The mass of bodies is far larger than I expected and when the academy's staff open the gates, it takes a long time before we're all ushered inside.
We are shuffled down a hall and corralled through a large doorway.
The room we enter is vast and has an untold number of seats that flow downwards. At the back of the room is a stage where five people stand and stare at us.
I'm seated near the back and have to brace Marinah before she trips over my feet.
"Sorry.." she blushed.
I keep her hand in mine as she sits next to me.
After a few minutes everyone is seated and the room has gone quiet.
The faces on stage are familiar and I recognize the masters from the Battle Tactics test.
The Master of Deception's voice penetrates the silence.
"I am Francis Delemore, Master of Deception."
Then the man on his right speaks.
"Julian Buckler, Master of Defense."
The masters then introduce themselves one after the other.
"Alberto Fassfern, Master of Offence."
"Haythem Denglase, Master of Weapons."
"Lucanious Zakrim, Master of Destruction."
The Master of Deception spoke again after the introductions.
"We five are the pinnacle of our respective combat fields. This year, instead of the normal midterm and year end exam, we will decide if you pass or fail."
A shocked gasp ran through the crowd around me and the master had to put up a hand to silence the room.
"Tensions are rising with neighboring countries and the headmaster has conferred with the king to make this decision. We need leaders of men, not noble fops who cannot wield a blade. You may leave now and be refunded your gold if you wish to do so. You have five minutes to decide before this generous offer is rescinded."
Shouted whispers fill the air after his speech and slowly, one by one, some nobles get up to leave.
About nine men and double that in women exit the room before the five minutes pass.
"Good. Now that the chaff has been removed, homeroom bidding will start shortly."
The five masters leave the stage to the left and seven men and three women entered from the right.
Instructor Zyre is present and his eyes somehow find me in the crowd.
A fierce looking bull of a man speaks with booming voice from the center of the group.
"Please keep silent until we are done calling your names, remember which class you're assigned too as well, we will not be repeating ourselves." His speech was now directed at the people he was standing with on stage. "First up, Kelric Bladebane. Who wants him."
All the hands went up form the homeroom teachers and heated discussion almost resulted in blows between a woman and Zyre.
Zyre looked at the woman mockingy and spoke after a moment.
"Kelric, you're with me. Class 1-10."
I heard Elias stifle a laugh to my right and wondered what was so funny.
The woman that had almost fought with Zyre spoke after another heated discussion.
"Colvin Tarber, Class 1-1."
A few more names were called and it seemed as if they were taking turns so one teacher didn't grab up all the best students.
Zyre spoke again and Elias now groaned.
"Elias Hayford, Class 1-10."
I'm happy that Elias will be with me, but a thought takes hold of me as names are called and Zyre picks a student I've never heard of.
I release a little bloodlust and get all the teacher's attention. Locking eyes with Zyre, i point at Marinah. He understands my message and shakes his head no.
I increase my bloodlust until he slumps his shoulders and submits to my demand.
The students around me had shifted in their seats uncomfortably until I suppressed myself.
The woman that had argued with Zyre catches my eye and smirks, her words make a hot flash of rage burst from within me.
"Marinah Pyne, Class 1-1."
Elias is also downtrodden as Kathlyn is picked by the ferocious looking man in class 1-3.
Zyre managed to get Dean and Jean and the solemn looking bald teacher from class 1-2 picks Tobin.
After everyone is placed in their respective home rooms, the fierce teacher speaks again.
"The semester starts in one week, take that time to visit with your family. You won't be seeing them till the Day of The Phoenix after the midterm exam. Classes start the day after you get settled in, so come prepared. Dismissed."
I'm still furious that Marinah was stolen away by a woman with a petty grudge. I want to go down there and remove her head from her shoulders.
My inner anger stops pushing wicked thoughts into my head when Marinah puts a hand on my face.
"It's a shame that we didn't get placed together, but it's not like we won't ever see each other.. cheer up Kelric."
A little shame washes over me as I'm consoled by the woman I like.
"You're right.. I'm being childish."
Elias is still moping as we leave the academy.
"What's wrong with you?"
He glared at me hatefully.
"You! You're what's wrong with me! We got placed in the worst class because that instructor liked you so much!"
"Worst class? Is there a ranking to them that I didn't know about?"
Kathlyn cuts in and explains while Elias kicks a rock in anger.
"Yes.. the higher your class number, the lower amount of training equipment and resources assigned to that class. This means that textbooks your provided might be outdated or guest instructors brought in to speak about specific subjects aren't very renowned. Classes 1-3 are the best and there is steep drop off from 4-8. I heard that class 9 and 10 barely get anything and it's usually up to the instructor to provide for his students."
"Oh.." was the only thing I could say to her long winded explanation.
Then a thought hits me as I ask, "It shouldn't matter about the resources though.. should it? If the exams are different this year, then all that fancy stuff will be useless in deciding wether we pass or fail."
Marinah bites her lip in concentration before speaking.
"It's going to depend on what the exams are.. but if they're combat related, then the other classes with more resources can offer a lot to students who aren't proficient in combat. Affinity cores, battle equipment, guest weapon experts, even healers from the academy are less abundant in the higher numbered classes."
There is a new term she said that I haven't heard of before.
"What's an affinity core?"
Everyone stared at me in shock after my question, even Elias put a hold on his grumbling.
"You fought an ascended beast and don't know what a… ugh. Kelric, affinity cores are the pure essence stones extracted from ascended beast corpses. Depending on the rank of the beast, the denser the essence inside the core."
"Okay.. I think I'm following, but what do they do exactly?"
"Depending on the rank of the core, it can either just supplement your own affinity or help you condense it. Take Marinah for example, I bet that Hell Boar you killed had a fire affinity core packed with essence. If she was given that core, then she could've used it to increase her own affinities growth."
Elias did something that made my eyes bulge. It was a bright outside, but the finger he held up glowed with a white light.
"See this? My father has given me quite a few light cores to enchance my affinity."
"So what grade were you born with? I think I remember you had a grade 8 affinity during the test."
Elias shook his head at me.
"You're misunderstanding something, your affinities grade is determined by birth. A person can overcome a low grade with a multitude of resources. While a persons affinity grade can be increased with extreme training, it rarely happens."
"Then what does a high affinity grade do?"
"The higher the grade, the easier it is to condense your affinity. It also determines how pure one's own essence affinity is. Again, take Marinah for example. Her grade 7 fire affinity could condense a hotter flame at a way smaller size than a person with a lower grade. Her essence use would also significantly lower, so her body wouldn't be as a drained preforming the same action as someone with a lower grade."
I've never seen or heard of such things all my life. I've killed countless men and none of them had ever condensed their affinity onto me.
Have I been using my affinity unknowingly? Is that why my body aches after my rage takes control of me for too long?
I stop my inner questioning and follow everyone to the Frosted Rose for lunch.
Whatever I've been doing, the answers to my questions should be found at Elomburg.