I was in a garden. A vast garden with tulips stretching like a yellow sea. I ran in the garden, like a horse released in the savanna, tossing my hair in the wind. I enjoyed the dancing wind as if gently caressing me then closed my eyes. Instantly I realized the gust of wind I had previously felt had suddenly disappeared. When I opened my eyes again, it was dark around me, there were only trees that surrounded me. I'm trapped in a forest, but how did I get here? Why am I in this place? I tried to scream but no sound came out. I tried to run through the forest, but still, there was no way out. I despaired, then curled up, then cried in silence.

*tak-tak

There was the sound of a branch breaking. I opened my eyes and looked in the direction the voice came from. There was a boy with black hair holding out his hand to me. His face was not visible, but for some reason, I felt the warmth of the outstretched hand. I raised my hand, trying to grab his hand. My hand got closer to his thin-looking hand, then…..

~

"GET UP!!!!!! C'mon, how long are you going to sleep like that?"

"Hmmm??"

I woke up to the sound of screams echoing in my ears. Opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was a girl with amber-colored hair, who was standing with the look on the face of a mother scolding her child.

"Momy?"

"MOMY YOUR HEAD!!!... Come on, wake up, we're late you know..."

"Hah?? Ahhh yeah, I forgot, sorry….”

I then rushed to the bathroom to get ready. I took off my pajamas and changed into the Academy uniform I had prepared the night before.

“Haahh….. didn't I tell you last night to sleep early”

"Haha sorry... I'll treat you later..."

"Uhhhh…. As I can imagine from a high-class noble's daughter huh…”

“Hehehe….”

"That's satire you know, Heeuhhh, Hurry up, I'll be waiting in front of the room"

"Okay..."

After putting on a green tie, I went in front of the mirror to style my hair which was still a bit wet. I gathered mana into my left hand then let out a warm wind by mixing simple air and fire attribute mana to dry the hair. Luckily because my hair is not too long, I can quickly style it. After making sure I was tidy, I walked out of the room to meet my roommate who was waiting.

"Sorry for wait Tia..."

"Hugh finally….. well, I'm not surprised at all, but please not too often… Rika”

“Ehehe….”

After that, we left the dormitory, then headed to the Academy.

Saint George's Academy of Magic, is one of the prestigious educational institutions that focus on combat training using magic, but its main goal is to prepare elite people who will accompany heroes to battle against demons in the future. Many nobles brought their children here out of prestige and honor, but that wasn't something that could keep them in this academy. In this academy, ability comes first, no matter how high their status is in society, in this academy, if you are weak, you will be devoured by the strong.

I walked with Tia, through the big gate, the main entrance to the academy. I was speechless looking at the magnificent building in front of us. Who would have thought this building was more than 1000 years old. This building is said to be made using magic, so since it was built long ago until now, this building has not changed at all.

"Uyyy Rika…. We need to go to the auditorium you know…”

“Ahh yeah, sorry hehe, but I admire this building”

"Well, that's how it is, a very majestic building, in my opinion, it seems a little mystical"

"Hahaha yeah..."

We continued walking to the auditorium. During the trip, I looked left and right, admiring the splendor of this academy complex, until for some reason my eyes caught a black-haired student who was far ahead of us also heading to the auditorium. Unknowingly I stopped for a moment.

"Hey what's wrong? Are you nervous Rika?”

"Eh, what?"

"Hugh, come on, it's not like you can be nervous like that, or do you already have a crush on one of the people here?” Mwehehe… :3

"Ehh no, it's just..."

"It is just?"

"Hmm, never mind..."

"You freak"

Coming back from my strange thoughts, we continued walking into the auditorium. A large room, with terraced stands, a VIP balcony, and a stage in front of it. Not only did the exterior of the academy building amaze me, but the interior of the auditorium was also extraordinary. It's even better than the Opera House I've been to with my dad.

"Rika.. where did you get the place?"

"Ummm lemme see..."

I took the paper from my pocket, then looked at the number and location listed there.

“D-101?”

"Well I thought, as a high class noble you will be at the forefront haha, I'm in K-072"

"Heh… no, it's because of the test results, you know…"

"Uh-huh? Ahaha I'm sorry then, well, see you later after the ceremony, I'll go first, byeee~”

"haha, okay Tia see you, don't be nervous~"

"NERVOUS YOUR HEAD!!!"

After parting with Tia, I walked towards the row of seats where my number was. First-year students are given seats in the middle of the auditorium, while seniors are placed on the left and right wings. A row of seats D is the 4th row at the front with the best view towards the stage because it is right in the middle of the auditorium. My seat was in the middle of the row, but since arriving later the other seats were already filled by other people.

"Excuse me…. I want to pass"

"Ah, well, nice to meet you, lady.."

A blonde-haired boy then stood up. He's quite tall for kids my age. He then bent down, then made way for me to my seat. To my first impression, he was a polite man and to be honest he quite handsome, he seemed to be one of the noble's children from his manners and looks.

"Thank You…"

After smiling and nodding, I walked past the other students to my seat. I sat down and looked around, there were some familiar faces from several noble parties I've been to before. As expected, many of the students here are nobles. Tia was also a noble even though only at the lower tier so it was almost no different from the commoners.

After a while of observing the surroundings, the room suddenly darkened. Some of the students got restless and started to wonder what was going on. Suddenly, a figure wearing a black cloak appeared. When the students' gazes began to focus on that person, suddenly that person looks like splitting himself to become several other black-cloaked figures then jump to attack the students.

Screams of panic and fear began to echo throughout the auditorium. most of the students got up from their seats then tried to run out of the auditorium as did a few people around me. Undeterred by that, I looked around and found something odd. Somehow the seniors just smiled and did nothing.

"Oh, I see..."

Behind the panic noise of the auditorium, someone's voice could be heard clearly in my ears. When I turned my gaze towards the source of the voice, the blond-haired boy who had given me the way earlier was already in the seat beside me. I was a little surprised, but I kept my composure at the time.

"Looks like this is a welcome or a test huh..."

“For a welcome, isn't this too lively?”

"You think so? Haha, pardon me, let me introduce myself first. I'm Shimon, Shimon Vincenizo"

Vincenizo? A noble of the same rank as my family, how could I don’t know a member of the Vincenizo family? I should know all the nobles with the same status or other prestigious noble families but him, I don't know him at all. Who he is?

“Ah, I’m Frederica Von Sienela, nice to meet you”

“Me too, Miss Sienela, I often trouble your father haha. Oh yes you can call me Shimon"

"Okay then Shimon, you can also call me Rika"

"With my pleasure.."

I don't know why this boy is related to my dad. 

Returning my consciousness to the chaotic room, slowly the entire auditorium became bright and the black-cloaked figure disappeared. Instantly the whole auditorium became hushed then from the stage there was a sound of laughter which was quite annoying I think, and in an instant appeared an old man with long white beard and hair, who was wearing a white robe with blue and gold ornaments, he wielded a cane in his left hand. Even though he's old, I know that he's not an ordinary person. The mana radiance he gave off was so strong that I could feel it like fire emitting heat all around him.

"Hehhh …. That old man is terrible isn't he?"

"Ahh, he's not an ordinary person"

“You think I can win over him?”

"Haha don't be stupid"

“….. Hahaha you're right haha”

“You are quite an attractive man Shimon…”

“Nice to hear from you...”

After a bit of banter with Shimon, my attention returned to the old man on the stage. He was still coughing after laughing out loud at the previous incident. He then took back his position and began to speak. People who were about to flee swiftly immediately filled the empty seats wherever they came across. It seems that this auditorium is designed so that the sound emitted on stage will be amplified so that it can be heard by all.

“Ehem.. Good morning, maybe some of you already know me, but since today we have a new batch of students, I'm a little excited to prank them hahahaha… ohok-ohok erghh….. Damn age!!! Erm, where were we? Ahhh yes, introduce me Augusto Von Finea here I am serving as your Director. Oh yeah, I don't like wasting time on unimportant things, so..”

*CLAP!!!

When the man who called himself the director of the academy clapped his hands together, the auditorium went dark again. But something is different than before. The floor under the seat I was sitting on for some reason suddenly lit up, as did Shimon's and several other students' seats.

"Well for those of you whose seats are lit, please come forward"

After ordering that, Shimon and I stood up and stepped forward. Several other students also followed towards the stage. After I noticed it seemed like there were 9 of us who came to the stage and surprisingly, Tia also came forward. Lining up on stage like this, it's enough to make me nervous, what should we do after this?

“Ehemmm, alright, for starters, could all of you introduce yourselves?”

After that, we introduced ourselves, one by one.

“Introduce me Shimon Vincenizo”

"I'm Frederica Von Seinela"

“Introduce Me Lucas De Araon”

"I'm Lin Wei"

"I'm Amagiri Lisa"

“I-I'm Felmatia Fierie”

“Introduce me Raju Nakahms”

"I'm Hendrick Von Lientino"

"I'm Chloe"

When the last name was mentioned, some noise began to be heard from the stands. It seemed that the last girl's name didn't have a family name, which meant she was someone from outside the walls. I looked at the girl, and she seemed to notice but she turned her gaze the other way.

“Ehemm, you can see in front of here, some students I have asked to introduce themselves. And I hereby announce that They are the main class this year.”

I was surprised, no. I'm sure everyone here must have been surprised, the noise in the stands grew even louder, and suddenly someone raised his hand and asked.

"Why can they be main class when their abilities alone aren't necessarily better than ours?"

"Yeah that's right, it's not fair"

Said the person who raised his hand followed by several others.

"Huh…. All right, let me explain. Our academy is aimed at educating elite people who can become fellow heroes in the future. As we know 8 years ago, we lost contact with the front line troops led by Hero Edward, and until now there is no confirmation whether he is dead or still alive. But for sure, the title of hero will fall to someone sooner or later and that person will become the next hero. While waiting for the return of Hero Edward or the emergence of a new hero, we must prepare elite people who can help the hero as best as possible in the future. And they are those people.”

The old man pointed at the 9 of us on the stage, then continued

“The first thing as a mage, whether a mage who fought at melee-range or long-range, was not to panic. In any situation, the magician must be able to analyze the situation and conditions and then find the most effective solution to get the best results. 9 people on this stage, fulfill that requirement. The black-cloaked figure that appeared earlier was illusion magic. If you realized it was an illusion, you wouldn't run away, would you? So that's why they passed because they met the first requirement, one could even know what magic it was. So they are the elite I mean"

It made a lot of sense what the principal said. When a magician panicked, the flow of mana would fall apart, so any magic that would be used was difficult to manifest or control. A very interesting way to do a selection on a new student. You sly old geezer

“Hmmm but it doesn't matter, because the main class is filled with 15 people, so there are still 6 other seats. The 6 people will be taken based on a competency test 1 month from now, so try your best. Oh yes, you can also challenge one of these 9 people to a duel. For details on the duel procedures, your respective homeroom teachers will inform you. Hahhh I'm tired, I'll go first, for now, I'll leave the rest to you Laura”

Immediately the old man disappeared.

“What a freedom old man huh, don't you think so, Rika?”

"Ah, I agree..."

After that a tall woman in a dark blue robe took the stage, even though it was covered in a robe, I could tell that the woman was very beautiful. She walked gracefully and elegantly as the world bowed to her. In addition, she uses glasses that add to the impression of intelligence and gives off a very stunning adult aura. After standing in front of us, she looked at the stands and started to speak