2 Richard's test
The realization that the languages were similar acted as a catalyst, abruptly awakening a memory that his mind had suppressed.
— Oh, good lord! That's why the ancient ones said that... What did they say? —Richard's disbelief echoed in his voice. It seemed inconceivable that he could forget something so crucial, especially considering it had been only hours since he inhabited this new body.
— I... I can't remember! — he exclaimed, astonishment permeating his tone if there had been someone there to witness it. As the shock lingered, the alarm signaling the commencement of classes rang out.
— It's already this late? — Richard peered outside, greeted by the brilliance of the sun and the enchanting canvas of a clear blue sky.
— This new world is so beautiful. I have never seen such a scene in the past,. —he reflected. While he had indeed seen similar vistas before, his past focus on achieving goals had prevented him from truly appreciating the world's beauty. The transition to a new world had heightened his awareness, and this breathtaking sight surpassed even the wonders of magic.
— I've got no time to waste thinking about that, I need to pass the test, then I'll figure things out. — Leaving his dorm, Richard encountered a bustling corridor filled with people rushing, walking, and laughing.
Richard observed the diverse array of races, elves, dwarfs, humans, and even some beast folk. However, he couldn't ignore the discord in the air, especially directed towards the beast folk. His gaze fixed on a bunny-like beast folk pressed against the wall by a human, a distressing sight that hinted at the tensions simmering beneath the surface of this seemingly enchanting world.
The girl from the bunny folk was a striking figure, her jet-black hair framing her face in short, tousled waves. Perched atop her head were petite bunny ears, a distinctive feature that added a touch of innocence to her appearance. Her eyes, a vivid shade of red. Despite her captivating features, she was notably short, a delicate stature that added to her vulnerability. In any other world, she would have been the epitome of a pretty girl, the kind that otakus would go wild over.
However, the enchantment of her appearance was marred by the scene unfolding. Her countenance betrayed an unmistakable mixture of annoyance and disgust. It was as if her beauty had become a curse in this place, attracting unwanted attention and disdain. The red eyes, usually vibrant, now reflected a sense of helplessness, a plea for understanding that fell on indifferent ears.
Yet, despite the evident discomfort, the girl remained paralyzed, trapped in a space where her distress went unnoticed. The bustling corridor around her seemed oblivious to her silent struggle, an isolation that intensified the unsettling atmosphere. It was a poignant snapshot of a moment where beauty was overshadowed by vulnerability, and the otakus' imagined admiration was replaced by a harsh reality of neglect.
Richard tried to go there, but his test was about to begin, and he could not lose time with this. Running with his skinny body, he was sweating, he had to go through many corridors, but he arrived in time. The class seemed like a high school class from his last world. Chairs arranged in rows and Richard sat in the last one of the first row.
He was siting next to a window and the classmates around him started gossiping as soon as he got in class. Richard heard laughs and mockery, the old Richard used to feel depressed whenever it happened, but as a citizen of a modern society, he's used to mockery and bullying.
He ignored all the chattering around and focused on the formulas and chants. Suddenly, the chatter stopped and a group of humans walked in the class. They are not unfamiliar to Richard, they are the main source of his bullying.
The leader is a boastful dwarf, Gavin Ironforge, with a fondness for inventing impractical gadgets and magical devices. He often rubs his creations in Richard's face, highlighting his lack of access to magical resources.
Two young boys stand behind him, staring at Richard with despise. The one on the left is, Finnian Stonehart, the young athlete, is of average height with a robust build. His tousled chestnut hair and sharp hazel eyes convey an intense and focused demeanor. He's a talented athlete who excels in physical feats of magic, but struggles with spell casting. He sees Richard as weak and unimpressive, since he doesn't have the resources neither the background to be in the academy.
The one in the right, Cedric Greycastle, the competitive and arrogant counterpart, stands tall with a slender yet well-defined frame. His pitch-black hair is neatly combed, and his piercing blue eyes exude a sense of confidence bordering on conceit. He openly mocks Richard for being an orphan and has an ongoing hatred with him.
— The orphan is ready to his last class? Oh, no, sorry. Don't tell your mommy I said that. — The whole class laughed when they heard that. They are used to interactions like this one, but today everyone seems to expect something happening between those two.
Differently than Cedric expected, Richard ignored him and didn't even care about this group, he's more interested in the formulas and languages in his mind.
— Hey, orphan, we're talking to you. Are you deaf? — Gavin's voice sounded outraged, he can't believe that the coward and naive weakling is now ignoring him.
Richard glanced at Gavin, and all he felt was a sense of pity. Pity for the constant craving for approval, the desperate attempts to assert dominance, a familiar struggle he had already endured. Rather than harboring resentment, Richard's emotions veered towards understanding.
— Boy, stop trying to show up. It only shows how insecure you are. — Richard offered advice, momentarily forgetting that he, too, was now a young boy. Gavin's face flushed crimson, his breath quickened, and mana began to swirl around him. In the impending eruption of magical energy, the teacher abruptly swung the door open.
— Sit down! — A loud sound wave echoed through the classroom. Everyone who were standing in class were hit by the sound wave and were knocked back. Gavin stared the professor for some time, but gave up and went back to his seat. When his lackeys saw him going back, they did the same.
— First thing, I hope you deal with your problems outside this classroom. If I get to know any of you did something funny, it won't be funny for you. — Professor Alderick Stoneheart was always known as one of the kindest professors of the academy, but no one expected he'd stand up for that boy. The thing they didn't know is that he's well known as someone righteous and unbiased. So when he saw those kids about to use magic to beat someone as weak as Richard, he didn't need to think twice about what to do.
He never tried to stop because it was just some mockery, and he didn't care for something so simple. Everyone have to deal with some things to grow up, and looking at Richard, he felt that his decision to not stop it was worth it. What didn't know, is that if Richard didn't possess the boy's body, he'd be dead because of that same decision, it'd be fun to see how Alderick would react if he knew that. Despite that, when he saw something as just as magic being used to overwhelm someone so weak, he got really mad at how the system is flawed.
— Now, it's time to begin the test. This time, as you all know, you need to cast a spell, and it needs to be strong enough to pass through the target's armor.
— Now, follow me to the training area. — Alderick walks through the school while leading everyone. The students already have been in the training area, but the professor needs to be there to get the permission. Only in the third semester they can go by themselves to training.
"It's my luck, if he didn't die today, but tomorrow, I'd have no idea of how to learn about magic and even more about this world." Richard took a deep breath and followed, trying to ease his tension.
When he got into the training yard, there were many dummies with a leather armor. Richard counted 5 rows and 10 columns of dummies. The professor was watching Richard, and seemed worried about his results.
After all, even with his poor background and all his disadvantages, he's always putting hard work into his studies. Alderick respects the love for magic that the boy displays. He's slowly starting to like the boy and seeing the confidence that Richard is showing, a miracle might happen today.
On the other side, there's a group of people who are not even a little pleased with the sudden confidence of the previous weak boy. Gavin stared the boy and had an idea, he talked with his friends, and they laughed, it was a fun plan.
— You're a genius, Gavin. I want to see how he's going to fake confidence again. — Cedric said, and his smile showed some schadenfreude.
The group walked to where Richard was standing, when the professor saw that, he was about to say something, but he looked at the boy, and he didn't see any fear, instead he was confident.
Alderick wasn't sure of how things would go, but he wanted to see if this confidence is genuine or just a facade.
The classmates saw the group going to the boy, the chatter began.
— Something fun is about to happen. — A short dark hair boy said.
— Maybe they'll beat him? — A girl next to that boy whispered, afraid that Alderick would hear her.
Chattering like this were happening in almost every group of students in the training yard. When the chatter was about to get intense, the group of 3 boys were in front of Richard.
— Hey, Orphan boy. Let's make a bet, aren't you so confident now? — Gavin stepped forward and stopped when he was face to face with Richard.
Richard didn't look away from Gavin's eyes. — A bet, you say? Aren't you afraid you'll lose? — He was getting tired of that boy, Richard now is determined to teach him a lesson.
Looking closely, Richard saw that Gavin didn't take the words he said easily. Gavin was grinding his teeth, and he's trying his best to not throw a fireball in this bastard's face.
— I might take your bet, but it has to be in my terms. — Richard tried to be as straightforward as possible.
— All right, asshole, but whoever loses have to do whatever the winner says, are you afraid now?. — Gavin wanted to punch this boy face right now, but he knew Alderick was watching them.
— Sure. No need to be afraid. — Richard didn't even think before answering. Then, both of them agreed with the terms of whoever makes the greatest damage to the dummy, will win the bet.
— Professor, did you hear what he said, right? — Gavin said, he knew because of Finnian that his uncle can hear whatever he wants in a range of 100 meters. Alderick just nodded and watched things going on.
— Now, it's time to begin. I wish to you all the best of luck. — Alderick said, and then he started a count-down.
— 3, 2 e 1...
— Start!
The test started and was done individually and only one person at a time, Richard was on the last column and last row. The first person focused, and then a magic word appeared in front of him.
— Water bullet — A water bullet flied to the dummy and hit the armor, but it just splashed and didn't do any damage.
— Jimmy, failed.
The second one stepped forward, she was seeming to have fun with the performance of the past participant. She stood there for a bit and some time latter a magic word appeard out of thin air.
— Ember! — A thin flame appeared and flied to the dummy. When it hit the target, only burned a little bit of the leather, but didn't do anything more than that.
— Jesse, failed.
— Kim, failed...
It was Finnian time, he stepped forward and until now, no one passed the test. The first semester is one of the harshest to the classes.
Finnian focused and then shouted. — Ember! — A flame embeded his hand and then he punched the chest of the dummy. The hole went through half of the dummy, everyone was surprised with the power of the attack.
— Finnian, Pass. — Alderick seemed pleased with the succes of his nephew, he smirked, but when he noticed he keept his face neutral.
— John, failed...
After half of the class going through the test, it was Cedric time.
He walked and stopped at 1 meter from the dummy.
— Learn how thing's should be done, orphan!— Shouted and looked to Richard. Then focused back on the dummy.
— Earth shard — The magic words appeared, and everyone was shocked. It was a two word chant, not even Alderick expected someone to do something like this.
When Cedric finished the chant, no one, but two shards appeared and pirced through the armor. No one believed that he could do that, Gavin seemed shocked that one of his lackeys could do that.
— Marry, failed...
— Chris, failed...
Gavin step forward and there's only one person left, that person is looking at Gavin's dummy with an almost imperceptible smile.
