The snow started to thaw and several months already passed by since Kayne became Rigel's official son. The wild birds who hibernated started to sing their first chirps and rays of sunlight showered on the town.
In those months, Kayne practiced how to read and write with Rigel and even with the best of his efforts, the only thing he mastered was how to conceal his mana, not to mention the strict tutorial he had with the professor.
He can still hear Rigel saying, "Too large mana pool. Blend it and become one with your surroundings. Be nothing... No, that's wrong. Keep it together but flow with the air. Be nothing like the air."
Kayne cut his hair short and wore a pair of earrings. It is made of the highest grade of gold and shaped like a spear's head. Rigel gave the item to Kayne as a reward in perfecting their literature quiz.
Entering the prestigious Yothopyia Institute, Kayne took a deep breath and walked straight to the registration area where they will list their names and grade level.
Kayne Fenriz Regulus. Freshman.
He wrote.
After confirming his name, one of the professors guided him into the testing room. They wear the same uniform Rigel is wearing in his lessons. But unlike his uniform which is white, fancied with purple linings and silver accessories, regular teachers are in pale azure and yellow linings. In addition, none of them wears the same amount of accessories as Rigel who have high quality threads embroidered on the hem of his clothes, which in return made him more fashionable than awkward.
Kayne sat on one of the empty chairs inside the hall where they were gathered. From time to time, a student will be called forward and each of them is asked to choose a weapon.
From there, the students are segregated according to their weapon of choice. Kayne's choice is a dagger and just like the others, a black dagger with the school's insignia is resting on his hand. He chose based on instinct and little knowledge plus he has the idea on how he'll look with a wand which he doesn't like. Those who chose swords are flashy on their own with their properly toned muscles as if the sword group requires that. He's left with the bow and dagger. And he chose the latter. There is no way to compare the two, both classes are made up of various kids from those who are weak to their knees to those who are boastful up to the sky. Thus, instinct played its role.
The classes are divided into four. Long range, mid-range, short range and magic – the support group.
"A pleasant greetings, students. The class identification is now closed. What you have in your hands will be your primary class in Yothopyia Institute and you can't change it for one year. Having said that, all students gathered here will have their reassessment in two months. You can change your weapons during the assessment but for those who can't, you can use the weapons issued by the institute. That's all, we'll start the classes tomorrow."
The broadcast went off and the students raised their seats.
"You must be new."
A creep, that's what Kayne thought.
"You're surprisingly silent. My name is Mallory. I am a boy though they say I look like a girl. But I am a boy. Don't make the mistake of calling me a girl. Else, I'll shoot you. You're in the mid-range class right? We're a team. I'm on magic. We do support."
"Sorry, but I don't," Kayne interrupted the newcomer.
"Look, I am trying to be friendly here. If you don't want me, that's fine. Good luck morons. Have some taste of failure!"
Great. As soon as he said his piece, he left pouting. Truly, great.
Kayne looked at his dagger once more before stashing it on his ring. He's instructed to go home as soon as the ceremony starts and he himself doesn't like to roam around cause he feels most comfortable in his room.
"You must be Kayne."
A woman who looks like an aristocrat approached him. She has her hair neatly collected and decorated with a phoenix's feather — a crimson feather with unknown origin and is popular among ladies of high society. White hair like Rigel's that falls down to her waist. Must be one of the Regulus, Kayne deduced.
"Get away from Mallory. He's a three time repeater."
"What do you mean?" Kayne took the chance to inquire about the small man who approached him first.
"On the next assessment," the woman looked at him before continuing. "Those who will not pass will be kicked out of the university. And that man failed thrice in a row."
The woman sighed with sympathy, looking at Mallory's direction of exit.
"On his first year, he tried the bow and failed the reassessment by not having the strength to draw an arrow. So he trained and in his next year, chose the short range group believing that he had the 'muscles' for it. In the end, he can't properly swing the sword. His third year is the mid-range dagger but because of tardiness, he's disqualified before the actual combat. This fourth year will make him an all-rounder failure for Yothopyia Institute."
The students who stopped to hear Mallory's anecdote tried to hide their laughter at his failures.
"That's why. Don't group yourself with him. Especially that you are my cousin, Kayne Fenriz Regulus. Son of Rigel."
The crowd who's busy chattering about Mallory froze upon hearing the words 'Son of Rigel'. Rigel Regulus – the Yothopyian professor who is also known as the Lord of the Skies. The strongest of the continent, they believe.
Kayne kept his composure and spoke. "I'm sorry. I am the type of person who only listens to my father's advice."
"Are they going at it?"
"This will be a disaster. That's two Regulus."
Hearing those words, Kayne confirmed that the woman standing in front of her is indeed a Regulus.
Even so, nothing happened seeing that the three central figures of Yothopyia Institute entered the grounds — the Headmaster, Rigel Regulus and Nathaira Berith.