“Alright, all of first year class S is checked in. Now I need to handout your identification cards and your status readers.” Acacia called out, distracting Liliana from her thoughts of future hero-related headaches.
Liliana did a quick headcount while she waited for their guide to begin pulling out whatever she meant by identification cards and status readers. Their class had 20 students total from her count, a small class based on her experience in her previous life. She’d never paid much attention to how many students each class had in the game. Most of them were NPCs that you never interacted with.
What she did vividly remember of the game and classes was that if your ‘score’ in the classes dropped too low, you could be kicked to a lower class rank. Lower class ranks meant worse rewards and quests, so she’d always striven for high scores on the class mini-games. She wasn’t sure how much would transfer over, but if the Academy was half as competitive as it was reported to be, she wouldn’t place a bet on class ranks being set in stone.
Liliana looked around, seeing several other students with the red band that marked them as second year guides surrounded by gradually larger groups of students. Liliana couldn’t tell which class was which, but if she was to hazard a guess, the lower the rank, the more students in a class.
“Lili,” Emyr’s quiet whisper directed Liliana’s attention back to her group, and she saw Acacia had begun handing out clear, glass-like items.
One was small, maybe as big as a driver’s license in her original world. The other was perhaps a bit bigger than her hand. Liliana stepped forward to grab hers when there was space to get to the older girl, her friends with her. The four of them stepped back once more, still part of the group but to the side.
“Looks like everyone has one. Now channel a bit of Mana through both. One will be your ticket into the Academy ground, your dorm room, and your meal card. The other will be used by your professors during any spars to determine your Health and Mana so they know if a bout needs to be called. They have a master version of the status readers, so once yours is registered, they can pull the information up on their own. You can also use it to check your status sheet and Skill sheet without pulling them up in your vision by swiping on the device to change what is presented. Arguably most important, there is a map of the campus on it that can be enlarged, and it will mark your current location.” Acacia projected her voice just enough for their entire group to hear and Liliana could see the clear devices lighting up in various student’s hands as they did as instructed.
“Once activated, only you, or a staff member, will be able to use them, so don’t worry about theft. If you do lose either of them, you can speak to your homeroom professor. They’ll be able to locate it on their own. Both of these are nearly indestructible, however if you manage to break it you will be paying for replacements,” Acacia’s voice went stern at the last warning and Liliana resisted the urge to shiver. She had no idea how expensive something like this was, and she certainly didn’t want to have to pay for it.
Following the older girl’s instructions, Liliana channeled a small bit of her Mana through both devices, smiling slightly when they lit up with multicolored light. She noted absently that it was the colors of her affinities. It seemed affinities tinted one’s Mana. On the ID card she saw her name, age, and class rank appear in neat writing as if by an invisible hand. Another person’s name and the code S105 were also on her identification card. She assumed one was her homeroom professor, and the other was her dorm room.
The status reader had filled out and the first thing on it was her Health, Mana and Stamina. She swiped through it quickly, seeing her status sheet, then skill sheet come up. There was nothing new on it, so she diverted her attention to the map. She took a moment to look it over, affirming that the Academy in this world was, in fact, the same as the game. The device was remarkably similar to a smartphone if it had no network connection or apps. It made her wonder if technology like that would be possible. There was already Oracle affinity in this world, which could be used to see and communicate at a distance, but it required one to have the affinity and necessary skills and spells to utilize.
Perhaps if one had a Runeic and Oracle affinity, they could make it. However, to get both, I’d need Fire and Water affinities first. Liliana mentally recoiled from the thought of getting a Water affinity. It was what Rosengarde was known for. Every Duke or Duchess of Rosengarde blood had a Water affinity since their ancestors gained their noble title by creating massive rivers to stop invasions. And that was precisely why Liliana didn’t want the affinity. She knew she shouldn’t hold a prejudice against an entire affinity because of her detestable father, but she would admit to having a petty streak.
Crafting isn’t my focus right now. I already spread myself thin enough with Alchemy. If I added learning, mastering, then inventing with Runeic I’d stall my progress with leveling and fighting entirely. Liliana reasoned to herself. She might approach someone eventually who did focus on crafting and had the necessary affinities, but she wouldn’t personally be the one to create new technology. She’d never been much of a creative inventor in either life, anyway.
“Mari, what can you tell me about those two?” Liliana directed her attention to her friend.
Currently, Acacia was letting everyone get used to their new devices, and they had a spare moment. Liliana inclined her head towards the two Dæmons, who seemed to make a point of standing far apart. They were the only two Dæmons in the class and stood out for that.
“Zir’elon is the fifth prince in the succession for the throne. Koth’talan is a bastard prince who has no right to succession, because he wasn’t born by the first wife or any royal concubines.” Marianne began to whisper.
Liliana noted Alistair and Emyr leaning closer. So far it was information Liliana already knew, but she wanted to see if Marianne had information she did not. Royal information gathering should never be looked down upon, and Liliana was almost certain Marianne had been given information on all of her prospective classmates.
“Apparently the two were born on the same day, but the Emperor was only present for Koth’talan’s birth and bestowed his name on him. He didn’t come see Zir’elon until a week after his birth to give him his name.” Marianne continued to murmur to the three teens huddled close to her. She seemed to relish the gossip and Liliana mentally noted she’d need to pry the girl for more information on their classmates later.
“The favoritism continued through their lives. By all accounts, Koth’talan was very loved by both his mother, a viscountess, and his father. Despite being illegitimate and illegible for the throne. Or perhaps because of that.” Marianne continued her explanation, and Liliana’s eyebrow raised.
She hadn’t known that. Nor that Koth’talan had been named first, though she knew both boys were born on the same day. Some of Zir’elon’s animosity was beginning to make sense, as well as his aggression towards Liliana and his close friendship with Alistair in the game. He was likely projecting his own experiences on the two and condemning Liliana before ever knowing any particulars. Simply hearing ‘daughter of a commoner and noble, unable to succeed’ and ‘full noble brother’ had been enough for him to make his own conclusions.
“Unlike us, where the eldest child is the one to inherit for nobility and the eldest daughter ascends to the throne, Alfein Empire goes based on who the emperor appoints as heir, whoever it may be. So the fight for succession always ends up bloody, as siblings attempt to outdo or eliminate the competition to raise their rank in the succession. With eight concubines, there are 18 children in total that are eligible for succession. What I’ve been told is there were recent attempts on Koth’talan and the emperor chose to send him to the Academy to keep him out of the danger. Zir’elon is allegedly being sent for the same reasons, but being away from the Empire for four years means he’s almost guaranteed to fall down the line of succession. His only hopes of gaining the throne is if an heir is not crowned before he graduates and returns.” Marianne finished her mini-debrief and Liliana nodded.
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Some were new bits of information. She hadn’t known the brothers had 18 siblings, or that there were eight concubines. But she’d known about Zir’elon’s succession issues. In the game, Zir’elon could forfeit his right to succession with most choices, especially if you had him marry Marianne. There were a few lines where you could return to the Alfein Empire and complete several quests to end his story with being the emperor, but that restricted post-game, so most didn’t elect to do it.
“Has everyone had time to get used to their devices?” Acacia called out, before Liliana could get a chance to pump Marianne for information on Diana. When the older girl got nods and calls of ascent from all the gathered students, she nodded and turned.
“Then follow me. We’ll begin our tour. Do not stray from the group. You’ll have time to explore the ground during the four days before classes begin,” Acacia called out as she began to march them forward. Liliana’s group ended up near the front, thanks to Marianne dragging them there.
“This is the main building, and holds the administration offices on the first and second floors, the ballroom used for events is on the third and the headmistress’ personal quarters are on the fourth and fifth floors.” Acacia began her duty as tour guide and Liliana could see students pulling out their status readers to look at the maps to give themselves a visual representation of what was being said.
Liliana didn’t need it. She already knew the information being given and instead let her eyes wander as she got her first chance to see the place she’d spent so much time in when she played the game. The art in the game couldn’t compare to the reality.
She mentally listed out the names of the headmasters and mistresses as they passed their portraits hung along the walls of the main building. Their names were in plaques under their portraits, but Acacia spent little time on any of them except the founder, Myer Vidiara, and the current headmistress Adelaide Wraithe. The founder was where the name of the Academy came from, Vidiara Academy. Though everyone, even in the game, largely referred to it as just the Academy. There were no other academies in the Cista Queendom, so there was little chance for confusion.
“This is the main courtyard, branching it you will see the four year buildings. First, second, third and fourth year. The first year building is where you’ll take your core classes and where you’ll find your class specific training rooms along with personal training rooms that can be reserved, also separated by class rank.” Acacia continued as their group walked through the large courtyard behind the main building.
The four buildings Acacia had pointed out walled in the courtyard with the main building. Liliana knew from the map that the five buildings made the shape of a star with the courtyard in the center. The courtyard was a work of art, with gardens, footpaths, benches and tables strewn about. There were even a few small groups of trees that would provide students with a modicum of privacy. Liliana was sure once classes began, the courtyard would be crowded and mentally noted she’d need to find a different place to relax on the grounds. Acacia led them in a circuit around the courtyard, letting them get acquainted with it before she entered the building for the first years.
“The first level iclass Srooms and lab rooms for C, D, and E classes.” Acacia informed them before she led them up the stairs to the second level, only stopping long enough for them to get a look at it. “The second level iclass Srooms and lab rooms for class B and A,” she informed them before leading them up another flight of stairs, finally bringing them down the hallway.
“And this is the third level, with the classroom and lab rooms for class S.” Acacia told them, opening a door and ushering them into a large room with tiered seating. At the bottom was a huge board made of the same glass like material used for their ID cards and status readers behind a large desk and open area for a teacher to instruct them from. Behind the desk was a second door, likely leading to an office or supply room. Acacia stood by the door while the students took the chance to explore what would be their classroom.
“Class S gets the best materials and lab rooms. The Academy invests heavily into students that show promise. The privileges you’re afforded reflect that.” Acacia told them when the class gathered back together and she began to direct them to the lab rooms.
She didn’t permit them to explore those on their own, instead leading them through so they could get familiar with the setups, but not lingering long enough for them to mess with anything. When they’d finished exploring the third level, Acacia led them down the stairs once more, but instead of stopping on the first level, she descended a set of stairs.
“The underground levels are split the same as the upper levels. Class C, D, and E training rooms and personal training rooms are on the first lower level. A, and B are in the second, and S is in the third. However, there are additional personal training rooms for class S on the fourth level as well. There are exactly twenty personal training rooms for class S, meaning every student in class S can have their own.” Acacia informed them as she led them to the designated levels. Liliana was becoming rather grateful to her high Endurance as the amount of stairs they’d already traversed was considerable and she had a feeling it was only the beginning. She remembered very few single-story buildings in the Academy in the game.
Acacia lead them through the main training room for their class and one personal training room. The walls of the main room were covered in training weapons of every imaginable type, even ones Liliana hadn’t realized existed. The main training room and personal training room had training dummies that identified as automatons. Liliana assumed they were made to act like real opponents. The wards on the rooms were intense, too. If she thought stepping into the main building was uncomfortable, it was nothing compared to stepping into a training room. It was like walking through a slightly permeable wall.
There were weights and other equipment Liliana thought would be used for working out, as well as an indoor track and fighting ring. Acacia informed them the training rooms could even change terrains and weather to mimic any type of battle environment. Acacia confirmed Liliana’s assumption of the training dummies. They would fight back with whatever weapon chosen or even limited magic. There were even difficulty levels that could be adjusted by a teacher in the main training room, or by students in the personal rooms. It was obvious the Academy spared no expense when it came to training their students.
They were led out of the building, students chattering excitedly about what they wanted to test out in the personal training rooms as soon as they were given leave to use them. Liliana was excited as well to begin using the rooms. She had experience fighting in Rosengarde territory, which was mostly forested and mountainous with snow during a third of the year. But she had no experience in desert, marshland or plains. She’d like to get herself used to fighting in any terrain and weather. The training dummies meant she could also get herself used to fighting a multitude of weapons she hadn’t had a chance to fight against.
“Behind the main class buildings you’ll find the cafeteria, the infirmary and the library.” Acacia pointed out the large buildings, each more than double the size of the year specific buildings and multi-storied.
Acacia lead their group through each building and Liliana began to understand why they were required to get to the Academy so early. It would be night by the time they were done. As it was, by the time Acacia ended the tour of the three buildings with the cafeteria, it was time for lunch and their group took the chance to get their first taste of the Academy’s cuisine. The cafeteria was six stories tall, separated by class rather than year, with class Ses at the top. Students could access their class’ level and any lower but could not go higher than their class level. So class S could access all levels, but class E was restricted to the first level. Liliana didn’t see why one would want to go to a lower level unless they had friends in another class, as the food options got better the higher you went.
Liliana was beginning to get a feeling that the school encouraged class rivalries. If she was right and you could drop or rise through class ranks, it made sense. The school wanted to encourage students in lower classes to improve themselves to get access to better privileges. And it wanted to encourage students in higher classes to push themselves so they wouldn’t lose their ranks, and the bonuses that came with it.
The perks weren’t anything to sneeze at either, at least from what Liliana had seen so far for her class. From the classrooms, training rooms, personal training rooms and included equipment, to the individual study rooms in the library provided for class S alone. All other classes had only class and year specific study rooms. The only place so far that didn’t have special treatment based on class was the infirmary, where everyone was seen as equal. The school stopped shows of favoritism based on merit when it came to making sure the students didn’t die or face debilitating injury, at least.
Liliana had to wonder, though, if the game was right about rising or dropping through classes. What else was the same in the Academy? In the game, if your scores dropped so low you were ranked in the last five by the end of the school term, you failed the game because you were expelled. You couldn’t complete the game if you failed the Academy, as it was necessary for story quests. So it was an automatic ‘game over’ if you dropped too low.
Liliana pushed the worry to the back of her mind. Failing so badly in the game was nearly impossible, and it had never happened to her. She knew the Academy would be hard, but she doubted it would be so difficult she would drop all the way from class S to the last in class E. She had no confirmation on her assumptions yet, so it was pointless to stress herself over something that might or might not be true.