"I'll carve my own path, starting here in the academy," Shin thought, his determination burning brighter than ever.

"First rule," Bajar said, raising his hand and releasing his index finger, "you can't leave the academy unless you have permission from me or one of the other teachers."

He then released his middle finger. "Second rule, you must follow all the academy's rules."

Shin frowned and asked, "Can you explain the rules in a simpler way? The first one was easy to get, but the rest feel all over the place."

"No, I'm not a teacher," Bajar replied bluntly.

Shin's face twisted in annoyance. "You're just lazy," he thought, shaking his head.

Ignoring him, Bajar released his ring finger. "Third rule, if you want to fight another student, you both have to sign a consent form and do it in the designated sparring area. No exceptions."

"Fourth rule: You must never cheat, whether it's on a test or during sparring. You must always fight equally," Bajar said in a serious tone. "That's the most important rule. Do not break it."

Shin wiped sweat from his brow, clenching his fists. "I won't break it," he said, though his own voice was filled with uncertainty.

"How embarrassing... did I really say that?" Bajar thought, but he pushed the feeling aside.

"That's all. There are other rules, but the teacher who handles your class will explain them," Bajar added.

"I see. Thank you, sir." Shin bowed respectfully.

"See you tomorrow. I’m probably going to sleep now," Bajar said, turning to leave.

"You're not going to help me with all these clothes you brought?" Shin asked politely.

"Nah, you can handle it. I’m too tired." Bajar waved as he walked out the door.

"Oh, by the way," Bajar called back, "don’t make too much noise. The students sleeping next to you need their rest."

"Yes, sir," Shin replied, his respect unwavering.

"Fuck. How am I supposed to put all this stuff away?" Shin muttered to himself. Bajar had left a large bag full of clothes and supplies.

It was late, but Shin was too tired to think about it and soon drifted into a deep sleep, snoring heavily.

A few hours later, Shin woke up with a groggy groan.

"Hmmm, what time is it?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He squinted at the timer on the wall. "9:38?"

Shin blinked, then his eyes widened in panic. "FUCK!"

"What time is my class?" he thought, his mind racing. Sir Bajar didn’t even say anything!

He scrambled out of bed, rushing to the restroom. After a rushed wash, he attempted to get dressed but tripped and fell flat on his face.

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"OUCH! Fuck!" Shin cursed, groaning in frustration. He lay on the ground for a moment before spotting a piece of paper fluttering toward him. He grabbed it and saw that it was a note from Bajar.

"Your class is at 8 in the morning."

-Bajar

"FUCK, I’M LATE!" Shin shouted, panic rising in his chest.

After a few more minutes of frantic dressing, Shin bolted out the door. Just as he was about to close it behind him, another note caught his eye. He read it aloud to himself.

"There’s 12 classes. Your class is at 8."

-Bajar

"Why couldn’t he just put it all together in one note?" Shin thought, frustrated but still rushing.

Without another thought, he sprinted downstairs and dashed toward the academy.

While Shin was running toward the classroom, he bumped into someone else who was also rushing. They both fell to the ground.

“Ouch,” Shin muttered, rubbing his shin.

"Ah! Are you okay?" the other person asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Y-yeah, I’m okay. Sorry, but I gotta hurry! I’m late for class," the other person said, standing up and quickly adjusting his uniform before dashing off again.

Shin stood up, still a bit confused. "His voice feels way too feminine, but he's dressed as a guy. His face also looks just like Fiona’s, but more... undeveloped? Shin thought, rubbing his sore shin. Oh, crap! I’m late too!"

Shin quickly got back on his feet and resumed running. After a while, he arrived at the academy building and saw a bunch of students' faces through the class windows.

"Class 1… Class 5… Class 8! This is it!" Shin thought happily, clenching his fist in excitement and giving an awkward smile. As he stepped inside, he immediately felt the change in atmosphere.

This place feels totally different from the outside... Shin thought, shivering slightly as his body hair stood on end. It feels so weird walking into a class like this.

"The classroom was set up like a university lecture hall. I should probably make some friends," Shin thought as he looked around.

He stepped forward, scanning the room to find a seat next to someone who seemed comfortable. "These people look scarier than the thugs back in my room on Earth, he mused, feeling a little intimidated. Oh, that guy seems normal."

As Shin sat down, he realized that the person he had bumped into earlier was sitting right beside him.

"Oh, hey, you're the guy from earlier, right?" Shin said with a friendly tone.

The other person blinked and stuttered, "O-oh, hello... new student."

Shin smiled, "Yeah! I just got here last night. I was transferred by Sir Bajar!"

"S-sir Bajar?!" the other student asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

The rest of the students in the room immediately took notice, giving serious glances in their direction.

"Yeah, why?" Shin asked, a bit confused.

"Well, that’s pretty rare. He never transfers students on his own, except for one. You must be really talented, just like him!" the student said, now speaking more energetically.

Shin scratched the back of his head. "Oh, this is my first time learning something like this."

A few students nearby started murmuring to each other.

“Oh, he’s probably a noble and used his connections to be transferred by him.”

“Probably, but Mr. Bajar doesn’t accept bribes.”

“He’s probably a nephew, or even a son.”

They whispered among themselves, but the atmosphere didn’t seem as welcoming anymore.

Shin smiled and extended his hand to the student. "Oh, I see! Anyways, my name is Rayden Blackwood!"

The other student hesitated for a moment before shaking Shin’s hand. "Oh, nice to meet you! I’m Shin."

They both smiled, but then Shin looked around. "By the way, isn’t there supposed to be a teacher here?"

The student chuckled nervously. "You’re asking me? We both just arrived almost at the same time, haha. I think the first teacher ended their class, and the second one should come next!"

"I see! Thanks for the info!" Shin said, flashing another smile.

After a few minutes of chatter among the students, a tall man entered the room. His white glasses gleamed under the light, and though his hair was short, his long bangs gave him a sharp, distinctive appearance. He smiled, though the chill in his tone was unmistakable.

"Is Shin here? Mr. Bajar's transferred student?" the man asked, his piercing gaze scanning the room.

Shin raised his hand. "It's me, sir," he replied.

The teacher's expression turned serious as he gestured. "Please come to the front."

Taking a deep breath, Shin stepped forward confidently. "Relax, Shin. You've got this. Be confident," he thought, shaking off his nerves.

Once he reached the front, the teacher spoke again. "Introduce yourself to your classmates."

Shin nodded, standing tall. "Hello, everyone. My name is Shin. I was transferred here by Mr. Bajar. Please be nice to me." He finished with a grin, his voice steady.

"Did I do good?" Shin wondered. "Sir Bajar told me not to reveal my identity."

The room fell silent, and the weight of the students' serious, almost hostile, glances bore down on him. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. "Shit. I messed up,"he thought, panic creeping in.

But then, he caught sight of Rayden, who gave him a bright smile and an encouraging thumbs-up. Though he couldn’t hear him, Shin read his lips "You're… doing… good."

"Oh, I see," Shin thought, relief washing over him.

"Nice to meet you, Shin," the teacher said, breaking the tension. "You may return to your seat. And, for the record, my name is Kaizen Varros." His tone was polite, but the suspicious glint in his eyes lingered.

Shin nodded and returned to his seat, replaying the moment in his head. An hour passed as Kaizen delivered his lesson, focusing on weapon techniques. Finally, the teacher spoke, his words like a release.

"You may now head to the banquet hall," Kaizen announced before leaving the classroom.

"Two subjects a day? First magic, which I missed, and then weapons? That's not too bad," Shin thought as he stretched.

Turning to Rayden, he asked, "Hey, want to head to the banquet together?"

Rayden blinked in surprise, then quickly nodded. "O-Oh, sure!" His voice betrayed his excitement. "This is the first time someone’s asked me to hang out," he thought, his heart racing slightly.

"Truth is, I have no idea where the banquet hall is," Shin admitted to himself as they walked.

After a few minutes, they arrived at two massive, intricately carved doors that marked the entrance to the banquet hall. The rich aroma of food wafted out as the doors opened, revealing a bustling space filled with the academy's cooks and rows of dishes Shin had never seen before.

As students rushed past them to claim their seats, Shin's eyes widened in awe. Plates of

vibrant, steaming meals lined the tables, showcasing a dazzling variety of cuisines.

"This… this is incredible," Shin thought, his stomach growling at the sight.