Deep Blue

The classroom fell silent again.

In the morning sunlight, the students' eyes gleamed like flashing jewels.

Suye had not entered the classroom for a long time. Feeling everyone's gaze on him, he actually felt a little pressured, nearly tapping his right thumb and index finger together.

"Sorry, Teacher Niedern. I'm late."

Suye bowed ninety degrees to Niedern, showing the utmost respect.

When you did something wrong, you had to admit it. That was one of Suye's good habits.

As Suye straightened, he met Niedern's kindly gaze, yet he felt as if he had been seen through completely.

Niedern's stern voice rang throughout the classroom.

"This is the worst class I've ever taught, and you are the worst student."

The students burst into laughter.

Suye's cheeks grew hot, and he felt extremely embarrassed.

"However, I believe you can do better." Niedern's voice softened.

"Thank you, Teacher," Suye said hurriedly.

"I know a little about your situation. But you must understand that only effort intense enough to make yourself tremble can give you strength in the future."

"Thank you, Teacher!" Suye lowered his head and seriously memorized Niedern's teachings, constantly turning those words over in his mind.

In this world of magic, Suye regarded himself entirely as a student.

Several students in the class looked at Niedern, recalling his words just now and seeming lost in thought.

"Return to your seat." Niedern nodded lightly and turned to face everyone.

Suye quietly let out a sigh of relief and surveyed the classroom, discovering that it was completely different from the classrooms on Blue Star.

This classroom had only five crude, rough long tables, positioned horizontally and facing the Magic Blackboard at the front.

The first four tables were already full. Only the last table still had empty seats.

Last year, Suye had also sat at the last table.

Suye hurriedly glanced around, then walked quickly along the wall toward the last table.

Some students winked at Suye, some stared at their Magic Books, and others mockingly whispered a certain phrase.

The Third Idiot.

Upon hearing those words, Suye's body instinctively felt uncomfortable, and his expression gradually turned cold.

Earlier, as Suye ran all the way here, he had also been recalling the past.

Last year, Suye had ranked third from the bottom in his class.

The student who had ranked last had already dropped out.

The one who had ranked second from the bottom had repeated first grade for five years. In the end, only after the dean granted special approval did he enter second grade. He was twenty-five this year, and his name was Hote.

Unlike the children of Blue Star, who began studying from a young age, Greece had no basic education at all.

More than ninety percent of boys throughout Greece began learning farm work or technical skills at the age of seven, while girls learned weaving or housework. Only the children of fewer than ten percent of wealthy families received an education after turning seven, mainly memorizing poetry or learning various arts and abilities.

In Ancient Greece, poetry ranked above all other forms of literature. Whether history or opera, both ranked below poetry.

However, among those ten percent of children, only one in ten possessed sufficient reading and writing skills. In wealthy families, the slaves responsible for teaching children to read and write usually did the work, and no one wanted to look like a slave.

With the emergence of mages, however, this situation changed slightly, and more people began reading.

At the age of fourteen, a very small number of children from wealthy families would follow renowned teachers to study knowledge or skills. The rest either continued farming and working or began military training.

Sparta was an exception.

The Spartans had no mages. They were all warriors, and even the weakest adult was a Black Iron Warrior.

That was because any Spartan man who failed to become a Black Iron Warrior by the age of twenty would be executed.

Before last year, Suye had never received sufficient education. So even though he had worked fairly hard, he had still only ranked third from the bottom.

Thus, Suye, Hote, and the student who had dropped out were mockingly called the Three Idiots of Plato Academy.

Suye was called the Third Idiot.

When Suye reached the last table, he found six people sitting behind it.

One of them was Hote, the young man known as the Second Idiot. His appearance was more mature than everyone else's.

No one could ignore his presence, because he seemed to be the only person in the entire class who was standing—even while sitting.

Hote was a full two meters and ten centimeters tall, and he was still growing.

He smiled at Suye, looking utterly simple and good-natured.

The reason he had not been expelled was because of his father's dying request.

His father had been a veteran. After discovering the movements of the Persian Army in the wilderness, he had led a team to deliver the warning, evaded repeated pursuits, and ultimately succeeded in sending the intelligence to the Athenian army. After expressing his wish for his child to study at Plato Academy, he had passed away.

Hote was Suye's closest classmate. Suye first nodded to him in greeting.

Suye had a decent relationship with the other students at the last table as well, but he had spoken no more than three sentences to the other aristocratic male student, Rolon.

Rolon had transferred into this class midway through last term. Supposedly, his family held considerable status in Athens City, and he had originally studied at the famous Aristocratic Academy in Athens City. No one knew why he had suddenly come here. Later, rumors spread that Rolon had seriously injured someone at the Aristocratic Academy and had been forced to leave.

Suye nodded to Jimmy, Lake, and Albert one by one, making no gesture toward Rolon.

Rolon did not look at Suye either.

Only when he neared the table did Suye suddenly realize that he had found himself in an azure ocean.

A girl in a long white dress sat at the edge of the table. Her long black hair fell down her back, glossy as a waterfall, as if black diamonds had been set into every strand.

Suye looked toward her, and everyone's gaze was drawn to her eyes.

Her eyes were clear as sapphires, like azure lakes atop pure white snow-capped mountains.

The azure lake reflected an azure sky.

Around the girl's neck hung a matte Gold Necklace. The pendant at its lower end was the profile of a woman. The hair of this golden woman was formed from nine intertwined golden snakes, and each pair of eye sockets held embedded red diamond fragments.

The Gold Necklace was refined yet imposing, ancient yet full of vitality. Suye almost immediately determined that it was not only an inherited treasure of the nobility, but also an especially powerful Magic Artifact.

On anyone else, this Medusa Necklace would have been enough to become the center of attention. Yet Suye had somehow failed to see it at all before.

This new classmate was also someone Suye had never seen before.

Suye was puzzled. A girl this beautiful should have been the first thing he noticed upon entering the classroom. But he had only discovered her when he drew near. Could it have something to do with the necklace?

The girl sensed Suye's gaze and turned to look at him.

Her exquisite face held not the slightest trace of emotion, cold as an ice sculpture.

Suye was not good at dealing with women. He merely nodded lightly and was about to take his seat when he froze.

The large table could seat eight people, but only the seats on either side of the girl were still empty.

Suye had no choice but to sit between the girl and the huge Hote.

From the corner of his eye, he saw azure blue as the sea.

Holding his Magic Book, Suye received a Magic Letter the moment he sat down.

At that moment, Teacher Niedern's voice came from the front of the classroom. "Next, I'll lead everyone in reviewing all of last year's language classes. After we finish reviewing, I'll briefly summarize this year's six newly added foreign-language classes. The other new courses will be introduced by the other teachers..."

"Six? There are other new courses too? Did I hear that wrong?" Suye was still puzzled when memories filled with despair, panic, helplessness, and madness suddenly surged into his mind. His ears rang, and his heart pounded wildly.