"Whoa there, now hold on—there's no need for violence!"
Zephan raised both hands, clearly amused, though his body shifted slightly into a guarded stance.
"I've no intention of fighting a beautiful lady like you. I'm just upset you're hanging around a clear loser, when you should be with your own kind."
He scoffed, eyes flicking toward me in disdain. But if he thought Ysinia would laugh along, he was sorely mistaken.
I wasn't sure what pissed me off more—his arrogance or the fact that the crowd lapped it up like blood in the water.
Before things could escalate further, a stern voice rang out.
"That's enough! Ms. Montambert, Mr. Larmalles—stop this childish farce at once!"
A professor, distinct from the rest, stepped forward—his obsidian coat traced with gold caught the eye instantly.
He had long, jet-black hair and stern eyes that could freeze a bonfire.
Murmurs erupted as heads turned, halting the students' appraisals. The tension in the air turned sour.
Begrudgingly, both parties backed down with Zephan retreating farther as the professor leers at him, basically telling to back down or else.
"Tch. Just when it was getting interesting."
He muttered, brushing invisible dust from his uniform.
"And you, young lady—you just don't get to cause a ruckus because of your class. Keep this up, and you may find yourself reassigned before the term even begins."
The professor reprimanded her as she was about to say something until I placed a hand on her shoulder before she could even rekindle the argument.
Zephan's smug look attempted to provoke her more but the professor is not having it.
"Mr. Larmalles, I heavily advise you to stop with your childish antics."
He stepped back, the professor's glare speaking louder than words: one more move, and consequences would follow.
He's always been that way, often displaying the clear difference between those in the bottom and at the top.
"We will let this matter off the hook but we'll be keeping an eye on you three."
But aside from that, it's been a while since I've seen this professor.
Grahn Voswick.
The vice-president of Disciplinary Department and a force to be reckoned with.
He's someone you wouldn't want to mess with nor want a beef with.
His reputation alone was enough to silence even the cockiest nobles. I wished I learned some few tips and tricks from him.
With a glare from him, the whispers and stares vanished within an instant—immediately resuming to the appraisal as if it was nobody's business.
The tension loosened, but unease still lingered in the air.
Zephan, still wearing that irremovable smugness, passed by us—clearly deciding Voswick wasn't worth the trouble.
"Don't think this is over yet, dropout."
He patted my shoulder clearly as a sign of mockery before departing.
I'm not one to pick fights with childish behavior like that but I wished for so long that I could punch him.
"Young lady, no."
I said it instinctively, like I was scolding a toddler about to touch fire.
The air had gotten colder again.
Definitely Ysinia. I didn't want her getting scolded again—especially with Professor Voswick still glaring daggers our way.
I wanted to ditch her but it's impossible right now, not until we're both sorted.
The next hour was a blur of names, spheres, and bright flares of light.
Each student stepped forward, nervous or cocky, and placed their hand on the Appraisal Sphere. I've heard some familiar names that'll be relevant in the future.
Both future allies and grudges alike.
They'll be my guide to acquiring knowledge to keep a secure future—but I'll have to seek that guy first.
"Friend. Why do they keep calling you a loser?"
Can't she really read the room properly? That's not something you'd ask someone normally!
"Well. Practically because I am."
I replied, scratching the back of my head as I watched the other students chat amongst themselves.
"Why is that?"
"Because I have unrealistically lower strength and magic."
"Then I'll just help you raise it."
"Look, that's not it—because it's of the—"
Pardon? Did I hear that right?
"Raise it? What do you mean by that?"
Train me? Break all my bones? Force-feed me some forbidden artifact?
Ysinia tilted her head. "You'll see."
I blinked. That was not an answer.
She stared forward again, content—like the conversation was already over.
Not once in my past life did I hear anyone say an F rank could be raised. It just doesn't happen.
Even an E rank might see a sliver of growth, but F? You're better off praying for a divine miracle.
I wanted to ask more but Ysinia seemed to be lost in thought. Not even pinching her cheeks helped.
I tried getting more answers from her but it was impossible, it almost felt like I was talking to a wall.
And it seems that I have to wait for a bit especially when Professor Voswick stepped in the middle along with four other professors.
Meaning the appraisal have been completed after approximately an hour.
Just as the students were beginning to start chatting with each other—
"Ahem."
Immediately dispersing any attempt of striking up a noise besides him.
"Appraisal is now complete."
He declared after confirming that the student's focus are on him.
"From this moment on, you will be grouped according to your evaluated potential."
Murmurs turned into anxious glances.
"The S-Class students will proceed to the northern wing. A-Class, to the east. B and C-Class will report to the western hall. D to F... proceed to the courtyard."
One by one, students began shuffling to their respective directions, color-coded bands now visible on their uniforms thanks to the Appraisal Sphere's enchantments.
Most people began naturally drifting to where they were supposed to.
And just like last time, there's a lot of A-Classes and B and C-Classes, around 60+ on each. D to F-Classes on the other hand were less than 30.
As for S-Classes... there's around 16 of them, most of them were there but—
There's still one person.
"Ysinia."
I said, realizing she was still beside me expecting nothing less from her at this point.
She blinked up at me, unmoving.
"Aren't you... S-Class?"
She nodded. Slowly.
"Then what are you still doing here?"
She tilted her head again.
"Because you're here."
I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"I'm here because I have to be. You don't."
"I don't mind."
I glanced toward the professors, especially Voswick, whose patience was crumbling bit by bit even if his expression doesn't show it, his aura does.
You're not supposed to show that much pressure on your students you psycho!
"Please. Just go before they make a scene again."
She paused.
Then, finally, she nodded again—though not before placing a single hand on my head.
"Let's meet again in the same place."
And just like that, she turned and walked off toward the S-Class wing like she hadn't just ignored basic instructions.
But not without waving goodbye to me.
Why do I feel like this won't be the last time she challenges the concept of common sense?
Seriously, am I her Father?
But with that problem finally fixed and with the Professor finally calming down.
He dismissed every student.
I followed the others to the courtyard but not without looking back to check up on Ysinia.
Only to see her following the A-Class students as one of the professors had to practically drag her by the back of her collar along with the S-Class.
I seriously couldn't figure out how she'll manage without a personal guide.
As she finally disappeared behind the S-Class wing, a part of me felt... conflicted.
I should've been relieved—one less headache for me.
And yet...
"Let's meet again in the same place."
Who says stuff like that?
I exhaled, pressing a hand to my temple. She was weird. Too weird.
And for some stupid reason, I couldn't get her out of my head.
"Come on, move it!"
One of the professors groaned instructing us to go forward to the courtyard.
Unlike Voswick, I'm more familiar with this professor—albeit not out of fondness.
The walk there was dreading and long, most of my other classmates began groaning and complaining as to how they reached this low.
I, on the other was too used in walking in great distances on the battlefield so this wasn't a problem.
Or so I thought.
I found my stamina depleting a bit too fast, I've forgot that I'm in a younger body.
And upon arrival on the courtyard... it was certainly underwhelming.
But not as underwhelming as the barracks.
Cracked stones lined the path, patches of grass grew in between, and half the benches were either broken or missing their legs.
It was like they didn't expect us to stay long.
Or maybe they hoped we'd drop out before they had to replace anything.
"Seriously!? You expect me to study here!?"
One of the female students complained while the others rallied towards the professor who seemed to done.
"I'm the youngest child of D—"
One of the noble brats tried to show off but was immediately cut off by the assigned professor squeezing the temples of his forehead as he raised his palm infront of the brat's face.
"Your complaints... to that guy."
He pointed at his back and I could almost feel every strand of my hair standing just from feeling his presence.
What on earth?
Why is he here!?
"Ghan Voswick. I'll be in charge of you brats."