Chapter 9: You Fail!!!
"You guys couldn't have chosen anywhere else to sit? How about NOT NEXT TO ME!"
Keth felt cramped, as on the bench to his left were Riné and Kairi, and on his right were Mime and Holless, sitting in a single row each, enjoying a cold sandwich provided by the school staff while they waited. Keth was the most anxious as he bobbed his knee rapidly Riné slapped his shoulder attempting to comfort him unsuccessfully.
"Um-er don't worry about it too much you're gonna get in for sure!"
Riné awkwardly raised his voice truly believing that Keth was going to get accepted but he was unaware of how to help his nerves as he kept slapping his shoulder as Keth simply shrugged over depressed.
"Yeah, right compared to you monsters I'm just a nobody… You're sure to get in along with Holless and Mime!"
Mime was shocked that he was considered an auto-admit, but, considering he was on the same level as the Prince Niccoló, he would say his chances were high. Holless on the other hand.
"I don't need to worry I'm a special admission."
His monotone demeanor when revealing an important fact to the others had a great effect. Only four ranks had the right to assign a special admission to the institutions of the Daelk. The Daemon, Principal of Education, Headmasters, and Student President. Very rarely given and a prestigious title for those of special status, it was given out improperly and was a cause of controversy.
"Huh? HUH!"
Keth jumped out of his chair as he was astonished that Holless was a special admission in the flesh before Riné interjected tilting his head.
"You too?"
This time however everyone fell out of the bench including Holless who Mime took down with him as he fell. The fact that a special admissions like Holless was sitting with them was astounding enough but a second? The two's abilities were far beyond their peers and their backgrounds were unknown if they had learnt there was a third in the exam they would have fainted from shock.
"Oh that makes more sense why you're here-"
Riné jumped forward to cover Holless's mouth giving him a small glare. The confused Holless remembered their promise as he stopped attempting to speak just nodding.
Kairi however butted in as he asked with a stutter as he gulped nervously. The topic of special admission was an impactful one as the other wanted to know as well. Mime turned his gaze anticipating an answer, Keth held his eyes wide open, and Holless observed Riné's expression.
"How'd you get it?"
Upon hearing this question Riné tensed up however before he could open his mouth the noise of the speaker interjected with a loud feedback reverberating through the locker. The tension alleviated as Riné relaxed for a second as he stood up nodding with a calm smile attempting to play off the question.
"That's personal."
'Sooner or later I'd have to make an excuse since my status would become public knowledge however to say I knew who gave me their special admission is an unknown. They didn't give me the luxury of knowing more than the bare minimum.'
Recalling the day when the Kapsuet Intelligence Officer kicked his tent open to hand him papers, travel tickets, and a slip of self-destructive paper with orders on them reading
-Attend the decadent Sophia Academy as a model student.-
He was sent off the next day with only a single trip back to an empty home to retrieve belongings that were never his in the first place. Nothing was to begin with for a long time.
The others were unable to come up with words as the announcer came up to cut their rest as the conversation was cut short they returned to the file with the other examinees.
Back in the arena where they had just fought stood a wooden platform with familiar figures from the school. At the center, the pink-haired announcer spoke onto the mic she held with enthusiasm traveling to both the examinees and students in the stands observing.
"After concluding with the evaluators and briefing with them we have come to a conclusion on the results and in addition we shall have a word from the important figures at Sophis!"
Stepping out was an elderly lady in hand being guided by a blindfolded attendant, the Headmaster of Sophis Academy. Waving her hand greeting the examinees some began to whisper in reverence. The attendant pulled a chair as the old lady sat down.
Following the pair was a red-haired professor, Mr Platt who at this point from the stress of watching his hard work get torn apart had lost feeling in his heart as he wobbled onto the stage pale in the face muttering weird utterances over the work he put in.
"Three nights..three nights for this…"
The announcer and chairwoman ignored Mr Platt as he stood next to them as the final figures appeared.
"Whoa! It's the student council!"
Stepping through were the two previously in the stands watching the grey-haired student council president and his companion wearing a vibrant neon green hair color as an attendant to the side of the president. The two seemed close as many gossiped in the stands.
"The student council president is at the entrance ceremony? I guess they're really giving that noble the red carpet treatment."
"You think the rumors are true about him and Gizelle dating?"
"No obviously not!, They're both men he's just a delinquent who the student council has placed to prevent his expelling from fighting with others."
Mime, Keth, and Kairi turned their head overhearing this.
"Wait. That's a guy?!"
Mime exclaimed as others around turned their head he began to get flustered before shutting his mouth. It seems even his shamelessness had met his march as public attention was his bane.
'I guess the city does have a lot of unique individuals…!"
Kairi turned his gaze to Riné before the two met as Kairi turned away first. The other was confused about what they meant but Kairi hadn't seen this many 'stunning' people before. The fact that the only stunning people he had seen so far were men caused him to slap his face to regain clarity.
'I'm sure the Selene Academy has a lot of good lookers as well, I'm sure!'
Seeing that Kairi had a concerned expression believing it was over nervousness Riné turned his hand to place on Kairi's shoulder as Riné turned deeply with a smile reminiscent of summer and the brightness of the sun and warmth toward Kairi as he opened his mouth with a supportive tone.
"You'll get in without a doubt."
Kairi was left wordless as he became red in the face. Riné quickly turned his attention to the stage after giving his new friend some words of encouragement. Kairi though took a while to refocus as his heart skipped a beat.
'Riné's better than that Gizelle.'
Keth standing next to Kairi feeling his heart beating through his chest for a different reason than Kairi over the results noticed Kairi's ears turning red before laughing. Kairi turned to see Keth laughing before he elbowed slightly in annoyance as the two began bickering with their hands hitting each other discreetly all while Mime and Holless watched in shame with blank expressions.
'Is it a great idea to start slap battling before the results come out…'
Riné however did not focus on the argument as he saw from the corner of his eye something that intrigued him. A middle-aged man with bandages is walking toward the stage.
'The instructor?'
Instructor Kenn was approaching the stage as the headmaster began to speak the mana seemed to freeze in place in the air around the examinee and spectators. The headmaster although late in her years and having wrinkles did not seem to waver in her vitality as her wisdom appeared present in her attire of magenta. The shifting constellations became brighter as they flew out from the Riné's into the sky as the natural sunlight dimmed as day became obscured by night.
"Sky Magic: Night Field."
Riné was taken aback by this level of magic as the applause from the examinees and students spectating praised the headmaster's magic ability.
'To something on this level would be near the level of an Adjudicant. The level before Emperoralis. She's a monster. Master said that Adjudicants are peerless like kings before the Emperoralis realm who are demi-gods of themselves.'
Riné internally held the headmaster in high esteem as the constellations of stars unique from their own formation in this world became words as the headmaster cleared her throat.
"Now I will announce the beginning of the acceptance list."
A simple sentence carried unbearable weight for the examinees as their lips cracked from dryness, their hearts heavier than iron, and sweat dripped from their palms.
"Honor Program admitted students will be announced first."
The Prince stood next to those from his side of the examination group and the turquoise-pink mute examinee he had befriended as they stood in silence. The silence was ever-consuming as no one uttered a word in waiting.
"Niccoló de' Antioquia"
The prince simply nodded his brilliance unmatched compared to those around him. The examinees from his group clapped for him as the prince shook his head, having the clapping stop to come off as polite to the others.
"Expected."
The headmaster continued without a change in pitch or energy remaining monotone.
"Mime Valle."
Mime felt his heart jump out of his chest as he lifted his fist in excitement, and his breathing went out of control with his grin.
'Damn right!
"Holless of the Sight, Camden Lum"
Holless and the mute examinee nodded their heads not very amused, but rather feeling it was an assured title for their performance.
By this point Keth and Kairi felt concerned, having honors meant that Sophis would devote resources towards one mage path but this meant competition was high, and comparing themselves to Holless, Riné, and Mime made them feel weak in comparison.
"Riné."
The headmaster called toward Riné as the two eyes met Riné felt pressured however he wasn't one to back down to someone of this level even at high strength because they looked at him. It was certain to Riné that he would get honors since his performance was excellent and potential displayed in his battle against the instructor with battle intelligence and mana utilization at an advanced level making him a valuable talent in the honors program.
'Alright, that should fulfill the mission's criteria as an honor student.'
The headmaster did not call any more names as she ended her speech.
"That is the end of the names for the honor program and now for those who have regular admittance."
Hearing that made Kairi and Keth's hearts drop. They worked hard but in the end, it wasn't enough to place them into the program it was disheartening but they knew it was because of ineptitude compared to the others around them whose talent and skill outmatched them. Kairi and Keth determined themselves and stilled their hearts, waiting for the list to be read out.
"Wait!"
Kenn stumbled onto the stage with a bandage on his nose as he looked disheveled. His face was red in anger as he became the center of attention cutting off the administrator.
"What is the meaning of this Kenneth?"
The headmaster wasn't delighted at this interruption as she used his full name without a title or address to pressure him to silence.
"Those two Riné and Mime…"
Kenn slurred on his words like a drunk man who had gone on a drinking spree all night as he continued.
"You fail!!!"