Chapter 417 – Joining The Faculty.

“Students, please behave… There is no running in the main mage hall. I understand that you haven’t been here for long, but you are mages now. You are held to a different standard, so you must behave!”

“Sorry, Miss Elsa…”

A group of twelve children, aged between ten and twelve, huddled around an elderly-looking woman. It was evident they were unfamiliar with the place, constantly looking around, captivated by the magical occurrences – flying book pages, magical animals strutting about, and some even able to talk when approached.

“Remember, don’t touch anything without asking for my permission. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Miss Elsa…”

The children responded in a monotone voice, as if accustomed to replying to their instructor. The tour continued as Elsa resumed the lecture.

“Now, where was I? Ah, yes! We find ourselves in the main Mage Hall of the institute. Don’t confuse it with the main Arcane Hall, which serves as the main travel hub of our grand Institute. Remember, never lose your emblems, or you will be punished and unable to freely move through the various magical corridors. Here in the Mage Hall you will receive your first emblem, cherish it as if it was a part of your family as it has various uses such as…”

The children continued to nod at the woman, but their young minds couldn’t help but tune out the long and boring speech that continued. They yearned to sprint around and explore the shiny, magical artifacts scattered throughout the hall. One of the children, a young girl not yet eleven, spaced out and failed to move out of the way as a certain individual approached.

“…Could you move out of the way?”

A deep, authoritative voice emanated from behind her, startling the young gir.

“Um… Huh?”

The child looked up at the strange-looking individual – a person much larger than her, wearing some type of armor under a loosely fitting dark robe. Her gaze fixated on the helmet emitting a strange, eerie glow.

“Ack!”

Frightened by the armored figure’s presence, the girl tried to move but fumbled, stumbling forward. Anticipating a painful fall, she closed her eyes, but instead of impact, a magical weightlessness enveloped her. Opening her eyes, she found herself floating, surrounded by a mysterious force.

“Ohhh! Teacher, look! Anne is floating around! Some strange iron monster is assaulting her!”

“Calm down… no one is assaulting anyone… That man is a part of the Institute… ”

The woman adjusted her glasses while squinting. Noticing the absence of emblems on the man, she sensed a significant magical force emanating from him or the suit he wore. Uncertain about the spell’s nature, she concluded that the man was either a skilled mage or the suit itself was a quick-cast artifact.

“Hm… or is he? Who might you be, good sir? You seem to lack an academy emblem.”

The woman observed the man, noting the absence of any identifiers of his rank – an unusual situation. Her tone carried respect, recognizing him as a senior, likely a tier 3 class holder, while she herself remained a tier 2 mage.

“Yes, I’m new here; I was told to receive my emblem here.”

The man shifted his gaze to the older woman as the child floated back to her feet. Laughter erupted from the kids, but the woman noticed the man’s adept mana control. Even while conversing, he effortlessly manipulated a high-tier levitation spell which was not something easily done. The children identified the man as someone friendly and instantly moved closer.

“It’s not fair. Anne got to float around! I want to be next.”

“Calm down, children. This good sir is probably busy.”

Before they could huddle around him, the woman decided to place herself between the children and the unfamiliar individual. The man nodded in understanding, and the woman felt a sigh of relief. She knew that mages, especially at tier 3, could be peculiar. It wouldn’t be surprising if he attempted to administer some form of punishment to the young girl, and with a high standing in the institute, such actions wouldn’t be considered strange.

Roland, the man in the armored suit, observed the commotion he unintentionally caused. He swiftly deactivated the levitation spell, and the young girl descended gently to the ground, landing on her feet. She gazed up at him with wide eyes mixed with awe and curiosity. Despite their initial panic, the other children now seemed intrigued by the magical display orchestrated by the armored man.

Ignoring the woman’s remark, Roland reached into a pocket on his suit and produced the letter Master Rathos had given him. He handed it over, and the woman quickly scanned its contents. Her eyes widened slightly, realizing that the man before her was not just a newcomer but a newly appointed Assistant Professor.

The institute maintained a distinct hierarchy, with the Headmaster occupying the highest position. Following the Headmaster were the department heads, commonly addressed as Professors, and beneath them were the assistant professors. Individuals such as her, who served as regular instructors, held the fourth position in the pecking order. The hierarchy extended beyond mere departmental affiliations, incorporating a notion of prestige and perceived excellence. This individual was a member of the Runic Department, one of the less prominent branches within this institute primarily populated by classical spellcasting mages.

…

‘This place is perplexing, but I suppose hiring an architect for a dimensional relic is no easy task’

Roland observed the older woman as she scrutinized his recently drafted introduction letter. The parchment he had received was peculiar, emitting a set of green fireflies that served as his guides to this location. However, upon reaching the Main Hall, they dispersed, and the enchantment concluded. He now found himself gazing at the diverse crowd in the spacious room, narrowly avoiding a collision with an excited child.

The children presented a peculiar sight, all adorned with smiles and reveling in their joy – an expression less frequently observed among the older academy students. Roland observed that the absence of emblems might explain this; without distinct groupings, the children had not yet divided themselves into factions. The future allocation of ranks, he speculated, would likely reshape their worldview, potentially leading some to develop a sense of superiority based solely on their birthright.

“You can collect your emblem at the faculty member reception; it’s just over there. Just give them this letter.”

“Thank you.”