude," Razael shrugged, "Would need a lot of tales of scandal and need to wait for 15 years..."

"Oh, no need," Lilia smiled as the duo walked on the pavement beside the extraordinary gardens, "There is already a 'Sex and Aptitude' in the library. I skimmed through it for pastime. The result is still inconclusive and the author has made a sincere note to pursue the experiment and write another volume."

"Woah, really? Is it Mage Hose?"

"Nope, Mistress Jin."

As they continued to chat, the siblings-in-name turned right and found themselves in front of a small house.

Dormitories was simply a term to describe the small residential area constructed for the students to live in using their daily stipend.

"I'll miss this place," Lilia smiled as Razael turned towards her, "You aren't planning to apply for an internship in the Academy?"

Lilia smiled excitedly, "No! You remember what I wanted from the beginning, right?"

"Land a rich noble for your research funds... oh, Kraiz Family accepted you and Piak's relationship?" Razael was pleasantly surprised.

"Yes, I'm going to graduate out of the academy and move into the Kraiz States later. Want to come with?" Lilia inquired with her gaze slightly complicated. The duo had supported each other minimally but that was the greatest support that could be provided in such a lifestyle. But once they graduate, all of the burdens on their young shoulders would vanish and for once, Lilia wanted to do something nice for Razael.

"Follow you to the Kraiz States? Oh, please, this is the best institution the Democrats can provide and I intend to explore it fully as an Acolyte. Still, don't forget to send me an invitation to your wedding. I hear that the cakes at weddings are towering."

"You don't like sweets, Raz," Lilia whispered as her throat started to feel dry while her eyes began warming up.

"That's true," Razael pursed his lips, "Still, if one Maver is getting married, the other needs to be present."

Seeing Lilia's expression, Razael gave Lilia a quick hug before leaving. He lived on the adjacent street but as he left, drops of tear escaped Lilia's eyes.

To some people, farewell still stung like a bitch.

***

A/N: yet another try at original that can make me feel at least a bit hooked to writing one.