[The Next Day]
[Nero Public High School]
"Do you like femboys?"
"Yes."
Kevin blinked in confusion and looked at Mikhail who had asked the question.
His eyes widened when realisation dawned upon him. "Wait, that's not what I—."
"Too late."
Mikhail replied, walking past him towards the classroom.
He gently placed Methew on his shoulder, who immediately got comfortable.
'Damn, Scholar's Aura combined with Enhancement is really something.'
He thought, grinning at the application of such a skill.
Kevin groaned with a visibly frustrated look on his face. "Don't get me wrong, I am straight as a dog's tail."
"Dog's tails are not straight, toddler brain."
"You get what I mean, don't you?" Kevin rebuked, walking by his side. "Besides, if you squint hard enough, they do look like—."
"Alright, I don't wanna hear your justification." Mikhail cut him off, walking inside the class.
He quickly stopped using enhancement on his Scholar's Aura.
The class was already full with most of the students already in their seats.
The college for Awakened Ones also took in non-awakened students in the theoretical department.
So even the citizen class students were eager to participate in the screening. Getting into a top tier college was always better than local ones.
Mikhail took his seat and Kevin dragged another chair to sit beside him.
"What did you do to me?" Kevin asked, narrowing his eyes. "Did you learn a way to mind fuck?"
"What a weird thing to say." Mikhail replied with a smile. "Especially for a twig lover like you."
"Fuck you, man." Kevin groaned and looked around the class. "Anyway, are you free after class?"
"Nope." Mikhail replied. "I got things to do."
Before Kevin could reply, Mrs. Linda walked inside the class.
She was an old beauty with long black hair and eyes of the same shade, a woman who had a mature aura around her.
With a smile she placed her notes down.
"Hello class." She said. "First of all, congratulations to those who awakened, and to those who didn't….life is never fair."
She picked up her notes and immediately got to her lecture.
"Today, I will brief you about mana, mana in the body, refinement of mana and mana control."
She looked around the class. "Now, who would explain mana…hm, Mikhail?"
Mikhail stood up and fixed his clothes.
"Mana is the energy that leaked into this world through the rifts that opened up five thousand years ago." He replied.
"The trees mutated and began generating mana along with oxygen, the biggest mana tree is the World Tree in the elven kingdom."
"Excellent answer as always." Linda replied, smiling brightly, gesturing him to sit.
"Mana is both the harbinger of death and the hope of humanity."
Mikhail sat down and immediately felt Kevin whisper in his ear. "You think she likes you?"
"I would rather she not." Mikhail replied, placing Methew in his lap.
"But she got the mommy figure."
Mikhail completely ignored his comment and focused on the class.
"As you know, mana is in the air and we take it in daily." She said, clasping her hands. "The difference between Awakened Ones and non-awakened ones is that one uses the mana, which results in refinement of mana."
She picked up her pen, walked towards the board and made a crude diagram of a human.
"Now, when mana is used in an Awakened One's body, the body begins to get a little resistance from mana."
She said, her hands gliding over the lungs and marking it.
"Now, it's impossible to not inhale mana, but because of this resistance, the body begins to refine and makes the mana purer with every round."
She put the pen down, took a step back and nodded at the diagram.
"This is what leads to the body becoming stronger with every round of mana usage."
'That also explains why I need more exp after every level up.'
Mikhail thought, gently leaning back with one hand patting his cat.
"Now, have you guys heard of the elves and their refinement method?" Mrs. Linda said with a clap. "To give a brief review, they have a thing called core refinement in which they refine mana and trap it in an organ in their body."
She walked closer to the students, her smile still bright.
"Because of that refined mana they can use elemental attacks and on average have much more mana than humans." She said.
"Unfortunately, humans can't make a core. Those who tried died with mana bursting inside their bodies. It was later revealed by elves that the core was the result of millions of years of evolution."
Mrs. Linda looked around the class.
"Now, what humans can do is control their mana and make a mana ball in their hands."
She looked at the faces of the students.
"Now, those who awakened, I want you to learn to take all your mana from your body and make a ball, right now."
'…Hm.'
Mikhail closed his eyes, took a deep breath and used [Enhancement] on his senses.
In an instant, he felt like he had gotten a much clearer picture.
He began to focus on his body, felt the flow of mana and guided it to his hand.
When Mikhail opened his eyes, he saw a bluish mana ball in his hand and Mrs. Linda standing close by.
"You learned that in two minutes." She said with a smile. "The brightest student for a reason."
"It's only because of your explanation." He replied back.
"Now, now. Don't flatter me." She replied, walking away. "Good work."
Kevin immediately leaned closer. "She is definitely into you."
"Just make a ball, stupid." Mikhail replied, dispersing his ball.
Kevin groaned, closed his eyes and focused, and only after ten minutes did he manage a crude ball of mana.
---
The class ended after an hour and only two students had been able to pull the mana ball.
"Now, don't be disheartened." Mrs. Linda said with a smile. "On average it takes over half a month to learn it."
She glanced at the duo. "Don't be disheartened by those freaks."
Mikhail's lips twitched but he didn't say anything.
"Alright." Mrs. Linda took her notes. "Class dismissed."
Mikhail looked at the wall clock and it was already ten.
He quickly picked up his items and packed his bag.
'I need to be in the office by eleven.'
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Kevin asked, confused.
"I am doing an internship." Mikhail replied. "Under detective Daniel."
Kevin smiled, folding his hands. "Oh, you wanna be a detective?" He asked. "Mind finding my pink underwear that I lost last week."
"Why the fuck do you have a pink one?" Mikhail rebuked and picked up Methew. "Anyway, see you—."
"Father asked me to invite you to dinner tonight." Kevin cut him off.
Mikhail paused before he gave a short nod. "I will be there."
He walked out of the class and an excited look appeared on his face.
'My first detective day.' He thought. 'I am kinda nervous.'
He chuckled and walked back towards his home.