<h4>Chapter 230: Course Selection</h4>


    The first ss with Professor Sylpha had been so absorbing, so heavy with knowledge and presence, that most cadets hadn’t even noticed the hours slipping past. It was only when she left that the spell broke, and the lecture theatre filled with the shuffle of movement, the scrape of chairs, the murmur of voices ready to spill out into the corridors.


    But just as they were about to exit, a melodic voice crackled from the beautiful speaker embedded above the stage.


    "Cadets, you have now been assigned your Major and Optional Courses. Each of you mustplete two Mandatory Courses... Basics of Cultivation and Introduction to Supernatural Ethics & Law. You must also choose one Major Course, based on your elemental affinity, and two Optional Courses of your choice in order to pass the term. Please press the blue button on your personal device for further instructions."


    A ripple of curiosity swept through the hall. Eleanor, who had risen with the others, sank back into her seat and tapped the blue button on her wrist device. A translucent screen unfurled before her eyes.


    [Course Selection: Primary Term]


    Mandatory Courses:


    1. Basics of Cultivation


    2. Introduction to Supernatural Ethics & Law


    Major Course: Contact the Department of Combat to choose your discipline.


    Optional Courses: Select any two within five days:


    1. Introduction to Alchemy


    2. Basics of Forge


    3. Cultivation History and Paths


    4. Healing Arts


    5. Introduction to Formation and Arrays


    6. Wilderness Survival


    7. Fundamentals of Psionics


    8. Magical Botany & Herbology


    9. Music of the Spheres


    10. Familiar Handling & Care


    Instruction: Contact relevant departments for further inquiries. Your academic profile will now be essible on this screen.


    [Tap the blue button to open or close the screen.]


    Eleanor exhaled through her nose. As expected, no alchemy... no forging. "Nora," she asked in her mind, "what do you think?"


    Nora’s voice answered at once, calm and analytical. "Master, this was predictable. Without fire-rted ability, alchemy and forging are closed to you. But notice... Fundamentals of Psionics has been offered. The academy clearly recognised your bloodline. They must be expecting you to take it, and I advise you to do so."


    Nora’s tone sharpened slightly. "As for your second optional, all four are valuable. Cultivation History and Paths and Familiar Handling & Care you can studyter, from books. Introduction to Formation and Arrays suits me... I will excel at the calctions. But Wilderness Survival is critical for you. Your Trial in Vanaheim will not forgive ignorance of the wild. So, my rmendation is Psionics and Survival. The final choice is yours."


    Eleanor closed the screen with a soft tap, lips tightening in thought. The hum of voices around her seemed very far away.


    Eleanor thought for a moment, then said in her mind, "We don’t have any more mandatory sses today. Let’s head to the Department of Combat and select my major. There are no textbooks given for that subject in my dorm; maybe they’ll have a library. After that... we’ll decide what’s next."


    "Good decision," Nora agreed smoothly in her mind.


    From beside her, Maira leaned in, curiosity in her eyes. "Eleanor, which optional courses did you pick?" Her seat was close, thanks to their cadet number sequence.


    "I haven’t confirmed yet," Eleanor replied. "But I’m leaning toward Fundamentals of Psionics and Wilderness Survival."


    Maira tilted her head, puzzled. "Psionics? I’ve never even heard of that course."


    Eleanor kept her tone even. "It’s not usually offered to first-terms. You’ll see itter if you return for advanced studies."


    Before Maira could ask more, Kiara and Ophelia came up behind them, catching the tail of the conversation. Ophelia spoke first. "Ma’am, if you’re taking Wilderness Survival, I’ll join that ss too. My major is under the Department of Shadow, so I’ll usebat as one of my optionals."


    Eleanor raised a brow. "Combat is avable as an optional for you?"


    Ophelia nodded. "Yes. One of the choices."


    Eleanor gave a small smile. "I don’t have that luxury. Combat’s my major. No elemental affinity means the academy expects me to learn it properly. Honestly, I like their system. They’re not just teaching us... they’re preparing us for the real threats ahead. I’m heading to the Combat Department now. You’re wee toe along."


    "I’ll takebat too," Maira decided quickly. "Let’s go together. But why Wilderness Survival, Eleanor? I was thinking about Familiar Handling & Care. I’ve always wanted a pet."


    Eleanor’s eyes softened, but her voice remained firm. "Survival is for the unknown. We all know our trial will be in Vanaheim, but not what we’ll face there. Noplete guides. No help on that spot. I’d rather be prepared for every disaster than hope forfort. That’s why I chose it."


    She let her words hang for a moment before adding, "But don’t let me sway you. Choose what calls to you. If you love familiars, take that ss. It’ll be useful after your trial, when you go to Molgrath to stabilize your core... you’ll have the chance to bond with one then."


    Before the group could move, another voice called from the doorway. Jaciara greeted them politely, then turned to Maira. "Young Miss, we need to visit the Water School. Your mother gave strict instructions that we meet a professor there immediately."


    Maira’s face fell, and she scratched her head sheepishly. "Oh! Ipletely forgot. You’re right. We should go there first." She looked back to Eleanor apologetically. "Then we’ll meet you at the Combat Departmentter."


    Eleanor nodded once. "Go on. We’ll see each otherter."


    And with that, the group naturally split... one headed toward therge dome of the Water School, the other toward the simple building of the Combat Department.


    ***


    The Department of Combat stood not far from the main academy building, apact three-story building like others in the academy. Its design mirrored the academy’s other buildings... red bricks, tall windows, and a sign bearing the name of the institution. At the entrance, a in iron sign dered its purpose in bold letters: Department of Combat.


    No embellishment. No exquisite patterns. Just proper functional information.


    Eleanor, Kiara, and Ophelia stepped through the doors into a wide reception hall. The air smelled faintly of oil, leather, and steel. Sunlight nted across polished floors where a few cadets moved with a mix of nerves and excitement. At the far end of the hall sat a white-robed official behind a desk marked with a neat wooden sign: Reception. A cluster of students shuffled before her, flipping through slim booklets.


    The three approached the desk. "Good morning, Miss. We came to choose ourbat sses," Eleanor said.


    The receptionist looked up with a practiced smile... polite, professional, but not unkind. "Wee, cadets. Do you have preferred weapons, or would you like to know more before choosing?"


    "I prefer daggers," Ophelia replied without hesitation.


    "Archery," Kiara said firmly.


    Eleanor gave a small, wry smile. "I haven’t decided. Combat is my major course, so I’ll need guidance."


    "Ah... you are a non-elemental." The woman’s tone softened, respectful but matter-of-fact. "Then please wait just a moment. You’ll choose after your friends."


    She turned to Kiara and Ophelia. "Are you absolutely certain of your preferences? Once entered, your school assignment is locked for this term."


    Both nodded without wavering.


    "Very well. ce your device on the scanner."


    Kiara went first, pressing her wrist device to the small panel. The receptionist tapped rapidly at herptop. "Kiara Raynor, Cadet number 10156672... admitted to the Archery School. This is now your major subject. You must pass its examinations at term’s end."


    Next came Ophelia.


    "Ophelia nc, Cadet number 10156675... admitted to the School of Close Quarters Combat. This will count as your optional subject. Term examination required as well."


    When it was Eleanor’s turn, the receptionist studied her for a moment. "You, I suspect, are neither dagger nor bow. We offer a broad range of weapons here... spears, sabers, axes, war hammers, halberds, whips, even unarmed disciplines. Take this booklet and review it." She slid a slim text across the desk. "Seats are over there. If you have questions, I’ll be here."


    She turned back to the others. "Your schools are upstairs on the first floor. Archery is room 104, Close Quarters is room 102."


    The three thanked her and split paths. Kiara and Ophelia headed upstairs while Eleanor settled into a chair with the booklet.


    She leafed through the pages. The sheer variety impressed her: The School of the Saber, The School of the Axe, The School of the Spear, The School of the War Hammer, The School of the Halberd, The School of the Urumi & Whip, The School of Mixed Martial Arts, The School of Close Quarters Combat, and The Archery School.


    Eleanor dismissed most without much thought... sabers and axes felt cumbersome, hammers and halberds too brute for ady like her, whips too unwieldy. That left her between spear and mixed martial arts. Both had merit. Both could suit her bloodline’s precision and instincts. She frowned, lost in thought... until the final page made her still.


    At the bottom, beneath lists of instructors and offices, was a single name... Head of the Combat Department: Supreme Grandmaster Scáthach na hAlpa.


    Her eyes lingered. The name thrummed like a chord pulled from legend.


    She rose, walked back to the desk, and leaned forward slightly. "Excuse me, Miss. I’d like to ask something about the head of the department."


    The receptionist looked up from her typing. "What do you want to know?"


    Eleanor’s voice was quiet but edged with awe. "Is she really... The Scáthach? The Witch of Dún Scáith?"


    The woman’s lips curved in a rare smile, pride gleaming in her eyes. "Yes. She is the one."