“The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence; the past is a place of learning, not a place of living”

The closest one to her was a young elf girl. She had spiky green hair and was very short in height. She was literally still a child, but people who could reach class S were not to be underestimated. She naturally came to Csendes and started talking nonstop.

She probably didn't want to talk to the two elves she had arrived with. It was known that elves had some strange customs, one of them being the restriction between genders until a certain age.

Csendes didn't say much. She was sitting in her seat, listening to the girl's chatter from right behind her. She had a cheerful, even pure, smile on her face, but if one listened closely to their conversation, they would realize it was more of a battle. One difficult to describe. They seemed to be testing each other in knowledge while also sharing opinions on certain topics.

This exchange didn't last long. The elf girl seemed to reach a conclusion and then placed a green stone in Csendes' palm. Csendes accepted it curiously. This was a gift. The elf had performed a ritual asking for friendship. The phoenix girl with black hair looked at the stone in her palm and then plucked a single strand of her black hair. This action signified her acceptance of the friendship request.

After this short process, the two continued to talk, but this time, more about literature. Their peaceful discussion was interrupted when the first figures appeared on the stage.

In the short time the two girls had been talking, all the young people had taken their seats. It was quite striking that among the ranks of class S, only Csendes and the elf girl were talking. The rest were merely seated with serious postures.

A melodic sound of an instrument echoed in the grand hall. A flute, to be exact. It was said to be the most used instrument for moving the Golden Energy [of Life] around.

Now all conversations had ceased.

On the podium, right in front of Csendes, the image of the director appeared again. Unfortunately, it was still just a projection and not his actual presence. However, the rest of the thrones behind him were occupied by real individuals.

- Welcome, young ones, to the Academy!

His voice was extremely clear and comfortable to everyone in the hall.

- I want this opening to mark a part of your lives that you will look back on with joy, but also as a time of your greatest educational achievements. My dream was to open this place to bring races closer to one another so that battles and misunderstandings would gradually disappear.

The projection raised a hand, and with a gesture as if wiping a window, various scenes appeared in the air—battles, conflicts, battlefields, ruined cities, destroyed planets, and more…

They were the tragedies that had occurred throughout history.

- The actions of our ancestors or even our parents have led to irreversible consequences, but as the young generation, you can learn from these mistakes, so your lives will not be adorned with regrets. When you look back, do so with happiness. Be able to say that the present is the best future of the past.

The images above disappeared, replaced by sheets of paper falling like snowflakes. These drifted towards each young person.

- These sheets contain your schedules, from which you can choose your classes. Now that the motivational speech is over, I will begin explaining the structure of your learning period.

With another gesture, a 3D image of a planet appeared above them. It was stunning, almost as if it had been painted. The surface had uniform zones, and everything fit together like a puzzle.

- This is the planet we are on. It does not yet have a name. I want the first generation of students who manage to graduate to decide its name as a special reward.

A few murmurs were heard in the hall at this statement.

- I know this is a shocking declaration, but this is what I desire, and I have the power to do as I wish. So, don't leave this place nameless for too long! Hahaha…

His laughter rang through the hall like a bell. After a few moments, he clapped his hands, and above him, a larger version of the sheets appeared.

- Now, let me explain. There are six fields of study at this academy. Although classes already have a certain schedule and specialization based on their abilities, that doesn't mean they cannot choose for themselves. Let's take, for example, class A. They will primarily study laws and politics, but magic will not be neglected. As a class, they must take five hours of magic, three of sports, two of history, and two of mathematics.

On the large sheet, several lines lit up.

- In total, you must complete 27 hours per month—10 for your class's main domain, 5 for magic, 5 for arts, and the remaining 7 for sports, history, and mathematics.

The director paused before continuing.

- For the extra 7 hours, besides the mandatory subjects, you have the free choice to select what you prefer. My advice is to choose something that can complement your class's domain—it will help you greatly.

A short pause followed, as many young people looked at their schedules, some even beginning to discuss with each other.

- You can leave the discussions for the first homeroom session. There is more information to go through.

The director waited for silence once again.

- Good. Secondly, class rankings are currently based on your attributes, but after the first exam session, rankings can change. Do not misunderstand me. The students in a class will never change, nor will the main subject of their class, but the class ranking can shift. Class B could become Class S, and Class S could drop to A. The ranking system exists to encourage teamwork among classmates and to prove things you do not yet understand.

The sheet behind him disappeared, replaced by what seemed to be a chalkboard. Letters and numbers appeared on it, filling up within seconds.

- This will be displayed in this hall throughout your studies. You will be able to see the rankings in real time and use them as motivation.

On the board, each class letter was listed one below the other, with numbers beside them. In front of class S, there were 100,000 points; class A had 750,000 points; B had 50,000; C had 10,000; D had 7,000; and E had only 5,000 points.

Murmurs filled the hall again.

The difference was quite large. The director acknowledged this.

- We have some impressive students among us, but do not forget—great talents and attributes do not necessarily mean they study well or perform excellently in school. Do not be discouraged. At the end of each study period, there will be rewards for classes and individuals…

The director's eyes, devoid of pupils, seemed to gleam mischievously for a moment before returning to normal.

- Thirdly, the classmates you have will not change unless in very special cases—if they die, are expelled, or if I decide that their place is no longer in that class. You must understand that I do not want conflicts between students. You will be here for quite a while, not because you do not know enough or because you cannot learn, but because there is a vast amount of knowledge that must be acquired, and mastering it takes time.

The headmaster clapped his hands, and the blackboard behind him moved to one of the walls near the stairs. It was large enough to be readable from a great distance, and possibly also enchanted, pushing information into your mind even if you couldn't see it clearly.

- Fourthly, and finally, I will introduce the homeroom teachers, who are also the heads of the academic branches assigned to your respective classes. They will discuss academy rules, mandatory conduct, what could lead to expulsion, and how we will track your progress during homeroom sessions. Without further delay…

The headmaster clapped again before stepping toward the edge of the platform. Meanwhile, one of the seated figures on a throne rose to their feet. A second later, another person followed.

- We will start with Professor Talo Iman, who teaches 'Magic Control.' He will be the homeroom teacher for Group 1 of Class S, followed by Professor Kelime for Group 2, who will teach 'Spells.' These individuals were carefully selected for you, each with valuable contributions to the study of Energy and the Rules of the Universe.

The students below offered polite applause.The two professors returned to their seats.

- Next, the homeroom teachers for Class A.

Two more figures stood up.

- Professor Silsila for Group 1 of Class A, who teaches 'Law,' and Professor Ilie for Group 2, who will teach 'Politics.' A round of applause for your future teachers!

The students clapped again. Compared to the headmaster's lively energy, they appeared much more subdued. Some didn't even bother clapping. For example, the only ones clapping from Class S were Csendes and the elf girl. The rest simply watched with serious expressions.The professors returned to their seats, and two others rose.

- Professor Calamum, who teaches 'The History of the Universe,' will be responsible for Class B, Group 1. Meanwhile, Professor Austir, who teaches 'Legends,' will take over Group 2. Personally, I believe you will love these subjects. After all, young people tend to be passionate about hidden knowledge.

He cast a sly glance over the audience.

- I must mention that what you learn here must not be shared with outsiders. Your homeroom teachers will explain further, but as an icebreaker—your families do not want you to learn too much history or too many legends. In the end, it would only drag them through the mud. However, I will not hinder this process. History is important. As I said, if you don't know the mistakes others have made, how can you avoid them? Everything taught here is accurate and true! If your families have misinformed you, I hope you will be able to correct those errors.

The crowd stirred uneasily. Their reactions were normal, but this time, the headmaster did not call for silence or offer further clarification.

- Class C will be given to you by Professor Bilgja, professor of 'Cold weapon combat'. Class D will belong to Professor Togdo, who teaches 'Laws as Numbers', and Class E has Professor Ilona who teaches 'Etiquette'. 

The three teachers stood up in turn and waved then sat down.

The director walked back to the center of the platform and clapped his hands. Other sheets flew over everyone. This time it was campus maps. 

- These will be your guide to navigation. The meeting place for the first leadership hour is marked on the map. Please move there within one hour. We will say 'Goodbye' for now. Hope you don't see me too often as I will only date troublemakers. Have a wonderful time and keep your minds open! Luck!

With a 'hiss' the projection suddenly dissipated into thin air. 

The opening ceremony is over.