The month passed in a blink of an eye, today was going to be my first day at school. Waking up, I walk towards the wardrobe as I go to get changed into my school uniform, it was quite fancy, with its white and blue design. For girls we had the option to choose between a skirt or pants to go along with the shirt, I chose the pants obviously, as skirts weren't really my style. Looking inside my wardrobe I see the rapier hiding in the corner behind the rest of my clothes. With a smile on my face after giving it a gentle touch I close the wardrobe door.
Since my birthday, Alice and I have been using our rapiers for my sparring sessions. Of course making sure to not hurt one another, and after getting accustomed to it, I felt myself grow even more in skill. She was right, it did feel a lot better moving around with a more balanced weapon such as that.
*knock knock*
Alice: "You okay in there? Need a handle putting it on?"
Ellen: "I'm good, I-"
Waiting outside the door, Alice makes her way inside, cutting me off as she approaches me.
Alice: "Hehe, you remind me when I first started school, also choosing not to wear a skirt"
Ellen: "It's never been my kind of style"
During our little exchange, she carried some kind of string, kind of similar to a ribbon as she walks up behind me before doing up my hair in a ponytail. Looking in the mirror as she does so I sure have grown fast. I remember when I was only up to her knees, but now my head reaches as high as her waist. Seeing us together, I notice my school uniform is the same style as what she normally wears. "Wait, is Alice also a noble perhaps?". I don't think I've ever asked her yet.
Ellen: "Hey Alice. What's your family like?"
Alice: "Well. My family grew up quite poorly, but they saved up enough money, and along with my efforts they managed to get me into school, eventually being offered to attend Inasdale Academy. They are very hardworking, so I strive to work just as hard"
Inasdale Academy is the prestigious academy where nobles and high achieving citizens could attend; which I hope to attend when I'm older.
Ellen: "So you were like a scholarship student?"
Alice: "Mhmm, In a way"
Alice sure is amazing. Living a hard life with her parents slowly working her way up to where she is now, I strive to be like her.
After helping me get ready, we both head outside the mansion and into a carriage waiting for us. Alice chose to be Fabian and I's escort to school. She didn't do that before with Fabian, with today being her first time as all 3 of us enter the carriage, Fabian on one side with Alice and I on the other as the door closed.
Nothing much was said during our ride to school, as we only listened to the sounds of hoofs clapping against stone. I've never really been out of the house much as most days I'd be practicing with Alice, only going out to the courtyard; so taking this ride to school is filling me with unwanted nerves.
The carriage stops at the school gate as I could hear students around us. Fabian without a second to lose steps out first, where he is greeted by his classmates
Random1: "Ah it's Fabian von Leinhart!"
Figured. I had a feeling he would be the popular type, if only they knew how he acted at home, or was his behavior normal for nobles?
Taking a gulp to calm try and calm my nerves I step out from the carriage with Alice following behind me.
Random2: "W-who's she?"
Fabian: "Nobody"
Yup, he is still the same brother I know and love.
Ellen: "My name is Ellen von Leinhart. Fabian's sister. Nice to meet you all"
I say in an antagonistic fashion, as if taunting my brother while giving him a sinister smile. The people around appeared shocked at my sudden declaration, he probably never told anyone that I would be attending this year, figures. I also noticed that some of the students wore different uniforms, with Fabian and I wearing white and blue, with other students wearing plain white uniforms.
Alice: "Take care Ellen. I'll come and pick you up later"
Ellen: "Yes, thank you Alice"
With our departing words, Alice went back in the carriage after seeing us to school safely, with me and the rest of the students heading towards the school. "Here we go again". I thought to myself, thinking about doing school all over again. I can't help but think of Shin back in my old world, "I wonder if he managed to graduate finally". A gentle smile creeps on my face as I imagine him having to redo his last year again.
Making our way to the school entrance, we were separated with the new students including me heading towards what looked like a separate building, with the rest of the students continuing inside the school. Us new students who seemed to be of different ages, formed a line heading inside the building as I watched students who had entered now exiting holding onto their hands. Some of the students exiting seems happy with others not so much. I wonder-
?: "Hey, your Duke Leinhart's daughter right?"
Tapping on my shoulder, I turn around in line, my pony tail whipping around as it smacks someone in front of me. The person talking just now look around my age, his hair a golden blonde with sparkly green eyes; quite intimidating if I'm honest, like if I said the wrong thing I'd be in trouble. He was also wearing the same uniform Fabian and I am wearing, along with what looked like half the students here.
Ellen: "Yes, My name is Ellen. You are?"
?: "My name is Leon von Ardford, nice to meet you"
Ellen: "Nice to meet you"
He goes for a handshake as I go for a slight bow, leaving him hanging and looking a little confused. "Ah, did I fuck up? Was I not meant to bow?". I raise my head with him dropping his hand back, and the line moves forward.
Leon: "I heard from my father that his friend's daughter would be attending the same year as me, lets get along"
Ellen: "Yes"
I actually didn't want to get along with these toddlers, but I have to put up a positive impression to not bring down my family's name, putting on a generous smile.
Finally inside the building I can see several students in front of me, trying to figure out what's going on as one by one they exit holding their hand. Now being the next in line I could now see what was happening as the boy in front of me put his hand onto a black slab of what look like concrete. However as he put his hand on the slap it began to glow before he suddenly flicked his hand away, almost like he had just been shocked. The person overseeing this checked his palm before writing something down, sending him on his way. He seemed quite normal as he went to exit the building.
?: "Next please"
Turning my head back to the front I approach the slab next to the person who seems to be running this test.
?: "Hand on this please"
Looking at where she gestures I could see the black slab which was being held up by a white pedestal like thing. Getting a little nervous as I recall the sudden pain from seeing the boy earlier I gently lay my left palm onto the slab...
...
Nothing happened. The glow from earlier when I saw the boy doing this was nowhere to be seen.
?: "This. Can't be right..."
She looked seriously confused as I tried to press my palm down harder on the slab, but again, there was no reaction. "Could this be trying to read magic?". As I thought that combined with my anxiety of being found out I have no magic capabilities, a very faint glow shone under my palm that could barely be seen, making out some kind of symbol before giving me a little sting. It wasn't painful at all as the symbol slowly disappeared from the slab. The tester taking my hand to check my palm before writing my name down.
?: "Class D, you may go"
It wasn't surprising to me in the slightest, as I followed where the other students went, Leon giving me a smile before taking his turn as I passed by. I may of ended up in the worst grade but to me I was not upset in the slightest, in fact I was filled with immense joy as I stepped out from the building. "I... Have magic!". I thought happily as I follow the students into school. It was so faint though, might explain why I can't use magic since my mana reserves are so small, but even so. The thought that I had magic inside me means that I could grow, Fabian had grown his magic potential over the years, so even with this small little ember of mine I'm sure I can grow as well.
Making my way inside, I was stopped by an examiner as he checked my palm, leading me to my classroom. While walking there my anxiety and nerves were all gone as I'm still excited from the news of having magic before I reach the door.