Adrian Lewin POV
I rested well in the hotel.
I didn't have much to do anyway.
I wonder what I'll have to do tomorrow.
I'm not scared — just curious.
I can defeat any first-year student without even using Apocalypse, and many second-years too. And I plan to get into the A-Class.
Maybe I should just sleep.
So, I had some dinner and went to bed.
When I woke up the next day, I remembered — today I needed to meet the Principal again, but not as the confident Adrian Lewin, the Twelfth Lord… rather as Elric Lewin, a scared nobody.
Yesterday, I booked this room under the name Elric Lewin and told them I was just reserving it — that Elric would come later. Today, I'll leave as Elric.
Wouldn't they find it odd that they didn't see anyone like this enter?
Not really. A single person doesn't watch all day — shifts change. So they won't notice.
And besides, they already got their money. They don't care.
I used my illusion ring to change my eyes to yellow, hair to red, and slightly alter my face.
Alright, let's go.
I finally left the hotel — and as expected, no problem occurred.
I started walking toward the academy gate.
The guards saw me coming.
I thought they would, like yesterday, tell me to leave my ID outside. Instead, one asked,
"Who are you?"
Maybe they're being cautious because of yesterday's events.
I presented my token, which the guards verified.
It had a spell placed by the Principal himself, so they didn't question further.
How did they know?
The Principal installed a device that can detect his spells.
I entered the academy and walked toward the building where the Principal's office was located. Soon, I reached it and approached the receptionist.
She gave me the same advice as yesterday, though this time with even more insistence:
"Student, I'd advise you to come here wearing your uniform. It's not a rule, but some teachers dislike it otherwise. And if one of them ends up teaching you, it might cause problems."
I think I somehow motivated her.
I smiled and said,
"Hello, I'm Elric Lewin. I'm not a student… yet."
She looked puzzled — probably because of the "yet."
I handed her the token and continued,
"The Principal gave me an appointment for today."
She checked the token — the Principal's spell was proof enough. She went inside his office and came back shortly after.
"He has allowed you to enter," she said.
I thanked her and entered the office. But I had to act, so I left the door slightly open and stood awkwardly at the entrance.
The Principal looked at me for a moment before asking,
"Are you Elric Lewin?"
I froze for a second, then nodded vigorously.
The Principal smiled.
Why that smile?
I hate that smile.
Please — don't ever smile in front of me.
Then he said,
"Close the door and come sit."
I did as instructed.
He asked,
"Did the Twelfth Lord tell you about the tests?"
This liar…
I never heard anything about any test!
Still, I put on an anxious expression and stammered,
"T-The Lord didn't say much… just that you had given me an appointment for today."
The Principal nodded and went silent.
The silence dragged on, and it started to get awkward.
Then there was a knock at the door. I sensed who it was — Professor Kael.
The Principal said,
"Enter."
Professor Kael stepped in and asked,
"You summoned me, Principal?"
The Principal nodded.
"This boy here is Elric Lewin."
The professor repeated,
"...Lewin?"
The Principal nodded again.
"He's not a family member of the Twelfth Lord. However, he was recommended by him."
Professor Kael frowned.
"And you agreed?"
"I did," said the Principal. "But we still need to test him. So you'll handle that. Test him and place him in a class according to his performance."
Professor Kael nodded and turned to me.
"Elric Lewin, follow me."
I followed the professor.
We came to a quiet room. He handed me a blank paper and six answer sheets, saying,
"We'll test your theoretical knowledge. This paper will display a new subject every two hours. Write each subject on a separate answer sheet. No additional sheets will be provided. There will be six subjects in total. Begin."
I took the paper and started.
Thanks to Blitz, speed wasn't an issue. I wrote continuously for twelve hours before submitting the papers.
He checked them right there in front of me.
When he finished grading, he said flatly,
"Congratulations. This is the same paper given to other students, and you scored the highest."
I smiled.
He continued,
"Now, for the practical test… though we can't use the same format."
He looked at me thoughtfully for a few moments, then said,
"Alright. Just fight me. I'll determine your level personally."
"Where should we go?" I asked.
"Here will be fine," he replied.
Sigh.
I nodded and attacked.
I was a little slow at first, so I boosted my speed with Blitz.
The professor dodged easily.
I slashed — he retreated.
I thrust — he sidestepped.
It went on like that.
I even used magic between strikes, but the room wasn't damaged — he simply neutralized the spells with a single strike.
Then he attacked by surprise.
It wasn't particularly fast — maybe for a first-year it would've been. But it had power.
I quickly increased my speed, deflected the force, and though I was sent flying, I stabilized myself midair.
He nodded slightly.
"Your strength is a little lacking, but your speed is excellent. You have good instincts — you switched from offense to defense the instant I attacked, even though I made it look like I wouldn't. You also use spells that supplement your attacks. You judged my attack's strength quickly and reacted properly. And your control over your body is impressive — you stabilized midair and were ready to counter even then."
I waited as he thought for a moment.
Then he concluded,
"You'll be placed in A-Class. Come to my office the day after tomorrow at 7:30 AM. Classes start at 8. Take this slip — it'll get you your dorm room and the list of required books. You may leave."
I thanked him and left.
Phew…
I should finish the tasks quickly.
I first bought the books and uniform, then went to the dormitory office and handed in the slip. They gave me a key to my room.
All boys of one class share a dormitory — all A-Class boys together, all B-Class boys together, and so on.
A-Class students get the best dorms.
I entered my room and fell asleep immediately.
No need for an academy introduction — I'd already spent a month here before. My memory was still fresh.
Soon, the day came for my first class as Elric Lewin.
I bathed, ate, and went to the professor's office.
I knocked.
"Enter," came his voice.
When I walked in, someone else was already there.
The Hero.
I ignored her — I wasn't supposed to know her.
Professor Kael said,
"You both will attend A-Class. I'll introduce you there."
I nodded.
Then he added,
"I'll ask someone to show you around the academy."
I shook my head.
"No need. I've already visited a few places."
He nodded.
The three of us headed toward A-Class.
---
Alaric Blackwood POV
Professor Kael entered on time, like always.
But this time, two students followed him — neither from our class.
The class went silent, confused.
Well, so was I.
Professor Kael introduced them:
"These two were recently admitted and, based on their aptitude, placed in A-Class. Thalia Trystan — the current Hero. And Elric Lewin, who ranked first in theory among all students."
Everyone focused on Thalia, of course.
But Seraphine, Althaea, and I were more interested in Elric.
There was a reason.
When Althaea and I went to her territory, we fought someone named Elric. He never gave a last name.
We assumed he was a student here. When we came back, we checked — no student named Elric. So we thought we'd been mistaken.
But when I saw him now…
He winked at us.
Yeah. He was that Elric.
The same one I fought.
And he ranked first — that meant he scored even higher than Seraphine.
The professor said,
"Sit wherever you like."
They chose an empty seat, and class began.
---
Elric Lewin POV
I sat down and listened to the dull lectures.
After three lectures, we finally got a break.
Alaric, along with Seraphine and Althaea, approached me.
Some other main cast members came too, though they clearly didn't know why.
Alaric said,
"Elric. Long time no see. I never thought I'd see you so soon."
I finished his sentence for him.
"Or ever."
He gave an awkward smile.
Roderick asked,
"You three know him?"
Alaric nodded.
"I fought him during vacation. Althaea and Seraphine were there too."
Roderick raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Is he strong?"
Alaric replied,
"Well… he fights in a very unusual way."
Roderick grinned.
"Then I want to fight him!"
Althaea added,
"After break, we have combat class. You can fight there. Though I wanted to fight him too."