After getting a cloak for his size, Jena walked Xavier to class, and introduced him to his homeroom teacher.

  "Special student?" the teacher asked, as the three stood in front of the class.

  "What? No, well, I don't know yet," Jena replied. "Why are you asking anyway?"

  "Well, you're not the type to personally bring in students unless there's something's wrong with them."

  Jena sighed, "Gasper brought him in."

  "Oh! Okay. Now that, changes everything," the teacher said.

  Principal Jena took a deep breath, "Xavier this is Abigail, Abigail Xavier," she said, and after the two exchanged greetings, Jena left the class, "Good luck here, you'll need it," spoken right before she left.

  Abigail then introduced Xavier to the class, and began the lecture.

  "Welcome to junior high everyone! Now in order to make sure that we're all on the same page, we'll start with the basics, mana control. Now of course, I'm well aware that, that is entry level skill, and I know that some of you, have been with us for quite some time, but we do have a few new faces here with us, so please, let's try our best, and be respectful, okay?" Abigail would be met with silence.

  "Good. Now for those of you who may not know, when we infuse mana from our mana network and into our bodies, heat and light energy are produced as by-products. Efficient mana control is indicated by the air around you slowly turning plasma, and really efficient mana control is indicated by that plasma having flow, or fire like movements; with small, concentrated particles of energy, often released at intervals."

  "The intervals at which these particles are released can tell you a lot about the health of the sorcerer, their mana signature, and a whole lot of other details. The combination of all these events combined is called Aura, and a good, bright, lively aura, is the start of great sorcery."

  Abigail continued, "The colour of aura is different for each individual, and is unique, to each individual; despite two different people having the same colour aura, mana signatures are still a real thing, and can be very useful in future so, don't forget that."

  "A good example to use would be with the Euthenias; all yellow, all different, and do you know why? because aura stems from mana. Masking your aura is an easy task, but masking your mana signature can prove to be quite the difficult." Abigail concluded and took out a book.

  "I'll be taking note of the colour of your auras, so as to better understand how well you infuse mana. If you get shades or tints of a particular colour; that could be an anomaly, a cross between clans, a mana disease, mana incompatibility, and so on. So, it would be advisable to get that checked." Abigail explained.

  Everyone went on smoothly infusing mana one by one, but when it was Xavier's turn to do so, he ran into a little trouble. "Having trouble, Xavier?" Abigail asked.

  "Uh, yeah- No! no no. I meant, no. Just- just give me a minute," Xavier stumbled upon his words as anxiety slowly began to settle in; he didn't want people to know about his extremely low mana pools, and so, decided to force it.

  Xavier let off some heat, but not enough to spark an aura, and, in the process, ended up passing gas.

  Silence fell, and shortly after, laughter slowly ensued. The sounds of laughter echoed in Xaviers ears, the faces of everyone present in the room; slowly began to look intimidating, as they all seemed to close in on Xavier, it was his first day at school and yet, his biggest weakness had already been brought to light, and set up on a pedestal, for all to see.

  "Ouuu would you look at that, a gas aura; first, in a long line of many!" a Euthenian classmate who sat up front commented, and sounds of laughter began pouring in from every direction.

  Abigail dropped her pen, "Okay class, quiet down. No need to comment, or poke fun. We just need to find out what's wrong with him; that's why we're here, and that's why I'm carrying out this exercise," Abigail calmed the class.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "I don't know about you, but if you ask me; he shouldn't even be here," said the same Euthenian, causing everyone to break into laughter once more.

  "Tell you what, he should get that gas of his, use it, and fill it in a balloon; maybe then would it be of better use, probably wouldn't even float though," the Euthenian commented once more, further fanning the flames of laughter.

  "Okay Gabriel, is there something you want to share with the class?" said Abigail.

  "Respectfully madame Abigail, between you and I, I definitely know you don't want me to answer that," Gabriel replied.

  Abigail took a deep breath, leaned on the table and sighed, "You can save it for detention later. Xavier, let's go to the infirmary," said Abigail, accompanied by murmurs and jeers that echoed throughout the class.

  "Wow, did you hear all that?" One orange haired girl said, as she turned to her friend who was seated right behind her, sketching.

  "Yeah, poor guy's going to have a hard time," she replied.

  "Think we should poke more fun at him later?"

  "Let's not get too ahead of ourselves now, he might be dangerous." She said sarcastically, and the two shared a laugh.

  Crestfallen, Xavier was taken to the school infirmary in order to find out what was wrong with him.

  After a series of tests, the doctor verified that Xavier indeed, had little to no mana. "How is that even possible?" Abigail asks.

  "I don't quite seem to understand why, but it looks as though; almost all of his reserves are being used up by that right eye of his."

  "All necessary oils needed to spark an aura are fully present in him; only problem is, that he lacks the mana requirement needed to do so. At this level: It would take a very skilled sorcerer, to be able to sense him coming, and that's only provided that, said sorcerer, is intending to look for him," the doctor replied.

  "Is there anything we could do to help him?" Abigail asked.

  "We could extract the eye: besides that, there's, virtually nothing else we can do to help him operate at a school level. As you might have already guessed: the use of charms and or, other mana aiding accessories; are strictly prohibited, as per student-sorcerer regulation," said the doctor.

  "Happen to have any idea as to why this might be happening to you?" Abigail asks Xavier.

  "I don't know much myself; this would mark the first time I've ever been given a solid answer," Xavier replied.

  "And how long have you been like this?"

  "Uhh, I don't know; since I was born?"

  "He could still use a few, low-level spells, but nothing that requires the use of aura," The doctor added.

  Uncertain of what to do next, Abigail would have Xavier quarantined as per medical procedure.

  Later that day: Abigail had a talk with principal Jena, with Xavier being an exception to the rules the main topic of discussion.

  "The rules are set in stone by the board in order to ensure an equal playing field of sorcery. Some sorcerers have high mana reserves, others do not; others have high mana potency, and others, simply don't. Some might go as far as having endless mana pools, while others; simply may have none at all."

  "This contrast is what makes sorcery what it is; driving creativity, and innovation in order to overcome such harsh, unfair realities." Jena turned her chair to the side, away from the window.

  "Now I do understand your concerns; at this level of sorcery, Xavier might end up getting killed. So, I will contact Gasper, and attempt to convince him to change courses," Jena concluded.

  "What happens to Xavier now?" Abigail asks.

  "For now, I find it best to keep him quarantined until I can verify it's something that can't be spread," Jena replied, dismissing Abigail.

  Xavier left for Gasper's house at the end of the day, feeling dejected having spent the whole day in solitary confinement.

  The only thing that kept his hopes up, was the thought of finally having a place to stay, even though it wasn't that much; a shack in the woods could be the best way to describe it, as it was old, run down, and the eerie atmosphere and location of it in the woods, only added on to Xavier's depression.

  Upon entering, Xavier overheard a conversation between Gasper and principal Jena over a telecommunication's spell.

  "Like I said Jena, don't worry. The kid is still going to be a great sorcerer, an excellent one for that matter! Just leave it all to me, and we can forget that we ever even had this conversation," Gasper exclaimed, with much enthusiasm.

  "Honestly Gasper, let's try not to get too ahead of ourselves here. The boy's got no aura, he'll certainly be lagging behind and who's- I mean who's ever heard of a great sorcerer that couldn't even spark an aura?" Jena replied, carrying an air of concern.

  "What haven't I been able to do Jena? I told you, I'll handle it." Gasper said, hanging up the transmission.

  Xavier caused a creak in the floorboards that alerted Gasper, and he saw Xavier with his head faced down upon turning around.

  "Hey! Xavier!" Gasper said, carrying much enthusiasm, but Xavier wasn't having any of it; confined, ridiculed and made a laughing stock, all he wanted to do in that present moment was sulk it all away, and drown in his sorrows.

  "Come on now bud, I can't have you feeling demoralized just yet. So, your first day was a bust, big deal! brush it off so we can really get things going, okay?" Gasper said.

  Placing both hands on Xavier's cheeks, Gasper made him look straight at him. "Ready to become the greatest sorcerer ever?" Gasper asked in a waning tone.

  Xavier sniffed the snot back up his nose, "Mhmm," he mumbled, as Gasper's hands were still on his face.

  "Alright! make yourself at home and uh, meet me by the river nearby whenever you're ready," Gasper said. Xavier moved all his belongings into Gasper's spare room upstairs, he never had much so it didn't take that long.