It was night outside the lights of the city lit up the sky outside.
Sitting in their escort vehicle Ash looked at Caesar with concerned eyes.
"You sure you should be coming with me?"
"Ah, kiddo you really don't know how aristocracy works now do you?"
Ash didn't answer not wanting to give Caesar the answer he expected.
Still Caesar answered nonetheless.
"This opening ceremony will be wholely different from those of normal schools, you shouldn't expect long drawn out speeches or anything of the sort. No, this thing will be closest to a ball."
"Really? A ball?"
"Exactly, what did you think we had to dress up like this for? Well you'll see it soon anyways."
And soon he did indeed see it, the scenery around the academy looked different.
The road to the door was well lit and on that road countless number of people could be seen pouring in.
All organized, dressed in clothes even more eye catching than the one Ash was wearing.
It didn't take long for them to also arrive by the entry way.
Then the two stepped out and headed for the entrance.
"Have you been to any ball's before?"
Caesar whispered into Ash's ear.
"No, never."
"Balls are essentially places where people network, or show off their existing connections."
"So it's basically politics."
"Guess you could say that. Anyways, you can feel free to wander around, but try not to say anything too outlandish and try to not make any enemies either."
"I'll try."
"You better, because if you screw this up it will follow you for the rest of your academy years... or even beyond that."
Just as their conversation came to an end they arrived inside the academy's walls.
The inside here looked much different from the places Ash had been to during his exams.
'Guess this area is specifically for these sort of things.'
Inside were giant chandeliers, marble colums it looked like how one would imagine a fancy aristocratic ball to look.
Yet as this was Ash's first time attending one he was still enamored by the atmosphere.
"Are you two here for the Opening Ceremony?"
A man that seemed closest to a valet or server was waiting for them by the entrance.
"Yes, Ash Luchassi and Caesar Luchassi. We should be on the list."
The man looked at the list before moving out of the way.
"Indeed you are. Welcome to the Grand Opening!"
The two moved deeper before Ash noticed a few familiar faces in the distance.
It was Will and his company sitting by a table, talking.
And while most of them seemed to be enjoying the ball, Will still looked just as detached as he did when he last saw him.
Ash quickly averted his gaze not wanting to get spotted by Will especially since Caesar told him to not make trouble.
That was when a voice came from behind him.
"Ash?"
Hearing his name being mentioned Ash was quick to look in the direction where the voice came from only to find a girl with light blue hair standing there.
"Ilyana?"
"So it is you. I heard of the incident."
She then looked down at his arm.
"...How is it? Were you able to get used to it?"
"Well it's usable atleast."
That was when the person besides Ash spoke up.
"And who is this, someone you know?"
"Yeah, we talked briefly during the entrance exam."
Ilyana then looked at the man before asking.
"And he is?"
"My... Father."
Ash said somewhat hesitant.
Seeing where the conversation was heading Caesar was quick to introduce himself.
"I'm Caesar Luchassi, as you've heard I'm his father."
"Luchassi, right you said it last time too. Do you have some sort of connection with Luchassi Motor?"
"Nope, no connection whatsoever. Then now that I've properly introduced myself I'll get out of your noses."
Saying this Caesar left, heading towards the nearest food source.
"He's quite the character."
"He really is."
"Then I'll be heading out too I don't want to take up too much of your time."
Hearing Ilyana's words Ash wanted to stop her. She was the only person he knew around here and trying to make new connections felt pretty impossible to him.
"Can we talk for a bit longer?"
Ash said embarrassed, but honest. He could barely look Ilyana in the face while saying this.
"Sure."
Ilyana's answer was simple, but that was all Ash needed to hear.
...
With the two chatting time went on faster, they talked about what happened while he was hospitalized and about subjects like what they expected their academy life to be like.
But it was around then that all the lights in the hall were turned off and another set of lights were turned on.
The new set of lights perfectly illuminated a stage, upon which stood a man that seemed to be up in age.
"I'd like to officially announce the classes for this year of freshmen."
Then the man slowly started speaking.
"Heading this year's Class A as the most exceptional of the Special Admission Students is..."
"Belle Sinclair!"
As the man spoke the name someone from the crowd ascended onto the stage, proudly standing before the crowd.
As she ascended her figure was showcased to the entire crowd beneath.
Her short light golden hair, her small frame, her sky blue eyes.
All these factors combined gave her the image of a fragile flower, yet the mere fact that she was set to be at the center of Class A meant that she was not nearly as fragile as she looked.
'It's her! It's the thief!'
That was a face he could never forget, afterall she was the one that stole his Special Admission Ticket.
Seeing her up on stage Ash almost let himself be filled with anger, but was eventually able to calm it down.
"Those that will be studying with her in Class A are: Jacob Myers, Flint Hunter, ..."
The names kept on coming before eventually a name that was familiar to Ash sounded.
"William, ..."
The name was skipped over quickly, but this could have only been one person.
'Will, so he still doesn't have a last name.'
"...Valentine Night. Those are the students that will be attending Class A."
Upon finishing with the Class A introduction a wave of clapping swept through the large hall.
The claps soon died down and the man found his chance to speak once again.
"And the one heading Class B this year will be..."
"Leon von Stern!"
Hearing the name much of the crowd went completely silent.
It was only once everyone was quiet that a person finally ascended upon the stage.
As he climbed up the stairs all eyes were on him, his golden hair perfectly reflecting the light above, while his deep red eyes gave of a sense of superiority.
'Who is he?'
Ash thought for a moment, unable to recognize the person before him.
'Everyone went quiet soon as his name was mentioned, he must be someone of great importance.'
"It is truly an honor to have you attending Icarus, we will be looking forward to your future endeavors."
The man on the stage said as he was bowing to the young man before him.
"Please raise your head, Father didn't send me here to be put on a pedestal."
'Father?'
Only then did the gears start turning in Ash's head. And once he connected the dots he almost wanted to run away in embarrassment.
There was only one family of people that carried the von Stern surname.
It was the family of Reinhardt.
This meant that the young man standing there was none other than the youngest son of Reinhardt, someone that was by all means a prince.
"Thank you for you generosity. Then let's name those that will be attending Class B."
The man started going down the long list and it didn't take long for Ash to hear names he knew.
"...Ilyana Shuvalov,..."
'So she's gonna be in Class B.'
Ash noted as he looked at the girl standing besides him.
"..., Ash Luchassi, ...."
Hearing his name being mentioned Ash was pleasantly surpised.
'So I'm gonna be in Class B too. Not a bad result if I say so myself.'
Then the names for Class B were also finished and it was time for Class C.
"The one heading Class C will be..."
"Blake Crawford!"
That was when a short young man ascended, he had short brown hair and eyes. He looked just like a normal young kid.
'The burger boy... I expected him.'
Even Ash could only be surprised so much, as after seeing Belle he quickly remembered that the "burger boy" would be here too.
After this the names of the Class C attendees were listed, but Ash knew none of the people mentioned so he simply moved on.
"Then to the final class, Class D which will be headed by..."
"Alexander Marchetti!"
Those in attendance all showed differing reactions upon hearing the name, some showed disgust, others showed fear and some even showed reverence.
'Who is this person?'
As he ascended to the stage, he was very expressive, not in the way that someone obsessed with theater would make, no it was the sort that someone full of themselves would make.
'Guess the reactions are starting to make sense.'
Then the names were listed and just as Ash had thought everything was over.
"With this I'd like to conclude the class announcement part of the opening ceremony—"
"Hey!"
A loud hey carried across the entire hall and as people turned towards its source there stood only one man... Will.
"I want to challenge Alexander Marchetti for the position of Class D head!"