Chapter 16: At The Center Of Attention

The courtyard buzzed with anticipation as the first-year students of Celestia Academy gathered around the large holographic screen. The dungeon test was over, and now it was time to see the results. The air was thick with nervous energy, the students exchanging whispers and speculative glances as they waited for the leaderboard to appear.

Aria Veyra stood with her arms crossed, her short dark hair slightly messy from the dungeon's trials. Her green eyes flicked toward the screen, a flicker of flame dancing at her fingertips as she twirled one of her daggers absently. "Come on, already," she muttered, her competitive spirit flaring up. "I want to see how badly I crushed it."

Arthuria Augustus stood beside her, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she adjusted her combat gear. Her icy blue eyes were calm, but there was a faint glimmer of curiosity in them. "Patience, Aria," she said, her voice steady. "The results will be up soon enough."

Luciel leaned against a nearby pillar, his golden eyes half-lidded as he watched the crowd. He looked as composed as ever, his hands tucked into his pockets. The swords of light he had used in the dungeon were nowhere to be seen, but the faint glow in his eyes hinted at the power he had displayed. He didn't seem particularly concerned about the leaderboard, but there was a quiet confidence in his demeanor that suggested he already knew where he stood.

Professor Jadestar stepped forward, her crimson eyes scanning the students. "The dungeon test was designed to push you to your limits," she began, her voice carrying across the courtyard. "It was a test of not only your strength but also your resourcefulness, adaptability, and determination. Each of you faced challenges, and each of you overcame them in your own way. Be proud of what you've accomplished."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. "Now, it's time to see the results. The leaderboard will display your scores, ranked from highest to lowest. Remember, this is not just a measure of your strength—it's a reflection of your growth and potential."

With a wave of her hand, the holographic screen flickered to life. The students held their breath as the leaderboard appeared in its entirety, all names and scores displayed at once. For a moment, the courtyard was completely silent, the students staring at the screen in stunned disbelief.

[Dungeon Test Leaderboard]

1st Place: Luciel r – 5,720 points

2nd Place: Arthuria Augustus – 1,120 points

3rd Place: Aria Veyra – 1,080 points

4th Place: Leonard Molino – 980 points

5th Place: Mira Silvester – 950 points

...

50th Place: Jace Ironwood – 320 points

The silence was broken by a collective gasp. Aria's jaw dropped as she stared at the screen, her green eyes wide with disbelief. "What the—?!" she exclaimed, pointing at Luciel's score. "Five thousand seven hundred and twenty points?! How is that even possible?!"

Arthuria, usually calm and composed, looked equally stunned. Her icy blue eyes flicked between Luciel's score and her own, her lips parting slightly. "This... is beyond anything I expected," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The rest of the students erupted into chatter, their voices overlapping as they tried to make sense of the results. "How did he get so many points?!" one student shouted. "Did he fight every monster in the dungeon or something?!" another added.

Luciel, still leaning against the pillar, shrugged nonchalantly. "I just did what I had to do," he said, his golden eyes glinting with faint amusement.

Aria turned to him, her hands on her hips. "Don't give me that! You got over five times more points than Arthuria or me! What kind of monsters were you fighting in there?!"

Luciel's smile widened slightly. "The same ones as you, I imagine. I just... handled them a bit more efficiently."

Arthuria shook her head, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. "Efficiently is an understatement. Your score is unprecedented for a first-year student. Even upperclassmen would struggle to achieve that in an E-rank dungeon."

Professor Jadestar stepped forward once more, her crimson eyes narrowing as she addressed the students. "The results are clear," she said, her voice cutting through the noise. "Luciel's performance was exceptional, but let this serve as a reminder to all of you. Strength comes in many forms, and growth is not measured by comparison to others, but by your own progress. Use this as motivation to push yourselves further."

...

A few days later, the midterm rankings were announced. The academy's evaluation system was comprehensive, taking into account not only the practical dungeon test but also the theoretical exams and overall performance in classes. The rankings were displayed in the main hall, and the students crowded around the board, eager to see where they stood.

[Midterm Rankings]

1st Place: Luciel

2nd Place: Arthuria Augustus

3rd Place: Leonard Molino

4th Place: Aria Veyra

5th Place: Mira Silvester

...

50th Place: Jace Ironwood

Aria groaned as she saw her name in fourth place. "Ugh, I knew that theoretical exam would drag me down," she said, crossing her arms. "I hate memorizing all that mana theory stuff."

Arthuria, standing beside her, gave a small nod of approval. "Second place is acceptable," she said, her tone calm but pleased. "Though I'll need to improve if I want to close the gap with Luciel."

Luciel, as expected, had secured first place. His performance in both the practical and theoretical exams had been flawless, and his overall score was nearly double that of Arthuria's. He stood a little ways off, his golden eyes scanning the rankings with a faint smile. "Not bad," he said to himself.

Aria shot him a glare. "Not bad? You're literally at the top of the class! How are you so calm about this?!"

Luciel shrugged. "I just did my best."

Arthuria gave him a small smile. "You deserve it, Luciel. But don't get too comfortable. I'll be aiming for first place next time."

Aria grinned, her competitive spirit reignited. "Yeah, and I'm not settling for fourth place either. Next time, I'm cracking the top three."

With the midterms over, the students were required to choose an elective to focus on for the remainder of the semester. The academy offered a wide range of electives, from advanced combat training to specialized mana studies, and each elective was represented by a club. To help students make their decision, the academy held a massive Club Recruitment Day, where the different clubs set up booths and demonstrations to attract new members.

The courtyard was transformed into a bustling fairground, with colorful banners and tables lining the pathways. Each club had gone all out to showcase their strengths, and the air was filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the occasional explosion from a particularly enthusiastic demonstration.

Aria, Arthuria, and Luciel walked through the courtyard together, their eyes scanning the various booths. Aria's green eyes lit up as she spotted the Flameforge Club, a group specializing in fire-based combat and mana manipulation. "Oh, that looks cool!" she said, pointing at their booth, where a student was juggling fireballs with impressive skill.

Arthuria, meanwhile, was drawn to the Spell research club, a club focused on creating new techniques and improving existing spells. Their booth was adorned with intricate ice sculptures, and a member was demonstrating a complex ice spell that created a shimmering barrier. "This one seems promising," she said, her icy blue eyes narrowing in interest.

Luciel, however, was the center of attention. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he was swarmed by representatives from nearly every club, all vying for his attention.

"Luciel! Join the Radiant Swords! We specialize in sword-based fighting, just like you!" one student shouted, holding up a glowing sword.

"No, join the Celestial Mages! Your mana control is perfect for our advanced spellcasting techniques!" another called out.

"Luciel, over here! The Shadowblades need someone with your precision and speed!"

The commotion grew as more clubs joined in, each one trying to outdo the others with promises of exclusive training, resources, and opportunities. Luciel looked slightly overwhelmed, his golden eyes darting between the eager faces surrounding him.

Aria couldn't help but laugh. "Looks like you're the star of the show, Luciel," she said, grinning. "Better choose wisely, or they might start fighting over you."

Arthuria gave a small smile. "It's no surprise. Your performance in the midterms has made you the most sought-after student in the academy."

Luciel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't expect it to be this... intense."

As the club representatives continued to clamor for his attention, Luciel took a step back, his mind racing. He knew he had to choose an elective that would help him grow, but with so many options, the decision wasn't easy. For now, he decided to take his time, exploring each club's offerings before making a choice.

At this moment, someone walked through the crowd and stopped in front of Luciel. He was a tall boy with a lanky figure. His face had an unsettling smile plastered on it. His short black hair swayed in the wind gently, and his blue eyes looked at Luciel scrutinizingly. "

Everyone quieted down as he made his presence known. Everyone quietly whispered to each other around Luciel, not daring to look at the man in the eye. Arthuria wore a complicated look on her face, and Aria was surprised by the appearance of this mysterious man. The new commer extended his hand and said amiably, "Nice to meet you, Luciel."