After being assigned based on their abilities, we finally received a normal schedule. Mages with higher ranks were given additional classes. Those with 4 and 5 classes were granted more time for practical exercises, and the most outstanding students were assigned individual instructors. However, instructors were only given to those who could afford it, mostly from families with money. Some instructors formed groups of weak mages of their own element, but that was only for the rarest specialties, like earth or light mages. As for me, undecided about my element and penniless, it was clearly out of reach. How convenient. I needed to develop my abilities, but no one was willing to help. All I could do was reread the basics of magic over and over again and try to learn what was written there.
I even tried to walk around the dormitories and find an interesting lightning sorceress, but there was no trace of her. Four dormitories, and no one there had heard of such a girl. I think it would have been difficult for her to hide her outstanding hair from the neighbors, which means she was living in a separate house or apartment. And it seemed I was right to place her among the most influential families in Verania. If I wanted to gain respect, I needed not only practical skills but also connections with the right people. Among all these pompous idiots, surrounded by Alfred, Katrina stood out with her straightforwardness. She never contacted anyone, quickly disappeared after classes, and quietly appeared for the next ones. I couldn't recall her speaking even a word to anyone, but she always showed up with new textbooks and studied diligently.
Meanwhile, we had free practice, and the lower-ranked classes had general subjects. I was left to my own devices. To relax, I favored the roof of the main building, which was divided by a long partition into eastern and western sections. The eastern part offered a good view of the inner courtyard, but the western half was in the shade, and I comfortably lounged on a bench in complete solitude. Most students were busy with training, but without a clear goal, I preferred to contemplate my future plans alone.
"Haaaah. Hello, Mom and Dad, I made it here safely and already settled in. There are many amazing people here. I will definitely succeed here..." A timid voice came from behind the fence. Apparently, it was someone who didn't perform well on the exam. From the sound of it, it was a girl, and she might even be pretty. I should offer her some support, who knows: "No, that won't do. They asked to write if they notice me. If I reply with general phrases, they'll surely suspect something."
"Yes, most likely," I replied.
"Aaah! Who's there?!" The girl clearly didn't expect to be overheard.
"Don't be so scared. I've been resting here all this time."
"Eavesdropping is not nice!"
"But dictating a letter out loud that you're planning to write to your parents is not much better."
"Aww, now you'll tease me about it?"
"No, but if you don't want to disappoint your parents, just say that you did fairly well, although there are more outstanding students in your class. You probably didn't do well on the power test?"
"Yes, I barely made it to the second class, and it means nothing here."
"Well, it's not that bad already."
"Well, it depends. I'm afraid with my abilities, I won't be able to advance any further. And yet, my parents were counting on me."
"Why did you enroll in the Academy?"
"Well, about five years ago, I discovered my magical abilities. And in our little town, there were no other mages, so I trained myself as best as I could. My parents are simple traders and run a small shop. My mother hoped that I would receive a good education here, display my magical talents, and maybe some nobleman would take me as his wife."
"Oh, already making wedding plans? But do you want that yourself?"
"I don't know, but I don't want to disappoint my parents. Though with these results, I doubt I'll be of interest to anyone."
"Yes, from what I understand, raising your class is almost impossible with this system."
"And judging by the fact that you're here right now, you didn't excel in the trial either?"
"Mhm, I barely got a third class, but none of the instructors even offered to help me. Either they do it on purpose, or they disdain it, but now I'm left to my own devices, and I don't know how to control my magic."
"Yes, you were a bit luckier after all. I've been considering whether to try my luck in other areas besides studying."
"What options are there?"
"Well, they hold various tests here a couple of times a year, but it seems to me the most accessible way would be to join a guild."
"Guilds, huh? Most of them started from the Academy, right?"
"Yes, they provide them with all the conditions here, and they have houses for their headquarters and contracts. Guilds can have all sorts of useful people. If they don't find me useful as a mage, maybe they'll take me as an assistant, treasurer, or secretary... There are plenty of positions in large guilds."
"But then they'll pay you accordingly."
"Yeah... but I'll be able to get acquainted with some important people."
"Well, that might work out, although it could also make things worse."
"Oh, well, I'll still give it a try! At the end of the month, there will be the first gatherings, and I can enroll somewhere."
"Perhaps I'll have to do the same. Good luck."
"Good luck to you too."
Just in case, I circled around the fence, but the girl was no longer there.