Still at the four walls of the academy, an area was crowded with new students. They were all here to check the board that was put in place to display their names and assigned classrooms.
The imperial academy segregated the classrooms into four, listing them from 'class A' to 'class D'. The class you were placed in didn't actually matter but most of brightest and talented students were always placed at class A. The lower your score in the assessment test, the further you were placed, it was something of common knowledge and had become a norm over the years.
It didn't matter if you were a noble or a commoner, if your results showed the merits then you'd be selected.
Of course there were ways to trump this. One of which was working harder and scoring better than average. Another one was excelling in your area of specialization, but this could only be done in your second year, as first years were taught generally everything.
Currently, a black haired, blue eyed boy with remnants of sleep in his eyes stood in front of the board. He didn't have a frown on his face but his expression wasn't one of happiness either.
"So that old coot put me in class D because I chose to not participate."
"Language, Benjamin." Anya warned.
Benjamin had a feeling of discontent at his class placement.
He disliked fighting without cause or goal, thinking of it as nothing but a waste of time and a chance to show your prospective enemy your moves.
Yes, his definition of friends are enemies you haven't made yet. His mindset in strangers was even worse.
"It serves you right, did you think you could get into the first class with nothing but just talent in name? Hah!" Zahad voiced out, mocking Benjamin.
"I think it's best if you shut up now. Alright?" Benjamin replied feigning a smile that was not a smile.
Zahad widened his eyes in apprehension, staring straight at Benjamin he posed a question. "What are you going to do if I don't?"
"Cut it out! You guys have been at each other's throats since who knows when." Marcus interjected. Coming between them.
Benjamin took a deep breath and gazed intently at the white haired boy.
"Zahad right? You better be careful now." After saying this, he walked off. Heading to find his assigned class.
Zahad humphed in dissatisfaction, he wanted to beat this guy so hard, now he was getting away after saying his piece.
"You are just a coward with nothing but a foul mouth!" Zahad growled out, causing Benjamin to pause in his step.
The place went silent, the gathering of noisy students quieted down seemingly waiting for the confrontation to escalate.
Marcus who held Zahad back, dropped his arms in helplessness and shook his head. "You've done it now."
"What?" Zahad looked at Marcus with mild surprise. He then stared at the rest of them. Anya, Sarah had looks of gloom. Paul facepalmed, lowering his head in the process.
Before he could ask any more questions Benjamin was already in front of him. This caught him unawares, he tried to fix his stance getting ready to attack when...
"After the last lecture today, go to the private training grounds and wait for me." Benjamin spoke calmly.
'So I finally struck a nerve." Zahad smiled in response but his sense were alarmed. Benjamin's witty demeanour had changed replaced by calm one tinged with coldness.
"I'll be there." Zahad replied with certainty.
After Benjamin left, the rest of them also went to their assigned class, which was the A class.
On their way, Zahad walked beside Marcus he felt the need to ask some questions. He was curious as to why they all had grave looks on their faces. It's not that Benjamin was that weak was he? He contemplated and thought but at the end of it he decided to ask Marcus.
"He is strong." As if Marcus was expecting Zahad to ask he already replied.
"How strong?" Zahad inquired.
"Stronger than you think."
Paul who was in front of them turned around to pat Zahad on the shoulder seemingly in a comforting manner.
"I hope you come out alive.*
"What?"
"Asking for you to walk out by yourself at the end of that is overkill. You picked a fight against a demon in the first place."
"Is there something I need to know." Zahad paused asking the both of them.
"Huu! It's too late." Marcus replied
"Good luck!" Paul exclaimed, leaving Zahad more confused.
'What are they not telling me about him?'
***
Benjamin who is known for his witty remarks and lack of conventional decorum had a personality that could be described as excessively cautious, not willing to show anyone how strong he was thinking they'd know his weaknesses from that.
This behaviour stemmed from his relationship with Oscar, he was once an arrogant kid, nicknamed the brawler when they started high school. Benjamin saw himself thought as the strongest, challengimg anyone and everyone that looked strong.
He challenged Marcus to a fight and won, then he went on to challenge Oscar. While fighting Oscar, initially he had the upper hand, but later on he saw himself losing. Which he did, woefully in fact.
When he asked Oscar how he was able to beat him. He replied saying his attack patterns had always been the same, Benjamin had fought so many people that his fighting style had become easy to read.
This caused him to re-evaluate himself, and change from his arrogant demeanour, becoming a comical individual instead. But under that facade of witty retorts and lazy behaviour lied someone observant and calculative.
***
As the students of class A reached their assigned class. With no teacher in sight the class soon became rowdy with some of them making new friends, forming cliques. A few were just outright noisy.
The happiness from being accepted into the imperial academy top class was something that would overwhelm any youth with joy. Out of the millions of people that apply every year only a thousand students make it in, with some having to try again the year after or give up on the pursuit entirely.
The noisiness didn't last for too long as an aura swept through the entire classroom. Making all the students experience chills to their bones.
A tall middle aged man with low cut hair stood in front of the classroom. He hadn't said a word but his expression gave an idea of how strict he was. He observed the students as they all quieted down and the classroom regained orderliness.
"Good." He spoke, his voice was deep and audible, it resounded to the corners of the class.
"My name is Thomas Dylund and I will be teaching you about mana control."
This statement drew some reactions but no response was heard.
"I do not need to stress the importance of this course, your future as a mage depends on how well you can control mana and harness magic."
"Today, I will start with the introduction to mana...."
Mr. Thomas went on to lecture the class, educating them on mana control and theoretically explaining the basics.
"Alright, that's all for today, in my next class we will carry out a practical session on everything we talked about today. So make sure to read your books and memorize what I explained."
After the two hour lecture, they had three more lectures that day. Leaving the classroom at around six in the evening.
"Hey bro, let's go check out this part."
"Where?"
"This place, over here."
"Nah bro, it's too late."
"Hey Mick, let's go eat some meat."
"Meat? Where?"
"Where else? The canteen."
"Oh, okay I'm coming."
Different conversations between students took place at this time.
Some students went around to explore the academy, some went to the canteen to eat while most of them just went back to their dorms to sleep, exhausted from the marathon lectures throughout the day.
However, a student was headed to the training grounds, his steps measured and unhurried. But what made it awkward was the expressions of the people following behind him.
"What's with your faces, why are you looking like I am going of to die or something?"
"Well, you are not far off from the truth." One of them replied.
"??... I can't believe you guys." The young man who was obviously Zahad clicked his tongue and kept walking towards the training grounds.
As he reached the training hall he came across the person he was supposed to wait for.
"I can see you are already here." Zahad spoke.
Benjamin stared blankly not saying anything more.
The training area was a lot different from the one they had at their high school. It was more expansive and even had rooms where people could train privately.
Zahad thought that Benjamin would go to the public training area where they would spar. He thought wrong as Ben walked to the receptionist in charge and booked a private training session for them to have their match.
As if noticing something strange, he turned around and looked at Marcus and the rest. They hadn't moved from where they were at the entrance. Sitting at the lobby area as if they knew the match was going to be done in private.
"He doesn't like to show off his skills." Paul stated.
"Why?" Zahad questioned but he received a shrug in response.
"Let's go." Benjamin called out, drawing Zahad's attention to which he replied with a firm nod.