The lecture hall had descended into an unexpected silence. Makoto stole a glance over his shoulder, only to find Rin, unable to contain himself, and began to bursting a laugh
"S–Sor…ry… I–I just—" His words were mixed with Rin's hysterical laughter.
"Damn you! You knew this all along, didn't you!?" Makoto shot back, frustration showing in his tone.
Rin covered his mouth, yet still laughing.
"My bad, everyone… We must've walked in at a terrible moment…"he declared loudly enough for the entire room to hear.
The lecture hall was enormous, more like a grand university auditorium than a mere classroom. Each seat was a plush expanse of upholstered leather, with the desk in front of them. The seats were arranged in three sections—left, center, and right. Arranged in descending steps to the back, ensuring that every student was able to see the stage.
Makoto walked toward the far-left seats, his cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Rin followed him, whistling like nothing had happened.
Makoto grumbled, "Hey… where are we supposed to sit?"
"Prolly by class," Rin replied, then went over to the girl seated in front of them.
"Excuse me miss, what class are you in?"
The girl turned around. "It's class 1-A." she answered.
Rin returned and pointed behind him. "This section's for 1-A. What about you?"
"Yeah, I'm 1-A. See ya around." Makoto said with a smirk, quickly heading toward the seat,
until Rin's hand clamped onto his shoulder.
"What a coincidence! We're in the same class."
Makoto let out a sigh. "Wish I could be with Rena…"
While they were searching for seats, Makoto's eyes caught a familiar figure—a blond young man sitting alone in the center section, maintaining an elegant posture that made him instantly recognizable.
"Ardent!?"
The blond boy turned, looking surprised. "Oh? You're in Class 1-A as well?"
"Yeah, I'm Makoto Kurosawa. Thanks again for helping me out with my gear that time."
Ardent smiled gently. "Ah, Makoto… it's no trouble at all." He pulled out the chair next to him. "If you don't mind, you can sit with me."
Rin's loud voice interrupted. "Whoa whoa whoa—since when were you two met?"
"Huh? Why? You know him?" Makoto asked.
Rin sighed. "You really don't know anything, do you…"
"Ardent Valeor, If I remember it correctly, you're a noble family right?"
"And the fourth generation too, right?" Rin added, pointing at Ardent.
Ardent blinked in astonishment. "Oh? You know quite a lot about me."
"Don't get it wrong. though I don't bother remembering the names of these handsome guys, but your family's way too famous to let it slide." Rin said with a little excitement in his tone.
Ardent chuckled. "Then please, take a seat as well… Uh…"
"Rin. Rin Alderian. remember it, pretty face."
Makoto frowned. "If you know his name, why don't you just call him by it?"
Rin shook his head. "Sorry, I'm pretty bad with names, Mako."
"HEY!! Since when am I 'Mako'!?"
"Your name's too long, so why not shorten it?" Rin replied bluntly.
Makoto groaned. "Not only are you causing a terrible scene, you're also giving me a headache…"
Before he could finish his complaint, a heavy thud resonated throughout the hall, so powerful that everyone fell silent immediately.
Three students entered with uniforms from the main entrance.
Following them was a middle-aged man dressed in a pitch-black suit. His dark hair tinged with white, and his face was full with deep scars. The visible marks seemed to come from countless battles with blades. He stepped onto the stage, arms crossed behind his back.
"Most of you already know who I am, but I'll introduce myself again. Ethan Weiser, Director of this academy."
A smattering of applause filled the hall.
"I welcome each of you to Eleusis Arcania, the Arcane Academy. From our rigorous selection process, only sixty apprentice mages were chosen from across the globe. You are the foundation of a new era."
Makoto leaned toward Ardent and whispered, "Hey… why did you talk to me back then?"
The Director kept speaking as Ardent answered softly "…Because you reminded me of myself."
"Huh? How so?" Makoto asked wonderingly.
"Well… I know very well what it feels like to be in such a desperate situation." Ardent said gently.
"To feel lost, anxious, not knowing what to do next."
Makoto stared at him. "Dude, you sound like the main character of an anime."
"…Excuse me?"
"Nothing—just talking to myself," Makoto dismissed casually.
"Oh, right, how did you know I was trying to manifest a gear?"
Ardent tilted his head. "Hmm… your mana appeared unusual."
"Unusual?"
"Normally, mana is clear or takes on the shape of the spell being cast." "But yours had some sort of… combination."
"Combination…?"
"There was gray and white blended together. If it wasn't Flux, then it must have been the gear-creation process."
Makoto frozed. "Flux?"
"How did you manage to do it, though? a dual-colored mana?"
"Sorry… I honestly don't know myself."
"No worries," Ardent smiled. "Makoto, seems like you're naturally gifted for magic."
Makoto shook his head. "Not really. I can't even cast standard spells."
"What…? You're joking right?"
SMACK
A hand landed on both of their heads before they realized it.
A man stood between them.
"That's enough," he said coldly. "No more pointless talking."
"Leave the lecture hall and proceed to your classroom." The man who seemed to be a professor shouted at them.
Ardent jumped to his feet. "My apologies, sir," he said, bowing before walking out.
Makoto remained still. (He just appeared out of nowhere!? What the hell… ) (And what exactly is Flux supposed to be…!?)
"You," the instructor barked. "Pretty-boy already left. Are you planning to sit there forever?
"S-Sorry! I was just—"
"One more second of hesitation and I'll throw you out myself. Move."
Makoto hurried out of the room. Ardent and Rin were waiting for him.
Ardent bowed slightly. "My apologies, Makoto. It's all my fault…"
Makoto smiled weakly. "Nah, this is all Rin's fault."
Rin scowled, jabbing a finger at him. "Bro if you hadn't started talking, we'd be fine now!"
Ardent laughed. "Alright, alright stop fighting guys. Let's just go to our class."
"HEY! You still haven't listened to me!"
"You've known us for one day and you're already this annoying" Makoto shot back.
The academy director looked at the trio with a proud smile. The professor who had kicked Makoto's group out of the hall was also watching them, but with a worried expression on his face.
"Makoto Kurosawa…. sir, are you sure this is a good idea to let him be around here?"
The director nodded in response.
The trio followed the crowd through long hallways. Finally they arrived at Class 1-A, alongside that they selected their seats. Rin chose to sit on the far left side in the back of the class, with Ardent on the far right side, followed by Makoto.
Then the professor entered the class, his eyes were cold and full of boredom.
"Apathel Vale, That's my name."
"To avoid wasting time…., I will not be teaching you anything"
Every student was shocked in disbelief. Makoto turned to Rin and Ardent, but they were not nervous at all
"To be honest. I don't want to teach the weaklings. Even though there's a selection test, the standards here are still too low for me, Therefore the second test will be held."
The whole class panicked like a herd of stampeding animals, the atmosphere's tension tensed before the professor began to speak again.
"You see that sandy field, be there at 1pm."
The room went silent. The professor turned around and left the room, then the class started to get louder.
"What the actual fu#k?! I just got in here?!"
"Is he insane or something!?"
"If I get kicked out now, I'm dead!!"
Makoto looked at Ardent and Rin. "He's joking, isn't he…?"
"Well, I doubt he—" Ardent was about to respond, but then Rin cut in.
"He isn't joking. If we fail, we're doomed."
Makoto frowned, disbelief etched on his face. "How do you even know!?"
Rin smiled before bursting into laughter. "Apathel Vale is the strictest professor in first year. I heard that last year he expelled half of the students in class 1-A."
Rin immediately frowned. "Besides, he was my exam proctor. I almost didn't make it!"
Makoto clutched his head. "Ah, I understand…but you didn't seem worried at all when you heard about it."
"I've faced him before. The cruelty of that guy…"
Ardent smiled. "But we have to pass the test anyway."
Rin clasped his hands together. "That's right, pretty face! So let's go eat a grub!!"
No one responded, but Ardent stood up suddenly. "Sorry, Rin…"
Rin quickly spoke up. "Why? Do you have a date with a girl??"
"No…but I think I need to get myself ready." Ardent waved goodbye and walked out of the room.
"Hey…wait!" Rin tried to follow, but Ardent was already left.
Rin sighed before turning to Makoto. "Okay, Makoto, then I'll take you to the-"
"Sorry, Rin, I have to meet someone this noon."
"Huh? How can that be? A bland guy like you?!"
"Yes, yes, gotta go" he quickly walked out of the room before returning to the hallway.
The corridor of the building felt unusually quiet now that classes were in session. Only the echoing footsteps of Makoto filled the long hallway as he walked, grumbling to himself, his expression heavy with worry.
("I'm such an idiot… I should have let rin take me to the canteen first.")
("Now I don't even know where to go…")
But before he could think any further, a soft, familiar voice called his name from behind. "Makoto!!"
He turned around and saw a girl with familiar black hair.
"Reina!!" He smiled and hurried toward her.
Reina waved cheerfully. "Makoto!"
"Where's the cafeteria?" Makoto shouted with confusion while Reina rushed towards him.
Two of them walked together down the long corridor until they reached a vast hall with a high ceiling adorned with carved wooden beams. Faint magical patterns glowed across them like stars in the night sky. Large windows lined the walls on both sides, allowing a clear view of the outside.
Rows of wooden tables were neatly arranged across the hall. Some were occupied by students chatting or reading, while in one corner, a long food counter displayed fresh bread, roasted meat, and steaming soups.
Reina looked at Makoto and smiled. "Well then, let's go get some grubs!"
"I just remembered… Velmira still hasn't sent me money yet."
She tilted her head. "Eh...? She said she had sent it ages ago."
Then she let out a small laugh. "But it's fine! I'll treat you today, but there's a condition."
"A condition?" he repeated.
"I'll be the one choosing your order!"
"Sure. Then I'll go find us a seat first."
She froze, looking taken aback. "You're… not surprised at all?"
"I'm not a picky guy. So feel free to order whatever you want."
He walked to a seat by the window, where the outside view was clear before him—he noticed a massive dome standing tall. The huge spherical structure was built of silver-white metal, its top opened to reveal a green field inside.
Before he could examine it further, a thunk sounded in front of him. Reina had placed the tray down. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm meat rose instantly as she smiled and sat across from him. Two sets of utensils were neatly lined up beside each tray.
"What's wrong?" Reina asked.
Makoto clasped his hands together. "My teacher just scheduled a second test…"
"A second test?" she replied with surprise.
"I don't even know what he means. But he said if we fail, we'll get expelled."
Reina touched her chin thoughtfully before replying. "He's probably just trying to motivate everyone."
"But he sounded serious though…"
"Don't worry. I'm sure he's satisfied enough that you can control your magic."
Makoto shook his head. "Isn't that supposed to be basic?"
"Believe me, Makoto. You'll be fine!"
He sighed, picking up his spoon and fork. "Thanks, Reina... but I feel like this is as far as I go..."
"Nope. You will get through this." "Have a little faith in our special training!"
After finishing lunch with Reina, Makoto returned to the classroom. Voices of students filled the air, along with Rin and Ardent chatting together.
Rin waved. "Right on time~"
Before anyone could say more, a stern voice of Professor Apathel rang out from the front. "Follow me. I'll take you to the examination room."
The students' footsteps reverberated through the hall.
Makoto looked uneasy. "This is so stressful..." "You two aren't nervous at all?"
Ardent asked with confidence. "I'm quite sure of my abilities," he replied.
Rin shrugged. "I'm not scared of anything, just letting you know."
Makoto sighed. "You guys really are something else..."
Rin leaned in with a sly grin. "By the way, where have you gone for so long? Went on a date with a girl, hmm~?"
"Shut up. I was preparing for the test, obviously."
A loud clap rang out, silencing everyone. Professor Apathel strode to a massive metal door with a golden sign engraved above it.
"Alright. Whoever's ready, step forward."
A purple-haired boy stepped out confidently. "I'll go first!"
The door slid open, but the room was just empty.
The professor turned to them. "Come with me. The rest of you, prepare yourselves."
The purple-haired boy laughed, excitement shining in his eyes mixed with a touch of arrogance, as if he already believed he would pass the test.
"Understood!" he said and hurried after the professor into the room.