(Thursday, Morning)
The angels had dressed up in their uniforms and ate an excellent breakfast. They were now ready to head to class. Alicia handed a few books to Kyle, and he stored them in his dimensional rift. These books were the homework they had received yesterday. Everybody had finished the work with relative ease, so they didn't worry about ending up in trouble for it. Today would be the day for the business practical test. The angels still did not know what would happen, but they were excited to find out. They left the room neatly arranged and headed for the statue that teleported them to the academy courtyard.
With a bright flash, they found themselves in the academy courtyard, and several students were walking around. The angels walked towards the classes building as they talked. The conversation was mostly about what the test might be like.
They reached the building and headed for their classroom, while coming across several students from all walks of life. They eventually reached their class and entered to find only a few students inside. It seemed not that many people were enthusiastic to arrive early. There were a few people that the angels recognized who waved, while the rest simply minded their own business. The angels headed for their seats with excited expressions. Nanette had arrived early and was reading a book before she realized the angels' presences. She politely greeted them before returning to her book and ignoring everything around her once more.
The angels settled down and talked among themselves for a while before a certain someone made his presence known.
"You guys ready for the test!? I know I am."
Deloris walked into view with a smug smile and bright eyes. He seemed to be in a bright mood and right next to him was somebody the angels hadn't talked to in a while. Ezekiel was scratching his head awkwardly as he avoided the angels' gazes. Deloris was completely different as he helped himself to their table and sat on it. He looked to be in an excellent mood that day, but the angels held more interest in Ezekiel.
He let out a sigh as he finally turned towards them and answered their curious gazes.
"The big guy refused to let me sleep through the preps. I have to admit I would rather sleep right now."
He looked as if he was struggling to control his tone. He really was not in a jovial mood, but the angels took no offence. They soon started talking about what the test would be about and it quickly escalated into a totally unrelated conversation.
"Maybe they want us to try smuggling some goods?"
"Then that would be a crime, not a test..."
Deloris laughed at his own suggestion, and Ezekiel simply gave him a worried expression. It seemed they had a pretty good relationship. Soon all the students from class 1-AR had arrived and taken their seats. Preps would last about ten more minutes so everybody was having talks with their friends or doing a last-minute reading. Their class hadn't chosen a class rep yet, and it was unanimously decided that whoever got the highest grade by the end of the semester would gain the position. This was a tradition carried out since the first generation of students in the academy.
Class 1-AR composed of powerful and weak students, all having unique backgrounds. It gave nobody an advantage over everybody else so that the competition would be fair. If a student was abusing their rank to have an advantage, then they would immediately face expulsion unless proven otherwise. This was a rule enforced by the Disciplinary Committee. It was an independent group within the academy that was given the unique privilege of enforcing discipline in the academy.
The head of the committee was one of the 5 eighth years, and this alone made the disciplinary committee a force to be reckoned with.
The ranks of class 1-AR were as follows;
4-SSS ranks
1-SS rank
5-S ranks
15-A ranks
20-B ranks
8-C ranks
7-D ranks
10-E ranks
These were all the ranks determined by the entrance exams. It wasn't unheard of for weak students to rise in ranks, so they gave everybody equal training despite their strengths. Of course, there were those people who believed their entry ranks made them kings and queens, but it didn't take long for somebody to put them back in their place.
The angels didn't really care about their ranks, as they were more interested in several other things. Eventually, preps had ended and in the distance, they could hear the academy bell. The students settled down as someone opened the classroom door to reveal the business studies professor. Their timing was a bit too perfect, but everybody kept quiet as the professor placed her items on the desk. She then turned towards the blackboard and dusted it a bit.
Everybody watched her closely, as they expected when she would declare what the test would be. She soon finished dusting and turned towards the students with a calm face. She coughed a bit to clear her throat and began her talk.
"Today we shall excuse you from your classes as the academy has arranged a special test for all first years. It will be a test to last over the period of a month at a minimum and all information regarding the test we will inform you at the auditorium. So please walk out in a single file as we all head to the auditorium, we should leave behind no student."
After saying that, she turned towards the door and gestured for the students to walk out. She watched as the students formed a single line and walked out as she counted heads. It seemed they required her to make sure all students were present. Soon everybody had left the class with nobody being left behind. The professor walked right at the back of the line, and it didn't take long for their line to come across two more lines. It seemed there were over 200 students doing this practice test and the academy was trying to keep everything organized. The lines were heading towards the academy auditorium that was separated from the other academy buildings because it generated a lot of noise. It stood as a giant cube-like structure with tall glass windows and beautiful artistry on its walls. It had a beautiful garden surrounding it in large rings of different colours. The angels admired the sight before disciplinary committee members ushered them into the building. Everything was done in an orderly fashion, despite the hushed whispers here and there amongst the students. There was a large stage at the front of the auditorium and they arranged seats like rings around the stage.
It didn't take too long for students to be shown their seats, and now all that was left was for professors to tell the students to be silent. When they said and did all, the curtains for the tall windows were closed and the auditorium entered the darkness. Candles were lit suddenly, and the warm orange glow illuminated the stage.
Standing on the stage was a single girl who was playing with her golden locks. She looked to be not much older than the first years. She was also wearing the academy uniform, hinting she was a student, but none of the first years recognised her.
The girl eventually tired of all the weird stares and let out a sigh. She clapped her hands twice to bring the whispers to silence, and it worked immediately. They now focused all attention on her.
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