Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.
We've already been late for an hour, and the students have flocked to the entrance.
Some were even wearing colored variations of our uniform—which, if I recall correctly, are only bestowed once your stats have been classified. You'll then be sorted into a specific floor of the massive academy.
"Finally... I thought we weren't gonna make it."
I panted, trying to catch my breath as we walked past the massive gate toward the prestigious Rouxarths Academy.
Ysinia remained by my side but walked a little faster, as if she were trying to escape something.
Still, even if she wants to bolt, I'm not about to let her slip away that easily.
"Now where do you think you're going, young lass?"
I muttered, placing a firm grip on her shoulder to halt her escape—unaware that my behavior was slipping through.
"Friend... let go."
Even with that deadpan voice, I could hear the guilt bleeding through.
But I'm not that tolerant!
Confident people without the skills to back it up are the first ones to perish on the battlefield!
"Look me straight in the eye—why did you say you knew the way?"
I tried to make her face me, but she kept looking to the side, seemingly sweating buckets.
There's no point in doing this.
I gently let her go before sighing—I owed her that much. She still tried, regardless of the result.
I can't pin it all on her.
"...Never mind."
I added, scratching the back of my head, knowing that we'll have to part ways soon—even though this "friendship" is just for a moment.
No one will associate with me after today. Not once they see what I really am.
After all—it's the day everyone's aptitude will be determined.
"Friend. You seemed to be lost in thought. Is something the matter?"
Ysinia inquired, surprising me a little—because she was still there.
I was half-expecting she'd ditch me instead.
"Nothing. Just deep in thought."
I replied, feeling a bit anxious about what's to come.
Both Ysinia and I entered the academy, which felt more like a castle or cathedral than a school.
I had to hold her like a cat in the process, because even in this place, she somehow managed to almost get lost—and I can't afford that now.
The interior of the academy was nothing short of grand and classy—to the point that I couldn't believe I used to go here.
Forget the dormitory—this place felt more like a palace than a place of learning.
Towering marble pillars and the bright expanse were equally marvelous.
Places like this used to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, only during the rare occasions when my comrades and I were invited to grand events. But we felt more out of place than anything.
And right now, I feel the same way. Like an old man pretending to be someone younger among these kids.
"Don't wander," I muttered, still dragging Ysinia lightly by the wrist as she kept turning her head at every small thing that piqued her interest like a child.
"Friend. Look over there. They're doing flashy magic."
She pointed at a group of seniors wearing red robes.
"Everyone is doing magic, young lass."
I tried to keep my focus as we navigated the crowd—until I spotted a professor with an oversized hat pointing her wand toward the left, seemingly toward the hall I dreaded.
"Freshmen must go this way! I repeat—freshmen must go this way!"
Still reluctant but pushed forward by Ysinia, I had no choice but to go that way—even though I wanted to run just as much.
Just as I thought. Everything's happening too fast, and I haven't prepared myself to deal with it at all.
As we entered the hall, we arrived in a space even more expansive than the ones before, with eight huge, lightless spheres arranged in columns.
Students lined up, each in front of one of the spheres.
"Eiden Sunas! Strength: C, Magic: B, Magic Aptitude: Confirmed! Class: D! Next!"
One of the professors in charge of recording the results announced, and the student's gray uniform turned green—just as expected.
More names were called in rapid succession as the spheres began to light up one after another.
Each student stood nervously as they were scanned—streams of data rising from their bodies, forming into letters inside the lightless spheres before glowing a specific color depending on the student's rank.
"Maelia Juverakk! Strength: D, Magic: A, Magic Aptitude: Confirmed! Class: C!"
Another round of murmurs followed.
Some students groaned, others scoffed.
"Friend. What's that?"
Ysinia asked while we waited at the back of the line, making me wonder if she'd been living under a rock.
"That's an Appraisal Sphere. It's common knowledge."
She tilted her head in wonder, and I raised an eyebrow.
"What's it made of?"
"You don't wanna know."
I replied immediately, squeezing my temples in an attempt to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from the professors.
"Ravian Dertros! Strength: B, Magic: B, Magic Aptitude: Confirmed! Class: B!"
That guy beamed like he'd just won the lottery, flipping his hair in the process and attracting the amusement of the other students as they showered him with praise.
The higher the class, the better your floor, your mentor, your materials, your resources—and most importantly, your status.
After two more students, it was already Ysinia's turn. And after her, mine.
"Uhm..."
She looked a bit confused, glancing around at what the other students were doing so she could copy them.
Ysinia placed her palm on the sphere, causing it to light up in a brilliant golden glow—shocking the students before her and the professors alike into stunned silence.
A pen and clipboard dropped as one of the professors mumbled, "Another one arrived..."
I was a bit shocked myself, but I'd figured it out a bit earlier.
"Ysinia Montambert! Strength: S. Magic: SS+. Magic Aptitude: Confirmed!"
She's a monster hiding in plain sight.
The professor manning the sphere stuttered between his words.
"C-Class: S!"
Ysinia's dress turned crimson red but...
She didn't seem surprised—just oblivious. But when she noticed everyone else's shock, she mimicked us instead.
She raised her arms, blinked once, and said, "Wow."
Then turned to me, whispering, "Did I do it right?" A line that made me think that she's just my hallucination.
I, on the other hand couldn't believe that someone wouldn't be jumping in joy at news.
After all, S-Class is where you'll get most of the resources if not all, you'll have access to multiple research materials and advanced magic books.
The other students murmured to one another.
I could hear faint mentions of Ysinia's arrogance and if she's not satisfied by just receiving the S-Class.
The professors were just as a puzzled but decided they'll deal with her after since she doesn't seem to realize the magnitude of her ranking.
Then, she tugged at my sleeve.
"It's your turn, friend."
I should've expected this reaction from Ysinia, even just the first moment I met her. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of resignation.
Ysinia's rank aside... if she was this strong, why didn't I ever hear of her before? Nor was there any mention of her even in the 10 year war?
At least she should've flourished into someone strong to participate.
I'm pretty sure I could've heard of her monstrous strength at least once.
"..."
Why is she still here? Doesn't she realize what kind of person I am? Someone that'll definitely be below her?
"..."
Why is she still sticking beside me?
What am i? Her father?
The professor squeezed the temples of his forehead trying not to fuss over it.
"Miss Montambert... you can go now."
She just walked to side a little bit but still close to me making the professor give up as he signaled me to go forward.
With an anxious sigh, I placed my palm on the sphere.
I could feel eyes over my shoulder. I could hear the low hum of the sphere, waiting for something to happen.
Anything. My heartbeat wasn't loud—but it was there. Counting down to the inevitable.
Here goes nothing.
...
And as expected.
The lightless sphere barely lit up prompting the professor manning it to intervene after a while.
"O-oh! There seems to be a problem with the device!"
He exclaimed calling for the other staff to come and check it.
They seem to think that it was because of Ysinia's magic that the lightless sphere couldn't handle her power and probably malfunctioned.
No such thing as that, I've seen this thing break down once and I don't think Ysinia was any closer to doing so.
The staff seemed to reach the the conclusion to replace the lightless sphere immediately and it was just a quick fix.
"Alright, alright. Mr... Estelion. You can place your hand now."
The results wouldn't change at all, that's just how the world is.
Moving forward, I placed my palm on it once again.
This time, it's the faintest glow one could ever see—a stark contrast to Ysinia's blinding glow.
The students murmured to each other windering if there's another malfunction again.
The professor looked like he couldn't believe it as well.
But this is the reality I've accepted a long time ago.
With reluctance in his voice, the professor announced.
"Clovis Estelion... Strength: F... Magic: F... Magic Aptitude..." He gulped raising an eyebrow on what he's reading and a bit hesitant to say the next word.
"None."
Even though I expected this... it still felt like getting stabbed. Not once—but over and over. The whispers, the stares, the silence. Just like before.
Unlike the reaction to Ysinia's, this time it felt more like the other people couldn't believe that someone such as me could even exist.
A "defect" like me was just a myth.
I thought I was prepared, but the reality stings way more harsher than I thought.
Not even a scoff or laughter.
Even humiliation might've been better—at least then, people would have something to say.
But none came.
Ysinia looked around wondering why does the others have an expression like that.
But I've got nothing else to tell her.
"Just… stay off to the side. We'll assign you manually."
The professor still in disbelief attempted to reassure me just to lessen the blow.
And so I moved to the side but not with eyes leering at me, Ysinia followed suit after but I stopped her.
"Don't follow, you can be seen hanging out with me."
I exclaimed making her tilt her head again.
Seriously just how oblivious she is to social cues?
"Why is that?"
A question with an answer that I'm sure she wouldn't even understand especially when she couldn't even get what's happening right now.
"Friend."
She looked at me straight in the eye, I couldn't tell what she intends to do but we'll have to separate ways already.
"Listen here, you—"
"Oi, oi, oi. What's your deal harassing this lady here, Mr. Dropout?"
That voice... it couldn't be?
Both Ysinia and I turned our heads to see a tall man.
Brown complexion, dark hair and golden eyes wearing a smug expression. He's wearing the same crimson uniform as Ysinia.
And I couldn't be mistaken as to who this was.
"I won't stand for someone just harassing a beautiful lady such as her~"
That iconic creepy wink!
"... Zephan Larmalles..."
The guy who made my time in here a living hell!
"Oh? I didn't expect a peasant like you would know someone grand such as me. But it's understandable."
Zephan walked closer to me, trying to size me up before Ysinia stepped in between us making him step back a bit in wonder.
"Oi, Miss Beautiful Lady, what do you think you're doing?"
This is bad, all attention is on us and the professors looked like they're about to intervene should something break out.
"Friend."
Her deadpan voice echoed, I could sense she's about to release another wave of that wind she used to pressure Willis!
"I will not let you harass my friend."