[13] S-Class

As the 7 approach the school, all realize that they have no idea where their S-class classroom is. From being in school for a short while the 7 naturally heard rumors that S-Class doesn't have an actual classroom. However the entire class is mysterious so no one knows, from what students say, all students in S-Class are sworn to secrecy.

With no way to tell where the S-Class is the 7 ponder where the classroom would be. However one of the third-years said something interesting to the Dukes,

"When hands strike 10, bats fly to seek the knowledge of Pheonia."

This entire sentence all made sense to Elias and the others so they all went to the forest for herbs. The plan was to get some light grass.

The riddle was pretty simple, to meet the rest of S-Class, at 10AM the students had to approach the right Pheonian history book, with the herb light grass on their body. The light grass scent is respective to Pheonian Sonic Bats, which live in coves near the school.

The Dukes made it back on time with the teleport gate and it took them 2.5 minutes to find the right book. Waiting to the moment the school clocktower hits 10, the 7 sit. However something weird happens, instead of waiting 5 minutes an illusion from the clock tower shows and the bell rings 5 minutes early! If they hadn't come early they wouldn't have been granted access.  Inside was a room that a professor would use at a college for lectures.

A haggard man sits in the front of the classroom, no one could tell what he really looked like since he had matted hair and large glasses. No one minded though because there was no rule that incredibly intelligent people had to have etiquette. In fact its quite heard of that genius are unkempt as their work called to them. Elias never had this issue because he found working as a pastime since his life was so cruel. Now that he can have fun he does distance himself from doing experiments 24 hours a day. Elias has become quite accustomed to sleeping :)

"Welcome, students" The man said towards the group of children that entered the classroom.

"Hello Sir, Is this the S-Class?"

"Yes it is, however you'll never see this place again, as new students you don't know but this class is for independent study and the chance to hone your magic and skills on you own. All you have to do is submit 1 project by the end of the semester. Things like complete or not don't concern me. All that matters is whether your idea is creative and helpful to your education. There will be other students coming throughout the day so by next week I'll send a letter about a list of your classmates. Remember do not contact me ever.

Please exit from those doors, and you are sworn to secrecy."

"Mhm, okay good bye sir." The seven bow and exit the class.

_____

"That was kind of anticlimactic, wasn't it?" Elias asked kind of downhearted, he expected a lazy teacher but he won't get to know his classmates till next week, less socialization.

"Well, you can meet people next week, I'm pretty excited for a project though, the capital has some of the best equipment in the Empire. None of our families could probably reach it, unless the Belphegors used their little genius to make some equipment for them..."Damien said looking up into the sky and then down to Elias.

"I've made a couple instruments for research, do you guys want to start on a project today? We could all work together for one as well?"

"Yeah, what was the fields you guys wanted your project though?" Kyrian asked, he wanted to look into medicine but would wait for everyone else's response.

"Healthcare for citizens"

"Hypothesis for what would happen to the Empire if the King came from the shadows."

"Hygiene to stop disease."

"How to solve muscular distrophy"

Elias answered with the onslaught of project ideas with, "Why don't we do medicine for citizens to help with diseases? I have a medicine that I've thought of that could help all of them with fighting plagues. It's called a vaccine and its shooting a smaller disease into the bloodstream so that citizens can fight off the smaller disease to become stronger to fight plagues."

The six liked the idea and decided to start working the next day.

For the rest of the day, the guys took Elias out for a day in the town. They all used illusion magic and disguises to hide their appearance, only visible to each other, the 7 walked out. None could risk losing their reputation over skipping school.

___________

one short trip out of school and into the capital later...

"Wow!! The capital is so big and pretty!" Elias exclaimed.

"Yeah, the surrounding villages took a little inspiration from the architecture here so about 42% of Pheonia has these types of buildings. The capital is still the nicest, cleaned for the nobles to walk around and through boutiques." Xerxes explained, his promise as a five year-old stayed intact. He became a popular merchant and businessman under the Asmodeus with his own assets. Xerxes has had many business meetings in this capital, however no good deal left as many happy feelings in the capital as being near Elias did. The boy next to him was a ray of sunshine poking through his gloomy clouds. Life was so hard with his family but Elias made it all better.

"Lets go! I haven't been since the time I snuck out when I was 5, there was nothing to buy either. This time is different" Elias pumped his fist up and was thoroughly excited. The others, laughing matched his pace and the seven dukes entered the capital town square...

*Honestly ngl i have no idea where I'm going with this part. I guess its just a fluff side of the 7 going to hang out.

Checking out the antique stores in the area, Elias didn't buy anything. Mostly sold in those stores were tea pots and the like. Elias had many at his own home, not alluring for him. That was until he found a firework stand in the street. Reminded of his young childhood days of Earth, fireworks were a favorite pastime for children. Grabbing 20, the seller says

"2 iron coins"

Elias throws him a gold coin and says, "Keep the rest!" Elias normally wouldn't flaunt his money like this but for fireworks! To sell fireworks deserved the praise.

The others were confused though, fireworks were not a pastime for children in this day and age. This product wasn't seen in the market much because of its unpopularity. However the sales would surely change if the idol of Ivoryguard academy and soon-to-be head of the Belphegors had a fascination with them.

With fireworks in hand, Elias said

"Lets get some food and play in a park before heading home at night to test them out!"

"Why night?" Atlas asked.

"You can see the light better!"

"What do you mean?"

"Ummmm what are fireworks used for in Pheonia again?"

"War."

"Well not anymore! They can be safe and fun! You'll see tonight" Elias says with a little skip in his step.

The soon to be adults head to a restaurant found by Adonis and Damien. The food cuisine perfectly suited Elias tastes of sweet, savory, or light. Paired with the aesthetics, the two knew it would blow Elias away.

"Woahhhhh!!!! This is so cool! I've never seen anything like it before!" Elias stopped before heading in. The restaurant was less of a place to get food and more like an attraction and an  experience. The others looked lovingly at Elias whole image, caring, sweet, and endearing.

'so lovely'

"Thank you guys so much! I really like this!"

"No problem, lets sit down though." Orpheus pulls out a chair for Elias.

The restaurant was built in a secluded area with tons of light to filter in. The roof was grown completely with flowers. The sunlight peaked through and allowed the entire area to smell like lavender.

They all ordered food, however all took the chance to allow Elias to try some of their food.

Fed by them, of course.

"Elias would you like some of my soup?" Kyrian asked.

"Hmm, sure? Is it good?"

"Very."

Kyrian had a spoon of his soup and he lifted his spoon up to Elias's lips. Elias was shocked but with the food already to his mouth he opened his mouth and let Kyrian feed him. Elias was a little shocked and blushed a little, he fiddled with his fingers and looked away. Kyrian on the other hand,

"He looks so cute with his mouth open like that, what if he allowed something else to enter, other than a spoon~"

Everyone else watched and shook a little with fury, however inside their minds,

'Ugh,  I hate him, but he's pretty smart, I'll feed Elias on another occasion. For now he's so adorable fiddling with his fingers~"

__________

Night:

Elias set up all of the fireworks in a fire-safe area. With no lights on in the area he led the rest into the clearing. No one could see anything but was able to sense. Elias gave everyone a firework and used his fire magic to light the strings of each. The fireworks looked magical, anyone could do this if they had a fire affinity but to do it without magic and go off like sparks was amazing.

'This is... nice.'

Elias had nostalgia when he looked at the fireworks, he ushered all of them into a crouching position and laughed. All of them were expecting something big to happen when they crouched. Elias still laughing just said,

"Nothings going to happen! People sit like this usually and watch their fireworks."

"Ohhhh"

So for the night, the 7 got a taste of a good childhood and what it would be like.

DONE

Elias has a good childhood this time around, however he still has stress of being a duke and when he grew up he was inside all the time and studied. He still hasn't learned the true meaning of living.