The tension of the night had not disappeared with the rising sun, but had instead transformed into a charged, electrifying silence. In the great hall of the domain, Silarias and Nyx stood side by side beside the heavy stone hearth. The morning sun cast long, golden streaks across the wooden floorboards. Silarias scanned the hall for Leonardo and found him near the entrance of the complex, standing with his arms crossed as he spoke with Faustus.
Silarias swallowed the dryness in his throat, held Nyx's hand tightly for just a moment, and took a step forward.
"Leonardo," Silarias began, his voice showing a slight, uncertain hesitation. "Does it actually ever happen that students choose more than one core and one secondary?"
Leonardo stopped halfway through his sentence. He turned around slowly, his sharp, dark eyes fixed on the two of them. For a fraction of a second, silence fell. He immediately understood where the question was coming from.
Instead of frowning, his face relaxed completely. His eyes lit up with a fierce, enthusiastic spark.
"People often think the rules at this academy are carved in stone," Leonardo said with a low chuckle. He took a step closer and planted his broad hands on his hips. "But there have been exceptions. It is extremely rare, but it is possible."
Nyx leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp and focused. "And how does that work then?"
"Under exceptionally strict conditions," Leonardo answered, his voice taking on a serious, businesslike tone once more. "The proposal must be officially discussed with the group and with Solomon. Then every Faculty Leader involved must agree to it, without exception. After that, the candidates will be tested. You must prove that your body, mana, and soul can truly carry that extra strain."
He slid his gaze from Silarias to Nyx.
"Failing during those tests means you return to the standard schedule without discussion."
Leonardo paused for a moment to let the weight of the conditions sink in. Then he glanced at the large clock on the wall and suddenly burst into a loud, booming laugh.
"Hahaha! That works out brilliantly! Today, as it happens, all Faculty Leaders are on the grounds. So we can put the request to them right away."
He pulled a small communication crystal from his coat. With a brief touch, he sent a golden pulse of light through the crystal.
"I will inform Solomon."
Silarias felt his stomach leap briefly. He looked at Nyx, who pushed her chin up with determination.
Okay, Silarias thought as his heart rate quickened. Now we are really doing this.
"You really think you are doing this without me?!"
A raw, loud voice broke the silence. Vulkan, who until then had been leaning seemingly lifelessly against a wooden crate, straightened up in one smooth motion. His eyes burned with battle spirit. He marched straight up to Silarias and jabbed his index finger into his chest.
"I will finish those tests faster than you, Sil. Just you watch!"
With a wild grin, Vulkan turned around and marched toward the hallway to grab his gear. Right before the corner, however, he stopped. He turned his head halfway back, his gaze suddenly surprisingly serious.
"But seriously, good luck, comrade."
Vulkan's reaction acted like a spark in a powder keg. The peace in the hall shattered. The cautious idea of Silarias and Nyx turned within seconds into a fire that ignited the whole group.
"Wait just a second!" Beat shouted, as he shot upward from the broad leather couch with a jerk. Electric sparks danced along his fingers. "If there are new ways to get stronger, I am definitely not lingering behind. Count me in."
Renuardo stepped forward immediately after. His jaw was tightly clenched, and his hands curled into fists.
"Me too," he said. "I am done asking myself if I even belong here. If these tests prove what I am worth, I want to undergo all of them."
Nicola thoughtfully pushed his glasses up. His initial concern slowly gave way to visible fascination.
"If different disciplines can truly be combined, that changes all known boundaries of specialization," he mumbled. "The possible applications alone are sufficient reason to participate."
Lyn took a step beside him without hesitation.
"And I am not letting him try that all by himself," she said. "If Nicola goes, I go too."
Faustus looked silently at the growing line. His face remained serious, but in his eyes lay a calm determination.
"We know by now what happens when you step into a real war unprepared," he said. "If extra knowledge gives us even one opportunity to save someone next time, then I want to have that opportunity."
He joined the others.
Miki and Ren ran to the middle of the room, but immediately encountered a few mocking looks from the older ones.
"You little ones?" Beat laughed. "First make sure your clothes do not drag across the floor."
Miki flushed red with anger instantly. She balled her small fists and screamed with a voice cracking with tension.
"We trained just as hard as you did! We are not little children anymore!"
Ren jumped beside her, his eyes fierce and determined.
"We will not let ourselves be pushed aside! We are Goats just as much!"
For the two youngest, it was not simply a desire for more strength. They were fighting for their spot and for the right to be treated as full members of the group.
The ten candidates were Silarias, Nyx, Vulkan, Beat, Faustus, Renuardo, Nicola, Lyn, Miki, and Ren. Together, they rushed to their sleeping quarters to put on their official Goat outfits.
The dressing rooms turned into a chaotic mess. The energy was pushed higher and higher. Vulkan shouted that he was going to get the highest scores, Beat made a bet on the spot, and Miki and Ren pulled their belts extra tight to appear as mature and intimidating as possible.
When everyone stood in the hallway dressed sharply in black and gold, a collective roar went through the group.
"ON TO THE FIRST LESSON!"
The entire group stormed like an unleashed pack of bulls toward the heavy double doors of the exit.
Even before the first hand could touch the handle, the gigantic communication crystal in the corner of the room lit up. A deep, mechanical humming filled the space, followed by Solomon's heavy voice echoing throughout the complex.
"ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL FIRST YEARS. MORNING LESSONS ARE CANCELED. ALL FIRST YEARS REPORT TO THE CENTRAL COMBAT GROUNDS IN TWENTY MINUTES."
The stampede came to an abrupt halt. Shoes scraped hard over the stone floor. An icy silence fell over the group.
Nyx froze in the middle of a step. She glanced sideways at the glowing crystal, almost burst out laughing, and turned her head toward Silarias.
"Dad always sounds so serious through that thing, doesn't he?"
The remark broke the slight panic, but the threat of the announcement remained palpably hanging in the air.
Yet their empty stomachs soon took their toll. Nobody had eaten anything, and as soon as the initial adrenaline faded, the exhaustion of the past few days returned in full force.
A few minutes later, the fully dressed group was sitting in the dining hall.
It was a hilarious and simultaneously pitiful sight. Beat hung over his plate, chewing with his eyes almost closed. Vulkan leaned his head on his fist, desperately trying to hide that his eyelids kept shutting. Renuardo stared nervously into his cup while rubbing his temples.
Nicola flipped through his notes with a worried expression. He was already trying to calculate what consequences an expanded subject selection would have on their entire schedule.
Silarias and Nyx sat quietly beside each other. Now that the initial excitement had faded, they suddenly became aware of the massive wave their simple question had caused.
At the end of the bench, the cutest drama was unfolding. Miki could no longer keep her head up and slowly slouched against Ren's shoulder. Ren tried bravely to hold her upright, but his own eyes were spinning in their sockets.
A second later, he collapsed under her weight. His head gently dropped against hers, leaving the two youngest dozing at an angle against each other.
At that moment, the double kitchen doors opened. Ponich drifted out, hovering noiselessly above the floor.
On his face he wore a deep blue, noble, and extremely satisfied mask with refined golden curls across the cheeks.
Ponich paused and inspected the group. A pleased golden shimmer traveled across the patterns of his mask when he saw everyone sitting in their official Goat outfits. With extreme precision, he laid out a royal breakfast. Steaming platters, fresh bread, grilled meat, and colorful fruit filled the entire table within seconds.
He looked at the completely slumping warriors.
"An exquisite collection of future legends," he remarked in his completely dry mechanical voice. "Although roughly half currently appear to be sleeping with their eyes open."
Before anyone could react, the communication crystal in the dining hall flared up again. Solomon's voice echoed once more, this time shorter and stern.
"LAUGHING GOATS!! YOU ARE EXPECTED IN TEN MINUTES."
Everyone froze.
Beat froze with a piece of bread halfway in his mouth. Vulkan snapped awake, nearly knocking over his cup.
Ponich quietly looked at the overflowing table of barely touched food. He slowly turned his blue mask toward the petrified group.
"Then I suggest that from this moment on you chew considerably faster."
What followed was utter chaos. Everyone grabbed whatever they could reach. Stuffing, swallowing, and talking all at once, the Goats left the dining hall within two minutes. Still chewing, they rushed out of the building and ran across the grounds toward the vast open plain.
Out of breath, the group reached the central Combat grounds. A cold wind blew over the vast sandy plain.
At the edge of the battlefield, Solomon and Leonardo were already waiting. Behind them rose a broad stone platform with eight imposing thrones. Each throne bore the style and symbols of a different Faculty.
All eight Faculty Leaders were present.
Master Juro sat rigid and motionless on the throne of the Combat Faculty. The metal pipe rested in the corner of his mouth, while a thick blanket of gray smoke slowly spun around his hardened body. As soon as the Goats stepped onto the grounds, his gaze shifted directly to Silarias, Nyx, Miki, and Ren. For a brief moment something soft appeared in his hardened eyes. It disappeared almost immediately behind the smoke.
Beside him, Mistress Vespera hovered above the throne of the Occult Faculty. Black veils moved around her without the wind seeming to touch them. Her many arms rested loosely beside her body. As soon as her eyes found Silarias and Nyx, a familiar, almost motherly smile appeared on her face. Two of her other hands subtly made a small greeting gesture toward Miki and Ren.
Mistress Yagatha sat hunched over on her Arcane throne. Without looking up even once, she ground dark ingredients fine in her enormous wooden mortar.
Master Festus occupied the seat of Tech and Generation Netix. His giant body was covered in burns and old scars. Meanwhile, the four hydraulic arms on his back were busy unscrewing a smoking metal component.
Master Ynpu sat motionless on the throne of the Spiritual Faculty. His face remained hidden behind his ominous jackal mask. Only his eyes moved. They slid slowly along each Goat as if he were looking not at their bodies, but straight into their souls.
Master Grigori R. slumped crookedly in the seat of Anomaly and Cryptid. His wild eyes were wide open, and the purple scars on his skin contrasted sharply with his uncombed beard. He seemed to struggle not to jump off his throne immediately.
Master Michel D. N. sat quietly at the Research Faculty. Before him floated his heavy grimoire. The pages turned independently as silver runes appeared and disappeared above the parchment.
On the final throne sat Master Inuuk of the Beast and Biological Faculty. The massive beasthuman glided his sharp claws over the stone armrests. From the moment Silarias stepped onto the grounds, Master Inuuk tracked every change in his aura.
Around the field, hundreds of other first years were lined up. Among them were representatives of the various Alliances. Curious voices spread through the ranks as the Goats came running up.
Leonardo looked at them with a broad, meaningful grin. He took a step forward and addressed the assembled Faculty Leaders.
"Before the first lesson officially begins, a few of our students have a special request."
A shiver ran through the ten candidates.
Their spontaneous idea was now being spoken aloud in plain sight before the entire academy.
Solomon stepped forward. His imposing figure cast a long shadow over the sand. He let his gaze slowly slide over the Goats.
"Which of you truly thinks they can carry more than two disciplines?"
Silarias did not hesitate for a second. He was the first to take a firm step forward.
Nyx followed immediately.
Master Juro watched them from within the smoke. No surprise appeared on his face. Only a barely visible gleam of pride that he tried carefully to conceal.
Mistress Vespera rested her chin on one of her hands. Her smile widened.
Vulkan came to stand beside Silarias and thrust his chin up defiantly. Beat stepped forward while small electric sparks crackled around his hands. Faustus and Renuardo joined in silence. Nicola came next, with Lyn right beside him.
Finally, Miki and Ren stepped forward simultaneously. They both tried to stand as tall as possible.
Mistress Vespera raised a single eyebrow. Two of her hands pointed toward Silarias and Nyx. A third pointed toward Miki and Ren.
"Of course," she spoke with warm teasing. "First my two biggest troublemakers decide that two disciplines are not enough. Next, the two smallest disasters from the Ward immediately step up right behind them."
"We are not disasters!" Miki protested from the sand.
"We are warriors!" Ren added.
A soft laugh escaped Mistress Vespera. Her black veils coiled amusedly around her throne.
"You have tried to prove that to me often enough."
Master Juro slowly took his pipe from his mouth. His eyes glided from Silarias to Nyx, and then to Miki and Ren.
"Years," he grunted. "I spent years trying to teach the four of you discipline and restraint. Apparently I forgot to teach you that not every boundary needs to be personally challenged."
Silarias flashed a broad grin.
"Then perhaps you should have made that a little clearer, Master Juro."
A heavy cloud of smoke escaped Juro's nostrils.
"Watch it, Nobody. The tests have not even begun yet."
Juro shifted his gaze to Beat, who was visibly trying to hide his smile.
"And you do not need to look so pleased, Beat. Just because I did not raise you in the Ward does not mean I will spare you here."
The smile disappeared immediately from Beat's face.
Silence lingered on the rest of the platform for a few seconds.
Then came the dry, rasping laughter of Mistress Yagatha. Her gaze glided along the ten young candidates without a trace of recognition.
"How touching," she said while her mortar continued grinding imperturbably. "They have not even completed a single basic test, and already they want to touch more magic than their tiny bodies can contain."
One of Master Festus's hydraulic arms snapped shut with a loud bang.
"Ambition is not a measurable result," he grunted. "Give me numbers, endurance, and demonstrable control. After that, I will decide who gets to enter my workshops."
Master Grigori R. leaned forward so far that he almost fell out of his throne.
"Let them try!" he rasped excitedly. "If one of them starts foaming, hallucinating, or spontaneously develops an extra eye, I want to examine them personally!"
Master Ynpu slowly turned his jackal mask toward him.
"That is precisely why you are rarely allowed to decide on such requests first."
Mistress Vespera once again let a soft laugh ripple across the field.
Master Juro took a long drag from his pipe. The smoke above him briefly formed four small figures trying to climb a massive mountain. The figures bore a striking resemblance to Silarias, Nyx, Miki, and Ren.
"Give children from the Ward one schedule," he grunted, "and they immediately try to carry the entire academy on their backs."
"You taught us yourself never to settle for weakness," Nyx answered.
Master Juro looked at her silently for a few seconds.
"I did indeed," he finally admitted.
Mistress Vespera cast an approving smile toward Nyx.
Master Michel D. N. did not look up from his grimoire. Silver numbers formed above the open pages.
"Based on the available data, the probability that all ten candidates endure the full strain is negligibly small," he said calmly. "However, that does not make the obtained results any less valuable."
Master Inuuk snorted deeply. His claws stopped moving.
"Their bodies hesitate," he growled. "But their instincts do not."
Silarias clenched his fists and looked the leaders squarely in the eye.
"Which tests?" he asked. "Just name them."
Behind the Goats, other first years began to shout. Some yelled that they wanted extra disciplines too. Others demanded that the Faculty Leaders start the tests immediately. Within seconds, the grounds threatened to turn into a chaotic arena.
Solomon took one step forward.
Master Juro simultaneously blew a massive cloud of gray smoke over the platform.
"SILENCE!"
Solomon's roar made the air above the plain tremble. The power of his voice hit the sand like a scorching wave.
In a single instant, the entire grounds fell silent.
Only the soft rustling of the wind remained audible.
Solomon looked at the assembled students with icy, unquestionable authority.
"Ambition grants you no privileges," he spoke. "Results do."
His eyes swept across the hundreds of first years.
"The upcoming lessons of each Faculty serve as a basic test for all of you. There it will be established what you possess, what you master, and above all, what you still lack."
Then Solomon directed his gaze straight at the ten Goats who had stepped forward.
"But for the ten of you, those results carry a second meaning. You are not simply asking for access to a Faculty. You are asking these leaders to believe that you can carry multiple Faculties simultaneously."
The eight Faculty Leaders kept their eyes fixed tightly on the candidates.
"Each Faculty will evaluate you separately," Solomon continued. "Your bodies, your mana, your intelligence, your instincts, and your souls will all be tested. A single impressive result will not hide a series of shortcomings."
He took another step forward.
"Whoever falls short returns to the standard schedule without discussion. Whoever attempts to cheat loses the right to submit a request ever again. And whoever thinks courage is the same as suitability will learn the difference right here on the sand."
Solomon raised his chin.
"UNDERSTOOD?!"
The crowd's response was unanimous and deafening. Hundreds of students bowed deeply before the headmaster and the Faculty Leaders.
"YES, HEADMASTER SOLOMON!"
The Goats alone remained standing in surprise. They looked around in confusion, uncertain of what the etiquette demanded.
Only when they saw Solomon looking sternly again did Silarias and Nyx turn toward him. Neither could resist giving him a quick, playful wink.
Solomon caught their glances. His face twitched for a split second. Then he coughed briefly and quickly looked away to maintain his professional posture.
Silarias gave the rest a brief nod.
The Goats finally bowed to Solomon and the eight Faculty Leaders as well.
When they stood up again, the playful confusion had vanished from their faces.
Ten candidates stood before the eight Faculty Masters.
And not a single one of them had any intention of stepping back.