After placing their belongings in the dormitory room, Ryan and Matt headed to the cafeteria for lunch. The menu at the cafeteria offered a wide variety of options, ranging from light snacks like bread and biscuits to heavier meals like rice, pasta, and meat. Feeling quite hungry but not wanting anything too heavy, they decided to order a spaghetti bolognese. While enjoying their meal, Matt asked Ryan a question.
"Ryan, what major are you interested in focusing on? I'm leaning towards Ether element application, how about you?"
"I'm not sure what majors are available, so I can't say for certain. But I can say, if there's a major related to swords, I'm sure I could do it."
"Are you referring to Combat and martial lessons?"
"Yeah, that sounds about right. Oh, do you know of any majors that use pure ether without elements?"
"Hmm... I'm not sure either. There might be something like that, why do you ask?"
"To be honest, I don't have an element at all," Ryan said, surprising Matt, who spontaneously exclaimed, "What? Is there someone who doesn't have an element? Maybe you haven't awakened it, but elements are determined from birth. So... how could that be?"
According to the book Ryan read, ether is a power possessed by everyone in the world. The elements in ether are divided into two types: basic elements and deviant elements. Basic elements are the four most commonly encountered elements in daily life: fire, water, air, and earth. These elements are predetermined from birth and passed down through generations. Deviant elements are elements beyond the basic ones, such as lightning, magma, ice, and healing. These elements are acquired through genetic mutation from individuals living in areas abundant in ether with high pressure. As a result, their bodies adapt to high ether pressure by producing elements corresponding to their environment.
Ryan then answered Matt's question. "I don't know, whenever I use ether, the color is just white. It's quite unfortunate that I don't have an element."
"Don't be disheartened, Ryan. Perhaps ether without an element has better ether quality than ether with an element," Matt comforted, seeing Ryan slightly disappointed.
"Thank you for comforting me. But I don't think about it too much; maybe I'll find the answer in the future."
"It's good that you're not too fixated on your issue; we should focus on the good things happening in our lives!" Matt exclaimed optimistically about the future.
After eating at the cafeteria, Ryan and Matt planned to return to their respective rooms. However, upon hearing the commotion about the announcement of class assignments on the notice board in the dormitory lobby, they became interested and went to the lobby before returning to their rooms. Ryan and Matt then checked their names. While checking, Ryan spoke to Matt.
"Hey, Matt. Look at that, we're in the same class."
"I see it too, Ryan."
"Great." Suddenly, without any reason, they high-fived upon seeing their names in the same class.
"Wait a minute, Ryan. Check the names of our classmates. All the top 10 are there, so it's no wonder we're in the same class."
"Oh, yeah, I didn't realize. So, this is like the elite class, right?"
"I don't know the other top 10 that well. But I hope they're not people full of cunning schemes to bring down their opponents," Matt said with a sour expression.
One day after the new student opening ceremony.
The first day for first-year students to start their studies at Etherea. Etherea's first-year classes are divided into 16 classes, each with 50 students. To distinguish between classes, the first-year classes use alphabetical letters after the number one as a symbol of the first year. For example, class 1A.
According to the book I read, Etherea is divided into seven major subjects that all first-year students will study. And when they move on to the second year, they can choose one of the seven majors available. The seven major subjects at Etherea are as follows:
1. Etherization
2. Herbs and poison
3. Combat and martial lessons
4. Ether element application
5. Eon learning class
6. Production class
7. Taming and contract
Except for the Eon learning class, each major subject has its advantages and disadvantages. So, there is no one major superior to the others. I don't know what Eon is, but if the author says so. Perhaps there is something that makes this subject superior to the others.
The first day at Etherea. I was ready, wearing the Etherea uniform consisting of a white shirt with the Etherea logo, a black blazer, a red tie, and brown trousers. The tie color is optional; students can choose from three colors: red, brown, or black. The tie colors don't have any other meaning, just as an accessory and personal preference for each student.
I then left the dormitory for the Eins building with Matt because our rooms are adjacent. We arrived at the Eins building and searched for class 1A by asking one of the staff members who was mopping the floor. Upon reaching the class, Matt and I were amazed by the size of this room. The classroom was designed like an auditorium, with the room sloping downward as it went further to the front, but what made it different was a foldable table integrated with classroom seats. After entering the classroom, someone else entered with us. I greeted Alicia, who entered after us.
"Hello, good morning, Alicia. How are you?"
"Eh, Ryan, do you know Alicia?"
"I already told you yesterday that Alicia was my sparring partner."
"What are you guys arguing about? Oh, good morning to both of you," Alicia replied to my greeting but also asked something out of curiosity. Matt and I then reflexively answered together.
"Oh, nothing, it's nothing."
"By the way, do you two know what the first lesson is today?" seemingly no longer interested in what she had asked before, Alicia then changed the topic of conversation. When I wanted to answer I didn't know, but my words were cut off by Matt.
"If I'm not mistaken, the first lesson is Etherization."
"Uh... the first lesson is already difficult, Etherea is indeed cruel."
"Instead of thinking about lessons that haven't started yet, you two better sit down!" I suggested to my two friends who had been standing, while I had already found a seat. After they sat down, the professor who would teach Etherization arrived.
The professor had short blond hair with a masculine face, even though without a mustache or beard. With a large and trained body, he wore a blazer similar to the students', but the difference was the color of his blazer, which was gray. When I looked to the side, I saw Matt breaking into a cold sweat. His eyes looked around in a confused manner, and his body trembled like a response to trauma when he saw the professor.
"It seems I haven't introduced myself! Alright, my name is Marius Karlsen von Hendrix. Nice to meet you, new students; I hope we can get along for the next year!"
Now I know why Matt was so frightened.