After Ric voiced his concerns, Chiron replied, "Yes, your class is Barriard, but more precisely, it’s Sim Barriard."

  "Sim Barriard? Is that a subclass?" Ric asked, his brows furrowing.

  Chiron nodded with a faint sigh. "It is. And honestly, it’s considered the weakest subclass of Barriard."

  Ric tilted his head, intrigued yet sceptical. "Why is it considered weak? What makes it so different from the others?"

  Chiron crossed his arms, his expression serious. "Within the Barriard class, there are three known subclasses: High Barriard, Mid Barriard, and Sim Barriard. High Barriard is, as the name suggests, the most powerful—capable of creating enormous barriers with minimal mana consumption. Mid Barriard, while not as efficient, is a balanced subclass—strong and manageable. But Sim Barriard..." He paused as if searching for the right words. "Sim Barriard consumes excessive mana, far more than the other two."

  "Excessive mana consumption?" Ric asked, narrowing his eyes. "That’s it?"

  Chiron exhaled. "It’s not just that. Sim Barriard is incredibly rare, and because of its mana demands, most who’ve inherited it could not use it properly. They’d burn through their mana after creating just one barrier, leaving themselves defenceless. Over time, this subclass became infamous for being... impractical."

  Ric processed the explanation, his eyes narrowing further. "So it’s not weak—it’s just... misunderstood."

  Chiron raised an eyebrow. "Misunderstood? That’s one way to look at it. But the reality is that it’s seen as a dead-end subclass because most people couldn’t overcome its limitations."

  Ric’s lips curved into a faint smirk. "Good thing I’m not most people, then."

  Chiron regarded him for a moment, his stern demeanour softening. "With your mana pool, you might just prove everyone wrong. But don’t underestimate the challenges ahead, Ric. There is not much known about this class, that's why there are no guides or teachers who can teach you about it in this day and age. If you were born at the time of the hero then..." he paused for a moment "Forget it, basically you need to figure it out on your own, work hard, stay disciplined and you can overcome anything that comes your way." he encouraged.

  Ric nodded in agreement "I will keep that in mind, thanks for the advice."

  Chiron stood at the front, holding a magical quill poised over a scroll. His voice carried authority as he addressed the group. "All children who passed the assessment, step forward. State your name, age, and class so I can record it."

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  Ric was the first to step forward, his demeanour composed. "Ric, age 15, class Sim Barriard," he said with a clear voice.

  Yota followed, unable to hide his excitement. "Yota, age 15, class Fire Magician!" he exclaimed with a wide grin.

  Ren stepped forward next, his tone a mix of confidence and pride. "Ren, age 16, class Fire Magician."

  Finally, Jim stepped forward, his expression calm. "Jim, age 16, class Earth Magician," he stated.

  Chiron nodded as his enchanted quill recorded the children’s details with meticulous precision. Once he finished, he rolled up the scroll and addressed the group with an authoritative yet encouraging tone. "Congratulations to all of you who passed the assessment. Now, step forward to receive your study materials for the Kyrus Academy entrance exam next month."

  At his signal, servants emerged carrying stacks of carefully bound books. One by one, the children stepped forward, receiving their study guides. When Ric’s turn came, Chiron paused, a flicker of thought crossing his face.

  "Ric," he began, his tone softer but deliberate, "your class, Sim Barriard, is quite rare. Unfortunately, there isn’t a dedicated book available due to the lack of research on this subclass. However...He reached into a smaller pile and pulled out an aged yet well-maintained tome. The intricate sigils on its cover hinted at its age and significance. "This book includes foundational knowledge about High and Mid-Class Barriards. While it doesn’t perfectly match your class, it should give you a solid starting point. I trust you’ll make the best of it."

  Ric took the book with a respectful nod, his fingers brushing over the cover as he inspected it. "Thank you, Sir Chiron. I’ll make sure to learn everything I can from it," he said confidently.

  Chiron nodded, his expression softening with a hint of approval. "I have no doubt you will,"

  ****

  After distributing the books, the children thanked Chiron and began to disperse. Even though irritated, Chiron climbed into the car, his limp still evident as he settled into the seat. Rivious sat beside him, quiet for a moment before speaking.

  "Uncle, what do you think of Ric?" Rivious asked, his tone curious but tinged with admiration.

  Chiron leaned back, gazing out of the window as the car began to move. He pondered the question carefully before replying. "Hmm… I can’t say for sure yet. Ric is unpredictable—intelligent, quick on his feet, and unafraid to speak his mind. He dares to act, even in situations most would hesitate to face."

  Rivious nodded eagerly. "I think he’s amazing! He’s brave and sharp—I admire him."

  Chiron turned to look at his nephew, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Amazing, yes. But whether that amazement turns into greatness or something else entirely... time will tell. Young master, perhaps we’ve just witnessed the birth of a monster… or the rise of a hero," he said, his voice carrying both weight and wonder.

  Rivious’s eyes widened at Chiron's comment, his admiration for Ric taking on a new intensity. As he processed the words, a contemplative silence fell between them. Then, without turning back, Rivious shifted his gaze to the window, his reflection faintly visible in the glass.

  "Oh~ That’s amazing," he murmured, the tone of his voice low and thoughtful, but a devious smile slowly crept across his face, hidden from Chiron's view.

  The car rolled steadily onward, the landscape blurring past as the day's events faded into memory. Yet, in the stillness of that moment, the seeds of something greater—perhaps something far more dangerous—had quietly been sown.