Over the course of the day, rumors had spread that Ailred's youngest child was a useless piece of trash with no Hyper ability. People were divided on how this could have happened; some said that it was because of his past laziness contributing to him not having a hyper ability, while others just said Nian was destined to be useless.
Tessa had received praise from her seniors due to her trying her very best to impress everyone and make a name for herself as soon as she could. People had begun to say she was destined to be famous.
Lucas , the Star of the day had been praised and compared to the SS Rank Mancer Hero Flash Star, who also has 2 hyper abilities as if trying to goad Lucas into becoming great. The day had quickly turned to night and rumors had begun to settle and find their way in the silence.
Ailred sat in his chambers behind a large redwood carved desk. The entire room had a nostalgic feeling; its interior would make one feel like they had stepped into the past. Ailred himself was currently writing using a pen and paper while wearing glasses.
A knock on the door echoed within the chamber. "Come in..". A young man wearing a Mancer suit stepped in looking confused. He had shoulder length black hair and on his side, a helmet hid under his arms. "I apologize Clan Head, I came as soon as I heard you requested me, I didn't have time to change."
Ailred nodded, gazing at the paper on his desk before signing it and placing his pen down. "Today was a bittersweet day for me. On one hand, a super genius and a genius….and on the other, a dud seed…"
The young man kept silent, a faint smile rising to his face. " Indeed Clan Head, I had heard about today's events on my way here. I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations and condolences." Ailred reached up and took a deep breath as he rubbed his forehead.
"It's not the boy's fault...if this is fate then it's fate, but that also means a dud is a dud. He will have to work incredibly hard if he wishes to get somewhere and not stay behind his step sister and step brother's shadows"
The young man nodded. "This is where I step in, Clan Head?" Ailred nodded and spoke. "I have no doubt that the Academy provides good methods of teaching, but I want you to keep an eye out for Nian. Tessa and Lucas are up there with those of greatness, but Nian will struggle and come up against many who look down on him."
The young man frowned a little. "He is still part of the Meris Clan. If they dare.." Ailred intervened with his words. "Yes, but for all that we have bragged about, our enemies will look down on us. Facing ridicule. Nian wants to be an artist; maybe this is also fate. I'll let him do as he wishes with my blessing… 2 geniuses are enough for us. For now, he will stay at the Academy until he makes a decision for himself. Until that time comes or he graduates, please take care of him Yuto"
The young man named Yuto blinked before bowing respectfully. "If the Clan Head wishes it, I will do my best." Ailred nodded before falling silent. Yuto took this as a sign that he was excused and left.
As the door shut, Ailred turned the chair around to gaze out of the window into the blue sky inhabited by a sun and 2 moons. "Iya I'm sorry...your son is like this, but I'm glad you aren't alive to suffer the ridicule…"
The night soon passed, and at 6:00AM all the children who had attended the previous day's events were preparing to leave. On a large vessel with the meris clan emblem as well as a slick metallic jet black color covering the vessel.
Nian made his way forward and looked around as the adults bid their children farewell. He frowned a little before taking his luggage that had been brought by the first vessel he and Lucas had come in on. Making his way up the ramp, he heard a voice call out to him.
"Ahh, Nian, wait up!" stopping to turn around, he saw Lucas wave. Nian waved back quietly as he forced a smile. As they entered the vessel, going to the very back to avoid the others for Nian's sake, Lucas began to speak.
"Don't worry about yesterday, focus on today. We are going to Star Mancer Academy . There are a few A rank and even an S ranker who went there. If we work hard, we can achieve something"
Nian nodded. "Got it. Work hard, and we will be rewarded." Tessa made her way down with shades on, trying to show off as she ordered an attendant to pack her luggage away. "I can't believe you're still hanging out with this loser… you need to be careful Lucas. Many of our rival clan's children will be going to Star Mancer Academy like us...if we associate with someone like him, they will tease us."
Lucas frowned. "Tessa...you're going too far. Nian can still become something great, right Nian?" Nian turned and gave a soft nervous laugh. He had thought hard about it as Mr.Flays told him about it.
He knew Tessa was right. "I'll work hard and...if I ever drag you down, I won't bother you." Lucas frowned, he wasn't oblivious and also understood the situation. "Don't say that. We'll see when we get there "
Within minutes as everyone had settled down and was seated, the vessel turned into a light blur as it blew across the ocean and headed towards Star Mancer Academy. One of their cousins began to speak casually. "I heard the Willford clan's new generation will also be attending." Another spoke.
"We have to be on our guard. Mother told me they had a genius with a D Rank hyper ability too…" the female spoke nervously.
Tessa laughed aloud. "Pfft, only one D-rank hyper ability?. Lucas has two D-rank hyper abilities. Lucas, if you let us down we won't forgive you.." Lucas lightheartedly laughed. "Don't worry, leave everything to me. If we all work hard and stick together, we will top Star Mancer Academy."
Nian listened silently before his attention was drawn to one of his cousins who said, "Ahh that's going to be hard since Nian is going to be with us… damnit, why did he have to be trash.." Another spoke, "Shh, he will hear you...it'll be fine though, I'm sure Lucas and Tessa have enough talent to carry him; at least he won't be our problem.."
Nian's face turned a little green as he clenched his fists. Lucas sighed a little as he looked worryingly at Nian. Tessa paid no mind as she agreed and didn't really care about Nian's feelings. "-I'll show them...I'll fucking show them all one day…-" Nian muttered, bottling up a brewing storm of fury.
Within 20 minutes, at the vessel's current speed, they soon entered a large landmass with many vessels going back and forth; some with other clan emblems on them. The children couldn't help but gape at them in awe. "Hey, isn't that the Wisp clan?.." Another would laugh and speak. "Wow, this is going to be exciting with so many clans…"
Nian only glanced outside even as the Academy came into sight. The Academy's size, comparable to a small city, had many neatly separated buildings. It had 4 areas, each containing buildings in an X-like shape. At the center, surrounded by a circular wall, was a large tower that seemed to be built to pierce the heavens.
"Holy shit, Star Mancer Academy… I had heard of it from father, but seeing it in person is awesome!" One of the excited Meris branch members spoke while another agreed. "Damnit, my older brother told me it's nothing much, but he was lying, it's huge!"
Tessa and Lucas couldn't contain themselves either, leaving their seats to get a better look. Nian too Stared with fascination. "Look Nian, this is where we will spend 10 years of our lives...learning how to become stronger and getting our very own Mancers, this is freaking awesome.." Lucas spoke, trying to cheer Nian up and build some hype.
"Ha! This is my first stepping stone and next will be the shift battles until I get older." Tessa laughed in a crooked way, making Lucas and Nian look at her weirdly. As soon as the Meris vessel arrived at its designated port, the children were lead out before being greeted by the seniors of the Meris Clan attending Star Mancer Academy.
Gazing around curiously, the children's attention was drawn to the senior in front who called out. "Yes! Star Mancer Academy is great, but you also need to be great! If you let our Meris Clan down, it makes you a loser who dishonors us all...so stop gawking and form a line so we can find out who the hell you guys are!"
Called down from their fascination by their hot headed senior, they quickly arranged themselves in a line similar to how they lined up at the Meris Estate. The senior wearing the uniform of Star Mancer Academy had a great design on his back. It had the Academy's insignia of a Mancer reaching up towards the Stars.
The pants, shoes and top seemed to fit perfectly. The seniors all had varied color differences on their uniform showing that each one had attended a different number of years to show their hierarchy. The man who called out was at his 8th year at Star Mancer Academy and his uniform was black rimmed.
"At least you guys listen right away. 10 years old, just like I was, so I'll let you all know a few things, do your best to remember it. We are all in this together, meaning we need to work hard together. Firstly, if you dishonor us, your seniors will definitely punish you. Secondly, as you guys saw, a lot of the other dumb clans are sending their new generations here, so don't slack off and work hard ok!"
When he spoke those words, the children all called out 'yes' in their own way, showing proud smiles. The senior smiled and continued. "Third, one of us will be assigned to you as per the request of your parents. We will make sure to teach you as best we can. If you have any issues, don't handle it yourself and ask your seniors first to avoid problems with other clans.
The children nodded again and then the senior concluded, "Ok, when your senior picks you, they will take you to your room. Luckily you guys won't have to share rooms with anyone. Hahaha, lucky, when I attended, everything was cramped while they built the new areas. Anyway, that's all, you're all dismis--"
As the senior spoke, he was interrupted by a young man with a black rimmed uniform who stopped with a group of seniors and children behind him. "Raphel, so this is your Meris Clan's younger generation huh?.. I heard from my father that there are a few good eggs. Let's see" he pointed towards Lucas.
"Wilford Clan, remember that boy's face and his name's Lucas. Two D rank Hyper abilities...if you let your guard down, he will show no mercy." he called out, making Lucas the goal of the Wilford Clan's new generation.
The senior with the black rimmed outfit called Raphel from the Meris clan grinned. "Give it up Harris. Your new generation will never reach our little prodigy". Harris gave a dark look as he then pointed to Nian.
"Wilford clan, on your way to greatness and to defeat the Meris Clan, remember, it could be worse; you could be that piece of trash, remember his name, Nian. Strive to be great and not like him…"
Nian's face turned red from embarrassment as he bit his lower lip and clenched his fist, trying to contain his anger at being compared to Lucas, who was his opposite. Raphel glared, also disappointed that Harris was even able to know about Lucas and Nian.
"Harris, you scumbag...your Willford Clan is good at gathering intel, I'll be sure to request the clan to weed out your rats…" Harris laughed glaring at Raphel before he walked off. The new generation at his side glanced a little uninterestedly at the Meris Clan's others, then glaring fiercely at Lucas and giving looks of pity at Nian.
Nian felt his heart tremble as if he were about to cry from embarrassment, but he kept it together. "Damnit, my mood is ruined...shit you guys handle the rest…" Raphel glanced at Lucas and gave a disappointed look at Nian before walking off with 2 other seniors at his side.
From there, the seniors one by one called out names. Lucas was called out first before others followed. "Nian work hard, I'll find a way to meet up with you later on, hah." Nian nodded with a smile. He was happy at least that the genius of the clan was his brother; even though they were step brothers, they were still half blood.
Before long, Lucas and many others vanished. "Nian." A hand touched his shoulder. Nian jumped a little before turning around to see Yuto, who Ailred had talked to before. "Uhh it's nice to meet you senior!" he quickly bowed.
Yuto laughed and nodded. "Sorry I'm a bit late, I just arrived, but let me show you around." Yuto began to make his way off, and a female senior spoke with soft mocking words towards him. "Too bad Yuto...you gotta work extra hard.."
Yuto only laughed and waved it off, but Nian understood what she meant. Soon the two entered the Academy's main grounds. Yuto began to explain everything. "So here's the deal. The Academy is split into 4 sections; one side for the girls another for the boys, and while the lower buildings in this X shape are for students in their first 5 years, the higher point of the x shape is for those from years 6 to graduation.
You are allowed to go to either of the boys upper or bottom sides but we are forbidden from going over to the female side without permission. We can only meet in the central area; it's the center of the x with the large building. "
Nian nodded as he did his best to pay attention. "What about between the sides?." Yuto smiled as he replied. "The spaces between the sides are training grounds, both training grounds can have female or males, so don't worry about which side. Also know that female and male students attend the same classes. But during your free time, you can relax at the central area around the main building."
Nian looked at the large tower like building. "What is that building anyway, senior?." Yuto laughed. "Call me Yuto, and that building is where all students go to learn. it's separated into levels. The building is 200 stories tall, but i'll explain it. Levels 1-20 are for first years. For those geniuses, the higher the level between that 1-20, the more fame or attention they get. Then levels 30-40 are for second years."
Nian was a little confused, and couldn't help but ask another question as they neared the lower student housing. "Why do first years have 20 levels while second years only have 10? Do third years have 10 levels as well?"