Thanks to my mother's relentless insistence that I stop "acting like an overworked old man" and leave the house on time for once, I arrived at the academy well before the ceremony was scheduled to begin, avoiding what would have otherwise become a very embarrassing situation where the headmaster himself arrived late on the first official day.
The academy grounds were far livelier than they had been during construction.
Students had already begun gathering across the central plaza and auditorium areas in organized groups, some clearly excited, others attempting to appear calm despite the obvious anticipation in their expressions, while staff members guided them toward their assigned seating sections with practiced efficiency.
This was the first official batch of Pokémon Academy students.
The beginning of something entirely new.
Many of them already knew one another from the entrance examination, and the atmosphere reflected that familiarity, as conversations moved rapidly through the crowd, discussions ranging from rankings and battle experiences to rumors about professors, dormitories, and possible academy rules.
By the time I stepped onto the stage, most of the students had settled into place, though a low hum of conversation still lingered across the crowd.
I glanced over them briefly before activating the microphone.
"Hello everyone," I began calmly, my voice carrying clearly across the grounds as the remaining conversations gradually quieted, "and welcome to the Pokémon Academy."
The attention of the students sharpened almost immediately.
"Don't worry," I continued, allowing the faintest trace of amusement into my tone, "I won't give you a boring speech. Trust me, just a few months ago I was the one sitting where you are right now, dreading long-winded opening ceremonies and pretending to pay attention."
A wave of laughter spread through the students, instantly easing part of the tension that had built up before the ceremony.
Good.
Relaxed students listened better.
"Now that all of you are officially here," I said after allowing the reaction to settle naturally, "we'll begin by discussing the structure of the academy itself, because unlike traditional institutions, this place was not built simply to hand you information and send you away with certificates."
The atmosphere shifted slightly, becoming more focused.
"The Pokémon Academy will operate as a three-year course divided into six semesters," I explained, the screens behind me displaying a structured breakdown as I spoke. "Your first semester will be primarily theoretical, because regardless of talent, no trainer can progress properly without understanding the fundamentals that support this world."
Several students straightened slightly at that, some already realizing that this would not simply be nonstop battles and fieldwork.
"Semesters two through four," I continued, "will gradually transition into a balance between theory and practical experience. During this period, you will begin supervised exploration, structured combat exercises, survival training, Pokémon handling, environmental adaptation, and coordinated field missions under professor oversight."
The screens shifted again, showing examples of training zones and controlled exploration regions.
"By the final two semesters," I said, "you will be expected to operate in genuinely dangerous environments, including high-difficulty regions, unstable territories, and special locations that may appear in the future."
That immediately triggered reactions across the crowd, conversations breaking out despite attempts to stay quiet, because every student present understood what "special locations" implied after the merge.
Ruins.
Spatial zones.
Possibly legendary territories.
I allowed the noise to continue for a few seconds before raising a hand slightly.
"Alright," I said calmly, though the microphone carried enough authority to settle the crowd quickly, "quiet down. That phase is still far away for most of you, and many of you won't survive your early semesters if you start fantasizing about legendary ruins already."
That earned another wave of laughter, though this one carried a slightly nervous undertone.
"Now," I continued once the atmosphere settled again, "let's discuss something far more important from a student perspective."
That regained everyone's complete attention instantly.
"Resources."
This time no one interrupted.
"Pokémon growth requires materials, medicine, specialized food, training equipment, and in some cases rare evolution resources. The academy will provide basic support, but the majority of advanced resources will not be purchased using ordinary currency while you are enrolled here."
That created visible confusion among many students.
Instead of explaining immediately, I allowed the tension to build slightly before continuing.
"What you will use instead," I said, "are Academy Points."
The screen behind me shifted again, displaying a detailed point interface structure.
"These points will be earned primarily through missions assigned and regulated by the academy itself. Completing tasks, assisting departments, participating in research, exploration, field support, and practical operations will all contribute toward your Academy Point total."
The confusion began transforming into curiosity.
"For first-year students," I continued, "missions will remain relatively safe and controlled. You will not simply be thrown into dangerous territories without preparation. Every task will require strength assessment approval from a supervising teacher before participation is authorized."
That eased some of the earlier tension.
"Most early missions," I explained, "will involve collection requests, environmental surveys, support assignments, and supervised exploration of friendly or cooperative zones that maintain agreements with the academy."
Several students immediately began whispering among themselves again, likely already thinking ahead toward potential exploration opportunities.
"You may also use these missions as opportunities to expand your team," I added. "If you possess an open slot, you will be permitted to capture and bond with additional Pokémon during authorized assignments, provided the circumstances meet academy regulations."
That statement caused a noticeably stronger reaction than before.
Excitement spread rapidly across the crowd, especially among those currently limited to only one or two partners.
Then I moved to the final announcement.
"And finally," I said, allowing my gaze to sweep across the gathered students once more, "there is one additional policy unique to academy students."
The atmosphere sharpened immediately.
"As officially registered students of the Pokémon Academy, you are permitted to possess one additional Pokémon beyond the normal civilian limit."
Now the reactions truly exploded.
"Meaning," I continued over the rising noise, "while enrolled here, your team capacity increases to three Pokémon."
The crowd erupted into excited discussion almost instantly, because for most young trainers, the limitation on active Pokémon ownership had been one of the greatest restrictions since the merge began, and this single policy dramatically expanded both opportunity and future potential.
I allowed the excitement to continue for a few moments before looking over the gathered students once more.
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