A new year at Nine Petal Academy means a new crop of students, including a boy who can't control his magic, a thief, an angel, and even a suit of armor? Adela, Lei, and their friends are tasked with welcoming the new class of first years and helping...
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I grumbled as I stared at the writing portion of the exam. My sister was right; I should've studied more! What was I going to do if I failed? I couldn't go back home. My dad had closed all doors for me there. Then again, did it really matter? My magic was pathetic. At this point, it would be a miracle if I passed.
I finished filling in the last question and put down my pencil. But maybe even a miracle couldn't do it.
"Think you did badly?" Kanja asked as I finished turning in my paper. She had turned hers in just before me.
I nodded. "A-and you?"
"I think I did well," she said, swinging her arms behind her back.
I smiled slightly. "Seems that your confidence grew," I mumbled as we headed for the exit.
She sighed. "And yours seems to have plummeted down to earth."
I laughed nervously. "Guess that's what I get for having it as high as outer space."
Kanja laughed. "At least you acknowledge it now."
"Pathetic," Ling said, glaring at me as we walked into the hallway. She, Lidia, and Huo had finished before us. "You do badly in an exam, and you allow yourself to become unmotivated. So much for you becoming the next Magus Maximus."
I lowered my head.
"Hey, not everyone here has nerves of steel like you!" Kanja snapped.
"No, she's right. I am pathetic," I said. I slapped myself. "I can't give up! I'll just have to wait for the results before I go back to moping!"
"Uh, can't you skip the moping part altogether?" Huo asked.
"Huo, it's not that simple!" Lidia said.
"Indeed, but I understand where he's coming from. Moping doesn't make the defeat go away," Rob said as he walked over to us. He must've finished the test long before us.
I smiled at my childhood friend. "How do you think you did?"
He held out his right hand and winked. "Aced it."
I grinned. "I sure hope so!"
"Even if it means that one in your group of ten won't pass?" a voice called out. It was Adela.
"Huh? What do you mean? Aren't there going to be a dozen of us admitted?"
She shook her head. "It was decided that only ten would move on. Which I know is a strange number. I expected it to be twelve to fit with Nine Petal's habit of grouping students into teams of four. But it seems that they have other plans this time in regards to that. As such, one of your teammates won't make it. Or perhaps, it will be you who doesn't join them."
I lowered my head. Considering my trash performance, it probably was me who failed.
"Is it set in stone?" Rob asked, staring at Adela.
