NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: I Attended My First Class and Somehow Caused a Minor Magical Rebellion
(Location: Aetherion Noble Academy, East Wing — Also Known As The Place Dreams Go To Die Quietly)
Let me paint you a picture, dear reader:
Imagine a grand castle so large it could legally qualify as its own timezone. Now imagine it being filled with the children of nobles who all think they're the main character. Add in magic. Explosions. A duel schedule longer than the academy handbook. And most importantly: me.
Kael Reinhardt. Professional reincarnated disaster. Possessor of the world's most emotionally unavailable System. Accidental founder of a cult.
Inner Me: And now, apparently, a magical education liability.
Welcome to Aetherion Noble Academy — where the robes are stiff, the rules are made-up, and the professors are one nervous breakdown away from unleashing a dragon.
---
Class Begins (And Immediately Goes Off the Rails)
My first class was "Introduction to Elemental Channeling," taught by Professor Nimbaldore.
Yes. That's his real name. Yes. He has a mustache that could legally be considered a bird nest.
He greeted the class by slamming a glowing staff on the marble floor.
"WANDS OUT!" he bellowed.
Inner Me: This escalated quickly.
Everyone whipped out elegant, encrusted wands. I, naturally, held up a stick I found behind the dorm.
Belladonna gave me a thumbs up from across the room. Seraphina looked like she was regretting all of her life choices.
"Today," Nimbaldore intoned, "you will channel basic fire magic. A single flame. That is all. Anyone who explodes will be sent to detention."
Inner Me: That sentence contains so much optimism.
I took position. Focused. Summoned my magical reserves.
A tiny puff of smoke appeared.
Me: "Ha! Success!"
Then the desk exploded.
The classroom was filled with the scent of burning mahogany and social shame.
---
Consequences and Confetti
The room descended into chaos. Nobles screamed. Fireproof charms activated. One poor boy from House Dallimore fainted dramatically into his enchanted notebook.
Professor Nimbaldore flailed.
"WHO SUMMONED THE CONFLAGRATION DEMON?!"
Me (still holding my stick): "Technically, I think it summoned me."
Belladonna cackled and yelled, "He reversed the polarity of the flame rune! That's advanced incompetence!"
Seraphina just rubbed her temples and muttered, "This is my fiancé."
---
Enter the Student Council (Because Drama Needs Uniforms)
Just as things were calming down, the doors slammed open.
In stepped five students in embroidered capes, glowing swords, and expressions that said, We audit behavior, not taxes... but we could.
The leader: Lucien Von Aetherbane, Student Council President and walking jawline.
Lucien surveyed the damage, then looked at me.
"Name."
"Kael Reinhardt."
He frowned. "That name is cursed."
"Thank you. I work very hard on it."
He turned to the professor. "This student is hereby summoned to a Disciplinary Duel."
Inner Me: Is that capitalized on purpose? It sounds capitalized.
---
The Duel of Mild Regret
The next thing I knew, I was standing in a dueling arena shaped like a giant tea saucer. Nobles surrounded us in floating spectator booths.
"Why is the dueling arena round?" I asked.
"Because the Founding Headmistress once tripped on a square rug and declared war on angles," Belladonna whispered.
Lucien stood across from me, sword glowing, eyes filled with the righteous fury of someone who's never been wrong in his life.
System Message:
[DUEL INITIATED: KAEL VS. LUCIEN VON AETHERBANE]
[ODDS OF SURVIVAL: 17% AND DROPPING]
[ENCOURAGEMENT: YOU'RE TECHNICALLY ALIVE. FOR NOW.]
The duel began. Lucien charged.
I panicked.
And accidentally activated the smoke spell Belladonna gave me.
The entire arena filled with purple mist.
Inner Me: Oh good. Now I can't see the sword that's going to end me.
Somewhere in the fog, I tripped. Fell. Rolled.
Lucien shouted, "Face me like a man!"
I shouted back, "I'd rather face a pillow!"
Belladonna tossed something into the arena.
Belladonna: "Try my latest potion! I call it: Unstable Duck Essence!"
I caught it mid-air. Drank it. Glowed for 0.2 seconds.
Then quacked.
Inner Me: Why do I taste breadcrumbs?
---
The Unexpected Victory
Lucien, now extremely confused by the quacking smoke cloud and a man rolling on the ground shouting about pillows, tripped over my leg.
Fell. Dropped his sword.
The referee, a bored-looking ghost in a wig, floated down and declared:
"Victory goes to... the quacking one."
The crowd erupted.
Seraphina looked like she wanted to disappear. Belladonna was laughing so hard she fell off the spectator stand.
System Notification:
[NEW TITLE UNLOCKED: DUCK OF DISASTER]
[NEW REWARD: +1% SOCIAL EMBARRASSMENT RESISTANCE]
Inner Me: Someday I want to look back on my life and lie about everything.
---
Aftermath (And One Very Judgmental Bird)
Back at the dorms, I sat on the floor with a frozen peas spell pack pressed to my face.
Seraphina stood over me.
"You dueled the student council president, summoned smoke, drank duck juice, and won by accident."
"Yes."
"Why are you like this?"
Belladonna chimed in, "Because the universe loves comedy!"
A peacock stared at me through the window.
Inner Me: Stop judging me, bird. I'm doing my best.
---
Next Time On: "Yes, I Was Reborn..."
Kael attempts to join a study group. Accidentally ends up founding a rebellion.
Spoiler: It involves enchanted muffins and aggressive tutoring techniques.
Kael's Message to Readers:
So, dear reader... if you enjoyed me nearly dying, accidentally quacking, and defeating a cape-wearing man with abs carved by destiny... why not comment below? Power me with your laughter. Fuel my survival with your sarcasm. Or just tell me: Have YOU ever won a duel by ducking?
Inner Me: If yes, we might be long-lost cousins.