The person standing at the front of the classroom introduced himself as their homeroom teacher. His subject was Magic Control, a class that every student in the room would attend frequently throughout their years at the Academy.
Talo... Talo...
Talo Iman.
Right.
He's quite famous, if I remember correctly. I own five books written by him, although he's also a rather controversial figure... He certainly seems full of energy.
Talo Iman was an unicorn well known for his love of magic.
His appearance hardly reflected his true age, which was said to be considerable. He dressed casually in black and dark red clothing. His long white hair reached his waist, and, almost without exception, he wore a flat black hat decorated with several feathers along one side.
The feathers did not resemble those of any particular race, but they were excellent writing feathers.
Like every unicorn, his race was marked by a small black star-shaped symbol on his forehead. It was easy to overlook unless someone paid close attention. However, against his pale skin and white hair, the mark stood out far more than it normally would.
He wasn't particularly tall, standing at around one meter and eighty centimeters. His eyes were an ordinary shade of brown, and he wore a long black coat over a dark red suit.
The only unusual thing about him was his footwear.
Or rather...
His lack of it.
Instead of shoes, he wore only a simple pair of modest sandals.
It was well known that unicorns, alicorns, and pegasus had a rather complicated relationship with footwear.
While finishing his introduction, Professor Iman casually sat behind the desk.
Several books floated through the air before arranging themselves neatly in front of him, their covers facing the students.
"We'll be studying various subjects related to magic and its applications. I will also be teaching Spell Combat together with Professor Bilgja."
Will these books also be our textbooks?
His books are excellent for beginners... although they're somewhat biased.
I actually prefer another author's interpretation of basic magical theory.
Professor Iman's views on energy and elemental manipulation are interesting. They sound convincing... but they're still opinions rather than proven facts.
At the front of the room, the professor continued explaining the subjects they would study over the coming years.
Meanwhile, several students in the back were already taking notes, while others asked questions about the optional courses within the field of magic.
As Professor Iman continued speaking, Uituba simply opened the book she had taken from her bag and began reading, without even looking at the teacher. Seeing her classmate so unconcerned, Csendez picked up the book she had left on her desk and started reading as well.
It described a historical event that had taken place not long ago. What interested her most was not the event itself but its author.
She couldn't fully understand the conclusions the writer had reached.
Yet, for reasons she couldn't explain, she felt strangely connected to his perspective.
After an unknown amount of time—just as Csendez finished an entire chapter—the professor changed the subject.
"Now, let's move on. Our class is Group One, which means each of you chose to study both magic and magical combat. Most of you entered this class because of your high entrance rankings, although there are a few exceptions. Remember this well. Rankings can change. They do not represent your intelligence or your potential. They only reflect your current knowledge and your ability to apply it."
A black board suddenly appeared on the wall beside the entrance.
Names began writing themselves across its surface.
No. 1 — Csendez
No. 2 — Shu Mo
No. 3 — Gatas
...
"From now on, your individual rankings will only be displayed inside your classroom. However, every point you earn contributes to your class's overall score, which is displayed publicly in the Grand Hall. Work together to raise the standing of your class. At the same time, never stop striving to become the best version of yourselves."
Professor Iman calmly organized the books scattered across his desk before taking out several sheets of paper.
"Now, let's move on to these."
He leaned comfortably against the desk and picked up a book titled Academy Regulations.
"Each of you received this book together with your acceptance letter. I'm not sure how many of you actually read it… But you should. The Academy operates under a carefully structured system. Some details may change over time, but the overall structure remains the same. The book is divided into chapters that answer most of the questions students usually ask."
A student sitting near the back of the classroom raised his hand.
"The principal said the Academy has only five rules, so why are there more rules in this book?"
The teacher laughed softly and gently tapped the cover of the book. He seemed to genuinely enjoy answering his students' questions.
"You see, my dear, the rules introduced by the headmaster are the fundamental rules of the Academy. They apply to everyone—students, professors, servants, and even the headmaster himself. This book, however, explains how life at the Academy works. Most of what you'll find here isn't made up of strict rules but practical advice accompanied by minor penalties should you ignore it."
He opened the book and casually flipped through a few pages.
"For example: Don't cook inside your dormitory. A small fire inside one apartment can quickly become a disaster."
"Or: Don't overuse the teleportation circles when traveling around the Academy. Without the proper protective spells, repeated teleportation may put unnecessary strain on your body."
"Things like these are mostly recommendations. Ignoring them may result in a punishment, but nothing particularly severe. Of course... that depends on what exactly you did."
Several students immediately began whispering among themselves.
I really want to go to my room now.
I'm exhausted.
How much longer until we reach the important part?
Csendez looked toward the back of the classroom, where several students who had apparently read the Academy Regulations had already raised their hands.
One of them stood up.
"Professor, there aren't any rules that forbid fighting between students. Does that mean we're allowed to fight inside the Academy?"
The entire classroom fell silent.
Obviously...
Everyone wanted to hear the answer.
Csendez rolled her eyes before glancing toward Uituba.
The elf girl was still quietly reading her book, paying almost no attention to the discussion.
She's so interesting.
I like her more and more.
She's like that stone.
Ordinary at first glance... but the longer you look, the more interesting she becomes.
The professor remained standing at the front of the classroom.
Yet something changed. The atmosphere itself seemed to grow heavier. An invisible pressure spread across the room, settling over every student. Even so, Professor Iman didn't move. He simply looked at the class.
"Yes. There is no rule that explicitly forbids violence between students. However… Please remember the purpose of this Academy. This is neutral ground. Family disputes… Racial conflicts… Historical grudges… They all stay outside these walls."
His gaze slowly swept across the classroom.
"I know that many of you grew up hearing things like: 'We dragons fight phoenixes because...' 'Or griffins hate sirens because...' 'Or elves should never trust demons...' You've all heard stories like those. But those are not your burdens to carry."
After a brief silence, he slowly walked toward the window.
"You all know that there hasn't been a single large-scale war in this universe for the past three hundred years. That isn't a secret. Your families have probably given you countless explanations for why that is. Some blame one nation. Others praise another. Some say peace exists because the Alocanai became stronger."
He stopped walking.
"They're all telling part of the truth."
A shadow briefly crossed his face.
"They also tell you that peace was achieved because we discovered a greater enemy."
He paused again.
"And yes… The creatures from the shadows are indeed one of the greatest threats our universe has ever faced. But… That isn't the whole reason."
For the first time since entering the classroom, genuine sorrow appeared on the professor's face. His expression seemed older. Almost tired.
"You'll learn the complete story sooner or later. For now… I'll simply tell you this. Starting fights with your classmates because of someone's race… Because of family history… Or because of old hatred… Will only hurt you in the future."
He turned back toward the class.
"There won't be any official punishment for fighting."
A brief pause.
"But your individual ranking points will be reduced."
Professor Iman took a slow breath before returning to his desk.
"No more questions. We still have one final matter to finish before this meeting ends."
He reached inside his coat and took out a small pendant shaped like a leaf.
"Now I will introduce the Academy System. This system allows us to monitor your academic progress while also sealing certain abilities. As you were informed before enrolling, the Academy System is known as a Fixed Evolutionary Parasite. In simple terms, it functions as a personalized artifact. As time passes, it will evolve together with you, allowing you to unlock additional functions."
He lifted the pendant slightly.
"Even we professors possess one. Our contracts differ somewhat from yours, but the basic principle remains the same."
He smiled faintly.
"I chose mine in the form of a pendant. Each of you submitted your preferred design before arriving at the Academy. If you ever change your mind, you'll eventually gain the ability to alter its appearance as it evolves."
The professor gently tapped the pendant.
A small box materialized out of thin air.
"This box contains your personal Koutiul."
His eyes swept across the classroom.
"I will call your numbers one by one. The moment you receive it, it will establish a contract with you. From that point onward… you will officially become students of the Academy."