First encounter

"I'm very sorry!" 

Rachel immediately bowed and asked for forgiveness.

It was only the first day and she was already causing trouble? What the hell is she doing? She wanted to run away and buried herself inside a hole for the rest of her life.

Seeing her frightened expression, "No, it's fine. I mean I also didn't watch my steps," Ling said calmly.

Rachel was momentarily stunned by his reply. Just a moment ago, her body wouldn't stop trembling and her heart was racing in fear. She was even prepared to receive harsh treatment.

But what? He wasn't angry? Really?

Glancing at the person's face, she recognized him. He was that student that kept yawning in the auditorium. Although handsome, his demeanor was not that gentle and kind-looking. Her first impression of him was a bad-tempered young master. That's why when she heard his nonchalant reply, Rachel was surprised.

"You're not angry?" She asked out of shock.

Ling showed a puzzled face as if to say 'why would I?'.

He nodded slightly.

"B-But… I stained your uniform," she said in a small voice while pointing to his side, sounding skeptical.

Just after she mentioned it, everyone noticed a red stain on his uniform. It was located on the bottom side near the back.

And in Rachel's hand, they noticed a bottle of tomato juice. She was the culprit without a doubt. The evidence was in her hand.

Perhaps he wasn't aware of the stain that he acted nonchalant about what happened. But now that she mentioned it, he would probably become furious at her. Rachel closed her eyes and prepared to get harsh criticism from him.

Unbeknownst to her worry, nothing happened.

He was well aware of it. If not, why would he step between her and Scarlet? 

This is of course to save her from harboring Scarlet's wrath.

If he hadn't stepped between them, the tomato juice would have spilled on Scarlet's uniform like in the novel. And that was the turning point of her bad temperament toward Rachel.

Also, it wasn't even Rachel's fault. Someone pushed her intentionally. That person harbors bad feelings toward Scarlet. That person's goal was to shame Scarlet. However, Rachel was made as a sacrifice.

In the novel, this incident also bloomed the start of Rachel and the three princes' interaction. But now that he interjected and ruined the storyline, that would be unlikely to happen.

As expected, the trio left as if to say they were not interested in such commotions. If it was Scarlet who got her uniform stained, Prince Harold would be interested and use the chance to show his kindness by protecting Rachel— not knowing it would lead to their developing friendship.

Ling cast a glance at Rachel and said, "It's not a big deal. Oh, and I have a spare one, so don't worry. In regards to this uniform, I'm just going to wash it later."

He was about to leave when suddenly, Rachel said, "Please, let me do the washing!"

He was about to decline, but looking at the resolute expression on her face. Ling found himself at a loss for words. It was the same resolutely stubborn expression worn by his sister when she asked him to bring her along with them before they departed for the appraisal test in the city.

In Rachel's case, it's probably her guilt that motivates her.

He sighed and gave up. "Since you're so adamant about it, then I guess I have to bother you."

Hearing his agreement, the expression on Rachel's face suddenly brightened.

"Thank you very much!" She shouted.

Ling was taken aback.

Why would she thank him when she was the one to do the chores?

In the novel, Rachel's character is described as kind, polite, and gentle. With round big eyes and slightly airy brown hair, she looked like a lost puppy. Her emerald-colored pupils were captivating. It wasn't an exaggeration to say her cuteness could harbor affection even from the densest person.

Before leaving, he cast a glance towards the crowd of students. There he saw it. Wearing a shocked and confused expression. Just like how the novel described her, she has long silky black hair and a pair of onyx-colored pupils. A small mole was visible under her left eye. She was indeed pretty and slender as the novel described her.

That person was no other than the true protagonist of the novel.

Abilene!

Even without his intervention, Abilene would have come forward to help Rachel by owning the fault. Saying, she had unintentionally pushed Rachel's back which led to her stumbling forward and spilling the tomato juice.

But her method could only diminish Scarlet's wrath by half. On the other hand, Ling's method was a direct dismissal of the incident between the protagonist and the villainess.

Meanwhile, Abilene was shocked.

'Who is that?' She thought.

No matter how she searched in her mind, she couldn't recall someone like him appearing in the original novel. Did she do something before that led to a huge change in the storyline?

Abilene felt conflicted.

"Wait, Student Stronoff!"

As he started walking away, a voice suddenly called out for him.

"Stronoff?" A wave of whispers suddenly rippled in the air coming from the students around.

"Could he be connected to Count Stronoff?"

Ling was taken by surprise and instinctively stopped on his feet and looked behind. Unexpectedly, the person who called him was Scarlet.

He opened his mouth and said, "Yes?"

Scarlet walked in front of him. With a confident smile, she said, "Let me invite you to a cup of tea later to show my gratitude." Although it may appear his passing was just a pure coincidence, it didn't erase the fact that he saved her from getting the stains.

"I am grateful for the invitation but I must politely decline. As I said, it was just a coincidence."

"I see. Since you don't want a cup of tea, how about a simple gift of gratitude?"

"Uhm, please, there's no need for that."

Scarlet frowned and was secretly surprised. If it was another person, they would be jumping for joy at her invitation, and yet, he, on the other hand, looked nonchalant.

"I see. Then how about a thank you? After all, whether it was just a pure coincidence or not, my motto is to repay gratitude with gratitude, kindness with kindness, and enmity with enmity."

"Then, I humbly accept it." He remembered her attitude. If he kept on declining, she wouldn't stop.

Ling told her he had to leave first because he needed to find his classroom, to which Scarlet agreed.

After he left, Rachel also left. Since what she expected didn't happen, Abilene also left in silence. Still wondering who that student was and why he showed up.

When Scarlet checked the information board, she was stunned. She wasn't in the top 1 in the Academic Exam? She was only in third place. This was a shocking result for her.

Looking at the top names, her face frowned.

The top 1 was Rachel Hansworth and the Top 2 was Abilene Wang.

"These two…"

They beat her in the Academic Exam. Unbelievable! Truly unbelievable!

She couldn't believe it. Although she beat them in the overall ranking, it didn't set well in her mind that she was beaten by not only one but two students of unknown origin.

Regardless, she caught a glance of the name 'Ling Stronoff' at the bottom of the list.

Eh?

"Don't tell he was this stupid in academics?" She gawked.

After the small incident near the Information Board, all the students finally found their classes.

There are five total classes in the first year. Each consisted of 20 students. However, this year, one of the classes has 21 students.

Inside a classroom of Class E, the lowest class among all 5 classes, a reunion happened.

"You're in this class too?!" A surprised voice came from his side.

When Ling looked there, he saw Rachel looking at him in disbelief.

"Oh, it's you," Ling smiled slightly.

From Rachel's perspective, it must be surprising, but to him, it wasn't. He already knew that Rachel would be in this class too.

Although she ranked high in academic scores and the Magic Exam, her Mana Control was one of the worst in the academy.

She wanted to say something but the door suddenly swung open, then a man with an inverted triangle body, wearing a dark blue suit, strode in front.

Stopping at the center, he looked at the students and spoke.

"Everyone take your seat!" His voice echoed like thunder.

Hearing him, the students immediately look for their seats. Rachel too found her seat. It was located two rows behind Ling's row.

"I am your morning instructor! Just call me Instructor Al from now on. So then, tell me about yourself too."

His energetic voice instructed the students to introduce themselves to which they complied. One by one, they introduced themselves. 

Once everyone finished their introduction, Instructor Al wrote the word "Skill" on the blackboard.

"Can someone tell me what is skill?"

His eyes scanned the students. But there was only an utter silence response coming from them. Well, it wasn't like he had great expectations from this class anyway.

Noticing no one was volunteering, he called a name.

"Hansworth!"

"….."

Rachel unwillingly stood up. Of all the students inside, why does it have to be her name he called out? She thought and stood up hesitantly.

"Uhm, Skill is the accumulation of soul essence and desire. It can be awakened from the age of 10."

Instructor Al seemed satisfied with her answer. He clapped his hand and thanked her.

Next, he wrote the word "Talent". Then he called another student and asked him about it. But that student failed to give a satisfying answer, so he asked another student.

"Talent is the range of a person's growth potential. The higher a talent the higher the growth and the lower the talent the lower their growth potential."

Finally, upon hearing that, Instructor Al clapped his hands in satisfaction.

The class continued, discussing Skill and Talent in a more profound meaning.

Although it wasn't showing on his face, Ling found the class very fascinating. In his previous life, he wasn't able to join a class because of his condition. He only learned how to read and write through a private tutorial. But now that he was sitting there along with other students, he secretly thanked Count Stronoff for pushing him to join the academy.

Break time came and all students went to the dining hall where they could purchase food of their choice.

However, the food there wasn't free and wasn't purchasable by real money. They needed to spend Academy Points to acquire them.