The next day.

  Kiana wakes up at 7 am, her routine is similar to the previous day, she has breakfast, takes care of her hygiene, gets dressed and so on. She leaves home and goes to the Academy at 7:55 am, getting there at 8:10 am. Unlike yesterday, everything there is much calmer, the people or should I say, the students, they enter the Academy after briefly showing their ID, going to their classes shortly, although it’s Sunday... Kiana does the same, however in her case, she goes to the main building of the Academy where several other first years are waiting for what is about to come.

  Though an unexpected surprise meets her as the place is packed with students. Some of them are sitting down in chairs that were placed there, roughly thirty of them, while the rest either are standing up or sitting on the ground. There are around hundred students and even with all of them there, it’s more than evident that, it could fit more in there. This place sure is big. Mere moments later, a rather important looking man walks up to the middle. He’s for the old side but not elderly either, around its 50 something years old? Either way, dressed quite formally and with an important presence, he begins to speak.

  “Good morning my fellow students! I bid you welcome to all of you!”

  With a firm and loud enough tone of voice, he quickly grabs the attention of everyone there, making them quiet down at the same time. I do mean everyone there, it does not matter their age, gender, race, the moment this man spoke, they felt how important he is and subconsciously they quiet down and stare at him with full attention in that same instant.

  Principal- I am the principal of the Golden Eden Academy, and I once again welcome all of you. To those that have chosen the Golden Eden Academy out of free will, you have made an excellent choice. I will make sure that you won’t regret it. To those that were invited here, I give you my utmost congratulation for such a feat, it wasn’t easy and I know that. Only the best of the best should have such an opportunity, and as you stand here it’s proof that you are such an individual, you truly have my congratulations. Today it’s an extremely important day for your academic path and of course, your future. But before I continue with anything else, I do have to first apologize for what happened yesterday. It seems a student went a little too far with her behaviour and I apologize for it.

  Calm and with a firm tone of voice he says all of this. He said that he is the principal and you will believe that just from his voice alone. He has that presence, it’s not only his voice, but his body language, his manner, how fast and slow he speaks, everything about him screams “I am the boss here.”. Seriously, what a character, even as the Hero, I would quiet down to listen to him and sure as well, Kiana feels the same way as her beautiful golden eyes stare at him with all of her attention. Now, for the last part of his speech, the part where he apologized. Really? Did those cowards really report Alice to the administration and consequently to him? Tsk, what a bunch of idiots, I just hope she’s fine and nothing to bad happened to her. But moving on, enough of my unnecessary jabbering.

  Principal- As I said before, today you will be choosing the best path for your goals and dreams. Around the Academy, several events will be on display, several teachers will explain and show what they teach, and of course, important individuals will also be here. Your job is to listen to them and see what they all are about. Use what is between your ears to see if they are the best for you, your future, your family and those around you, your goals and dreams. An important decision you will have to make, but here, in the Golden Eden Academy, we allow you to freely choose your best path and of course, provide the tools for whatever you end up choosing. Go, my fellow students! Choose the path that is best suited for you and become a better person with it!

  Clap! Clap! Clap!

  A few moments of silence follow the end of his speech, however, right after that, one by one, the students there start to clap, though this only lasts for a couple of seconds, after all, the students do have places to be. As the principal said, right outside of the building a couple of teachers are there giving out instructions to the students, mainly telling them the places they can go and what to expect if they decide to go there. The first place that the majority of them go is to the entrance of the arena, the same place where the mock battles were and just like the sheep she is, Kiana follows the herd, going to the arena with them. As you can probably expect, there is quite the show there after all, the herd wouldn’t go there just because it wants to, no, something caught their attention and that’s why they go there.

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  Way to Excited Teacher- Welcome, welcome! I see we have visitors! That matters not, as we here, we value strength and magic above all else! If you have the confidence in one of them, then show us that! Spar with us and show us your determination with it! Your strength, your will, your passion! Attributes that are extremely important for society!

  Greedy Teacher- Don’t listen to him! In this world, there is one thing that reigns above all else! And that is money of course! There is nothing that you cannot do without it! Strength and magic will only take you so far! But with money, the world can be yours!

  Way to Excited Teacher- Ha! Money can’t protect you from monsters! Your family, friends and lovers! Please tell me, how can money protect them? If an invader comes, then what? You will throw money at them? Buy them? Ha! Delusional!

  Greedy Teacher- With money you can hire these fools here to protect you! No need to put yourself in danger if you can buy this one to protect you! Not only that, he will do it with a smile on his face! Everything in this world has value, and this value is related to money!

  Way to Excited Teacher- Are you a fool!? If you don’t have enough money, then who will you buy to fight for you? Protect you? Your family and even your business!? Are you out of your mind!?

  “Don’t listen to him! Follow me! And reach the sky thanks to it!”

  They both say this at the end and right after this intense battle of wits, both of them go their separate ways. Although this might have been a pathetic show if you have no interest in any of these options, the same cannot be said if you do have some interest. With both of them, two groups of students, and quite the big ones I must add, they follow each one of the teachers. Kiana does seem interested in the teacher that was talking about strength and magic as she follows him. They end up walking up to the middle of the arena as the teacher is standing right in the middle waiting for everyone that decided to follow him.

  Way to Excited Teacher- You made a fantastic choice! But before I will start yapping about how much of a good choice you made, let me see what you all are about. Words mean nothing in the face of actions! You and you! You will be sparing with each other.

  And so, one by one, he points to the students, forming pairs with it. Kiana ends up being paired with a male student. Nothing about him stands out, just an average looking male maybe two years older than her. Still a first year like her, but older nonetheless.

  “Hello! I’m Kiana Eris, a pleasure to meet-”

  Rude Student- Really!? Why the hell do I have to fight a girl? And one that looks so weak!? I’m going to win even if I have both arms tied up! It isn’t even going to be a challenge for crying out loud!

  Sigh… Some people really are ignorant, aren’t they? Oh well, it will be his own demise and he will soon enough learn his lesson. Although, even after listening to this, Kiana seems quite fine, it seems the rambling of a fool had no effect on her.

  “Hum, you shouldn’t think like that, especially when you don’t know me. Who knows, I might be far stronger than you.”

  Rude Student- Ha, of course you are! But you know what? I was going to go easy on you, but now… You’re dead, you hear me? You will regret ever saying something as stupid as that to me. You? Stronger than I am? What a joke.

  Way to Excited Teacher- Alright, quiet down and get ready. Save all of that dog talk once you’re actually battling, until then just get in position.

  One by one, with instructions from the teacher, everyone gets in place. Half of them are on one side of the arena while the other half is on the other side. That is an odd way of organizing things, especially when the students barely have any space to move thanks to just how many are in the arena. Something seems a little off, will everyone fight at the same time? Although that is chaotic, maybe that is the teacher's intention? Maybe to simulate a real battle where your comrades fight together against the enemy? Who knows, only time will tell.

  Way to Excited Teacher- Get ready… And go!

  Bam!

  Just like with yesterday's mock battles, with a small Pyro spell shot upwards and exploding mere moments later, the battle starts with it. As anyone could expect, the students are hesitant to do anything. They don’t dare to make a move, they are “afraid” to hit those who are next to them, ones that are almost shoulder to shoulder. They simply are confused to the situation at hand. “Is this a free for all?” Some of them question this, but then, why did he even bother to form pairs? “Just, what does he want us to do?” “Are we supposed to think that those on my side are my allies, while the other side is my enemy?” Several questions consume their minds, stopping any potential action from them. But as often I have the tendency to say, reality often is not what it seems, and Kiana has noticed the catch to this as expected.