It had been three days since Scarlett and I began our journey together, and I was grateful to discover that she was in the same class as me. Our bond had grown stronger, and she had become increasingly comfortable around me. Thankfully, no further incidents had occurred since that fateful day. Whenever she recalled how she had cried, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she would shyly avert her gaze.
"Young master, we have arrived," Sai announced as the carriage came to a halt, and one of my knights opened the door.
I stepped out of the carriage first, then, like a true gentleman, extended my hand to Scarlett to assist her. She accepted it shyly, climbing out of the carriage with a soft smile.
After giving the knights a few gold coins for their service, I instructed them to return. Scarlett and I made our way into the academy, excitement bubbling within me.
Inside, a receptionist greeted us, scanning our ID cards and granting us access to the academy grounds. With fifteen minutes to spare before the ceremony began, we found a quiet spot in one of the gardens and settled onto a bench, maintaining a respectful distance between us.
Scarlett broke the silence, her voice soft yet sincere. "Thank you so much, Noah, for everything. If not for you, I would've…"
"Scarlett, you're my friend. You don't need to say those things," I interrupted gently, wanting to ease her discomfort.
"F-Friends? Y-yours?" she stammered, clearly surprised by the label.
"Yes! Do you not want to be friends?" I asked, my own awkwardness creeping in.
Her expression softened, and she quickly replied, "I—I want to be your friend!" Her ears turned a bright shade of red as she averted her gaze.
"Then please take care of me from now on, Scarlett," I said, extending my hand toward her.
"Yes, take care of me too, Noah," she replied, taking my hand and meeting my gaze, a blush still lingering on her cheeks.
For a few seconds, we held each other's gaze, time seeming to stand still. Finally, I broke the silence. "I think we should get going, or we'll be late."
"Ah! Yes, let's go!" she exclaimed, letting go of my hand and leading the way.
We made our way to the auditorium and took our seats in the back row, waiting for the ceremony to commence. I recognized a few familiar faces among the crowd, but my attention was drawn to my ex-fiancée, Charlotte, sitting gracefully at the front. "Damn, she's stunning," I thought, but I quickly shook my head, reminding myself that I had moved on.
As the minutes ticked by, the atmosphere grew heavy with anticipation. Everyone turned their attention to the stage as a figure emerged—a man in his thirties, exuding an aura of authority. It was Rein Shroud, the Headmaster of the Hero Academy, and one of the SS+ Rank heroes, renowned as the strongest man in the empire. His piercing gaze seemed to scan each student, as if he could see through our very souls.
"Hello everyone! It's me, your Headmaster. Why so silent? Don't be afraid; I don't bite," he said, his voice booming yet oddly comforting. "I welcome you all to the most prestigious academy in the world. You are here because you possess something that others do not. But don't think this is the end; you are not heroes yet. This is just the first step. Here, you will all have to work hard to survive, or you'll be expelled. Those who remain until the end will be the true heroes. So, those of you who are down and proud of your rank need to change your mindset and work hard, or you'll be left behind. Alright, I won't take up any more of your time. That's all."
With that, he vanished into thin air, leaving a palpable tension in the air. I exhaled slowly, feeling as if I could finally breathe again. The pressure he exerted was suffocating, and I knew I needed to become stronger.
After the ceremony, Scarlett and I headed to our classroom. She entered first, and as I was about to follow, I felt a light touch on my arm. I turned to see Charlotte, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief as she recognized me. But before she could say anything, I stepped into the classroom, deliberately ignoring her presence.
Charlotte stood there, momentarily dazed, as whispers erupted around her. She had been ignored by the very person who once held her affection. As she took her seat at the front, I could see her annoyance growing, but I had no intention of engaging with her.
Just then, the classroom door swung open, and in walked our homeroom teacher, Miss Elsa. She was both beautiful and powerful, an S-rank hero in her own right. She stood at the podium, scanning the students with a keen gaze.
"Hello, my name is Elsa, and I am your homeroom teacher for this year. I will also be teaching you about mana manipulation," she announced, her voice commanding attention.
"Wow, she's pretty!"
"I want to date her."
"Idiot, have you seen your face?"
A chorus of murmurs rippled through the classroom, but with her heightened senses, it was impossible for her not to hear.
"Silence!" she commanded, her presence silencing the chatter instantly. After a moment of stillness, she began taking attendance.
"Arthur de Angelis, Rank 1."
"Present," replied a striking blond boy with void-like eyes, clearly the imperial prince and Charlotte's stepbrother.
"Charlotte de Angelis, Rank 2."
"Present."
"Lyra, Rank 3."
"Present." She was a girl with raven hair and an intimidating gaze.
"Layla Silvermoon, Rank 4."
"Present." I recognized her as my childhood friend. Her dark hair and eyes mirrored mine, and her playful smile made her undeniably charming. It was unfortunate that she had a crush on that foolish prince.
...
"Scarlett, Rank 784."
"Present."
...
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my name was called.
"Noah von Augustus, Rank 1000."
"Present." This time, a wave of attention washed over me; some students snickered, while Scarlett offered me an encouraging smile. Layla looked surprised and intrigued, but I chose to ignore the stares as I took my seat.
"Now I will outline some rules and regulations…" Miss Elsa began a lengthy lecture on the academy's guidelines, emphasizing the importance of hard work. After what felt like ages, she concluded, "That's all. Classes will commence tomorrow, so make sure to check into your dorms and familiarize yourselves with the academy."
With that, she exited the room, and I wasted no time in heading for the door.
"Wait!"