C-019: First Session and a Teacher’s Greeting

"Hmmm? What's this?" Ace thought as he entered the classroom, noticing that each and every student had their eyes glued to their books. "Why are they all studying so hard when it's only the first day?"

 "I guess you're wondering what's happening right now, am I right?" said Emi, noticing his curious gaze that drifted from one end of the classroom to another. "It's only natural that you'd be surprised. Here at the academy, at the beginning of the second term, we always go through exams on the second day of the term."

"Why though?" Ace wondered.

"I know right? Why do we have to start the term with exams. It's such a pain," cut in Frank.

"You say that but you're always in the top students when the results come out," added Emi as they took their seats.

"Guess he's no idiot after all. Just a weirdo I guess," Ace thought as he reassessed his first impression of Frank.

"By the way Ace, what did you study before entering Therion academy?" asked Emi followed up by Frank.

"Oh yeah, yeah! I'm also curious."

"Nothing at all," Ace replied, freezing them both in stunned surprise.

"Guess I heard you wrong on that one. Mind repeating what you just said?" asked Frank, still in disbelief.

"I was given a basic rundown before, but I never really studied anything."

"But back where you used to study, didn't they teach you anything?" asked Emi, worry starting to wash over her face.

"This is my first time in an academy so… no."

"Dude! How are you going to pass the BOTEs then?" asked Frank.

"Guess I'll just study then."

"We're talking about an entire term's worth of study subjects here. Even I can't get all of that in just one day," added Frank, not believing what was coming out of Ace's mouth.

"If I go to the academy's library, I think it'd be doable."

"And you really expect me to believe you'll learn all of that in just one day?"

"Yep," said Ace, a small confident smirk on his face.

"Well, I gotta admire your confidence," Frank's expression dropped into exhaustion and exasperation from the small conversion he just had.

"Hey Emi, mind helping me the subjects you studied?" asked Ace as Emilia was still in shock, processing everything she had just heard.

"Hey. Hey. Hey Emi, do you copy me?" Ace tapped on her shoulder, bringing her back to reality.

"Huh? What? Oh yeah, I'll help you."

"Can't blame her for that. Any sensible person would find it hard to believe what this guy just said. But who knows… since he's this year's Special Admission student, he might just surprise us," thought Frank as their homeroom teacher entered the room.

"Now, now everyone, time to take your seats," the teacher, a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and emerald, green eyes, said as she stood in front of the students.

Her white shirt and tight, dark-blue jeans accentuated her voluptuous figure as she slightly bent forward, putting her hands on the teacher's desk in front of her.

"Before we begin our little homeroom session, I'd like to first welcome our new comrade who'll be joining us from today onwards. If you could please step forward and introduce yourself," she said as she stared at Ace with inquisitive eyes and a small playful smile.

"Guess I ain't getting out this one," Ace stood up from his seat.

"I'm Ace Blakelord. Nice to be working with you," he said with a small bow as he then sat down while the other students whispered about the color of his arm band and the fact that he was a Special Admission student.

"Well, now that the introductions are done, I hope each of you has reviewed their results from the last term and that you have prepared accordingly. As most might not know, the BOTE is separated into the written and practical evaluations which are conducted at three-days interval. Tomorrow you'll be doing the written evaluation so I hope each and every one of you will review their lessons and prepare themselves with utmost concentration," the teacher said stealing glances at Ace.

"I see. My real status isn't that well known, but that doesn't mean that the old man will give me any preferential treatment. Guess the first thing to do is to prep for tomorrow. In that case…" Ace evaluated his situation and his plan moving forward as the lecture continued until break and self-study sessions.

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"Mmmmmm," moaned Emi as she stretched her arms now that the day had ended. "Now the only thing left to do is to prepare for tomorrow's evaluation."

"I think I'll first head to the library before going back to dorms," declared Ace as he finished packing his things in his bag. "I'll come after I've finished what I have to do."

"Okay. But are you really sure that having the topics we studied we'll help?" Emi looked at Ace with worry.

"It's more than enough," replied Ace as he went on his way. "See ya later."

"Sure."

After a brisk walk, Emi arrived at the dorms.

"I wonder if he'll really be okay. Heh. Look at me worrying about him when we've only known each other for a day. He said he'll be fine so I guess I should just trust him," Emi thought, standing at the doorstep for a moment before opening the door and entering.

At the same moment, "Do you have some business with me, professor?" asked Ace as their teacher was waiting for him in front of the library's entrance.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just thought it would be good to introduce myself to my newest student. I'm Isabella von Ludwig," she stated as she extended a handshake.

Ace hesitated for a moment but in the end, he decided to return the handshake.

At the exact moment before Ace took her hand, he saw a flicker of light surging from her hand and instinctively, he leaped backwards.

"Sorry but I'm not a real fan of sneak attacks, professor," Ace said, looking at Isabella with suspicion in his eyes.

"Wow. To think you would notice it. But you didn't have to evade it like that. You would have only felt a little zap."

"And you really expect me to believe that?" asked Ace as Isabella kept her silence.

"So, what do you want from me?"

"Nothing really. I was just curious about the Special Admission student that had caught old man Hugo's eyes."

"Seems like they are quite familiar with each other. If I could, I would want to dig a little deeper but now's not the time for that," thought Ace, keenly observing his professor before letting his guard down. "And that's all you wanted?"

"Yes," she replied before going on her way. "Well then, I suppose I should leave you to your studies."

"I appreciate it," he said as he glanced at her while she passed by.

"You're welcome. But you shouldn't stay for too long. There is such a thing as curfew in the academy," she said turning back with a smile that couldn't seem to separate itself from the glooming air and sensation she emanated.

"I'll keep that in my mind."

"Good," she said, slowly walking away as Ace glanced at her with cold, calculative eyes.

With a sigh, "Maybe I shouldn't have come at the academy after all."