Chapter 1452: We Still Need To Show Off A Little
Cecilia did not even dare to touch the couch that Isre had sat on and I didn’t want to make her stand so I offered to switch places with her which she was very grateful for.
So... A quick chat with her and I understood why I was basically left here for so long...
Cecilia was supposed to do my introductions and welcome me to the school... But they were not prepared for a Valedictorian to arrive today since... Apparently... They would at least send a notice of when they want to attend the school ahead of time after they graduate...
I had intended to take my time to travel here which was why I did not send that notice so Cecilia had gone over to the entrance to welcome the Special Class students.
She didn’t even realise that she had a Valedictorian student waiting for her until she was done and rushed back here, only to find Isre inside the room with me for some reason.
And after that... She got sent away by the goddess and was just stuck pacing outside the room and worrying about having a goddess here the entire time before she was finally called back in.
Of course the last thing she expected aside from finding a goddess in the waiting room was hearing the goddess give me her endorsement to be admitted into the school.
Which was why she’s currently bowing her head deeply and apologising profusely for making me wait.
"Please accept my apologies on behalf of the school, Lady Aster!!"
I quickly waved my hands in front of me, "Umm... Please! I don’t blame you guys at all! It’s my fault for not sending a letter ahead of time! And... Umm... I should have waited instead of... Err... Nevermind..."
I’m thinking that I shouldn’t tell her that Isre showed up because I figured out the school crest was a part of a magic circle that can be used to call for her.
Cecilia straightened herself quickly, "No! If I had checked with the staff for the new students, I would have known about you straight away and came here! I should have known you were a Valedictorian when you were being led here! I wasn’t thinking straight at that time!"
I cleared my throat, "Ahem... It’s really alright director... Umm..."
"Please call me Cecilia!!"
"Ah... Umm... It’s really alright, Cecilia... You can just pretend that thing with the goddess never happened and treat me like a normal student... Please?"
She hesitated, clearly unsure of what to do since on one hand, treating me like a normal student might displease Isre but on the other... I was the one asking for it.
Eventually, she decided to just follow my request and nodded, "Un... Understood, Lady Aster... I... I take it you do not wish what happened here to be leaked out to the rest of the school?"
I nodded my head, "That would be preferable, yes..."
"I will do my best to keep it a secret then... Umm... In that case, shall I start your orientation?"
"Yes please. Umm... What should I do? Is there a test?"
She blinked at me for a few seconds before she finally spoke, "Lady Aster... You are not only a Special Class student but also the Valedictorian of the Crown Capital City’s branch Academy... Your entry to the school is guaranteed. There is no test required."
"I mean like... I thought there might be a test required to ascertain my abilities or something. Not to have me get accepted into the school."
Despite all the tension earlier, Cecilia managed to smile at me, "Ah, in that case, there will be one. I will need to arrange for it since it would involve several of the head of departments’ presence so it might take a while. For now, I am just here to go through the official administrative process to welcome you as a student."
She then reached into the air and one of the pieces of paper floated towards her which she snatched out of the air, using it to scribble something on it before tossing it in the direction of the door.
I watched as the paper disappeared in the gap under the door and flew away.
I’m guessing that was some kind of written instruction to get the head of departments or something.
She then turned back to me while maintaining her smile, "First things first, Lady Aster. Welcome to Aerialla Academy! Are you familiar with how the Academy works?"
"I know that it’s a school and... The top students get special treatment or something?"
"That’s roughly correct. The school operates on a merit based system and you can see the entire Academy functioning not just as a school but as a nation where the students are also part of the nation’s subjects. The core directive of this nation is, of course, to study, research and improve magic and skills. And of course, we would do our best to support and aid students who have shown considerable skill and knowledge in these fields."
Oh right, this place not only teaches magic but also other skills as well like crafting and martial skills. I almost forgot about that.
She then hesitated for a moment before her voice dropped slightly, "Umm... Lady Aster? I will have to inform you... That while your Valedictorian status does allow you certain privileges right from the start... Like having your choice of dormitory rooms... You will still have to compete with every other new student to obtain the top student position for your year..."
Ah, I get it.
So even though I might come in as the best student of my branch school, that only opens the door for my entry into it but it does not put me at the very top.
In order for me to be at the top, I would have to compete again to take that place myself.
However, the good thing for me was that I was already a guaranteed student while the others were not.
As though reading my mind, Cecilia continued, "You would also get the personal attention of each of the department heads during your exhibition of your skills. If you catch the eye of one of them, you might be granted personal tutelage under their care. They usually only hold classes for the ones they personally believe will benefit the most from their attention so this is where you can showcase your talent to them."
"So I would only be showing my skills to the head of departments themselves?"
"That’s correct. The other students will have their exhibition monitored by the other lecturers and the other Special Class Students might have one or two heads of departments watching over them during the exhibition, but you will have the guarantee that all of the heads of departments will be watching you."
I dunno... If it’s someone else, they might actually think this is a bad thing and might cave under the pressure of having so many important people watching them perform.
I think I shouldn’t have a problem at least... Unless it involves them commenting on whatever I was doing as I’m showing it...
"When will it happen?" I asked.
"If my estimations are correct. I believe tomorrow or the day after."
"So... What would happen to me now? Do I board the next airship back or..."
She giggled, "Fufufu~ I see you’re really not familiar with the Academy, Lady Aster. While the school semester will only start in a few more weeks, all accepted students are officially part of the school now. You will be granted a dormitory room first which, as part of your privilege of being a Valedictorian, you may freely choose."
"Dormitory room... Is it a private room?"
"Unfortunately, for first years, you will have to share a room with three others. At least for the first half of the year. When the midterms come around, there will be another test and the top few scorers of the year may be granted private dorm rooms if they wish for it and... For the top student, be granted an island for personal use."
I perked up immediately at the mention of the island, "So does the island stick with me for my entire time here? Can I let other people stay with me on the island?"
She nodded her head, "Yes. The island, as well as all the privileges and benefits of the position, will be yours as long as you remain as the top student of your year. And yes, you may invite as many people as you want on your island, though I have to caution Lady Aster that some people might be using that to get your position. And if you lose that position, all the people you invited will also lose their right to be on that island."
I shook my head, "It’s alright, I only intend to invite my lovers... Ah... It’s alright to have lovers, right?"
"Of course, Lady Aster. Why would it not be?" She asked, looking genuinely confused.
Right... Common sense of this World...
And one more thing...
I took out the one thing that I have been charging with my mana at night all this while... The dragon egg that I had obtained after tossing that monster ball at that dragon.
"It’s alright for me to have this around, right? I can walk around carrying this with no problems... Right?"
This is a magic academy after all so having a magic familiar should be normal, right?
So... Why is she staring at the egg like I had just summoned Isre again?
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