“As such, I hope to see you all take the subject seriously. I look forward to our time together,” Professor Tenami ended her speech and walked off the stage. The students all clapped as she finished her speech, less excitedly than at the beginning of the day, as it had been hours of listening to different professors and faculty members talking.

Tenami is Shiorin for ‘wise.’ She must be Kuwamin. And considering her position, she seems to be living up to her name well.

“Thank you, professor Tenami,” Dean Lukas said as he took his place behind the podium once again. “With that, we are almost finished with what we came here to do today. All that remains is for you to go and pick up your schedules and a booklet of available classes. Remember to turn everything in before the deadline.

“I believe a reminder is in place, however. Even though you have all been placed in classes depending on what you showed us during the admission, everything can change after the tournament. Those at the top of their class can challenge the ones at the bottom in the class above. If you change classes after the tournament, remember to take a look at your new schedule at the administration office.

“That is all. I will see you all at the tournament. I hope you won’t disappoint.”

With that, Dean Lukas left the stage to a wave of applause as the students stood up and began walking out of the auditorium.

“Are you going to take any extra classes?” Relmon asked Adion.

“At least one,” Adion nodded, “But I’ll try to keep it to a minimum. I don’t want to get overwhelmed. I can always take more classes once I’ve gotten used to the Academy.

“That’s a good idea,” Relmon nodded, “I think I’ll just take the obligatory classes and focus the rest of my time on increasing my strength. You can’t be lazy in diamond class. Everyone will be out to get your place.”

“Mm,” Adion nodded. Even though he was confident in his place at the top, he had to admit that he couldn’t slack off because of that. Sell was a perfect example of someone his age with abilities beyond the ordinary that he could have trouble dealing with.

I’ll make sure that no one will have the slightest chance of catching up.

Adion and Relmon made their way into the spacious but crowded hallway, where they soon found signs directing them where the students of the diamond class were supposed to go.

“That way,” Relmon pointed.

“Mm,” Adion nodded and started walking, the crowd soon thinning out.

After walking for a while, they made it to a room that seemed to function as a lecture hall under normal circumstances. There were only about 30 other students in the room when Adion and Relmon arrived, but more students were constantly filling in from behind.

Every single person in the room had the aura of a middle Bronze mage. They were all looking at their schedule while sneaking glances at the other people there, scrutinizing the competition.

I bet there are a lot of people from influential families here. I hope there won’t be any problems.

The continent was far from united, especially with the recent situation in the Delovan Empire, so Adion knew that conflicts were unavoidable. But no one could cross the line. The Academy had made it perfectly clear that they were not taking a side in the conflict in the Delovan Empire, just like with most other conflicts throughout their history. But should anyone kill an enemy or cripple someone outside of a sanctioned fight, Cyalis wouldn’t hesitate to take revenge by getting involved.

“It sure is nice to be part of such a small class,” Relmon said in a low voice.

“Agreed,” Adion said.

The diamond class only had the top 100 students in a given year. The gold class had 300, the silver class had 500, bronze and iron both had 1000 each, and the stone class had whatever remained. This year, there were 936 students in the stone class.

“Looks like I’ll still have a lot of time to train,” Relmon said as he grabbed a piece of paper with their class schedule.

Adion took one for himself and looked through it. There were only four obligatory classes. At least for the diamond class. Two classes on two days every week, leaving a lot of space for personal training or more classes.

History - From the Mysterious Past to the Complex Present

North Hall, History Lecture Hall C, Professor Tenami

Fighting - To Diamond and Beyond

Old Academy Fighting Pits, Professor Magner

Fighting Beasts - The Use of Weapons

Old Academy Fighting Pits, Professor Olema

Concepts - A Bottomless Well

East Wing, Hellosi Hall, Headmaster Vermon

“We have a class with the Headmaster?” Adion asked, surprised.

“I heard he taught a few classes. It seems like we are really lucky,” Relmon said excitedly, “I don’t think any other class but diamond gets this chance.”

Learning concepts from a Pure Soul mage will be incredibly valuable. I’ll have to take this seriously.

“Incredible,” Relmon muttered as he picked up a booklet with available classes, “I’m almost tempted to take a few of these. There is even another one taught by the Headmaster!”

Adion immediately picked up a booklet for himself and was stumped by all the classes available for him to take.

I didn’t expect there would be so many options.

There were classes on all kinds of fighting, specific ones for axes or spears, or ones focused on fighting in groups. There were pages of variations. Then there were classes in geography, culture, and history of nations on Quemer. There were classes on etiquette, runes, and alchemy.

There is even a class in painting. It seems fun but most likely a waste of time for me. But I can’t help but want to fill my entire schedule with some classes here. I’ll have to limit myself, though. I have already accepted to take ‘Inexplicable Magic’ by Professor Haul. I might be able to take one more, but I should wait to take on more than that. I have five years here at the Academy, so I shouldn’t rush into anything.

“What do you think?” Relmon asked.

“I didn’t expect there to be so much,” Adion said, “I’ll have to think about it.”

“I’m definitely taking ‘Aura - To Sense and Control It to the Peak’ by the Headmaster,” Relmon said.

Even I am tempted by it. I am far beyond others here when it comes to my aura, but I could certainly still learn a lot from someone like the Headmaster.

But there is a high possibility he’ll realize how good my aura control is. He might be curious to see what I’m hiding. Taking a class in aura taught by a Pure Soul mage seems like a dumb idea when you have something to hide.

“How about you?” Relmon asked, “Getting taught aura by a Pure Soul mage is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“True,” Adion nodded.

It really does seem like a waste not to take it. But can I take that chance? I don’t think I can. What a shame.

“Adion Remori?” A feminine voice sounded from behind Adion.

Adion turned around and saw it was the blonde elf that he had met along with Relmon in the hallway after he had finished his admission. But she wasn’t the one to grab Adion’s attention, as walking in beside her was his girlfriend.

“Remember me? I’m Felicia Quath,” Felicia reintroduced herself with a smile, “I figured you’d make it into the diamond class.”

“Mm, I remember,” Adion nodded before taking his eyes to Sell. She smiled at him, and Adion spotted that she was wearing his necklace beneath her shirt.

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“You look very pretty today, Sell,” Adion said with a smile.

Sell blushed and gave him an accusatory look. She couldn’t help but smile, though.

“Thanks, Adion,” Sell said.

“Oh, you…you know him Sell?” Felicia asked.

“Mm,” Sell nodded, “His brother and my sister are in the same year and are good friends.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Felicia said.

Felicia turned quiet, a little lost for what to say, as she turned back to look at Adion. Adion also felt how Relmon was staring at him in shock right next to him. Adion turned to see that a lot of other students' eyes were on him as well.

I just said she looked pretty. What’s the big deal?

“Anyway,” Adion said, “How do you two know each other then?”

“We’re roommates,” Sell answered as she went to pick up her schedule next to Adion.

“We’ve also met a few times through the years as we’re both Nobles,” Felicia said, “Anyway, what did you think of the introduction?”

“It was interesting for the most part,” Adion said.

“I couldn’t really focus after the Headmaster did that thing with his aura,” Relmon broke in. He turned to Felicia and Sell. “Nice to meet you again, Felicia. And nice to meet you, princess. I’m Relmon Zemer, branch family.”

“Mm,” Sell nodded. “Nice to meet you, I’m Sellitha Amyss.”

“I agree that the Headmaster gave me quite a scare. What do you think he was doing?” Felicia asked.

“Who knows,” Adion murmured. He saw how Sell gave him a questioning look.

There’s no way she can know it was me.

Sell gave Adion a smug smile.

How!?

“Have you decided on any classes, Adion?” Sell asked.

“Only ‘Inexplicable Magic,’” Adion said, “But I’m interested in several others.”

“You shouldn’t take on too much,” Sell said.

“I know,” Adion said, “I’m at most choosing one more.”

“Me too, then,” Sell said and started flipping through the booklet of classes.

“Looks like we actually will have a class with the Headmaster,” Felicia commented as she looked through the schedule.

“He’s even teaching another class in aura that you can choose if you want,” Relmon commented.

“Really? I didn’t know that,” Felicia said, grabbing a booklet for herself.

“There is a class in water magic without a water core,” Sell said, looking up at Adion, “What do you think about that?”

“I would like to take some time to focus on that if I can,” Adion nodded, “But I think I could do that without a teacher. It seems like a waste considering all the other classes here.”

“Aren’t you taking the Headmaster’s aura class?” Felicia asked.

“I’m not so sure about that,” Adion said.

“You should,” Felicia said, “It’s probably the most valuable class in the entire Academy. You’re taking it, aren’t you, Sell?”

“We’ll see,” Sell said non-committedly.

“Well, I’m definitely taking it,” Felicia said.

If I’m only taking one more class, I think I should take a beginner class on runes. That would be very hard to learn elsewhere, and it seems like it could be very useful.

“Sellitha Amyss?” A man’s voice sounded behind them.

Adion turned around along with Sell to see a brown-haired man as tall as Adion looking at her.

“Yes?” Sell asked.

“My name’s Vels Gratton. I came to say that I’m taking rank 1 in the upcoming tournament. You should give up if you face me,” Vels said with a straight face.

Sell frowned at the comment. “I’ll burn you to a crisp. Keep some healing pills nearby.”

“Good,” Vels said with a smile. He nodded to Adion, Felicia, and Relmon in greeting and turned to walk away again.

“What a weird guy,” Adion said, looking at Vels reading through the booklet of classes along with some other people Adion assumed were his friends on the other side of the room.

“He’s the only high Bronze mage besides Sell,” Felicia said, “He probably thinks no one else can compete for rank 1.”

“Hmm,” Adion nodded, “Is it really so unbelievable to beat someone just a minor stage stronger?”

“When we all are the same age and most of us come from Noble families, a small difference in strength like that means a lot,” Felicia said.

I guess that makes sense. He’s also a fire mage, so there’s not much chance that someone weaker beats him.

“Still, it wouldn’t be impossible to beat him,” Relmon said, still looking at Vels.

“Just difficult,” Felicia said and then sighed, “Haaah. It’s going to be a lot of tension in our class, it seems like. The Gratton family were the biggest supporters of Onden Delevan during the civil war, and I see a lot of people looking at him with murder in their eyes.”

Adion looked around and noticed she was right. The room was gathered in small clusters of students, and a few of them were staring daggers at Vels and his friends.

I still haven’t found out if Heavenly Light was involved in all of that. It seems likely that they played some role in it. I wonder if you can get this type of information for credits?

“Anyway, do you guys want to grab something to eat?” Felicia asked.

“Sell and I have to meet up with our siblings to talk about some things,” Adion made up, “But maybe another day.”

“Oh?” Felicia said and looked to Sell questioningly.

“That’s right,” Sell nodded, “We should hurry so we’re not late.”

She then grabbed the schedule and booklet and put it inside a bag she had with her.

“See you guys later,” Adion said, turning to walk out of the room with Sell.

“Right,” Relmon said, “See you around.”

“Our siblings' relationship is really convenient,” Sell said quietly as they walked out.

“Mm,” Adion nodded, “How did it go yesterday? Did your sister figure something out? You were incredibly obvious after all.”

“I wasn’t obvious,” Sell refuted and looked up to Adion, “You were the one who called me Sell.”

“That’s not enough to rouse suspension,” Adion defended, “You’re the one who blushed at anything anyone said.”

“That’s…” Sell looked offended and had a small blush appear on her face.

“Haha,” Adion laughed, “It’s fine. It’s cute.”

“You-” Sell pushed Adion away with a bigger blush on her face.

Should I teach her what Quahim taught me so she can keep her reactions under control? But I really like seeing her like this. It would be bad if I couldn’t make her blush anymore.

“Sorry, sorry,” Adion laughed and walked up next to Sell again, “So she didn’t think anything was strange?”

“She did,” Sell said, “But not to the point of suspecting anything. I just explained that we got along, and we left it at that.”

“That’s good then,” Adion said, “Even if I doubt your sister would tattle on us.”

“I don’t know about that,” Sell muttered.

Adion knew she didn’t get along with her sister well, so he didn’t push it.

“I was thinking about taking a class on runes, by the way,” Adion said.

“Oh? That sounds interesting,” Sell said.

“You think so too?” Adion asked.

“I meant for you. I think it sounds boring,” Sell said with an apologetic smile.

“Oh,” Adion said, “Well, it might be. Still, I think a lot of power can extracted from it. Seems like a good opportunity to learn some of it while I’m here.”

“Mm,” Sell nodded, “I’ll think about it, but I’ll probably take something else.”

“Okay,” Adion said.

“So what did you do to make the Headmaster react like that?” Sell asked.

“How did you know?” Adion asked and looked at her suspiciously.

“Haha,” Sell laughed, “I just felt like it was you.”

“Well that’s an unfair ability,” Adion muttered, “Anyway, I was just trying to see if I could use my Authority on the space around him. But I didn’t even grab hold of it, and he reacted like that.”

“He is one of the strongest people in the world, so I’m not surprised,” Sell said, “Is that why you don’t want to take the aura class with him?”

“I would love to take it, but I feel like it’s not the best environment for someone trying to hide things about their aura,” Adion said.

“That’s true,” Sell nodded.

“Anyway,” Adion said, “You want to talk about everything over something to eat?”

“Mm,” Sell nodded with a bright smile.