The days leading up to the return of the results were excruciatingly boring. I mostly explored the capital. It was to be my city of residence for the next years to come, so I decided that I should be as familiar with the layout as possible. I had all the time to think about my past life and my dream. I didn't want to be that person. I had another chance and I wouldn't waste it by being the same insensitive jerk.

The problem was that my people skills hadn't improved a lick. Finally the day had come that the results were posted in the square of the capital. I took the scenic route to the square. There was no rush, I had four days to get settled in on campus before the entrance ceremony. My trip through the park brought peace to my racing thoughts.

The back alleys were far less crowded than the streets. Some alleys were better than others, thugs hung out and waited for people to rob to pass by. It was annoying to take them down so I was glad when thugs began recognize and avoid me. I was coming across one of my least favorite alleys. There was a new thug hanging out there, and he was a lot bigger and dumber than the other thugs. No matter how many times I beat him up, he would train and think he was ready to face me next time. He was a fucking shounen villain in an isekai story.

When I came across the alley that time, he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a standard thug creeping on a girl. She was pinned against the wall and I couldn't see her face. Before I could do anything, a sturdy looking commoner peered down the alley.

"I already told you no. Get away from me." She said.

The commoner walked toward the pair. "Is this man bothering you?" He asked.

Not bothering to see this trope to end I turned around and walked to the street. It was crowded but I was nearly to the square. I arrived around noon and was nearly an hour past that when I finally reached the results. The tablet on top was the top five applicants. Under that where rows of tablets worth the last names in alphabetical order.

I read through the list of the top five.

1. Von Earlheight, Alfred. Practical score 100

2. Goodman, Wayne. Practical score 98

3. Walterberger, Enis. Practical score 97

4. Graeme, Atezor. Practical score 95

5. Nightshade, Leviah. Practical score 94

I was surprised that I got a perfect score, but what surprised me even more was that a commoner came in second. Not that his status mattered, but commoners typically had less magic. Those outliers almost always came into positions of power. Whether they be granted land or mayoral powers over towns. This commoner not only had an almost perfect score but he was second only to someone who was descended from the person with the most magic in human history.

What surprised me even more was that number four was a foreigner. I didn't even know foreigners were eligible for the military but this one had obviously been born in Doltia or he wouldn't be in the academy.

With the top five applicants so close in strength it was sure to be an interesting three years. I would probably have to train my ass of to stay number one or one of the others would surely pass me (in technique if not raw power.)

The move to the dorms was as expected. I moved my pack of clothes to the dorms and was assigned to a room which no one else had been assigned yet. Then I decided to wander the campus to get a feel for the academy layout. I came across a few upper class men but they mostly kept to themselves.

Two days passed and a few other first years moved into my dorm. Nobles. I didn't bother learning their names, all they talked about was how the school had been "infested with commoners" ever since the new headmaster took over.

"But you would know all about that," said the loudest of the bunch, finally noticing my presence as I lay on the top bunk. "He's your father, isn't he?"

It was Samuel one of the sons of my father's vassal, the lord of a city in his duchy Sir Damestrenger. I hated it when he came to report to my father and decided to bring his brats along. He thought it would be advantageous if one of his sons became friends with the son of his lord. Needless to say, I wanted nothing to do with the spoiled children.

"And what if he is? My father can do what he pleases as headmaster." I responded vehemently.

"You would know all about that. After all you're only here because he's headmaster." He mocked

"The headmaster may have final say over entries. But it's the examiner who determines the score." I was already tiring of his bullshit.

His face reddened as he made his response. "And just what was your score? You couldn't have gotten higher than a eighty. My father always refused to tell me how good your magic was. Probably protecting your family's fragile ego."

"Did you even bother reading the top five?" I asked with sigh. "Of course not. You're only capable of thinking about yourself." I paused for a second.

"If you had bothered reading than you would know that the top spot belongs to me. With a perfect score." I said feigning arrogance.

He gave a scoff of disbelief. "So you performed every spell in your element perfectly and didn't even diminish in strength after performing it multiple times?" He goaded, "the highest score this academy has seen in 20 years is ninety-nine. You can't be that good."

I was surprised to learn that this spoiled child actually knew something I didn't. I didn't bother to research past tests or scores because I wanted to be surprised. But he actually studied so he could be prepared. Maybe we could've been friends if he wasn't such a dick.

"I'd be happy to give you a first hand experience of my abilities." I threatened.

Samuel actually laughed at that. "No. I believe you. You are a descendant of Eric I. And Duke Von Earlheight isn't the kind of man who would give his son a free ride. But I still don't think a person like you should be the heir of the Dukedom. You're too accepting of filth like commoners."

"And you're too proud of a class system that's out of date. Nobles have spent the last hundred years have illegitimate children with commoners and the magic based system hasn't been changed. So now we have commoners with just as much magic as nobles and they're still looked down on as lesser than us." I argued soundly.

"I'm not arguing politics with you. I'm done." He turned back to the other nobles, ears noticeably reddened.

I turned over on my side to face the wall and ignored my annoying roommates. Soon the others went to sleep and I finally got some quiet to do so as well.

The next day was the day of the entrance ceremony. It was to take place from noon to two o'clock in the afternoon. I walked to the mess hall for breakfast and bought some porridge. This nation's main food source was wheat so everything with wheat was less expensive and I was still living off the hundred gold coins my mother gave me. I still had sixty-seven gold, nine silver and a copper. I was determined not to draw from the bank until I absolutely had to. So I was on a budget.

I found a seat in the theater where the opening ceremony was to take place. My father would give a speech, then the person on the top of the graduating class, then the headmaster would come back out and announce the top scoring examinees from lowest to highest with each coming up to shake the headmasters hand.

The theater quieted as an imposing figure came toward the podium. A heavily muscled blonde man with hands calloused from swordplay. He towered over the podium and cast a spell to amplify his voice.

"Welcome students," he said in his deep and powerful voice, " this term will be a long one. No break for harvest or the winter festival. The king has ordered this as the threat along our border grows greater. This academy trains our nation's mages to fight for a greater purpose than themselves. We fight to protect our borders from the vicious monsters in the land beyond.

With breaks in training our mages may not be prepared for the war to come. If an invasion does occur we will be the front lines. The elves and dwarves will take weeks to send reinforcements and we will need every able fighter. Meaning that second and third years will be sent to assist."

He looked around at the students and continued. "First years, no matter how you look at it, are just not trained well enough to be sent into battle. However, we will be implementing a new program for the top five examinees.

They will be trained as officers regardless of birth," you could only apply as an officer in the king's army if you were a noble, " their training will only last one year. They have proven that they are already adept at magic and only need proper training in its combative uses. As soon as they graduate they will be given into service of the king but will have to prove themselves to be given any command."

Father stopped to let this sink in. I couldn't believe that I only had to go through a single term. Just eight months of training to join the army. This was everything I dreamed of. Being in a position to make a difference for the good of the people of the kingdom.

He continued, explaining further. "The top five will have on level classes until the time classes end at three o'clock. They will then have officer training until eight. With five hours a day for the entire term they will have as much training as any officer. Which train for three months for the whole day," he paused for a breath, "moving on. There are no additional announcements for the term. Fight on and prosper." He gave the Doltian salute, the right arm held out bent at the elbow hand straight in front of the elbow. At the words "fight on and prosper" everyone stood up and returned the salute. Some students lagging behind to copy the others.

Father left the stage after setting us at ease. Then the top of the third year class came to the stage. His speech was a lot of "do your best" bullshit, so I didn't listen to too much of it. Then he went back to his seat in the front row.

Father came back out to the same effect as the first time: immediate silence.

"Now I will announce the top five scorers on the exam. When your name is called, please come to stage. Number five, Leviah Nightshade."

A tall girl stood up and walked on stage. Her hair was pitch black and she was as beautiful as the night sky. Her surname Nightshade suited her perfectly. She walked proudly on to stage and shook father's hand. I noticed a slight grimace of pain in his eyes but I doubted anyone else did. It seemed Leviah was far more than she appeared.

"Number four, Atezor Graeme." A man walked up. He resembled those people found in the north of the continent, just before one would reach the demon domain. He had dark hair and golden eyes. He would appear to be of middle eastern ethnicity if he was on earth. He walked with purpose and shook father's hand with vigor.

"Number three, Enis Walterberger." A girl with red hair presented herself. She was obviously a Doltian noble but I didn't recognize her. If she landed in the top three, then she was from a high ranking family. Meaning that she wouldn't be caught dead serving my father. Her family probably had a duchy of their own.

"Number two, Wayne Goodman." It was the commoner from before. The one in the alley. He conducted himself quite well despite not being taught the proper way to present himself to a duke.

"Finally, in the top spot, with a perfect score, we have Alfred Von Earlheight. My own son." His eyes, which had been glazed and unfocused throughout the ceremony, suddenly shone with a deep and fierce pride. It was obvious to me that he had known my plan the whole time. He had just wanted me to walk my own path. I was suddenly reminded of that day my magic showed itself. His eyes had the same pride then too.

I walked up, a little dazed and went to shake his hand, but instead he pulled me into a crushing bear hug. I hugged back, strangely comforted, I hadn't been hugged by someone I saw as a father since my previous one died.

I walked back to my seat and missed the end of the ceremony as I was lost in my thoughts.