After I got out of bed, I walked downstairs and started eating my breakfast. As I started eating, my mom began talking with me.
"Are you excited to start school, Zen? After all, it is the first time you are going to be away from us for a long period of time. Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine, Mom. Being away from you guys won't be the death of me. I need to grow up eventually, right? I may as well start now."
"Well, if it isn't mister independent. I just worry about how my little star will be in class. Can't a mom worry about her child?"
"Sigh, Mom, it'll be okay. It's just kindergarten. Just get ready to receive the news that I'll be number one in class. Speaking of which, what do we even learn in kindergarten?"
"Well, well, well, maybe my little star doesn't know. You'll just have to wait until the school starts to get the answer. Don't worry, your dad and I ensured that we got the best school in the entire city for you. Now it's time to go to your new school, get in the car, and let's go."
Mom drove us through the city, and we finally arrived at a huge building situated on a hill, surrounded by an enormous three-meter (ten-foot) tall wall, with an equally big steel gate. As we approached the gate, there was a little camera that opened up and then scanned our car with a red light. After scanning for roughly fifteen seconds, it flashed green, and the gate started opening.
"Mom, what was that?"
"That was the security scanner. It was scanning our car and seeing if it matched the registered database. If a person without the proper authorization were to approach the gate, it would have alerted security."
"Why is the security so stringent?"
"You think that's the stringent part? Each and every student, along with their parents and guardians, undergoes several background checks to see if they are eligible. Wealth, strength, connections, power… Everything is considered upon enrollment. In addition to that, there's a security team stationed here 24/7. Each member is at least at a silver rank and has to undergo several psychological, philosophical, and physical tests in order to be hired. This school takes its security very seriously, not to mention its education is at least on par with its security. After all, it is the number one elementary school in Mentor City."
I was stunned at such an extravagant lineup. I guess I underestimated my parents and their ability to enroll me in such a high-end school. I hoped that the education was equally challenging. After all, in my past life, I was considered a topper in my class, not to mention now. I was looking forward to entering a new academic environment and seeing if I could continue my dominance in school.
While I was daydreaming, the car finally stopped moving in front of the school. The front entrance had a door decorated with the school name: Eton Elementary of Excellence. Mom continued driving a little ways away until she parked the car. She then got out and opened the door for me. I took in the scenery—the track, the forested area, the sheer scale of the school, and so much more. As I looked around, we finally arrived at the front door. Again, I saw the school name, Eton Elementary of Excellence. As I looked closer, I saw the school motto underneath.
Ubi fortem et optimum studium. Where the strong and excellent study.
We walked into the school, and my mom guided me to room K-S. We entered the room and immediately noticed there were roughly fifteen other kids my age, along with their parents. The parents made small talk with one another while the kids stood stiffly close by.
A few minutes later, someone else entered the room. However, unlike everyone else, she didn't have a child with her.
"Alright, students and parents, my name is Minerva Chishiki. Students, you can refer to me as Mrs. Chishiki. Parents, you may call me whatever you are comfortable with. I am the teacher for class K-S, and I will be your homeroom teacher from now till grade seven. I hope everyone cooperates."
The parents politely clapped while the students observed her. She was a little on the shorter side, around 5'3" (160 cm), with light skin, long-straight black hair, and an even blend of Eastern and Western features from my old world.
"Thank you, thank you. It is now 8:30, and thus time for class. If the parents and guardians could please leave, I have to teach class. You may pick up your kids at 3:30."
The parents obediently left the classroom after they said farewell to their children. This left fifteen kids and Mrs. Chishiki together. The kids looked at each other, unsure of what to do without their parents' directive. It was honestly a little funny watching the other children appear like lost lambs without their parents.
"Okay class, let's go sit on the carpet in a circle and do introductions. Give us your name, something you are proud of, a dream, and an interesting fact about yourself."
As we formed a circle on the carpet, an unease filled us. Most of us looked at each other, eyeing each other, trying to see if there was anyone who would go first. Deciding to put an end to this farce, I chose to bite the bullet and introduce myself.
"Hello everyone, my name is Zen Hoshi, and I am a proud mage. My dream is to become a platinum-ranked individual. I have unlocked the spatial attribute, and I can already cast Magic Missiles. Thank you, and I hope we can all be friends."
I noticed a few other kids glancing at each other with raised eyebrows, clearly impressed. However, I could also tell that some of them were holding back their own abilities. This wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.
Next up was a girl with bright red hair and an enthusiastic smile. "Hi! My name is Mina Yishu. I'm really good at fire magic. I can create small flames already, and I hope to be a master fire mage one day. Also, I love drawing!"
After her, a boy with green-tinted hair and a calm demeanor spoke up. "Hey, I'm Damian Hong. I specialize in plant magic. I can make plants grow faster and even control their movements a little. My dream is to create a giant forest someday."
A girl with short blonde hair and a mischievous grin introduced herself next. "Hi everyone, I'm Adaline Mal. I'm good at debuffs—I can make people slower or weaker with my spells. My dream is to become a top strategist and help others in battle."
A boy with jet-black hair and a serious expression went next. "Hello, my name is Magnum Honte. I'm skilled in swordsmanship and martial arts. I can use a sword with precision and strength. My dream is to become a legendary warrior."
Lastly, a girl with pale skin and long silver hair spoke softly. "Hi, I'm Astoria Naru. I have shadow magic. I can manipulate shadows and use them to hide or move silently. My dream is to be a top scout or spy."
As each student introduced themselves, I realized that I wasn't the only one with impressive abilities. While I might have a head start, the other kids were just as talented in their own ways. It was going to be an interesting journey.
Mrs. Chishiki clapped her hands together after the last introduction. "Wonderful introductions, everyone! It's fantastic to see such a variety of talents and dreams. Now, let's get started with our first lesson."
The first lesson was basic arithmetic. As Mrs. Chishiki started teaching, I quickly realized that the material was way too easy for me. I had learned all of this in my previous life, and it felt like a review rather than new information. I tried to stay focused, but it was hard not to let my mind wander. I found myself staring out the window, my thoughts drifting to the new spells and abilities I had gained.
"Zen," Mrs. Chishiki's voice cut through my daydreaming, bringing me back to the classroom. "Since you seem to be having a hard time staying focused, why don't you come up to the board and answer these questions for us?"
I stood up and walked to the front of the class, feeling the eyes of my classmates on me. Mrs. Chishiki pointed to a series of math problems on the board. Simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Without much thought, I began solving the problems. "5 + 3 equals 8, 12 - 7 equals 5, 6 x 4 equals 24, and 20 ÷ 5 equals 4," I recited, writing each answer on the board with ease.
Mrs. Chishiki raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Very good, Zen. You may take your seat."
As I returned to my desk, I couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and boredom. This was child's play. I sat down and, despite my best efforts, found myself nodding off again. My mind wandered back to the Greater Healing spell and all the ways I could use it to train my resistances. The possibilities were endless, and the more I thought about it, the more I drifted into a half-asleep state.
"Zen," Mrs. Chishiki's voice jolted me awake once more. "Please pay attention."
After math, we moved on to English. Mrs. Chishiki began with basic spelling and vocabulary. My eyes grew heavy as she started with simple words like "cat," "dog," and "house." It felt like watching paint dry.
"Zen," Mrs. Chishiki called on me again, noticing my lack of engagement. "How do you spell 'elephant'?"
Suppressing a yawn, I stood up and walked to the front. "E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T," I spelled out, writing the letters on the board.
"And 'chocolate'?" she continued.
"C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E."
"How about 'mountain'?"
"M-O-U-N-T-A-I-N," I answered, barely needing to think about it.
"Very good, Zen. You may take your seat."
As I sat back down, I struggled to stay awake. My thoughts drifted again, but this time, I forced myself to stay focused on the lesson, knowing I didn't want to get called out again. Still, the challenge of kindergarten was far from stimulating, and I knew I had to find a way to keep myself engaged in the days to come.
The morning passed in a blur of simple lessons and repeated attempts to keep my eyes open. Despite my best efforts, the material was too basic to hold my attention for long. Arithmetic and spelling felt like child's play, and I couldn't help but feel a bit out of place among my peers, even though I knew this was just the beginning of my journey.
As the clock inched closer to noon, my thoughts began to drift to lunch. Perhaps the break would offer a chance to recharge and maybe even meet some of the other kids properly.
"Alright, class," Mrs. Chishiki announced, breaking through my observations. "It's time for lunch. We'll be heading to the cafeteria. Please line up at the door, and follow me."