The Next Morning.
The next day, Jericho was jolted awake by the blaring wail of a horn that echoed through an owl statue in the academy halls.
He groaned softly and forced his eyes open, blinking against the brightness of the sunlight that leaked through the window. His vision was still foggy, but he could already see the faint blue glow of his system screen hovering in front of him, displaying his basic information like his name and level.
He rubbed his eyes and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He glanced around the room and saw that both Cody and the elf boy were already up and dressed in a white button-up shirt and black pants.
This was the academy's standard uniform, and all students were required to wear it. Cody was tightening the strap on his belt to fit his waist while the elf stood near the door, fully dressed and about to walk out.
Jericho squinted, his mind still catching up.
"What's that sound?" he asked, his voice raspy with sleep.
Cody looked over and gave him a small wave. "Hey, you're up." He smiled. "No clue what that horn is exactly, but I think it's the academy's alarm system or something. Definitely not a morning bell."
Jericho ran a hand through his hair and muttered, "An alarm? That's… a little extreme."
"Maybe they like to keep everyone on edge around here," Cody said with a slight chuckle.
Soon the loud noise suddenly stopped and a familiar voice echoed from the owl statue. It was the voice of the announcer from the entrance exam.
"All newly admitted students should please get ready and prepare for the attributes assessment test. Please make sure to be ready in twenty minutes."
Cody turned to Jericho and gave a warm smile. "Better get ready, man. I'll be out waiting for you."
With that, Cody turned and walked outside the room. The elf boy also walked out of the room without saying a word to Jericho or Cody; his expression made it seem like he hated them.
Immediately after Cody and the elf boy left the room, Jericho turned his attention back to the glowing system screen hovering before his eyes. With a swipe of his hand, he scrolled through the display, navigating past his basic stats until he reached the task tab.
[Task Tab.]
[Main Task: Reach Level Ten.]
[Side Tasks: No side tasks found.]
Jericho frowned slightly. "Still no side tasks, huh?" he thought. "Looks like I'll just have to focus on the main task and figure out how to level up... But how am I supposed to do that without side tasks?"
He sighed and dismissed the glowing interface with a thought. "I can't worry about that right now. First, I need to get cleaned up and catch up with the others."
Without wasting another moment, Jericho crossed the room and stepped into the bathroom. The air inside was warm and thick with steam, rising gently from a crystal-clear hot spring nestled into the polished stone floor.
The space was far more luxurious than anything he had ever experienced. His family wasn't wealthy, and a private hot spring had always felt like something out of a dream to him.
He eased himself into the water, and a wave of warmth spread through his entire body. He let himself soak in the warm water, letting the stress and tension of the exam melt away. For ten quiet minutes, Jericho allowed himself to simply enjoy the moment, something he rarely had the chance to do.
Once he was done, he stepped out and dried off quickly. He walked over to the wardrobe beside his bed and found a folded uniform waiting for him. The Demon Slayer Academy's standard attire, the same one that Cody and the elf boy were wearing earlier.
He pulled it out of the wardrobe and jumped in, tightening the belt at his waist, and gave one last glance at the room before heading for the door.
Outside their dorm, Jericho found Cody and the elf boy already standing in a straight line along with dozens of other students, all dressed in the standard uniform of the Demon Slayer Academy.
The hallway buzzed with quiet tension. No one knew exactly what the day would bring; all they knew was that it was the beginning of their real training.
Jericho quickly stepped into line beside Cody, blending in with the rows of anxious students. Before he could ask anything, the stone owl statue mounted above the hallway entrance glowed softly, and the familiar voice of the announcer echoed out from within it.
"All new students, make your way out of the dorm wing and take a right toward the classroom wing. Proceed to the door marked Attributes Assessment and await further instructions inside."
As the announcement was given, a low tide of murmurs spread through the hallway.
"What do they mean by attribute assessment?" someone whispered.
"Don't know, but I hope I possess good attributes," another muttered.
Despite the rising chatter, the students obeyed the instructions without resistance, and the entire line began to shift as they followed the corridor's rightward bend, filing down the stone hallway toward the classroom wing.
At the very back of the group, Jericho and Cody walked side by side, their pace a little slower than the rest.
"You know what the attribute assessment is?" Cody asked, stretching his arms behind his head as they walked.
"Nope. Never heard of it," Jericho muttered, keeping his eyes ahead.
"Neither have I," Cody said with a laugh.
Jericho gave a faint smile. "Well, we're about to find out soon."
As the two boys turned the corner with the rest of the crowd, the door to the Attributes Assessment room came into view. The students opened the door to the room and began funneling in one after the other.
Inside the room, a heavy silence lingered as the students filed in and stood shoulder to shoulder. The chamber itself was grand, with high arched ceilings and tall stained-glass windows filtering in pale morning light.
At the front of the room stood the familiar announcer, but next to him stood a new figure, one that immediately captured the attention of the students.
The figure was a tall man, with flowing white hair that fell in smooth waves past his shoulders. He was dressed in a pristine white robe, trimmed with gold embroidery, and upon the left side of his chest, his name was embroidered in bold script.
This man was Alexander, one of the five mysterious figures that were watching the entrance exam from the darkened chamber.
The murmuring among the students ceased as Alexander stepped forward, the hem of his robe brushing against the smooth floor.
"Welcome, newly admitted students," he said, his voice warm and full of quiet authority. "I am Alexander Newgate, and I am the Headmaster of this academy. I welcome you all personally. You have earned your place here."
The atmosphere in the room softened as he spoke, and even the most hardened students relaxed slightly at the warmth in his tone.
He motioned toward a small circular table positioned between him and the crowd, and atop the table rested a glowing orb that was roughly the size of a man's head. Pale blue light pulsed within its crystal surface, like a heartbeat that was made of magic.
"You are all here to undergo your attribute assessment," he continued. "This will determine which branch of training best aligns with your natural abilities. Standing before me is the tool that will carry out this assessment. It is an ancient artifact known as the Magus Orb."
The light inside the orb flared as he said its name, as though acknowledging its purpose.
"When you place your hand upon the orb, it will read your magical energy and attune to your core. Based on its reading, the orb will assign you to one of three primary divisions."
Alexander slowly raised three fingers. "The first is the Fighter Division. It is for those with raw offensive ability. The second is the Support Division. It is for those whose abilities are best useful for supporting the fighters and long range attacks. And the third division is the Healing Division. It is for those who possess healing-based abilities."
A quiet hush fell over the students as Alexander explained how the divisions work. "Now, let us begin the assessment," Alexander's voice rang clear. "We'll proceed row by row. Step forward when your name is called."
The announcer stepped up with a scroll in hand and began reading the names of all the students present in the room.
As their names were called, the students began approaching the orb one by one and placing their palms on the crystal, watching as it glowed in different colors.
One student, a Fishman boy with thick arms and a scar down one eye, stepped forward and placed his hand on the orb. After reading his magic energy, the orb flared red.
"Fighter Division," Alexander announced calmly.
The next person in line was an elf girl with sharp eyes and silver earrings. She stepped forward and placed her hand on the orb, and watched as it glowed green.
"Healing Division," Alexander announced.
One by one, the students were sorted, each assessed and assigned to one of the three divisions.
Jericho stood beside Cody at the back of the room, watching as it got to their turn.
"You nervous?" Cody asked under his breath.
Jericho let out a small smile. "Not nervous," he said softly. "Just wondering what division I'll be assigned to."
One by one, the students were sorted, and soon it got to Cody's turn. The announcer called out his name and without wasting time, Cody stepped out.
Cody sucked in a breath and gave Jericho a quick thumbs-up before placing his hand on the orb. "Here goes nothing," he whispered.
The orb flickered to life, pulsing through a spectrum of swirling colors before it finally flashed red.
"Fighter Division," Alexander announced.
Cody turned to the crowd with a smug grin. He raised both arms like a victorious champion and strolled back with pride.
"Damn right!" he said under his breath as he jogged back to his spot beside Jericho. "Fighter division, baby."
Jericho smiled faintly, nodding as he congratulated him. "Congrats."
"Your turn," Cody added, clapping him lightly on the back.
Immediately his name was called, Jericho took a slow breath and walked toward the front of the crowd. He stepped up to the Magus Orb and gently placed his hand on it.
The orb reacted instantly, lighting up in a quick succession of brilliant colors before finally pulsing with a soft, steady blue glow.
The moment Jericho placed his hand on the orb, a subtle shift swept across Alexander's face. His calm expression faltered and his eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, looking at Jericho with a hint of recognition in his eyes.
Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Alexander straightened himself and returned to his composed demeanor, the soft smile curling once more onto his lips as though nothing had happened.
He said only two words, his tone smooth and unreadable. "Support Division," he announced.
Jericho withdrew his hand from the orb and returned to his place beside Cody. As he walked back, a faint look of disappointment crept across his face. He was really hoping to be placed in the Fighter Division, not playing support from the shadows.
"Really wanted to be a fighter," Jericho muttered quietly. "But I guess the Support Division will have to do for now."
Cody sighed beside him. "Yeah, I was hoping we'd be in the same division too." Jericho gave a small nod and watched silently as the assessments continued.