Rushing through the smoke, a skinny male Wyvern House student is tightly holding a brown package within his grasp. The landscape around him is rough and battle-torn with some leftover crystal shards which have been launched against them. Glancing into the distance he can see his goal, the Wyvern House dorm shored up with magical sandbags and shield defences. Two females students stand at the entrance to their compound from the direction of the student village, stopping the male to inspect his package.

"Are these those materials?" The first prompts opening it slightly.

"Direct from Cassandra herself... It's a mess out there." He states catching his breath.

"Then don't let us stop you, run you fool." The second female states signalling the courier is coming through.

Nodding in thanks, the male student rushes forward eager to deliver his package to the field commander. Wyvern House looks more like a military outpost than a student dorm, the third-floor balcony has an antenna and some wires leading inside to their communication hub, the basement converted into what looks like a magical workshop and a tent has been set up on the south side of the dorm, near the cliff edge. The male student looks around before heading straight for a third-year male student wearing a long fire red jacket on his shoulders and a captain hat on his head, staring out towards the observatory with binoculars.

"First-year courier, Simon Pax, reporting!" Simon states as he comes to a stop, catching his breath.

"Sup, Third-year field commander, Nicolas Sage. You got what I asked for?" Nicolas puts down his binoculars, tied around his neck.

Nodding the student hands him a bag from Sparkles, aside from his regular package.

"One breakfast burrito from Sparkles, sir. I also have the advanced magical mathematics textbooks the second-year students requested." Simon explains as Nicolas begins eating happily.

"Excellent, despite this being your first 'warzone', you're doing well in your assigned task," Nicolas calls over a girl wearing a thigh length black hoodie, shorts, sneakers, gloves with a backpack on and wearing a rabbit mask.

"Second-year first class delivery courier, Ciri Lightning." The girl turns around before opening her backpack with magic.

Removing the books from the brown package, Nicolaus places them in her backpack and closes it.

"Your fellow second-year students on the A1 gem front need this immediately." Nicolas orders making her nod.

As the girl gets comfortable she soon speeds off with a dust trail behind her. Nicolas looks around before calling over a male student who was tinkering with a magical explosive.

"Sup?" The student asks still tinkering with the explosive.

"Vincenzo Santorini, right?" Nicolas asks, but ducks at the sudden nearby explosion from the gem front direction.

"That's not good, don't do that." Vinny shakes his head before turning to face Nicolas.

"I seem to vaguely remember hearing about you... We need to take that observatory if we hope to gain at least some advantage, so... I need you to demo their nearby bunker which prevents us from getting close." Nicolas asks glancing in the direction he is talking about.

"Any recommendation on the size of 'boom' you're looking for?" Vinny asks as he begins ruffling through his strapped duffle bag.

Raising an eyebrow again, Nicolas ponders this fellow for a second.

"A big one?" Nicolas asks confused.

Vinny simply nods as he begins walking off, leaving the confused field commander to his thoughts. Walking over to Nicolas is Vivienne, wearing purple and white sneakers, a white tank top with an eighth note on the front, a hip length white leather jacket with her signature headphones and shades on her head.

"Sup, Nic?" Vivienne asks tilting her head slightly.

"Oh, Virtuoso, I didn't think you'd be back so soon," Nicolas states seeming worried.

"Keeping an eye on our supply route to the main campus wasn't much of a task, more importantly... Where is the Commandant and have you seen the Metalsmith?" Vivienne asks, sighing deeply.

"The first is in his room... He hasn't come out, even if Cassandra asked for him. I mean, I know Alexander has been depressed before, but this is something else entirely. In terms of the Metalsmith... Edward hasn't been seen since this all started in earnest a week ago." Nicolas answers, glancing back towards the dorm.

Vivienne takes a deep breath as she begins to make her way towards the dorm, heading for Alexander's room.

Over at Hydra House, the scene is pretty much the same as Wyvern House only they are holding back Shadowfright and her so-called, 'Nightmare Force'. Directing their efforts is a third-year girl wearing a similar outfit to Nicolas, but she is wearing a navy captain's hat instead.

"Come on, come on! I want to see some hustle on that aquatic artillery! Get that pipeline to the lake hooked up ASAP, we needed to get wet yesterday! You, pick up that pace damn it!" She yells orders continuously while spinning around to keep an eye on various departments. A second-year male courier student quickly approaches the field commander with haste before stopping to address them.

"Field Commander Marci Singer! Second-year courier, Steven Scar, reporting!" He salutes briefly.

"Is there news?" Marci takes a break from yelling to face the courier.

"Yes and no, the pipe to the lake has been met with some resistance but is holding for now. There is also a request by several students for a tutor in Advanced Summoning Mechanics for Arch-Familiars on the front." Steven finishes his report.

Marci sighs and clenches her fist dramatically.

"Damn it, there are no other such magicians in Hydra House who practice such advanced summoning methods... I guess there is no other option!" Marci turns to get the attention of a nearby commander wearing a regular navy hat, who is directing supplies. "Commander Ser Drownman, you're in charge till I get back!"

Marci removes her jacket before putting it on properly and straightening her hat before running off in the direction of the Hydra House front lines.

"You want to know what the most amusing thing about this whole situation is, Ser?" Steven turns to the temporarily prompted field commander.

"Other than the fact that, despite how real the threat is from the gems and Nightmare Force, should we get through this ordeal, failing the mid-term exams is a much bigger threat in comparison," Ser replies making Steven nod before they both shiver.

"Fuck that shit!" They both state in unison before going back to their duties.

Author's Notes:

Our first look into how the Magician Academies teach their students about war etc. Things will be explained about that side of the academy later on so I ask for patience. I also ask the same for how quickly and deeply you've been thrown into the current arc, I say this because I don't want anyone to feel utterly lost. You haven't missed anything and it'll all be clear and explained later on. We hope to see you on the next one which will come out over the weekend.