Evening, on the same day as the ranking adjustment test.
All the top 10 who arrived early to take the ranking adjustment test were given temporary rooms for a day before the opening ceremony. The rooms for all the top 10 were of the same size.
The room I occupied was incredibly spacious. This room was 10 times larger than the one I rented at Old Sound Inn. Well, even though the room I rented was the smallest, so I couldn't complain.
When I wanted to lie down on the bed, suddenly an eagle carrying Master's letter was waiting outside the window. I opened the window, and the bird immediately threw the letter at my face and left just like that. Maybe it was tired of delivering letters to me.
Then I opened the letter given by the eagle.
Okay, enough of the pleasantries. As your Master, I want to give you a little challenge. The challenge is simple.
First, during your first year, you are not allowed to use burning memory (if you used it during the test, consider it not counted).
Second, don't use the techniques I taught you; create your technique that can only be used by you.
Third, since I never taught you ether manipulation, I hope you can learn it yourself at Etherea. But if there's time, I will teach it to you during the semester break.
Fourth, make friends with your peers. It's okay if there aren't many, but they are sincere to be friends with you.
Fifth, survive until the third year.
That's it for this message. Oh, for your pocket money, you can take it in that ring; usually, I put it there at the beginning of the month, so don't forget to take it! Oh yes, one more thing, you don't know the name of the eagle that delivered this letter, right? His name is Nix, don't forget that! Well then, see you.
-Signed, Your Kind-hearted Master.>
After reading the letter from my Master, I put the letter on the table and planned to sleep because it was already night.
The next day.
Yesterday, I entered through the back gate, but today, the top 10 students and I had to follow the proper procedure and enter through the front gate. The streets were bustling with people from different regions of the Chronus Empire who had gathered to witness the opening ceremony for new students at Etherea.
The opening ceremony for new students at Etherea is the most highly anticipated event in the entire Chronus Empire. Every year, Etherea accepts up to 800 first-year students. However, after the second year, their number decreases by around 50% due to elimination in the final exam. Many people come to witness this event, including nobles and merchants from all over the Chronus Empire who flock to Etherea to bid farewell to their children who have been accepted into the academy.
"Take care, my child. Hold on until the third year! Our family's fate is in your hands!"
"Alright, Dad. I will do my best!" said one student accepted, saying goodbye to their parents.
Like the accepted students, the top 10 also bid farewell to their families. I found myself standing alone in the crowd like a lost child. Feeling hungry, I headed to the nearest shop to grab some food. To my surprise, I bumped into Tom while I was about to pay for my food. He recognized me and greeted me warmly.
"Hello, Ryan, how are you?"
"Oh yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking. Did you take time off work to see the opening ceremony?"
"I told you, didn't I? I'll see you at the opening ceremony. And I'm not on leave; I'm looking for clients. Surely among all these people, there are those interested in my service!" Tom said, patting his chest confidently.
"Oh, Ryan, did you hear the rumor? That the top 10 of this year's intake is filled with strong individuals who can bring significant changes to the continent!!!"
"Really?" I said, holding the back of my head awkwardly.
"Don't you know? Many students from noble families, merchants, and even mercenaries have made a name for themselves to be in the top 10 this year! This year's intake seems to be the best of this century!" Tom said enthusiastically.
'I want to tell Tom, but if I tell him, he will scream and make a scene here. It's better not to tell him.'
[For all accepted students, please enter through the front gate of Etherea!]
[And for the spectators who want to see the opening ceremony, please wait until all students enter the gate!]
"Oh, it seems I've been called, see you later, Tom!" in a panic, I immediately left the store and entered the front gate of Etherea.
"Oh yes, be careful, Ryan. I'll look around in the audience area, good luck."
The front gate of Etherea, no matter how many times you look, this gate looks very majestic. With unique ornaments on the side of the gate, it gives an elegant impression.
I then walked towards the front gate and was asked for verification by the guard.
"Please state your name and origin, sir."
"Ryan Arden from Argass."
"Alright, please enter, Mr. Ryan. You can leave your belongings on this table," said the guard, bowing his body.
I then put my belongings on the table and walked into Etherea through the front gate. When I entered, I was surprised by the vastness of the Etherea area. Although I had previously entered through the back gate, the area at the back gate was isolated from Etherea, so I didn't know it was this vast. If I'm not mistaken, Tom said that the area of Etherea is 1/7 of the area of Einburg Island.
The Etherea area is divided into 3 buildings, Eins, Zwei, and Drei. Eins Building is the first-year student area, Zwei Building is the second-year student area, and finally, Drei Building is the third-year student area.
Following the instructions of the Etherea staff, I and other students were directed to the auditorium in the Eins Building. Upon entering, I saw that the auditorium was arranged like stairs, getting lower in the front. The room consists of 80 rows of chairs and 10 columns of chairs divided in half because there are stairs in the middle.
Most students who came filled the front and back seats. So, at the moment, the middle seats were only occupied by a few people. I then sat in the middle seat around the 6th column on the far right. Not long after I sat down, someone sat next to me. Wanting to make a good impression, I initiated a conversation.
"Hello, nice to meet you, my name is Ryan Arden. I hope both of us can endure until the third year."
"Ah, nice to meet you too, my name is Ben, Ben Barrett. I didn't expect to be accepted into Etherea; it's like a dream! Hopefully, we can endure until the third year," Ben said, clenching both of his hands with enthusiasm.
"Barrett? Are you from the Barrett pharmaceutical company?"
The Barrett pharmaceutical company is a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, having been in operation for almost 75 years. Their success can be attributed to their innovative leaders who seek alternative ingredients for drug manufacturing at a more affordable cost while maintaining comparable effects to those of drugs already on the market. After this was mentioned, Ben spoke with an awkward tone.
"Ahahaha, it seems like I've been caught. Honestly, even though I come from a pharmaceutical family, I'm not good at pharmaceuticals at all. I'm here at Etherea to hone my ether abilities. How about you, Ryan? What major are you thinking of taking?"
"Hmm, honestly, I don't know. I might decide after completing the first semester of the first year," I replied hesitantly.
"That's a wise choice; it's better to consider it thoroughly than to enter a major we don't know about," Ben agreed with my statement.
As I chatted warmly with Ben, someone sat next to Ben. It was someone I had recently met, Alicia.
"Hello, nice to meet you both, my name is Alicia von Talvi." Ben and I then turned to look at Alicia, who was greeting us, then stopped our conversation and fell silent for a moment.
"Eh... why are you both silent? Did I ruin the atmosphere here?" Alicia asked, very confused because the atmosphere suddenly became silent.