Magic's Return: I Can See The Spirits

“Be careful.” 

Vaan whispered into Elara’s ears the moment they walked into the Independent Block where the Leadership and Personality Development Class was supposed to be held. 

“Hmm?” 

Elara tilted her head in confusion.

Vaan, however, had a grim look on his face as he started explaining, 

“Do you remember what is the aim of this class?” he started with a question. 

“It is to guide us and tell us about all the past great leaders our world has seen and talk about the qualities they had which let them become what they became. The aim is for the students to try and accommodate all those qualities into themselves, changing themselves for the better so that more people are willing to follow them. 

Agresia Academy is an Academy for the Elites, as elites having Leadership Qualities is important an-” 

It was clear that Elara had done her homework before coming here. 

However, what she said was far from the real answer, 

“That’s all bullshit.” 

Vaan cut her off. 

“W-What?” Elara was taken aback. She was getting used to the way Vaan talked but sometimes, even she was taken in by surprise. 

“Records of previous leaders or whatever, all other families have that as well, not to mention all families push their descendants, especially heirs to create their own faction, the only reason they do that is for the heirs to have an experience in leading people, honestly, half of the students here are better leaders than most Professors who would teach us ‘leadership’ in the future.” 

Vaan spoke up, then, a smile appeared on his face, and, 

“This is probably the most useless class there is, however, even then, this is the most popular class amongst the other classes that are chosen by the students as their 3 primary classes. Isn’t that interesting?” 

“W-Why is that?” Elara questioned. 

“Rather than a class, this class is a meetup point. 

A banquet of sorts, where you form allies and enemies alike, every power in the Academy would send at least one of their members in this class since missing it would mean missing out on the information that can be essential in the future. 

Not knowing what is happening in this class would push you so far away from your peers that you wouldn’t even get the chance to regain your footing.” 

Vaan did his research, actually, Vaelen was the one who told him about this. It was surprising, however, Vaan could tell that Vaelen was serious when he talked about how he would support him as the new Leader of the Vesta Family in the Academy. 

“Anyways, I am telling you all this because you are a Star Student. 

There will be people who will try to start a conversation with you, they will act friendly, however, their true intentions will be written deep in their hearts, 

So be careful. 

Do not reveal more than you would want others to know.” 

Vaan spoke with a careful look on his face. 

Elara, on the other hand, simply tightened her grip around Vaan’s hand and, “Y-You are here to take care of me, no…? I’ll just rely on you…” 

Saying those words, the red-haired girl blushed as she looked down, not wanting to look into Vaan’s eyes. 

Seeing her acting like that, Vaan couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Talking with Elara always made him feel refreshed just because of how innocent and adorable she was. 

“You do that.” 

He spoke. 

His fiancée relying on him? What man wouldn’t want that?

Though he would still teach her some cuss words. 

He hadn’t given up on that idea yet, Elara needed to stand up on her own as well. 

The two then walked into the classroom assigned to them and just as Vaan thought, the moment the two of them walked into the classroom, the atmosphere changed. 

All the students glanced at the new entries in the class and the moment they realized that a Star Student and the ‘Celestial Standout’ were here, their expressions changed, thinking about their future actions and how to carry themselves in front of the two. 

Vaan stared at his new ‘classmates’ as well, observing all of them. Elara didn’t like the class’s atmosphere either, so she grabbed Vaan’s arm, sticking to him and ‘closing’ herself from others. 

Noticing that she was nervous, Vaan decided to give up on going through the mental gymnastics of talking to people and walked towards an empty seat. 

The students watched the two of them sit in their seats without bothering anyone. All of them started considering whether they should approach them or not. 

The discussions started. Most of the students were sticking to their own groups, the students of different influential families sticking to themselves, the students belonging to different churches did the same, and the students who did not belong to any of the powers, they simply grouped with their classmates from other classes, most of them were students who were in the same situation. 

There were also a few groups that had merged up and the moment Vaan glanced at them, he couldn’t help but chuckle, 

‘Forming allies on the first day, eh?’ 

It was no different than announcing weakness. 

Vaan wasn’t new to ‘meetings’ like these. This class actually reminded him of the time when all underworld gangs gathered to ‘discuss’ a few matters. 

It wasn’t a rare event, happening every time a big project was supposed to be divided, or enemies from different cities were eyeing their city, or something like that. 

Anyway, Vaan wasn’t new to such a gathering, therefore, he was having an easier time reading all the people here. 

He was actually having a good time as well. After all, with a beauty accompanying him, he had all the time in the world to judge others in his head. In the future, when his judgments turn out to be correct, it gives a sense of achievement no worse than learning new Magic Spells. 

While Vaan was observing all the parties, others were doing the same as well, one of them had even decided to approach them, their intentions unknown. 

Vaan prepared himself, activating his trash-talking skill if it was required but suddenly, his expression changed as he noticed another ‘party’ walking into the classroom. 

The Swordsmen. 

And one of them was a person he knew very well. 

“I-It’s Lady Isabel!” 

A person couldn’t hold back and shouted out loud. He didn’t belong to any of the powers, so he was together with his fellow ‘classmates’ and with how everyone around him had swords tied up on their waists, it was clear that they were all swordsmen. 

Heck, they were even hoping that Isabel would walk towards them. After all, everyone knew that Isabel didn’t belong to any power either. 

She was a talent that reached the level she did without the support of any power. 

lightsΝοvel A self-made genius. 

A rarity amongst rarities. 

The swordsmen were looking at Isabel, their eyes shining, the 3 other swordsmen accompanying Isabel seemed like they wanted to join the other Swordsmen as well, they were only waiting for Isabel to make the move. 

But then, 

Something surprising happened. 

Isabel walked towards Vaan and sat beside him. 

Gasps were heard. 

This action could be taken as a statement. 

However, Isabel was known for not caring about what others thought about her, she did whatever she wanted, never once thinking what her actions could mean. 

Everyone in the class started wondering how serious her action was. 

Vaan was the same, 

“What are you trying to do?” 

He questioned. 

There were three people following Isabel. They were supposed to sit together with her, however, with him and Elara taking two seats, only one of them could sit on the fourth seat. 

People normally tend to avoid this situation. 

“What do you mean? I saw someone I knew and decided to sit with him, is there a problem? I can move if you want me to.” Isabel spoke with an expressionless look on her face. 

Her tone, once again, did a complete 180 since Orion was not here. 

Vaan frowned. 

This was the same woman who came to his house at 11 pm because she didn’t want others to know that she went to meet him, but now…

“I guess after the spar yesterday Declan does intimidate you.” 

Isabel spoke as she was about to stand up. 

“Sit.” 

Vaan spoke. 

His mouth was twitching. 

He wanted to meet all the people who said that Isabel wasn’t the manipulative type. 

This woman was clearly hiding her cards deeply. Ain’t no way she is just a brutish swordswoman who knows nothing about the world. 

“You want to do it this way, eh? Let’s do it.” 

Vaan whispered.

Then, he grabbed Isabel’s hand in a handshake and, 

“Hahaha~ 

I didn’t know you would be in this class as well. 

What a pleasant surprise! 

How have you been, Isabel? 

Are you prepared to join the Vesta Family?” 

“!!!” 

He questioned out loud and all the students in class widened their eyes in surprise.