The Gap Between Top And Bottom

The knock came again.

Noah walked to the door in two strides, and opened it.

Standing in the hallway was an older student, maybe eighteen or nineteen. He wore a black uniform with silver trim. The uniform fit like it had been tailored. Definitely not stone tier.

A leather satchel hung from his shoulder, and a wax-sealed scroll was in his hand.

The student glanced past Noah into the room.

"Yikes," he muttered. "They're still using this room?"

Noah said nothing.

The student looked back at him, then held out the scroll like it was something he didn't want to touch for too long. "Your timetable."

Noah took it without a word.

The student's eyes lingered on the flickering lantern above. On the desk. On the narrow window with its warped glass.

"Room 207," he said, almost to himself. "I thought they sealed this one off after the last guy quit. Didn't think they'd dump a summoned hero in here."

Noah looked up at the student. "Guess they're full of surprises."

That earned a snort. The student didn't disagree.

"Well," the student smiled at him, "good luck."

Noah nodded at him before closing the door. He walked into his room, breaking the seal on the scroll.

He sat on the edge of the bed, unrolling the parchment across his lap.

The paper was thin and yellowed at the edges, like it had been stored for too long, and while the ink was faded, it was still legible.

His eyes scanned the lines.

Stone Tier – Provisional Schedule

Week One:

Day One:

– Magical Theory (Classroom 6B)

– Basic Spellcasting (Lecture Hall 2)

Day Two:

– Practical Magic (Classroom 2B)

– Enchantments (Classroom 3C)

Day Three:

– Alchemy (Basement Lab 1)

– Theriology (Beast Pen Annex)

Day Four:

– Combat Fundamentals (Arena C)

Day Five:

– No Scheduled Classes

Day Six:

– No Scheduled Classes

Day Seven:

– Free Day (Curfew: Sundown)

Noah blinked. "Only four days of classes?"

He quickly stood and opened the door.

The older student was halfway down the stairs, but turned when he heard Noah call.

"Hey," Noah said. "Why only four days of classes?"

The student raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "That's normal. Everybody gets the first four days for classes. The next two are 'flex days.'"

"Flex for what?" Noah asked.

The student stepped back up a few stairs and leaned on the railing. "Officially? Whatever you want. Catch up on studies, train, nap in the courtyard. No one checks."

"And unofficially?"

The student gave a tired smile. "Unofficially, it's time for Gold and Silver tier students to meet with their personal mentors."

"Some of them get specialized training. Team combat, spell casting tips, advanced rituals. You know, the good stuff."

"And Stone tier?"

"Well," the student said. "you're free to do… nothing."

Noah didn't speak.

The student gestured vaguely. "Day Seven's the only real free day."

"You can leave campus. Grab something from the capital. Just be back before sundown or the gates lock. And trust me, you don't want to be out after curfew."

"Why?"

The student paused. "Because the academy locks the gates... and the monsters roam at night."

Noah nodded once. "Noted."

The student gave a small wave. "Good luck, 207. Try not to die in Spellcasting."

Then he disappeared down the stairs.

Noah closed the door again.

He stared at the schedule one more time.

No personal mentor. No advanced lessons. No team support.

Just four days of normal lectures.

That was all the academy thought he was worth.

He walked back into his room, folded the scroll carefully and set it down beside the chipped desk.

Then he looked out the window again, where sunlight danced on the white spires and floating bridges.

Four days would be enough.

He'd make sure of it.

Setting the scroll aside, he reached into the trunk beside his bed and pulled out the first-year handbook.

The cover was thick, bound in rough leather with the academy crest stamped across the front in faded gold. The lion devouring the serpent.

He flipped it open and began to skim.

The first few pages were filled with ceremonial language. "Welcome, future protectors," and "Through fire and trial, you shall rise." He turned past them without a thought.

Then came the map of the academy.

He paused, studying it.

The Royal Academy was larger than he thought.

The spire in the center acted like a compass point, with the classrooms, arenas, and lecture halls radiating outward. His finger traced the layout.

The magical theory classroom was south of the spire, while the spellcasting classroom was to the east field.

That meant his first day would start on one side of the school grounds and end on the opposite end of campus.

He carefully studied it, noting the other locations of his remaining classes.

Some days would have him walking the whole length of the school. Others, not so bad.

He kept flipping.

There were sections on school history, etiquette, instructor rankings, dress code, and training safety.

Most of it felt like filler. But then something caught his eye.

He read it like a man dying of thirst finally seeing water.

The text told him exactly what he had suspected.

Upon awakening, all mages start from the bottom, FFF rank, regardless of potential. However, every mage also had their base attributes given to them by their bonded beasts.

Noah nodded to himself. This explained why he was actually FFF rank even though his base attributes given by the Dark Dragon was E rank.

That meant that even with their base attributes, they all started at FFF rank, including Ben, who has A rank potential.

In other words, the potential ranking you are given determines your ceiling, but not your current power.

Depending on your bonded beasts, your mana capacity and magic control can be high or low, regardless of potential.

Noah's eyes narrowed slightly.

That was... interesting to know. That meant Ben Stanley could have low mana capacity and magic control even with his high potential, just for being a Vampire Lord.

With that information tucked away, he kept reading. Before long, he stumbled upon another interesting section.

(Tier Advancement System

At the end of each month, students are required to take official ranking exams.

After completion of the exams, students of lower tiers may take a Promotion Exam.

After passing, they must take part in a regulated duel.

Promotion requires defeating the current lowest ranked student in the next tier.

Only one student from a lower tier may challenge per exam cycle.)

Noah leaned back, thumb pressing into the edge of the page.

There it was.

The trap.

Climb the ladder, but only if you can knock someone else down first.

Which meant if Gold and Silver students kept training with better gear, better food, and personal instructors, their gap would only widen.

The bottom tiers would stay stuck fighting for scraps, never even seeing the top.

And even if someone from Stone made it through the cracks?

They'd face a higher-tier opponent who had every advantage and only had to survive once to lock them out again.

It was dressed up in rules and procedures, but the truth was simple. Don't climb unless we let you.

His stomach growled.

Noah blinked, closing the handbook.

Right. Lunch.

He stood and picked up his nameplate from the desk.

A small inscription on the back guaranteed all Stone Tier students three meals a day. Basic nourishment, nothing special.

But food was food.

He slid the plate into his pocket and stepped out into the hallway.

It was time to eat.