"Next! Please come forward!"
Kayden left me alone a little while ago. Apparently, he was exempt from this step of class advancement.
Uniformly lined in front of several tables, the first-year students all waited patiently.
Seated at the tables were mages of the magic tower. They were enlisted today by the academy to find our elemental attributes.
Before students were allowed to receive the title of apprentice from the professors of Sylvanvale Academy, they needed to receive this test.
"Place your hand on the orb, please."
The female mage before me looked drained. As if dreading the long day ahead, she sighed.
I did as she instructed, placing my hand on the orb.
Her nonchalant eyes pondered it.
"Your attribute is Nocturne." She said, pulling out a gray card. "Do you already know which apprenticeship you'll be attending?"
"Oh, I don't need an apprenticeship. I already have a class."
The woman stopped her pen and looked up at me.
'Huh.'
She blinked at me.
"Can I get your name?" She asked.
"Mackenzie Everblade."
She paused again, staring at me with tired eyes.
"...Ah... I understand." She scribbled on the gray card. "Okay, go to the gentleman over there."
Her finger pointed to a tanned older gentleman.
The man's suit and tie neatly fitted to his torso. A silver sheath fashioned itself to his waist.
As the distance between us narrowed, I noticed a small smile peering through his unshaven beard.
"Would you be so kind as to show me your card, please?"
He was surprisingly polite. Unlike Professor Boyden, with his rough words and appearance, this man was like a refined wine.
I handed him my card. As he inspected it, he made a strange face.
"Are you a student of mine?"
"Uh..." I stopped myself.
Knowing nothing of this professor, I didn't want to answer without thinking.
'Have I seen this kid before?'
Telepathy provided a bit of insight. By the man's tone, he shouldn't take it negatively if I'm wrong.
"I... think so?"
I tested the waters, unsure of my position here.
"Hm, okay, follow me then."
And I was correct?
I shouldn't be surprised; after all, I was directed right to him.
But what was it then? Something in the back of my head didn't feel right.
It felt as though I'd messed up along the way, but didn't know where.
That woman's reaction from before was putting me off.
Well, I guess that's what I get for being related to him.
Once we neared the center of the arena, I noticed a line of chairs. Sitting upon them were students, some of which I was familiar with.
"Aurelia?"
She glanced up at me.
"What are you doing here, Mackenzie?" It was not Aurelia, but rather Kayden, who sat next to her that questioned me.
"I-"
I'm not sure.
But my words were cut short by the older gentleman. He pulled the back of my uniform, tugging me away.
"Come, follow me now, Sir Everblade. We have to grab you a seat."
'Just where is it I'm sitting exactly?'
This foreboding feeling wasn't going away. Something was most definitely wrong here.
The students all seated here were of class 1-A. I have no business being seated with such people.
"Um, Professor, I think there might've been a mistake!"
"Nonsense, you were given the correct card!"
He dismissed my worries with a jolly grin.
The confused gazes of class 1-A followed me to the end of the line. As I sat in the final chair, my heart sank into worry.
'I should use invisibility and escape. If I go back to that woman and explain her mistake, she should send me elsewhere. Yeah, that seems like a good plan.'
I placed my hand against my chest, but a voice interrupted my focus.
"Um... Mackenzie."
It came from the seat next to me. When I turned, a blonde girl with striking golden eyes looked at me with concern.
"Oh, Lady Sariel Williams. Hello."
"J-just Sariel is fine..." She protested.
"Ah, okay..."
An awkward silence followed. Not because I couldn't think of anything to say, but rather...
'I can't believe I'm sitting next to Mackenzie! To have such a handsome person in my presence! Ah! I must be the luckiest person alive!'
It was hard to form words.
'And how could I?! A girl I've literally only run into once is sitting there having fantasies about me!'
Did I do something to her without my knowledge?
Hmm... No. I could've sworn this was the second time we've interacted.
Maybe she's the delusional type?
Well, whatever she is, escaping from here was the best choice. I don't know how much longer I can put up with hearing her thoughts.
I decided to try and apply invisible yet again.
"Invisib-"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Again, I was interrupted. However, this time it was forceful.
An invisible block of air invaded my mouth. It gagged and restricted me from using my incantation.
'What the hell?'
The tall comforting smile of the headmaster stood over me. Suffocating me before moving onwards to the podium.
"Greetings students!"
As the air blocking my mouth ceased, the headmaster spoke to the two hundred first-year students.
"From commoners to nobles, all of you have gathered today with a similar goal. To obtain a class!"
The headmaster began his big speech. It addressed the foundations for the apprenticeships moving forward.
First, the barrier between commoners and nobles would cease. Apprenticeships would be provided for all without discrimination.
Second, depending on your previous ranking in the school, your position would be reset.
Third, depending on the score you receive on the midterm exam, you will be reevaluated and ranked.
"All of you will be given the next two weeks to work alongside your professor and peers. In the end, you are required to take your mid-term examinations."
At the end of his words, I looked at the crowd of students. Their faces were slightly annoyed, especially the nobles.
The removal of the barrier halfway through our first year could only end in blood. I just hoped to not be the brunt of anyone's frustration... At least, not anyone stronger than me that is.
However, one of those annoyed faces caught my eye.
It was August Vale.
He looked... furious.
I couldn't understand the source of his anger. The distance between us was too great to use telepathy.
So, I could only wonder why he looked the way he did.
Clapping his hands, the headmaster concluded by presenting the students seated behind him.
Aka. Me and class 1-A.
"These proud students have already received the recognition of the gods. And although they are still training, their current abilities are well beyond those of you standing before me."
The headmaster's voice sounded sly.
"That's why, to level the playing field, there is a known set of rules we use here at Slvanvale Academy. When the midterm examinations begin, you will granted additional points for taking out one of these participants."
It settled in immediately. Both his words and the fear I felt.
I thought it could be a joke. But this bastard wasn't playing around.
He placed on target on class 1-A's back. On my back.
I knew there would be competition for the mid-term examinations. With Dusk by my side, I was mentally prepared for such.
A blood bath that didn't involve me. That was the plan of approach.
However, this bastard was throwing me right into the flames of hell.
'How am I supposed to survive this?'
The thought appeared in my head.
'Oh, wait.'
But it was quickly dismissed.
I'd forgotten the steps I took to get here. There was no way I was in the danger zone.
My life was secured.
'After all...'
My eyes zipped back and forth between August and Kayden.
'I have the greatest means of information, and the most powerful student as an ally.'
But even with them. Why did I still feel at risk?