2.4.

Sequencee lamented the fact that he had to be appraised a second time. The contents were actually similar to the appraisal for the scholarship, involving the appraisal orb test, magic or fighting test, and the golem combat test, which didn't happen during the scholarship appraisal.

He followed through the first two tests with exactly the same thing he did in his previous one. Though it was fading, the fact that there were traces of the 'loser' marking on the top of his palm was a little depressing. He tried his best to not show any reaction at the surprised expression of the instructors.

For the orb appraisal this time around, Ro received a better score than previously. Most likely he had chosen to focus on something else. Lilian's score was similar, while Schwii's score was a red glow as bright as a light bulb.

"What element is that?" Sequencee asked.

"It's seduction."

"..."

"I-I'm joking. It's hell flame magic."

"..Okay."

'Seduction magic it is.'

When the instructor asked about what kind of element it was, Schwii showed a dusk-red flame. The instructor understood right away that Schwii was most likely a unique magician. He ticked a box on the chart.

For the test dummy, Sequencee threw the same light spear while Schwii simply turned the thing into ash with those very same flames she showed before. The magic barrier was definitely weaker but.. it was clear to the judge that blood-red flames had some unique property to nullify its effects. Ro went for the fighting appraisal and it came out with quite a good response– that was what he thought at least. Lilian didn't fare so well, only managing to leave a small scratch on the body of the dummy.

Onto the third, they were brought to the mock battle field of the training theater. There were at least a few dozen of these mock battle fields that could be found in this building.

The assessment went twenty at a time, each lasting around 20 minutes. For those that didn't have the capacity to destroy the golems, it was enough that they survive till the time reaches zero. The test did not discriminate between mages and fighters, both had their advantages and disadvantages on the field.

There were promising students among those that enrolled this year, destroying the golem in under 5 minutes. Conversely, there were also disappointing students that didn't manage to survive past the time limit and were knocked out before they had a chance to retaliate.

Fortunately, Lilian, who was considered to be the weakest among the four, managed to pass this examination just fine. Greatly surprising was how she managed to subjugate the golem with earth shrapnels.

'Critical Strike even works with magic huh?'

Ro did quite well, smashing the golem apart using the bastard sword he chose on a whim.

Then it came Sequencee's turn. A film-like round barrier appeared around the field as the magician standing outside invocated her spell. The dirt on the field began to converge into a two meter giant, four times larger than the ones that were given to the other's.

'I wonder why..'

Sequencee had a suspicion that it was because of his display of strength during the first and second appraisal, or that the tattoo on his hand was cursing his luck. He turned to Schwii, she nodded.

'Let's aim for the top.'

The golem rushed forward– Sequencee dispersed the illusion for the earth elemental bead and hurled it forward. It was a simple gesture which gouged an entire trench into the ground of the field, as if a Death Wyrm had appeared on the battlefield. The golem was instantly obliterated when it came into contact, and the people in the surrounding raised their voices in shock.

The class they would enter would be divided based on one's proficiency. Top students will enter a class with top students, while mediocre students will enter mediocre classes and mix among themselves in the lower classes. Sequencee aim was simple, to guarantee the entry into the same class as Schwii. It was clearly stated before that this appraisal would separate the best students into their own top class to motivate everyone to do their best.

"Sequencee, correct?" The instructor confirmed his name.

"Yes. I'm Sequencee."

"You see me later."

"Okay?"

It wasn't long before Schwii's turn came. Similarly to what had transpired with Sequencee, a larger golem had been summoned. Being more observant in her surroundings, Schwii recognized that these buffier golems were only prepared for the students that did well in the previous two tests.

She had to do well to enter the top class. This was to ensure their new school life together.

Her crimson eyes scintillated as her hair fluttered to the influx of mana. She reached out her hands towards the golem and pushed forth red flames. Like a black plague, it spread viciously around its body, disregarding the magic resistant barrier which enveloped it, and in a matter of seconds, melted into some black ash.

Both Schwii and Sequencee had acquired record breaking speeds in subjugating the simple golems. Of course, there were other students who held similar records showing similarly flashy stunts, but Schwii and Sequencee stood out because of the unconventional method they showed.

Hopefully with this, they would be able to enter the same class.

"Schwii, correct?"

"Yes sir."

"Good work."

"Thank you sir."

She stepped off the field. Flicking her hair with her wrist, it captivated the hearts of many males here. It was just too bad she was already engaged. She stood beside Sequencee with a calm expression, crushing the hopes of anyone who wished to get anywhere close to her.

The third appraisal ended without a hitch. The performance will be assessed by the instructors of different classes and the results will be announced during the first school day in a week's time. These results weren't only limited to the students of today as there were likely more and more students which will enroll until the deadline closes.

"Sequencee, do you mind?" The instructor called out.

"Uh, okay."

"May I come too?" Schwii asked.

"I don't mind. Though, it might be a sensitive topic which concerns him."

"Um.." Lilian stood behind them anxiously.

"How about us?" Ro asked.

"I can't allow everyone," the instructor said.

"Ro, Lilian. Is it alright if you return first? We'll go back when things are done. Feel free to order anything for lunch, I'll compensate later," Schwii said with a troubled smile.

"Y-Yes..?"

"Alright.."

And so Ro and Lilian left as Sequencee and Schwii followed the instructor past the connecting bridge to some office building. They were brought to a function room which the instructor chose on a whim.

"Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable. This is a confidential conversation out of pure curiosity. I hope telling you this doesn't mean I'm trying to be hostile," he said as he held the door open for them.

"..."

"..."

Schwii narrowed her eyes on him. He remained unfazed. In the end, she decided it wasn't worth the trouble to resist and simply entered. Sequencee followed without thinking so much, only to the extent of raising his vigilance. Unlike Schwii, he hadn't met repeated situations of betrayal, so he didn't have Schwii's trust issues.

The instructor took a seat on the opposite couch.

"My name is Grian Smith. The half-ass pedagogue for the class you two will be assigned to," he crossed his legs and leaned back.

"I see…Then in that case, thank you for assigning it as so Sir Smith, or would you prefer I call you by name?" Schwii responded.

"Whichever is fine. you don't need to mind so much, as long as I know who you're talking to. Though, I think it's better if you call me Grian. There are many Smiths in the academy."

"I will, Sir Grian."

"It's a pleasure to meet you sir," Sequencee greeted.

"With introductions out of the way, I need to confirm something. Sequencee, were you the ones who came in with the demon horns the other day?"

'Oh, so it's about this huh?'

A few days before they entered the academy when Sequencee had yet to meet Schwii, he had tried to exchange his very own demon horns to enroll into the academy. Who would've thought that doing so didn't only lead to theft, but extermination. Sequencee wasn't sure if he would still be sitting here today if not for Schwii.

"It's me. What else do you want to know?"

"So it's you. I'm asking out of curiosity, assuming that I'm not familiar with the person who threw you out of the academy. Were those real? I've been hearing rumors, but it's really a mess. Many departments are trying to fight over that material."

"It's real."

"If you say so then believe you. But I just don't understand why anyone would treat a student in that manner. Were you compensated?"

'What is he even trying to do? Throw me a pity party?'

Sensing Sequencee's souring mood, Grian added.

"I will apologize for the mistreatment should you have experienced any. Sometimes people don't act as they should and abuse their authority, as would in every organization. I know it's unfair and unjust to not withhold integrity in the system, but it's inevitable that incidents like this will happen. My apologies for being crude."

"Yeah.."

"I simply want to know you two better. I hope you two become the stars of the second class enforcer group for this semester. Talents like you two are rare to come by hm.. Sequencee, you were revoked in the scholarship appraisal?"

"Yeah.."

"Feel free to share with me anything of concern. I'll do my best to help you to my abilities."

First class enforcers and second class enforcers would enter separate classes. There's no mixing between the two and it's typical of those in the first class to look down on those in the second class. Though it rarely reaches the extent where a fight breaks out, Grian wasn't happy with this status variability. In the first place, there was no need to separate enforcers in this manner.

Anyways, that was a diverging topic. Grian had wanted to see Sequencee to confirm his suspicion. He was one of the few instructors that oversaw the incident where a student was dragged out of the academy campus. And being ignorant, he turned a blind eye to it. Who would've thought that the very same person would end up in his class, further yet, as an extremely talented individual. He couldn't help but feel guilty for not helping him back then.

The schedule for the year was briefly relayed to them, including the estimated day for the hero's arrival.

Riestallia Academy was designed not only to nurture talents which will bring everlasting glory to the human race, it was Hero Rika's last will– a place to nurture the heroes of the next era.

'So the hero's arrival, the New Dawn, will mark the beginning of the school semester. I wonder if it's a she or he.'