“Still, wouldn’t I at least be somewhere in the middle?”
This was the mindset shared by 98% of new students in their first semester at the academy.
Naturally, Jacqueline thought the same.
“I mean, I may not be as good as you or Rita, but I studied hard beside you guys, didn’t I? So I must’ve made it into the top ten, right?”
Time passed, and by May, it had already been a week since midterms ended.
The test results were posted on the central bulletin board of the First Magic Studies Hall—
The very same board where the notice about Professor Winslet and Shannon’s duel had been posted.
“Hmm, maybe top ten is too much to hope for? Then how about top twenty? No, no, fifty? Yeah, that’s not bad, right? Right?”
Some people get more talkative the more anxious they are.
Jacqueline was one of them.
The number of first-year students at the Magic Department was about 400.
Since rankings determined things like the allowance provided by the academy, dignity maintenance expenses, and priority access to school facilities, exam results were a major concern for the students.
A large crowd had already gathered in front of the bulletin board.
When Jacqueline struggled to push through the crowd, Shannon had no choice but to cast a spell.
It was a levitation spell.
An invisible ring of telekinetic force gently wrapped around Jacqueline’s waist and lifted her up.
Startled as her feet left the ground, Jacqueline quickly realized it was Shannon’s magic and awkwardly muttered,
“Oh, thanks.”
“Let’s get this over with and go. It’s too crowded to even breathe here.”
It was still early enough that she could’ve been sleeping in, but Shannon had been dragged out by Jacqueline’s insistence.
Shannon herself had little interest in her grades.
She hadn’t transferred to the academy to study in the first place.
Given the academy’s level, it was obvious she’d gotten a perfect score in every subject anyway.
“Shannon! Your name’s here…. right at the top! You’re first!”
“Mhmm, I figured.”
“Ugh, where’s my name? I don’t even care about making the top 100 anymore. Just please don’t let me be in the bottom group. Please, please, please!”
“Are you searching from the top down?”
“Of course I am!”
Floating up beside Jacqueline in midair, Shannon shaded her eyes with her hand and said,
“There it is. Jacqueline, your name.”
“Huh? Where?”
“Way at the bottom. Second to last.”
“Oh…”
***
On the day the test scores were posted, the academy’s first-year students were summoned to the auditorium—
The very same hall where the entrance ceremony had taken place.
Some students were already excited for the upcoming event.
“Weren’t they supposed to give something out today?”
“Certificates or something like that, I think?”
“It’s not a certificate of merit; it’s a certificate of completion. Starting today, the academy officially recognizes us as first-class mages.”
“Ooh, so we finally get to be treated like real mages wherever we go?”
“Everyone quiet. You there. Stand in line properly.”
The professors in charge of discipline began corralling the students, and soon after, a man stepped up onto the stage.
A middle-aged man with an oddly thick head of hair.
It was Jonathan Kingfisher, the dean of the Magic Department.
“Are there still students talking? You there. Stay behind after the ceremony. Professor Charles? Please remember that student’s face and give them a demerit. We have honored guests with us today, and this is an embarrassment. Truly shameful.”
Dean Kingfisher glanced over at the guest seats at the back of the stage.
Beneath the tapestries bearing the emblems of the Laurencia Kingdom and Karaf, two mages sat.
One was Professor Winter Winslet.
The other was Camille Sapin, the top authority at the Karaf embassy of Laurencia.
Both were prominent figures, and because of that, the dean felt the need to assert his authority.
To make a good impression.
Unfortunately, his way of doing so involved taking it out on innocent professors and students, which did nothing to elevate the ceremony’s dignity. If anything, it only brought it down.
Eventually, Professor Winslet, unable to watch any longer, quietly said a word or two.
Only then did Dean Kingfisher wipe the nervous sweat from his brow and step up to the voice amplification orb.
“Now, we will begin the first-class completion ceremony.”
At the sound of weak applause, Dean Kingfisher shot a glance at the professors.
The clapping grew louder, and Jonathan smiled in satisfaction.
“Ahem. It’s already been three months since you entered the academy. In that time, you’ve gained a wide range of knowledge, taken exams, and not a single one of you failed to meet the international first-class standard. And so today, the academy officially declares you recognized as true mages and we celebrate that achievement.”
“Class” was a numerical unit used to represent a mage’s abilities.
It was a comprehensive score reflecting a mage’s skills, capabilities, knowledge, and the number of spells they can wield. Originally developed in Karaf, it has now become the most widely accepted standard.
First-class serves as the dividing line between mages and non-mages, and to be recognized as a first-class mage, one must meet all four of the following criteria:
Understand the concept of magic circuits and have constructed at least one;
Understand the properties of the four basic elements and be able to control at least one;
Be capable of casting four or more basic spells;
And pass the written exam established by Karaf.
It may sound complicated, but in reality, the standard wasn’t all that high.
It’s a level that even complete beginners can reach within three months of first learning magic.
Still, the academy deliberately held a formal ceremony just for the newcomers.
It served both to present the academy’s achievements in a more visible and polished way and to boost student morale.
“By the time you complete your four years at the academy and graduate, you’ll have reached the level of third-class. Third-class! With that, you’ll be treated as a fully qualified mage wherever you go. Any kingdom, any territory.”
Since the Magic Academy admits around 400 new students each year, its goal was to produce approximately 400 third-class mages annually for the kingdom.
In reality, they barely manage to hit half that number. But for an educational institution in an ordinary kingdom. Not Karaf, the so-called birthplace of magic. It was still an impressive feat.
“Don’t forget, it’s all thanks to the academy’s excellent curriculum, the distinguished scholars behind me, and dedicated administrators like myself. You should always be grateful. Always!”
“And rejoice! Because today, we have a special gift just for you. Normally, this ceremony only includes a small token and a certificate, but this year, Professor Winter Winslet has prepared a scholarship fund for you out of her own pocket. Let’s have a round of applause!”
A cheer erupted among the students.
As expected, no one in this world disliked free money.
That included Jacqueline, who was sitting in the front row.
Just moments ago, she had been nodding off during the dean’s boring speech, but the moment money was mentioned, her eyes snapped open.
“What? We’re getting money?”
“Yeah. Apparently, Professor Winslet set up a scholarship fund using his own money. It’s going to be distributed annually to every student in the Magic Department.”
“No way. That’s awesome.”
Rather than feeling gratitude toward the donor, Jacqueline was already busy planning how to spend it.
I’m definitely going to check out that new ice cream shop. I heard the orange mint gelato there is amazing…
Just as Jacqueline swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth, the dean continued speaking.
“Of course, the scholarships will be distributed based on merit according to your grades.”
“Ah.”
“Next, we will proceed with the award ceremony. The top five scorers on the midterm exams will come up to the stage to represent their year. These five students will receive certificates and scholarships from another distinguished guest gracing us with their presence today. That is Karaf’s Special Envoy and Class 6 mage, Ambassador Camille Sapin. Please welcome Ambassador Sapin with thunderous applause and cheers.”
Camille was seated behind the podium rose with a smile.
He turned to Professor Winslet who sat beside him and spoke.
“Professor Winslet, you’re the one who funded the scholarships…are you sure it’s alright for me to take the credit like this?”
“Think of it as payment for handling the tedious part.”
“Haha. And here I thought showing my face to promising young mages was an honor, not a chore.”
“The truth is, I wanted the students to know that I’m not the only mentor from Karaf worth looking up to. We were born in different places, but we’re all connected by our shared pursuit of magic.”
“Oh? So you’re asking me to become a roof and shelter for these young minds?”
“Someday. If possible.”
Camille was quietly surprised.
He had always heard that Winter Winslet was arrogant and indifferent to others. But this moment revealed someone who, deep down, truly cared for the students.
Perhaps rumors really are just rumors.
Camille revised his first impression of Professor Winslet.
“If you say so, Professor, then I suppose I have no choice but to live up to those expectations.”
With that reply, Ambassador Sapin stepped onto the stage with a light heart.
The first-year students of the Magic Department looked up at him with bright, eager eyes.
Their gazes were filled with admiration, curiosity, and a hint of competitive spirit.
A natural smile formed on Sapin’s lips.
Professor Winslet was right.
No matter which country they were born in, these students were all comrades and future successors, working alongside him to preserve the culture of magic and advance the field.
And among them are five particularly promising talents.
As Camille exchanged glances with each of them in greeting, his mouth suddenly dropped open.
The five top scorers had taken the stage.
And among them was one face that should not have been there.
Dean Kingfisher called out her name.
“Top scorer in the midterm exams: Shannon Quinlivan.”
Camille’s handsome and composed face twisted into a strange grimace.
Leave a Reply