The Witch of Calamity

03

Looking out over the crowd of new and returning students Headmaster Haythem couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at the youth and faculty that had gathered here with himself in the auditorium. Every member of the staff was handpicked by the Headmaster himself and was dedicated to helping the students achieve their ambitions and more when it came to improving as casters. While many of the students who enrolled started off as barely having any knowledge or practical skill each one of them left as full fledged mages, magicians, or whichever their casting type was. Of course the graduates would have to gain experience in the outside world however the academy sought to minimize the amount of training they would need as casters once they entered a profession.

"I first want to welcome both new and returning students to this prestigious academy," Headmaster Haythem began his speech once he was sarisfied with his short reminiscences. "The Yuslan Royal Magic Academy was created through an agreement between the Magic Tower and the Yuslan Kingdom with the aim to raise the next generation of casters for the benefit of all. Throughout its many years of service there have been dozens of casters who have made a great impact on furthering magic and society to have graduated from these halls in which you will now also walk. Every single member of the faculty and staff here at the Yuslan Royal Magic Academy is dedicated to helping you improve both your knowledge and casting prowess to help you achieve your ambitions and go further beyond. I am proud to be the Headmaster of this amazing academy and even more proud to know that we here are helping to shape the future of magic."

Although Headmaster Haythem's speech was short it had an enormous impact on the audience who launched into cheers and applause as soon as he left the podium and walked off the stage. After a few more speeches regarding regulations from the staff and campus activities from a few of the fourth year students the welcoming ceremony was finally approaching a close. The only thing left was to announce the class rosters and the incoming students fell silent as the tension in the room reached its climax. Even Cecil couldn't help but be drawn into the nervous silence as she awaited her placement. Even the ever energetic Rei sitting beside her had fallen quiet in anticipation for the news.

"Hello my name is Professor Estain, I teach Magic Theory for all first year students I look forward to seeing you in my class."

The newer students sitting in the audience were stunned when a lanky man, who if not dressed similarly to the other professors they would have thought was a sleep deprived homeless man, took to the podium and began to speak. Cecil and Rei couldn't help but notice the smirks of the older students which they took with questioning looks between each other.

"After some thought there were a few changes to the original placements mostly due to a new curriculum however more on that will be explained once you are in your homeroom class. For now please stand up as I call your names and proceed to the exit of the auditorium, your homeroom teacher will be waiting over there as I call out each class."

Cecil felt someone tap her arm and turned to find Rei with an excited grin.

"What class do you think you're in?" Rei did her best to whisper yet it still came out as a subdued exclamation.

"I'm not sure but I hope we're in the same class," Cecil giggled at her friend's expression.

"S Class students please stand and come to the foot of the stage as I call your names. Rei Towa," Professor Estain began to list the names of the students chosen to be a part of the top standing class and Cecil couldn't help but look over at her friend with awe, "Adam Burenhorn, Melody Elliot, Avalon Erland, Hayze Kinseid, Fenlied Aini, and Cecil Rosenthal."

"Hey we both made it into the S Class!" Rei jumped up from her seat in excitement only to find Cecil still sitting with a dumbfounded look on her face.

Cecil herself was very confused at the fact that her name had been called for what was supposed to be the top class in the school. It was no surprise to see the humanoid pig-monster, Adam, in the list since Cecil was sure that his casting abilities were very far above the standard based on what she had seen during the rest of the placement exam. She herself on the other hand had made sure to preform with mediocre results. Cecil had made it look like she won the duel only thanks to the miniature mana storm that exploded due to her "accidental" overuse of mana in defending herself. On the other half of the placement exam she made sure to copy the average mana pool and blend her magic signature so she appeared normal in most regards. Not only that Cecil even made sure to control her mana to the point where it could be considered weaker than the rest of her test group since she hadn't completely destroyed the target and only managed to cut it. There was one factor that Cecil and her master had both failed to consider mostly due to the fact that they both rarely interacted with anyone unless it was needed. That factor was that Cecil had no real understanding of what was "normal" when it came to anything magic or combat related since she had only been around her master. The only other interactions she ever had were the adventurers that would come around at her master's request to help with training. Of course her master had taught her basic mannerisms and social etiquette so Cecil had no trouble interacting with others. However when it came to common sense regarding magic and the like Cecil had virtually none.

"C'mon c'mon let's go!" Rei practically dragged Cecil out of her seat and to the foot of the stage.

"How did you two manage to get into this class?"

What neither Rei nor Cecil expected was to be met with hostility as soon as they made it to the stage, even if they had been the last to arrive by a few seconds at most they would have been scolded by Professor Estain. Yet standing before the two was a boy with an arrogant smirk. Cecil looked at him curiously since he had amethyst eyes and raven black hair and she had only ever seen someone with those features when she was still with her master. But before she coukd inquire about who the boy was he spoke with disgust in his voice.

"The quality of this academy muat really be declining if they let some random commoners into the S Class which is reserved for the best of the nobility. Even worse they let in the pig who lost to one of the commoners!"

Rei was clearly very uncomfortable and Cecil was about to step forward when an unlikely member of the S Class beat her to it.

"That's enough Fenlied," Adam rested his hand on the boy's shoulder, " if they were chosen to be in this class it means they have the skills to outclass majority of the students here. Besides who knows, those commoners might just make you eat the dirt as well."

The boy who had been announced as Fenlied Aini scoffed as he pushed Adam's hand off his shoulder and moved to stand with the other members of the class who were watching with amused looks. Before Rei or Cecil could offer their thanks Adam also ealked away.

"That was weird," Rei muttered as she took a seat in the front row to await the professor who would be their homeroom teacher.

Cecil smirked as she sat beside Rei and engaged in small talk. She had noticed it the moment the two had made it to the front, everyone else had their eyes on them. The rest of the class was already trying to establish the hierarchy based on how powerful they were compared to each other. Each of them seemed to be as skilled as Adam at the very least with Fenlied ironically being the weakest out of them and Rei was perhaps the strongest out of the group when it came down to how much of a mana pool each of them had. Cecil had made sure to limit her mana pool so she was the one with the smallest out of the class but she was surprised that Rei's mana pool was about as large as fully trained mages and it didn't seem like she had trained to increase it either.

"Alright it looks like everyone has arrived," the srudents turned their attention to Professor Estain who had stepped off the stage after reading out the other class rosters. "If you'll all follow me I will guide you to your homeroom and explain a bit more indepth as to what I was talking about earlier and afterwards I will take any questions you have."