The next day came quickly.
The hall was massive.
That was Ronan's first thought as he stepped into the orientation hall.
Calling this place large would be an understatement, this is downright excessive.
There were rows upon rows of elevated seating that stretched upwards in a semicircle. In the center of it all was a massive stage that could host everything from speeches to elaborate plays.
Massive pillars lined the walls, and students flooded in, filling every seat.
Over 1500 at least.
Ronan turned left and started walking towards the back.
He didn't look for any familiar faces, nor did he approach anyone.
Instead, he moved toward the back of the orientation room and took a seat away from the crowd.
I probably look emo, he thought.
Only then did he start to move his eyes around the student body.
Iris was easy to spot.
Her silver hair stood out, a signature of the Lockhart family. You could tell them from a mile away.
She was chatting with another girl with silver hair, and it didn't take long for Ronan to figure out who that was.
It was her cousin, Freya Lockhart, a branch member of the Lockhart family.
Despite being only a branch member of the family, she rivaled the beautiful Iris Lockhart in both looks and skill. With this, she brought honor to the branch family, and they became recognized.
He couldn't spot anyone else, so he stopped looking.
Ronan leaned back slightly, waiting for the show to start.
The noise died down gradually as the curtains spread apart.
In the middle was a podium, and a man with blonde hair stood in the center. He had an aura that exuded kindness and authority.
"Hello."
He didn't yell, but instantly, every voice in the room came to a stop.
"Some of you may know me, some of you may not. Let me introduce myself. I am Arthur Valon, and I am your student council president."
Instantly, recognition flashed in the students' faces, but not a single one dared to speak.
Because not only was he the student council president, he was also the prince.
Arthur Valon, first in line to inherit the throne.
His golden hair shimmered against the overhead light, his posture relaxed and welcoming. But there was no mistaking the pressure emitting from his body, and every student in the room felt it.
Ronan's eyes narrowed.
So this is the future king.
The man the novel had mentioned multiple times as rotten down to the core.
Arthur smiled. Warm, friendly, approachable.
"First, let me allow you to congratulate all of you," he continued. "You have passed one of the most difficult and competitive entrance exams. That alone is something to be proud of."
Spines straightened in the crowd as everyone paid attention to his words.
"But," Arthur spoke. "As of this moment, none of your past achievements matter anymore. You are no longer nobles, commoners, prodigies, or failures."
He paused.
"You are students of Luminara Academy."
Ronan almost laughed.
That was a lie.
It was a pretty lie, but it was a lie nonetheless.
Arthur continued.
"But that doesn't mean everyone here is equal. No, there is one thing that determines your worth in this Academy."
Arthur raised his hand, and mana gathered.
Four letters appeared.
D, C, B, A, S.
"The Academy is divided into five classes, the lowest being D class and the highest being S class."
A pause.
"Your class determines the amount of resources the Academy will invest into nurturing you. S class will get the best instructor, facilities, and opportunities."
There it was.
Luminara Academy didn't believe in status, instead they relied on a meritocracy.
So the higher class you were in, the better training grounds, teachers, missions, and connections you got.
Arthur lowered his hand.
"But…" He continued. "Your class is not permanent."
Whispers spread.
"You may rise, should you show merit, and you may fall, should you show lack of merit," with a pause, he snapped his fingers, and a diagram made of mana appeared behind him.
He pointed to the diagram.
"This brings me to our second system. Your class rank," Arthur said. "Ranks are evaluated by our professors, and there are countless factors that I can't begin to cover right now that go into your rank."
Arthur stopped smiling, and his expression turned serious.
"And finally…" he started. "Your class rank may reflect your current value, but it does not define you. Do not let it limit you from your potential."
"However, do not expect protection, do not expect fairness. Luminara Academy will not protect you from anyone. If you are weak, you will be stomped on. If you are strong, people will challenge you."
He paused, and his gaze swept over the stands, as if he were addressing every student individually.
"Earn your place."
Then he stepped back.
There was no applause, no grand ending. No pressure, even.
Yet, the entire stadium stayed silent as they thought about the words the future king had told them.
Arthur stepped forward as if nothing had changed.
"Well then, I believe that covers everything."
The tension and unease in the room didn't ease.
"Now…"
He raised his hand.
Once again, mana flowed naturally around it, and a massive board started to appear.
Numbers.
Names.
The characters shifted and sorted in front of everyone's eyes before they finally settled, and everyone instantly knew what they were.
Students leaned forward in their seats.
This was where everything truly began.
"Your class placements," Arthur continued. "It has been decided."