Unbalanced Matchmaking / Brisked Promotion

Three people are gathered in the chamber of the Luthran King at a roundtable.

"Hm~ Hmhm~ Hm~" 

"Stop your humming, Yukki. You're going to make me go insane. If you continue to insist on making my headache itch, I'll have you become my little assistant within the grand archive. And we currently have a little problem with some troublesome books that have fallen off their shelves..." says a woman with a witch hat, a little bell on its tip.

"Gasp oh no, you can't possibly have me as your assistant, Mira... But I do know a boy..." She smiles mischievously.

"You do? You? You've made a little friend that isn't your extensive transparent pet?" 

"Shaddap!! Yes I have a friend I tell you! He is VERY strong~! I met him 3 years ago while I was out on my stroll!"

"Does he know about the nickname you gave to your summon?" Asks Draken in a mocking tone.

"Fufufu~" Mira covers her mouth with her hand, giggling.

"Zip it! It is a very fitting name!!" She twirls her finger around her hair. "You're all just jelly you have nothing to give a name to~" 

*THUMP*

The large door to the chamber closes, and two men walk in.

"Now let us proceed with the gathering." Says a bald man in catholic robes as he sits at an empty chair.

The room falls silent.

The bald man looks over to the man wearing a top hat, and nodding.

"I've finished deciphering the letter, and the conclusion is fact. This letter hails from the Kingdom of Ragnav. It should come as no surprise that they're involved in King Luthran's disappearance." Says the headmaster as he sits and places the letter at the center of the round table. 

"Are we absolutely certain? What does the letter say?" Asks Mira as she looks at the letter.

"Put simply, it is an invitation for a conference with the King of the Ragnav Kingdom. I believe it was sent to the King shortly before his departure to the Grand Cathedral. We've found it in the King's bedroom stashed in his jewelry box during investigation."

"If it's true the Isolated Kingdom is involved, then we cannot afford to waste a second idling around. However, we were tasked in keeping this Kingdom in order during his absence. But there's no definitive way of telling if the King did decide on troubling himself with the psycho that is the King of the Ragnav Kingdom or if he remains in the Grand Cathedral." The bald man pauses, before continuing. "It isn't becoming of the King to remain there for this long, and there's no telling when he'll descend." He pauses again before adding. "We have no available candidates to task in infiltrating the Ragnav Kingdom to gather information and is where we find ourselves at an impasse."

The room falls silent again.

"Actuallyy..." Everyone in the room shifts their attention to the young girl in twin tails who has her hand raised. "I think I know someone we can send for some intel gathering!" 

"Ahh yes, I feel he'll be more than enough. I am astounded I didn't think of him till now." Says the headmaster, stroking his mustache. 

"What? Just who else could there be? Lux has been missing since being sent to the Azula Kingdom, and we've yet to trace his whereabouts as well. Just who else could be available to take on such a daunting journey?" Replies the bald man.

"My friend~!" 

Mira looks at Yukki with an unamused look.

"Oh, please Yukki...I-"

"No no she speaks the truth, Mira." Says the headmaster as he rests his elbows on the table. "This boy... I've had my doubts when Yukki recommended I enroll him to the academy. The thought of enrolling a complete stranger who's name I never heard about was enough to make me cackle. I had him meet me for a little meeting earlier today during his first moments in the academy." He pauses briefly before speaking. "This young lad... I have never encountered a boy with a presence so... potent."

"A potent presence from a young boy? Am I hearing that right?" Asks Draken with a raised eyebrow.

"Right-io! I felt it too when I met him... and he sure can make me laugh!" 

"Oh, is that right? I never thought of him as a comedian, he was fairly quiet during our meeting. Perhaps he has a lot of burdens he's shouldering alone. A boy that mysterious with a blank history... it just makes you wonder what goes on through his head..."

"Enough." Says the bald man as he rises from his seat. "A boy, who's had utter anonymity to me until now? Surely you both jest. what is his rank within the Academy? Have his talents been evaluated yet?" 

"Not yet, he enrolled only today." Replies the headmaster.

"Then our meeting is over. Come back when you've given him an official position within the knights. I refuse to send a nameless boy out to the Isolated Kingdom." He shakes his head as he walks out of the chamber.

"Perhaps he's making great advancements in the academy as we speak." Says the headmaster as he looks down at this pocket watch.

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"Hell yeah, this is one hell of an accomplishment." 

I've found the class I was assigned to after about 20 minutes of pacing back and forth between hallways and staircases.

I look down at the slip of paper with the room number and can see it matches the number above the door in front of me.

Now, I just have to make a normal entrance and introduce myself to the entire class.

Question is how.

I've already used up too much time, so I'll just have to wing it.

*WAM!*

I kick open the door and step foot inside with my hands in my pocket.

I'm pretty sure I look like some delinquent right now, and that's what I'm hoping for.

But that's calculated, I'll explain why.

When you see someone that seems unapproachable, it's usually because they are.

If I can make myself seem like some dude that doesn't want anything to do with this school and keep to myself, then I'll be living my school life in peace. I don't want to risk meeting any new people that will add to the number of bozos I want to avoid. 

"And you are?" Asks a woman with green hair and glasses behind the wooden lectern. She has some really noticeable eye bags.

I look around the large room and can see all eyes are on me. Some students just stare in curiosity, some whisper among themselves. And some straighten up in their seats after getting startled from the door just getting kicked in.

So far so good.

"I'm the new guy." I say as I point to myself. 

*Tick* 

A paper ball makes contact to the large board next to me. I would have been hit in the face if I didn't lean my head to the side. 

"Aw Damian you totally missed!" Says some guy within the crowd of students in their seats. 

"Sigh We've been over this Damian. No throwing things." She pulls out a textbook from inside the lectern and flips through it. "Alek?"

"That's me." I say as I pick up the paper ball.

"Your seat's up there to the right." She points up the wooden stairs and onto an empty spot within the row next to a window.

Looks like I get the generic spot. 

I walk towards the stairs and throw the paper ball behind me and into the trashcan.

*Thunk*

"See Damian that's how you throw! You muttonhead!" The same voice says.

I reach the top of the stairs and sit on the empty seat and look out the window. 

"Hello." Says a warm voice.

I look to my right and see a girl with silver hair, blue eyes and a cross shaped hair pin. And her ears are pointy.

Looks like my execution with the whole delinquent act was off. I'll need to keep working on it.

How long has she been there? I didn't even see her as I went up the stairs.

Almost like a ghost.

"Sup." I say as I place my bag next to me on the ground.

"My, I haven't heard a greeting like that before. Are you not from here?" She says as she places her finger on her chin.

"Something like that." 

"Oh dear! You must have had trouble finding your way around this academy..." She says, her hands covering her mouth.

"Yeah well I managed, it was a cakewalk." I place my elbow on the wooden surface and rest my head on my palm. 

"Oh! I love cake! What is your favorite flavor?" She asks in a polite tone, her hands clapped together.

"Alright class, back to topic." The woman with glasses turns to the board and starts drawing a diagram. "Magic comes in all shapes and forms. The most commonly used kind is sorcery, as you already know. Therefor it is what I recommend you study if you wish to learn the way of a mage." She flips through her book on her other hand. "With magic, anything is possible."

A student raises their hand.

"Is it possible to infuse an armament with magic and strengthen it?" Asks a girl.

"The answer to that question varies. A common mage will only be able to cast basic spells passed down from their instructors. To infuse a weapon... say a sword, will take a tremendous amount of effort. And even then, it isn't recommended. A very large amount of mana is required to... Uaawhhh...." She yawns. "...provide sufficient stability to be able to successfully coat it with the desired element. Which is why a common mage does not engage in that practice. If you'd like to be able to engage in such arts, joining the vanguard and having a magic instructor is the way to go. But for a mage, it isn't advised."

She turns back to her diagram.

"Now, apart from sorcery, there is lightning magic. Lightning magic is commonly used in offensive spells and tactical operations. It is also used for maintenance in various gismos" She flips through her book. "Fire magic is also an option, but it isn't a form of sorcery, it's identified as pyromancy. Pyromancy is used for defensive purposes, so it's crucial for a squad to have at least one pyromancer. When you officially become knights, you will be put into a squad ready to serve the kingdom and bring it to a better tomorrow."

I'll have to work with a squad when I become a knight? That sounds like it's gonna be a huge pain.

But then again, I'd much take that over joining the King's Will. 

And it's not like I'll have the grades and skill set to get promoted to knight. I'm going to make sure my grades stay below average and not use my power at all.

I'll keep it all on the down low. 

"I'm Emilia, apologies for not introducing myself." The girl next to me says in yet another polite tone.

"Just call me Alek." I rest my head on the wooden surface, ready to knock out from this boring lecture.

"I hope each and every one of you takes everything I've thought you thus far to ensure your victories in the coming exams. Now flip your textbooks to pag-"

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"BEGIN!"

I find myself standing in the stadium full of students and the like, which is located just outside and behind the academy building.

The reason for that is because I've miraculously enrolled on the same day combat exams were being held. 

And they've decided to have me participate.

Which is a load bullshit.

That's not even the worst part though.

"What is it you think you're doing just standing around like a clueless dog? Draw your weapon, Alek." Says Rin who is standing opposite of me. "I will be your opponent for this exam. Do not disappoint me." She draws a silver rapier engraved with purple jewels. "Draw your weapon. Now."

What weapon could she mean? Surely she doesn't mean this wooden practice sword they gave me.

Ridiculous. 

What a joke.

"Hey do you think I can drop out of this fight? I have a stomachache. And a headache. Oh and I have epilepsy. Also a condition in which requires me to leave, like right now."

"What nonsense are you spewing from your moronic mouth? You draw your weapon right this instant. You don't have a choice." She narrows her eyes and points her rapier at me. 

"Draw.Your.Weapon."

Lord, give me the strength I seek to continue tolerating this unbalanced situation.

"Sigh Alright alright... just stop looking at me like that while you're pointing that thing at me." I raise my wooden excuse of an armament.

"Hmph. Have at you!" She lunges with ridiculous speed and our weapons meet. "Well, I certainly wasn't expecting you to be able to block that. But you'll need more than a good guard to win against me." She leaps backwards into the air and shoots a giant purple magic arrow at me from her rapier.

*FSSHHHNG*

I evade it as it meets the ground before it explodes in a bright purple light.

"Wha... are you kidding me!? You trying to kill me!?" 

"Oh stop your crying." Three purple magic arrows appear above her. "Surely you're not already yielding this early into our duel. Did I not just get done telling you to not disappoint me?" The arrows then launch themselves at me at a rapid speed.

*FSH* *FWSH* *FSHWM*

The magic arrows explode in a light as I swing at them like they're baseballs.

Baseballs that are aiming for my neck with the intent of spilling parts of my esophagus onto the pavement.

*CLANG*

Our weapons meet again as she lunged right after the arrows fired themselves.

She really wants me dead.

"Still playing defense, Alek? You're really turning out to be a bigger disappointment than I initially thought." She kicks my chest, sending me sliding backwards. "This exam is finished. You're going to apologize to me after for wasting my expectations and time. And then I will personally expel you. The academy has no need for a worthless student." She stabs her rapier onto the ground, causing hundreds of magic arrows to spawn all around me. The crowd cheers loudly.

This sucks.

*FSH* *FSHH* FSHHH* *FSHH* *FSHH*

They start to launch themselves my direction. 

*Snap*

I break the wooden sword in two and start to rapidly swing and slash onto the many bright projectiles moving towards me at an impossible speed.

*PFWOOM* *PFWW* PFWW*

The projectiles explode after making contact to the surrounding area as they are reflected. 

The field is now covered in thick purple smoke from the magic explosions.

"That was pretty excessive of you, now my tie's all ruined again." I say as the smoke starts to clear.

"W-what? How.. how are you still standing..!" She says as she stopped and turned back around to look at me after trying to exit the stadium.

"Not sure. Don't do that again though, my sword's all broken. Don't laugh, look." I raise a small wooden hilt, the only thing that remains.

"You... are really infuriating." She starts coating her rapier in a purple light. "I don't know why or how you're still standing. But what I do know is that you're someone that knows how to tick me off, and it irritates me." She then prepares to lunge at me with that glowing stick of doom. It looks like this is the end for me.

Is what I would have said if I didn't just get an idea.

In fact it's the perfect idea.

It needs careful execution though, something I'm awful at.

"Hiyaa!" She begins her lunge in a burst of speed. The crowd yells out a roar of excitement.

I often wonder to myself why I've even decided to continue my new school life. I could have just not showed up at all. Or I could have just given up on trying to find the headmaster's room and just head home and have Himari make me a nice bowl of chicken soup. 

Maybe it's because I crave something new.

Or maybe because I want to experience what a school life would be like in this new world of magic and slimes that want to devour you like it's a new year's feast.

Oh what the hell, let's keep it going a little longer.

*CLLANG*

The crowd gasps and the stadium falls silent.

I've managed to parry her attack with my little wooden handle, which caused her rapier to fly out of her hand and spin in the air before sticking onto the ground behind me.

"Wh-..what..?" She says in disbelief, looking at me with a confused and shocked expression. "How did you..." 

"I got lucky." I say as I point the little stick at her, ending the duel.

That isn't a lie, I genuinely did get lucky with that parry. 

I really suck at perfect timing. 

My head would have went flying if my gamble didn't pay off.

And that's a really nerve wrecking thought, from here on, no more gambles.

I literally could have died.

"Well, that was quite the sight, and quite the duel. And, quite the outcome, simply spectacular, Alek." Says the headmaster as he just appears out of nowhere. "Of course, you've dazzled the field with your impressive control over sorcery too, Rin."

"Hmph." She turns her head away.

"Now Alek, if you would be so kind as to follow me to my office, there is a matter I wish to speak to you about." He says as he walks past me, expecting me to follow him. 

"Wait." Says Rin who approaches me, then picking up her fancy rapier and demanifesting it.

"Hm? Forget something, Rin?" The headmaster asks as he turns back our direction.

"I'd like to borrow him for a moment." She shoots me a glare before looking back at the headmaster. "There are some things I want to discuss with him. May I?"

"Hmm.. very well, I'll allow it. You may have an hour." He says as he turns and walks off.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

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"Soo.. where are we going?" I ask awkwardly as I continue following behind Rin.

"Just be quiet and follow me." She says meanly, her boots clacking on the smooth polished floor.

We've been walking for like 5 minutes in this awkward silence. I feel like I'll end up drowning in it.

"In here." She says as she opens the door to a room at the end of the hall. "Go on, now." She demands as she waits for me to go in first.

I step foot inside the room, it's an office with two sofas facing each other with a coffee table in the middle and a desk at the back of the room with a large window behind it, purple curtains hung above it. There are two bookshelves on opposite side of the walls. It's similar to the headmaster's office, but this one feels elegant, in a way. 

She closes the door behind her as she steps in then walking to her desk and sitting down.

"Sit." She says as she places her hands on the desk and entwining her fingers. 

I walk over and sit at the chair facing the desk. A real shame, I've wanted to see how soft the sofas in this room compare to the ones in the headmaster's office.

"Explain."

"Huh?"

"Explain how you did what you did."

What's she talking about? Does she mean the parry? It really wasn't anything crazy. It's stupid if anything. I shouldn't have even landed it, not with that tiny stick. I'm willing to bet I've used up all my luck for the rest of the year.

"I just struck before you did, that's mostly it." I say as I spin the little cute globe on her desk. It has only one large continent at the center and an island off the side, with a couple slightly smaller islands around the edges. Some areas are blacked out for some reason.

"Stop." She places her hand above the globe, preventing me from having any more fun. "There is no possible way that's the case, you're hiding something, am I wrong?" She joins her hands together again. "Even if that really is all you did, it wouldn't have happened so casually. You cannot parry an armament coated in pure magic like it's nothing. Furthermore, you did so with a wooden sword. And I find that most illogical." 

"Really? Huh, I really did get lucky then." I start spinning the adorable globe again.

"Hmph." She places her hand above the globe again. "That aside, that isn't the reason I brought you here.

"Oh, rad. Well I'll be going then, toodaloo." I stand up and head towards the door. I'm just really glad this is all over. I'll go see what the headmaster wants then go home for some of Himari's nice chicken dinner.

"Halt." My wrist is grabbed. 

How many times has she done that? I can feel my wrist getting sore, I should get that checked out.

"Whaaaaaat-uhh" I say in a frustrated groan. 

I'm ready to end the day.

Please.

I beg.

She lets go and crosses her arms. "I want you to join the student council." She says with an expressionless face, her red eyes staring into mine, expecting me to accept.

"That's hysterical. Me? In the student council? That's the best one I've heard all week. I didn't know you were capable of joking arou-"

"I am not acting a fool." She says in a serious tone as she pulls me by my tie. "I've accepted you are a person with superior abilities. The student council could use more considerably talented people." She states as she releases me.

"No idea what you mean, I'm far from talented." I say as I try fixing my tie.

"While it is true you're an idiot, the fact of the matter is you're capable of feats not common for a dimwitted simpleton as you." 

"I think you could've left that last part out, don't you think?" 

"So, what do you say to my proposal? Will you join the student council as my vice president? Think twice before giving me an answer you know I won't like." She narrows her red eyes at me.

"I'll think about it. I'll have to get back to you on that though."

"Hmph. Very well, you have until the end of the school day. I'll be waiting for you in the library. Don't be late." She says as she turns away.

I give a half assed nod and step back out into the hallway. 

Of course I'm not joining the god damn student council, are you kidding me?

The hell would I do that for? 

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I walk through the empty hallways, looking at every landmark as I try and remember my way to the headmaster's room.

"Hello." Says a familiar warm voice.

I look to the hallway on the left and see that Emilia girl, smiling at me. ^ ^

"I saw your duel, you were very cool!" She giggles, her hand covering her mouth.

I look behind me and back at her, then pointing to myself. "Me?" 

"Yes you, silly!" She smiles. ^ ^

"Hmm.. alright, who sent you?

"Um, pardon?" She places her finger on her chin, a confused look in her eyes.

"Who sent you to try and cheer me up?"

I did absolute ass in that duel. And I'm positive I looked like a fricking idiot holding a wooden sword.

"Nobody! I came out of my own will. And I wanted to congratulate you... You did so well with that wooden sword. It's true! You did lovely." She smiles again. ^ ^

I'll accept it for now, but I'll keep my eye on this girl. I'm no stranger to deception.

"Cool, thanks. Also can you tell me where the headmaster's room is?" I ask awkwardly.

"The headmaster?" She tilts her head. "Sure but... whatever for?"

I really don't want to go through that whole talk again, I need to have her show me and bid farewell asap.

"I'm begging you, show me. I'll owe you one, please." I bow like a nincompoop. I'm desperate to end this interaction. I need to end this day so I can go home and lay on my new bed.

"You're being so silly! FuFu~" She covers her mouth with both hands as she giggles to herself. "You don't owe me a thing. But... if you insist..." 

I've got a bad feeling.

"It would be lovely if you could study with me in the library sometime...please?" She pleads, her pointy ears wiggling slightly.

"Yeah fine whatever, show me the way hurry hurry hurry."

"Yay!" She claps her hands together. "This way!" She starts gracefully walking down the hallway.

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"Here we are! Headmaster is just inside, okay?" She smiles. ^ ^

"Excellent, you've done well, have some candy." I give her a small, wrapped peppermint I stole from the headmaster's coffee table. I was gonna throw it at that Damian jock that bumped me at the gate. But I guess she'll make better use of it. I think she likes sweets.

"Oh my! You shouldn't have! You're too kind, really..." She reaches up and pats my head like I'm some puppy that did an amusing trick. 

This girl is just too pure.

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" She smiles brightly. * ^ ^ *

"Sure." I wave as she starts walking down the hallway.

I go over to the door and knock on it.

"Come in." I hear as I open the door and step inside, closing it behind me.

"Ahh, Alek... welcome back. Rin didn't give you too much trouble I presume?" Says the headmaster, standing by the window before sitting at his desk.

"She did."

"I know she seems like a tough nut to crack, but I assure you, she's as reliable and genuine as they come. Please, don't think ill of her." He says as he motions for me to sit. 

I've been getting dragged around and being sat at various spots a lot today huh?

"Sorry but can we make this quick?" I ask awkwardly as I sit down. I need this to go by fast so I can head on home before it starts raining. I can see thick clouds forming and moving at a fast pace through the window. And I didn't bring my coat today.

Or an umbrella.

I'll just pull the classic 'Agree to everything' tactic. You could say it's a way of fast-forwarding interactions, which is why I like it.

"Of course, of course. I understand you have a lot going through your head and even more going on in your life, yes?" 

"Ayup."

"Ahh as I have thought, you must have quite the interesting life, Alek."

"Ayup."

"Is that so? Well then, it must be true there's plenty you're capable of doing."

"Ayup."

"I see I see, now then, on to the main topic at hand. Alek, in light of recent developments, and of course your victory against the student council president, I've determined you're fit for the position of knight. But not just any knight. As of today, I'm appointing you the role of Paladin."

"Ayup."

"Splendid. Now that you're a Paladin, you'll personally be getting various tasks not fit for any knight, but something only the most worthy are capable of doing. Congratulations, Alek. You are the first student in history to reach the second highest rank within the academy in the span of one day. The Academy is glad to have someone so influential in its ranks. The Kingdom will thank you dearly once you become an official member of The Order of the King's Will. I have faith you'll reach greatness within the coming days."

"Ayup."

"Delightful. Now then, you are dismissed." He pulls out a small silver badge that's in the shape of a shield and two swords with a crown above it and hands it to me. "I look forward to seeing your upcoming feats, Alek." 

I stand up and step out into the hall before finding my way to the exit and stepping out into the rain.

"....."

I stand in the open soaking area, before realization hits me in the gut.

"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!"

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