"Old" Friend

After entering the Academy, Silvie was greeted by a variety of people walking on the pathway. Most of them were nobles and some were commoners. The Academy was built outside the Kingdom so Nobles and Commoners can enroll if they have the ability. She also wants to enroll in her last life but she doesn't have money. Also, she already passed the age limit after she did have money.

Looking at the huge buildings inside, she felt a little thrilled. This is where "He" studies too. That's right, wanting to try going to school is only one reason. The other reason is that "He" came to this Academy, he was a commoner that has a family, but because he offends one of the nobles his family was destroyed and he was forced to be dropped from this Academy and then he trained to become a knight. This is one of the reasons she despises the nobles. She wants to enter as a commoner so that she can get close to him and protect him from those nobles.

She saw the teachers gather all the participants and guide all of them to a huge building. The building was a huge arena and the middle of it was a mobile stage placed by the teacher. The examinee was told to wait in front of the mobile stage they placed and divide them into two. On one side was the Nobles and the other was the Commoners. Silvie walked to the Commoner side and looked around, that guy is not here yet? but she can't be so sure because there's a lot of people here. After looking around for a while she didn't see him so she gave up, --Anyway, he will pop out sooner or later--.

The Teacher beckoned them to be quiet and a purple-haired old lady wearing a white and gold robe came to the top of the stage, she was the principal of this Academy and her name is Elizabeth Cranbell. Nothing special, just some greetings and words of encouragement from her. Anyway, after she gets to the side with the teachers, they prepared one device with a crystal ball in the middle of it in front of each side, this was to measure their talent in magic and what element was better for them. They then told all of us to line up and came forward one by one. The first commoner that came forward was a hot-tempered looking boy, while on the commoner side it was a Gold haired boy with an extraordinary temperament.

From what she heard from the whispers around her, that seems to be one of the princes, His name was Cali- something, not important. They put their hands on the ball and it lights up, the commoner boy crystal ball turned red and seems blazing red from far. While the prince's crystal ball turned Light Blue, but it's a little gloomy looking compared to the commoner ball.

The Commoners clapped while the Nobles all whispers at each other. The prince guy seems to look sideways with hate in his eyes while the commoner boy grinned widely while being praised by the teachers. The prince guy was also being praised but well... Anyway, the next one... a girl with two glows on her ball, and the next one...

...

Finally, it was Silvie's turn, when she went up she immediately becomes the center of attention, even the nobles turned and looked at her. It's not that there are no beautiful people on the commoner side, but it's just that Silvie's class was too high, even on disguise she can beat almost all of the girls here in terms of appearance.

She put her hand on the crystal ball... but nothing happens. Silvie was confused, her magic already returned a while ago, she even practices magic a little with her mother. Also, she's a dragon, and dragons have a natural closeness with nature, especially magics so why doesn't the device do anything?.

Seeing her crystal ball doesn't do anything, both groups immediately whisper at each other, Silvie can even hear the laugh at some girls from both groups, but she is still indifferent to it. When she looked at the teacher she saw that the principal looked at her with a surprised expression, Silvie then saw her smile at her. She shrugged it off as nothing and walked down the stage, when she walked down she heard the principal voice telling the teacher to change the ball. At first, she was confused, --hm? is the ball rigged? did I have to try again?-- but not long after she knows why. When she turned around, she saw that cracks started to appear on the crystal ball, then it grew larger and larger, finally, the crystal ball break to pieces, and the scenes became silent immediately.

It was until the principal coughed that the teacher started moving and change the device. Seeing the new device being placed, Silvie asked, "Should I try again?". The principal shook her head and smiled, "No need dear, you can go back". Hearing that, Silvie walked down the stage and returned to the Commoner's place on the side, when she walked away, all the people were watching her, from the commoner's side and the side of the nobles. It was only until the next guy was called that they looked away, well, not all. Some people have still lingered their vision on her, the one with the most heated stare was from the prince, she was indifferent to it though.

When the last guy was finished Silvie was a little dejected. --Where the hell is he?--. Silvie looked around again but still didn't see his silhouette. When one of the teachers stood up, wanting to end the session, a shout was heard from behind the crowds, "PLEASE WAIT!". --This voice, could it be?-- although the voice was a little immature, it more or like, resembles the future voice. When she looked at the source, it was a tall boy with brown messy hair and pure looking light-brown eyes, he's not too handsome but he had a unique temperament that made people attracted to him.

He ran forward to the front of the stage while sweating profusely. The teacher was a little dissatisfied with him and said, "This student, the session was already over, since you're late you can take the test next year". Hearing that, the boy bowed and apologized, "I'm sorry sir! but I can't wait for next year, please let me take the test today!", but seeing the teacher didn't change his decision, he started to lower his knees, wanting to kneel. Silvie looked at him wanting to kneel so readily with a frown. He told her in the past life that he missed this year's test and have to enroll next year. but the money his family gathered with hard work won't be returned and finally, they fell into debt. This is why right now, he can throw away his pride and willingly want to kneel.

Unwilling to see it anymore, Silvie strode forward and hold him up to prevent him from kneeling. The boy was surprised and looked back at the person that prevents him, seeing that it was a beautiful girl, he blushed. Silvie didn't see it, instead, she looked at the stage more precisely, looking at the teacher, and said, "Can the teacher please let him take the test now? I will be his guarantee".

The teacher looked at her, unsure what to do, on one side there are rules, on the other side, the principal seems to like the girl. It didn't take long but he heard the principal said, "Let him take the test". One of the teachers reminded her, "But, the rules...", but the principal said uncaringly, "Rules are dead, people are alive, who made those stupid rules anyway". Another teacher immediately reminded, "But principal, you made the rules". The principal was first frozen and then snaps at the teacher, "Shut it will ya, anyway, let the boy took the test. But I'm curious little girl, why do you want to help him?".

Hearing her question, Silvie simply said, "He's my friend". The principal looked at both of them, "I see, friends huh". She then beckoned the boy to come forward, "Come here boy, hurry up or I'll change my mind". The boy immediately thanked Silvie and hurriedly came to the top of the stage, the teacher asked for his name which he said loudly, "my name is Zen!". After that, he put his hand on the crystal ball, and at first, it doesn't do anything, but slowly breeze started appearing around him and the ball turned a little green. The principal looked at Zen and Silvie and murmured, "Looks like this year will be fun".

After that, the magic measurement session was ended. Zen came to Silvie and shyly thanked her, "Thank you so much, err...", "Silvie", "Silvie! umm... have we met somewhere?". Silvie looks at him like looking like an idiot, "No, why? you don't want me helping you?". Seeing her a little angry, Zen hurriedly shakes his head, "No no! I mean I just want to know why you help me?". Silvie didn't even look at him and said, "Why I want to is my business why do you have to know?". Since she said so he can't force her right? Zen can only scratch the back of his head awkwardly.

After a while, one of the teachers goes up the stage, "Alright, next one we will announce those that pass the first test with the highest score".

"Silvie! please come up the stage", Hearing her name, Silvie first looked at the stage, seeing the principal winked at her, she was a little confused, --Does she know me?--, but she goes up the stage anyway. On the stage, the stare of others was really intense, she felt a little uncomfortable.

"Myrtle...".

"Petra...".

...

"Zhalin, please come up the stage", the last one was called, "Now on the stage was 10 examinee with the highest score on the magic test, for that they will be given a token with a special privilege that is, they were allowed to enter the magic tower for 3 days!".

"The principal herself will give them the token herself, please come forward ma'am". After that, the principal started giving the token from the left, Silvie was on the right side so she was the last to accept the token. When the principal came in front of her, Silvie heard her say, "It's really rare for a dragon to enroll here". Hearing the principal word, Silvie immediately looked at her with caution. Seeing her response, the principal just chuckled, "Calm down little girl, your father already told me about you. besides, I don't eat dragon *wink* ".

... No one asks, Silvie's response was to give her a blank look. "Hah, you're no fun", the principal sighed and gave her the token and they were all told to go back down. Luckily, no one seems to hear their conversation, they only thought that she was being praised by her, well it's not wrong though. Zen looked at her with a bashful face, "U-um congratulations!". --Right, this guy's magic ability sucks--, so he was not too conspicuous on the first test. Only on the second stage will he truly shine, after all...

"Alright, let's start the second test", the Principal clapped and wooden swords appeared in front of each examinee, not only that, a mirror-like shadow appeared in front of them as well. "As you guessed, we will have a combat test, after all, we only accept those that work hard". "Your goal is to destroy the shadow in front of you". "You cannot use magic, only the sword that is given to you, also as a reminder, the shadow in front of you is yourself, so this test is all about breaking your own limit". "Well then, we wish you good luck", after that, the stage and the teachers disappeared.

--Breaking the limit huh...-- what a funny way of thinking, if the limit can be broken by just this, then what about all of her hard work in the past. Anyway, let's wait a little bit, before that, Silvie looked at the seats on the side, not surprisingly, the teacher was there, watching them. Looking at Zen, he seems to have an easier time, after all, he's a sword maniac. The teacher also looked really amazed by his swordsmanship. Looking at her shadow that hasn't moved, --looks like it will only start moving if the participant started attacking--, She then waved the sword, --hmm... too light--, then she looks at the other participant, most of them was having a hard time, while most was shining like stars, but of course, the one with the brightest light is Zen.

--Anyway, let's end this now--, Silvie looked at the unmoving shadow and slowly come close to it, but since she doesn't show her intention to destroy it yet, the shadow was still motionless. Silvie swung her wooden sword with an insane speed, *Woosh* only a while later did the voice followed and the shadow was already cut to two on the neck.

After a while, most of the participant was exhausted, only Silvie, Zen, and a noble boy with a flame-like character that stood still as if nothing happened. The teachers all appeared again in front of them with the same stage, the principal and the teachers applauded, "Good job, all of you have tried your best, but even so, some might have gone home today, but don't worry, you can still enroll in the future, and the experience today will help you a lot to prepare for the next year". "Now then-", The principal waved her hand and names started appearing on the air, "Those that don't have their name written may go home". Silvie's name was at the top, Zen's name was also in the top 10, not bad.

Many people cried, especially from the commoner side, after all this is the chance for their life to have a turnaround. Most of the one accepted on the list was the nobles, after all, they are fortunate to have a bloodline since most magic abilities were passed down in the family.

After the failures were sent outside, the teacher first congratulates the examinee who succeeds and then explains some important rules on the schools. After some more miscellaneous things, the teacher gave each of them a map, "For now, rest and familiarize yourself with the academy ground, in the dorm, the dorm master will assign you to your room, so feel free to go and rest there, your class will be informed to you tomorrow". "Very well, see all of you tomorrow, have a good day", and with that, the teachers and the stage disappeared again.

--So, flashy...-- Silvie looked blankly at the teacher's place before they disappeared. "U-um, Silvie?", She heard Zen's voice from behind her so she turned around and looked at him indifferently, "Hm? what?". Seeing that, Zen scratched the back of his head awkwardly, feeling a little bashful, "I-i just want to thank you for helping me". Silvie said nonchalantly, "Thank you accepted, so?".

"Err, that, I was wondering if we can be friends?".

"Sure", --That's my goal anyway--.

"Hah, like I thought--- wait what?! you really want to be my friend?".

"What, you don't want to?".

"No, no! I very much want to!", Zen hurriedly shakes his head.

"Hah..., then let me introduce myself, I'm Silvie a normal commoner".

"A-ah, I'm Zen! I'm also a normal commoner, b-but I have a dream of being the greatest swordsman in the world! Nice to meet you!", Zen stretched his hand forward, want to shake hand with her.

"... Nice to meet you too", Silvie also stretched her hand, --Old friend--.