With his unmistakable multi-colored hair and the monocle on the left eye, the Headmaster’s boisterous and intrusively enthusiastic tone exploded from the ID “screen” that was beginning to function more as a magical smart device than just a simple ID.
He was now wearing a white tunic reminiscent of the ones roman emperors wore during their reign, with a matching laurel wreath clashing heavily with his rather colorful head.
Sylvester continued to stare at his ID screen, a glint of amusement lingering in his eyes. “Huh, and my dad says I look ridiculous in my slick coat and hat.” He thought to himself as he compared his get up to the silly man on the screen.
It seems the headmaster liked to dress himself for the occasion, albeit a little too over the top. Something Sylvester completely understands and respects.
“I trust you had a peaceful slumber during your first night at the academy.” The headmaster continued. “After all our dorm rooms were designed for a homely familiar feel.” He proudly declared.
“I’m not sure about the peaceful slumber part, but the rooms do feel cozy.” Sylvester retorted in his head.
“Now then, time to explain what exactly it is that you will be doing today.” Finally, the headmaster started getting into the details everyone was waiting for.
“Today’s activity aims to emulate your other duty inside this institution aside from just studying.” The headmaster paused and then smiled. “And that is to go out into the world solving and dealing with supernatural phenomena. Like a superhero, only real and more hidden.”
The mood in the entire area became serious. This has been something drilled into the minds of everyone who entered Inanis Orbis ever since they began their journey in the lands of magic, especially Sylvester.
“Knowledge brings burden, ignorance brings freedom.” Sylvester recited in his head. This was something his father and mother said often as they traveled together.
The majesty and power granted to them with the use of magic is weighed with responsibility. The responsibility to protect the world from the shadows, stopping supernatural threats before the general populace knows about their existence. Fighting in order to keep tall tales and horror stories remain as simply figments of an overly imaginative mind instead of an everyday reality.
Fighting so that the monster under little Timmy’s bed never reaches his feet.
This has been the cornerstone philosophy of the modern mages, something most of them adhere to. Sadly, not all of them manage to uphold it.
“These walls can only teach you all so much.” The speech continued. “We believe that the best teacher is practical experience.”
“In exchange for you accomplishing various these tasks, you will be rewarded points, what are these points for? Well, we’ll talk about them later once all of you are done for the day.”
All of a sudden the ID screen changed again, now it was showing various options. The one on the lowest was designated with the letter “E” and the highest one had the letter “S”. E had the equivalent of 50 points while S had 300. Apart from that, Sylvester also noticed that all the options were glowing.
“As you can see on your ID displays, there are options ranging from E to S. Those correspond to the difficulty of each trial task that will be given to you today; E being the lowest S being the hardest. Don’t worry, those tasks will all be held within Inanis Orbis.” The voice of the headmaster was heard still coming from the ID.
“You will also notice that some of the options are lit up, while the others are greyed out” The headmaster continued.
“Greyed out? Everything is lit up on my end though.” Sylvester thought as he looked at the shining options.
“Allow me to explain what that means. When you met the twins the first time, you remembered them casting a spell that took the shape of an eyeball correct?” The headmaster continued.
Sylvester then pictured the conjured gigantic blue eye that was looking at him intently when he first encountered Tinri and Nitri. The blue floating blob that was a little too intrusive, but overall not all that bad for Sylvester at least.
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“The twins basically used a spell to ascertain what your current abilities are, and placed all that information in your IDs. Now I’m sure you all can put two and two together and figure out what the greyed out buttons mean.”
As the headmaster’s words echoed in the heads of the students a few seconds seemed to pass in complete silence and those few seconds in turn felt like years. For some students, the flashing lights and greyed out displays was one rude awakening.
“WHAT!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN I’M ONLY GOOD ENOUGH FOR A “B” RANK TASK??!”
“THI-THIS IS AN INSULT!”
Various screams can be heard all around Sylvester. They ranged from straight up rage to sobbing denial. For a lot of the students, this was too much of a reality check. Mages can be a prideful bunch, but now, that pride is being torn to shreds by the little silver colored card they are holding.
“IMPOSSIBLE! ABSURD! OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS A MISTAKE, IT MUST BE!” A woman with blond hair shaped into a drill was seething in pure anger.
She was the haughty woman who was picking a fight with another fellow mage the other day, but now she was wearing worker’s clothes with the words “Community service” printed on the back and in the front.
“Serves you right.” A voice replied. It was the average looking man she got into a conflagration with over something yesterday. Like the drill hair lady, he too was wearing worker clothes with the same words printed onto them.
“And to think you had the gall to call me a lowlife, when in fact we’re on the same level.” He said, taunting the woman.
“You lowly grunt! How dare you look down on Letis-”
“Ahem, calm down your reactions for now please. Time is of the essence.” The headmaster’s voice was heard once more, cutting off the angry mob’s pointless ranting.
“Now, I would like to choose which of those available tasks you would want to take by pressing on the respecting button displayed on your IDs. After doing so you will be transported to the venue for your trial task.” The headmaster explained.
“Once you are done, you will be guided and instructed on how to spend your rewards. And with that I bid farewell and good luck! May you all be successful, Da Vinci, out!” Just like that the headmaster ended his speech.
When the voice of the headmaster disappeared a heavy atmosphere now lingered all over. One could cut a knife through the thick and heavy aura of disappointment and anger emanating from the students. However it did not bother Sylvester in the slightest.
“Huh, neat. Obviously I should go with the highest difficulty for better rewards.” He thought as he pressed the S-tier option.
A magic circle then appeared underneath Sylvester shining a brilliant light engulfing his position. Particles then floated from the circle forming a twister-like swirl around Sylvester before gathering above him. They behaved erratically for a moment until they all suddenly combined and formed a letter.
“S-RANK! My my, aren’t you a rare one!” A voice that sounded like a recording of the headmaster rang out and caught the attention of everyone around Sylvester.
Heads turned around to the direction of the source of that irritating voice that sounded like a mockery. All of a sudden Sylvester was now the center of attention and the focal point of everyone’s ire.
“S-rank? That guy?”
“With that measly amount of mana? How did he even get in?”
“This has to be a joke.”
“Pfft, the twins surely made a mistake.”
Now voices of discontent and dismissal flooded the immediate area around Sylvester. He looked around and felt the piercing gaze of his fellow mages in training.
“Heh, I bet the headmaster did this all on purpose. Now then, what shall I do to more effectively drive home the headmaster’s little intention?” Sylvester thought to himself as his figure started to dissipate.
Glancing over the people once more, Sylvester flashed a grin, a sly and smug grin aimed at everyone around him.
Then as his body was about to completely vanish, he transformed his baseball cap back into a tophat, placed it on his chest and gave his “audience'' a deep bow.
His figure then quickly faded and as for what happened next? Well that’s anyone’s guess.
Sylvester was then transported into a well lit grey colored room with matching grey tiles on the floor. In front of him were the familiar figures of the twins once again gracing him with their presence.
“Nice to see you again mr. Sylvester, we’ve been expecting you!” Nitri sparked with joy, beginning her greetings the moment Sylvester arrived.
“Congratulations on qualifying for the S-rank trial task.” Tinri too gave Sylvester her greetings in her usual subdued tone.
“Well, nice to see you two again. Even though we met just a few minutes ago when I left the dorm but okay.” Sylvester replied.
“Now when will my trial start?” He asked with a bit of excitement in his voice.
“Not so fast mr. Sylvester! Your partner hasn’t arrived yet!” Nitri declared while holding her palm up towards him.
“Partner?” Just as Sylvester muttered these words a swirl of light appeared beside him illuminating the room in its brilliance. A figure then slowly formed from the particles of light, as if fading into existence.
“Well, it looks like she’s here.” Tinri declared.
The figure completely materialized after a few moments. Pale as snow skin, Lustrous silver hair, and piercing crimson eyes. Only one person has these outlandish traits.
Once again, blue meets red as their eyes meet.