Chapter 58:Registration at the Academy.
Rayan was looking around as he was trying to find someone, his eyes moving from face to face in the huge crowd. As he scanned his surroundings, his eyebrows slowly pulled together, and he frowned.
His expression became serious. He was looking for Aiden—his only student, the only person he came here for. But no matter how many times he looked, he couldn't find him anywhere.
Suddenly, his expression darkened, and a heavy feeling pressed onto his chest. He whispered under his breath, "Where is he… did something happen to him?"
His voice was low but filled with worry.
The next second, without anyone noticing how, he suddenly disappeared. He left the spot instantly as he began searching all over the academy grounds to find Aiden.
Meanwhile, Aiden saw him disappear. His eyes trembled slightly, and he wanted to go and talk to him right away. Rayan was like a teacher, a guide, maybe even something more important than that. There was eagerness shining in his eyes, a rare spark that he usually hid deep inside. But he held himself back. If he walked up to Rayan now, in front of all these people, he would gain suspicion. People would start asking questions he didn't want to answer.
Victoria was sitting beside him and saw him staring at Rayan, who had just disappeared a moment ago. She frowned and asked, "Do you know him?"
Aiden looked at her and replied coldly, "No."
Victoria wasn't convinced. She had seen the look in his eyes just seconds ago. She asked again, "Then why were you staring at him so eagerly?"
Aiden replied, "He looked strong, so I wanted to fight him."
Victoria was surprised. For a moment she didn't know what to say. Then she softly said, "Is that so…"
Aiden didn't reply. He stood up without a word and began walking out of the hall. His steps were quiet but firm.
Victoria saw this and quickly said, "Wait for me!" She stood up and hurried after him. Her steps echoed lightly behind his.
Both of them walked through the large corridors toward the academy departments. Today, they were going to register their elements. Students were walking all around them, some excited, some nervous, some whispering loudly with their friends. But Aiden and Victoria walked in silence.
After walking for a while, they reached the area where all ten departments were located. Aiden and Victoria parted ways as they walked toward their own separate buildings.
Aiden entered the fire department. The place was filled with red banners, glowing lamps, and the heavy smell of heat mana in the air. There was a long line of students waiting for their turn to be interviewed. Some were sweating nervously, others were talking loudly about how strong they thought they were.
Aiden walked to the end of the line and stood silently. His expression was calm as always. He waited quietly for the line to move.
After about thirty minutes, a person came out of the admission room. His hair and eyes were brown, and he wore a neat uniform. He looked down at a paper in his hand and called out, "Julian Cross, come in."
Aiden heard this and began walking toward him. He entered the room and saw a man with red hair sitting on a chair in front of him. The man wore glasses. His orange eyes looked sharp, and he wore a maroon-colored suit that fit him perfectly.
He looked at Aiden and said, "Come, sit."
Aiden nodded and sat down in the chair in front of him.
The man introduced himself. "My name is Logan Pavlov. I am one of the professors of the fire department, and I will be taking your interview and assigning your class according to it. Now introduce yourself."
Aiden looked straight into Logan's eyes. His own dark black eyes stayed completely emotionless as he said, "My name is Julian Cross. I am a commoner."
He gave a short, brief introduction, nothing more.
Logan, who had been looking into Aiden's eyes, had a confused expression on his face. In all his years of working here, he had seen many students. Some had anger in their eyes, some were nervous, some were excited, while some were pressured.
But he had never seen someone with a completely expressionless face. Someone whose eyes looked like a bottomless pit with no emotions inside them at all.
Logan took a deep breath and said, "So you come from the countryside."
Aiden simply nodded.
Logan continued, "You don't have to worry that you are from the countryside. In this academy, every student is equal."
Aiden nodded once again.
Then Logan asked, "Do you have any family members who have enrolled in this academy before?"
Aiden shook his head.
Logan saw this and continued, "So, do you have a recommendation from a professor?"
Aiden replied, "Yes, I have been recommended by Professor Victor."
Logan heard this and smiled. "So Professor Victor recommended you? He is my friend." Then he looked at the crystal globe placed on the side of the table and said, "You can place your hand on this globe and pour fire mana into it. Once it's done, the globe will measure your heart's mana density, and we will assign you a class based on that."
Aiden nodded and placed his hand on the globe. He began pouring fire mana into it. A faint glow started spreading from the globe. After a few moments, he took his hand off.
Mana began swirling inside the glass sphere. The color inside the globe slowly started changing. At first, it was yellow. Then it turned orange. Then it took a slightly red color.
Then it changed into a deep blood-red color.
Logan's eyes widened in disbelief. He was truly shocked. Blood red was the highest density a fire mage at stage one could achieve, and he had never in his life seen someone make the globe turn blood red. This was the first time for him.
He looked at Aiden in astonishment and said, "Blood red… this is a first for me."
Aiden looked at Logan and asked, "Is the interview over?"
Logan snapped out of his shock. He straightened his back quickly and said, "Yes, that's all."
Aiden then asked, "Did I pass?"
Logan nodded and said. "You not only passed, but you passed with the highest density."
Aiden nodded again. "What class will I be assigned?"
Logan replied, "Based on your mana density, you will be in the most elite class—Class A."
Aiden stood up and walked out of the room without saying anything else. Logan watched him leave and whispered to himself, "What a rude kid… I will have to ask Victor about him…"
Aiden left the fire department and walked toward the water department. He entered the building and stood in line once again. The line was long, and he waited silently for his turn. The air inside was cool, and the walls were decorated with waves and blue mana patterns.
After some time, he entered the interview room. Inside, he saw a woman with blue hair and blue eyes sitting behind a table. She was wearing a brown dress as she said to him politely.
"Come, sit."
Aiden nodded and sat down.
The woman introduced herself. "My name is Sophia De Sade. I am a senior professor at the water department."
Aiden nodded and introduced himself. "My name is Julian Cross. A commoner."
Sophia smiled and said, "Don't say it like that. Be more confident in yourself. Is this your first time taking an interview, or have you already given one in another department?"
Aiden replied, "I have given it to the fire department."
Sophia nodded and said. "Then you must have a recommendation and also know what to do in the interview, right?"
Aiden nodded once again. He looked toward the table. There was a glass globe on it. He placed his hand on the globe and began pouring water mana into it. After a few moments, he took his hand off.
Once again, the colors inside the globe began to change. First, it was white like water vapour. Then it turned light blue. Then sky blue. Then it turned into a dark blue color.
Sophia gasped. This was the first time she had ever seen dark blue for a stage one water mana cultivator. She looked at Aiden in shock for a moment before composing herself.
She then said, "Congratulations. You have passed with the highest grade. You will be assigned to Class A."
Aiden nodded, stood up, and left the room.
He walked out of the room and began walking toward the administration office to get a dorm room assigned to him. As he reached outside the building, he saw people gathering in front of him.
He knew there was a commotion there, but he chose to ignore it. He didn't want to waste time. But suddenly he heard Victoria's voice.
"Why should I come with you to meet your friend? Do you think I will come with you just because you will tell me about his family name?"
Aiden turned toward the voices. He walked forward and pushed through the crowd. Inside, he saw Victoria standing in front of two kids who were the same age as her. One was a bit taller than her, while the other was the same height but was fat.
The tall kid's name was Liam Devlin. He had auburn hair with brown eyes and normal facial features. He wore an expensive uniform that showed he was from a noble family. The chubby kid next to him had red hair and chubby features. He was also dressed like a noble. His name was Caleb Draven.
Liam looked at Victoria and said, "Why are you acting like this? He is of the highest nobility. His wanting to talk to you should be an honor for you. Yet you are declining it. Just come with us obediently before we make you go with us by force."
Victoria felt angry. She clenched her fists and said, "You take me by force? What a joke. Just try it."
Liam heard this and smiled. Then he suddenly raised his hand and reached toward Victoria.
But suddenly his hand stopped mid-air.
Someone had grabbed it.
Liam turned to the side—and saw Aiden standing there.
Aiden's grip was tight, unshakable, cold. His dark eyes were locked onto Liam's face.
Liam snarled as he said, "Now, who are you, and why are you interfering with us?"
Aiden looked at him with those cold, dark eyes and said, "I will give you a chance to leave safely."
Liam stared at Aiden's dark eyes. For a moment, fear began to creep inside him. But when he saw all the people around them watching, he refused to back down.
He clenched his teeth as he said, "And what if I don't leave?"
The moment he finished speaking, a kick landed right on his neck.
Liam was sent flying to the ground. He hit the floor hard and groaned in pain.
Aiden had attacked him so fast that Liam couldn't even react.
Everyone around them froze in shock as they looked at Aiden.
Author's Note: Aidens' first conflict with the nobles in the academy starts as he will be put in difficult situations after this. stay tuned for more chapters.