"This is totally unfair! We only won because of him!" exclaimed Opame.

"He has to pass, Principal! Without him I wouldn't have even gotten in!" added Bairon.

But the principal didn't listen, keeping her attention focused on Kaito, who didn't answer.

"Don't you have anything to tell me, Mr. Kaito? Aren't you angry or nervous?"

"Why?"

The question came without anger or pain, but rather as a sincere doubt from him. The principal took a sip of her wine, noted that she should stop drinking for the day, and replied.

"I think we can get to this answer together, Mr. Kaito. First I want you to tell me how you made this victory today happen. I want to know what were your strategies and ideas for that success?"

Kaito was exhausted and it felt like his body might shut down at any moment, but he would not fall there. He would answer what he was supposed to answer and walk out the front door on his own legs.

"I needed to get stronger. Even though I can use skills, they are weak and make me very tired. So I studied a lot about monsters, combat types, weapons, enemy types, class skills, weaknesses and strengths of everything I could find. Actually I have always studied a lot about this kind of thing, but after my blood was revealed I did everything I could to balance things out.

The principal noded, finding that interesting.

"And how did you plot this strategy for the troll? Did you know beforehand that this would be the test?" asked the principal with a raised eyebrow. “Do not try to lie to a rogue. It's something you only do once."

Kaito asserted, looked at the troll's body and answered as he should.

"I can enchant my weapon with fire. I succeeded with ice once, but the blood vibrates too much and makes me nauseous. Fire is easier, so it is one of the first spells a mage learns. Knowing this I studied what kinds of monsters have weaknesses to fire. The troll regenerates with physical attacks, but fire interrupts regeneration and causes a lot of damage."

"And why did you use the spear?" the principal asked.

"The enemy was big, strong and fast. The spear was the best way to make him stay away and keep me safe. Not to mention that it is easier to pierce than to cause cutting damage when you have no strength. I can copy the strength and weight of a warrior's attack, but I'm still an F rank."

"Wait, but didn't you stop the troll attack?" questioned Opame, clearly confused.

"It was because of Bairon's blessing. With his blessing and the warrior's strength I succeeded, but it still left my legs shaking."

"So far everything has made sense. I want to know how you knew about your friend's use of the shield? Knowing that he could throw it and hit the spear was something very hard to predict, and I don't believe in that kind of luck."

"I went to the same school as Bairon. He is on the discus throwing team. He never threw very far, but he always hit almost the same spot. I remember always being very impressed by that."

"Boy, you could tell that to the teachers! They always fought me because I didn't throw far!" protested Bairon.

"You beat up my brother."

"Oh, that's right. Sorry."

The principal looked at the three talking and focused on the white-haired boy, looking at him with enormous curiosity.

"So you asked him to use the small shield and at the right time and with the blessing of strength you used the shield to push the spear. Is that it?"

"Not only that. When I threw the spear and kicked it into the troll's eye I wanted to show Bairon what he could do. Just in time Opame threw the troll up and made him dizzy, so I just had to take advantage of the gap."

The principal thought about everything that had been said. Fully decided, she turned to Kaito and asked again.

"So, Mr. Kaito, can you understand why you can't enter the academy?"

"I don't..." Kaito was going to answer what came to his mind, but soon he seemed to think better and the reason came to him "It's because everything that happened was a big coincidence and it may not happen again..."

"Exactly!" replied the principal snapping her fingers.

"That's not fair! He passed! He did what he promised and passed!" complained Opame.

"Don't do that, Principal Selize! Let him in!" pleaded Bairon.

The principal stared at the two of them, and a huge pressure made them shut up. Soon she gave a deep sigh and replied calmly.

"Believe me when I say that I am the person who most wants to see Mr. Kaito inside the academy. I dream of seeing someone of lower rank teaching our dear high rank peacocks how to behave, but I can't let him risk himself that much. Look at his condition, exhausted with so little. And what would happen if he didn't have the divine chances that appeared today? Do you really think he will always have the right enemy with the right allies and the right weapons at all times? In serious combat he could get injured or even die."

Opame looked at Kaito with a bitter feeling in her chest and stepped forward.

"If he is not accepted I won't enter either! I won't accept this injustice!" she glared at Bairon, but the cleric lowered his head and pretended it wasn't up to him "And even alone, I won't accept it!"

The principal stared at the girl and looked deep into her fire-orange eyes. Her impetuosity made Selize smile.

"If you don't want to come in, then you won't come in, Miss Opame. But I must say I am saddened by that decision. I think you would be a great addition to our academy."

"Don't do that, Opame."

The voice was Kaito's, who was stopping the monk at that moment. Opame turned to him and stared into the boy's white eyes, seeing that there was seriousness in his expression.

"But that's not fair..."

"Regardless of what it is, I don't want you to be out of the academy. You are strong and seem like a good person, so you should come in. And you, Bairon..." Kaito turned to the cleric, who looked at him somewhat fearfully "Things of the past stay in the past. You will be a great cleric, I'm sure of it."

Bairon curled his lips and wished to apologize, but he didn't. There was something in the aura of the F rank that made him shut up and wait for the decision he had made. Kaito turned to Selize, stepped forward and bowed slightly in respect to the great principal in front of him.

"I accept the result of the test."

                                                                                       * * *

Kaito spent much of the morning looking through his notes. In his room, even messier than before, he went site to site and taking notes of everything that cold be useful.

"Who's left...?"

He looked at the list he wrote of academies and guilds that could accept him. There were several options, but ironically their barriers to entry were even higher.

"Academy of Light... Altyr Academy... The Razor Guild..."

"Did you find something there?"

His mother entered his room bringing a cup of very strong coffee and placing it in front of him. She sat on his bed and spied his writings.

"Holy Blade Guild? Really, Kaito?"

"They test for entry, so I have to try. To tell you the truth, I can only be accepted into guilds and academies that take an entrance test," he replied, tapping his pen lightly on his chin.

"Yeah, I know the entry system by rank is bad, but don’t go for the Holy Blade. It's the rival guild of Blood Roar, the wonderful place where your father and I met."

"And does Blood Roar test for entry?"

"No, they accept students from academies and those with a background..." Cassia felt her son's gaze on her and soon changed her tone "yeah... they wouldn't accept you."

Kaito watched his list carefully, but something in him seemed to fade. He didn't want to go to any of those academies and guilds. He wanted to join the Phoenix Academy. He wanted to show that he could beat the best.

"Did it really need to be the Phoenix Academy?"

"By blood... how did you guess?" he asked startled.

"I am your mother, Kaito. Now answer me."

Kaito set himself to thinking and nodded with a somewhat disheartened smile.

"The Phoenix Academy may have many problems, but it is the only one that has a fair test. At least that's what they say. And they also say that their lower ranks can overcome their higher ranks just with training. Whether that's true I don't know..."

Cassia looked at the somewhat discouraged son in front of her and realized that he would still try, even if he didn't go where he wanted to go. This made her smile. She liked to see this effort from him. Getting up she gave Kaito a brief slap on the neck, which startled him.

"Ouch! What was that?!" he said, massaging his neck.

"Get up and come with me.”

"Where do I have to go?

"You'll see.”

Kaito got up and followed his mother. Going down the stairs and into the living room he saw something that shocked him immediately.

"Wait a minute...Principal Selize?"

In the room, having coffee with his father was the principal of the Phoenix Academy. Selize looked at the boy standing at the foot of the stairs and made a brief toast with her coffee cup.

"Look if it isn't my dear Kaito? How are you doing?"

Kaito stood still without understanding anything and soon saw his mother sitting beside Selize casually.

"Calm down... dear? Wait a minute... do you guys know the principal?"

"I studied with her at the Phoenix Academy. We were classmates and teammates for five years" Miguel replied casually.

"I, on the other hand, met this green-haired idiot in the guild. We worked together for a long time." added his mother as she picked up some cookies from the center of the table.

Kaito was still shocked, but soon received a signal from his father to come closer, and obeying him he sat down facing the principal. For a brief moment no one said anything important. They talked about old times, how they raised their children, about Selize's wife, about her marriage, and time passed, until Kaito couldn't stand it any longer.

"Okay, I get it! You know the principal and you never told me about her. Great! Now tell me why I'm here!"

The three adults looked at each other for a moment, sipped their coffees, and soon Selize addressed Kaito.

"Boring conversation, isn't it? It's just that we haven't seen each other for so many years that things have piled up. Life as a principal is heavy, kid...I need to act and in a way that I don't want to and there's so much work..." said Selize letting out a sigh "It's very rare that I get to let loose and talk to my old friends."

"Okay, I get it. But why am I here then? I have a list of academies and guilds to update and tests to prepare for."

"Kaito, don't talk to my stupid friend Selize like that!" scolded Cassia.

"Exactly as your mother said, my son. Be patient and let the lettuce head do the talking," added Miguel.

"Ah, the old offenses coming from an idiotic couple. I missed that" said Selize taking a sip of her coffee "But the boy is right. If we called him we should get right to the point."

The principal deposited the empty cup on the table and turned to Kaito with a sharp, direct look.

"Kaito, my dear, tell me something. In the fight against the troll, could you win by yourself?"

The question struck him right on the nose. He had not thought about it even once. Kaito pondered for a moment and then answered what came to his mind.

"I think so...it was going to be very difficult and I might get hurt, but with the preparation I would have a chance."

"That's what I think too!" said Selize snapping her finger and pointing at Kaito "But you went with a group. Why did you do that?"

"Because the test was in a group... right?"

"But you could make an even bigger impression. Don't you agree?"

"I could... but with a group it was much easier..."

Selize clapped her hands and that startled Kaito. Next to him and in front of him his parents were proudly affirming.

"That's right, Kaito! You fought as a group! You understood the classes and the ranks better than anyone who uses them! You chose the best solution!”

Kaito was really confused. To him none of it made any sense.

"Okay, but I didn't pass. Remember? You failed me."

"Sort of. I only failed you in classes C through S."

"Yeah... but those are all the classes you have at the academy."

Selize showed a smart smile, picked up a letter that was beside her and gave it to Kaito. The boy looked at the envelope and opened it without understanding what it was, but when he saw the paper in front of him, he felt a euphoria take over his chest.

"Is that...?"

"Against everything and everyone I have decided to open a new class at the academy. A class that will generate a lot of complaints and headaches for me."

Selize leaned back on the couch and gave a smart smile to the boy in front of her

"Welcome to class D, Kaito!"