Chapter 28 – The Exam.
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It had been an hour since Sura had escorted Dian to the Clan's academy. The journey on horseback had been necessary due to the considerable distance between the academy and the Clan Hall where Dian was temporarily staying. During the ride, Sura had taken the opportunity to brief him on various aspects of academy life.
As they approached the academy grounds, Sura shared some important guidelines for Dian to remember. One such rule was to address the teachers, including Sura herself, with respect, using the titles "Miss" or "sir." It was a show of proper etiquette and acknowledgment of their authority within the academy.
Sura also discussed the curriculum that Dian would be exposed to, giving him a glimpse of what to expect. She emphasized the importance of focusing on his studies and making progress in his chosen field such as Demon Research, many Combat majors such as Soldier, Mage, Scouts, and many different crafting majors such as Blacksmithing, Inventor, Alchemist and so much more which Dian could look into once there.
However, the most challenging aspect for Dian to adapt to would be the age difference among the students. As an Expert level academy, the majority of students would be in the age range of 16 to 18. Dian, being 22 years old, was bound to feel out of place among his younger peers. It was a reality he had to confront and adjust to as he embarked on his educational journey.
but that wasn’t even the worst part.
The academy had a commendable policy of providing free services to children enrolled in the Elementary class. For the Beginner class, a nominal fee of 5 Bronze coins per month was required, and for the Intermediate class, it was slightly higher at 1 silver coin per month. These affordable prices were set deliberately to encourage families to enroll their children and ensure that they gained essential knowledge about the world.
However, the situation changed when it came to the Advanced level and above. The fees for these classes were significantly higher, with a minimum of 1 Crystal coin required for admission and 5 Crystal coins for the Expert level, which Dian had been admitted to.
At first, Dian didn't grasp the significance of Sura's explanation. But as she elaborated, he began to understand the underlying issue. The families residing in the clan, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, struggled to earn even a single gold coin per month. The cost of education at the Advanced level was simply beyond their means. Even middle-class families found it challenging to accumulate the necessary funds.
Here is where the problem started. The only people who were able to join Advanced and above-level systems of the academy were nobles and students with scholarships. And since he was being admitted to the Expert class by the Grand Elder himself exempted him from the monthly fee, but it also meant that he would be surrounded by noble students who may not view him favorably due to his lower financial and social status.
Dian understood that he needed to tread carefully within this environment. The nobles possessed both financial power and influence, capable of causing significant harm if they chose to do so. Moreover, the nobility tended to have narrow perspectives and prejudices. Given that Dian would be interacting with younger nobles, he had to exercise extra caution to avoid becoming a target of animosity from an entire noble family.
Dian found himself in a precarious situation as he was unwittingly surrounded by nobles in the dorm area. Their disdain for him, seeing him as weak and unclean, was palpable. Remembering Sura's advice to avoid offending them, Dian chose to ignore their provocations, which only seemed to fuel their anger further.
As time passed, the number of nobles increased, and they became more vocal in their attempts to berate and provoke him. Dian maintained his composure, refusing to let their insults affect him. He understood that responding to their provocations would only escalate the situation and potentially lead to severe consequences.
When Sura returned to find Dian engulfed in this chaotic scene, she realized the urgency of the situation. She swiftly intervened, attempting to expedite Dian's admission to the dorm exam in order to diffuse the tension. However, the circumstances took an unexpected turn as the exam transformed into a physical confrontation against five expert-level students, a far cry from the initial expectation of simply demonstrating his potential to a teacher.
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Sura's worries for Dian's future deepened as she considered the potential consequences of the upcoming spar. The nobles' resentment was unlikely to dissipate easily, and a victory for Dian would only serve to further ignite their animosity. On the other hand, if Dian were to lose, he would be forced to return to the proximity of the Grand Elder, a situation he had hoped to escape.
Amidst this uncertainty, the unexpected intervention of the Academy's Headmaster brought a glimmer of hope. The Headmaster assured Sura that she would handle the aftermath if Dian emerged victorious, alleviating some of Sura's concerns. With this reassurance, she allowed herself to relax and began to appreciate the spectacle unfolding before her.
Prior to the commencement of the spar, Dian was required to place his hand on a crystal orb. As his palm made contact with the orb's smooth surface, a display of his stats and acquired skills materialized, revealing the extent of his abilities. To ensure the safety of the participants, this system had been implemented, allowing the referee to detect any concealed threats or hidden assassins. However, the revelations that emerged left everyone in the arena stunned.
The collective astonishment was palpable as the crystal orb displayed Dian's meager level of 2. The revelation that he possessed such a low level of strength surprised both the onlookers and the Headmaster herself. It seemed inconceivable that someone with his unimposing level could have drawn the attention of the Grand Elder and been admitted to the Expert class of the academy. The revelation only served to intensify the skepticism and contempt of the nobles, who saw Dian's presence as an affront to their own prestigious lineage.
Dian didn’t really mind his level being low when his guard came up when he realized that his opponent was a level 30 Knight who looked at him like Dian was a prey he was going to eat.
The referee, a teacher from the academy, found himself in a difficult position. Fearful of the nobles and lacking the support of other teachers, he had no choice but to oversee the spar. Despite his concerns, he was unable to intervene, leaving Dian to face his formidable opponent alone.
Once inside the arena, restricted to using only their fists and prohibited from employing any skills, Dian prepared himself for a challenging fight. He raised his hands, ready to defend against the oncoming assault. However, his opponent, a seventeen-year-old named Arthur, surprised everyone with his reckless approach.
Rather than employing calculated strikes or exploiting his higher stats, Arthur charged at Dian with wild abandon, hoping to overpower him with brute force alone. Everyone knew that the fight was over before it began, but the wildest thing happened, which no one could expect.
As soon Arthur reached him with blinding speed, Dian swiftly evaded Arthur's predictable punch towards his face, his movements a dance of grace and precision. In a breathtaking display of technique, he seized Arthur's momentum, using it against him. With a deft maneuver, Dian expertly flipped his opponent over his own body, sending him crashing to the unforgiving pavement below.
The impact echoed through the arena, a testament to Dian's calculated strength. But Dian was aware that his low level might not be enough to incapacitate Arthur, Dian wasted no time. Seizing the opportunity, he leaped upon his fallen opponent, skillfully immobilizing Arthur's hands with his legs before brutally punching him. The resounding thuds of Dian's fists meeting Arthur's face filled the air, each strike delivering a powerful blow.
The intensity of the fight was palpable, captivating the attention of all who bore witness. The crowd gasped in astonishment at Dian's relentless and brutal assault, the sheer determination emanating from his every move. The referee, recognizing the unyielding ferocity in Dian's attack, had no choice but to halt the match and declare Dian as the victor.
A hush fell over the arena, a momentary silence as the spectators absorbed the spectacle before them. All eyes were on Dian, a figure who had defied all expectations Even the Headmaster was shocked to her very core. While restricting all the skills of the participants was a bit fair for all to lower level individuals who wouldn’t rely on their skills as much, there was still the strength disparity which was impossible to climb through. Yet, this person had easily bridged the gap between a level difference of 30.
Sura, the ever-watchful companion, couldn't help but chuckle softly. Her laughter, laced with appreciation and admiration, revealed her understanding of just how remarkable Dian truly was. His unique abilities and unwavering spirit had once again defied the odds. The Headmaster looked at her for a moment, curious about where she had found such a monster when the only thing Sura could reply with was, “I told you that he’s much more amazing than you’d think.”
However, amidst the aftermath, the atmosphere shifted once more. A group of four girls, their eyes burning with fury, ascended the arena with determined resolve. Their presence, tinged with anger and purpose, signaled a new challenge that awaited Dian, stirring the air with anticipation and uncertainty.
“How dare you knock out Arthur!” One of the girls said as a rapier appeared in her hands out of thin air.
“You’re going to pay for this!” Another one said as lightning cackled in between her fingertips.
Dian glanced towards the teacher who was supposed to oversee the match, hoping for intervention or guidance, but to his dismay, the teacher averted his gaze with cold sweat beading down his face, almost as if he’d be the one in trouble if he stopped the girls right now.
Seriously. How in the hell did I get stuck in the middle of this mess?
Dian thought again as he raised his fists and activated his Bone Blade armament when he saw the girls using magic and weapons. But before he could continue, The Headmaster suddenly swooped down in the middle of the arena and stopped the fight.