I was far from my normal classroom. My class had gone to an alchemy lab. Beakers, vials, flasks, and various other glass implements littered the shelves in the corner of the room. Flames, blocked off by brick ovens, filled the open areas. Numerous alchemical ingredients covered the various tables.

  This was the first time I was in this place. Previously, Alchemy Class was entirely based around lectures. Now, we were in our first lab class.

  Augusta stood next to me as I surveyed my table. The other students kept their distance, as usual. However, some of them were closer. Namely, Millia and Janek. And even those who were the furthest away seemed nearer than before, but that could have been my imagination.

  "Now, Augusta, remember: if any toxic fluids get in your eyes..." I started.

  "I know, Dante," Augusta interrupted me in her usual stoic voice. "Burn them out."

  "Ummm...I think that would do more damage than it would help."

  The girl tilted her head.

  "But fire doesn't hurt me," she said.

  "Okay, that'll work with you," I replied. "If any toxic fluids get in my eyes, pour water in them to wash the fluids out."

  Augusta pointed to one of the counters, which had a working sink installed in it. These were possible with Early Modern technology. However, they weren't cheap. This alchemy lab must have been very expensive.

  "It's a good thing we have that here," she stated.

  "Yeah, it is," I nodded. "And if I get caught on fire...can you use your magic to get rid of it?"

  "Yes," Augusta said without hesitation.

  I recalled how Robert was impressed that I knew two spells. Augusta seemed to know at least three, judging from the lance of fire and burning sword magic she used.

  "Come to think of it, how many spells do you know?" I asked.

  "None," Augusta answered.

  Shock blasted through me. How was this possible?

  "You don't know any spells?" I questioned.

  "Not a one," Augusta said with her cool voice. "Dante, I do not use magic to control fire. I command fire, and it obeys."

  "Then, how do you summon fire?"

  "I command it to appear, and it forms from nothing."

  "That...is possible?" I wondered.

  Augusta tilted her head.

  "I do it, so it must be," she stated.

  "Could you teach me to do it?" I asked.

  "No," Augusta answered coldly.

  As if she realized how what she might have said just sounded, Augusta reached up and patted my head.

  "I would be happy to if I could, but it's impossible for you to learn. And even if it wasn't, the cost wouldn't be worth it," she said.

  That's when I recalled an earlier conversation I had with Augusta. A deep sympathy flowed through me.

  "Right. In the past, you talked about your fire control like some sort of power and not magic," I replied. "And when it first activated..."

  I shook my head.

  "Let's not talk about something so sad right now, Augusta," I suggested.

  "Okay," Augusta replied.

  Despite her icy voice, I saw relief flicker in my girlfriend's eyes. It was followed by an expression of gratitude.

  "Thank you, Dante," she said.

  "Don't worry about it," I replied. "But you should probably worry about your stress. Your hair turning white can't be good for you. Maybe I could help you relax sometime?"

  Augusta patted my head.

  "Thank you for the offer, Dante. But my hair turning white has nothing to do with stress. It represents my mastery of my fire powers," she stated.

  Relief flowed through me as tension I didn't know I had left my body.

  "That's good to know," I said.

  Soon after, a man entered the room. He wore the gold and purple robes of an alchemist. It was almost torn from his bulging muscles. The man's face was chiseled like a stone statue. When he moved his massive arms, their biceps rippled.

  "Excuse me a moment, Augusta," I held up a finger.

  As the newcomer started looking through some papers at the front desk, I approached Millia.

  "Hey, Millia, when is the mad alchemist showing up?" I asked with a whisper.

  "He's right there," she answered in a hush.

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  Millia pointed at the massive man.

  "Is he behind the muscle man?" I pondered. "Or is he the muscle man?"

  "He is the muscle man. I don't blame you for being confused. He doesn't exactly look like your typical mad scientist," she said.

  I returned to Augusta's side just as the newcomer spoke up.

  "Gveetings everyvone," he stated. "I am Herr Crummel von Licht, your new alchemy teacher."

  Robert raised a hand.

  "Vhat is it, student?" Crummel asked.

  "What happened to our old alchemy teacher?" Robert questioned.

  "A terrible accident," the newcomer replied. "But do not vorry. He vill recover. But until zhen, I am your temporary teacher."

  He surveyed the class with a smile, keeping his gaze away from Augusta. Then, the teacher held up a single finger.

  "Nov, before ve start with zhe experiments, can anyvone tell me vhat zhe most important part ov alchemy iz?" he said.

  Robert raised his hand again.

  "Vhat is your anzwer?" Crummel questioned.

  "Transmutation seeking the Philosopher's Stone," the student stated.

  "Incorrect."

  A look of shock crossed Robert's face.

  "What? But isn't the Philosopher's Stone the goal of all alchemists?" he asked.

  "It iz for many but not all," Crummel answered. "However, zhe mozt important part of alchemy is a vhirst for knowledge. Vithout zhe vhirst for knowledge, no vone vould seek zhe Philosopher's Stone in zhe first place."

  A wide smile crossed the teacher's face.

  "Remember, mein ztudentz, zeeking knowledge is zhe most important zhing for alchemists. Ve must maintain an intellectual mind vhile vanting to learn more."

  He clapped his hands together.

  "Nov, vlet us get ztarted! Today, ve vill be ztudying a simple alchemical procedure: zhe creation ov acid. Nov, a lust for knowledge does not give uz zhe right to throw caution to zhe vind. Under your table, you vill find goggles und other alchemical gear zhat vill protect you from acid. Put zhem on und I vill bring over zhe needed ingredientz."

  Sure enough, there were various gloves, robes, and other things. I slipped them over my clothes, as they were designed for this use, before turning to Augusta.

  She looked incredibly cute in her glasses. And the girl's white hair complemented her smock pretty well. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was some adorable lab assistant.

  "You look great in that alchemist gear, Augusta," I said.

  "Thank you, Dante," she replied. "You should wear goggles more often."

  I rubbed the back of my head.

  "I'll...try to find more situations where I can wear them," I stated.

  Crummel approached us, placing alchemy gear on the table. He also put several ingredients there along with a list of instructions.

  "Zhese are just reference material," the teacher said. "Please do not ztart until I give instructions. For your first lab clazz, it vould be best if you took things as slov az you need."

  Augusta pointed to a grandfather clock in the corner of the room.

  "But what about the time?" she asked.

  Crummel flinched but responded with calmness.

  "Experimentz can be delayed. But you do not regrov mizzing fingerz."

  That was when I realized something: Crummel wasn't a bad guy. Either that or he was very good at hiding what he was. But it seemed to me that he was genuinely concerned with his students' safety, even if he was a mad scientist. I didn't want him to turn himself into a monster.

  A resolution flowed through me. I would find some way to save him. First, I'd talk to Millia to see what she knows. Then, if Crummel was genuinely a good person, I'd try to influence Crummel over our classes to not go down the path of mad science.

  I let determination take over my body.

  By that point, Crummel had moved on to other students. However, Augusta's attention was on me. She leaned in close and whispered.

  "Dante, is something going to happen to the new teacher?" Augusta asked.

  "I...what? Why would you ask that?" shock took over my body.

  "You talked to your handler after he showed up," she said. "And now, you look worried."

  With a sigh, I nodded.

  "Yeah, something is. I'm trying to figure out how to stop it from happening," I replied.

  Augusta nodded.

  "If I can help, just ask," she stated.

  "Thanks, Augusta," I gave her a warm smile.

  The rest of class was spent trying to figure out how to make a very mild acid. With Crummel's instructions, the process was fairly easy and straightforward. When some of the students tried mixing in the wrong chemicals, the teacher was quick to stop them before making corrections. There were some delays. However, by the time class was over, everyone had made their acid.

  To test what we created, a leaf was placed on the table. We then poured our acids over it. Mine dissolved the foliage right away. Augusta's did the same. I noticed that Millia's took a while longer.

  "Dammit. I was never good at chemistry," she shook her head.

  "Alchemy," Crummel corrected. "And do not vorry. I am certain zhat you vill get better vith practize."

  Millia folded her arms, grumbling something so quiet that only she could hear it. I guessed that Millia had a grudge or something over her past life's school chemistry class.

  Still, it was time for this class to end. Crummel spoke up one last time for the day.

  "Do not vorry about cleaning up. I vill handle zhat for you. Just get to your next clazz. You can ztart cleaning up vhen you get better at alchemy und are able to safely conduct zhe experimentz fazter."

  On the way to physical education, I turned my head to Augusta.

  "Hey, after classes today, I was thinking of shopping for armor," I said. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

  "I'll come too," Augusta stated.

  I blinked. Then, a smile crossed my face.

  "You don't have to," I replied. "But I appreciate your company, Augusta."

  However, when we reached the entrance to the exercise room, Sir Ethan was standing at it. By his side was another man in armor. There was a contemptuous expression on his face. The class halted.

  "Your Highness Augusta, Dante," Sir Ethan spoke up. "Would you two come with Andre? He has something for you two to do in place of normal class."

  Looking to my side, I saw Millia's eyes widen in shock. She spoke up.

  "Excuse me, but...what do you want with Dante and Augusta?"

  Andre shot her a quick glare. Millia stood firm. A flicker of respect passed through Andre's eyes.

  "Standing strong, despite your sex. I can respect that. Still, a woman should know her place," he said.

  Millia facepalmed.

  "I can't believe I forgot this guy was a sexist asshat," she whispered.

  Well, I already didn't like Andre either.

  "But to answer your question," Andre spoke up. "I am in charge of the upcoming tournament, and I would like to do a combat evaluation for Dante and Augusta. I am doing this for all the most skilled fighters among the student body. So far, things have been going well."

  He then shrugged.

  "However, due to unfortunate scheduling issues, I am afraid that you two must do this rather than take your usual physical education class. You will still get full credit for attendance."

  Augusta shrugged.

  "I can go along with this. What about you, Dante?" she asked.

  "Well, I don't see any reason to refuse," I answered.

  These combat evaluations seemed important for the tournament. Augusta wanted me to enter, and it was probably important for the story that I do so. If I refused an evaluation, I might have to forgo the tournament.

  Still, Millia seemed surprised. Did Dante not get an evaluation so soon? Or not at all?

  "Alright, then," Andre started moving. "Follow me."

  He walked with Augusta and I following him. As we moved, Andre turned to me.

  "So, Dante, how did you tame the Bloodbath Princess?" he asked.

  I groaned. Andre was really saying this right in front of Augusta?

  "Please don't talk about Augusta like she's some sort of animal," I answered with anger flickering through me. "And taming has nothing to do with it. She's a much better person than her reputation would suggest."

  "Tame...animal..."

  Augusta's voice caught my attention. I turned to see that she had a lustful expression on her face.

  "But what if...Dante rode me like a horse? And I had a collar on like a dog? And he took a riding crop and..."

  "Andre!" sheer horror pulsed through me. "What terror have you unleashed upon the world?"

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