"Well. I did everything I could." Is the first thought and words that leave my lips after I wake up. The next noise I make is undoubtedly that of an old man trying to get up after breaking a hip or something.
"Ahhhh." I groan and struggle to get up. But at this point, waking up while my whole body hurts was quite common. So I don't struggle nearly as much as I thought I would. And once I'm standing straight, I pound my fist against my chest with a grin.
"Fuck yeah. Showed them." Remembering what I did yesterday. How I didn't give up despite how terrible things were going. At least when it came to the physical exam. Not that I'm under any illusion that I might have made it.
`I failed so fucking hard, twin.` But it's precisely because of that that I'm in no hurry to get to where I need to be. Despite the time. I slept pretty long. It was already seven.
Yet despite this, I confidently and without stress walk into the bathroom. Going through my usual morning routine. The same one I once had on Earth. Though without a phone in hand while I sit on the toilet, it's definitely faster.
In turn, I do take longer baths. So in the end, it comes to about the same time. I take about half an hour to get ready to head out. But despite knowing that I'd probably be the last person to show up, even if I go to the main building now. I take a detour to the cafeteria.
We didn't get a chance to eat anything yesterday at all. So I was famished. A fact I remedy with a lavish breakfast. I really load up the plate since this may be the last time I get to eat here. So I get as much food as I can eat.
And that in turn leads me to being late. It was already a quarter past eight when I walked out of the cafeteria. Yet my steps remain steady and unhurried. I had already planned to be late, after all. `Fuck it. I'll get there when I'll get there.`
I think to myself with a shrug. `What are they gonna do? Fail me? Yeah. I already did.` Although I do feel a little bad about making my fellow initiates wait. They were probably dying from nervousness while I relaxed and did whatever I wanted.
An assumption that is proven right when I finally make it to the main building entrance. Where the other initiates, Brenvar, and a bunch of other people are already waiting.
Just like yesterday in the hall where we took the physical exam, the people waiting were a mixture of staff members, parents of students, and students of various years. All glaring at me when they see me meander up to the door.
"Sorry for being late." My casual apology and clear lack of actual remorse only made everyone even angrier. But before anyone can say anything, Brenvar begins to speak. "Good. Now that everyone is here, we'll continue the exam with the aptitude test."
He speaks in his usual cut-and-dry tone. His voice cut straight through the anger and impatience of the crowd and quieted things down. Which is surprising to me. Not because I didn't expect him to speak up. But rather because I thought for sure he would chew me out.
It just seemed like he wasn't the type who appreciated tardiness. I'm not going to complain, though. So I just shrug and follow him back into the school. Probably for the last time.
This time, we head downstairs, however. To the basement of the Academy. Well. The first floor of the basement. Two more floors lead further down. But we aren't told about what might be down there.
Not that we need to know anyway. Not for what we are doing at the moment.
We enter a large, circular, ornate chamber that is positioned right below the foyer. A large crystal helix dominates the middle of the room. And the walls are lined with seats.
Seats that are slowly filled by the crowd that had gathered outside. Who followed us down here? But they aren't the only people down here.
At the back of the room. Behind the crystal helix is the tool that measures aptitude for mages through unknown, to me at least, means. There are more people. Sitting on chairs on an elevated stone dais.
Based on their outfits and the way they held themselves, I assumed the people there were high-ranking nobles and professors of the school. Not that the two were exclusive to each other. Most of the students and professors in this school were nobles, after all.
But the person who sat on the highest, most elevated, and ornate chair seemed surprisingly normal. Outwardly, he appeared to be quite young. Maybe in his mid-twenties or even younger. Sandy blonde hair, an androgynous, handsome face, and curious golden eyes. That seemed to follow me specifically.
So I meet his gaze across the crystal helix with a raised eyebrow. Which seemed to amuse him. The smile on his lips widened. `Yeah. Alright. That guy is sus as fuck.` Knowing this was once a game world. And knowing how stories like this usually go. I could immediately tell that that man was not normal.
`Who is he?` I muse despite already knowing the answer. Just based on how confidently he was sitting on what I would call a throne, I could guess that he was the headmaster of the school. And most likely the most powerful mage around.
My speculations are, however, put aside when Brenvar speaks again. "Alright. I will call your names one by one. When I do, you step forward and put your hand on this machine." He points to a machine at the base of the helix.
It looked like the typical machine that you'd expect would measure magic in a world that could be described as steampunk fantasy. It was a box of metal with levers, buttons, and cranks all over it. But where we were supposed to place our hand was pretty obviously the orb atop the machine.
"Bruh. That is so uninspired." I mutter while shaking my head at the machine. "What? Are you really going to make me ponder an orb? What am I? A grey-bearded wizard holed up in a tower?"
And while my words might not be understood by others, they are definitely heard despite my quiet voice. Brenvar turns to me with a raised eyebrow. "Is there a problem, Initiate Blackwell?" He asks quizzically.
But I just wave him off. "No, sir." I reply with a quick salute. The one I saw guards and outriders do. Which doesn't just cause his eyebrow to rise a little higher but also causes the other initiates to stare at me with wide eyes.
Seemingly baffled at how casual I am about this whole thing. Their attention, however, is soon drawn back to the task at hand when Brenvar nods and begins to list our names one by one.
Everyone is stepping forward and putting their hand on the orb, just like I thought. Then they hold their hand there for a few seconds while the crystal helix pulsates with differing strengths of light.
"Initiate Elenya Tvaris. Four-star potential." Other examiners would have probably done this differently. With more flair and flourish. But Brenvar is as straightforward as ever. Just stating the facts before calling for the next student.
The talents of my fellow initiates range anywhere between four to seven. Which is pretty middling for this academy. Though for the rest of the world, someone with a magical potential of seven stars is pretty impressive.
With the proper training and determination, someone like that could easily make a lot of money and gain fame. Employment in some noble court with a talent like that was basically assured, even if said person didn't finish a school like this.
"Initiate Daniel Blackwell. Step forward." I'm torn out of my thoughts when I hear my name. I shake my head to clear my mind as I step forward confidently. Placing my hand on the orb as instructed.
`Come on. Come on.` I think while the helix pulsates with a weak light before me. `Come on.` My hopes are confirmed when Brenvar reads out the results of my aptitude test. "Initiate Daniel Blackwell. Two-star potential."
A loud clap rings out through the hall as I smack my hands together triumphantly. "Oh hell yeah." I rub my hands while grinning so much that the corners of my mouth soon hurt. "Underdog shit."
After all, who doesn't like a good underdog story? Well. I do. I love stories where the main character has to punch up. So this was just right for me. Though I wouldn't have minded my talent being one-star either. But this was just fine.
`Looks like I'll have to work twice or three times as hard as everyone else to make a living.` I think. Though I obviously plan to work ten times as hard as anyone else, so I can do what I want to do in this world.
My reaction to my bad potential, of course, once again caused everyone to be confused as hell. Not just Brenvar and the other initiates stare at me while I celebrate. No. Everyone is looking at me in confusion. Murmurs of confusion and concern ripple through the spectators.
Except the headmaster. He seemed just as excited as me. Leaning forward in his chair with a grin that matches my own. So I shoot him a wink and a nod. Which causes him to laugh boisterously.
Before he got up and, with a grand flourish, opened his arms. His youthful voice cut across the hall like it was carried by magic. "Brave initiates. With this, the exam is officially over." His words, however, are more measured than I expected.
I thought he was going to be more out there. But I suppose he is still the headmaster of this school after all. "Now, let's get right to announcing the results. Come. Come. Gather in front of me." Though the words are clearly his own.
They don't seem to follow protocol because when he says that he'll announce the results, people scramble to interject. Mostly the other professors. Though some of the adults in the crowd also complain and throw in their own opinions.
The voices overlap so much that it's impossible to really make out what anyone is saying. Luckily, what they have to say doesn't really matter. Brenvar just does what the headmaster said he should do.
Which leads us to the platform in front of the headmaster. Whose eyes never leave us. Even as others try to get his attention. Speaking and motioning for him to listen to them. But he doesn't.
`Eccentrics are never easy to work with.` I think somewhere in the back of my mind, while we are lined up in front of him by Brenvar.
And then, with a single motion and command from the headmaster, the room falls silent. "Quiet." Everybody is suddenly busy doing something else. Coughing to mask complaints or arguments. Or staring up at the ceiling.
`Ohhh? Nevermind. Apparently, he is like that.` It was a bit surprising just how quickly everyone shut up at his command. Making it clear that he wasn't just a bit stronger and more famous than others here. But a lot.
People of high standing, like nobles, only ever shut up like they are right now when someone socially significantly stronger or more dangerous tells them to. It was almost like he was the king or emperor of this place.
And as such, it seems the final decision-making was left up to him as well. "Now I know that you all did your best for this exam. But this school has high standards for a reason. Not to exclude others but to protect you from harm."
His speech certainly made it seem like we all failed. Though at this point, I felt more sure of my passing than before. He wasn't exactly being subtle about what he wanted. His demeanor. Especially towards me, it was definitely out of the norm based on how others have been acting. And I was quickly proven right.
"So, while I can't admit all of you despite your hard work. There is someone here who has caught my interest. So that person will join this illustrious school." That he looked directly at me while saying this made it pretty obvious who it was going to be, he will admit.
"Daniel Blackwell. Step forward." He announces loudly. Like a gavel striking wood. Everyone stares on in confused shock as I step forward. "Congratulations. From now on, you are officially a student of Oridalis Academy."
But as shocking and baffling as the fact that he let me, of all people, join this school was what came next. "You will join the other first years in the prestige class once school officially starts next week."
"Bruh. Please don't." I wasn't the only one who finally found his voice again. This was what was needed to breathe life back into the room. Things erupt into chaos almost instantly.
Everybody was screaming over each other about how unfair this was. How there was no point in even holding an exam if the headmaster was going to do whatever he wanted anyway.
And while I agree with that. At least partially. I also knew that this is exactly what exams are actually made for. So people can show what they can do. And if one person ends up impressing the person who makes the choice. Then that's what the exam was for.
`If they didn't want him to be the one making the sole choice of who gets in, then they should have made some kind of rule for that.` Is the rational part of my brain speaking. But knowing this doesn't change the fact that I'm not exactly happy with his decision either.
I mean, I am. I'm happy I got into the school. Even though I still don't know if I'll stay because I haven't heard from my parents yet. But more importantly. I do not want to be in the prestige class. Since that would really be the cream of the crop.
The best of the best. And I already know how they would treat me. How they would react to a mere son of a baron family being in their little exclusive club. `I just get this inkling that they might not like me.`
Not that there seemed to be much anyone could do. The headmaster was clearly not listening to anyone. Simply ignoring all the shouting and complaints. Rolling his eyes and letting everyone get it out of their system before putting his foot down and repeating what he said with more authority.
Showing everyone that his decision is final and nothing and no one will change his mind.
And with that, the exam is over. And beginning next week, I'll officially start my student life at Oridalis Academy.