The Entrance Ceremony

I was going to school on the carriage, on the bumpy road which shook the carriage every second.

As I watched buildings change from area to area, I could see more people finally coming out on the streets doing their activities. Those with the same uniform I wore, so this meant they are technically my schoolmates.

By the time I arrived at my destination, I saw an amusing sight. The boy was getting beaten up by others. The reason was still unknown to me, but judging by the looks on the attackers' faces, they clearly were smiling, mocking the helpless boy.

'He has a light-red stage mana core…' I inspected the boy's core and it was superior to those three, so why?

"*Knock* Drop me off here, I'll go myself now." After informing the driver, I got out of the carriage and finally stepped for the first time on these grounds.

"Fresh air is always relaxing." After taking a deep breath, I began approaching those boys. Internally thinking how idiotic they might be to assault student at this academy right in front of the gate.

Unintentionally, I met with the pleading eyes of the bullied boy. It was a pitiful sight, but well, pacifist people sometimes tend to just give up, not even trying. In his eyes, I could not see any urge to harm other beings, it was just clear… the boy was just a harmless bright soul.

"Excuse me, do you know where the closest hospital is?" I called out for them. They shifted their attention towards me, also stopping kicking the boy.

"You see there is a heavily injured person."

"Huh? Go away, this dog can still go for a few more rounds." The one who seemed to be the leader of the group, rudely dismissed me and returned to his doing.

'What an arrogant little bastard…' subconsciously a tick mark emerged on my forehead.

"Oh, you think I'm talking about him?" I began closing the distance between me and the boy, he let out the scoff.

"I don't care, get the f*ck away," he again tried to dismiss me, as an act of intimidation, he even stomped on the boy's head.

"I'm talking about you." When I was close enough to him, I pressed on the back of his head, forcing the boy to lower his head.

Then by grabbing his long orange hair and pulling it down, I made him face the sky. There his eyes met with my flaming fingers.

"Ahh! What are you doing?!" he cried out, instantly closing his eyes and pulling his hands up, scared of me injuring him.

"Hey!" the other two lackeys shouted at me. Seriously, the other two weren't even mages…

"Where is the closest hospital? I'm repeating a question for the last time..." I spoke to him.

With his hands, he tried to break free, but instead of pulling his hair even harder, I smashed his head on the concrete.

"You two take him to the hospital." I commanded the lackeys of the boy.

"You just committed a crime against a noble house!" No shit Sherlock would be what I want to tell him, but technically we are both at fault.

The two of them took the unconscious leader and ran away. They entered the academy, so I presume there is a hospital wing.

"Hey there buddy, do you have any broken bones?" I asked the bullied boy, visibly he had no injuries aside from a few bruises.

"..." the bullied boy kept silent, I stared at him for half a minute… was he afraid to speak up?

"Okay, get up. I'll take you to the hospital wing." Putting his hand over my shoulders, I picked him up.

"W-Why did you… h-help me?" Unusually stuttering, the boy questioned me. I raised an eyebrow.

"You seemed to need it." I answered as we walked towards the hospital wing.

"Y-You might get into trouble," again while stuttering, seriously I don't understand what's with him.

"I still haven't asked for your name."

"Aidan…" he answered quietly, I barely heard him.

'No last name huh?' I think I get the gist of the whole image. Definitely, this person is sponsored by the noble and got into this academy out of talent, unlike those nobles.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Aidan. I'm Valnyk Aurae." Seeing his next reaction, I chuckled. His eyes wide and disbelief on his face was a sight to see.

"I'm not biting alright. I'm offended, you compare me to those snorty nobles?" ridiculously I let out fake tears, his expression got even more terrified.

"I-I'm s-so-s-sorry." he squeaked, now this does worry me.

'What life did he live?' I wondered while walking towards the academy.

I hope to find a hospital wing before the entrance ceremony begins. Surely, if I run we'll be good.

"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry." Literally pulling his whole body over my shoulder, I ran.

"Ah?!"

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Entrance Ceremony.

Frankly, I didn't like it, nor did any other student of this damn militaristic and educational facility.

Mostly those types of ceremonies are just made out of formality, to greet the new students. The presence of the high graders wasn't even necessary, so they just left for their dorms.

About the dormitories.

The girls and boys are both separated in different buildings, but there is a catch.

The boys in groups of 8 have to sleep in one room. Literally, no sense of privacy exists in this academy, then again there are group showers and other things. Seriously, this is just like the military.

Although I'm familiar with sleeping on the rock-hard bed, I don't want to sleep on it for the 3 years of my education.

But before checking our dormitories, we have to listen to this damn teacher.

"Once again, welcome to the Lanceler Academy. Here you are going to learn everything about magic and become proper soldiers!" The speech which I found outrageous, I now understand why more people prefer the Xyrus Academy over this.

"And I see there are 2 people absent today, what is the case to not attend on the first day of education?" the professor added.

I beat up one and that one beat up the second. However, I didn't have to speak up, as a familiar guy did.

"Professor! He assaulted the two people and they are now in the hospital!"

'Oh, those two are my classmates.' I saw the same lackeys of the boy, I beat up.

"And who exactly is 'he'?" The professor inquired angrily, staring right into my eyes.

"Valnyk Aurae, professor." A minute of silence followed right after I stated my identity.

Despite maintaining a calm expression, the sweat rolled down on the professor's face.

"And why would Mr. Aurae assault a student of this academy?"

"He was the first one to assault a defenseless person, I only interfered right after." I answered him.

"I see, until further investigation, I wouldn't be able to do anything. You two, after class ends, follow me." The professor overlooked my actions and looked at the other two noble children with a grim look.

As if telling them, 'Do you have a death wish?'

"Until then I will explain the basic rules of this facility…" And so the professor introduced us to the academy system.

The practical lessons start early in the morning, around 6:00 AM by our measures. Then at 9:00 AM we have theoretical classes, with simple subjects such as history, algebra, mana-manipulation (theory) and etc.

"For today you are all dismissed, you may proceed to your dorms and just rest for the whole day." He then gestured to the two lackeys to follow him and left.

"I might check on that guy, I didn't save him for no reason right?" Totally, It was wise of me to save him.

Not that I care about others opinions, but damn it would be hilarious if people would call me a loner, just because I didn't have friends.

'But I am a loner… I don't have any actual friends.' (Insert sad smile emoji)

No, it was rather that, I never tried to make friends. If they don't want to be friends with me… fuck them. They are only losing the opportunity.

_________________________________________________________________________

"Yoo, Aidan. I heard you were resting in this room, so I brought you some snacks." Valnyk slammed into the hospital room, loudly announcing his presence.

"Surprisingly, this academy has some really good fruits. *Munch*" He continued while munching grapes in his mouth.

Dear old fruits, Val really wanted to taste them once again. But damn, who would have thought that banana in this world would be called *Pipifruit*. (Technically there should be tropical fruits on Dicathen.)

"Here take...pft-… Pipifruit." The white-haired boy could barely hold his laughter while offering bananas to Aidan.

"T-Thank you." Aidan accepted the offer and took the fruit.

'Man… this guy is so nervous.' commented Val in his mind.

"By the way, when are you coming out of the hospital wing?"

Aidan shrugged in response. Were the emitters here this uneducated, or was there a different reason? Since Aidan didn't have many injuries, but just bruises which could be healed instantly.

"Hey, is there something bothering you? Tell me I'm going to listen at least." Val dragged a nearby chair closer to Aidan and sat down facing him.

"So?"

"..." Aidan kept himself silent, it was evident that he hesitates about revealing the topic.

"Was it because of those three nobles?" Valnyk guessed and he was right, as Aidan nodded.

"Why do you fear them? You are stronger than them and their families can't reach you here." he then questioned.

"... They are sponsoring me…" muttered Aidan.

"Aidan, you see… This world is all about survival and gains. Sometimes you have to be an asshole. They already paid for your tuition and can't get it back as this academy protects the rights of its students. Especially of a talented mage with a light-red core stage at the age of eleven."

"How do you know…" Aidan was surprised by how Val learned about his core stage, instead of answering Val got up and whispered something in his ears.

"Not everyone gets opportunities like you, so use it to the fullest."

Valnyk patted his shoulder and slowly exited the room, leaving startled Aidan alone to ponder about his matter.

Already outside of the hospital wing, the white-haired boy clenched his hands in victory.

He made his first friend, with his own efforts only!