Fifth Month, the 9th day, 1386. 07:45.
SHIVANI walked down the halls, to the direction of her new assigned classroom, where she'll learn all of her subjects for the remaining months of this semester. It was a temporary measure of the academy to have them continue their studies in peace. She doesn't know whether she can fully trust this special instructor assigned to teach students from different schools. As complex as it gets, it's nearly impossible to be able to achieve such a feat.
Then, it left her wondering, who could this special instructor be?
"ANNIE!" A rough yet jolly voice called for her. Before she could even turn, she felt an arm wrapping around her shoulder and neck, head locking her and messing with her hair. "I've been looking all over for you!"
"Maverick...? Why are you here? You're supposed to be in class at this time." Shivani immediately asked her childhood friend. Maverick, on the other hand, gave her a confused look, raising his brow.
"What do you mean? I was told I'm being transferred to another class with you. The headmistress didn't mention anything to you?" he stated. Shivani was surprised.
"I was sure you wouldn't need to be transferred though…" she mumbled under her breath, Maverick heard that and decided to pull her and walk.
"I told you from the moment we entered this academy to become knights, I wouldn't leave you behind. I am not breaking my promise," he said. Shinavi couldn't form a response. She knew she couldn't say anything back. Maverick is after all her remaining family.
At this very moment, nine students are taking their time walking to their new classroom. It was in a lone old building in the middle of the mini forest inside the academy.
Seraphina Academy is wide in general with several buildings for each of the five schools, namely the School of Knightage, the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the School of Creative Arts, the School of Health and Medicine, and the School of Magic and Sciences. There are student dormitories, training grounds, and laboratory buildings for each school as well. That excludes the main building and other establishments that are used by all students.
Yes, all students from all levels. The academy's year level curriculum is based on the student applicant's age. From Freshmen year levels (10-12 years old), Sophomore year levels (13-15 years old), Junior year levels (16-18 years old), to Senior year levels (19-21 years old). The reason for this is so that they fall behind their peers. The academy ensures that there are no large age gaps among students.
After all, to enter this academy, you must at the very least be on the same footing as your peers in terms of academic and practical skills. This system allows no weaklings. This much pressure in the academy has made its students more than competent since its early years until now.
In short, it's a hell hole.
"This is the building… right?" Maverick asks. They both stare at the old building. It's a decent size building with three floors. From the outside, it looks almost ancient with a few plants and flowers crawling in its wall, yet at the same time, it looks well tended. It's clean, and it doesn't look hunted and gloomy like they expected.
There are rumors around the academy that there are ghosts here, and that you shouldn't take a step inside because you'll disturb their resting souls. In Shivani's opinion, those who said those must be people who sneaked out to this building with their lover and chickened out when they heard noises.
"Oh? Is that Morvan and Delyth?"
Maverick flinched at the sound of that voice, while Shivani turned in that direction. There, she saw two familiar faces. It seems they took a different path and just arrived now.
"Leighton, what the hell are you doing here?" Maverick asked with confusion and hostility. He was happy to be separated in that class all because of this person, Luther Leighton, his annoying aristocrat rival.
While Maverick Morvan's character is decent and friendly, Luther Leighton is anti-social. Their personalities and philosophies clash, but they're both competitive. Always fighting for the top spot of the class, if one would say.
"Because I'm studying here, you dimwit." Luther responded. Another factor for their rivalry is that Luther is a noble, while Maverick is of humble background. Both of them wouldn't let this person of this certain background beat them because it would be shameful. Shivani didn't focus on the two of them and simply faced the other student who came with Luther.
"Adair? I expected Leighton, but I would have never thought you would need to be separated from that class, Adair." Shivani brought up, and the said man shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, that professor probably has a grudge against my brother," Teivel Adair responded with honesty. That was his deduction. Like Shivani said, it was impossible for him to be transferred into this class just because he was problematic. In any case, he doesn't even pay attention to class because it bores him, but despite that, he's still one of the top students in their batch.
"Ah…" Shivani immediately understood who Teivel was talking about. After all, it was the same professor who reported her. At this point, it didn't really matter to all of them. It already happened, they just hope that their special instructor will help them get by.
"Let's head inside," Shivani suggested and Teivel nodded in agreement. They both then started walking, not minding the other two who were busy butting heads.
"Huh, what? Wait! Annie! Don't leave me with this spoiled bastard!"
"Excuse me?!"
The building had multiple rooms, but they only had one assigned classroom, which was on the second floor. As all of them entered that room, there were already five other students… of different ages.
"Elle?" Teivel's tone was filled with confusion as he looked over to the seat next to the window. It was a young girl, sitting elegantly with a resting face. She has perfect blonde hair that reaches to her waist. She seems… intimidating to say the least, but not so much that her older peers wouldn't be able to talk to her. All of them could recognize her, she's quite infamous for her personality.
She's Ruelle Griffith, Viscount Griffith's only daughter. She's from Business and Entrepreneurship, a third year Freshmen, and only about 12 years old this year. Being the only daughter of a rising businessman; naturally, she was a spoiled one. Ruelle might also be the youngest in this class.
"Teivel, why are you here?" Ruelle asked with her naturally high pitched voice and demanding tone. She looks displeased to see her older friend.
Teivel shrugged his shoulders and smiled at her. He decided that he sat next to her and Luther followed and sat next to him. Maverick went on to find a suitable desk for both him and Shivani. Shivani's eyes wandered and she could recognize some faces.
There were four other students.
Allard Dalton, another rare commoner and a third year Junior. He's seated behind Ruelle. He's got dark hair but light eyes. A charming man, as expected of a student from Business and Entrepreneurship. He's roughly around their age as well, but possibly younger. No one knows why he's here, but it must be the same reason as Teivel's.
Corvin Whitelock, an Earl's son and a second year Junior. Another infamous figure. Dark hair and dark eyes... and dark bags as well. He's a student from Health and Medicine, and he's known for being quite… eccentric. There's no question why he's been transferred to this class.
Maela Arabella Calloway, the sister of the Imperial Knight's Commander and another third year Junior. With beautiful red hair and dark doe eyes, she's a beauty that belongs to Creative Arts. She seems to be the quiet type instead of those stereotypical loud and attention-seeking students from her school. She's one of the well-praised ladies in the whole academy, no one would have expected her here.
And lastly, Cohen Declan, a 14 year-old son of an Earl and a second year Sophomore. With dirty blond hair and rimless glasses that protect his green eyes, he looks like a charming young boy, but he seems shy. While Corvin is a little unique, Cohen is the complete opposite. He's a student from the Magic and Sciences School, and one of the recognized top students of his entire batch.
Huh… this class might be more chaotic than I thought it would be, Shivani thought to herself as she sat next to Maverick.
Shivani Delyth, a first year Senior and the ruthless top student that even Luther couldn't beat. She doesn't lack in her performance on both her academics and practicals. As a matter of fact, she excels a little too much. One could say she could be the next Adela Rosalie Oleander… that is, if she could achieve the same feat as her. There's so much difference in both of them, all including their social status. From that alone, she could never be like her.
A few moments passed, and at exactly 08:30, the bell rang across the academy. That very second, they heard the door push open, then revealing a person they are all familiar with. Her long snow hair, her cold and confident demeanor, her flawed pale skin, and her sharp lavender eyes.
It was Dame Adela Rosalie Oleander. The first female and first Knightage student to be on top of her batch.
Nothing could describe how each and every student in that class was feeling as they tried to process this very moment in their mind.
"Hello, I will be your instructor for the remaining months of the year. All including your academics and practicals. I hope your heart, mind, body, and soul are well prepared."