Butterfly Effect (1)
Academy opening day. The Dragon Academy Head, Nu Aurora o Drakion, was out on morning patrol as usual.
"Cadet Ciel! Isn't your skirt shorter than last week?! Tsk tsk, pull it down to your knees right now!"
"Cadet Pugo! So you've decided to go wild now that you're a third-year? Fix that tie straight this instant!"
A petite figure with pink twin-tails whipping back and forth let out a lion's roar. She was the highest authority at the Imperial Academy and an ancient dragon who had lived for over a thousand years.
The Imperial Academy wasn't like other universities where students freely registered for classes. Each department followed a rigidly scheduled curriculum on fixed dates, much like a military academy. So inspecting students' uniforms and discipline every morning during roll call was par for the course.
But today, Aurora's gaze kept flicking toward the gate beyond. She was waiting for the commoner cadet at the center of the academy's recent rumors.
'Flint, you won't get off easy today.'
A few days ago, she'd snuck into his dorm room and grilled him endlessly about that "gun" of his. He'd been annoyed as hell but lit up with genuine seriousness when explaining the mechanics.
She'd admired that curiosity... but his uniform? A total fail. Showing up to the academy in grease-stained work clothes? Unacceptable.
'And he had the gall to pick me up and spin me around in front of all the cadets!'
No one had ever treated an ancient dragon like her that way before.
'Just some youthful prank from his school days. Heh heh. Not today.'
As Aurora ran delightful revenge simulations in her head, one of the discipline committee cadets beside her spoke up cautiously.
"Headmistress. It's exactly 9 a.m. We'll close the main gate now. We'll handle any latecomers, so please go in and rest."
"Huh? Already that time?"
Aurora blinked her round eyes at the empty gate.
"That's weird. He still hasn't shown up."
As both headmistress and discipline committee advisor, Aurora dismissed the cadets and stood guard at the gate alone. One hour passed. Then two.
"He's late."
Flint never showed.
Meanwhile, at the same time, the Engineering Department was buzzing with abnormally excited energy. They had two new freshmen this year.
The total Engineering cadets now numbered a whopping four! One third-year, one second-year on leave, and the two new admits.
Pathetic compared to the Knight or Magic Departments, but the department's sole faculty member, Pistia, was over the moon.
"Professor, good morning. Long time no see—about a week."
New student Sion strolled in with half-lidded eyes.
"S-Sion cadet! Y-You really came! Thank you! Thank you so much!!"
Pistia teared up, lunging to grab his hand—then flinched back, flashing back to Flint accusing her of sexual harassment last week.
"A-Ahem. W-Welcome anyway. But... where's Flint cadet? Didn't he come with you?"
"That guy? I ate at the dorm cafeteria and came straight here, so no."
Pistia tilted her head, then clapped with a bright grin.
"Ah! Then he's probably already at the personal lab in the Engineering annex!"
Her eyes sparkled with manic gearhead fervor.
"I set it up spotless last night! Our deal was to research that 'thing' together there anyway..."
She blushed, squirming dreamily.
"He's probably got that beauty on the desk, ready to disassemble! Let's go!"
Pistia huffed like she might bolt. But Sion doused her hot fantasy with cold reality.
"Dunno. I passed the lab on my way here."
"Yes! And? Hear him chatting with the machine?!"
Sion squinted his signature sleepy eyes and shrugged.
"Spotless, yeah. But empty. No people."
"...What?"
Pistia's steps halted.
"No one there. Lights off, door locked tight."
"N-No way! First day of term! He even promised to let me disassemble it...!"
Denial flailing, then a memory from last week's booth hit her.
"From now on, mark all my major class attendances as perfect. Exempt me from all regular exams like midterms and finals."
"Decided! Stamp it! I'm stamping!!"
"...Ah?"
A dumb gasp escaped Pistia. Her brain finally computed Flint's devious scam.
Perfect attendance. Exam exemptions. No reason to show up ever.
"N-No way..."
Her pupils quaked like an earthquake.
"Scamming from day one...? My stamp... my credit free pass..."
"Hahaha! What a madlad. Backstabbing the prof and skipping on day one."
As Sion cackled, Pistia collapsed to the hallway floor.
"Gaaaaah!! You con artist! Give me back my revolver!!"
Her anguished wail echoed through the empty Engineering halls.
Same time, Divine Department classroom. Dazzling morning sun shattered through stained glass. At the podium stood Cardinal Lucius in pristine white priest robes, beaming benevolence.
His smile was angelic, but the room's air twisted oddly. The first bell had rung ages ago, yet no lecture.
The officially scouted cadet hadn't shown.
Aspiring priests—commoner faithful and noble devotees—whispered warily.
"Why hasn't Brother Flint come?"
"Tardy to Cardinal Lucius's class? Something must be wrong."
"Didn't you hear? He didn't come to school at all. Senior Esther from discipline confirmed it."
"Oh Lord. A mana-less commoner who broke Kyle the Young Lord's aura... He must've burned his life force for that miracle. Probably at death's door now."
"No, I heard the Holy See secretly took him to judge if that weapon's heretical or sacred..."
Divine cadets fretted over Flint's welfare or spun conspiracies—no elitism or envy.
Lucius eyed the empty back-row seat he'd reserved for his cute, feisty pup.
Life force miracle? Holy See abduction? He stifled a laugh. Abducted? The See's top dog is standing right here.
And self-sacrifice? That greedy punk who grabbed his bowl in front of a cardinal wouldn't waste his body on honor.
Lucius tenderly stroked the Holy Scripture's leather cover. His faith was terrifyingly true—no desecration, even in anger. Though his other hand gripped the podium white-knuckled.
'Did he switch majors without telling his master?'
Simple explanation. Not abducted, not sick. Obvious: fled his lord or sneaking classes to slip the leash.
'Adorably cheeky. Thinks he can escape my shadow.'
Priests can't use mana—God's will. But inquisitors bulked up physical prowess to skirt it against diverse heresies.
'Gun, was it? Perfect for God's work.'
Holy power plus ballistic heresy-smashing. Lucius shivered at the thought.
'Can't wait.'
He smiled darker, eerily serene.
The whispers froze. A chilling aura from the kindly cardinal chilled spines.
"...Dear brothers and sisters."
Clutching the Scripture, he declared.
"A poor lost lamb seems to have wandered into the wrong pasture on day one."
He descended gracefully.
"Today's intro to theology is self-study. I must personally scour every department to find and save that lamb."
The Holy See's mad dog was geared to tear through the academy for his rogue pup.
My steps out of the classroom were elegantly serene as ever, but my mind chased intriguing prey.
'Where'd you hide, my feisty pup?'
First, Knight Department training grounds. White-robed Holy See cardinal amid dust and sweat—cadets and prof froze mid-swing.
"May God's peace be with you. Sorry to interrupt class."
Scripture to chest, utmost benevolence, I approached the Knight prof.
"C-Cardinal Your Eminence, what brings you here...?"
"Looking for a lost lamb. Did the new commoner 'Flint' apply here?"
He shook like a leaf.
"Flint? N-No! A mana-less guy wouldn't...!"
"Hmm? Wasn't there an attempted armed kidnapping last week?"
"Eek! N-No!! We dropped it after hearing Your Eminence took him as disciple!!"
Bald, bearded prof Mario Nuang looked ready to cry. I mercifully dropped it.
"I see. Sorry for the time. God's blessings."
A gentle nod, and away. Not Knights—Magic next. Same story. Arrogant mage prof sweated: "Mana-blind commoner here? No way!"
Mentioned the 'hypno kidnapping attempt'—he quaked like in an inquisitor dungeon. No more prodding.
Alchemy, Spirits, even Admin. All morning, I leisurely yet relentlessly combed buildings.
Rumors spread: Holy See inquisitor hunting that commoner. Didn't care.
Key fact: No trace of the cocky punk anywhere.
'Not Knights or Magic...'
Central plaza, chin stroke.
'Really changed majors? Then where... Ah.'
His words flashed.
"Wait, no! I'm applying elsewhere!"
Where would he apply? Open to commoners... His gadget popped up. Mechanical device, right?
Lips curled.
Engineering. Yes, Engineering left.
A low chuckle escaped.
"Heh heh..."
Why not think of it sooner? Tucked in the academy fringes, barely existent.
'Hiding for real.'
Holed up, dodging me. Ignoring his master's call.
I tapped the Scripture and slowly headed to the forgotten Engineering building.