“S-so, you don’t like girls? I mean, in a romantic sense?”

Tiffany’s face was still a bit flushed but she had finally calmed down. As for Sophy, well, in her case she was still giggling at Tiffany’s reaction. I, on the other hand, had a headache building up. For some odd reason, the three of us seemed to click perfectly for a comedy skit.

“I like to think that gender is the least important factor in a relationship. If two people like each other then so be it. Gender or even race doesn’t matter as long as two people hold each other dear”

After I finished exposing my point of view both Tiffany’s face grew red again. In the next instant, Sophy started teasing Tiffany with me. However, from Tiffany’s reaction, I could tell it wasn’t me who she was interested in. Instead, it seems she holds some affection for someone of the same gender and she is unsure of how to proceed. Well, it’s not my problem so I will not meddle in it.

We kept chatting for a while until it grew a bit late. After giving our farewells we left for our respective lodgings. Of course, since Sophy and I were staying at the same place we left together. On the way, I asked Sophy about her results and they were as I expected. She scored high on both magic tests while the physical ones were a complete disaster. Her actual scores were two-hundred and forty-four for the mana measuring. The highest score from my group aside from me was that black-haired guy, so her score is quite high indeed. As for the applied magic test, she scored seven hundred and eighty-nine which once again is quite high.

As expected from her a rank A pure mage adventurer. However, once again her physical score was so low I feel bad mentioning it. What I will say is that they were lower than an average farmer’s score. Then again, she is a pure mage so it is normal for her to have a weak body. After all, mages had to spend most of their time learning spells and meditating. On the other hand, warriors had to spend their time training their muscles and their technics. Only talented geniuses could do both, in that aspect both Tiffany and that black-hair guy are incredibly talented.

Well, I say that but I am a monster with a body constitution that surpasses both of them put together and a magical capacity that leaves them both in the dust. If I knew any spells I would go from being a monster to being some kind of abomination. Calling myself a monster doesn’t feel right but I guess it is the best term to describe my capabilities. I also possess a core so that is that.

Sophy also asked me about my score and I told her my results truthfully. There would be no use in hiding them since sooner or later she would learn about them. As I told her my results she almost collapsed and asked me a few times if I was some kind of monster in disguise. To that, I responded with an evil smirk while saying “perhaps”. Her reaction was priceless I must say.

The rest of the day flew by as we did our own thing. Tomorrow we would have to check the board for our results and our assigned classrooms. Since everyone had to take the mandatory classes we would be assigned a homeroom teacher as well as a curriculum. After that, we could choose the rest of our classes as we liked. In my case, I wanted to learn history, magic, and a proper sword style. Thankfully, history and basic magic theory are mandatory classes. There is also a mandatory physical education class. However, one can skip that one by applying to a physical class such as swordsmanship or bowmanship.

Apart from that, you could also choose other miscellaneous classes such as music, are and etiquette. Ah! I almost forgot, there are also craftsmanship classes such as smithing, woodworking, leatherworking, sewing, etc. In general, I would say this academy has everything one could ever ask for. As I kept thinking of what classes to choose I slowly drifted asleep.

The next day I woke early to the wake-up call of an excited Sophy jumping up and down while screaming for me to wake up. Truly, she is too energetic for someone like me who tends to be lazy. Well, I guess it doesn’t matter now that I am awake I might as well get ready and head out. Since I don’t tend to take care of myself I got ready fairly fast. The only reason I spent a bit longer was that I wanted to change that aspect of mine. So I at the very least combed my hair for a while to make it look less wild and a plied a tiny bit of makeup.

The Auditorium was filled to the brim once again as there was a massive board with names on it. Those names belonged to those who had been accepted. I should say that passing two tests was the minimum requirement since there were also limited spots for entry. Therefore if the number of people that passed the minimum requirement exceeded the number of available spots they would be chosen by score.

I looked at the board calmly looking for my name. Even if I had only passed three tests that was already one more than the minimum. Not to mention my scores in those tests were absurd. It didn’t take me long to find my name somewhere in the upper half of the list as it is organised from the best score to worst. Since I had already found my name I decided to look for the names of my friends. Sophy’s name was a bit further down the list and Tiffany’s name was actually above mine. No real surprise there since she did better than me in the written test. She also got an excellent grade on the applied magic test in which I didn’t participate.

The top mark was a guy named Richard Von Valencia. His score was impressive, to say the least, but I guess it is to be expected from a prince. Or at least I think he is a prince since his surname is the name of the kingdom. Well, it doesn’t really matter to me who has the highest or lowest scores. I am happy with my twenty-seventh spot. By the way, Sophy is the thirty-second spot and Tiffany is the nineteenth spot.

Looking to my side I could see a very happy Sophy and far away Tiffany was waving our way. I don’t know how but it looks like she managed to spot us in the middle of such a crowd. I waved back and waited until she sat back down. Fifteen minutes after the Chairman walked inside the Auditorium to deliver another speech.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate those who have been accepted into our wonderful academy. As for those who couldn’t make it please don’t feel discouraged. Our academy is always open for those with talent. If next year you come back and prove to us that you are worthy we will accept you. Now, with that out of the way, I will say that this only the start of your journey and struggle. Our academy is a very strict yet fair institution. We will teach you to the best of our abilities and we expect you to put out satisfactory results. With that said, I hope that in three years the same amount of people that have been accepted today will graduate. Now go forth and grasp your future with an iron grip. Welcome to all of you to our glorious Valencia Royal Academy Remalen”

As he finished his speech the auditorium broke into applause and cheers of celebration coming from all of those who had been accepted. As things finally calmed down after a few minutes a teacher spoke up and instructed us on what to do now. First, we would have to head towards the classrooms that had been labelled next to our names. Go figures, so that is what that other number meant next to our score. Also to my surprise, both Sophy and Tiffany were in the same class as me. Well, I might have an idea of why Sophy is in the same class as me. After all, Sophy’s mentor is a teacher here so he could have moved a few strings. As for Tiffany, I guess she got lucky.

I and Sophy waited for Tiffany to catch up to us so we could head to the classroom together. In this way, we would also let the huge crowd disperse so walking there would become easier. Somehow we were one of the first groups to reach the classroom and thanks to that we could choose to sit anywhere we wanted. The classroom reminded me of a university classroom as it looked like a smaller version an auditorium.

After we choose our seats we began chatting about this and that without a worry in the world as slowly but surely the classroom was getting filled with students. Soon enough there were only a few spots remaining. Most of those spots were at the far top or right in front. Normally those spots were a bother. This is because the ones a the back made it difficult to see and the ones at the front made it so the teacher could see everything you did. We were in the middle rows which were the best spots. Close enough so you could see everything but far enough so the teacher wouldn’t be constantly watching over you.

As we kept our meaningless chat a guy approached us. Looking at him he is a bit taller than me with a somewhat fatty complexion. His face is round with a somewhat pointy nose. His hair is a blond colour as for his eyes the were greenish in colour. To tell the truth he would look handsome if he lost a few kilos, what a waste of potential.

“Hey, you there, how about you give your seat to this great me!”

“I refuse”

I said it without even taking a second look at him. His face turned red out of anger as he opened his mouth to talk once again. Why? why does trouble follow me like a plague!?