Chapter 5
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Episode 1 - Holy Academy [5]
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Director Bernice Ludwing looked at her assistant's report with an expression filled with mixed emotions.
"A dark attribute has appeared in Saint Academy."
"That's correct, Director."
"Mhm."
Director Bernice read the results of the cadet who had obtained first place in both the first and second evaluations.
Of course, the third evaluation did not have a first place or a ranking.
It only revealed the attribute in order to determine who would be admitted into the academy and who would not.
At that moment, Bernice's pupils inverted for a few seconds.
Bernice was not human; she belonged to the race of the Great Ancients, descendants of the Primordial Dragon.
Naturally, she had known both the First Saint and the Third Saint centuries ago.
"We should expel him, Director."
Director Bernice shook her head.
"You know that I respect the First Saint and the Third Saint, don't you?"
"Yes."
"The First Saint founded this academy so that everyone, regardless of where they came from or what kind of life they had lived, could enter."
The assistant nodded.
"And the Third Saint was the one who changed the laws so everyone could live equally and peacefully, correct?"
The assistant nodded once again. Then Bernice said:
"Then why are you saying he should be expelled?"
"Because there has never been a dark attribute user admitted into the academy before."
"And is that supposed to be a problem?"
The assistant fell silent. At that moment, Director Bernice continued:
"If you already know the answer, then why ask? But if you distrust a dark attribute user that much, I'll give you permission to keep him under surveillance."
Although Director Bernice followed the rules established by the First Saint and the Third Saint, it was undeniable that dark attribute users tended to become villains.
Nearly 90% of them ended up on the side of evil, while the remaining 10% simply hid themselves away.
"Understood, Director."
The assistant left the office. Meanwhile, Bernice looked at the report once more.
'A blind swordsman with a dark attribute… what a strange combination. It's as if this child's fate is doomed to be hated.'
Director Bernice sighed and murmured:
"Perhaps he will be different… and the Third Saint's dream will finally come true."
***
The Holy Academy was divided into different Parliaments.
Each Parliament had a letter and a number. For example, the buildings used during the opening ceremony for new cadets.
The A Parliament buildings were facilities for training, combat, evaluations, infirmary services, and tournaments.
There were nine buildings in total.
The B Parliament corresponded to the academic buildings where classes were taught. There were also nine of them: three for first-year students, three for second-years, and three for third-years.
The C Parliament was designated for the dormitories. These only had five numbers.
And finally, the D Parliament was a city with everything necessary: shops, markets, and more. This was the only one with a single number, remaining as D-1.
'Since I ranked first in both the exam and the individual combat test, my room is in building C-1.'
Lumina and I ended up tied in the written exam, just as expected.
As I searched for my room number, I thought for a moment:
'Classes start tomorrow.'
The opening ceremony lasted almost the entire day, so there was not enough time to begin classes.
Eventually, I found my room number. I inserted the key and opened the door.
It was a little difficult to find because, due to my completely black vision, it was hard for me to distinguish the numbers.
Upon entering, the interior looked like a small house with every comfort. However, there was an extra door.
'That must be the exclusive training room for the top ten students.'
I needed to fully adapt to using my Traits and handling the sword.
Honestly, after my first fight, I felt uncomfortable.
Even though wielding the sword felt as if I already knew how to use it, it still felt strange.
'And that's what I'll spend the rest of the day training for, besides…'
Thinking about Adel's story, since the game had not been updated yet, I was not sure whether his past truly existed in this world.
Maybe I had simply appeared out of nowhere at that inn, and nobody questioned anything, as if they had already seen me enter before.
As if everything had been configured.
Or perhaps Adel's story really does exist.
'Well, I have the Traits Immunity to Pain and Without Emotions… the story I wrote for Adel probably does exist.'
I then decided to take a bath and go train, although in reality, I was only following my instincts with the sword.
After all, according to the story I wrote for him, Adel learned how to use it from a veteran mercenary.
'But Mercenary Fencing only follows basic concepts. Eventually, I'll reach my limit with it.'
With a sigh, I took a bath and spent the rest of the day training. Then, the first day of classes arrived.
***
As I walked down the hallway, searching for classroom B-1 on the first floor, I noticed that everyone was looking at me with different emotions.
'Looks like the rumor already spread.'
Even though this was the Holy Academy, equality was supposed to exist, but…
This place is full of nobles who look down on commoners, and even more so on someone with the Dark attribute.
Naturally, among nobles, gossip used to belittle others spreads absurdly fast.
'Well, at the same time, their reactions are pretty interesting. As the creator of a game that never had a scene like this, it's… curious.'
After a while of listening to the whispers of those annoying brats, I finally found classroom B-1.
On the way, unfortunately, I ran into the person I least wanted to be near.
When Clementine saw me heading toward the classroom, she fixed her gaze on my bandages (eyes). Her expression showed clear disappointment.
'I've been thinking about it… shouldn't she feel disgust instead of disappointment? What exactly changed?'
I probably caught her attention because I was the top student of the first year despite being blind.
And she's the kind of person who is drawn to things that are special or interesting.
That would be the obvious explanation. But, most likely, because of my Dark attribute, she now looked at me with disappointment and lost interest.
'But she knows I'm ranked first.'
Maybe that's why she doesn't show disgust, since she doesn't place too much importance on attributes.
In any case, I walked past her and headed straight into the classroom.
When I entered, several cadets were already talking among themselves.
As soon as I walked in, the atmosphere shifted into silence, followed by whispers.
"It's the blind guy with the Dark attribute."
"Tsk, if he hadn't placed first in both evaluations, he'd probably belong in classroom B-3."
"He actually came to class… I thought he'd run away."
"Well, I thought the director would expel him, since there has never been someone with a Dark attribute in the Holy Academy."
That first comment was unnecessary.
I simply ignored their words and went to a corner far away from everyone else.
'Well, this body doesn't feel emotions, so honestly, their words don't affect me.'
Once I found a seat in a corner, I looked toward the front, toward the podium where the classes would be taught.
I didn't know what the first class would be.
Since I can't see flat things like letters, I couldn't read the schedule.
I knew classes started at eight, so I tried to arrive early, but I ended up getting there right on time.
'I have trouble with these basic things. Even though I can see as if everything were a black sketch, I can't perceive anything beyond that.'
Still, with the help of my senses and Mana Sense, I could easily perceive both physical objects and living beings.
That made my life a little easier.
On the other hand, anything related to texts, signs, and places I've never been to becomes complicated.
'That last one is manageable, but text is impossible for me to see.'
After a few more minutes of waiting, all the cadets took their seats, and finally, the professor entered the classroom.
The moment I heard her voice, I immediately knew what class it would be.
"Today is the first day of classes, so we'll only be covering theory: the basic law of attributes and their use in different specialties, as well as their affinities."
Of course, the first class was Mana Theory.
The professor, along with her assistant, wrote their names on the board.
"I am Evangelina Elizon, the Mana Theory professor."
Then she turned toward her assistant and said:
"She is my assistant, Scarlett. Even though she is a commoner, she is still my assistant, so watch yourselves, nobles. Understood?"
Some of them, who were probably nobles, looked at the assistant before reluctantly nodding or shaking their heads.
Next, Professor Evangelina asked a simple question:
"Very well, let's begin. First question: what are attributes used for?"
Someone raised a hand. Due to my vision, I wasn't sure who it was, but after hearing the person's heartbeat and breathing, I figured it out easily.
"Yes, Princess Clana."
After raising her hand, Clana began to explain:
"Attributes are what give mana its form and function. Without an attribute, mana cannot be used outside the body, which represents a disadvantage since it limits what a user can do with it."
"Correct. Next question: what are the existing attributes?"
This time, it was Clementine who raised her hand.
"The elemental attributes are: Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Ice, Wood, and Metal. The rare attributes are Lunar, Void, Blood, Solar, and Stellar. The unique ones are Light and... Dark."
For some reason, she paused briefly before mentioning the dark attribute, deliberately leaving it for the end.
Naturally, everyone looked at me, including the professor and her assistant.
"Correct. So then, how do they function in different specialties?"
As expected, the first day of classes was exactly how I had imagined it.
'Phew... I have to get used to this new life.'