As those words came out of the principal's mouth and echoed throughout the massive plaza full of students, the tone noticeably changed.

Before, students were visibly optimistic and excited as their legs bounced up and down, unable to contain their excitement.

Some students even dared to whisper amongst themselves at the back, already planning what to do after orientation.

"Let's head to the cafeteria! I heard the food there is top-notch!"

"No, wait, let's go to the dorm common area and play roulette or poker. My parents just gave me my entire allowance for the year early...AND I'M PUTTING IT ALL ON RED!"

"Wait, guys...we should go the gym instead of sl-"

" *PFFT* Good one, man. I think I'd rather jump off the astronomy tower with no parachute."

The academy's facilities were endless, and students were ecstatic that there were no adults to tell them what to do with their free time.

However, as the principal's bold words entered the ears of the kingdom's future warriors and magicians, all talking ceased.

Before the students could even voice their shock out loud, the principal raised her microphone and continued speaking.

"By the end of the second week, there are two things you must do to remain in the academy. If you are still here after the second week, I will officially welcome you into Aetherhelm Academy."

Pausing mid-speech, the white-haired principal smiled and glanced at the crowd of students in front of her.

Which of them would remain in two weeks' time?

Turning around so that her long white hair was facing the crowd of students, Principal Artemis raised her hand and pointed at the banner hanging from atop the stage.

"However...if you fail to complete the requirements, you will be removed from the school with no chance of reapplication."

Following the principal's finger, Athen blinked repeatedly as he noticed the banner had been changed.

It was now a timer.

[336:00:00]

336 hours.

Beside Athen, Kai and Alice incredulously looked up at the countdown, no signs of worry apparent on their faces.

Shocking the three of them out of their trance, the principal's smooth and soft voice sounded once again.

"As most of you should know, your major selection will be at the start of your second year. Thus, many of you should be confused as to how there are only two universal prerequisites."

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"Questions like 'How can sword and magic users have the same entry requirements?' or 'Shouldn't there be different requirements for different people depending on their intended major?' should be surfacing in your head."

Bewildered and perplexed, Athen glanced to his side and behind him, examining the expressions of his fellow students.

He didn't know about anybody else...but not a single damn question related to that was inside his head.

Athen just wanted to know when the hell he'd learn how to use magic.

His time in the academy was limited and, therefore, precious. He didn't have time to waste meeting some stupid set of requirements!

Seeing the other students' gazes locked onto the stage, Athen leaned back in his chair with a sigh and continued listening.

*BANG*

At that moment, a gigantic fireball, the size of a house back in Athen's hometown, appeared right above the principal.

Jumping forward in his chair, Athen stared at the fireball, entranced by its sheer size and sudden appearance.

There was no noise...or any signs of the temperature rising.

The principal didn't even lift a finger.

"Did she just...non-verbal cast...?"

"But how...she was talking to us this entire time."

"T-that can't be possible..."

From Athen's right side, a small murmur sounded.

"Did she mix the incantation into her speech...?"

Happy that she had gathered everyone's attention, Principal Artemis smirked before clapping her hands.

And, just as fast as it had come, it left.

At the very second Principal Artermis's hands met each other, the fireball immediately disappeared.

"The first requirement is....to receive a professor's approval."

"Starting tomorrow, multiple professors will be dispersed around the academy. Each of them will have a different test ready for you students."

"If you pass the test given, you will receive a letter stamped with the teacher's emblem, which you can hand in at your dorms."

"However, be aware that there is a cooldown period of one day. If you fail one professor's test, then you must wait a day before challenging the same or another professor."

"And, finally, each teacher can only hold out twenty letters."

Hearing the principal's words, Athen glanced toward the edges of the plaza, scrutinizing each of the standing professors.

From their appearance alone, it was easy to determine their preferred fighting styles, as some had sheaths tied to their waist while others held wands in their hands.

Sighing, Athen shook his head.

On the outside, there seemed to be plenty of ways to cheat this requirement.

One was just to watch another student take the exam and then just prepare accordingly based on that.

But...this was the best academy in the world.

They definitely had prepared for such things.

Perhaps all the exams were combat-based and, thus, dependent on the student and teacher.

Snapping Athen back to reality, Principal Artemis let out a dry cough, attempting to regain the students' attention.

"And, the second requirement."

"It is quite simple."

"All you have to do is...survive."

"Each day, a different 1/14 of you all will be selected. This means every single one of you will undergo this one time."

"These selected students will all be transferred to an artificial habitat at the start of the day."

"If selected, for this day, you will have to survive...not just the artificial monsters lurking around but your fellow classmates."

"In this habitat, there are no rules, so you may attack anyone at your own discretion without any warnings."

"If a student is rendered wounded enough by the exam overseers, they will be eliminated. And, if another student dealt that damage to the eliminated student, they will receive a point."

"Additionally, if you defeat a monster roaming around, you will also receive a point. The student with the most points in your 1/14th group will be awarded a special prize."

"Please note that you will be transferred with only the clothes on you when you are sleeping."

"At the end of the day, all of the selected students will be transferred back...except those who are eliminated."

"If you are eliminated, no matter if you already have a professor's approval or not, you will fail the test and be immediately kicked out of the academy."