Arthur, Minerva, and Ray soon reached the iron gates of Cardinal Academy. They showed their invitation letters to the guard.
He directed them to the auditorium where they saw the other new students gathering.
They were amazed when they entered the premises of the academy. The main building is in the center of a huge expanse of land.
The auditorium and stadium are to the right of the main building. To its left is the main headquarters of the Cardinal Knights.
The headquarters in the other nations are under this main headquarters.
The main academy building was a huge castle with tall towers. It was so majestic that it appeared to have its own presence.
"This is an architectural marvel.", Minerva said as she gazed at the huge arches and towers. "Indeed it is.", Arthur agreed.
"Yeah. It'll be too bad if one of those towers blew up.", Ray piped in. "Ray!", Minerva looked horrified.
"Just a joke. Jeez, Minerva."
Arthur sighed. He doesn't want to be labeled as a terrorist on his first day at the academy. "Come on. Let's get to the auditorium. It's almost time for the ceremony.", he said to Minerva who was strangling Ray.
Both of them nodded and they entered the auditorium. They found seats in the back row.
Arthur counted more than a hundred students in the auditorium. He saw many seats on the stage, 'Looks like the squad captains sit there', he thought.
Everyone was talking with their friends when a tall, bespectacled woman wearing dark green robes walked onto the stage. The talking slowly subsided.
The woman took out a brooch and pinned it to her collar. "That's an enchanted item to amplify sound. I made some of them a few months ago", Ray whispered.
The woman cleared her throat and started speaking, "Welcome to Cardinal Academy. I am Rose Waver, an instructor. I have been chosen to welcome you all to this prestigious institution.", her voice crisp and amplified by the brooch, resonated throughout the auditorium.
Instructor Rose continued, "I now welcome the captains of the 25 Cardinal Knight squads to this wonderful occasion.", everyone started applauding as the squad captains walked into the auditorium.
Arthur could feel the presence of all the captains together. Even though they're suppressed, he could feel it weighing on him. He gulped, 'So this is the power of captains.', he thought.
He spotted his sister walking beside Jack.
"There's Jack Raven and Alice Night!"
"I heard they're the youngest squad captains!"
"Captain Night is so elegant!"
"I wonder if they're dating?"
These faint whispers reached Arthur's ears, 'Damn both of them are popular', he thought. The captains reached the stage and sat in their respective seats. He noticed Alice was a little red in the face. He smiled.
He almost forgot that Alice has enhanced hearing like him.
Instructor Rose continued, "Now let's welcome our headmaster, the Air Cardinal, Leonard Zephyrus!"
Suddenly it became really windy in the auditorium as a powerful presence descended on the stage. Arthur felt overwhelmed.
He saw a man in his forties descending onto the stage. He had light green hair, green eyes that looked like emeralds, a short beard, and a buff build.
He was wearing a light green suit that matched his hair and a white cloak that had the wind symbol inside a pentagon.
He landed gracefully in front of the captains. They stood in attention. He looked at them and smiled brightly, "Jeez guys, loosen up will you? You look like statues", he laughed cheerfully.
"HUH?", Ray's mouth was open. Everyone was surprised at this cheerful attitude.
Arthur heard about the Wind Cardinal and he assumed Leonard Zephyrus was a serene old man with a flowing white beard and spectacles.
The headmaster turned to the new students and flashed his brightest smile, "Welcome new students! As you have heard, I am the headmaster of this academy, so I have good aspirations for you guys."
"You may already know this, but let me say it again. You guys are assigned to six classes based on your performance in the entrance examination."
"Many say the S class students are the best and the Special class A students are losers. But to me this notion is absurd."
"Sure, some are talented while some are not. But it's the responsibility of the gifted to help their less talented friends."
"Well. That's enough to say. Honestly, I'm really bad at speeches.", he smiled sheepishly. "Well then, hope you have a good time here. Thank you.", he finished speaking and went to his seat.
Everyone applauded. "Looks like we have an interesting headmaster.", Minerva said. "Yeah.", Arthur agreed.
Instructor Rose resumed to speak, "Thank you, headmaster.", she then informed them about the different rules, which was a lot.
Arthur was nodding off to sleep when it ended. Instructor Rose said one final thing.
"Now then, there is a teleportation stone underneath your seats. Just hold it and say the name of your class and you will be teleported to your classroom. Your weapons and other belongings will be brought to your dorm rooms."
"Students are required to wear uniforms from tomorrow onwards, so you all will receive yours tomorrow morning in your dorms. That's all, thank you.", she finished with a smile.
There was some shuffling as students took out the teleportation stone. Arthur took out his stone. It is smooth and rounded with a turquoise hue.
He looked at Ray and Minerva. They nodded, "Special class A.", they said in unison. Arthur felt a tug on his stomach as the stone glowed green.
The light enveloped him and with a pop, he found himself seated in a classroom.
It looked like a small lecture hall with fixed desks in four rows arranged semicircularly facing a huge blackboard, light streamed through the huge windows of the castle into the room.
He heard a pop as Ray and Minerva appeared beside him. "Looks like we are the first to be here.", Ray said looking around. They were seated on the third row.
Soon other students appeared in their places.
A young man with a huge muscular physique with bronze skin and short-cropped hair appeared in the seat behind Arthur.
He saw two elves, a brother and a sister, possibly twins appear on the front row. Both had bright blonde hair, pale skin, slim builds, and pointed ears.
Another pair of twins appeared in the second row. They are sisters, one has long bright red hair and crimson eyes while the other has pale blue hair and sapphire blue eyes. They both have slender builds but the red-haired one was slightly tanned while her sister was fair.
Another girl appeared at the corner of the last row.
She had short white hair tied in a ponytail, grey eyes, and a slim figure. Arthur noticed that her eyes are gentle, in contrast to his sister's stormy ones.
He counted five girls and four boys. Nine students.
Just as he finished counting, a sudden flash lit up and a screaming boy crashed onto the floor.
"Shit! Stupid stone. I said S class! Why bring me here?!", he yelled. "Looks like the stone will teleport you to the class you got regardless of you telling it.", Minerva noted.
'Damn she is sharp', Arthur thought.
"Seems like it. Oh Look, he's the noble guy we saw at the gate.", Ray nodded at him. Everyone was looking at the guy who just fell. He was still yelling when he noticed the eyes on him.
"What are you commoners looking at!", he shouted.
"Nothing. Just a spoiled kid wailing at not having things go his way.", Arthur responded drily.
The guy looked at him, "You!", recognition showing on his face. Arthur nodded. "How dare you talk to me like that. Do you know who I am?", he demanded.
"Damien McLeon. Your driver basically announced it.", Arthur replied. The other students were watching in suspense as these two glared at each other.
"You want a fight?", Damien shot up from the ground, he has a tall buff build and brown hair. His face was red with anger.
"Nah. Just wanted to meet you.", Arthur replied nonchalantly.
"Why you!", Damien clenched his fist, blue lightning scattered from the fist. "Oh great. More lightning.", Arthur muttered, remembering the spark wolves.
But before Damien could attack, a soft cry filled the classroom.
Arthur saw a flash of silver. Soon everyone was looking at the teacher's desk.
Perched on it is a majestic falcon with pure silver feathers, a silver beak, black talons, and intelligent black eyes. It looked at each of them and chirped as if it was gauging them.
Arthur had only seen these birds in pictures and art.
"That's a Moon Falcon.", the blue-haired girl whispered. "It's so beautiful.", Minerva said in awe.
"But how did it come here?", Ray asked. Arthur wondered about it.
Moon Falcons are rare. What is one doing in the classroom? Let alone in the academy?
"Those feathers look amazing.", Ray got up, probably thinking of stroking the feathers, and was about to go down when he was stopped by Minerva
"I don't think it's a good idea.", she nodded at the falcon.
It was staring at Ray with those intelligent eyes. Its wings opened.
In a flash it was flapping around Ray's head, pecking at him and screeching. He covered his head to protect himself.
The others jumped back in surprise. Arthur tried to capture the bird but got a few pecks of his own.
"Stop it, Selene. I don't want my students to think I have a terrorizing falcon.", a voice said in the doorway. They looked at the source of the voice and gasped.
Standing in the doorway was a young man in his early twenties. He had messy long black hair, porcelain skin, deep purple eyes, and a tall slim figure.
He wore a grey long coat over a brown shirt and black pants. A silver earring shaped like two small feathers hung from his left ear.
Arthur was shocked. This person looked like him but a few years older and more handsome. "Hey, Arthur. Is he kind of like your secret brother?", Minerva whispered.
He shook his head, "Never met him in my life."
The newcomer smiled, "Selene, come over here. Why don't you forgive him for irking you.", The falcon stopped attacking Ray and flew over to the young man. She perched on his extended arm.
"Sorry about that guys. Selene can be a bit feisty.", he said apologetically while rubbing the falcon on her head.
He walked over to the teacher's desk, "Why are you guys standing there? Sit down.", he said. They all took their seats. Damien went over to the back row.
"No way. Is this guy our instructor? He's young.", Ray said rubbing his head. "Probably a genius like Arthur's sister.", Minerva shrugged. Ray and Arthur stared at her.
"What?", she demanded.
"Well, it was strange that you, a genius would acknowledge another genius.", Ray said. "What's wrong with that?", She asked. Both of them shook their heads.
The newcomer smiled, "Welcome to Special class A. My name is Seventeen and I will be your instructor for the next three years. I hope we have an awesome time together."