"To the principal?" Kimi asked.
"Yes, Kifuru isn't from our country," I replied, and on our way to our classroom, I told Kimi who Kifuru was and what had happened to her.
"Maybe I should have gone with them, after all, it would have been easier for me to explain everything.."
"Maybe, but Tasu said they would figure it out themselves.."
"H.. alright, but I'd be happy to help!"
"Yeah, thanks.."
"It seems like this is our class," Kimi said as we approached the doors. I opened them, and she went in first.
Almost immediately, the rest of the classmates swarmed her.
"Um, what?" Kimi said, surprised.
"Kimi, can I shake your hand?"
"Are you really the Kimi?"
"Are you going to study in our class?"
"Can I have your autograph?"
"You're so popular!" I remarked.
"Aha..." Kimi answered modestly. "After Tadoki dealt with my uncle, the news spread in the papers, and everyone found out the truth about those murders..."
Tadoki really is amazing...
I walked into the class and sat at the back. The classroom looked the same as when I took the entrance exam. A few minutes later, Kimi came up to me.
"Can I sit next to you?" she asked, a bit shy.
"Ah... Yes, of course," I replied, a bit flustered.
The desks were large enough to fit up to six people. After a little while, Shiari entered.
"Hello, everyone!" Shiari said as she came up to us.
"Hi," Kimi replied.
"Can I sit next to you?" she asked.
"Yes, of course," Kimi agreed.
"Do you think we'll be overloaded with lessons on the first day?" Shiari asked.
"I don't think so," I said. "Today, they'll tell us about the rules and probably introduce us to the practical teacher."
"Practical teacher?" she repeated.
"Yes, remember Ms. Rin said she'd be teaching us theory?" I clarified.
"Yeah."
"That means another teacher will be handling the practical lessons."
"Now I get it," Shiari nodded.
A couple of minutes later, the bell rang, and all the students entered the classroom with Teacher Rin. Behind her were Tasu and Kifuru.
"Children, quiet in the classroom," Rin said firmly.
Everyone took their seats, and Tasu headed toward us.
"Today, another student will join us," Rin announced.
"Hello, my name is Kifuru Rielya," Kifuru bowed to the class.
"Pick a seat and sit down," Rin instructed.
Kifuru walked over to us and sat at our desk.
"Now I will tell you about the rules at our college and what they entail. — First of all, you will have exams three times a year: when you enroll, at the end of the first semester, and at the end of the school year. — If a student doesn't meet the requirements for class "A," they will be automatically moved to a lower class. This is fair and logical."
"All the behavior rules will be on the sheets on your desk. You need to memorize them and try not to break them," Rin added.
There was a sheet on the desk, completely filled with rules.
"Besides studying, we will participate in various events. Soon, there will be competitions between schools in the neighboring kingdom. — And closer to winter, we will go to the country of hot springs."
"Wow, hot springs... I've never been there," Kifuru said.
"Yeah, me neither," Shiari replied.
"Today, you will also meet your practical teacher. I'll give you a couple of minutes to familiarize yourselves with the rules," Rin said.
Everyone began reading the rules, which I already knew. They were quite simple and clear.
"Did you all memorize them?" I asked my friends.
"Yeah..." Shiari replied.
"Yes!" Kimi confirmed.
"Yeah, it's pretty easy!" Kifuru said.
"Of course, it's too easy!" Tasu added.
Looks like I'm not the only one with a good memory. Although I still don't know how strong Kimi, Kifuru, and Shiari are in battle, their memory is definitely impressive. Memorizing over twenty rules with about 300 words in just a few minutes—very impressive.
Suddenly, a mage appeared at the teacher's desk. He had long dark hair and matching eyes. He wore dark pants and a shirt, with a cloak over it.
"Children, attention!" Rin said. "This is your practical teacher."
"Hello, everyone. My name is Kirukato Suzune, but you can just call me Mentor," he introduced himself.
Everyone greeted him.
"Why is everyone so cheerful?" I asked my friends.
"You don't know? Our mentor is one of the strongest mages in our country. He's considered a hero because a few years ago, he saved us from a fire dragon," Shiari explained.
"He saved the whole kingdom?"
"Exactly."
"Hmm... So he really is strong," I said thoughtfully.
"Alright, let me show you where our practical lessons will take place!" the Mentor suggested.
He created enormous teleportation doors, and we all followed him. On the other side of the doors was a huge canyon with a large lake in the middle, surrounded by mountains.
"This is where our practical lessons will take place," said the Mentor. "I don't think I'll push you too hard today. — Does anyone want to try something?"
"Can I challenge you to a friendly duel?" Tasu suddenly suggested.
"Just like that? Tasu?" I was surprised.
"What? It's boring otherwise!" he replied.
The Mentor thought to himself that this was the second time someone had challenged him to a duel right after meeting him.
"Well, why not?" he agreed.
Tasu and the Mentor stood opposite each other while the rest of us moved back several dozen meters.
"Shall we begin?" said the Mentor and immediately vanished from sight.
"What? That fast?" Tasu exclaimed in surprise.
He's probably behind me… or above me... Tasu thought.
At that moment, the Mentor, moving at incredible speed, attempted to strike with a downward kick. Tasu leaped toward him, but the Mentor suddenly vanished again and appeared behind Tasu, delivering a blow to his back. Tasu was sent flying several dozen meters.
"How was that?" the Mentor asked.
Tasu slowly got up, creating a massive gust of wind. A hurricane formed around him, lifting dust and rocks into the air.
Kimi cast a large barrier to protect all of us.
"You're still not giving up," said the Mentor.
Tasu raised his hand upward, flinging the Mentor high into the air.
"You're strong!" the Mentor shouted as he descended. His cloak and shirt were torn.
"Perhaps we shouldn't overdo it today?" he suggested.
"Alright..." Tasu agreed.
With my current skills, it's better to stop here... Tasu thought to himself.
The wind calmed, and Kimi lowered the barrier.
"You're a very talented mage!" the Mentor praised him.
"Thank you," Tasu replied gratefully.