Greatest Academy's Student: Magic and Money

Finn chuckled, causing Daphne to stare at him oddly. Had he said something funny? Finn placed a hand on Daphne's shoulder, tapping it softly as he said, "Kid, you must be under some sort of influence. I'm heading to the library right now..."

Daphne stopped him again, nodding his head. "I mean it, let's be friends. And if you don't want to be friends, can I be your assistant at the school? I'm rich, you know?"

Finn sighed silently and shook his head. He began pondering the idea, as Daphne had reminded him that having a good assistant at the academy—especially one with money—could be advantageous.

He started rubbing his chin, a habit he had while thinking. Daphne awaited his response with utmost urgency.

If I were to accept this one as a friend, I could potentially gain an extra advantage in this academy. Considering the amount of money he has and his connections, maybe I could be free from some restrictions... Hmm... but on second thoughts, I can't trust this kid. Still, let's go gambling then. He made a decision.

Finn raised an eyebrow and looked down a bit at Daphne, as he was shorter, about 5'8".

"Why would you want to be friends with me?"

Daphne stammered for a moment before clarifying his reply.

"I like people who aren't intimidated by my social status, nor surprised. I believe they're the best type of people to be friends with, as they would stick by your side through thick and thin, no matter the situation. I..."

Finn interjected with a scoff. "Your judgement is really flawed. This is the consequence of not having much life experience. Do you really believe that people who are beneath you will stick with you when you fall below them?"

"I suppose..." Daphne replied reluctantly.

Finn tilted his head to the side, his gaze intense as he directed it at Daphne. "You're really naive. But that's good, I suppose. Let's talk later; I have limited time."

He walked past Daphne, who instantly deactivated the mute spell and followed him from behind.

"I was going to the library, using my time there instead of going to Magical Class. The first week of magical classes is always boring... believe me."

"Like you can't stand it. Now we'll be going over Aether again for the first week; it's so tiring, I mean..."

Oh my God... Finn was disturbed by how Daphne continued talking, non-stop! He kept his eyes fixed on his tablet, trying to read as they walked. In fact, he hadn't even decided if they were to be allies, but Daphne was already getting clingy.

...

Minutes later, they arrived at the front of a four-storey, black-tinted glass building. Multiple students stood outside, murmuring to themselves.

One said, "Oh man, the Princess is inside. We can't go in until she leaves."

Another replied, "I really wish to sit in the same library as her."

Finn stood behind a small crowd of first-year students, about ten in total. Daphne stood directly beside him, staring at them and trying to listen to their conversations. When he heard one mention "The Princess," he grinned and gestured to Finn that they should head in.

Daphne cleared the way, and the students stared at him as he passed, also at Finn. They were confused about why Daphne was hanging out with one of the scholarship students.

"??"

The glass door automatically slid open, revealing a bright, airy interior filled with rows of neatly arranged bookshelves. Sunlight streamed through the glass walls, brightening the space and creating a warm atmosphere. Comfortable seating areas were scattered throughout, with plush chairs and tables for studying.

A red-haired girl was seated on a cushioned chair with her legs crossed, wearing white headphones over her head.

She was reading a horror book, completely engrossed in it.

The girl with dyed blue hair and Sebastian were also in the library, seated on a three-seater sofa, chatting animatedly. The short guy was missing from the picture.

Sebastian raised his gaze and spotted Finn and Daphne walking in. He stood up and slowly walked towards Finn, a grin plastered across his face.

"Hello, we meet again. I see you've made a new friend, black-haired boy."

Finn corrected him, "It's Finn, not black-haired boy."

Sebastian raised his hands in apology. "Right. My name is Sebastian, and this dude is... oh, you would know who he is already."

Finn made no attempt to reply and simply kept quiet.

"Well, we were getting ready to go. But I would love to invite you to a welcome party tonight. Care to join?"

Daphne quickly responded, "No! You're not going to start with that again, are you?"

"I'm not the one hosting it; it's Isabella. So it's at her house, not mine." He gestured to the girl with the blue hair, who instantly stood up from her seat and approached them, precisely towards Finn.

Isabella Chen, the student who held the No.3 spot on the Billboard, with a worth of £10,750,000.

"Hi! Would you like to come to the party?" Her voice was gentle and sweet.

So, here I am again, caught up in this school nonsense...

"Well, the answer is no!" Finn finally responded firmly.

"Heard that? No," Daphne added to Finn's answer.

"You should really think about it. It would be a good place for you tonight—fun and everything," Isabella insisted.

Finn had nothing to contemplate; his answer remained 'no'.

Suddenly, the red-haired girl stood up from her seat, dropped her book, and headed towards the exit, pausing beside Finn.

"Feel free to decline... It's quite simple how you will soon decide to come," she said in a low tone before walking out of the library.

Finn glanced back at her, a slight scoff escaping him. He wasn't captivated by her pretty features and slender figure; instead, he found them rather ordinary. Yet, around the Academy, she was regarded as the prettiest.

I suppose she is the one they call Princess; they're all spoilt brats, he thought to himself.

Isabella instantly followed her out, along with Sebastian, who walked with his back turned, clapping for Finn with a grin.

Upon reaching the exit, where the door slid open, he turned around and walked out. The door automatically slid back into place when he left.

Daphne placed a hand on Finn's shoulder and said, "Don't mind them. That's how they always act... You really don't need to go to the party. It's toxic."

Toxic, you say? I love toxic things. And that red hair seems intriguing, despite her being a brat like the others...

"Who is the red-haired girl?" Finn asked as he walked towards a shelf with Daphne, already guessing who it might be, as it was quite clear.

Daphne instantly began to explain with a smile, as if he had been waiting for Finn to ask him a question. "That's Princess, well, a nickname given to her by us. Her real name is Aurelia, and she's No.1 on the Billboard, with a worth of over £20 million. She comes from a family of witches and wizards—the Blackwood family."

The Blackwood family boasts a long and illustrious lineage, renowned for their immense wealth and magical prowess. Originating in the late 17th century, they were among the first families to establish a stronghold in the magical community as witches and wizards. Their wealth primarily stems from a combination of successful potion-making businesses and rare magical artefacts acquired through generations.

"Currently, Aurelia is the last child of the family. Her mother is deceased..."

"How did her mother die?" Finn asked, scanning the shelf for the book 'The Breath of the Universe'.

Daphne answered, "No one knows. Although I'm not that close with her, I don't have much detail other than this."

Finn was now curious about Sebastian.

Daphne had already mentioned it before Finn could even ask.

"You want to know more about Sebastian and Isabella?"

Finn nodded.

Of course, he had the intention to know every single thing about them.

"Sebastian's father is the Headmaster of the Academy."

Interesting; it's always the Headmaster's child that goes around causing trouble...

Daphne continued with the tone of an experienced profiler, "He is the second child of his mother, who is the third wife of his father. Headmaster Alaric Thornton has three wives."

"So he has made a harem?" Finn asked rhetorically.

Daphne laughed heartily and replied, "Yes... exactly. They're faeries."

"Huh?" Finn was a tad confused by how Daphne pronounced "fairies."

"Isn't it 'fairies'?"

Daphne shook his head. "No, it's pronounced 'faeries.' The spelling is important because it shows their magical nature. The word 'faerie' comes from an old French term that means enchantment. Faeries are different from regular fairies; they have a special connection to magic and nature that sets them apart. This is why we use 'faeries' instead of 'faries.' It highlights their unique powers and origins."

"Unlike traditional fairies, faeries possess a deeper connection to the elements, allowing them to access and harness Aether in ways that enhance their magical capabilities."

"Seems reasonable... I never knew that."

Since Ethan was never particularly interested in mythology, he knew nothing about their differences. The formal occupant of the body, the real Finn, was in the same boat; he also had no recollection of this, which could help Ethan brainstorm some ideas.

Finn nodded for Daphne to continue. Instantly, he became overjoyed, as he was starting to enjoy how Finn asked for more information from him.

He believed they were slowly on the path to becoming 'friends.'

"Now, about Isabella Chen—she's the head of the Student Council."

Finn turned his gaze to Daphne at the mention.

"Really?"

A smirk curled his lips upward.

It really seems like I will be going to that party. I guess the bratty princess must have been correct about me later choosing to attend it... In this way, I could learn more about all of them. No way I'm becoming their favourite, as I'm already loathed currently. But surely I could get closer to them, making the completion of this quest a bit easier to grasp.

"Tell me more about her," Finn inquired.

His eyes moved to the door; he noticed that the students standing outside had all departed. So the two were the only ones in or around the library.

Daphne gladly continued, "She's from a family of Holy Mages."

"Holy mages?"

"There are five rankings of mages in our world, each level representing a mage's skill and power:

Novice Mages: Beginners who have just started learning magic. They can perform basic spells but lack control and precision. An example is me.

Proficient Mages: More skilled than novices, these mages can handle intermediate spells and have a better understanding of magical theory.

Holy Mages: Mages who draw their powers from holy concepts, making their magic stronger and more effective against evil forces.

Dark Mages: Practitioners of dark magic, using corrupted spells and often seen as malevolent.

Sage Mages: The highest rank, Sage Mages have mastered their craft and can wield immense power, often respected and feared. It's possible for them to have access to more than 60 percent of Aether."

"The Holy Mages are the opposite of Dark Mages, who are evil. Their powers are derived from holy concepts, and while they all use Aether to create spells, their magic is stronger when tied to their beliefs. The Holy Mages are connected to the Cathedral of Agnis—the only church in our Kingdom, with the priest being her father."

"Amazing! So a priest is that rich? I'm still thinking of changing occupations if I get back to my world," Finn muttered.

"Huh?" Daphne caught a bit of what Finn said and was confused.

Finn faked a smile and said, "Haha, I was talking about future occupations I could choose once we graduate." He lied.

Daphne squinted his eyes and later laughed. "Oh, that's funny. You will still have to finish from university."

Finn abruptly shifted in shock. What does he mean 'university'?

Daphne noticed Finn's shock and asked, "Didn't you know about university? After our graduation here, we would be moving on to university."

The words echoed in Finn's mind; everything around him went silent with a ringing sound stretching out into his ears. The words rang loudly in his head.

I'm still going to experience university life all over again. No, no, no. Wait, if I look at it from the bright side; I think the note said I should only complete Finn's goal at this academy, and after that, I'm done. So I won't need to go to university... Finn assured himself.

Quickly, he snapped out of his daze.

"I knew about it; I was just thinking of something else."

Daphne chuckled again and scrubbed the back of his head.

Finn suddenly realised something and decided to confront Daphne.

I'm sure that name is only for a female; it doesn't apply to a male child.

"Why are you named 'Daphne,' which only applies to a female? It's not a unisex name. So...?"