The academy is divided into two major divisions: the combat division and the non-combat division, such as research. However, this division doesn't mean the two are completely separated. Anyone is free to enter either division—or even both at the same time. All they need to do is choose their classes and schedule at the beginning of the semester.
After all, the academy has six tiers, and each tier contains thousands of students. It would be extremely inconvenient to divide them into fixed classes, so students are given full freedom to choose the classes they want.
I looked at the bracelet on my wrist. When I injected mana into it, a holographic screen appeared. It showed that I was in Tier 1, along with Rank 1471. The bracelet also displayed the list of classes I had to attend today, complete with their locations. I started walking toward my first destination while observing my surroundings. Everyone looked busy with their own affairs, walking quickly or chatting lightly, with no one really paying attention to me.
When I entered the classroom, a few people who had been talking immediately fell silent and turned to look at me, while others didn't seem to care at all.
"Lord Lucian."
A blond young man with slicked-back hair walked over and gave a light bow. Even though he was wearing the same uniform as me, he wasn't wearing a cape like some of the other students. Maybe it was just personal preference, not a required accessory.
"Sir, what happened to you yesterday? When I went to your hotel, they said you had already moved," he asked with a worried expression.
From my memories, this guy should be one of Lucian's subordinates. It seemed Lucian himself didn't even remember his name—after all, he had far too many sycophants. Seeing that this young man was still acting obedient toward me, I was certain the news of me being disowned by my family hadn't spread yet.
"Nothing special. I just felt lazy and wanted to take a break," I replied flatly as I sat down in the front row near the window. In any case, I was sure he was just another bootlicker, and building a relationship with him right now wouldn't bring me much benefit.
The young man sat down beside me as if it were completely natural.
"By the way, tonight there will be a gathering for all first-year students from the Kingdom of Celesstra to celebrate our acceptance into Orion Academy. The event is being hosted by Prince Alfred. You might not have heard about it yet, so how about we go together?"
Is there some hidden motive behind this event? I wondered, imagining various scenarios—from being publicly humiliated to other unpleasant possibilities. Still, at the same time, the event sounded fairly normal. After all, nobles loved to throw parties.
"You said all students," I said quietly. "Does that mean commoners will be attending too?"
The young man widened his eyes briefly before letting out a small laugh.
"I don't know, but there's no way the Prince would invite commoners to our party, right?"
"Who knows," I replied shortly.
After all, that guy had once humiliated Lucian in public just to defend a single commoner. It wouldn't be strange if he spouted nonsense about equality just to get that girl's attention.
It wasn't that I hated commoners. In my previous life, I had been one myself. I was just a little worried that Alfred—that damn bastard—might burn me alive to defend the people Lucian had oppressed before.
The classroom door opened, and the teacher walked in. The atmosphere instantly turned quiet. Everyone fell silent and focused on the lesson about to begin.
"All right," the teacher said, "today I'll be covering something very important, as it directly relates to your advancement to Radiant Stage Four."
He began drawing circles and lines on the board, and the students' expressions grew serious.
"As you all know, to advance stages, you need to connect one point to another."
A line was drawn from one circle to the next.
"You already understand the details, and you can also stop midway—"
He halted the line before it reached the next circle.
"—and then continue later. However, as you can see, this line is imperfect. This can hinder the flow of power and cause various problems in the future, including cutting off your chances of further advancement."
The room fell silent again. This was basic knowledge everyone already knew.
"You might not feel any difficulty right now," he continued, "but everything changes once you reach the fourth stage. And now, the situation is no longer the same."
He drew another circle and connected it into a straight chain of four circles.
"In the first three stages, you can only use a single stellar point to draw power. But at the fourth stage, you begin to channel power from other stellar points into one main point for release. Therefore, a good stellar nexus is one that connects all points to a single core."
He drew another diagram, this time with all the circles linked to one central point.
"This allows you to gather power faster, and the output will be far greater."
The teacher paused, then turned to face us.
"But you all know the consequences. The higher the stage, the farther apart new stellar points form. Most people choose to connect them to the nearest point. That isn't wrong, but I hope you can aim to create a perfect stellar nexus."
No one spoke. Advancing stages was essentially a suicide mission. If their calculations were wrong, they could die in the process. But if they stopped, their future would be ruined anyway.
The teacher continued explaining control techniques and other factors that could improve the chances of successfully connecting stellar points. The class passed by, and I attended several more classes after that. A few bootlickers showed up again, and we eventually parted ways as schedules changed.
Nothing special happened today. When evening came, I returned to the inn. I put on a luxurious-looking party outfit—a black and blue formal suit—then headed toward the party venue I'd gotten from one of the academy's sycophants.
Since the cheap inn I was staying at didn't provide a carriage, I would've had to walk there. But that would ruin my image. So I rented a carriage with a driver who looked reasonably presentable and headed to the venue.
Once I arrived, I entered the party hall without delay. No one asked for my identity or anything like that. Maybe they already knew my status as a noble, or perhaps the party was simply open to all students from the Kingdom of Celestra. Checking everyone's identification one by one would be troublesome, so anyone who showed up was probably assumed to belong.
The hall was filled with the glow of crystal lamps hanging from the high ceiling. The walls were decorated with golden carvings and magical gemstones that reflected a soft shimmer, while the polished white marble floor mirrored the silhouettes of guests moving about. Orchestral music played quietly—elegant enough to be classy, yet not loud enough to interrupt conversations.
Noble students gathered in small groups, wearing luxurious party attire adorned with their family crests. Crystal glasses filled with glowing wine passed from hand to hand, accompanied by light laughter and etiquette-laced compliments.
The moment I stepped inside, several pairs of eyes turned toward me.
"Lord Lucian, it's truly an honor to see you here tonight."
A brown-haired young man with a practiced smile approached me and bowed politely. Two others behind him also nodded in greeting.
"It would be a shame to miss a party hosted directly by the Prince," I replied flatly.
"Exactly," he said quickly. "After all, your family holds great influence. Your presence alone makes the atmosphere feel complete."
I almost snorted. Whether it was genuine praise or just noble etiquette—or a mix of both—I didn't really care.
A few more people joined in, introducing themselves with increasingly impressive family names. Compliments poured in nonstop—about my talent, my future, even the way I stood. I responded just enough to maintain politeness.
In the middle of all that, the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
The music gradually faded. Conversations died down. A man in formal attire stepped forward at the front of the hall.
"Attention, may I have everyone's attention."
The entire room fell silent. All eyes turned forward.
"His Highness, Prince Alfred of the Kingdom of Celestra, will now say a few words."
Whispers immediately spread. I followed everyone else's gaze toward the podium.
And there he was.
Alfred stood there in white-and-gold noble attire, a confident smile clearly etched on his face. Beside him—slightly behind—stood a girl dressed simply. Her white hair was neatly tied back, and her hands were clasped together stiffly.
I recognized that face instantly.
The commoner girl Lucian had once harassed.
"Ah, damn it," I muttered under my breath.
"Don't tell me he's that kind of idiot prince."