Chapter 09: Enrollment Ceremony

Chapter 09: Enrollment Ceremony

{Spring, 06th | Dawn | Manatini Lodge}

"Riku, Faie, wake your heads up, it's the dawn already, today's the enrollment ceremony!" Alastor woke us up. It was a nice rest after a hectic day getting from Midgard to Eden and registering in the Academy.

       I then woke Faie up, since she's still dozing and spacing out, then I had a shower. So, I have to wear this uniform from now on, huh. It's not bad, I'm just glad that there are no frills, the uniform includes a white button-down shirt with a blue necktie since I'm in the Synthesist Program, a gray sweater, a black blazer, gray trousers, and a pair of laced leather shoes.

I don't know why but it does kinda resemble those uniforms back in Japan, it's quite comfortable though after I dressed up, Alastor, assembled my stuff in a bag for me to carry around, we are now having breakfast in the cafeteria adjacent to the lodge.

       "Riku, I can't stay here for long, I have to go back to my family in Riesevelt, and I've been out of my job for a while, my word, you heed, okay?" Alastor said.

I nodded. "Riku, even though your parents may not be here with you when you enrolled here, but you must know, you're never alone, even though I'm far, I'm still your uncle, rely on me and you have Faie too, you know that you have us on your side," Alastor told.

       I nodded and smiled, "Yeah, you have me, Riku!" Faie commented. "Also, do your best here, learn, make friends, use your skills and those amazing knowledge you have for the best purposes, have fun, Riku. Since that is your mother's wishes" Alastor continued.

"Okay?" Alastor asked, "Okay" I replied, "Then let's go to the Academy, you don't wanna be late on your first day there," Alastor said and then we went to the Academy.

       When we're there, some students are checking each student, are they some sort of student council? Well, the ceremony is about to start soon, I guess it's parting time for us, Alastor needs to go back.

"Well, here we are, I'm really sorry that I can't be here with you, but my boss gonna kill me if I prolong my off day, but listen Riku, I believe in you... Faie too. Protect and care for each other, okay! Oh, and take this" Alastor handed me a ring with some rune on it.

       "What's this?" I asked. "This, Riku, is a Share Ring, a device used by Alchemist to share findings, pieces of information, through very long distances, even the heroes, Felt and Viese used it, I have configured it for us to share, you can send me letters, so send me some letter, I'd like to know your growth here" Alastor requested.

"Okay, hope your doing fine with your job as well, be sure to bring your family in summer," I said, he nodded. "Well, see you in summer, then! Do your best, Riku, Faie" Alastor motivated. "Yeah!" Faeie and I replied. It's nice to have you even just for a little bit, see you later Aragorn-looking uncle!

       After parting with Alastor, we walked and entered the big Auditorium, and also students are flowing in one by one. Let's see my seat is on the eighth row on the back, seat number 15 by the stairs, oh, here we are.

I guess there'll be a lot of students, so they chose to do the ceremony with seatings than having students stand up for hours. After a while, Freshmen are filling up the seats and I see student council members running around prepping things.

         As soon as people sitting in my row, a girl is approaching me and sits on the chair next to me. I shouldn't judge that she's a girl though, she looks androgynous. "Hello" she greeted, which surprised me.

"Hello" I greeted back. Then the awkward silence came, I always hate conversing with a new person. "So, you're in the Synthesist Program? My name is Rufias Zefinar, I'm in the Combatant Program, nice to meet you" she introduced herself.

       Rufias, huh, that's a popular name for a boy, but I undoubtedly speculate that she's a girl. Well, she's definitely a good looker, her hair is white with blue eyes, she definitely has a boyfriend or maybe even a fiancee.

"I'm Riku Kiesling, this is my Mana, Faie, and yes I'm in Synthesist Program, nice to meet you too" I introduced back. She smiled, then a guy sat on the seat to my left suddenly speaks, "Nice to meet you, Rufias, Riku! The name's Gaius Lixiss, I'm in the Engineer Program, nice to meet you two, seatmates" he introduced.

       "Nice to meet you too, Gaius-kun" Rufias smiled. "Nice to meet you all, I'm Nanna Tithel, sorry to introduce myself so suddenly, but I hope we all get along" another person suddenly just sits and is introduced, what's wrong with these people, they just get in conversation so suddenly. Nanna then sits behind my seat.

After a while, all the seats are seated, and some teachers then came into the Auditorium, the Ceremony starts now, I guess. The headmaster, well, seems to come in from behind the curtain to the podium.

       "I bid thee all welcome for the Freshmen that just joined us in our Academy. And thank you for choosing to study here. My name is Lazarus Raxellius, I'm in the position of this Academy's Headmaster. It's very nice to see new, young faces, aspiring alchemists, healers, engineers, machinists, materialists, combatants" Headmaster welcomed.

"Though it's a very big event, unfortunately, I can't be here for long, so let's get right to it" he joked. Students laughed and relaxed. "First, I'd like to explain to you the academy's programs. Our Noir Academy has 6 programs that will lead you, students to a specific profession in the future" he started to explain.

       So after some explaining, these are the 6 programs available to choose from in the Academy:

Academy's Professional Study Program:

1. Synthetist | Main Focus: Alchemy

Those who graduated from the Study will become State Synthesists or Tutelage Teachers.

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2. Engineers | Main Focus: Crafting

Those who graduated from the Study will become Professional Engineers.

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3. Machinist | Main Focus: Machinery

Those who graduated from the Study will become Professional Machinists.

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4. Doctorate | Main Focus: Medicine

Those who graduated from the Study will become Professional Doctors or Pharmacists.

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5. Collectors | Main Focus: Materials

Those who graduated from the Study will become Professional Materialists.

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6. Combatant | Main Focus: Combat Art

Those who graduated from the Study will become Professional Raiders or Soldiers.

The headmaster also continued to explain the curriculum of the first year, and before the ceremony, some sophomore students also handed us the curriculum papers, it was compact, packed with lessons, well it's just the first year anyways.

       Here is the academic schedule for us, the Freshmen:

Noir Academy 1st Yr Academic Calendar

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01 - 05 Winter: Winter Holidays

06 - 10 Spring': Enrollment Day & Class Start

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06: Enrollment Ceremony and Orientation

07: Class <Gathering I: Marmel Forest>

07: Class <Synthesis I: Basics>

08: Class <Combat I: Field Study>

08: Class <Synthesis II: Mixing>

09: Class <Synthesis III: Ether Effect>

09: Class <Combat II: Mana Item Uses>

10: <No Schedule/Free Day/Detention>

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11 - 15 Summer: Summer Holidays

16 - 20 Autumn': Autumn Class and Project Week

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16: Class <Project Exhibition Socialisation>

16: Class <History I: Eden's History>

17: Class <History II: Mana Grounds>

17: Class <Synthesis IV: Combat Item I>

18: Class <Combat III: Prediction>

18: Class <Synthesis V: Healing Item I>

19: Class <Alchemy: Alchemical Arithmetics>

19: Class <Combat IV: Combat Exercise>

20: <No Schedule/Free Day/Detention>

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21 - 25 Harvest: Project Exhibition, Classes, and Events

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21: Event <Project Exhibition Event>

22: Event <Student Bazaar Week Starts>

22: Gathering II: Gathering Tools

22: Gathering III: Zuvelk's Cave

23: Event <Day of The Reckoning>

23: History III: Eden's Tragedy

23: History IV: Heroes and Companions

24: Event <Felt and Viese's Festival>

25: <No Schedule/Free Day/Detention>

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26 - 30 Snowing: Yearly Exams and Homecoming

Factually, to think of it, I already mastered or learned some of the things in the school's curriculum, such as Ether Effects and Basic Synthesis, since I am already able to make a perfected X-Heal, I hope this Basic Synthesis lesson is not about making Heal Jar or something (foreshadowing).

       After Headmaster finished his explaining, he then sat on his seat, and then a student comes to the podium, "Thank you for explaining Sir Headmaster. Then allow me to introduce myself, my name is Linaria Blanchimont, I am this Academy's Chief of Student Council, it's a pleasure to see my aspiring juniors" she said.

Blanchimont? As of like Felt and Viese's surname? Wow, she is their kid or grandkid? "I'm here to explain to you about the Houses in the Academy?" Linaria said. Houses? Like in Hogwarts or Fire Emblem? Yeah, I watch movies and play a lot of Fire Emblem games.

       Don't tell me there'll be some sort of a sorting ceremony... "Houses is where students studying here will be sorted in using the Sorting Gem, which will categorize all of you based on your traits and abilities" she explained. I forehead-slapped, the heck, there is a Sorting Ceremony here.

"4 Houses are existing in this Academy: House of Elusmus, House of Eizlen, House of Zeldalia, and House of Hoenhaim. And yes, the Houses are inspired by the wise, heroic, and the brightest figures of the old-time" she is continuing her explaining.

       "House of Elusmus is inspired by the ancient Alchemist, Elusmus who sacrificed his life to become an Azoth to protect Eden from danger, those in this House have the traits of being very innovative, cunning but very selfless and will sacrifice anything to help others, their entity of symbol is the Prism Mare, it's element is Light, and their colors are White and Jade" she explained.

"House of Eizlen is inspired by the Mother Eizlen of the Altena Church, who is the foster mother of Slaith's current Queen and helper of the Heroes and guardian of Gardo."

       "Those in this House have the traits of being a caregiver, loving, patient, and kind. Their entity of symbol is Unicornus, their element is Life, and their colors are Rose and Ruby" she explained.

"Next is the House of Zeldalia, it's inspired by the Witch who mastered the Dark Magic and contemporary Alchemy in the past, she also guides the old Hero, Klein Kiesling, and his companions to protect this world from the danger of Amalgam."

       "Those in this House have the traits of being very determined, reserved, and honest. Their entity of symbol is the true form of Amalgam, mana of Beginnings and Endings, their element is Dark, and their colors are Black and Gold" she explained.

"Last but certainly not the least, is House of Hoenhaim, inspired by the first Alchemist in this very world, he is a master of wizardry and Alchemy, as well as the spouse of the Mana of Creation, Lilith."

       "Those in this House have the traits of being free-minded, adaptive, and passionate. Their entity of symbol is the Quetzalcoatl, their element is Dream, and their colors are Lavender and Saphire" she explained.

Hmm, Klein Kiesling, huh, my ancestor? Isn't he was the one that married Lita in the books. I guess I'm really one in the lineage then. "Let us start the Sorting Ceremony, those who are called, please come to the front of the Gem, and put your hands on it, the color of the glow of the gem will decide which House is suited for you," she said.

       One by one the students are called, Rufias also called very soon, and she sorted in the House of Elusmus, so are Nanna and Gaius. I just hope that I'm sorted in a House with less troublesome people and with a nice place to read. "Riku Kiesling, please come" Linaria called me. I went to the gem and placed my hand on it.

It then shined jade-ish color, Linaria smiled "Riku Kiesling, House of Elusmus!" She declared. Sigh, so I have to be in the same House with those three. When I sighed, Linaria whispered, "Good for you, Kiesling, you're one of those listed in the Lineage, aren't you?" I nodded.

       I don't know why she reached out to me, but then I sat back on my seat, and those three laughed together. "So, we're Housemates! Hope we can get along!" Rufias said. "Yea, what a surprise, we're seatmates and now we're also Housemates" Gaius commented. "I hope I can have a lot of fun with y'all!" Nanna cheered, and I just nodded and averted my eyes off them.

After the sorting ceremony is ended, then the Student Affairs Rep announced those that will accept scholarships, which surprisingly, I do get scholarships, as well as Gaius seemingly. The scholarship includes support on financial problems in paying tuition maximum for 5 months' worth of tuition if we're not able to pay for it.

       Then the Headmaster handed us, those that are granted with scholarship some papers. After that, Gaius and I return to our seats.

Following that, the Chief explained the rules in the Academy such as the prohibition of leaving Academy unless it's holidays or the homecoming, about having male-female student relationships, etc.

       "That is all I have to explain, thank you for listening to me, and this marks the end of this Enrollment Ceremony, once again welcome to our proud Alchemic Academy of Noir!" Linaria exclaimed as she said that some sophomore and senior students comes from the curtain behind us and unleashed fireworks in the Auditorium.

Damn, it was a flashy enrollment ceremony, sometimes things like this could get us so motivated, well I am, at least. So, we'll be staying here studying for 4 years, better not to make Alastor's money go to waste.