False Hero

We boarded off the boat on the port of Vashi city. As soon as I got boarded off, we saw someone people waiting for us.

Taking our luggage we walked towards the person who was waiting for us, "What are you doing here, Professor Blake?"

asked Grandma Lozen as we broached the man, apparently, his name was blake and even if Grandma hadn't mentioned that he was a professor, it was very obvious from his peculiar sense of dressing.

His shirt and pant and even his spectacle, everything was so aligned that it felt like he had glued everything in place. It was certainly interesting to see a person so perfect about his clothes.

Beside him stood a boy, he looks like around my age and for some reason, he was looking at me from up and down. I couldn't help but sight, those sets of eyes are of someone who is highly competitive. 

Later his eyes shifted to look at Aetna and his eyes were set on her, so much so that it felt his eyes were glued on her. Being uncomfortable, Aetna stepped behind me and grabbed my hand. 

Upon looking at what Aetna had done, the boy just clicked his tongue as he looked irritated, "Tsk."

"I actually came here to pick up my son, since he is of age to attend the academy and also I thought that I might as well pick you up, I brought someone to pick your luggage."

said Professor Blake, as he ordered men around him to pick up our luggage. Upon his order, the men picked up our luggage and loaded it in our wagons.

While they were loading the luggage, the professor looked at me curiously, so without any wait, I gave my introduction, "Hello sir, forgive my rudeness of not introducing myself. I am Grey Hoffmann, I came here with Grandma Lozem because of me, and " I looked at Aetna as I said, "My friend, here Aetna, both of us are going to join the academy from this year."

A smile curved upon the professor's face as he said, "Such a disciplined child!! it is so delightful to meet you and your friend, " the professor looked at the boy who was standing beside him as he said, "This here is my son,"

The professor patted on his son's back as she pushed him gently as he said, "Give your introduction to them."

The boy looked at Grandma Lozen as he said, "My name is John Blake, it is pleasure to meet you wise headmaster Lozen and also ---" 

He turned to look at me and Aetna, for some reason he paused a second, and that pause was definitely intentional. With a brief pause, he said, "Nice to meet you Grey, and -----Aetna. I am looking forward to meeting you more in academy Aetna and Grey, I hope that you get in the academy, but it's not that easy though."

This guy.... did I do something to him? why is he shooting such a passive-aggressive statement towards me?

Eventually, the luggage got loaded up and we got on the wagon, while the professor and his son got boarded on a different wagon behind. 

The wagon moved through the city, as I just looked at the city through the wagon's window. The city was filled with people, the population density was good, not too much and not too less. The market also seemed to have a good structure.

We just passed by a market, where I could see various magical equipment and books, there were various other things in general that were loosely related to the academy-related stuff or were related to magic. 

Later after several twists and turns, we traveled through the food market, which was also diversely different. But the main type of food that was popular seemed to be seafood, there were various kinds of seafood and the city also seemed not lacking in the terms of fruits. Well, I guess this place is the point where various goods are ported from place to place, that's why maybe various goods are cheap here.

As I was staring out of the window, Grandma Lozen opened her mouth saying, "There is something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Grandma?" I asked, I didn't look towards her since I was still engaged in looking out of the window and also since Grandma doesn't mind these things.

"There is a saying in the academy that the process of selecting students is frozen in place. Do you know why people say this?" asked Grandma Lozen. 

I didn't know the reason so I naturally asked, "Why?"

"Because the process of selection of student is still same from the hundreds of years since the academy had formed. Maybe the selection strategy was perfect or maybe because there is still no better alternative, the selection process never changed and it's still the same."

"Is the selection process harsh?" I asked. 

"No, it is just primitive, at least that's what I feel about it. Putting aside the normal selection, since I know that you will easily clear them, the main concern for me is when they will check the size of your mana core."

as soon as she mentioned that, it finally clicked, I understand what she was getting at. 

"So due to my small mana core size, they will kick me out?" 

{Author: I mentioned it in very earlier chapters, like before chapter 10. I mentioned the fact that Grey was born with a small mana core just like his dad, but unlike his dead, Grey had a condensed set of mana core due to the demonic energy wrapping around his mana core and condensing the mana in it. Making it a very pure and concentrated form of mana.}

Grandma Lozen chuckled as she said, "No, they won't kick you out. But according to the mana core of the person, the person is classified into three classes Warrior class, warrior-mage class and then there is a pure mage class. Each class is given a different unfirom. Put here is a fun fact, even though there is a separate warrior-mage class, the students who the majority became a warrior-mage class are from the pure mage class. But warrior class students always turned to be warrior class." 

I turned to look at Grandma Lozen as I asked, "So I will be warrior class student and also I will be given a uniform of warrior class?"

"Yes, but you don't have to worry since students are free to choose any program they want. No student is limited to a single program. The warrior class will only be a title and you will only be considered among those students, it doesn't mean that you will become a warrior class in the future."

"I see, what about Aetna?"

"Ah, Aetna, " Grandma Lozen placed her hand over Aetna as she said, "Aetna is brilliant girl, the three months I trained her. I can tell that she is easily powerful enough to stand in the toe with the students who are senior to her and it goes the same for you, Grey. Aetna's mana core size will easily place her among the pure mage class, the rarest class in the academy."

I again looked at the window as I said, "Eira is my senior and also a warrior class right?"

"Yeah, even she has the small mana core just like you and your dad. But that never stopped her, she is easily the strongest kid among her peers and even if you look at people who are younger and older than her, she is strongest and she is stronger by a big margin. You will know what I am talking about when you see her. Her raw strength is something I have never seen, the only times I have seen raw strength as close to her was when I saw your dad and mom fight, she is on par with their raw strength. Well, I am talking about the time when they were younger."

Eventually, as we were talking, we reached a massive gate, through which we entered the academy building. The academy was located at the corner of the city, away from the port and the city itself. Entering the gate, I could see many students walking around the campus. 

Before we could go anymore further, I told them to stop the wagon and got off the wagon with Aetna as I said "Grandma, you go ahead, I will go walk around the campus and also register for the entrance test afterward."

"Okay, take care okay, and you too Aetna."

"Yes Grandma!" replied Aetna.

Her wagon eventually left and we walked around the academy pointlessly. Eventually, we reached the place where people seemed to gather, I avoided that place since I had no idea who was there. But I eventually found out about who the crowd was gathered for.

A boy passed by as he said to his friend, "Let's go, I heard the princess Lora Ormr and Otis Ormr has come, let's go check them out. I have heard that princess Lora is really beautiful."

His friend instantly got excited as he said, "Really? let's go check her out."

I purposely avoided going there since I didn't wanted to catch the attention of others, and it would be complicated if she is still not over me. I hope she is over me, i really hope!