Sunlight seeped from the blinds, bouncing against the walls of my dorm and bringing sparse light to the dim room.
"aaauugggghhhhHHHHHH..."
A groan escaped my mouth and I shifted my limbs around in a stretch.
Feeling the cold of the room I rolled over and covered myself in the thick blanket.
The warmth embraced me tenderly and just nearly, before the hand of sleep caught me once again...
BANG BANG BANG
"GOOD MORNING!! IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP NOW!!" A rough sounding voice echoed through the walls as the noise of waking adolescents complained faintly in the background.
Rushing through the halls of the dormitory a loud banging hit my door and my fellow neighbours. And I'm guessing all the way to the very end of the hallway.
I guess this is what I was missing out on when I went to some public school.
Getting up in a daze I stumbled around and gathered my uniform. The academy had graciously given each student several sets of uniform, but I guess not the decency of a regular person.
I couldn't help but think this as I waited in line with other boys for the toilets and showers.
But after that disaster I headed to my first class that was orientation. It was a strange feeling having nearly completed school only to start back at the beginning in this strange world.
Shoving my hands in my trouser pockets and passing by grouped students, the feeling seemed to increase. I was pissed I was having to go through this twice now.
Why did I think it was a good idea to even consider this? A hand scrunched my hair in annoyance before being releasing itself to my side in defeat.
I just had to look on the bright side. I knew nobody here and nobody knew me.
This was a plain start. It's not going to end up like last time...
Was what I was thinking before something atrocious entered my sight.
The colour of hair like bone with a face that looked childish, his body on the ground and a girl on top of him was not a great look. It was such a cliché trope, but seeing it first hand hurt me physically. The cringe felt like a punch into my stomach.
As a commotion of disgruntled and admittedly distressed students worried over the girl and attacked Arthur in the meantime, I made sure to keep a fair distance away as I passed.
I did not need the student body thinking I was chummy with him even if he was the only one that believed that in our weird relationship.
".....my fault! She appeared out of nowhere, like literally!" Although he was telling the truth, Arthur's desperate voice seemed pathetic considering how he had indirectly benefitted from the mess. "W-Why don't you guys believe me?.... Hey, Kale! Back me up would you?"
My body froze.
At the sudden attention of dozens of students that was listening in on the drama, including those attending the girl and girl in question, my expression went stone-faced.
Seeing all the beady eyes instinctively turn to me, I blinked.
"....Who are you?"
Their attention rapidly turned disinterested and bared their teeth back at Arthur.
"Huh... Wait wait, Kale? I-I thought we were buddies?" My body kept walking further and further away. "Kale?.... Kale? KALE!!! THEY'RE HITTING ME NOW!!! KALE!"
The sound of metal colliding with flesh and rock sounded. I kept my body staring straight as the commotion intensified behind me.
With my gaze to the ground, I shook my head tragically.
Somehow I knew he was butchering my name as I entered school.
Orientation was the first class of the day for every new first year student. Split into five groups labelled A-E, these classes formed the basis of each starting homeroom.
It goes without question that class A were the superior students. Taught by the infamous Instructor Claire, those that didn't pick a specific homeroom teacher at the end of the exam, would be automatically assigned to her. Alongside any other high potential students.
Keeping in line with cliches most of the important cast characters were in this class. His rival, some of his love interests, a few helpful side characters and some antagonists. It was a whole bunch of people that the school deemed the most potentially powerful.
It was for that same reason I found myself starring confused at the room I was assigned.
Class E.
Instructor Donny.
Although I failed at the second examination, wasn't my abilities clearly shown? Not to glaze myself or anything, but surely that didn't make me bottom of the cohort. This guy even saw me pull off a move only masters could do...
...
This guy pulled some strings didn't he?
Looking at his stifled grin as he watched kids roll up, I let out a deep sigh. This was actually for the best. Minimal interaction with the creature that was Arthur in the early chapters.
"Good morning class, I hope you all enjoyed your first official morning here at Kordell Academy." Instructor Donny was really bad at hiding the shxt-eating grin. He probably knew about our morning wakeup call and how disgruntled some of us were about it.
A few students groaned in annoyance to prove my point.
"Yesterday the academy had allowed you youngsters to roam its grounds," Donning his professional teaching hat, his massive body turned around and started writing on the board. "Today however, we begin the surprisingly massive undertaking that is the academy's curriculum. But first, let me outline how your schooling will commence from now on..."
Watching as the battle maniac teacher begin teaching earnestly, I had to give credit where credits due. I was pretty engaged throughout his informative speech.
Although the novel had described this same system to me as a reader, coming from Donny, it was much more clearer.
As students we could select up to 5 additional courses to complete, 3 minimum. This did not include mandatory subjects such a mana studies or combat simulation. Other than those subjects, there was an abundance of choices to chose from.
Ranging from History of Beasts, Artifice Creation to Rune Knowledge and Applied Combat. There were a large variety of subjects any student could pick.
Arthur, being the one-trick swordsman that he was, had decided to diversify his options in the novel. Choosing to undertake Botany and Potion-Making for Beginners.
Totally not because the 'Sword God' in his conscious easily allowed him top marks on any of those subjects....
DING
"Alright, that concludes today's orientation. Don't forget to submit your course applications by the end of the week or else you will be randomly assigned to the most unpopular ones.... this is coming from experience."
Hearing the bell, students began packing up. Some still in disbelief that they got the meathead of the teacher's available. Others now in depressive acceptance, their eyes a listless colour.
Little did they know he was the most unproblematic one of the bunch.
After explaining stuff about the school, Instructor Donny had provided each student with a sheet to fill out for the courses by the end of class. Holding it now, I contemplated what I could join since I knew the plot.
Should I be selfish and choose options that benefitted me? Or should I be unravelling tragic plot points for our main characters?
Knowing what happens to some characters and having the choice to help them weighed on me. I don't know why I hesitate.
Perhaps my influence would negatively impact the story, what if some characters don't become strong enough for the next event? Would I be indirectly advancing a dangerous event? Thoughts like that filled my head.
But that was a lie.
I had already stolen the blessing from some mad scientist. I had already interacted with Arthur and Alicia. My sole existence has already probably derailed the plot. What was the point of relying on my knowledge as a crutch.
Instead I should be using it as a tool. I couldn't let it dictate my actions.
That being said...
Leaning against the wall, I began writing down my course selections. Remembering all the little sad plot points in some character's life's, it worked out perfectly.
Sad thing is, I was now the most busiest first year student in Kordell.