Vol3 Chapter 18 Class A Other Half

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Suite One, casting a gentle beam that fell across Amos’s face.

"..."

He slowly opened one eye. For several seconds, he simply lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling before sitting up with an unhurried stretch.

"Today's the first day."

Just classes.

It felt oddly peaceful.

After washing up and changing into the academy uniform neatly folded by the wardrobe, Amos looked at his reflection in the mirror.

The blue academy jacket fit comfortably over a white shirt, trimmed with subtle silver embroidery unique to first-year students. The academy crest rested proudly over his chest.

"..."

He gave his collar a quick adjustment. Good enough. No point in fussing over it any longer. Stepping out of his room, Amos walked into the shared lounge where Chester was already waiting. Today, unlike the easygoing vibe of yesterday, the crimson-haired boy looked completely ready. His uniform was spotless, his sword rested neatly at his side, and his expression had the focus of someone preparing for battle, not just another day of class.

"You finally woke up."

Amos blinked.

"I've been awake for several minutes."

"You call that early?"

"I call it enough."

Chester snorted.

"Whatever."

The shared kitchen sat unused, as neither of them seemed all that interested in cooking before class.

"We'll probably just eat at the cafeteria," Chester said.

"Makes sense."

With thousands of students at the academy, a cafeteria was practically a given. Amos made a quiet mental note to check out the food options, hoping for something interesting. Chester’s gaze drifted to the clock mounted on the wall.

"We've still got time."

"Mhm."

An awkward silence lingered between them, but neither appeared to mind. After a while, Chester broke it with his voice once more.

"Do you know what our first class is?"

Amos dug into his academy-issued bag and pulled out the schedule he’d gotten yesterday, unfolding it.

"Introduction to Mana Theory."

Chester looked thoroughly unimpressed.

"Sounds boring."

"I don't know."

Amos tilted his head.

"Perhaps."

Amos couldn’t really argue with that. A few moments later, they slung their bags over their shoulders and stepped out of the suite together. The Hall of Stars buzzed with more activity than it had the day before, doors swinging open one after another as the other residents emerged.

Suite Two opened first.

Estelle stepped outside carrying several neatly organized books.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Amos returned the greeting while Chester gave a small nod. Aurelia followed shortly afterward, already reading despite walking.

"..."

No one questioned how she managed it.

Suite Three opened next.

Elodie walked out with remarkable energy.

"Good morning, everyone!"

Beside her, Edith smiled gently and waved.

Her notebook was already open.

Good morning.

"Morning."

Amos waved back.

Suite Four followed.

Willow adjusted the strap of her bag while Mira carefully secured her bow across her back.

"Morning."

"Good morning."

Finally—

The door to Suite Five burst open.

"GOOD MORNING!"

Frida's cheerful voice echoed throughout the hallway. Lucra walked out a second later with the expression of someone who had already accepted whatever chaos today would bring.

"Morning."

As several academy staff members passed through the corridor, they couldn’t help but smile. Seeing all ten first-years together again somehow made the Hall of Stars feel whole. For a moment, everyone just stood there in silence—until Elodie clapped her hands.

"So, who's getting lost first?"

"..."

"..."

Chester frowned.

"We have a map."

Elodie shrugged.

"That has never stopped students before."

Frida raised her hand proudly.

"I already got lost yesterday."

Lucra sighed.

"You got lost walking back from the bathroom."

"It was a very confusing hallway."

"There was one hallway."

"It curved."

"It didn't."

Amos listened quietly before nodding to himself.

"..."

***

The corridors of the Hall of Stars gradually filled with students as the first day officially began. Groups from the different residential suites naturally merged together, following the signs toward the Academic District.

"This academy is huge..." Frida muttered, looking around in amazement.

"It was designed that way," Estelle replied. "To accommodate students from every corner of the continent."

"And to make people get lost," Lucra added with a sigh.

"I heard that."

"You were supposed to."

A few chuckles rippled through the group.

Guided by the academy map in Chester’s hands, the ten students finally came to a halt before a massive set of double doors.

Above, graceful silver lettering spelled out:

Class A.

"So, this is our classroom," Willow whispered.

Without hesitation, Chester pushed the doors open. The spacious classroom was already half full, with rows of polished desks neatly arranged as morning sunlight poured through towering windows, casting a warm golden glow. As the Hall of Stars students stepped in, conversations faltered and several pairs of eyes turned their way. Amos casually let his gaze drift across the room.

Most of the unfamiliar faces were anything but unknown to him.

As the heir of House Kyros, recognizing the younger members of prominent noble families had long since become second nature.

His gaze settled on a striking girl with long midnight-black hair neatly tied back and serene crimson red eyes.

Seraphine R. Dusk. The young lady of House Dusk.

Nearby sat a broad-shouldered beastkin boy whose muscular frame looked more suited for a battlefield than a classroom. His tusks slightly protruded from his lower jaw as he folded his arms. Unknown.

Across from him sat a quiet girl with ash-gray hair and sharp silver eyes, silently reading a thick book despite everyone entering. Unknown.

Leaning casually against a desk was a handsome young man with neatly combed dark-blue hair and confident sapphire eyes. Unknown.

Near the windows stood two boys whose appearances were similar enough that they were unmistakably brothers. One wore a composed smile while the other observed everyone with an unreadable expression.

Andrew R. Darkhan.

Andre R. Darkhan.

Amos lingered on them for only a brief moment.

The Darkhan twins...

If their Elder sister's achievements were already becoming legends before even, he had enrolled, then her younger brothers naturally attracted attention simply because they carried the same surname. It wasn’t because they had achieved anything remarkable, but rather because everyone was curious if another monster had risen from House Darkhan.

Deeper inside sat a broad-shouldered youth with short brown hair, surprisingly approachable despite his imposing frame.

Bruno G. Morrest.

Near him was a silver-haired boy with icy blue eyes and an expression that made Chester's usual face seem welcoming.

Kal Boreal.

His posture was perfectly straight, almost military in discipline.

Beside him sat a bespectacled boy with tidy blond hair who immediately gave off the impression of someone who preferred libraries over arenas.

Milfort J. Mildred.

Finally, resting lazily near the back of the room was a brown-haired young man twirling a pen between his fingers with practiced ease.

Rafael H. Wright.

Unlike the others, Rafael greeted the newcomers with an easygoing smile.

"Looks like everyone's here."

The atmosphere in the classroom subtly changed. Most of the students already seemed to know each other. Those with middle initials came from noble families whose names were well-known across the Empire. Even among the commoners, many surnames were familiar. Amos quietly slipped into an empty seat near the center of the room.

Nearly all of them are nobles...

It was no surprise—Class A had always drawn the academy’s most gifted freshmen. Many of those spots were naturally filled by the children of powerful noble families.

Still...

His gaze briefly swept across everyone once more.

Interesting.