"Firstly, some general guidelines. Classes will only properly start tomorrow, so after this introduction, you are free to roam the campus as you see fit. You won't have the usual Wednesday Breakday this week, so be sure to attend to your classes on time. Do keep in mind that there are places you don't have clearance to visit, and there are places you simply can't. Use your common sense, and don't break any rules. I will be sending the handbook directly to your emails, so you can check all the details there.
As you all should know, you will also be assigned a dormitory and roommates. You are obliged to check-in by 1800 today. The details should arrive before noon in your emails.
Now, as for your classes this semester... They were strictly selected to optimise your knowledge and magic advancement, so they were chosen automatically. The other terms have classes separated into mandatory and optional, and I strongly suggest you proceed with the recommended classes if you wish to graduate and become an official mage in 5 years or less. Not following the ideal courses might delay you due to course requirements. Optional classes will be available from your next semester, and Research Groups from your third year.
I'll teach one of the required courses this semester, Mage Fundamentals I, here at this auditorium, every Monday, 900 on the clock. Since it is a major pre-requisite, you won't be able to take any second semester courses without it, so do attend my classes and pass my exam. By the way, I also teach Mage Fundamentals II and III, and a few other subjects from other years.
I will now invite the other professors to present themselves and their courses."
This... doesn't this sound a lot like university? I'm really going to have to study a lot, won't I?
Unlike anyone else at the Academy, the next professor was wearing her own style. She had a pink pelt coat over her shoulders, a frolicky white blouse, a pink bag, white tights, and yellow high sandals. Her hair was long, curly and dyed white. The barely 30-years-old cheerful professor stepped up.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Lessie Cameron, you can call me Professor Lessie. It's great to see so many new students eager to learn, isn't it? Ahh, youth, youth, youth... I will teach you guys Algebra I, Algebra II and Statistics I. I also teach Statistics II, coming up soon, Optimisation and Number Theory! And maybe Complex Theory too! Check your timetable to find more details. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon!"
It was certainly a weird combination. So much fluff in such complex courses created a strange contrast in my mind.
The next professor came, this time wearing a casual shirt, shorts and birken style sandals.
"Hey... I'm Matias Dotson, I'll be teaching Classical Mechanics, Nuclear Physics and Eletrodynamics I this semester. Let's have a good time, yea?"
Matias had long and straight brown hair, and seemed like a laid back man, or maybe just lazy.
That professor was saying some strange things. I'd had one year studying physics in high-school, but I can assure you I don't know much about physics, not to say nuclear physics or electro... what was it again?
"Hey guys, I'm Kartz, you can call me Professor Kartz, and I'll be lecturing you Measurement, Laboratory I and Chemistry I. Good to meet you. Likewise, you can check the schedule in your handbook as well as course descriptions and requirements."
A couple other professors presented themselves, and then Fatima was back on stage.
"Some of the other professors couldn't make it here this time, so you are going to have to meet them later during their classes, but the gist of your courses are here. As you can see, you have a lot of classes, so besides training your magic you will also have to study a lot. I'm expecting great things from you, so don't slack off!"
"..."
"Alright. Professors, feel free to resume your normal activities." She then turned back to the students. "Like I said previously, I teach Mage Fundamentals, and since it's such an important discipline, we will start right away. Some of you might already know about some of the things I'll teach, but it's important to revise. Moreover, you should record this or take notes, because it might be on the exam."
I had my keyboard out, but hadn't written anything yet. As a matter of fact, it was usually best practice to write down the important bits of what the teacher says, but record the whole lesson just in case. That was apparently the way to take the most out of studying.
I heard one of my classmates comment:
"Bah. My sister said this was the most boring class ever... can I leave?"
Someone else laughed.
"My father said the same thing. It should be common knowledge for us."
The other boy looked in my direction and said:
"Might not be common knowledge for all of us, though. There are a lot of commoners this year."
Several students chuckled.
Was that the rumored... bullying? Hmpf, I don't know the other commoners, but let's see if it's common knowledge or not!
The professor resumed the lesson.
"I'll tell you a story." Fatima started. "There was once a very powerful mage named Bedrick. He had achieved legendary strength. His domain of plasma magic had reached such a high level that no one he faced could last more than one strike from him."
The professor pressed a button on a controller, and behind her, a movie played. It displayed the mage Bedrick, shooting something like laser beams at armies, war vessels and the like.
"His reputation grew, his enemies fell, and he eventually became the king of his country. His arrogance had reached the sky."
The screen showed Bedrick dressed in golden robes, seated on an opulent throne. Thousands bent their knees before him.
"Bedrick thought that he was Heaven's Chosen, a figure chosen by the gods to unite the human nations and take control of the masses. And thus, he gathered his army and initiated a massive invasion on the east."
The screen now showed an enourmous, fiery battlefield.
"His army was greatly successful, and expanded his kingdom more than any previous king. But he was relentless in his pursuit of control, he wouldn't stop at just that. And then, one day..."
I saw a familiar figure.
"...King Bedrick I received a visitor in his audience chamber..."
My eyes went wide. That man-
"...A simple monk from a Buddhist temple, asking for peace and for the end of the invasion."
The screen showed a bald monk, calmly reciting something very quietly. Then, it changed back to the king, who was laughing with disdain.
"King Bedrick laughed for a long time, not stopping even as he sentenced the monk to death."
I knew what was coming.
"But..."
The monk opened his eyes, and slowly lowered his head. His left hand was still raised, straight in front of his chest, and his right hand raised to grab his red discipline-beaded necklace.
"...he messed with who he shouldn't have."
The bearing shone, and a wave of yellow translucent energy spread...
*BOOOOM*
...completely annihilating the entire citadel.
I'm certain now! That monk... it's the one I saw in the Second Appraisal! The one who was desperately running away from the enormous sword!