Chapter Twenty

  The Selection– Part One.

  It was yet another day in the busy, bustling campus of Excel Magic Academy. Today’s topic of gossip was all about the Selection Process this week.

  It was the first day of the Selection Process and excitingly the Preliminary rounds were kicking off.

  The process was simple. Two opponents are pit against each other in a barrier and the victor proceeds. There are no out of bounds, and no murder is allowed. Defeat is either by way of incapacitating or surrendering.

  For the junior students, it was an exciting event. They get to see the pinnacle of Excel Magic Academy– the best students in the entire Kingdom.

  Typically, famous Third Year students hailing from Noble houses, with support, wealth, political power, and most of all, combat talent. It was a surefire showcase of who has a bright future.

  Continentally, Excel Academy is not the highest ranking. Saint Nia’s with their Ninth Star Headmaster is without a doubt, the best of the entire continent. But, Excel Academy can still duke it out with the other Magic Academies from the other Kingdoms.

  Of the top of the Third Year contestants, the most anticipated contenders were the ‘big three’.

  Firstly, the second son of House Cane, a relatively genius conjurer of the Fifth Star, whose specialty lies in the Gravity Element.

  Secondly, the first born daughter of House Leons, another Fifth Star conjurer in both Water and Ice Elements.

  Thirdly, the fourth son of House Grey, a freshly ascended Sixth Star Augmenter of the Fire Element.

  Each House had impressive lineages hailing from just after the Founding of Farrien.

  There were also numerous other Fourth Star contests, making up for a total of 30 contestants.

  While fangirling or fanboying over those contenders was popular, one topic took the whole conversation by storm– that among the competitors was the Failure of the Kanarian Archduchy.

  The name of Kanaria had become but sullied and a joke for the majority of Excel Academy students, so to see it among the list was the biggest surprise of the year.

  Ordinarily, only students with the approval and invitation of the Headmaster may participate, so how did his name get on the list? Was this blatant favouritism?

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Many students were going to protest. Or they were, until they saw who Aelius was versing in the very first round– the only Sixth Star in the school, Perceus Grey. Now, it’s become the most anticipated event to witness for years.

  The turn out to the stands of the match overflowed– it was the first time that the first round of the Selection Process had capacity issues.

  Everyone was eager to watch a legal beating ensue where an ordinary person– one hated by the majority of the school– is at the complete mercy of a literal powerhouse.

  *

  “Aelius! Goddess, how did you get yourself in such a situation!?” A piercing voice exclaimed.

  Aelius, who was sleeping on his desk, momentarily glanced at the fellow student beside him.

  “Come on, let’s go to the Headmaster. I’ll convince her somehow to undo all of this– I’ll even beg if I have to! What they’re hoping for is just too cruel. What sick animals.”

  Aelius sat up and gave his friend a small smile. Whilheim, a student focusing on the scholarly aspect of Magic, was a fellow bully victim. He was a real nice guy, but because he loathed fighting and only studied Theory, as well as the fact that he willingly hung around Aelius, meant a target was put on his back.

  “Well, I’ll admit, it’s a bit unexpected that my opponent is a Sixth Star,” Aelius acknowledged with a roll of his eyes. Pssh. Mere Sixth Star.

  In his past life, Aelius had peaked at the pinnacle of the Ninth Star. Sixth Star Magic is like child’s play to him, especially the poor imitations of a mere teenage student.

  “A bit unexpected? That’s all you have to say in response to the fact that you have to walk into a cage and fight with the Perseus Grey!?”

  “Yeah, you’re done for,” a passing student snickered, garnering a glare from Whilheim. But his attention was taken back by Aelius as he rested a hand down on Whilehim’s shoulder.

  “Worry about yourself first.”

  *

  It was yet again the end of another boring day. Aelius figured he’ll start skipping the classes soon, since they’re useless to him anyways.

  As he was on his way back to his dorm room, he came up onto an alleyway leading into a shady turn between two buildings.

  Just as he was about to pass by it, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle.

  Reactively, Aelius spun around with his hands reaching out to chokehold whoever it was lunging out from the alleyway.

  But just before he was about to lock them in a death grip, he saw a snippet of sky blue and froze.

  “A-Ael, calm down. It’s me. Just me.”

  Looking down, Aelius found Aria shyly looking around them for any passing by students. With a sigh of relief, she grabbed him by the lower corner of his shirt and tugged him out of sight, into the alleyway with her.

  It was cramped and narrow and so as soon as he stepped in, they were pressed up against each other.

  Wait wait wait, how did I get myself into this situation!? Looking down, he and Aria were uncomfortably close, as she shyly looked up to meet his eyes, her cheeks a tinge of pink.

  “Can we talk for a moment, Ael?”