"Hence the first group would be composed of Selena Aurelius, Aria Leafsong, Arlan Valenheart, Elric Thornhill, and Kai Rayleigh."
As Dr. Berlint announced the members of the first group, the whispers turned into open mockery.
The room buzzed with snide comments, and I could feel the heat rising to my face, a mix of shame and frustration.
"Hahahahaha! The no-skill brat got into the first group!" someone shouted from the back.
"I feel sorry for Selena!" another voice chimed in.
"Exactly! He'll just drag the whole group down!" The laughter grew louder.
Well, it was typical noble behavior, and as I said before, I have gotten quite used to it.
I glanced over at Selena Aurelius, expecting her to join in or at least give me a scornful look.
But to my surprise, she remained silent, her expression unreadable.
I was pretty disappointed at being grouped with her, so I hoped she would at least rebel against the decision somehow, because she hates me as well.
But it doesn't seem like that's going to happen.
Aria Leafsong was one of the elves, who got the second rank in our class followed by Arlan Valenheart.
I have heard that Aria is the daughter of that chief of the elves, who were displaced and relocated.
Arlan comes from a high-ranking noble family as well, the Valenheart household.
Elric was ranked at 109, just above me, but it seemed like he already had a combat skill, though of low rank.
As the class grew louder, Dr. Berlint, tried to calm down the students.
"Ahem! You all have already heard the group making rules, so you should find your own group members and introduce yourselves. For that reason, you all are advised to go to the training ground right now. We would meet up there."
And he left after instructing us to gather at the training ground.
***
"As you all just got the skills and your class, it has been decided that today's class would be just for introductions and knowing your skills better. Hence you are advised to group up with your teammates, and discuss among yourselves what skills and class you have got. Today is a half day, so take it easy and learn about your abilities thoroughly. That's all."
Just because it was the first day of our high school year and this new curriculum, we were advised to discuss everything with our teammates.
Moreover, it seemed like the first task of this curriculum would be given to us tomorrow.
"Ah, one more thing."
As Dr. Berlint was leaving the training ground, he stopped in his tracks, and looked around the students in front of him.
Then his eyes fell on me.
"Kai Rayleigh, you are summoned to the staff room. Come with me."
....
I have a very bad feeling about this.
***
One day, Kimmy asked me.
"Kai, how did you get wounded this badly?"
"...I got into a fight with some of the fellows from the academy."
"...Why?"
"They were mocking me 'cuz I come from the slums."
"....Just because of that?"
"That's right. They are from noble families after all. Their mindset is as rotten as their bloodline."
After treating my wounds, she asked me again.
"....Kai, do you hate going to that academy?"
"Yeah... I am always the isolated one, cause I am poor. Even if I try my best to avoid making any contact with those bastards, they openly mock at my face, and sabotage me in classes too... I am just sick of it all."
"Then, why don't you try to transfer to a normal academy? I am sure that with your level of aptitude, you would be able to get a scholarship almost anywhere."
"..."
"Kai?"
"That, I can't do."
"...But why?"
"That's because....."
I snapped out of my thoughts after entering into the cabin of Dr. Berlint.
He told me to go with him to the staff room, but that place seemed crowded, so he relocated into his own cabin.
The cabin was pretty clean itself.
No. There was literally nothing in the cabin, except a chair and a desk.
The cabin itself was pretty big, so I hoped there would be some kinds of rare magic tools inside, but as it seemed, only a chair and a desk was in that room.
He sat across the chair, as I stood still waiting for him to start speaking.
Honestly, I had some idea about what this would be.
"Kai, how's your sister doing?"
Upon being asked such an unexpected question, I stared at him for a while.
Because, I haven't told even Wilhelm about me having a little sister.
Nor does anyone else know.
Most of the students here are from noble families.
That to renowned noble families.
So, the academy doesn't really ask for the information about the whole family members of any student.
But, how does he know about it? Even the teachers don't know about my sister.
"Don't be so vigilant now. The incident in which your parents died, I was one of the investigating officers in it.", he said.
"Oh, you just wanted to know if my sister is still alive or not?"
Upon my sarcastic remark, Dr. Berlint's expression turned a bit more serious.
"Don't misunderstand me, kid. Anyway, from your attitude, it seems like she is doing good. What was her name again?"
"...Liana Rayleigh."
"Liana, huh? By the way, do you have any idea, why you are summoned here?"
"Is it about the scholarship program?"
"That's right. The scholarship program was meant for only the normal course of high school. However, with the introduction of this new curriculum, that program itself has been demolished. And you were the only student in our grade to have gotten into that program. So, as heartbreaking as it is, you can no longer study here on a scholarship."
I was right after all.
The scholarship system was meant for meritorious students who come from poor background like myself.
But, this new curriculum, heavily depends on one's mana pool, for which only the noble children are meritorious.
Hence, I can no longer study here for free.
I am back to being a normal student, who have to give large amount of fees for studying in this lavish academy.
But, how can a brat without parents, and a meagre amount of income from unstable part-time jobs, pay that amount of money?
And is it really worth it?
This new curriculum would definitely be applied in other normal academies too, which means I can't get a scholarship anywhere.
"Then, should I just drop out of school?", I asked him.
Honestly, if allowed, I would have dropped out a long ago.
I don't want to do anything big or anything.
I just want to keep my sister happy and smiling as she did today.
However, this city is rotten, so are it's people.
My hands are completely tied here, such that I can neither live peacefully, nor die peacefully.
Because, there was a bond that was signed at the time, I enrolled in the scholarship program.
If ever I wish to leave the academy before completing my high school, then I would have to deposit a bulk amount of 100 million dirts (Martian currency) as penalty.
That was meant to ensure that none of the scholarship money goes to waste.
"You know that you can't drop out, Kai.", replied Dr. Berlint.
"But why sir? If the scholarship program doesn't exist from now on, then why would that bond agreement apply on me, now?", anguish was visible from my expression.
"I understand your frustration, but it's not something in my hands. The only thing you can do now is pay the fees as the academy demands, or pay the 100 million to drop out if you want. That's how it is."
That's how it is, huh?
I can't even commit suicide now, because, they would put the debt on my sister, after I die.
I knew it from the start, that one day this situation would come, but it came way too early.
That's why I said it from the start.
This society wouldn't let me live in peace or die in peace.
Well, not like rebelling in front of this useless teacher would give me any kind of solution, so I left his cabin quietly.
After returning to the training ground, I saw the students had already formed their own groups as instructed.
The teacher said us to introduce ourselves along with our skills and class to our teammates in this free time, but it wasn't like I had any skill or class to begin with.
So, I just sat on the ground at a distance from all the students.
But, the most important reason I didn't want to go back was Selena herself.
As I have said before, the thing I hate the most is her.
Well, keeping that matter aside, I stared at the somewhat-crimson sky.
The clouds formed different kinds of shapes.
A bird or two would occasionally fly over us.
The noise coming from students' chatting among each other, slowly faded, and I closed my eyes to give it a rest.
In this cruel world, the only thing that kept me going was my sister's precious smile.
That's why, I have to find a way to gather money for my fees.
Maybe the old man at my workplace would be able do something about that.
I would ask him later.
As I was contemplating over how to convince him to arrange money for me, my status window opened automatically.
It must be a message from the academy.
Hence, I started reading the contents.
{
Name : Kai Rayleigh
Age : 16
Race : Human
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength : 7
Agility : 8 (Penalty in effect)
Endurance : 8 (Penalty in effect)
Intelligence : 30
Mana : 5
Luck : 4
[EQUIPMENTS]
Central Magic Academy Uniform : Basic protection, no special attributes.
Old Wristwatch : A relic with a hidden compartment.
[STATUS EFFECTS]
Tired : Slight reduction in endurance and agility.
????? : ?????????????
[SKILLS]
Active : No skill assigned due to very low mana.
Passive : ????
Class : No class assigned (Skills' slot is empty)
Rank : 110
[NOTIFICATIONS]
(From : Management, CMA)
Lesson 1: (Tomorrow, report at the central area at 8 : 00 AM)
Objective:
- Collect Mana stones scattered across the designated training ground.
- The designated time is 5 hours.
- All the students of all the groups must be present at the central area of the academy after exactly five hours of the lesson, for evaluation. If someone is absent, then their group would be disqualified, meaning 0 points.
Rules:
- Students in a group may or may not work together to find Mana stones at the venue.
- Each Mana stone would be guarded by a simulated magic construct monster. If you can defeat the monster too, then you would be given additional mana stones.
- The points earned by a group can be transferred among each other, because, in the end, the total points of the group would be considered.
- The points earned can be spent to buy hidden information from the status window. That option would be available during the exam only.
- The number of Mana stones is limited.
Scoring:
- Each Mana stone is worth 1 point.
- If the magic monster guarding the Mana stone is defeated as well, then 3 bonus mana stones for the group.
- Each group must have at least 5 points at the end of the exam.
- The number of Mana stones available would not be disclosed at any point of the exam.
Tips :
- Mana stones have different colors according to the attribute it possess, e.g. fire means red. And if a skill with the fire attribute is used within a certain distance near it, then it would glow .
- Hidden information can be extremely useful or totally useless, depending upon it's usage.
End Goal :
- Groups would be ranked according to the points, they got.
- If a group fails to meet the 5 points quota, then an additional 10 points penalty would be applied on the said group.
- These points would be used in the upcoming lessons too, and those would determine the group rankings.
- Further information, if any, would be provided at the time of the exam, tomorrow.
}
.
.
.
What the fuck is this?