The next morning, Constance found himself seated in Class 1-A, a prestigious room reserved for the top-ranking students of the First Academy’s freshman class. The gleaming badge on his school uniform marked his distinction, but it also drew the attention of his fellow classmates. Constance took a seat in the very back of the room sacrificing a close view of the lessons to get a better view of his competition and escape the gaze of the more curious of his class.

Constance’s classmates could be separated into two categories the elite offspring of wealthy families, and the Irregularities, people who have somehow cultivated a special skill without the help of any strong familial background.

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With the class settled into their seats, whispers filled the air like the rustle of silk. The students glanced in Constance's direction, their gazes lingering on his well-tailored uniform and the subtle hints of affluence that emanated from his demeanor. They couldn't help but speculate about his family background, fueling their own sense of superiority.

The classroom was lavishly decorated, adorned with tasteful artwork and advanced technological aids for learning. The First Academy had provided the government's prized upcoming weapons with special accommodations, ensuring their utmost convenience and compliance. Instead of students moving from class to class, the teachers came to them, recognizing the value of time and sparing no expense to maximize their training.

The first subject of the day was Advanced Martial Arts, a class held to further hone the combat skills of the top-ranking students. The instructor, a seasoned warrior with an air of authority, entered the room with a firm step. His eyes scanned the room, and they rested briefly on Constance, making note of the young prodigy’s family crest upon his blazer which was an unauthorized alteration to the school uniform.

As the lesson progressed, the instructor led the students through standard techniques and basic strategies, pushing them to refine their combat prowess. Although Constance had already learned these forms due to his family's private training he was still encouraged to absorb the knowledge with unwavering focus. He keenly dissected each move, seeking ways to improve and perfect his skills because of one of his three martial arts abilities, Dedication to The Basics, this particular one being copied from Master Chun who ran one of the top five dojo in his Soul World.

A few of his rich fellow classmates, however, were more concerned with maintaining their privileged status than paying attention to the lesson. They engaged in hushed conversations, their whispers like a buzzing swarm of gossip.

"Did you see that Constance is wearing the Shubarashi family crest, I haven’t heard of anything about one of their official heirs attending First High School?"

"Everyone knows that the Shubarashi only attend Seventh Highschool. He must be from one of the servant families."

"He's probably just here to show off and gain more influence for his family."

The comments stung reminding him of a time long in his past, but Constance refused to let them distract him. Instead, he channeled his emotions into his training, determined to prove that the words of a person worth less than the dirt on his bootheel could affect him.

The next class, Elemental Manipulation, delved into harnessing and controlling the powerful energies that coursed through their bodies. Constance's fellow classmates displayed varying degrees of talent, but in his eyes, they lacked his tenacity and drive to truly master their abilities beyond the expected noble family specialties. At least until he spotted the Irregularities in his class.

With Constance’s expanded list of abilities, he was able to slot in five abilities one from each of the five elemental schools that ran opposing to the five dojos in his Soul World. With such a list of abilities, he should have been unopposed for the top of the class in Elemental Manipulation especially when accounting for his ninth ability, Energy Control, from a monk out in the far reaches of his Soul World. Yet, there were three Irregularities showing him up.

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Two of them were what he could only assume as identical twins with dark hair showing contrasting mastery of the Earth and Wind elements and the last one was a tall albino male who utilized lightning in many unusual manners through magnetism and even the advanced mastery ability to convert his own flesh into the element. It may have only been a partial transition but, Constance wasn’t even close to doing that. A glint grew in Constance’s eye as he observed them from the back of the class an almost forgotten competitive spirit rearing its head to match he made sure to memorize their features for later.

Throughout the day, Constance moved from one class to another, each designed to push the boundaries of the elite students' skills. Weaponry, Tactical Warfare, Energy Channeling, and more—the rigorous curriculum aimed to shape them into formidable warriors, fit to serve the government's interests and yet it seemed that throughout all the classes he would be shown up either by an Irregularity or the scion of a specialized family.

As the final bell rang, the rigorous day of classes came to an end at the First Academy. Constance gathered his belongings and prepared to leave the classroom. Just as he stood up, a group of students approached him with confident strides. They were also top-ranked students, known for their exceptional abilities and prestigious backgrounds.

The first student to approach was a young woman named Victoria, with striking blue eyes and a regal air about her. She extended her hand with a small smile. "Hi, Shubarashi. I'm Victoria Lysander, ranked seventh in the freshman class. I must say, your combat skills are quite impressive."

Constance nodded politely and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Victoria. Your energy channeling during the last class was exceptional. You have incredible control."

Victoria's smile widened, acknowledging the compliment. "Thank you. It's refreshing to meet someone who appreciates the art of energy manipulation."

Another student, a tall and imposing young man named Alexander, joined the conversation. "Constance, right? I'm Alexander Kingsley, currently ranked second in our year. Your tactical warfare strategies are impeccable. You must come from a strong military background."

Constance's gaze remained steady as he replied, "Indeed, my family's lessons were quite extensive when it came to combat tactics even at a young age. As were yours I imagine with the Kingsly family's legendary weapon skills."

Alexander raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the response. "Many would rather mention the Kingsly’s Cold Fire even if I didn’t use it. I see the Shubarashi information network has not been slacking."

As the conversation continued, a third student, a lanky boy named Dominic, chimed in with an air of playful curiosity. "Constance, you're ranked quite high at number five but, wouldn’t you get a higher score at Seventh High with the rest of your family clan."

Constance's lips quirked into a half-smile. "I don't believe in using my family name to get an artificial boost in ranking. Besides, I wanted to challenge the best at First High."

Dominic chuckled, seemingly amused by the response. "Fair enough. I'll keep that in mind."

The group continued to chat, cautiously trying to learn each other's experiences and aspirations. Constance found himself pleasantly surprised by their wit even if it was only an information-gathering tactic similar to animals vying for dominance in an enclosed area.

Despite the apparent camaraderie, Constance couldn't shake the feeling that their interactions were a blend of friendly banter and subtle posturing for dominance. He had been well informed of the politics and power plays that took place within the elite circles of the Numbered High schools.

Just as Dominic mentioned club day, Constance's attention sharpened. Club Day was notorious for its aggressive recruitment tactics, especially among the seniors. Clubs were seen as an avenue to showcase one's skills and rise in rank, and many seniors wouldn't hesitate to employ force or intimidation to secure promising new members.

As if reading Constance's thoughts, Victoria leaned in with a word of caution. "Be careful, Constance. Some of the seniors can get pretty aggressive during club day. They see it as their last chance to secure strong recruits before they graduate."

Constance nodded, appreciating the warning. "Thank you for the heads up, Victoria. I'll keep that in mind."

With a polite excuse, Constance extricated himself from the conversation, making his way out of the classroom. The labyrinthine hallways were buzzing with students, each eager to explore the various clubs vying for members. He knew that club day was more than just an opportunity to join extracurricular activities—it was also a battleground for influence and status.