Chapter Twenty-Eight: First Day In The Academy
The opening ceremony ended, and currently, I am inside my classroom (1-2). Surprisingly even Artemis is in my class too. When I first saw her, I waved at her a few minutes back, but she ignored me even though she saw me waving at her. I guess I did hurt her pride back then, "sigh."
But at least the classrooms are neat and clean, and they have maintained it. The seats and desks are like new ones. The blackboard is wide, with enough space to cover the 'Introduction to Magic" book's content. Well, overall, it is good.
Minutes later, our instructor walks into our classroom. His entry was intimidating and was enough to catch all our attention. Everyone took their seats, and our instructor started speaking.
"A very good morning to everyone, and welcome to Magica Academy. I am instructor Lars, and I will be your class teacher. Before we introduce ourselves to each other, I would like to talk about few important things."
"…. You already know things that will happen in your first years, including things you will be learning and other events. Right now, I will be explaining the first event that will happen soon. It is called 'Festivity of Coming.' This event is the most important as it marks the beginning of your secondary years in the academy.
".... You either have to create a party or join one of the parties. Party should only consist of a maximum of five or a minimum of three. After having a party, you will be taken to a labyrinth on the day of the event. This labyrinth is made by the professors and other excellent mages, and it is totally safe. It will be a huge labyrinth where there will be a tower in the middle of it. You will have a total of three days to get either near to tower or into the tower. By the end of the third day, the one who has control over the tower will win.
"…. The more detailed information and schedule will be given soon to you guys. And for today, there won't be any lectures or anything. So, enjoy for today."
Hearing that, everyone started screaming out of enjoyment, well not everyone but yeah. Our instructor then exists the classroom, and other's also do so. Party, huh? To be honest, I want to create my own party to teach my party members few things and make them stronger for what's coming.
Yes, this is also one of the reasons I joined the academy so that I can gather strong comrades who can fight along my side. Now, who all I want in my party is the question. Hmm...
...Artemis, Charlene and I don't know. I need to go and scout the whole academy for that. No... Wait! There's one. Liam might join my party if I ask him, but I need to find him since I don't know anything about his classroom or so.
Even so, I need to ask Artemis if she is willing to join me. She is still sitting here, so I will go and ask her.
I then walk over to her seat to ask her. She had already noticed me coming to her. As I was about to speak, she rejected me, saying," NO."
Oye, you didn't even let me speak, and you already rejected me. "Sigh."
"At least let me speak," I asked her.
She finally looked at me and replied, "I know that you are asking me to join your party, but I don't want to join yours."
She totally hates me now…. But I won't give up!!
"Then which party are you willing to join?" I asked her
"I haven't decided any yet."
"Then why not at least give it a try?"
"That…. I – I don't want to join yours anyway."
"Fine…. But I am not giving up! So why not make a deal?"
"Deal?"
"Yes, If I win the 'Festivity of Coming,' will you join my party?"
This is a bit reckless deal, and I am fully aware of it. But If I want Artemis to join my party, then I need to try hard.
She chuckled and replied, "By win, you mean taking the first place, right?"
"Of course, that what I mean."
She then stood up from her seat and said, "If you win, I will join your party for sure, and I promise you that."
She pointed her finger at me and said, "But you are not gonna win this. I am not sure is it because you won the race, but you are overconfident, and you will lose this event. YOU ARE TOTALLY UNDERESTIMATING EVERYONE ELSE."
Saying that, she walks away and exists the classroom. Nevertheless, she is not wrong, and also, I am not overconfident, but if I want you, I will go any farther to get you in my party. Even if it means taking first place in all events.
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Today there are no lectures or anything, and I have nothing to do, and I also don't know what I am going to do now. I am just walking around the halls and wandering here there.
Okay! Let me tell you about this party system which is there in our academy. The party system was invented by Diego Jimenez, the strongest mage in the continent and the only one to reach the purple mana core. He invented this party system, and the purpose was to unite everyone. He said that "If you understand other magic, it will also help you know your magic." The party system changed the academy a lot in a good way.
Now there are many options when it comes to joining a party. Some parties have a long history in this academy. Two of them are Blue Rose and Red Rose. These two parties have the longest history, and they are also the strongest ones in the academy.
There are more like Knights of Magica, Crimson flame, Sapphire Rose, The Nobles and Guardians of Magica.
These parties mentioned above are sponsored either by professors or by any other entities. Which means they have more funding and other special privileges. It's totally unfair. Nevertheless, if your party wins any event (organized by the academy), you might also get these special privileges.
Just now, I realized I made an impossible deal with Artemis. "Sigh" Please, God, show me the way.
While I was wandering around and thinking about things, I saw a crowd to my right. Out of curiosity, I went there to see what was happening. Two students were about to duel with a sword, and both of them were first years. I was watching them as they took their stance. My eyes fell on him. Medium hair with cyan colour, his height should be around mine, and he is taking a stance of dual sword user when he is just using one.
The bell rings, and they both rush towards each other. Oh, by the way, both of them are using a wooden sword. Cyan hair is faster than his opponent's, and when the distance closes in, he slightly swifts to the right side with ease, holds his wooden sword in both his hands, and tries landing a hit.
Unfortunately, his opponent somehow blocked it. They continued their duelling. Meanwhile, I thought that I knew him. With his agility and the way, he is fighting, I have seen him. Especially he is fighting like how a dual sword user does, and there aren't many who can use the dual sword. I have met a man who uses a dual sword just like him in my previous life. No, it's pretty much the same.
One minute passed, and no results yet. But this time, cyan hair is getting dominated by his opponent. It's weird. His opponent shouldn't be that hard, but why? Cyan hair gets back and then says, "I give up! You win."
It was quite a surprise to hear that. At least there is no rule saying 'one cannot quit a duel,' so it's fine, I guess. But his opponent is not satisfied with that. After saying that, cyan hair turns around, showing his back to his enemy.
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CYAN HAIR's POV:
Why am I even fighting him? Yeah, I remember. I am forced to fight this guy because I am a commoner. I don't want to fight – But I got no choice. There are a lot of people watching me – us, I mean.
I will just surrender. That's better. Yes, I will just give up and let him win. By doing so, I can run away from this crowd.
I had decided what I needed to do now, so I stepped back and threw my wooden sword. I said, "I give up! You win."
I had given up, and you won, which means I won't have to fight. Can I go now, right? Yes, I am leaving this place now.
I had turned around, showing my back to my opponent, which is the worst thing one can do. I let my guard down. When I looked at the crowd, their expression was different, as if they were seeing someone cheating, maybe? In that instant, a gust of wind flowed on me, even though the place was closed and there was no window. I saw a glimpse of someone's shadow passed from my side with that wind.
Following that wind's trail, I turned around and saw a student around my height standing in front of me.
"You won, then why attack him? "That student asked my opponent, who was about attack me when I turned my back.