The grueling entrance exam and registration day had passed, but a new day brought fresh opportunities. A bright morning blanketed the grounds of Astoria Academy of Great Magic with golden sunlight, illuminating the towering stained-glass windows of the main hall. The warmth of the morning enveloped an atmosphere of buzz and excitement, as the new students gathered for the official welcome ceremony. They stood in neat rows, following the class divisions announced the night before.

Classes were divided into four levels: Class S for the most talented students who possess exceptional skills; Class A for those who are brilliant but have not yet reached their peak; Class B for students with modest abilities; and Class C for those who require additional guidance. Shouta, along with Lydia, Helena, Althea, and several other students, were placed in Class S, reflecting their exceptional talent.

The program began with a soft melody played by a magical musical instrument, filling the room with beautiful rhythms. All attention was focused on the main podium, where a senior professor with an air of authority stood to speak.

"Welcome, new students," the professor said, his voice full of charisma. "Today marks the beginning of your extraordinary journey at the Astoria Academy of Great Magic. We gather to celebrate your accomplishments and to welcome the challenges ahead."

After a few words from the other professors, King Qinlin, Zephyrion von Qinlin, took the podium. His deep, authoritative voice echoed through the hall.

"To all the new students, I offer my sincere congratulations," he said. "This academy is the landmark where the future of our world is shaped. From here, heroes and leaders will be born. Let this place be the foundation to forge your knowledge and strength. To Shouta," he added as he looked at the young man, "thank you for being an example of brilliance. Continue to walk with confidence."

A second of silence passed before thunderous applause filled the room. However, in certain corners, especially among the nobility, the clapping was muted, accompanied by doubtful glances.

Lydia turned to Shouta with a wide smile. "See? I told you, you're great."

Helena smiled sarcastically, her mischievous tone coming through. "Of course she is, Lydia. Shouta is Master Orlin's student. That's enough to make her stand out."

Althea nodded calmly as she said, "This event is indeed worthy of you, Shouta. All eyes are now on you."

Not far away, in the Class B row, Orven's face was dark. He whispered to a loyal follower sarcastically, "How can someone without a noble bloodline be worthy to stand above us?"

"Indeed, Lord Orven," the follower replied, his voice full of contempt. "This is an insult to royal blood."

Shouta stepped up to the podium, letting the whispers pass. "Orven may speak as he pleases," she mused, "but serving him is pointless." With a calm smile, Shouta began his speech.

"First of all, I would like to thank all the professors and staff of the academy for this honor," Shouta said, his voice steady but humble. He paused for a moment, looking at the faces before him. "Standing here doesn't mean I'm the best, but it gives me the opportunity to learn and grow. I believe each one of us, regardless of origin, has great potential to achieve something great. To my friends, let us make this academy a place to challenge each other, support each other, and pursue our dreams together."

A thunderous clap followed, more sincere this time. Lydia clapped her hands vigorously, followed by Helena, Althea, and the other students. In the Class S row, some students looked impressed. A young man with silver hair whispered to the friend next to him, "such a passionate person. "The others just nodded slowly, their eyes glued to Shouta, perhaps out of admiration, perhaps also out of curiosity as to the extent of the young man's prowess."

In the rows of Class A, some students whispered to each other, looking at Shouta with a mixture of admiration and envy. "So, that's the best student they're talking about," said a girl with a crossed arms. "He looks ordinary," she added, though her eyes did not stop scrutinizing Shouta.

On the Class B side, the ripples of faces were a mix of cynicism and discontent. A young man in a gold-embroidered robe snorted. "Words alone are not enough to prove greatness. I want to see what he's really capable of." The other students nodded silently, showing their resentment towards the honor given to someone who was not of their class."

In the last row, the Class C students looked at Shouta with glowing eyes. "He's so great.” A small student of the elven race said excitedly. "Maybe I can learn something from her." he added with a hopeful smile. To them, Shouta was a symbol that origin did not determine everything.

Among the professors seated in the front row, some of them nodded with satisfaction, while others simply watched with blank expressions. Professor Arcelle, known for his assertiveness, whispered to his colleague, "This young man has great potential, but we need to see how he holds up under pressure."

After stepping down from the podium, Shouta was relieved to be able to attract attention without much trouble.

Althea turned to Helena with a gentle smile. "A concise but meaningful speech. She knows how to attract attention."

Helena nodded. "That's why she deserves to be a top student."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Duke Varent, Helena's father, smiled warmly from afar, clearly showing his pride.

In Class B, Orven snorted. "Nonsense. We'll see how far she can go."

After the program ended, Shouta walked to the empty field behind the academy to calm his mind. Helena followed behind him and made a cheerful noise. "Hey, best student. Are you trying to escape all the attention?"

Shouta chuckled. "aI just wanted to get some fresh air. It's too crowded in there."

However, their steps were halted when Orven and his four followers appeared from the shadows, blocking their way. Orven stepped forward with a sardonic smile.

"Shouta," he said coldly. "How can the title of best student be given to you? It is an insult to royalty. That place is rightfully mine."

Before Shouta could reply, Helena raised her voice sternly. "Orven, you should be careful. If this keeps happening, your family's reputation may be the one that gets tarnished." If you have a problem with the academy's decision, talk to the professor. Continue like this, and I won't hesitate to report this to my father. I'm sure Duke Trisalle won't be happy either."

Orven's smile faltered instantly under Helena's sharp gaze, but his anger did not subside. "I just wanted to test this top student's skills," he said, turning his attention back to Shouta.

Shouta let out a long sigh. "If you really want to test, let's get this over with now. But remember, your anger will only make your defeat more humiliating."

Orven's followers immediately attacked. The onslaught came from various directions-balls of fire, sword slashes, and spears of light. However, Shouta moved calmly, each step like a dance. A shield of wind appeared just in time to extinguish the fireballs, while the swings of swords were blocked with a single flash of a water sword. Within seconds, their attacks left only sparks and clanking metal in the air.

Helena stood back, watching in awe. "You are indeed worthy of being the best student. They look like novices in front of you," she said with a wide smile, deliberately provoking Orven's anger.

Their onslaught failed, and Shouta disabled each attack with ease using a combination of wind and water magic. In an instant, all four of Orven's followers were lying on the ground, exhausted.

Orven gripped his sword tightly, not only out of anger but also out of disbelief. All these years he had trained as the heir to a noble family, and yet now, a man without noble blood stood far away before him. "It's not about titles," he thought, "it's about pride. If I lose, I lose everything." His eyes were filled with the fire of anger and despair, but his hands began to waver. Knowing the difference in their strength was too great.

"That's enough," Shouta said firmly. "If you keep this up, you'll only bring shame upon yourself."

With a face full of shame and anger, Orven signaled his followers to retreat. "This isn't over yet, Shouta. You'll regret it," he said before fleeing with the rest of the group.

Helena stepped closer to Shouta with a chuckle. "You beat them so easily. They really are weak, aren't they?"

Shouta shook his head with a faint smile. "I hope this is enough to stop their harassment."

Helena chuckled. "Then you're really good at teaching."

Shouta sighed and started walking back to the academy. "Let's go back, the others are waiting."

After that, news of the incident in the empty field spread rapidly among the students of Astoria Academy of Great Magic. Shouta's name became the talk of the town, not only because of his title as the best student, but also because of his ability to subdue Orven and his followers without much effort. Some were amazed, some were envious, and some began to see Shouta as a threat.

In a corner of the library, a group of Class A students were talking in low tones.

"He really beat Orven so easily?" asked a girl in a ponytail in an incredulous tone.

"I heard from a Class C student who saw it. They said Orven and his followers didn't even touch Shouta," another replied as she glanced at Shouta who was sitting at a far table, reading a book quietly.

Meanwhile, in the teacher's lounge, Professor Arcelle gave Shouta a sharp look after calling him over for a chat.

"Shouta, I heard about the incident with Orven and his followers," Arcelle said in a flat but meaningful tone. "You know the academy's rules forbid fighting outside the official arena, right?"

Shouta nodded. "Yes, Professor. But they started it. I was just defending myself."

Arcelle was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "I believe you had no intention of breaking the rules. But keep in mind, the more you stand out, the more people will try to bring you down. Be prepared."

Shouta replied with a respectful nod before leaving the booth, Professor Arcelle's words ringing in his ears.

The next morning, the introduction session in Class S began. The classroom was much smaller than the others, but it was meticulously decorated, accentuating the exclusive atmosphere. Professor Ardelia, a female witch with silver hair and piercing eyes, stood before the class.

"Welcome to Class S," she said with a small smile. "My name is Serina, I will be responsible for this class. You are the best of the best. But remember, this is just the beginning. Here, I will judge you not only on your magical abilities, but also on your courage, intelligence, and cooperation."

Helena raised her hand with a mischievous smile. "Professor, what will happen if we fail to meet your expectations?"

Ardelia smiled faintly. "Helena De Varent, isn't it? If you fail, I won't hesitate to demote you to Class A. However, I'm sure you won't let that happen."

The class chuckled, while Shouta only smiled slightly, his eyes watching Professor Ardelia carefully. He knew this session was more than just introductions.

"Today, we'll start with the basics of protective magic materials," Ardelia continued. "Although you may have mastered them, I want to see how you use them in real situations. Lydia, Helena, Shouta and Althea, you can start by showing me your best protective techniques."

After they came forward, Lydia used a fire shield that burned brightly, drawing admiration. Helena displayed a shimmering crystal shield, while Althea created a solid wall of light. Shouta, with a simple gesture, created a wind barrier that moved flexibly.

"Interesting," Ardelia commented. "Shouta, your wind barrier looks ordinary, but I'm sure there's something behind its flexibility. Explain the strategy behind it."

Shouta nodded. "Wind is an adaptive element. This shield is designed to follow the opponent's speed and attack pattern, providing very strong protection without restricting movement."

Ardelia smiled slightly. "A clever strategy. But remember, every magic will have its weaknesses. We will train to cover those weaknesses."

After the lesson was over, the sky began to dim, bringing a quiet atmosphere around the academy.

In a dark corner of the academy, Orven sat with his hands clasped tightly around a stone table. His normally haughty eyes were now filled with the fire of anger and despair.

"I'll show them," he muttered. "I will show Shouta that he is not worthy."

From the darkness, a figure emerged with slow steps, his black cloak shrouding his body like a night shadow. His whispered voice carried a bone-chilling chill.

"Take this." the figure said in a whispered but influential voice. "It will give you power beyond your dreams. But remember, this power comes with a price."

Orven looked at the pill skeptically for a moment before grasping it. "Is this a price worth paying for power? But... if I don't take it, I will remain their shadow." "I don't care what the price is. I just want Shouta destroyed."

Orven held the pill with trembling hands. The moment the black pill touched his skin, a bone-chilling chill spread through his body, but along with it, there was an energy that began to ignite, like a small fire that was trying to burn away all the doubts in his heart.

The cloaked figure chuckled before disappearing into the darkness.

Elsewhere, Shouta felt something strange, like a bad premonition coming over him. His heart beat a little faster, like his body was responding to something unseen. However, he tried to remain calm.

The wind suddenly blew stronger, making the leaves outside the window drift wildly. She felt like she was being watched. The shadow in the corner of the room seemed to move for a moment, but when she looked over, there was nothing.

"Something's wrong," she muttered as she looked out the classroom window, the wind carrying an unusual chill.

"Is this a normal feeling, or a real threat?" she wondered. She glanced at Helena who was smiling lightly, as if unaware of the storm that might be approaching.

To be continued…