Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'Sample'
Techniques [sample]
Author notes -sample-
Chapter 22
Placement
Siegfried's body immediately tensed at this. The gaze of the Headmaster made him feel immense pressure.
He was already calculating the odds of escaping from the place alive when the pressure disappeared all of a sudden and He heard the Headmaster laughing.
"I'm sorry for teasing you, Mister Lancaster. I have no intention of taking anything from you. Whatever lucky encounter you had, that must have been the will of the heavens or Gods, whatever you believe in."
"That was not funny, Headmaster…" Siegfried composed himself back again.
"How can you be so sure that I have something like that?"
"Because…that is the only way to archive that level of affinity. The instructors explained how the device works, right? If the mana returned is between 91% and 100% your affinity is S rank. 100% is already a perfect affinity. You cannot go higher than that by talent alone." The Headmaster explained.
"You need external help to refine the mana by converting other types of mana into the one you need, I see..." Siegfried concluded.
The Headmaster smiled. "Indeed, and that can only be done with some very powerful mana-gathering technique. I am hardly the only one out there with this knowledge. And although I did say that I'm not interested in your technique… others may think differently."
"You want to keep my results a secret." Siegfried already guessed where She was going.
The headmaster nodded. "It would be safer for you and us as well since otherwise, we would need to deal with many powerful figures of the continent."
"So, what would my 'official' affinity rank be?." He asked.
"I think announcing you as an A rank would be the best. S ranks also call too much attention. We usually only have one of those every ten years or so. We currently have a single student with that affinity. A rank would allow you to enter the elite class and give you access to the best education you can possibly get in this academy. Do you agree with this arrangement?"
"You keep my secret and I get the best possible education. This deal seems to be too much in my favor. What do you get?" He asked.
The Headmaster made a very fake shocked expression. "My!...kids of your age shouldn't be this suspicious of adults…I won't ask for anything unreasonable. With a talent like yours, you will certainly become someone very influential in the future. Once that happens, you could come back here and leave us a few high-tier spells or techniques of your creation. Our library can always use some more."
"I can agree to that." Said, Siegfried. The terms seemed more than fair to him.
The rune on the door disappeared and this one opened. "Quentin, come in."
The old man came back inside and the Headmaster informed him of the arrangements to make.
"And make sure, you tell Oscar and Wallace to keep their mouths shut, or they will have to deal with me." Said the Headmaster with a serious face.
Quentin bowed "I'll make sure to pass the message."
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Students from the elite class and high class shared the same dormitory building, the only difference was that elite class students were given individual bedrooms while the rest had to share three people bedrooms.
The ones from the common class were in a separate building that was closer to the outer walls in an obvious attempt to keep commoners away from the nobles.
A fourth-year student gave Siegfried a personal tour of the school. Since He has been accepted into the elite class, He will receive more preferential treatment.
"This will be your private room during the four years of the academy." The student pointed his finger to a glass panel on the side of the door.
"Place your hand there. It will record your mana signature and only you will able to open this door from now on."
Siegfried was a bit skeptical but He was already witnessed many strange things done with magic, so He followed the instructions and placed his hand.
The glass pane illuminated and He felt a small amount of energy leave his body and enter the place.
"When you want to open the door, just place your hand there. After you leave, the door will lock by itself." The senior student explained.
Siegfried gave his thanks and entered the room.
"Not bad" He said after taking a good look at the place. The room wasn't inferior in any way to his room back at the Lancaster manor.
Very big, well decorated, huge bed, fancy desk and many many places to store things.
"I think I'm going to like this place"
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The next day, Siegfried dressed in his new uniform and prepared to attend his first class.
The academy had several colors of tunics to differentiate the different social classes inside the place.
First, professors all wore black robes, the decoration of the robes will differ, depending on the status of the professor itself.
Second, the common class students wore dull gray tunics.
The third, high-class students wore vermilion color tunics. Siegfried was particularly glad not to have to wear those since it would look weird with his red hair.
"Finally, the elite class students wore pristine white tunics that really made them stand out.
To differentiate between years, different decorations were added to the tunics. The first-year students had nothing added to them. The second-year ones had a black band added to their left sleeve. The third-year had two black bands, one on each sleeve, and finally, the fouth-year had the black bands replaced by golden ones.
Siegfried picked up his books for the day and left his room while wearing his pristine white robe.