As Allen sat down for class, what Adam told him yesterday was in his head: to look out for what is coming Monday. So far however, nothing has happened. At least, until now.
"Alright you all, feel glad because there's no class for today," Ms. Florence suddenly announced, actually standing up at the podium in the front of the room.
"Wait, no class?," Thomas had quickly turned his head towards her and enthusiastically asked.
"All five of you will need to follow me outside the classroom," she explained, ignoring Thomas' question.
Allen, Thomas and Cecily all looked at each other, wondering what could be happening.
The three of them, including the other two F ranks behind them, all followed Ms. Florence outside of the room, and down the hallway to wherever they could be going.
This might be to what Adam was talking about before, Allen thought. Could this also be in relation to why our club meetings have been temporarily suspended?
"Where do you think we are going?," Thomas asked.
"I'm not sure, your guess is as good as mine," Cecily responded.
"Guess we'll just have to wait and see," Allen suggested. They both agreed, but you could tell Thomas' curiosity was getting to him.
Allen had looked behind him for a moment to look at the two other F ranked students in their class following them.
The 2nd year boy seemed to be off in his own world, looking at the walls instead of looking straight ahead. You'd think he might run into something if he wasn't paying attention.
The first year girl, who always wore a hood and somehow got away with it, seemed to be once again staring at Allen. At this point in time Allen wanted to ask her what she wanted, but he felt like it's best if he left it be.
They had walked down the hallway for what seemed like minutes, until they arrived outside a classroom. As Allen suspected, it was a first year, rank D classroom.
Ms. Florence opened the door, and didn't even bother holding it open for all the students. The five of them shuffled into a classroom a little larger than their own, but with a full class of students.
Near the front of the classroom, Allen noticed Adam, Sybil and Oliver. Adam had noticed them, giving them a smile and a quick wave.
The rest of the class looked in odd interest at the sudden entrance of F ranked students. It was almost as if they had no clue that this would be happening today. Perhaps Adam was the only one who got a tip?
Their teacher, Mr. Lyon, seemed to be waiting impatiently, in the front behind the podium. He saw them come in and acknowledged them with a nod.
"Mr. Lyon," Ms. Florence greeted him respectfully. Her face said she obviously didn't care she saw him, but went out of her way to be respectful, which surprised Allen. Perhaps their teacher had some respect in her?
"Ms. Florence, glad to make your acquaintance," he gave her a nod.
"You five," she turned towards them. "Stay here until further notice"
And just as they were about to acknowledge her, she swiftly left without another word.
"Alright then," Mr. Lyon spoke up after clearing his throat. "You five can go take some empty seats near the back of the room"
He pointed towards the back of the room, which conveniently had exactly five seats near the wall. Luckily it wasn't too far from the front of the room, as the room wasn't that large.
"See, look at that! We're already getting the special VIP treatment!," Thomas pointed with his thumb towards the seats with a snarky grin on his face.
"Terrastone, quiet and make your way back with the rest of your… peers. We have very little time today that I am not keen on you infringing upon," Mr. Lyon snapped, surprisingly. Just what was getting on him today?
A few of the students in the room snickered quietly at his response.
"Yes sir," Thomas complied, following everyone else back in their seats.
They each took their seats, with the three of them sitting towards the back left of the room. Cecily sat furthest left, towards the window, with Thomas next and Allen in the middle of the five seats. The other two F ranks took the remaining two seats in the back right of the room.
"Man, look at these desks!," Thomas exclaimed, rubbing his hands in a circular motion all over the top of it.
"Tom," Allen asked, "What are you-"
"See, not a singular spec of dust!," he continued, showing his finger to Allen. There truly was no dust on his finger that Allen could see.
"You're right," Allen said, checking his own desk. "Nothing like our own desks in our classroom"
"Whether the desks or better are not doesn't matter if you don't study anyways," Cecily remarked, rolling her eyes.
"Lily!"
"Silence everyone!," Mr. Lyon announced, which caused everyone to suddenly stop their conversations. "We have a few guests coming in today, which normally you D-ranks don't get, so all of you better treat them with the utmost respect!"
As everyone began to murmur between themselves who the guests could be, Mr. Lyon was already holding the door open.
Two individuals walked in, both guys wearing distinct outfits, or uniforms to be precise. Allen recognized those uniforms, the same ones he sees magical knights wear when he sees them while out in London.
While both seemed to be in their early twenties, each of them wore a different colored uniform. One had a blue colored one, which probably meant he was a water mage. He had very dark blonde hair and dark blue eyes. His dark blue eyes complimented the light blue uniform colors, but there seemed to be a dead-look in his eyes the whole time.
The second magical knight had a brown colored uniform, which most likely meant he was an earth mage. He had very dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. Something about him tugged at Allen. He seemed very familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
As Allen was trying to wrap his head around who it could be, he seemed to look directly at Allen with a smile on his face for a few seconds, then directed his attention back to the entirety of the classroom. The two of them waited for the classroom to quiet down before starting.
"Greetings students, we are magical knights from the magical knights divisions," the guy with the earth uniform spoke.
Murmurs once again went throughout the room as they finally confirmed that they were indeed magical knights.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves," he continued. He looked over at his partner, who seemed to give him a signal. "Very well, I will go first"
"I am Philip Lycott, a division II rank C mage. All of you can just refer to me as Mr. Lycott, or Philip, I don't mind," he smiled as he looked throughout the room.
I knew it, Allen thought. I have met him before!
Philip was the same mage that Allen encountered while touring England with Tom and Lily for the first time, several months ago. When he was looking at the Mage's Fountain by himself, Philip had approached him.
"Well, are you going to introduce yourself?," Philip looked at his partner.
"I suppose so," he said, quiet enough to where Allen almost missed what he had said. "My name is Jerome Mason. Division II Rank D. That is all"
Once he was done, he stepped back, letting Philip have the floor again, whether he wanted it or not.
"What are divisions?," Thomas whispered to himself, loud enough where Allen could hear.
Almost to answer his question, Philip continued. "Some of you may know what the magical knights divisions are, but I will explain for anyone who doesn't"
"The Magical Knights Divisions are what you guys join if you graduate and become a magical knight. You are usually put into a squad of two others, who can all vary in element, but are usually around the same rank as you. You normally begin as division I, which is not to be confused with your magic ranking"
"Magic ranking, is what you all have, which in this case would be D rank for the majority of you, and F rank for a few of you. This ranking is based upon your overall magical power"
"Division rank however, is dependent on your status and contribution as a magical knight. You start at I, and can work all the way to V"
So if both Philip and Jerome got to division II, that would mean they could go up a total of three more times, to V, Allen thought to himself.
"Though, going up the ranks is a lot harder the higher you go. Rank V is by far the hardest to get to; only the best of the best become Rank V"
"Anyways, back to finishing our introductions. We are on a squad of three people, which our 3rd squad member is currently out on other business"
Philip sure does talk a lot, but then again Jerome not really offering any help here, Allen thought to himself.
"Now then, I should probably explain why the both of us are here, alongside the rest of the magical knights in the other classrooms," he began to explain.
He went on to explain about how each year, the academy holds the Magical Knight Training Program. Students from the academy get to go with actual magical knights around the city of London, so they can learn what their jobs will be if they graduate and become a magical knight.
This happens only once a year for only a week, more precisely four days. Day one would be tomorrow, and would go on for the next three days.
He told them that they should be lucky this year, because normally D ranks, and especially F ranks, almost never get to participate in the training program. Philip says he is glad that this year he gets to be one of the ones helping the D and F ranks learn what it is like to be a magical knight.
After Philip was done explaining, the excitement in the room seemed to go up larger than usual. Each of the students were conversing with each other.
"Anything else you would like to add, Jerome?," Philip looked at his partner.
"Nope, just what Philip explained," he brushed his hand at him.
"Don't worry about him, he's not that much of a talker," he laughed. "But I can assure you that he will be as helpful as I am during this training program"
"Since tomorrow is our first official day, today is used for any concerns all of you may have. Don't worry though, I can assure you that all of this was planned in advance. You will be accompanied by two official magical knights, who will protect you in case things go wrong. We will also have Mr. Lyon with us, just in case. Are there any questions or concerns we may address?"
All throughout the room, students began to ask questions about the training program they will be doing. Philip did his best to answer the questions, with occasionally Jerome adding to it.
"Man, this sounds all so exciting! I already can't wait!," Thomas said, basically jumping from excitement in his seat.
"Well, this will be a great experience, but we will be losing precious class time…," Cecily said, concerned.
"Oh, don't worry Lily! This will be beneficial for all of us! Didn't you hear him say we should be lucky we even get to do this?"
"Yeah I did, but…"
"Exactly! Worse case scenario, you can just bring your stupid textbooks with you!," Thomas enthusiastically suggested.
"I'm sorry, what did you say about my textbooks?," Cecily asked with a warm smile, but you could see her underlying anger rising each second.
"Wait, Lily! I promise I-"
While all the students were asking questions and Thomas and Lily were getting in their own altercation, Allen was having his own thoughts about everything he just learned.
This is definitely what Adam was referring to back at the restaurant, but it looks like he didn't know what it was, he thought, as he had seen Adam's stunned expressions from when the magical knights first entered to now.
This must also be why the clubs have been temporarily suspended. They must do that in order to give extra time for the training program.
In order for more information, I suppose I will have to stop by William's office. I haven't been able to get in contact with him since the last time I saw him, but I will for sure find him somehow.
Either way, I am really excited for an opportunity like this. To see magical knights up and close? This is what I have been waiting for!
"Are there any other questions?," Philip asked the room, his sudden loud voice getting Allen's attention. "No? Then I suppose I will see all of you tomorrow, in this same room, at the normal time you come in for class!"
And with that, Philip and Jerome had left the classroom, almost as fast as they had walked in.
"Guess we are going to have fun the next four days!," Thomas stood up in excitement.
And indeed, they will. But what is coming that no one is expecting is only the start of what will become of the rest of their academy year.