The academy bell rang three times.
Its deep chime echoed across the entire campus, and students hurried toward the Grand Assembly Hall.
Ethan adjusted the silver badge pinned to his uniform before following Oliver through the crowd.
"So…" Oliver said, balancing a small stack of books in his arms. "Nervous?"
"A little."
"Don't worry. The opening ceremony is mostly speeches."
"…That's somehow less reassuring."
Oliver laughed.
"You'll survive."
"I hope so."
The Grand Assembly Hall was unlike anything Ethan had ever seen.
Rows upon rows of seats curved around a massive circular stage. Towering pillars reached toward a domed ceiling enchanted to resemble a bright blue sky. Floating orbs of light drifted lazily through the air, illuminating every corner of the room.
Nearly a thousand students filled the hall.
First-years sat near the front.
Older students occupied the upper levels.
Teachers and professors stood near the stage, quietly talking among themselves.
"This place is huge…" Ethan whispered.
"Well It kinda has to be," Oliver replied. "Every student attends the opening ceremony."
The two found seats about halfway down the first-year section.
Oliver immediately began waving at acquaintances from other noble families.
Ethan simply observed.
Some students were excited.
Others looked nervous.
A few sat with perfect posture, clearly trying to appear dignified.
Then…
His eyes wandered toward the opposite side of the hall.
There.
Near the end of another row.
Adrian sat alone.
No one had taken the seats beside him.
Not because they were reserved.
People had simply…chosen not to sit there.
A pair of noble students whispered while glancing in his direction.
"I heard he's only here because of a recommendation."
"My brother said he defeated a monster by himself."
"Still…he's just a commoner."
Adrian didn't react.
He quietly looked ahead, his expression calm.
Ethan frowned.
"…"
He knew this happened in the novel.
The discrimination.
The whispers.
Reading it had made him angry.
Seeing it in person…
Made it feel much worse.
[Optional Objective Available
Speak to Adrian Ashbourne before he heads towards the dorms.
Reward:
50 System Points
Failure:
None]
Ethan blinked.
"…Now?"
[Opportunity detected.]
He glanced around.
The ceremony hadn't started yet.
Students were still talking.
"I could…"
He half-rose from his seat.
Then stopped.
"No."
Oliver looked over.
"Hm?"
"Nothing."
Ethan slowly sat back down.
He shook his head.
"Not yet."
[Reason?]
The System's question appeared.
Reason?
Ethan thought for a moment.
"If I suddenly walk over and start talking to him…He'll think I'm strange."
He barely knew Adrian.
And Adrian certainly didn't know him.
Approaching now would only make things awkward.
"I need an actual reason. A natural one."
[Analysis…
Host's reasoning is acceptable.]
Ethan smiled slightly.
"See? I'm capable of thinking."
A hush gradually spread through the hall.
The large doors behind the stage opened.
Every professor immediately stood.
"They're here," Oliver whispered.
One by one, several elderly figures walked onto the stage.
Each wore robes embroidered with silver thread.
The final person to appear was an elderly man with long white hair tied neatly behind his back.
The moment he stepped onto the stage…
The entire hall became silent.
"That's…"
"The Headmaster."
Lucien's memories supplied the name.
Headmaster Aldren Vale.
One of the strongest mages in the kingdom.
He surveyed the hall with kind blue eyes before smiling.
"Welcome."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet somehow…
Everyone heard it clearly.
"No matter your birthplace. No matter your status. No matter whether you arrived here carrying a noble title or only your own determination… You have all earned the right to stand within these walls."
Ethan noticed several commoner students visibly relax.
The Headmaster continued.
"The Royal Academy exists for one purpose. To cultivate those who will shape the future of this kingdom."
His gaze swept across the sea of students.
"You will study, You will fail, You will succeed. You will make lifelong friends…"
A faint smile crossed his face.
"And perhaps lifelong rivals."
Quiet laughter spread through the hall.
"But above all else… Learn not only how to become powerful… but why you seek that power."
The room fell silent again.
Even Ethan found himself listening carefully.
"It is easy to wield magic. It is far more difficult to wield responsibility."
The Headmaster bowed slightly.
"Welcome…to the Royal Academy."
Thunderous applause filled the hall.
After the speech, professors began introducing each department.
The Swordsmanship Department received loud cheers.
The Knight Studies Department proudly demonstrated coordinated formations.
Finally…
Professor Marianne stepped onto the stage.
She wore dark crimson robes decorated with golden flames.
"The Magic Department welcomes all students with the curiosity to explore mana."
With a simple flick of her fingers
A tiny spark appeared above her hand.
The spark expanded into a glowing phoenix made entirely of fire.
Gasps echoed throughout the hall.
The fiery bird circled above the audience before dissolving into hundreds of glowing embers that drifted harmlessly through the air.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"…Magic really is amazing."
Oliver grinned.
Once every department had finished introducing itself, students began filing out of the hall.
Oliver stretched.
"That was shorter than I expected."
"You call that short?"
"I heard it usually lasts longer."
Ethan decided not to ask.
The crowd slowly moved toward the exits.
As he stepped into the hallway…
He noticed Adrian once again.
This time, the Hero stood in front of a campus map, quietly studying it.
A group of students walked past without offering help.
Someone muttered,
"Even he can read a map."
They laughed before disappearing around a corner.
Adrian ignored them.
Ethan hesitated.
"…"
This…
This was natural.
He wasn't approaching Adrian for no reason.
He was simply helping a classmate.
He took one step forward.
Then another.
Before he reached him
A cheerful voice interrupted.
"Excuse me!"
A senior student hurried over to Adrian.
"You must be new."
Adrian nodded.
"I am."
The senior smiled warmly.
"Looking for your dormitory?"
"Yes."
"I'll show you the way."
"…Thank you."
The two walked away together.
Ethan stopped.
"…Guess I was too late."
[Optional Objective Failed.
Penalty: None.]
"I'm not that disappointed..."
[Host's heart rate suggests otherwise.]
"…Stop monitoring my heart rate."
The System wisely chose not to answer.
Ethan watched Adrian disappear into the crowd once more.
"There will be another chance."
There had to be.
After all…
This was only the first day.
And they would be attending the same academy for years to come.