"It's a Throne."
Favian suddenly spoke up making Inna jump in surprise.
He found her looking at the chair intensely while having a confused face so he decided to speak first to avoid anymore 'accidents' from happening.
"We know that the Supreme God is always with us but we are not worthy enough to be able to see him. We build thrones in all temples to show that we await his arrival. And the throne is also there to remind us that he watches over and governs us all. It is a throne that will remain everlasting and unreachable."
Inna nodded in understanding as she pursed her lips together.
Then, at the corner of her eye, she saw some movement by the altar.
Elder Fang made his way towards the altar as he hid his injured hand inside his sleeves.
Facing the numerous amount of students before him, he activated his volume enhancement spell.
"Everyone, we will now commence the Rite of Acceptance. Please kneel and recite it together with me."
After seeing everyone slowly kneeling, Elder Fang dimmed the magical lights.
Now that everyone had their knees on the ground, Inna had no choice but to follow suit. She looked left and right, wishing to just imitate everyone's actions. When she saw them place both their hands on their chests as they bowed their heads, Inna did the same as well.
Then, when all students had their heads bowed, Elder Fang started to speak.
"As the Supreme God watches over us…"
And before Inna knew it, everyone else began reciting statement after statement with Elder Fang.
She wasn't informed of this sort of Rite so she tried her hardest to blend in.
"… We promise to be brave..."
"Brave!"
"Determination will be in our veins…"
"In Veins!"
"… Be not like Mana, led astray…"
"Mana ashtray!"
Favian's face scrunched up as he heard the lunatic beside him spouting nonsense.
He really needs to ask Raghnall about this girl.
She's too strange to be trusted.
Or maybe he could bring it up to the Headmaster himself.
After all, there are big chances that she might be a spy from an opposing noble family, or even from the neighboring country!
That's because she's too uneducated to be able to be admitted in the prestigious Eldora Academy!
And she knows too little about the common knowledge in Anemoly and even in the academy!
He simply had to observe the way she always asks, the peculiar way she talks, and the crazy way she behaves to know that she's definitely suspicious!
Menawhile, oblivious to Favian's thoughts, Inna continued her strategy of echoing whatever she heard until the recitation of the students ended. She thought that she was able to get away with it, but sadly, the teams in front of her were secretly laughing at her. In fact, as soon as it ended, they began to whisper to themselves.
"Can you believe that she can't even memorize the prayer for the Rite of Acceptance in Eldora Academy?"
"I learned that ever since I was a kid! Everyone who wanted to enter this academy memorized it by heart already! To think that she can't even say a straight line!"
"I know right? It took me everything I had not to laugh at her poor attempt in covering it up. What does a 'Mana Ashtray' even mean?"
"I hope the Headmaster will soon see that picking up a stray cat won't make it grow into a tiger. She obviously isn't fit to be here if she can't even do something so simple."
Inna was about to lash out when she felt a dull pain in her chest. Then, all of a sudden, the pain transformed into something constricting. It felt like something was squeezing her chest real tight that whenever she inhaled, it causes a faint stabbing pain near her heart.
Seeing the pale complexion of Inna, Favian became alert.
"Are you okay? Do you need some healing?"
Inna furrowed her brows at the odd pain in her chest. After a few painful breaths, she saw that the pain gradually began to fade away so she shook her head at Favian.
"I'm okay. Just had trouble breathing, that's all."
He was unsure if he should believe her since he saw small beads of cold sweat appearing on her forehead. But when he saw her complexion getting better and better, and he saw her body relaxed, he figured that she's probably alright now.
So, after one last check, he decided that it was probably nothing. So he turned his attention towards the altar and began to listen as Elder Fang spoke.
"Students, please rise."
The kneeling students quietly rose in unison.
"Now that your prayers have been offered and the Rite of Acceptance has been completed, we will now commence the Class Change Battles."
"The Class Change Battles is a competition that can change your fate in this academy. As you have experience a few hours ago, you have been bestowed magical flowers. These flowers represented your respective classes and also reflected your abilities and capabilities. Now, there can be possible errors on how your class was chosen. You can be stronger than a Heather class, but you've been assigned in Anemone class due to your rank in power."
"And we all know that power ranking is not a hundred percent accurate in figuring out who is stronger and weaker. A witch can be in Oleander class but only know of one high rank spell. And because of that, she can easily be defeated by a witch in a Belladonna class who knows multiple intermediate rank spells."
"Strength doesn't only come from power. The number of spells you know, the quality of these spells, and the way you utilize these spells can make you better and stronger. In fact, it can even change the tide of the match. Hence, to truly know a person's strength, it would be best to engage in real battles."
"And thus, on the first day of admission, Class Change Battles are held."
The students began to murmur amongst themselves, their excitement was barely contained.
When the students' noises started to rise, Elder Fang raised his uninjured hand to silence them.
"Students, although these 'battles' are mere sparring sessions in disguise, take each match seriously. After all, this will be the only chance you've got to change your class."