It didn't take very long for all the Alpha Class Students to be done with their Selection.
As one would expect, there were many impressive results among the students. Most of them got their hands on High Grade Spirits, with a few even securing Higher Grade ones.
However, no matter how impressive their achievements seemed, they were all overshadowed by Seth Zephyr's Dragon. No one could stop talking about it, and despite the powerful Familiars that showed up afterward, nothing was as fascinating as Seth's results.
Once a student was done with the Selection, they would be directed to the Interview Chamber, where another Instructor was waiting to document the experience of the students and officially input the Familiar they received in the school records.
Afterward, they would be dismissed for the day.
And so, once the Alpha Students were done with their Selection Ceremony, only the seventy-five Beta Students remained in the hall. With more room now available to them, many students spread out rather than huddling together in one straight line.
The reason for that was pretty obvious.
'They're nervous.' Ash thought as he looked around him. 'No one wants to go first.'
Despite the results being inevitable for every student, they seemed to be under some sort of illusion of choice. In their minds, they could prevent or postpone certain bad results by delaying the outcome.
'They should be rushing forward, considering how Spirits are finite, and the advantage belongs to the earliest person.'
Despite thinking like this, Ash couldn't blame his fellow Beta Class Students.
'Alpha Class has probably taken all the good ones, and the remaining probably won't want to contract with the majority of Beta Class Students for obvious reasons.' He sighed. 'Still, there could be a few useful Medium Grade available or even High Grade Spirits who are desperate and won't mind bonding with a Beta Student.'
Even with all of these possibilities, he knew that there was no need for him to rely on probability.
After all… he already knew the conclusion.
'No one here will obtain a High Grade Spirit, and over half will drop out after obtaining either Low or Lesser Spirits.'
That was the plot of the Novel he was now living in.
"So no one is stepping forward, eh? Guess I'll pick you out myself!" The Supervisor growled, his glare deepening on the terrified students.
Ash expected this as well, including what would happen next.
"Master Ashfelt Zephyr, step forward!"
He sighed, taking measured steps as he left the obscure position he previously occupied and walked to the front of his classmates, only stopping once he was a few inches from the angry Supervisor.
"As a Noble, shouldn't you lead by example and be the first to venture in?"
"I apologize." He replied calmly.
"You should rush at this opportunity! If you're lucky, you can obtain a High Grade Familiar and manage to return to Alpha Class by the end of the Year!"
Ash made a sad smile as soon as he heard this.
'A few weeks before this Selection Ceremony, I was still a student of the Alpha Class. However, due to my terrible grades and average performance, I was selected to participate in the Promotional Exams and face someone from the Beta Class who wanted to rise to Alpha Class.'
Normally, the skill-level of Alpha Class Students and those in the Beta Class are so wide apart that even weak Alpha Students would still trump strong Betas.
However, he was the exception in this case.
'I was beaten and demoted to Beta Class, while the person who defeated me got promoted to Alpha Class…' Ash sighed internally. 'It's no surprise, though, since I only got to Alpha Class due to my Noble heritage.'
Being a Noble—especially one of the Four Great Households—automatically made him an Alpha Student upon enrollment into the Academy. The reason for this was due to the backing and prior education he enjoyed, a privilege only available to Noble Families.
However, entering Alpha Class and staying in Alpha Class were two separate things.
'Those with exceptional results in Beta Class get to challenge those with low results in Alpha Class, and if an Alpha Student loses… they become a Beta. Conversely, if a Beta wins, they join Alpha Class.'
This made the system of the Academy fair—at least functionally speaking—since it was possible for the overall status quo to change.
'The Promotional Exams happen every six months—hence, twice a year.'
That meant he could return to Alpha Class if he excelled well enough in the Beta Class—a process that began with obtaining a decent Familiar.
'A High Grade Familiar would definitely put me on the map…' Ash thought.
"Do you understand, Master Ashfelt?"
Upon hearing the Instructor's words, Ash nodded and allowed his gaze to be filled with nothing but determination.
"I understand!"
"Good!" The man nodded. "Now step in."
Ash obeyed, still taking measured steps until he found himself bathing in the ethereal light of the [GATE]. In a single moment, he felt his body falling into what seemed like an ocean of still water.
The sensation lasted only for a second, and the next thing he felt was the soft, sensational breeze of The Garden.
"Ahh…" He whispered, eyes practically everywhere at once.
The tiny blades of grass tickled Ash's feet, as the numerous trees surrounding him had multiple flows of energy radiating around them. A mix of various colored lights decorated the sky, and the flowers seemed to be cut from the most precious gems.
The scent that wafted in the air was overwhelmingly enchanting, and everything seemed to be painted in moving and pulsating colors
Overall, the surreal atmosphere of the garden felt unreal.
And that was because it was.
'The Garden exists in the Spirit World, which is why we need a portal to get in. The Academy has a contract with the Garden, allowing us students to come in and contract with Spirits.'
It was something of a symbiotic relationship.
'Now then…' Ash sat on the field, feeling the soft warmth of the grass on his backside. '... I should begin.'
Just like everyone else, he entered a meditative pose and waited patiently for the Spirits to gather around him so he could make a selection. For the talented Alpha Students, this would take a very long process since they would have to sort through so many Spirits in order to pick the best one for them.
However, Beta Students like him didn't need to take very long.
'Only about two, maybe a maximum of five will gather around someone with my level of talent.'
As Ash closed his eyes and waited for a Spirit, none showed up.
None except one.
"Hmm… this is a problem."
He tried his best to ignore the Spirit before him, but it stubbornly remained, hovering around him in order to get his attention.
It wasn't because the Spirit was weak.
No… far from it.
"Judging from its golden color, this is a Supreme Grade Spirit." Ash sighed. "Damnit… I did my best to suppress my energy, yet this is the only one that's coming."
If he had to guess, the Spirit before him had most likely warded off other Spirits which prevented them from showing up. That meant the Lesser Wind Spirit that he was meant to end up with was also absent.
'It's just this one.'
Ash finally opened his eyes and looked at the fluttering golden Spirit before him.
It had the form of a small ball of light, with particles of energy dancing round it as it hovered all over him like a creature in heat.
The human eyes couldn't see a Spirit in its true Spiritual Form, which is why they often appeared this way to potential Hosts. As such, Ash couldn't see the true form of the entity that obstinately clung to him.
Still, he had a pretty good idea who it was.
"So it's you… Golden Phoenix, Nyx."
The Spirit stopped hovering and leaped towards Ash, touching him with its shimmering skin.
Instantly, a brilliant light covered the entire Garden.
~Indeed I am, human!~
The voice echoed deep in Ash's Soul, a soft and melodious tone that he couldn't ignore.
"Great Spirit… I would like to humbly ask you…"
~Yes, go on…~
"... To please leave my presence and let the other Spirits come to me."
~W-what?!~
Naturally, the Supreme Grade Spirit was shocked.
No human would dare refuse the offer of a Higher Grade Spirit, not to mention a Supreme Grade one—especially a Spirit of the Golden Phoenix's caliber.
And yet… this human was uttering such absurd words.
"I need to contract with a Lesser Spirit, and you're disrupting that process. So please…"
~Are you being serious right now?~
"Yes."
~B-but I'm better than a Lesser Spirit!~
"It doesn't matter." Ash sighed, shaking his head slowly. "I want a Lesser Spirit."
~H-hold on… don't you know that the quality of your Soul is too high for a Lesser Spirit? I have never seen one like it before… it's almost like it's not of this world!~
Ash's smile widened upon hearing those words.
"I know."