Giving Ceremony

*NEXT DAY*

As I entered the classroom, I saw Angel. To be honest, she was really pretty, and her name suited her well. I walked to my seat and sat down.

"Hey," I said.

She ignores me.

"You can't just keep ignoring me, you know that."

Angel kept her eyes fixed on Felicia, who was frowning. "Yes, I can and..."

SPEAKER: "Angel, will you please report to the principal's office."

Angel looked at me with fear in her eyes. What had I done?

***5 Hours Ago***

"We need a healer," a woman said.

Anon: "No, it's okay Serena, I'm fine."

Serena: "No, we need one. We can find them at the school."

Anon: "Oh, the school. That's right. We still need a swordsman and archer."

"Just seal it, then we can get the healer and the rest of the crew."

"You know I can't control my magic," Serena said.

"Don't worry about me, just do it," I replied.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, concerned.

"Yeah, just do it."

Serena brought out her grimoire and recited twice:

"Close now, not healed, and remain locked until I need." (Sealing spell)

"You need to rest. You know your head was hit. I'll drop you off at the school," Serena said.

"Who are you? Where am I? Ouchh! My head..."

"No, no, no! This is what I was avoiding!" Serena screamed.

"I don't feel so good..." I said before falling unconscious.

"Anon, wake up!"

wakes up

Was that a dream? What kind of dream was that? Oh, right—I didn't know how I ended up unconscious with a head injury, but is that what happened? Or was that just a dream?

"Mmmmm, Serena... Who might that be? And what could be our relationship?"

"I'm sleepy. Let me go back to sleep."

*Morning*

Yawns "Hmmm, it's morning already. Let me get ready for school."

School bell rings

As I approached my classroom, I noticed Felicia staring at me, but this time it was a glare. I didn't mind and walked into the classroom.

As I entered, I saw Angel again. Honestly, she was really pretty, and her name fit her well. I walked up to my seat and sat down.

"Hey," I said.

She ignored me.

"You can't just keep ignoring me, you know that," I said, while glancing at Felicia, who was frowning.

"Yes, I can and..."

SPEAKER: "Angel, will you please report to the principal's office."

Angel looked at me with fear in her eyes. What have I done?

With tears already falling from her eyes, she glared at Felicia, who seemed to enjoy the moment.

"You better not cost me my future, Felicia!" Angel shouted.

"Just see what you've caused me! We don't even know each other," Angel said as she walked out of the class toward the principal's office.

*CURRENTLY*

What have I done? I have to do something.

"Anon, where are you going?" Miss Stella asked.

"Is that supposed to be a question? To the principal's office, of course! I can't let someone take a fall for what I and this brat caused."

"Anon, don't you talk to me in that manner, or you'll get..." Miss Stella warned.

"Expelled! Like I care—I didn't even want to come here in the first place!" I shouted, walking out on her.

Door slams

I ran after Angel but couldn't catch up with her in time. She had already entered the principal's office. I barged in and shouted, "You can't expel her, or I go too!"

"And may I ask, who might you be?" the principal asked.

"Well, I am Anon Hemsworth," I replied. "Why would you expel someone who did nothing wrong?"

"Just like my daughter said, you are a handsome man," the principal commented.

"So that's why you want to expel her—because I chose to sit beside her?"

"Who said anything about expelling? Chuckles I'm not expelling anyone. And why would I expel someone who hasn't done anything? Besides, I can't expel anyone," the principal added.

"But what about the other girls and boys Felicia got you to expel?" Angel asked.

"Oh, don't mind that girl. She's just spoiled. She has never made me expel anyone, and she never will. Those boys and girls did very bad things, which I can't reveal, and by chance, they were associated with Felicia in some way, which caused the rumors," he explained.

"Then why was I called?" Angel questioned.

"Yes, you were called, but not to be expelled. I just wanted to let you know that Felicia is a very unique girl but complicated in nature. If she troubles you in any way, either report to your instructors, or you can come directly to me."

Angel relaxed and smiled. Before I knew it, she hugged me. It was surprising because I didn't understand why.

She whispered in my ear, "Thank you, Anon. If it weren't for you, I would have lived in fear of someone who deserves hate."

"That's enough, Angel. You can leave. I want to have a word with Anon," the principal said. Angel nodded and left the office.

I also had some questions for the principal—especially about why I couldn't leave and how I ended up here with an injury.

"I know you have questions, but I can't answer them all. However, I can tell you this: Rose must have already told you, but we don't know how you got here. It seems you have amnesia. Also, yes, we are keeping you here under strict conditions," the principal explained.

"And the reasons why?" I asked.

"I can't say—orders from the managerial board," the principal replied.

"Okay, so you're not in charge here?"

"No, I'm not the head. That's why I can't expel anyone, because it's not my decision to make," he explained.

"Oh, okay. I still have more questions, and—oh! Before I forget, I had a strange dream I don't understand. Can you explain it?"

"Hmmm, a dream. I'll see about that, but for now, you need to get back to class. It's almost time for the Giving Ceremony."

"Is it when we get assigned our magic types?" I asked.

"Yes, for you and the other new mages. We'll talk about your dream and other questions tomorrow after your classes. You can meet me then."

"Alright," I said. I walked out of his office and hurried back to my class, only to find no one there except Angel.

"Hurry," she said. "They've all gone to the library. Let's go."

"Wow, you waited for me! So, we're friends?" I teased.

"No, just classmates," she replied.

I laughed, and we headed to the library.

"Thank goodness they haven't started. You would have gotten me in trouble if they had, and I would've killed you this time," Angel joked.

I laughed again. At least she wasn't ignoring me anymore. This place was huge, filled with so many books.

The instructor spoke, "Mages, we are about to begin. Stretch forth your hands and recite these words to summon your grimoires. We all stretched our hands as instructed. Now, chant: 'Oh come thou, grimoire, come to me and serve me!'"

The room filled with chanting students:

"OH COME THOU, GRIMOIRE, COME TO ME AND SERVE ME!"

It got louder and louder, and I joined in.

"OH COME THOU, GRIMOIRE, COME TO ME AND SERVE ME!"

Then it happened—grimoires started flying around the library, landing in the hands of the mages. It continued until mine finally arrived. For some reason, I was the last to get a grimoire.

The instructor addressed the class: "I assume you all have your grimoires. The word inscribed on your grimoire will be your magical attribute. Note that a grimoire can't be stolen because it's useless to anyone but its chosen mage."

Students murmuring.

"QUIET!" the instructor snapped, and silence fell.

"I know some of you are shocked by your attributes, but it is what it is. All grimoires start with one spell, and as you advance, more will reveal themselves. Now, eat and drink to celebrate your success. Good day, Mages."

I turned to Angel. "Wow, so cool! What did you get, Angel?"

Angel sighed. "Oh, me? I don't really like mine. I got summoning magic and plant magic."

"Wow, so you can summon anything you want. That's awesome!"

"No, it isn't. From what I'm seeing, I can only summon non-living things over short distances," Angel replied.

"Well, we'll get better together and grow stronger," I assured her.

"Alright," she said. "Judging by how happy you are, you must have gotten something amazing. What did you get?"

I smiled as Felicia stared at us spitefully. "Oh yes, to me it's amazing, but to others, it might seem normal. I got..."