Being hailed as one of the top—if not the very top—schools on the entire continent, it wasn't unreasonable to assume that only the crème de la crème emerged from its hallowed halls.
Most students who graced these grounds boasted either impeccable backgrounds or exceptional talents that set them apart on a global scale.
It was a prestigious institution designed to be impartial; whether noble or commoner, royalty or not, everyone was treated with fairness and equality.
Here, only your skills and performance mattered; the ranking system stood as a testament to that, proving that results were paramount.
The academy stood as a beacon of excellence, a bastion of knowledge and aspiration. And just like the institution itself, each and every faculty member exuded greatness in their own right.
They upheld the academy's traditions and rules with unwavering dedication, their commitment to excellence unyielding.
Yet even they had their limits, boundaries they couldn't ignore, no matter how steadfast their resolve.
"Did you send the letter to Dorothy?"
"Yes,"
"And did you make sure to apologize properly?"
"…. Yes, the package inside was also delivered without any problems"
"Good. You may go now"
Bowing her head slightly, Dorothy exited the dimly lit room with a small sigh, her thoughts weighed down by the weight of responsibility.
As the heavy doors closed behind her, the room fell into a hushed stillness, save for the soft hum of the magic crystal glowing at the center of a table. Its ethereal light illuminated the space, casting dancing shadows against the walls.
With a flicker, the crystal projected a video onto the air above, revealing the chaotic scene that unfolded at the gymnasium.
In the footage, a man with golden blonde hair was seen being engulfed by an intermediate-level lightning spell, his body convulsing as electricity surged through him.
The impact sent him hurtling across the room, crashing into the wall with bone-jarring force.
The structure, once solid and imposing, buckled under the sheer force of the blow, cracks spider-webbing outwards like fractures in glass.
The surreal spectacle played out before the eyes of the onlookers, eliciting gasps and murmurs of disbelief.
Even some of the seasoned staff members, who had witnessed the event firsthand, found themselves perspiring with nervous tension as they relived the moment.
Ordinarily, an intermediate-level spell wouldn't inflict such catastrophic damage. But when wielded by a top student among the third years like Alice, such an attack transcended its classification, morphing into a low-level high-tier spell.
The dean of the magic academy broke the heavy silence with a sigh, his weariness evident in the way he slumped in his chair. "Haaah… since we've sent an apology, I guess that concludes that matter?"
Seated nearby, a man with green hair leaned back, his sleepy eyes flickering with a hint of concern as he absentmindedly shook a potion in his hand. "I just hope it doesn't escalate too much," he murmured, his voice tinged with unease.
The knight academy dean, his arms crossed in front of him, spoke up next. As someone tasked with student screening and maintaining order, he couldn't shake off a sense of regret over what had transpired."
"Who knew one lone student would be connected with that person…" he mused, his voice heavy with a hint of shame.
If they had known the true significance of the individual involved, perhaps they would have made exceptions to the rules. Bias or not, they certainly didn't want to risk offending someone of such importance.
Turning his attention to the principal, he posed a question. "Did you know about this, Principal?"
The woman, her light brown hair framing her face, shook her head, a faint trail of smoke curling from the pipe clenched between her teeth.
"No… I was just informed now," she replied, her blue eyes focused intently on the screen before her. "I just hope the duke won't look at the academy in a bad way… considering the news that he plans to enroll his daughter here two years from now."
"I think his sponsorship would be something we need to worry about more," a member of the faculty interjected, voicing a concern that weighed heavily on everyone's minds.
Indeed, the school faculty couldn't have fathomed that the young man featured in the video was not just any student but a highly favored individual, sponsored by a noble of significant influence.
He was the very linchpin of the academy's financial stability, and the thought that he had been inadvertently harmed, perhaps even brought to the brink of death, sent a shiver down their collective spines.
"Wouldn't it be better if we personally apologized?" another faculty member suggested, their voice tinged with uncertainty.
"That has its merit, but no…" the principal's words resonated with finality. "Based on the letters the duke gave me, the young man doesn't like to overcomplicate things. So, having this as a form of apology is enough. At the end of the day, he's just a student. While he may be connected to the duke, showing any more biases towards him might lead us into even more trouble."
"More importantly, we have other pressing matters at hand," the principal continued, redirecting the conversation away from the delicate topic of the noble's sponsorship.
As if on cue, the scene within the crystal ball shifted, revealing footage of other students. Magic exploded, swords clashed, and spells soared through the air. It was a surreal scene, watching these promising young individuals about to enter the academy.
"The first years today are quite the monsters"
"Just how many promising students have entered at the same time?"
"We haven't had this many prospects since, two years ago, and even then, only Celine, Dorothy, and Alice stood out in the end"
"Looks like the first-year professors will be having a hard time this time"
"I agree,"
As they surveyed the scenes playing out before them, each dean felt a surge of anticipation and dread at the prospect of teaching these exceptional individuals.
Among the standout students, one figure, in particular, caught their attention—a woman with black hair and striking red eyes.
The sword skills she displayed were far beyond those of an amateur.
Despite her apparent youth, no older than sixteen, her movements betrayed a mastery that belied her age. It was as if she were a hundred-year-old master in disguise, her every motion fluid and precise.
The dean of the knight department couldn't help but smile at the sight, recognizing the potential in such a remarkable student. Amidst the sea of talent, she stood out like a beacon of promise, her presence igniting a spark of excitement within the faculty.
Another standout was the pale, ethereal figure of Princess Snow White, heir to the Empire. With ease, she encased her senior in a low-level ice magic, showcasing her formidable abilities. However, the power behind her spells seemed to falter against intermediate ranks, hinting at her potential for growth.
While such a powerful student would typically be cause for celebration in the Magic Department, the dean could only sigh heavily, feeling the weight of responsibility settling upon her shoulders.
Handling a princess capable of shaking the very foundations of the academy itself was no small task, and the dean knew she would need to tread carefully.
Amidst the notable students, there were others with promising potential as well, such as the daughter of the Lillian Merchantry and a young man with black hair and golden eyes.
Despite being a commoner, the latter surprised everyone by surpassing his seniors in pure sword skills alone.
With each exceptional individual entering the academy simultaneously, it was inevitable that the institution would tremble under the weight of the stories they would inevitably bring—whether positive or negative.
All the faculty members present at this meeting understood that they needed to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The arrival of these students heralded a new era for the academy, one filled with uncertainty and possibility.
"As you can see, we've got quite an interesting bunch of students entering this year, and I want all of you to be alert to ensure that the incident that happened recently does not occur again," the principal's voice cut through the room, snapping everyone back to attention. "And also, be careful with this year's ranking, as this batch of students, in particular, is very hard to rank."
The significance of ranks may seem trivial to the average student, but for those in specialized courses, it held immense importance.
It determined everything once they entered the academy—opportunities, resources, and even their future paths.
With such a diverse and talented group of students joining the ranks, maintaining order and ensuring fair assessments would be paramount
…
"Is this it?"
Glancing up at the sign on the door indicating Class 1-B.
After wandering aimlessly through the mansion-like hallways for what felt like an eternity, I had finally stumbled upon my classroom.
The sprawling and labyrinthine layout of the corridors had made finding this particular room a Herculean task.
But here I was, standing before the entrance to Class 1-B—the second-highest ranked class in the academy.
It seemed that the apology letter from yesterday had indeed been legitimate.
However, being placed in this class only served to plunge me deeper into trouble.
Despite it being Class B, the students here were among the cream of the crop. As someone like me, lacking in both background and talent, I knew I would be utterly outmatched when it came to actual fights.
Escaping from Cheshire yesterday had been difficult enough, and now I had to contend with the daunting prospect of surviving in this fiercely competitive environment.
"Well, I can't really complain, though… This is basically a chance to get stronger. Now that I know how to level up, I should focus on improving from now on." With a determined resolve, I reminded myself of my newfound purpose.
I didn't have to worry about the scenarios as long as the protagonist was around. I could sit back and relax, preparing for my inevitable end with Liyana.
[Mission: Attend a class]
As I pondered my mission to attend class, a floating screen materialized in front of my face.
With a sigh, I reached for the door handle, only to find another hand already there, making contact with mine. "Ah, sorry…" I began, intending to apologize for my abruptness.
But as I looked up and saw the thin hand, belonging to a girl, my words caught in my throat.
I knew her immediately.
Red eyes, black hair cascading in waves around her, and an aloof, apathetic demeanor that betrayed no emotion.
As a veteran of this game, knowing her was a must, as she was one of the heroines you must have in your party for the future.
She was Seo Gyeoul, the hidden blade.
"It's fine," she responded calmly, her gaze holding a hint of curiosity as she tilted her head slightly.
With that, she opened the door and entered the classroom, leaving me momentarily stunned by the unexpected encounter.
Why was she here? Shouldn't she be among the top students in the first-year knight class?
I was certain this wasn't Class A, as indicated by the sign.
Without hesitation, she approached a young man with striking black hair and bright golden eyes, who stood in one of the front desks.
I also knew who he was…. His name was Lucas, the protagonist of this story.
Janica, his loyal companion, stood close behind him, her curiosity mirroring his own.
"Hello…" Her voice interrupted my thoughts, and I turned to see Seo Gyeoul standing before them, her expression unreadable.
"Ah… hello, aren't you from yesterday?"
"…yes"
As Seo and Lucas exchanged a few words, I lingered by the doorway, confusion gnawing at me.
Why was the protagonist here?
Was I in the right room? I stepped outside to double-check, confirming that it was indeed Class B.
But Lucas and Seo were supposed to be in Class A.
What was going on?
Suddenly, Seo extended her hands, offering a small bottle to Lucas.
He accepted it, slightly bewildered by the sudden actions, that even made Janica who always gets the atmosphere confused.
Seo offered no explanation, merely nodding before turning and leaving.
Lucas and Janica exchanged perplexed glances, holding the bottle with a note that simply read, "Thank you."
As Seo disappeared down the hallway, her motives remained as awkward as ever.
'Did something happen between them while I was asleep?'