"It's ok, there's no way you could have known."
"Anyway, is this everyone's first time in New York? When did you guys arrive?"
It turned out they had all arrived a month ago for the entrance exam. Results were announced 2 weeks after.
"Wait, what actually was the entrance exam? I didn't take it so..."
Martin began to explain, his voice calm and analytical.
"The exam consists of ten different sections that each test a different aspect of your strength. You get a score for each section out of ten points, making for a total of one hundred possible points. On most years, sixty points are required to pass the exam. However, this may vary according to the number of students applying."
"The categories are cultivation, mana density, mana control, elemental resonance, elemental application, physical fitness, magic theory, occupations, and combat. The combat test differs depending on you focus, healers for example are tested in their healing abilities and defensive magic, whereas most are given a grade based on a duel against an automaton."
"Occupations?" Art interjected.
"Side occupations. Such as forging, music, painting... Really any career that can be used in conjunction with magic. Achieving intermediate level proficiency in any of these occupations awards 8 points, so it's a popular section of the test."
"Oh ok. What occupations do all of you practice?"
"Forging." Youran answered seriously. Everyone stared at her agape while simultaneously thinking, 'but her arms are like toothpicks...'
"Just kidding ;) I actually am a chef and a dancer." She said brightly after a brief pause.
A unanimous sigh of relief sounded around the table. Picturing Youran wielding a bulky hammer in a forging room was really too bizarre an image. Then everyone shot a glare at Youran for playing them like that.
"Anyway... I practice a variety of close combat styles. I tried playing different instruments but never could..." Jake followed up.
"There wasn't a single instrument you could play?" Youran asked with a mixture of pity and amusement.
"No... I tried everything. I almost was able to play the drums, but then I would always get excited and smash through the drums or break the sticks when I went to play a note."
Youran's mouth twitched. Then she glanced at Jake's muscular arms and rounded biceps. It did look possible she supposed... But still, this was truly too extreme a case of a 'muscle for brains training machine' wasn't it?
"I'm an alchemist." Martin said simply.
Everyone looked at Soran and Art, split between hoping the two didn't reveal any more shocking talents but also worshipping them almost to the point of feeling it would only be normal for both of the two be skilled in a variety of professions.
"I'm a forger. I also practice kendo and although I'm not very talented, I play the piano. Other than that I have some proficiency in beast taming and rune inscription." Soran went first, rattling off a long list of skills as if it were completely normal.
"As expected of the rank one of the examinations..." The others could only say with a sigh.
"Well, I'm not even the top ranker anymore..." He said with a joking pout. Everyone turned to glare at Art.
"I also practice kendo as well as beast taming and rune inscription. Other than that, I paint and cook and play the violin as well as singing."
"Humph. Simply hateful. You clearly don't need it all, so shave off some of your talent and pass it over to me." Youran said petulantly.
Martin and Jake both had stars in their eyes as they looked at him, and Soran... seemed very proud, almost as if they were his own accomplishments?
To reach their level of cultivation at such a young age, most of the students at Silver Dragon Academy had to devote hours upon hours to meditation every day. And yet, Art was clearly a step above them all and still had so much free time as to be able to practice all these skills. Did he even know what sleep was?
Of course, Art really had very little to do while living alone other than improve himself and practice new skills. In part, he was motivated by a need to take his mind off other matters, but he also possessed an incredible drive when it came to training. It was not solely due to his bloodline and innate talent that he reached the level he was at today. He had endured years of being encased in his own frozen sweat and tears as he trained in the extreme north.
"Anyway... Do you guys plan on joining clubs here at school based on these?" Art tried to change the subject.
"Hmmm. Maybe. I probably will join some associations, but I'm not sure which yet. I want to see the available options before making any choices." Youran responded.
The others gave similar responses.
Soran suddenly smiled. "Maybe we should make our own association. We can name it the Frozen Dream Association and use Art's face as our emblem. After the duel he should be pretty famous. I'm sure all the freshmen would join, and then we can make Art show off a bit more and..."
Everyone stared at him. What was this next-level fangirl? It did not match up at all with their previous image of Soran...
Fortunately, the waiter chose that moment to return with their food, interrupting Youran's intense glare she had leveled at Art for almost a minute now. The waiter brought out Youran and Art's dishes first, gently setting them on the table and sending mouth-watering aromas wafting up into the air. Martin and Jake's normal sized ramen bowls arrived soon after, then the waiter disappeared.
After a brief pause, he came walking back slowly, carrying an enormous bowl of steaming hot ramen that he set on the table with a muted thunk and a sigh of relief.