Zoltan Unredeemed

Chapter 5

"You two, you also passed!"

I glanced at my companion, and she just inclined her head in my direction nonchalantly, implying that there was no way the vice principal was talking to the two of us, and I wholeheartedly agreed wordlessly as we continued following the last stragglers like us who are hurrying back to the entrance with their bags.

When we were about to go through the door, the potted bonsai plants along the way suddenly grew exponentially and blockaded our path, which shocked me.

"What the..."

"Unless you two are deaf, you will come here."

We slowly turned around and saw Vice Principal Metis with the man who collected our test papers waiting for us on the stage.

My companion and I walk in their direction with our luggage in tow.

"Cady Ravier and Arcelon Mcreinen?"

We both nodded at the woman who glanced at the man next to her who spoke next.

"You two passed."

I blinked and let out a hollow laugh, "That's impossible. If we did, we would've been called earlier among the twenty."

"If you remember what I told you all earlier, the top twenty will get the slots for freshmen commoners," she said patiently before dropping the words I never thought I would hear, "However, you and Miss Ravier here got scores high enough to be put in the noble sections."

But Cady was clearly not having any of it, "That's impossible. The seats reserved for the nobilities are only on a case-to-case basis. There can be no vacancy for commoners to ascend to their levels."

"Hearing you answer that fact makes me believe more that you know far too much for a mere commoner," the man said, who then turned to the now very pensive vice principal, "It will take forever to explain it all, and we don't have the luxury of time to do so. The principal will be very annoyed if there were empty seats when he took the stage. Why not let "him" do the lifting, Miss Metis? After all, they are technically his charge now. Wouldn't you agree?"

The vice-principal quickly nodded and shooed us towards the door to the right instead, "Agreed. Mr. Mcreinen, Ms. Ravier, again, you two passed under special circumstances. All shall be explained in due time after the opening ceremony on the campus proper. For now, head towards that door and quickly change to your respective uniforms, and leave your bags here. Don't worry, we have a selection of different sizes, I am sure you will find ones that fit you quickly. We will have our staff bring them to your dormitory. A chauffeur will arrive in ten minutes to collect you and bring you straight to the academy's auditorium. Your advisor will come for you."

Before we could even say a word, the man gave us a curt nod and pointed at the door once more.

-0-

"Now there's a sight I never thought I will see..."

Cady looked at me as I gazed upon my reflection in the clear water fountain of the primary school building.

Like her, I wear a red, black, and white variant of the academy's uniform.

"Why? Did you know why they gave us this uniform and not the regular ones?"

I winced and looked at my companion, wearing the uniform for females the same color as mine.

I avoided the question and tried to smile, "No, I don't have any idea. But what I do know is that we have to hurry towards the auditorium for the opening ceremony."

"Right," she agreed, but she was not thoroughly convinced about my reply. We heard the announcement calling for all the first-year students to proceed to the building on the west side of the primary school building, "Let's go then."

We started walking hurried and quietly thanked the fact that my ordinarily inquisitive companion was for once clueless about something for a change.

Ignorant I may be on basic things, I researched a lot about this academy since it is my dream to study here, and elements forbid I am correct on my guess this time.

White and black are for commoners, silver, and blue for nobilities.

Black and red are usually reserved for...

"Arcelon, over here! Hurry! The ceremony is about to start!"

I was again pulled out of my stupor by Cady, who is now waving in my direction, sitting already at the furthermost corner of the auditorium we just entered a little while ago with an empty chair she managed to save up for me.

I quickly ran towards her and settled myself as a man in his mid to late forties with an impressive build wearing the same silver and gold uniform as the man who collected our test papers earlier went up the stage and stood in front of the podium bearing the crest of the school.

"Principal Balder of the Crysalian Military Academy!"

He looked around at several thousands of students inside the spacious auditorium as we all clapped with an excited smile on his face before speaking in a loud, commanding voice.

"Students, old and new of the Crysalian Military Academy, welcome! Welcome to another academic school year in our hallowed learning institution! Just before I stood in front of you all, I was informed that all of the heirs and heiresses to the Crysalian thrones are gathered in this very room with us all as bright-eyed freshmen!"

There were loud murmurs, excited whispers, and gasps when the principal shared the news that made even Cady gulp in excitement.

"Really?! The successor to the eight nation's seat of power here! This is really becoming something more than I expected it to be, Arcelon!"

"Yeah..."

I gulped nervously as I glanced at my uniform and prayed to the steel crystal that I would be wrong this time around.

I just took comfort that my companion right now is wearing the same colors as I am as a consolation that all hope might not be lost for me.

Yet.

"I highly advised all commoners and nobles alike to exercise due respect and courtesy to our illustrious new students who will have their own class for themselves, the Eighth Class to be headed by the brand new member of our staff, Sir Lycus of the Garm Dominion, Empire of Fenris. A round of applause to the famed mercenary of Crysalia!"

We all clapped our hands when a man stood up from the front row wearing black and read teacher uniform and waved at the students with a mischievous grin on his handsome face.

He must be in his late twenties or early thirties at best. So young and already handling an advisory class full of the highest caliber of nobilities in the world as his first charge.

"I wonder what they are thinking hiring someone like him to teach, much less take care of children that belonged to the class far above his rank?" Cady mused quietly before looking at me, "And he is wearing the same uniform's colors at that. Do you have any guess as to why?"

I quickly shook my head, "Not a clue, Cady."

The more I lie, the more the principal is crumbling the last vestiges of my fantasy that the reality that I am dreading will not come to pass.

"This is a monumental school year not just for the academy but for all of us, students and staff alike. It is a history in the making if I do say so myself, that the future leaders of the world have gathered here at the very same time to benefit from the knowledge these hallowed halls have to offer. To glean from the experiences and skills our teachers have accumulated in their fields of expertise. With the elements' help and the friendship and trust that all of us will hopefully develop, we can reach further growth and development not just for ourselves but also for our respective mothers and fatherlands. I expect that the Student Council and second years to offer whatever assistance and help to our first year students, whatever their social status are. Again, welcome to Crysalian Military Academy, and see you around!"