"Welcome to the Arnold Magic Academy."
I made my way into the auditorium, found an empty seat, and waited for some time... until finally, the entrance ceremony began. Amelia and I had parted ways. As the top student, she was scheduled to give a speech as the freshman representative and was seated near the front.
I, meanwhile, had taken a seat toward the middle.
"Now, I have some unfortunate news for those of you who have enrolled in this magic academy. Approximately eighty percent of you will likely never become significant sorcerers."
The one speaking was the head of the academy, Abby Garnet. Her most striking feature was her shock of vibrant orange hair.
Even I, with my limited knowledge of the sorcerer world, knew that name. She was one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers, the pinnacle of all sorcerers in this world.
The Seven Grand Sorcerers.
They were the seven individuals designated by the Magic Association as the apex of their kind. As the name implied, they were the ones who had mastered the very essence of magic.
Sorcerers were ranked from Bronze to Silver, then Gold, Platinum, and finally Grand. The seven individuals at the peak of the Grand Rank were known as the Seven Grand Sorcerers, regarded with a mixture of respect and awe.
The finest sorcerers in the world. They occupied the place everyone yearned for, the summit everyone strove to reach. Once you became a sorcerer, it was only natural to want to master the essence of magic. Apparently, that tendency was particularly strong among the nobility.
Abby Garnet’s alias was... the Sorcerer of Scorching Heat.
It was a title that suited her perfectly, given that she had mastered fire magic.
"This is a fact made clear by statistics. In some years, it's the top twenty percent of the class; in others, it's only ten percent. You are certainly talented sorcerers to have been granted admission to this academy. However, you will be winnowed down even further. Eighty percent of you will graduate at the Bronze Rank, unable to even reach the Silver Rank. Yet, there have been years where the remaining twenty percent included those who reached the Grand Rank. Young people who seek the heart of magic: strive. I mean an effort that is truly blood-soaked. There will surely be those who lament their lack of talent. But ability is comprised of talent, effort, and environment. No matter how much talent one may have, I have seen many sorcerers allow themselves to rot away. Therefore, I say it again: strive."
With those concluding words, the principal's speech came to an end.
She didn't speak of ideals. She simply presented the cold reality. But that was the nature of being a sorcerer. We needed to realize that we had stepped into that kind of world.
As the principal stepped down from the podium, she cast a brief glance in my direction. When I gave a small bow, she smirked.
She and I were actually old acquaintances, and we’d been through a lot together... but I’ll skip over that for now.
"Next, the freshman representative's address."
"Yes."
A dignified voice echoed through the auditorium.
Even though it was a brand-new uniform, it looked like it had been made for Amelia. Just as when I’d met her, she kept her back perfectly straight as she ascended the podium with a resolute air.
What was she looking at with those burning eyes?
She took a soft breath and began to speak.
"I am the freshman representative, Amelia Rose. I am proud to have been admitted to the prestigious Arnold Magic Academy. However, this is the beginning, not the destination. Many hardships surely await us on our path. But as students of this academy, we must face those hardships head-on. As the principal mentioned, we must move forward while acknowledging the reality that only the top twenty percent of the class will truly achieve greatness. For that is the mission of we who have enrolled in this academy to master magic..."
I thought she did an excellent job.
She likely had innate charisma, but more than anything, her way of speaking was strangely persuasive. She had probably memorized her speech beforehand, but she skillfully incorporated the principal's points on the fly.
This had nothing to do with her ability as a sorcerer, but she was clearly someone with the character to lead others.
That was my impression, at least.
"Now then... which class..."
The entrance ceremony ended, and we all headed to our respective classrooms.
I stared at the large sheet of paper posted by the academy gates. A long list of names was written there, and I searched for mine from a distance.
"...Found it! I see... Class A."
Ray White was in Class A. There were two hundred students in our year, divided into five classes of forty. I checked the other names and saw that Amelia was there too.
I was truly glad that my first friend at the academy was in the same class.
Friends are essential for a fulfilling academy life, after all.
"..."
I entered the classroom. The seating chart was already on the blackboard. My seat was in the back row by the window. Being at the very back made me feel at ease, but the girl at the opposite end of the room was a different story.
"Lady Amelia, your speech was wonderful!"
"I truly thought it was magnificent!"
"As expected of the eldest daughter of House Rose!"
She was already surrounded.
Her popularity was understandable. With her looks, her charisma, and her noble lineage, people were naturally drawn to her.
Well, I should go say hello.
"Amelia, it looks like we're in the same class."
"Ray. I'm glad you're in the same class too."
I greeted her, cutting through the noise. The other students pierced me with stares that demanded to know who I was. Even I could tell there was no goodwill in those looks.
"Heeey. Take your seats."
A woman's voice rang out through the classroom.
The students who had been standing and chatting scattered like baby spiders and took their seats. I returned to my own as well.
"Now then. I'm your homeroom teacher, Helena Grady. You can just call me Professor Gray. Guidance on the first day is a pain, but... this is my job, so I've got to do it."
She had short hair and wore casual clothes. She wore a minimum of makeup, though her natural beauty was still apparent.
Professor Gray, huh? She exuded an air of being completely fed up with things; I wondered if she’d be all right. She was a bit unsteady on her feet, too—likely from heavy drinking the night before. I reached that conclusion based on certain past experiences.
Well, no one here was probably looking for typical teacher behavior.
The teachers at Arnold Magic Academy weren't just educators. They were experts in magic, and their role as a teacher was secondary to their work as researchers.
"Anyway, let's start with self-introductions. Just start from over there."
The professor spoke dismissively.
I listened carefully to each person's name so I could make more friends. Everyone mentioned their family background or which noble house they belonged to.
I see. So there are a lot of noble students. I definitely want to befriend them. A wide circle of acquaintances is important, after all.
Finally, it was my turn. I couldn't afford to mess this up. First impressions are everything.
"I am Ray White. Some of you might know this, but I am an Ordinary. Apparently, I'm the first Ordinary since the academy's founding, but I intend to work myself to the bone as a sorcerer. I look forward to working with you."
In the silence that followed, I heard a few faint snickers. I hadn't intended to tell a joke, but if it went over well, I wasn't going to complain.
I took my seat, looking satisfied, and Professor Gray continued to speak matter-of-factly before dismissing us for the day. Next, I headed toward the dormitory.