Central Academy was indisputably the best academy in the world. It had maintained this honor for dozens of years, and its prestige had never diminished.
There were several reasons behind this reputation such as cutting-edge facilities and renowned professors. But everybody agreed that the main reason was its admission policy.
Central Academy only accepted fifty students every year. Never more than that. It had maintained this policy since it was founded.
These fifty students would be nurtured wholeheartedly by the academy, utilizing all its resources to guarantee they could unleash their full potential.
Naturally, these fifty spots were greatly coveted. Every graduate of the academy was guaranteed to become a future powerhouse, desired by any big power across the continent. Entering the academy was the same as winning the lottery.
But it was not easy to get a spot.
Central Academy only had a requisite for its students. Talent.
It did not matter if you were poor or rich, a beggar or a prince. As long as your talent was worthy enough, you could be admitted.
Likewise, if your talent was lacking, no amount of riches or connections could bring you inside.
There were several anecdotes about princes and heirs from famous noble families donating enormous amounts of money to get a spot in the academy, only to be rejected.
As a result, just being admitted to the academy was something to boast about.
As soon as we entered the auditorium, the attention was focused on us.
"Are they… from Steerl family?"
"The children from the Mithril Knight? Were they admitted too?"
"I heard that his eldest daughter was admitted two years ago. Does it mean that all three of his children were admitted to Central Academy?"
"What kind of luck is that? Are his genes that good?"
"Wait, I can understand the eldest and the youngest, but the second child was admitted too? He is the sickly prince, right?"
"The sickly prince? Is that him?"
"I heard he barely can gather mana."
"How was he accepted then? If he can't gather mana, he is useless. Did he enter through a backdoor deal?"
Lina and Vanessa frowned when they heard these words.
"How do they dare to talk like that about my brother!?" Lina was about to jump in rage, but I patted her head and stopped her.
"Calm down, it doesn't bother me."
"But you are not useless! And you were admitted fairly!"
I smiled wryly and stroked her hair.
"I know. I don't care what they say about me. Besides, Central Academy's admission has always been fair. Their words have no basis."
Lina finally calmed down after my persuasion, but she was still angry.
And she became even angrier when she heard someone talking badly about me. She looked like a mother cat ready to protect her kittens.
I could understand their reactions, though. After all, I was not exactly known for being talented.
The sickly prince.
The normal child in a family of geniuses.
Compared to my sisters, famous for their outstanding talent since they were children; or my father, a well-known powerhouse, I stood out in a bad way.
People said my eldest sister inherited my father's knightly talent, and my little sister inherited her mother's compatibility with magic. I, on the other hand, inherited my parents' intellect.
It was another way to say I was talentless save by the good head on my shoulders.
Well, they are not exactly mistaken. When it comes to talent, I'm significantly inferior to my family.
In exchange, I received the gift to see the future.
There was still half an hour to the start of the entrance ceremony. That time was usually used by the new students to get to know each other, after all, they would be together for the next four years.
However, nobody approached us. One reason was the rumors about me, and the other was the visibly displeased expression on Lina's face.
I did not know whether to laugh or cry in this situation.
In the end, I decided to use this time to observe the rest of the freshmen.
I recognized some of them immediately. The young man holding a sword with a sunny smile known as the next sword master, the petite girl with an expressionless look that kept everybody away from her, the witch princess, or the silent young man with his eyes closed, the disciple of the Heavenly Demon.
"... As expected of Central Academy. It's full of exceptional people."
"We are exceptional too." Lina harrumphed. "Brother doesn't need to feel inferior to them."
"I don't." I chuckled and pinched her cheek, making Lina glare at me in displeasure.
I can't help it, though. She is too cute.
Nobody would have imagined that this cute girl was known as the Platinum Magic Princess.
A genius who used her unique style of magic to defeat all her peers.
She really has nothing to envy from any other genius here.
Half an hour soon passed. At the moment when the clock marked nine o'clock, an old man holding a cane walked onto the stage.
The old man did not seem special. Quite the opposite, he looked like any normal old man in the streets; but as soon as he appeared, his presence alone silenced the auditorium.
He stood on the stage and looked at the students as though observing them. Any student stared by him could not help but freeze in the spot.
Finally, his gaze fell on me.
He smiled playfully.
"It looks like we have a good batch this year."
Grinning, he tapped his cane on the stage. Immediately, an enormous magic circle appeared on the auditorium, covering the entire floor.
Next, he glanced at the students and opened his mouth.
"My name is Olfurd Diex Starlet. The Principal of Central Academy.
"And today, I welcome you.
"Future heroes, welcome to Central Academy."