He should have known. Nora had been silent all through, so he should have known that some absurd plot threads were intertwining in that head of hers. But, still… Merlin bit his lower lip. There was no way he could have expected this!
What in the world is happening here?!
"What's she doing?" the murmurs started.
"The headmaster hasn't even said anything yet."
"Is she out of her mind?"
"What do you mean 'is she?' She obviously is!"
Merlin wanted nothing more than to put some distance between himself and Nora right this instant. She had brought the spotlight onto herself, and he was being caught in it.
It was already bad enough with his display a few minutes ago, and now this? Was she trying to completely ruin his Academy life before it had even begun?
"Put your hand down," Merlin muttered, his lips pressed together as he jabbed her at her side, sounding like a father scolding his stubborn child. "Put it down immediately, or I swear…"
Nora acted like he was invisible, though. In fact, she turned it up a notch and stood up.
Merlin paled, feeling like he had just been struck by lightning. She was going to be the end of him.
He looked around them, and, sure enough, every single pair of eyes was on Nora. Even those to the front of the auditorium had turned around on their seats to look at her. The atmosphere on the stage was even worse. A few of the instructors were frowning, especially Professor Jung. Despite having a sweet face, she seemed like a strict person. And Nora was acting in such a disrespectful manner.
The headmaster, on the other hand, was smiling. Nora's antics did not seem to be bothering him even a bit. And as Professor Jung tried to approach the podium—most likely to take over, reprimand Nora, and then answer whatever her question was—the headmaster raised a hand to stop her.
He then cleared his throat and leaned forward towards the mic.
"You have a question for me, young miss?" he said, quite politely, in fact.
Was he really an S-Class Mage? Merlin wondered. He had somehow come to reasoning that Mages of that Class would be more smug, acting as though they were all that. After all, they were powerhouses, and all the fame and recognition associated with it ought to get to their head. But Kim Yiseo, and now, the headmaster, proved him wrong.
However, that didn't stop Nora from acting even more disrespectfully than she already was. She went ahead to dip her hands into her jacket's pockets, angling her body to her side slightly like she was waiting on an unmoving queue.
Merlin understood what was happening here. Nora was still annoyed about the whole incident with the president's grandson.
Sure enough, she usually didn't stay angry for long, but the short time she spent that way always felt like an eternity. That was because she was never one for pretending. And that was exactly what scared the life out of him. If Nora did not construct her words well, they might as well no longer be Mages.
Please, just manage your temper for today!
"Yes," Nora replied to the headmaster. "Am I permitted to ask now?"
The headmaster cleared his throat, and still with a smile on his face answered, "Go on."
"Why did the orientation start a lot later than what was scheduled on the leaflet?" She went straight to the point. "I believe we as students have the right to know, don't you think?"
The murmurs were a lot lower now. Because the majority of the students seemingly shared the same feelings as her, they had gone from being violent towards her to understanding in just a second.
"It seems like you have a guess already," the headmaster said. "I would like to know what you are thinking."
Nora just stared with a blank look on her face. Merlin had a lump in his throat.
"Are you trying to deflect?" she said.
Gasps. No. Roars were what sounded next.
That was a rude thing for her to have said, and an even ruder tone to have used.
Merlin facepalmed.
This was Nora. When she got angry, she threw common sense out the window. This was the headmaster she was speaking to.
For goodness sake, Nora…
"Am I deflecting?" The headmaster swept his gaze across the first years as though expecting one to answer on his behalf. Then he guffawed, surprising them all. "What's your name, young miss?"
"Nora Tyrrell," Nora replied without a second's delay.
"Nora, huh?" The headmaster rubbed his goatee. He then turned to Professor Jung. "Where have I heard that name, Ms. Jung? Mind reminding me?"
Huh? Merlin was surprised at that statement. How could the headmaster have heard of his sister?
He did not have to wait too long for the answer, though. Because, before Professor Jung could reply, the headmaster snapped his fingers, seemingly having recalled.
"Ah! You're one of the only five A-Class Mages in your year."
Merlin froze. He knew his sister was an A-Class Mage, and he knew that they were rare, but he had not known that she would be amongst a minute few in their year. After all, this was the most prestigious Mage Academy in South Korea. He'd been expecting the A-Class Mages to be at least twenty. But there were only five? In a class of a hundred-and-sixty? That was absurd!
His reaction was no different from the rest of the fickle students in the auditorium who were now admiring her.
"A-Class Mage?" a student sounded astonished.
"How could I have missed it? Look at her Grimoire. It's dark-red! She's really an A-Class Mage!"
"Hmph! Is that why she's so smug? Carrying her Grimoire around. What a show-off."
Merlin had no idea if the situation had gotten worse or better. But what he was certain of was that the spotlight on his sister had skyrocketed. And, that, exactly, was the problem.
He was a Deficient Mage; getting dragged into Nora's popularity was like a beggar coming to stand beside a politician during a campaign. Only scorn existed for the former.
"I didn't know we were only five," Nora replied apathetically. "But that's besides the point. Like I said, I want to know why the orientation had to be delayed. You are curious about my guess? Well, I'm of the mind that it was as an act of favoritism for a certain someone that I will not mention. Would you mind debunking that, please? But truthfully, if you will."
The headmaster nodded, this time, stroking his moustache.
"I see," he mumbled. "So that is what you think?"
"Yes," Nora replied. "I'll be honest, I don't like favoritism, and stand against it fully. So if that's the kind of Academy this is, then I'll gladly pull out right this instant."
Merlin's soul left his body.
She had really gone and lost it. And every student thought the same.
He distinctly tugged at the hem of her sleeve, trying to get her to stop spilling any more of her nonsense. He knew that she was not asking him to pull out of the Academy with her; none of her words had indicated that. But, still, he couldn't just sit back and watch her do such a thing.
If she tried to utter even one more nonsensical word, he would shoot up to his feet and pull her down. Being in the spotlight be damned.
The headmaster laughed even harder. He kept giving off the vibe that he was a laid-back man, but those kinds were the ones who really got going when they became angry. After all, one couldn't know what actually got on their nerves.
"There will be no need for that, Nora Tyrrell," the headmaster said. "That is because the orientation was not delayed out of favoritism. I cannot go further on the reason, but—"
"Then is it the Breaks? Were there more?" Nora cut the headmaster off, and Merlin had had enough. He was about to stand up when a hand fell on his shoulder, holding him back. He turned around to see Chima shaking his head.
He wouldn't lie. He was confused. Why was he being stopped? Merlin wanted to ask, but he felt like he should not be splitting his attention at this moment.
Furthermore, what had Nora meant by there being more Breaks? There were no records of Dungeon and Tower Breaks occurring simultaneously ever since the Cataclysm. And, from what Merlin had found out from reading articles, the world would be plunged into chaos once more if that ever happened.
But… Why is the headmaster not disputing that?
The headmaster fell silent following Nora's interruption. But he still didn't seem angry. In fact, his smile spread wider.
"Was it you?" he asked. "The one who aided the Consortium Mages to hold back the Troll? The alleged A-Class Mage heading to Prestige Academy?"
Merlin's gasp was not as loud as the ones from the rest of the students, but his definitely carried more weight. Because, how in the world had the headmaster found out about that so quickly?
Nora seemed to think the same, seeing as her brows fell.
The headmaster waved his hand over his face like he was trying to swat away a fly, though softly. "Don't underestimate the information network of the headmaster of the second most prestigious Mage Academy in the world," he quipped. And then Merlin's heart almost leaped out of his throat as the headmaster's gaze fell on him. "And that young man beside you is your twin brother, I suppose? The one who rescued the little girl?"
Ah… He was finished.
The murmurs were about him now.
"Her twin brother?"
"And they both joined Consortium Mages to fight a Troll?"
"Isn't a Troll like a C-Rank monster?"
"Yeah. She's an A-Class Mage, so it's obvious that she won't have much trouble. That means he's at least a B-Class Mage."
"There are five A-Class Mages, right? What if they're both A-Class Mages?"
"That's an overpowered family there."
"You guys are missing the main point here, dimwits. They fought a Troll; keyword: fought! That means they've already learned spell casting!"
"Woah!!"
Merlin sighed sullenly. They had gotten it all wrong. This was what he had not wanted. Now it felt like a noose had been tied around his neck.
"You should stand up," Chima whispered to him from the side. "It's common courtesy."
Ah. That was right. The attention from his peers had turned him into dried cement.
Merlin jumped up to his feet and bowed in the headmaster's direction.
"Merlin Tyrrell, sir," he voiced.
Someone sniggered. "Merlin? Who names their child Merlin like the world's a comicbook?"
Nora's breath hitched. Instantly, she shot a glare in the direction those words had come from, her face wrung up so much that her nostrils were flaring. She folded her arms, but that was probably as a means to hold herself back.
"Hey! Are you out of your mind?! Do you want to die? Can't you see the way she's looking at you?"
Merlin glanced at his sister and sighed. Her demeanor reminded him of the one she'd had back when she'd learnt of him being bullied in middle school.
"It's fine," he mumbled. And, thank goodness, she listened.
Scoffing, Nora loosened her visage.
"Of course I know who you are, Merlin," the headmaster continued, pretending to be oblivious to the fight that had just almost broken out.
Was this like an Academy where the higher-ups didn't involve themselves in petty squabbles, or something similar?
But, that aside…
Merlin blinked owlishly, the headmaster's reply having shocked him. Then he instantly realized why the man would know who he was.
He was probably the only Deficient Mage in the Academy; if not, he was one of very few.
Merlin suddenly had fear burrow into his skin.
It would be revealed, wouldn't it? His deficiency as a Mage? Sure enough, that would put an end to all the fake rumors which would most certainly fly around once the orientation had ended. However, that would mean he would be getting mocked instead.
Merlin could do nothing but clench his fists in anticipation, not sure if he wanted to be vindicated from his Mage Class being falsified or not.
"You never answered my question about the Breaks, headmaster," Nora continued before any of the words Merlin dreaded were uttered. It was more than obvious that she had come to his aid again.
The headmaster turned to Nora. "You are not classified to know any more than you already do," he answered. "That's for actual Mages. If you want to be let in on such information then do your very best to graduate and become a real Mage." He glanced at Merlin. "Best of luck to you."
Merlin flinched.
"I see…" Nora, on the other hand, did not push on the matter any longer. "Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions." She bowed deeply. "And I apologize for misinterpreting the intentions of the Academy. I hope you treat me and my brother with kindness."
Merlin wouldn't lie. That sounded more like a threat than an apology.
"It's fine," said the headmaster. "It's my pleasure to speak to my students. You may have your seats." Pausing, he took a moment to clear his throat. "With that, I wish all of you a good year. Make the most out of it. Oh, one more thing. There are no second chances for Mages in this world. Just as death is the end, failure is too for Mages. Once you have failed, you have failed. Fret not, though. It is possible for everyone to graduate. But that also means it is possible for everyone to fail. I trust you all know which you would prefer." He then turned to Professor Jung, the moods of the first years having become serious. "That's good enough for a speech, yes?"
Merlin and Nora sat back down as Professor Jung sighed. "You barely gave any, headmaster," she said.
"Eh? After all that?" The headmaster had a comically distraught look on his face. The man kept surprising Merlin and the rest of the first years.
"It's fine." Professor Jung took over, her tone as hard as steel. "Assigning of your Cohorts will be done three hours from now, and will be sent to your smartwatches. Once you have received it, head down to your dorm master and receive the emblem for your Cohort. It should always be affixed to your uniform sleeves at all times. If anyone is found without his or her emblem on their sleeves, points will be deducted from their Cohort. And I promise, you do not want the rest of your Cohort members to be displeased with you. As for what courses you will be taking, as well as your classes, more information will be passed across before nightfall—along with your schedules. That is all." She smiled brightly, her stern voice nowhere to be found as she added, "I now call this orientation to a close, and I wish you all a good year."
The dampened mood of the first years vanished as though it had never existed, as a roar of cheers erupted through the auditorium. The Academy year was officially starting. And, yet, Merlin could not smile.