(Disclaimer : Every name, location or detail used in this work are all fictional.)
Right after dean Alfos, a group of individuals in robes appeared at the stage and set up some tables. These individuals were staff of the academy who were assigned to assist the dean in coordinating the activities of the test.
From the dean's speech, the theoretical test would begin in fifteen minutes. So, the students had the choice to either register themselves as group leaders now or do so right after the test. The requirement for doing so however, was that they had to be in the top 50 spot. While there was no official ranking yet, the informal rankings made by the students themselves helped them have an idea of their places. The top 20 in the informal rankings would definitely be the same as the top 20 of the academy's unofficial rankings, and while it wasn't down to the detail, it was still sufficient. Only the top 50 spots weren't certain, so those who flt that they had the chance and were also interested in being group leaders decided to try their luck.
It had already been two and a half years and in this period, the students had already gotten to know each other and created cliques amongst themselves. As long as a group was entirely consisted of members from the same cliques, their chances of success would be higher than the rest. For this reason, the top rankers in each clique decided to go for the role of group leader.
"I'll think about this later."
Asher yawned before heading to an isolated part of the arena to wait for the staff to direct them to the test centre once the fifteen minutes were up.
. . .
In the First Dawn academy, the students were taught on various topics and subjects, not just limited to magical studies. Carrying the title of the best academy in the kingdom, the First Dawn academy had to educate it students on various practical knowledge. The history of the kingdom, geography of the kingdom and its neighbours, culture, language studies and so on were all part of the curriculum.
The first year of the students basically dealt with the introductory aspects of the above mentioned topic as well as the topics under their magical studies. During the second year, they now went deeper into these topics and knew more about them. At the end of the second year, it was expected that every student knew how to speak at least two languages properly; the kingdom's official language Klut, which was the same as those of the Kingdom of Terreans, as well as the most popular language of the continent, Briton.
By the third year, the students also studied a third language which was more commonly used in the northern part of the Southern region of the continent; the area closer to the centre. The reason for this was because that region was the area occupied by the top forces of the 13 kingdoms, the top three empires. Knowing those languages would help one carry out diplomatic activities and similar actions which the kingdom could pass as a mission to any of the graduates.
3 hours later, the theoretical test was finally over and the students returned to the arena. Unlike the previous time however, there was now a floating screen displaying the names of the top 50 students on the unofficial ranking to make the process go faster. As long as one desired to create their own team, they could simply check for their name on the list and then head over to the staff sitting behind the table at the centre.
Students that already belonged to cliques and were in the top 50 began to make their way towards the registration tables while the others stood by the side and waited. However, not all top 50 students were interested in being group leaders. Some were in the same cliques so they decided on the highest ranker being the group leader while the rest would join the team. By forming a team with strong figures like themselves, their chances of getting higher points and passing the first physical test in flying colours would be greater than the others. As for the rest of students, they stood by the side and waited for a group leader to approach them. Those in cliques with a top 50 ranker already knew who their group leader would be so they stood together while the others waited to be chosen by a group leader.
'There are three hundred and forty two (342) students and only fifty of them can be group leaders. Supposing all fifty decide to be one, they could take at least four students to make a team. That's a total of fifty teams if things play out like this.' Asher thought.
'However, in reality, there will always be discrepancies.'
While it was mentioned that the top 50 students could make teams, some of them had no interest in being a group leader. Also, some would end up teaming up with another top ranker. This would result in the actual number of teams being lower than fifty. However, the rule stated that each team could only have at most eight students and at least five students. With the numbers of possible group leaders decreasing with some teams having already decided their members beforehand (the cliques), there was a high chance that some students, out of the remaining two hundred and ninety two students, would be without groups.
'That's not my concern though. The dean and his henchmen probably have a solution to that. I need to figure out a solution for myself.' Asher walked towards the registration table.
The best way to increase one' chances of victory was to be the group leader. As long as you're the group leader, you can decide who gets to be in your team. This privilege enabled students to be able to create a team filled with people they knew closely and could work with very well. This was very important as unlike the tests they have had in the past years, this one was based on team work.
'Now, for my team mates.'
"Hey Asher." A voice called out to him from the crowd.
"Knew I would find you here."
A healthy fourteen year-old who was physically fit waved and walked towards Asher.
"It's been a while, James." Asher greeted.
"Yeah. Sure has." James smiled.
Compared to the scrawny kid from two and a half years back, James looked a lot more better; both physically and mentally.
"Where's Noah?" James asked.
"He should be on his way soon I guess." Asher replied.
The second year saw the former dorm-mates separating and living in different buildings. James and Noah happened to be in the same room in building A while Owen was in a different room in the same building. As for Asher, he ended up in building B with an entirely new set of roommates. However, compared to his previous ones, Asher's new roommates came from families with status, not much weaker than his. Of the three, two were the grandchildren of different dukes while another was the grandson of a Marquis, with all their fathers poised to inherit the titles.
Their background ensured that these children grew up with a certain level of pride and arrogance. As a result, when they faced Asher, they didn't put him on a high pedestal, but had instead looked down on him in private. This of course had to do with the fact that Asher performed better than they did despite being a null. They looked down on him and believed that Asher was only good at the theoretical aspect of magic and not its usage. Furthermore, they believed that he had only reached his current stage in training by abusing the special potions sold by the Arnhaunt family.
While this sounded like a problem, to Asher, it wasn't. The less the people who were closer to him, the easier it would be for him to keep secrets. With no one in his new dorm bothering about him, Asher went along with his activities with ease.
It was only in the third year that Asher reunited with one of his friends. In the third year, the students had moved from the usual dorm buildings to tents in the field and Asher happened to be in the same group as Noah.
"That's three of us then. What about Owen?" James asked.
The rules stated that a group had to be made up of at least five students, not three, so James was fretting over this issue.
"Don't know about him. I asked Melissa to join us and she said she'd help to bring a friend to make up the numbers." Asher shrugged.
Compared to James and Noah, Asher was less close to Owen and they were more like acquaintances than friends. It was only the other two who were friends with Owen. This had nothing to do with status but that Owen gave him a strange vibe like one who had a lot of secrets; dangerous secrets. Also, Owen was a top 50 so Asher doubted that he would team up with them.
A few minutes later, Noah found the duo and met up with them. A couple of seconds later, Melisa had also appeared with her friend, a young girl just a year older and from a viscount class family. The group had now reached the minimum count to form a team and they prepared to register.
"Leaving without me?"
A voice called out.
A young boy whose height was slightly taller than his colleagues walked up to them.
"Owen. I thought you wouldn't make it." Noah smiled.
"I don't know anyone here apart from you guy so it would be to my loss if I teamed up with anyone else or made a team of my own. Also, there's no rule against top 50s working together and having more than one in a group can increase the chances of success. I don't mind working with you guys as long as you don't."
Owen glanced at Asher when he mouthed the last two sentences.
"I don't either as long as you have no problems with following my orders." Asher smiled.
"None." Owen replied.
"Also, it's three top 50s, not two." Melissa humphed.
"Oh yeah. That's true. I forgot about you." Owen nodded in acknowledgement.
The past two and a half years didn't just see improvements for just Asher, Noah and James. Of the group, Melissa had the greatest growth, right after Asher. From barely holding a spot in the top 100 to becoming a bona-fide member of the top 50, everyone agreed that she was the one with the second greatest potential in the gang.
"I guess our chances of doing well is pretty much set."
While the top 50 students were based off of their performances in the past years and those tests were more theoretical than battle-type, it was not without reason that the rankers were accepted as such and that teams with more rankers had a higher chance of passing. Although it was said that the list was made up of those with the best results, it also factored in their current strength and power levels. In fact, at least 30% of the test in the past years had to do with testing their magical capabilities. Otherwise, Asher -with his extensive knowledge- would have been in the top five of even top three instead of top 10 of his generation.
In his generation, Asher, who lowered his strength, was one of the few in the peak of the second stage of the Guardian realm. This might seem incredible but there were others in the same division who had already reached the third stage of the Guardian realm. These students were ranked above Asher even though, based off of theoretical knowledge alone, Asher exceeded them greatly.
"Alright then. Let's register." Asher declared.