As the applause for Dean Yen Williams faded, a figure rose gracefully from the stage side. Archmage Myra, her presence commanding yet serene, stepped forward, as her calm yet authoritative voice resonated.
"First-years, welcome to Adencia Van Academy. As you step into this new chapter of your lives, remember that the foundation of strength lies in the basics. The first year is designed to sharpen those fundamentals, regardless of your background or innate talent, In addition to your core classes, you will have the opportunity to choose electives. These cover rare disciplines, some of which delve into subjects not found in conventional syllabi. Choose wisely, as they will define your path in the years to come."
Her gaze swept across the sea of students, her tone firm yet encouraging.
"Furthermore, the top ten rankers of this year will form a mini council under the leadership of the first rank. You will be working directly under the guidance of the student council. Your seniors will provide further instructions, but let me be clear, your ranks are not just a badge of honor, they are a responsibility. Lead by example."
A murmur ran through the crowd as her words settled in. Then, her voice shifted to a lighter tone. "And now, to formally inaugurate this batch, let us call upon your first-year representative: Ray."
The announcement stirred a mixed reaction. Students who had witnessed Ray's feats during the entrance examination cheered enthusiastically, their voices filling the hall. Others, particularly those from noble families, remained silent, their expressions conflicted. Among the older students, a few from noble factions frowned at the praise given to a commoner when notable figures like Lily Dragonborne and Katherine Livia were in the same batch. Yet, the academy's rules on equality kept any dissent in check, and no one dared speak out.
Ray rose from his seat, his movements unhurried and composed. As he made his way to the stage, whispers followed him, and a group of first-year girls accidentally tripped over each other in their haste to get a better look. He ignored the commotion, his focus unwavering.
Standing at the podium, Ray spoke. His voice was calm and cold, carrying an unmistakable weight of authority.
"My name is Ray," he began, his gaze sweeping the hall.
"I like peace. If any of you feel you are strong enough to fight me, regardless of year or rank, come at me...we can have a little spar... Ah, and don't waste my time if you're a mugget."
A stunned silence followed his words, broken only by his next line, delivered with the faintest hint of sarcasm.
"Congratulations to my classmates. Let's make this Academic journey productive."
As he stepped away from the podium, his indifferent expression unchanged, the room buzzed with reactions. Those who had seen his battles during the entrance exams exchanged knowing glances, vowing never to provoke him. Others, like Henry Dragonborne, Lewis Krios, and Clea Borris, felt a surge of determination, and their competitive spirits ignited.
Lily Dragonborne, seated among the top rankers, smirked in amusement.
"Typical Ray," she murmured to herself, her gaze lingering on him as he returned to his seat.
The instructors, except for Yen Williams, appeared dumbfounded by the audacity of his speech. The dean, however, allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips, his thoughts inscrutable.
-----
As the ceremony ended, the students were directed to their respective classes. The academy had divided the first-years into sections A, B, C, and S. Section S, reserved for rankers and promising students, boasted a more challenging curriculum. Lower sections like C were not neglected; instead, they received more instructor attention to nurture their growth.
Ray, of course, found himself in Section S. The classroom was large and spacious, with a white ceiling and neatly arranged rows of 25 benches, each accommodating two students. Names had been pre-assigned, and Ray's seat was third from the last row, next to none other than Katherine Livia.
As he approached his bench, Katherine offered him a polite smile.
"Looks like we'll be seatmates," she said, her tone warm.
Behind them sat Lily Dragonborne and Clea Borris, while Jack and Xavier occupied the bench in front. The arrangement seemed almost deliberate, grouping the rankers together. Ray noted the dynamics but said nothing, settling into his seat.
The chatter in the room quieted as a tall figure entered. The instructor was striking, with long pink hair cascading down her back and deep blue eyes that held a mix of authority and warmth. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, her slender form exuding a confident grace.
"Good morning, everyone," she began, her voice melodic yet firm.
"My name is Selena Livia. I will be your class in charge and your instructor for History and Magical Theory."
Ray's gaze shifted to Katherine, raising an eyebrow in silent question. Katherine leaned closer and whispered, her hand covering her mouth,
"She's my aunt."
Before Ray could react, Selena's sharp eyes landed on the pair.
"If you have any doubts regarding anything," she said, her tone pointed,
"you can ask me directly."
Ray leaned back slightly, amused by the interruption, while Katherine straightened up, embarrassed.
After scanning the class once, Selena continued.
"Since this is your first day, we'll keep it light. Let's start by discussing your current power levels."
She gestured to a student in the front row.
"You, introduce yourself and state your power level."
The boy stood nervously.
"My name is Menon Mark. I am a mage, and I am still in the Novice realm."
Selena nodded, signaling him to sit.
"A mage," she began, "is someone blessed by mana. Mana, one of the primal energies of our world, allows us to perform extraordinary feats. A mage who understands and applies Mana progresses through certain realms...The beginning realm being a Novice mage, the first step into the journey, you get to know your elements, and start understanding mana flow, getting a hang of your elements with basic tier spells at the same time...."
"For you to advance to the next level, you need to have comprehended your attunement to a certain level, where you can cast spells neatly and effortlessly,,, That realm is Adept mage, Your Mana core too undergoes some changes here...then,." Selena stopped herself as she saw certain someone already in his dreams, even though the class hadn't started for minutes, She called out,
"Student Ray, I need you to explain further on this topic. Class is not for taking naps."
Seeing Selena who had a disappointed look, Ray stood up and started explaining,
"A battle mage, for example, Katherine beside me has complete control over her mana flow and spells, after the upgrade in mana core, the quality, and size of it will increase allowing a Battle mage to conjure bigger and more versatile spells, and as you keep advancing, Mage King, a stage where to have complete authority over your element, you can use it to coat yourself, that acts as a barrier as well as, suction...never mind then Mage Emperor, which cannot be reached just by learning new spells...but you need to open up your mental space, create your own mana zone and...I think that's enough as you guys have a long way until that point..." Ray was about to sit down, when
"And one more thing, it's just my personal opinion, these realms, power levels, are just made up to limit yourselves, if one has talent and determination, having comprehension of everything related to mana from the roots, allows you to be free of all these chains, then only your imagination that you create in your mental space being the only boundary...You can just ignore this!"
Hearing Ray's explanation and thoughts, Selena genuinely felt happy that someone, who could think this broad, had appeared as one of her students...and even his half-broken explanation on suction through coating, which is a theory she was currently working on, is this mere coincidence or she just met someone who has similar thoughts as her, time will tell.
"Well said Ray, As he said Imagination, Comprehension, and Application are three important things for a mage."
"Let's end this class now, we'll be discussing Elements and their deviants with some history in the next class. You have your combat class now get going to the training grounds."