The Academy’s Rejected Mage

The Useless Brother

Kai’s POV

Upon my arrival at Aureum Academy, the first thing I learn is that everyone here knows how to stare and laugh. And they don’t spare me from either. I keep my head down as I walk through the academy hallways, taking note of the hundreds of students around looking perfect in their pristine ironed uniforms.

Aureum is the standard for a reason.

Some students are on the training grounds, while some just hang around having loud conversations. Everywhere I look, there are casual displays of magic.

One boy sends a tiny flame dancing across his fingertips while another girl freezes a fountain without touching it.

Two students spar in the middle of the hallway while a small crowd cheers them on.

I tighten my grip on my bag, knowing I don’t belong here.

I enter my classroom and take an empty seat near the back. People continue staring but nobody comes over which is good enough for me. I prefer the loneliness and peace.

But just as I take out my books, three figures hover around my desk. I look up and see them looking down at me sternly.

The one in the middle stands with so much pride, he’s impossible to miss in his perfect uniform. Behind them is a small crowd that looks ready to watch a show.

I’ve seen his face before when my parents and I came to watch my brother duel and I know him by name. Orin.

A top student with advanced fire affinity, ranked among the strongest first-years and apparently very popular.

“So you’re Kai, the useless brother.”

A few people laugh but I just look back down at my book. “Leave.”

The laughter stops abruptly and Orin raises an eyebrow. “What?”

“I said leave.”

He stares at me for a second then smiles. “Do you even know who you’re talking to?”

“I don’t care.”

He smirks. “You’ve got some courage but I’d advise against it…considering your badge.”

I squint and look at my badge. F. I look at his and see a B boldly pasted on it. Useless ranking system. He notices my realization and laughs, leaning against my desk. “Do you know how many F-Class students Aureum usually has?”

I don’t answer.

“None.”

The laughter around us grows louder.

“E-Class is where the weak students go. D-Class is average. C and B are where the talented ones start getting noticed. And this? He taps my badge, his smile widening.

“F means you don’t even matter to the academy. You could get mauled by a wolf on a cave expedition and no one would do anything about it.”

“You’re very bold to talk to a B- class student like that when you bribed your way into the academy,” someone behind him adds.

Another voice answers. “Wait, he seriously did that?”

“Yes. His parents had to grease hands because they were tired of lying to themselves about their son being useless.”

I clench my fists under the desk.

Orin sucks his teeth. “Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, how devastating for the noble Blackwell’s to have such disgraceful son.”

I stare at him but can’t do anything. Like always.

“What do you want?” I finally ask.

He straightens. “I just wanted to see what kind of person needs his parents to buy him a place.”

The crowd laughs again.

I stare at him. “Congratulations.”

He blinks. “For what?”

“You’ve seen me. Now go away.”

His expression changes and the room goes quiet. Clearly, he doesn’t like being dismissed. He lunges at me but a girls voice suddenly cuts him off.

“Orin, let the boy be. He’s new.” I look at the student who’s sitting a few seats away from us, book in front of her. She’s average height with long dark brown hair that flows in its waves down to her waist. She’s beautiful.

He turns to her with a smirk. “Oh baby, I know you’re an angel but people like this don’t deserve your kindness, okay?”

Baby? They’re dating? He doesn’t even wait for an answer before he turns back to me. She rolls her eyes away, shaking her head.

Before Orin can continue, another girl speaks from the other side of the classroom. “Wait.” She points towards the doorway at my brother who looks like he’s been watching everything unfold.

“Isn’t he Caelum’s brother?”

Orin turns. “Caelum?”

“Yeah. Caelum Blackwell.”

Someone else laughs. “No way.” Caelum is an A-rank student, top ten in the whole academy. How can this lazy dork be his brother?”

More laughter follows.

Orin calls his attention, wanting to confirm if the allegations are true or not. I stare up and our eyes meet. For a moment, I let myself believe he’ll bail me out by acknowledging me.

But when he opens his mouth, “It’s not true. We just unfortunately share a last name,” he walks away and I feel my heart dropping to my gut.

“Caelum!” I blurt out before I cal hold back, earning more mocking laughs.

“Now he’s going to cry for his brother.”

I really did feel like crying. I knew he was ashamed of me but I didn’t know it was so bad that he'd leave me to the wolves to devour. The whole school is going to know how I got here and my own brother doesn’t even care.

“And I’m going to give him a reason to,” Orin sneers. “Pick him up. I’m gonna teach him a lesson not to disrespect those above him.”

Nobody interferes as his minions drag me out from behind my desk. Of course they don’t. Orin is one of the strongest students here and me…I’m the useless one.

“Where to, Orin?” One of them ask.

The dungeon? I’ve heard of it. A dangerous place beneath the academy where students only train once in a while and under strict supervision. They can’t be taking me there for any good reason.

“Let me go,” I struggle against them, but I’m no match for the four boys holding me. We get to the entrance and they throw me on the floor and start beating me. Orin punches me hard in the mouth.

“That is for daring to talk to me rudely in public.”

I taste the blood on my lips and desperately want to fight them off, but I’m too weak to even stand up. After the beating, they shove me through an entrance that has a prohibited sign on it, quickly locking me away in the darkness. My stomach tightens.

I manage to hit the gate furiously, genuinely fearing whatever makes everyone so terrified of this place. “Orin, let me out of here.”

“Or what?” I don’t see his face, but I hear his voice.

“You know what your problem is?” He pauses. “You think because your parents bought you a place here, you’re actually one of us. Well, guess what, you’re not. The school should have never let that happen and I’m going to correct that mistake right now.”

“Orin, what are you doing? Let me out of here.”

Laughter echoes through the corridor as their voices begin to fade. "At least you’ll be a tasty meal for the monsters, Useless boy, because no one is going to miss you on this side. Not even your brother that just denied you.”

Their voices finally disappear, but with no strength left, my body slumps onto the hard ground. My breathing becomes heavier as pain shoots through my body. I’m still thinking of how I’ll get out of here when I suddenly hear a growl.

My eyes snap open and another growling sound comes from somewhere behind me. I slowly push myself up, looking around. Then I see it.

Two glowing eyes appear in the darkness. Then another pair. And another. My body goes stiff as a shrill of shiver runs through me.

Monsters. Just like the teachers warned. They’re coming out of the shadows one after another, their claws scraping against the stone as they slowly surround me.

“No…” I try to shift backward but my legs are stiffened to the ground. One of them snarls and the other follows. Soon they’re all around, snarling until they suddenly lunge at me.

I get up to run but one lunges his teeth into my leg, pulling me back. I don’t even have to cry out because they’re all around me now, drooling and ready to dig their teeth in me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for my inevitable death.

Suddenly the entire dungeon trembles, causing me to open my eyes in shock. To my surprise, they have stopped trying to eat me. Instead they’re all looking forward to something glowing deeper inside the dungeon.

I follow their direction and catch sight of a massive black figure sitting at the end of the chamber, surrounded by ancient markings and thick chains. For a moment, I think it’s a statue.

Then the chain rattles and a raw sound tears from its throat. The monsters immediately back away, whimpering.

“What are they afraid of?” I whisper in my own fear until the figure slowly lifts its head and two enormous eyes open in the darkness. Every monster drops to the ground in a bow to him.

That deep ancient voice fills the chamber again. This time, with words.

“My heir…” he begins, staring into my eyes. “You finally came.”