[Scarlett's PoV]
The survival exam is over, but I don't feel like my abilities have improved much further. I need to awaken the Codex I possess, but I remember what that man said to me before.
"You're different from your family, Scarlett."
What exactly did his words mean?
"Sister, why are you daydreaming like that?"
Geralt and I were watching a black-haired man practicing in the dueling arena. Actually, he wasn't the only one practicing in this place; many other students were also sparring or practicing solo.
"It's nothing, Geralt," I replied. "What kind of training do you think he's doing? He's been doing nothing but receiving constant magic attacks from his sparring partner for a while now."
"Who knows? I guess he wants to make his mana evolve, just like the Instructor mentioned in yesterday's lesson," replied Geralt, who also looked curious. "Sister, do you want to try doing it too?"
Today, I planned to speak with that man regarding our conversation after the first stage of the exam ended.
"You can find another partner, Geralt. I just remembered there is some business I have to settle," I told him.
"Alright, I guess I'll ask Brian then."
After Geralt left, I continued to watch their training session. His sparring partner was pointing his palm toward the man.
"Captain, are you sure about this?" the mage asked.
"Of course, Marlo. Whenever you're ready," the black-haired man replied, his entire body already covered in bruises.
The mage then began to chant, and yellow sparks of fire appeared in his palm.
"Fireball!"
Instantly, the fireball shot toward him. The man then opened his palm toward the projectile. Something shocking happened: the fireball did not explode when it was about to make contact with him, but instead, it swirled like a comet, rapidly orbiting his body in various directions.
What exactly is he doing? I muttered to myself.
The man's face remained calm as he tried to focus on the fire circling his body.
—Bomb!
However, suddenly the fireball expanded uncontrollably until it finally exploded. A cloud of smoke began to rise around the man's body, and the attention of the other students who were practicing was also diverted by the sound of the explosion.
"Captain!" The mage ran toward the black-haired man. "Are you okay?"
The black-haired man slowly stood up; his academy uniform appeared badly damaged after the fireball exploded.
"I think we'll end it here for now, Marlo," the man said as he walked toward the exit of the arena.
I began to step forward to meet him. It seemed he was heading to the men's locker room. When I arrived there, I waited in front of the room until he came out. Not long after, the door opened, revealing the man who had now changed into a fresh uniform.
"Scarlett? What are you doing here?" the man asked.
"Didn't I tell you? After the exam ended, I wanted to join the Disciplinary Committee," I replied, reminding him.
"Ah, I just remembered," he said, nodding his head. "Follow me, Scarlett."
We then left the dueling arena building.
As we walked, I noticed the students looking at Raul with eyes full of hatred. What exactly made him so loathed? Hadn't the survival exam ended? Were they still holding a grudge from that time?
"Ignore them," the man said, noticing me observing our surroundings. "They're a bit upset because the Student Council called in their clubs regarding budget issues."
In Grunbelt Academy, students can also develop their abilities outside of official lessons. There are many clubs established by students according to their respective expertise. For example, as a Brawler, I would naturally join that club. Club activities include training together and sharing attack combos, and seniors usually teach juniors specific tricks for Brawlers when fighting other classes. Sometimes, the Brawler club even brings in famous Knights of the Brawler class to train us for a few days. However, I would have to leave that club if I became part of the Disciplinary Committee.
We finally reached the office on the third floor of the Student Council building. Raul opened the door, revealing a room containing several members who were reading something.
"Attention, everyone," Raul greeted those inside. "We have a new member today—Scarlett. From now on, she will be joining us."
Everyone began to pay attention to me. I recognized a few faces, including the man who was on my team during the first stage of the exam.
"Viera, are there still any members who do not have a partner yet?" Raul asked a brown-haired woman.
"Emm... I believe all members already have their respective partners, Captain," the woman named Viera answered.
"In that case, Scarlett will be my partner," Raul said, glancing at me. "Viera, Piers, give Scarlett a briefing regarding the rules and regulations that members must follow within the Disciplinary Committee. I must head to the infirmary first to heal my wounds."
After giving his members instructions, Raul left the room. Looking around, I was curious about what they were actually reading.
"Come here, Scarlett. We'll tell you about the Disciplinary Committee led by Captain," Viera said with a smile.
I nodded and approached them to sit together.
"Scarlett, are you curious about what we're reading right now?" asked a man beside Viera.
Emmm... If I'm not mistaken, his name is Piers, isn't it? I just nodded in response to his question. He then showed me a map along with some notes on another page.
"A map? What for?" I asked him.
"I don't know. Captain ordered us to memorize the topography of several regions on the Empire's borders," Viera answered.
I then looked at the map they were reading, which showed a forest, mountains, and a river located on the northern border of the Empire.
The northern border... doesn't our country border Venetian Republic to the north? I muttered, briefly recalling the most advanced country in the world.
What was that man planning by ordering his members to study the Venetian Republic border area? What did it have to do with academy activities?
For the second year, only the final exams remain unexecuted for the rest of the year. Upon entering the third year, there are important activities that will determine graduation.
First is field practice, where students will be placed in several regions with high crime rates and low security. They will help as much as possible according to their respective abilities. Second is conducting training with the Imperial military. This aims to ensure students are disciplined in following the chain of command and familiar with the Empire's security system. They will be placed in fortresses usually located at the nation's borders. Third is the final determining exam, where students will be tested on all magic and martial techniques that must be mastered as academy graduates.
Among these three activities, the most likely reason for us to be at the border is during the service at the military fortresses. It makes a little sense if connected in that direction.
However, is it really necessary to be this prepared just to undergo training there? I don't know; that man's train of thought always leaves me confused.
***
[3rd PoV]
In the academy cafeteria, many students were busy chatting with their friends while enjoying lunch. This included Brian, who was with Valeria, Ariel, and Geralt, discussing something after finishing their training.
"Brian, be my sparring partner," Geralt requested after swallowing his food. "My sister won't join me, so I have to ask you instead."
Hearing Geralt's request, Brian replied, "I don't know, Geralt. I'm bored of always sparring with you. Fighting different people will make my combat experience broader; that's why yesterday I asked Princess Elena to be my sparring partner, but she refused, claiming she was busy with Student Council business."
It was true; the last strong opponent Brian had fought seriously was Raul, and that was a long time ago.
"Speaking of training, that reminds me that the qualifications for the year-end tournament will start the day after tomorrow," Valeria noted, suddenly bringing up the tournament.
"Huh? So soon!? I thought the tournament would start after the final exams!?" Brian said, looking surprised to hear the information from Valeria.
"The Main Tournament will indeed start after the final exams are finished, but the participants must follow the qualifying rounds to determine who is eligible to advance to the main tournament."
Valeria was right. This was because when the tournament began, many military figures and nobles would attend to see the abilities of the academy students. They surely wanted to recruit and secure students they considered unique and different from the others.
"In this tournament, the top 10 ranked students will qualify directly for the main tournament," Valeria explained to them. "In the second year, only I and Princess Elena are in the top 10, and only one person in the first year."
Hearing Valeria's explanation, Brian and Geralt appeared to be in deep thought, while Ariel, who had been silent, showed no interest at all.
"I won't be participating in this tournament. It's better for me to focus on learning other healing magics," Ariel said, looking certain of her decision.
"Speaking of training, I just saw that man practicing something interesting." Geralt's words caught the attention of Brian and Valeria; they knew who Geralt meant by "that man." "He seemed to be practicing what the instructor showed a few days ago."
"The Unreality Field, perhaps?" Valeria muttered.
"That's the one! But it seems like it will be very difficult to master if we have to receive magic attacks directly to learn it," said Geralt, sounding a bit pessimistic.
However, their conclusion was not entirely correct. Raul was not only practicing to master the Unreality Field but also learning to use the Redirect Impact, which was even more difficult than that.
"Hey Geralt, we won't know the result until we try! Let's do that training after this," said Brian, who this time invited Geralt back.
But while they were busy chatting, they suddenly felt the cafeteria area fall silent. Not long after, they knew the reason for this silence.
A beautiful gray-haired woman was walking through the cafeteria area with a white-haired man walking behind, following her. Geralt and Brian swallowed hard seeing the graceful and elegant woman; her flat expression, looking as if she didn't care about anything, added to the untouchable aura she possessed.
"If I'm not mistaken, she is Princess Alisha Romanova from the Slavic Tsardom," Valeria remarked, snapping the two men out of their trance.
"Huh? A Princess from another country!?" Brian exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes... She and Prince Vlad are transfer students who just arrived here yesterday," Valeria explained.
Hearing this, Brian then stepped toward where Alisha was. Ariel, seeing this, could only sigh, while Geralt was shocked by Brian's attitude.
"Hey Brian! What are you doing!?" Valeria cried out.
Brian turned back and replied, "Of course, inviting her to talk with us! I'm curious about people from other countries!"
Not long after, Brian appeared in front of Alisha and Leon. The Princess's servant stepped forward to push Brian away from Alisha's presence.
"Let me introduce my—"
"What do you want, suddenly blocking Princess Alisha's path!"
But before Brian could speak, Leon suddenly cut him off, causing the blond-haired man's face to turn annoyed.
"What's with that attitude!? I just want to get to know her!" Brian replied in a high tone of voice.
Seeing a commotion was about to happen, Alisha just sighed and told Leon to be quiet.
"So, who are you that wants to get to know me?" Alisha asked with her characteristic flat expression.
"My name is Brian! I am the person who will become the strongest Knight in the Empire!" Brian replied enthusiastically.
"Heee~ The strongest Knight, is it?" Hearing Brian's words, Alisha then began to observe the blond-haired man's physique. "Then, what business do you have approaching me?"
"Ah, would you like to join our table for a little chat? I'm quite curious about foreign lands, you know," Brian replied, looking happy.
"Very well, I also happen to want to get to know this place better."
Brian then led Alisha to the table where his friends were. Geralt and Valeria were surprised to see Brian succeed in bringing the Princess to their table.
"This red-haired guy is Geralt—the son of a Duke, this is Valeria who is also the daughter of a Duke, and finally, my closest friend, Ariel," Brian said, introducing his three friends to the Princess.
Hearing names with high backgrounds, Princess Alisha tried to remember them in case she needed connections to benefit the Slavic Tsardom in the future.
"Could you introduce yourself to us?" Brian requested, subsequently drinking a glass of water to wet his throat, which was dry after talking so much.
Hearing Brian's request, Alisha then smiled and began to introduce herself to them.
"My name is Alisha Romanova—First Daughter of Tsar Feodor Romanova— The Ruler of Slavia Tsardom."
Geralt, Valeria, and Ariel looked amazed by the royal aura radiating from Princess Alisha. This was the first time they had met a monarch from another country.
"Also, I am the fiancée of Raul de Garcia."
—Pffft!
Instantly as Princess Alisha said that, Brian spat out the water he was drinking onto Geralt's face. Valeria's mouth hung wide open hearing the unexpected news, while Ariel's eyes opened wide as if she couldn't believe it.
"Nice to meet you all."