“Everyone, we have arrived at our destination,” the train conductor said as he shook a handbell in his hand. “Make sure that you don’t leave any of your luggage behind you as you depart the train.

“I repeat, we have arrived at our destination. Make sure that you don’t leave any of your luggage behind as you depart the train. We have arrived at Brynhildr Station.”

Ethan opened the door of his compartment and walked down the aisle, carrying his bags.

‘Was it supposed to be Brynhildr Station?’ Ethan thought. ‘If I remember correctly it should be Stanmore Station. From there, it would be a five minute walk to the gates of Saint Claire Academy…’

The young man still had his doubts, but since they arrived at the train’s destination, he had no choice but to disembark.

As soon as he left the train, he saw all the teenage boys and girls being ushered to several carriages that lined up the side of the station.

“Each carriage can be shared by four people,” the Station Master said as he, and his subordinates, helped guide the students who had arrived at the station. “First Years to the left, Second Years to the right. Third Years and above, you already know where to go. Don’t tarry here and go to your own lanes!”

Ethan, who had been enrolled as a First Year by his Grandma, lined up on the left where several teenage boys and girls that were around his age had lined up as well.

“Please prepare your train tickets,” the Station Master stated. “Your carriage will be determined by your train ticket. Economy Class goes to the Black Carriages, First Class gets the Purple ones, and VIP tickets get the Golden Carriages. Those who have VIP tickets, please come to me.”

Ethan looked at his ticket and saw the words VIP written in bold, gold letters, on its upper left side. Seeing that his ticket was indeed a VIP ticket, he walked towards the Station Master and presented his ticket to him.

“I see, so you’re one of the VIP’s of the first years,” the Station Master said as he scrutinized Ethan’s ticket. “Very well, come with me. Make sure to follow closely, okay? We don't want you getting lost.”

All the first years who had lined up on their respective platforms, gazed at Ethan with a look of jealousy and envy. VIP tickets were a form of status. They could only be obtained by people of high status in the Magic World.

Students who received such a ticket were those who came from highly influential families, or those who had high positions in the Magic Bureau.

“He’s a first year? I better form a good relationship with him later.”

“I hope we were in the same class. If I become his friend, wouldn’t that mean that I’ll be able to rub shoulders with the nobility?”

“He’s quite good looking. Is he perhaps single? Mother said that I should look for high-ranking nobles. Even if they only make me their concubine, I will be secure for life.”

Murmurs spread throughout the surroundings as Ethan was taken away by the Station Master. All of them wanted to be on good terms with the young man, who seemed to belong to a very influential family in the Magic World.

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However, not all of them were thinking along these lines. A young lady with light-brown hair, and green eyes, looked at the teenage boy in the distance in confusion.

‘How can he possibly be here?’ the young lady thought. ‘Are my eyes deceiving me? Is he perhaps a different person?’

The young lady wasn’t quite unsure if the blue-haired boy was someone she knew or not.

‘It doesn’t matter.’ The young lady handed her ticket to the Staff member in front of her. ‘If it is really Him, we will meet at the testing site later.’

—--------

“Grandma, you are the best,” Ethan muttered as he sat on a very comfortable couch inside the golden carriage that was assigned to him. “Man… I almost feel sorry about my plan to leave the academy after a few days.”

While the young man was feeling a bit guilty about what he planned to do after arriving at the Academy, his carriage started to move.

Ethan looked at the passing scenery, but the only thing he could see were trees on both sides of the carriage.

Several other carriages were traveling down the road as well, but all of them were on the right side of the road. The golden carriage traveled on the left, free from any kind of obstruction.

A few minutes later, the carriage arrived at its destination, and Ethan disembarked while admiring the Academy in front of him.

“It’s bigger than I thought…,” Ethan muttered as he looked at the learning institution that he would spend some time in.

Before the young man could even wonder what to do next, a man wearing gray robes walked out of the gates and greeted him with a smile.

“You must be Professor Ophelia’s prized Disciple,” the gray-robed man said with a smile. “Come. We should head to the Plaza of Beginnings where the other First Years will gather shortly. There, the Appraisal Stone will measure your magical power and assign which Manor you will be staying in. Please, come this way.”

Ethan nodded and followed the kind man whom he initially thought to be his tour guide.

As they walked together, the gray-robed man introduced himself as Njal Brand, a Professor that taught The Study of Magical Creatures class.

Ethan had no idea what kind of subject the Study of Magical Creatures was, so he decided to not talk about this subject and instead asked Professor Njal questions about Brynhildr Academy.

The Professor thought that this was his opportunity to form a good relationship with the handsome teenager, so he made sure to answer all of Ethan’s questions with as many details as possible.

The more Ethan asked, the more confused he became.

Njal told him that the Brynhildr Academy was built after the heroes defeated the Demon Lord, who once threatened the Magical World.

It was founded by none other than Fortis Dud, who believed that everyone had the right to study magic, even those who were born with very little magical power.

Within the Academy grounds, Five Manors were built, and each of them carried the Will and Belief of each of the Five Heroes that fought for the peace of the world.

Agmundr Schwartz - Schwartz Manor

Svend Terra - Terra Manor

Magni Jaeger - Jaeger Manor

Eileifr Eques - Eques Manor

Fortis Dud - Dud Manor

Schwartz Manor was the place where Wizards and Witches who specialized in Black Magic conducted their magical experiments.

Terra Manor was the place where Wizards and Witches who specialized in growing things, like plants, flowers, or any magic associated with nature, gathered.

Jaeger Manor was the place where Wizards and Witches who had the ability to transform, tame, and command magical beasts were nurtured.

Eques Manor was the Manor that specialized in Combat Wizards and Witches. These students not only used wands, but other magical weapons and artifacts as well.

Several of their graduates often become part of the Magical Knights in their respective territories, as well as the Magistratus who helped the Magical Bureau enforce the laws of the Magical World to its denizens.

Last but not least was the Dud Manor.

This Manor was often coined as the “Drop Out” Manor because those with very little to almost non-existent magic power were sent there to train.

All of its residents were called Dud, and in time, this term had become a derogatory slang that was used by Etilist Professors and Students in the academy, who looked down on the talentless and magically-crippled students who had enrolled at Brynhildr Academy.

“We’re here, Ethan,” Professor Njal said as they arrived at the Plaza inside the Academy, where several adults, wearing gray robes, standing on an elevated platform, gathered. “This is the Plaza of Beginnings, but since you are here because of a Professor’s recommendation, you may stand in the VIP area beside the Appraisal Stone.

“If I remember correctly, there are only five VIP’s this year, and you are one of them. I look forward to what Manor you will be placed in. By the way, I am one of the professors supervising the Jaeger Manor. If you have any questions regarding magical beasts, you can come find me anytime.”

The Professor chuckled as he led Ethan to the VIP area before standing beside his colleagues on the elevated platform to welcome the new students of Brynhildr Academy.

Several of the Professors eyed the young man with curiosity. As a First Year, being able to stand in the VIP Area meant that Ethan was one one of the geniuses of the young generation.

“Njal, is that the student that Professor Ophelia vouched for this year?” an old Wizard with a long white beard asked.

“Yes, Headmaster,” Professor Njal answered. “His name is Ethan.”

“Ethan?” the Old Wizard played with his beard as he gazed at the teenage boy from head to foot.

A few minutes later, the corner of his lips rose up into a smirk, and his eyes flashed with mirth as if he found something very amusing.

‘Looks like this School Year will be more lively than the one we had last year,’ the Old Wizard mused. ‘Professor Ophelia, you have brought a very interesting First Year to the Academy.’’

The Headmaster of Brynhildr Academy chuckled internally as he looked at the anxious-looking teenager in the distance, who had no idea what was about to happen to him next.