Csendez had completely lost interest in the opening ceremony. The teachers no longer caught her attention. Instead, she found herself far more interested in the small green stone resting in her palm. Having held it for so long, it had apparently become warm.
I like this stone more and more. This shade of green reminds me of the plants I grow at home. I wonder if they'll allow us to keep plants in the dormitories. Maybe it's possible... but who knows how many approvals I'd need? They definitely won't let me grow one of my own...
While absentmindedly playing with the stone, her eyes fell upon the paper the principal had given them earlier.
It contained a list of optional courses from different fields of study.
Only now do I realize how many branches of magic there are. It's funny that they even offer art classes. Why? I know my artistic skills are a disaster... but maybe they could actually teach me...
God... I almost started considering taking art lessons.
Csendez rolled her eyes before looking back at the students surrounding her.
Young people from every race had come here despite centuries of conflicts and political tensions. Slowly, she let her gaze wander from one corner of the hall to another. Someone who didn't know her might have assumed she was searching for someone.
After a while, she looked back toward the stage, where the principal was still introducing the teachers. Her eyes drifted down to the floor as she allowed her thoughts to wander.
This school is trying its best to change the younger generation.
They made us take entrance exams and ranked us individually, but that's only meant to create personal rivalry. After that, everyone chooses the class they believe suits them best—the path they actually want to follow.
Class S is for students who wish to master magic—spells, magical weapons, and magical history. It is divided into two groups. I chose Group One, where they teach both magic and advanced combat techniques that integrate physical movement with spellcasting. Group Two focuses exclusively on magic, without physical combat training.
This type of specialization continues until Class C, where it is no longer necessary.
Class A studies economics and governance.
Class B specializes in history.
Class C focuses on physical combat and athletics.
Class D studies science—primarily mathematics and alchemy.
Finally, Class E is dedicated to the arts in every form, from painting and music to etiquette and languages.
There are so many subjects to choose from... I'll have to think carefully before selecting my optional classes.
I also haven't had time to check whether every top-ranked student chose Class S.
Csendez was forced to abandon her thoughts when the headmaster finished introducing the teachers. At last, this tedious opening ceremony was coming to an end.
The man on the stage clapped his hands.
The large stack of papers resting near the stage suddenly came to life, each sheet flying gracefully toward a different student.
"These will serve as your guides around the Academy. They indicate the locations of your classrooms, where you will have your first meeting with your homeroom teachers. You have one hour before those meetings begin. Until then, you are free to explore the Academy. For now, this is where we part. I sincerely hope you won't have to see me too often, as I usually meet only with troublemakers. Have a wonderful time here, and keep your minds open."
With a soft hiss, the projection dissolved into countless particles of light before disappearing completely.
The opening ceremony was finally over.
The great hall immediately filled with conversations. Many students stood up and began leaving while examining their maps.
Csendez remained seated.
She silently watched the students scattering throughout the hall. A faint smile appeared on her face before she quickly hid it. Uituba returned and sat down in the chair beside her. The seat marked with the number 2 had remained empty during the entire ceremony.
"Csendez, what do you want to do now? Should we explore the Academy first, or go directly to our classroom?"
Uituba asked while unfolding her map.
Csendez froze for a brief moment, though no one noticed. She quickly composed herself again.
"Forget the map. Let's walk around for a while before heading to class. I already know where it is, so we won't need it."
"You want to explore? Great! But... how do you already know where the classroom is? Oh! Your family must have requested a tour before enrollment because this is your first generation attending the Academy! Right! This is the first time both phoenixes and dragons have sent a generation of students here. How did I forget that? Sorry."
The elf girl asked and answered her own questions before Csendez had the chance to respond, unintentionally saving her from an awkward explanation.
Uituba had no idea, but beneath her calm expression, Csendez was anything but relaxed. Half of her attention remained on the conversation. The other half was somewhere else entirely.
The two girls waited until the Grand Hall was no longer crowded before leaving together.
As they walked through the Academy's hallways, they passed numerous students. Some traveled alone, while others had already formed small groups. No one paid much attention to anyone else.
For most of the walk, Csendez remained silent. Every now and then, she answered one of Uituba's questions or commented on something she said. Their conversation revolved mostly around books and the stories they had both read. Apparently, they shared the same favorite author and had surprisingly similar opinions about his novels.
Almost an hour later, Csendez stopped in front of a classroom on the second floor.
A golden sun was engraved on the door. Nothing more.
"We're here," she said calmly. "I told you I knew the way."
Uituba, who had been admiring the view through the enormous glass wall overlooking the Academy's central garden, nodded absentmindedly. She didn't seem nervous at all.
I still don't know whether she's really like this or simply pretending.
I'll find out sooner or later.
The two girls opened the door and entered the classroom. The room was spacious.
Directly opposite the entrance stood a massive blackboard that stretched almost from floor to ceiling. The opposite wall was made entirely of glass, allowing the outside scenery to flood the room with natural light.
The wall beside the entrance was lined with shelves filled with textbooks.
The desks were arranged in ascending rows like those of an amphitheater, forming ten rows with eight desks each—a total of eighty seats.
Even at first glance, they looked remarkably comfortable.
Each desk had been crafted from a pale, slightly flexible white wood, a material well known for its resistance to magical energy.
At the back of the classroom were three additional doors, most likely leading to storage rooms or faculty offices.
The teacher's desk stood before the blackboard.
It was long, elegant, and made entirely of glass.
After quietly taking in the room, the girls faced their first important decision.
Where should they sit?
After a brief discussion, they chose seats in the third row from the front, at the far end beside the windows.
Uituba immediately took a book from her bag.
Apparently, she intended to read while they waited.
Csendez didn't mind.
She also removed a book from her own bag but simply left it on her desk before standing up.
She slowly walked toward the glass wall and looked outside.
The Academy had been built on an island in the middle of the planet's vast ocean.
The island itself wasn't particularly large.
There was only enough room for several training grounds and the Academy building.
Most likely, the island had once been an underwater mountain whose peak had risen above the sea. The surrounding land had probably been expanded afterward through magic.
The grass covering the grounds was a vivid green.
Yet one detail immediately caught her attention.
There were almost no trees.
They should plant more vegetation.
The thought slipped through her mind almost unconsciously.
Behind her, Uituba appeared to be reading.
In reality, however, her eyes rested on Csendez's back.
Her expression had changed completely. She now looked calm, serious, and distant—nothing like the lively girl from earlier. A moment later, she glanced at her wristwatch.
Apparently, she had noticed that their class should contain far more students than the two of them. The elf quietly turned her attention toward the classroom door.
I think it's about time.
Csendez's eyes briefly shimmered before returning to normal.
Not even two minutes passed before the first classmates arrived.
More precisely, two boys entered together.
One wore a mask that concealed almost his entire face, although the horns protruding from his head immediately revealed that he belonged to the dragon race.
The other was unmistakably an elf. His long, sharply pointed ears left no room for doubt.
The instant Uituba noticed him, her eyes sparkled. Just as quickly, however, she looked away, a trace of disappointment crossing her face.
Csendez caught that brief reaction.
Do they know each other?
As the two boys headed toward the back rows, Csendez turned toward the elf girl beside her.
"Do you know them?"
Uituba instantly brightened again.
"Yes! He's my favorite Ludus player! You probably don't know this, but he's already on our planet's professional team! The way he plays is simply mesmerizing..."
So that's the Ludus player she mentioned earlier.
He really is in our class.
Without waiting for another question, Uituba enthusiastically began describing matches she had attended, passionately recounting goals, tactics, and unforgettable plays.
For quite some time, no one else entered. Eventually, however, students began arriving one after another.
Some came alone. Others entered in small groups. Even so, many desks remained empty.
Neither of the girls paid much attention to that detail. The two boys didn't seem particularly interested either, although they occasionally glanced toward the door as if expecting someone.
Then hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.
A larger group of students rushed into the classroom, breathing heavily as though they had spent the last several minutes running.
Even a few of the girls looked completely exhausted.
"What a pain... If only using magic weren't forbidden."
"Seriously. We wouldn't have had to run all the way here."
"We're not late... are we?"
"I don't think so. The homeroom teacher isn't here yet."
"It's already been more than an hour. The teacher isn't here, but we're the ones who are late."
"What about the map? Was this some kind of prank by the Academy?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Finally, everyone's here."
A person suddenly appeared beside the teacher's desk at the front of the classroom.
The homeroom teacher had arrived.