010 New and Old Faces (1)

The school year has now begun.

Throughout the day, students attended six periods, with four scheduled before lunch and two after. This structure bore similarities to Japanese schools, where a typical school day spanned around seven hours. There are also extracurricular activities, leading to some students staying even longer. However, as the day drew to a close, the students made their way to their respective dormitories, assigned according to their grade level. Each class lasted approximately 50 minutes, with a brief 10-minute break between classes.

Fenris walked briskly through the bustling hallways, clutching a paper in his hand that detailed his assigned classes.

(Note: Classes with a "/" are double periods.)

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CLASSES

Period 1 - History

Period 2 - Alchemy/Artificing

Period 3 - Theory of Casting/Combat Magic

Period 4 - Herbal and Botanical Studies

After Lunch...

Period 5 - Astronomy

Period 6 - Swordsmanship

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'History for the first period... What luck!' Fenris couldn't help but wear a smug expression on his face, fully aware that the information presented in the first period class would likely be fabricated. Despite this, he felt a sense of confidence, knowing that he possessed more knowledge than probably anyone else in the school, thanks to Rifa. Reflecting on this memory, he silently expressed gratitude to her for imparting her wisdom and teaching him.

Fenris was among the first students to arrive, finding the classroom mostly empty except for a few individuals who had already taken their seats in the back row.

As he stepped inside, the classroom resembled a lecture hall commonly seen in colleges, featuring a sloped floor with desks arranged in a semi-circular shape. At a glance, it appeared to have the capacity to accommodate at least two hundred students. Positioned at the front of the room was the teacher's podium, facing the desks that were fixed to the tiered floor, gradually elevating those seated at the back.

Fenris couldn't help but admire the flawless lighting that illuminated the room, casting a warm glow. The marble floor exuded a sense of magnificence, while the desks showcased refined craftsmanship, each meticulously crafted using the finest materials available.

He chose a seat in the middle row—not too close, but not too far. He would still be able to clearly see the professor and read from what appeared to be a chalkboard.

From a vantablack portal, Fenris extracted his notebook and inkwell to prepare for the lesson, hoping things would go smoothly.

Based on his prior knowledge of the academy, the real class hierarchy would be established from day one. He remained alert the whole time, while the classroom was getting filled with people.

Some sneered while looking at him; some's eyebrows raised out of curiosity for the strange, dark-haired boy, while others showed apathy towards him.

'Oh boy, judging by those sneers, I might have already made enemies on my first day. I should try to keep a low profile if possible.' Fenris quickly scanned the room, observing people's glances and expressions.

Ten minutes before class began, Fenris figured that he would attempt to socialize and get acquainted with other students. Establishing connections is key, especially in a school full of aristocrats. He would not rule out commoners either, but he also recognized the value of people and their influence.

He also aimed to avoid the haughty and self-important nobles, if possible. Associating with the wrong crowd was the last thing Fenris wanted, and he had no interest in engaging in politics. During his younger years, his father Marcos took him on business trips, exposing him to political dealings and the company of other noble children.

Unfortunately, those connections were short-lived, and honestly, Fenris preferred it that way. Based on his experiences with his adoptive mother and older brother, he found it challenging to trust the nobility. Of course, there were exceptions for those who genuinely cared for him.

A small-sized girl with violet hair took a seat beside him. Noticing that Fenris was lost in thought, she mischievously flicked the side of his head, bringing him back to reality.

"Ow! Who did that—" Fenris frantically searched for the culprit until he noticed a girl giggling to his left. "Were you trying to be funny?" he asked, feeling somewhat irritated by her amusement at physically teasing him.

"You were such an easy target that I couldn't resist!" the girl exclaimed, still giggling. Fenris couldn't help but wonder what her deal was, feeling his annoyance grow at her explanation. However, her mischievousness subsided, and she presented a friendly smile.

"Sorry, I just find it amusing to tease people like you, especially when they're caught off guard. Allow me to introduce myself," she said, placing her hand on her chest. "I'm Penelope Nalva, the second daughter of the Nalva family. I assume you're the boy wonder everyone's been buzzing about?" Her mischievous expression returned, teasing Fenris about his remarkable achievements.

'Penelope? Where have I heard that name before?'

"Tch... yeah, that's me. So what?" Fenris pouted, memories of the past few days flooding back to him like a crashing freight train. He remembered losing to Tristan and the elusive Elisé, whom he hadn't even met yet. Penelope arched an eyebrow upon hearing Fenris's response, surprised by the bitterness in his tone.

"Oh? Were you aiming for first place? Well, third is nothing to be upset about," Penelope remarked, her mischievousness fading once again. "I actually scored fourth! Did you happen to see it on the results?" she grinned.

"Actually, no, I didn't..." Fenris's annoyed expression vanished as he was taken aback by the fact that this young girl had achieved fourth place. He had been so focused on his own results and those above him that he hadn't noticed anything else. "Congratulations! What was your score?" he asked curiously.

"Hmph, how nosy. You know it's impolite to ask about a lady's test scores, right?" Penelope pouted, though Fenris could see through her bluff. Seeing his reaction, she relented. "Oh, fine. I got 400 on the magic portion, 300 on swordsmanship, and 100 on the written part."

"Wow, that's impressive! A perfect score in swordsmanship? That's quite difficult to achieve," Fenris's eyes lit up upon hearing Penelope's score, particularly in swordsmanship. His curiosity grew when she mentioned scoring 400 in the magic portion, which indicated that she possessed four elemental affinities.

"What magic affinities do you have?" he asked.

"Fire, Earth, Wind, and Dark," she replied.

"I see. My little sister also has four elemental affinities! Well, the basic elements, at least," Fenris responded with enthusiasm.

'Maybe I was wrong about her...' 

"So, do you happen to remember me?" Penelope asked, tilting her head with curiosity.

"Eh?" Fenris became puzzled.

Once again, Penelope's mischievousness resurfaced. "When you were six, we met at a party. You seemed brooding, so I approached you, and we danced together."

Memories flashed before Fenris' eyes, and in a fit of embarrassment, he slammed his hand on the table. Feeling mortified, he grabbed Penelope from both sides and shook her for a few seconds. "How dare you bring up such embarrassing memories!" he exclaimed. (Refer to Chapter 9.5 for context.)

Despite being shaken by Fenris, Penelope laughed unabashedly through his embarrassment. Their conversation had caught the attention of other students, with some whispering to each other and others taken aback by his actions. The murmurs prompted Fenris to stop shaking Penelope, causing him to retreat to his seat in shame.

"I wouldn't exactly call that 'embarrassing', if I were you," Penelope retorted, her tone laced with a hint of playful pride. "I showed you how to dance. Before that, you may as well have been walking on two left feet."

"....Eh, point," Fenris conceded, realizing that arguing with Penelope in front of the surrounding students would be futile.

Satisfied with her victory, Penelope straightened her posture, puffing her chest out slightly while absentmindedly humming a tune. However, their momentary silence was interrupted when Fenris posed a question.

"So, where have you been all these years?" Fenris inquired, genuinely curious about Penelope's whereabouts.

"Nothing much worth noting. Usual noble daughter stuff," she replied, though it seemed as if she was hiding something. Sensing her reluctance to share further, Fenris decided to let the matter rest for now. "What about you?" she inquired, redirecting the question back to him.

"I've had my fair share of adventures. Once my magical aptitude was discovered, most of my time was devoted to training. I was fortunate enough to receive tutelage from a former Elven adventurer, engaging in battles against various forms of monsters. Later, I trained under knights who honed my swordsmanship skills. Aside from that, my life since we last met hasn't been particularly eventful."

"I see," Penelope responded, her eyes gleaming with interest after Fenris's account.

Engrossed in their conversation, Fenris and Penelope lost track of time, only to be interrupted when the professor entered the room. As the professor ascended the teachers' podium, the murmurs among the students subsided. Fenris recognized the professor as the same woman who had overseen the magic portion of his entrance exam.

"Good morning, class. Today marks the beginning of your academic journey here. I am Ms. Muller," she introduced herself, taking a chalk stick and writing on the board before turning her attention back to the students.

"We will delve into the Age of Creation, a pivotal era when the world was in its infancy and mankind forged its first civilizations. Please take out your notebooks, as we will be taking notes," she instructed. The students promptly reached into their bags, retrieving their notebooks. Meanwhile, Fenris surprised Penelope as he pulled out a quill and feather from his vantablack portal.

"You can perform portal magic?" she whispered, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah. It's advanced Dark magic, something I seem to have mastered effortlessly," Fenris responded, matching her hushed tone.

"Hmph, show off," she huffed, averting her gaze in the opposite direction.

As Ms. Muller delved into the history behind the world's creation, Fenris diligently copied down his notes. However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction. The information being taught was manipulated and far from the truth. Nevertheless, Fenris understood the necessity of conforming to the school's grading system, which emphasized regurgitating the prescribed information. So, he begrudgingly continued copying the misleading content.

In summary, the class proved to be far from enjoyable. It resembled a traditional lecture format, where students were expected to mechanically transcribe information and commit it to memory. This approach inevitably led to a barrage of quizzes, tests, and pop quizzes, further dampening Fenris's enthusiasm for the subject.

After what felt like an eternity, the class finally came to an end. Penelope and Fenris walked side by side, with Penelope occasionally skipping in her steps. Fenris broke the silence, expressing his exasperation, "That class felt like it dragged on much longer than necessary..."

"I completely understand. That's why I like to hum music in my head. It helps pass the time and lifts your spirits," Penelope shared, her voice filled with a hint of enthusiasm.

"Hmm, maybe I'll give that a try sometime," Fenris responded, intrigued by Penelope's suggestion.

"What do you have next?" she asked.

"Alchemy & Artificing, a double period," he replied.

"Lucky you! That's like one of the best classes! You get to do all the exciting stuff with magic," Penelope exclaimed, playfully pouting but also revealing a touch of jealousy towards Fenris. He laughed in response, prompting Penelope to playfully punch his arm. "Don't you dare laugh at me when you get to blow things up while I'm left out. My delicate maiden heart can't handle such cruelty!"

"Oh, come on, Penelope. If you want, you can switch classes and join me if you're that desperate," Fenris replied, his tone growing more serious.

Penelope's eyes lit up, as if Fenris had made some sort of romantic gesture. The mere suggestion seemed to satisfy her, causing her to puff her chest out proudly as she resumed humming. The two eventually went their separate ways, with Fenris entering his next class.