The Reincarnator's Inauspicious Route to Finding Love Chapter 16: The Welcoming Speech (2)

"Just let know who the sorry sap is so that I can dig dirt up on their family in case of any retaliation," his brother, Nathaniel, advised.

Mikyle looked at Nathaniel and Lianna as if he had been betrayed. "Is there no trust?"

Nathaniel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course we trust you, brother."

"But we also know how you are," Lianna finished for Nathaniel.

Before Mikyle could say anything to defend himself, the lights pointing at the stage brightened and the Headmaster walked up to the podium that had been placed on it.

Headmaster Bailey was an elderly man with bushy gray eyebrows and a beard to match. His green eyes were vibrant and the only thing youthful about the man. "It is a new day and a new year for both old and new faces. I and the staff give a warm welco to everyone and we thank you for selecting Tris Academy as your school," the Headmaster began his welcoming speech.

Lianna leaned over to Nathaniel and whispered just loud enough for Mikyle to hear her. "The school always provides free food. Shall we eat there today?"

"Whatever you want," Nathaniel readily agreed.

Mikyle glanced down into the first floor seats, easily spotting the person who had caught his attention just a few monts ago. "Sure," he answered, a smirk splayed across his lips.

* * * *

Adrien listened intently as he watched the Headmaster-a man who closely resembled soone from those Chinese Cultivation novels that Seo-ah had been into for a short ti when they had beco so popular that they had spread to South Korea. The elderly man was just finishing up the introductory speech for the new school year.

"First-years who are in the Arts Departnt, your advisor will be Doctor Selma Lee." Headmaster Bailey waved his hand to indicate a middle-aged woman with long, frizzy brown hair tied up into a high ponytail. She had large, lake-brown eyes, and freckles adorned her face. "First-years who are in the Physical Departnt, your advisor will be Ethan Talbot." The Headmaster then gestured to a tall and burly man with short, curly brown hair and stormy-gray eyes. There was a long scar crossing the man’s neck that disappeared down his shirt.

The Academy was divided into two departnts; the Physical Departnt and the Arts Departnt. The Physical Departnt could be broken down into two groups; the Pre-knightage Course, and Elentalism. Each group could be broken down even more. For example, the Pre-knightage Course could be broken down into Swordmanship and Martial Arts. The Elentalism Course expanded on Mana Control, Mana Manipulation, and Elental Control of the generic courses by offering the advanced courses of Elental Combat and Alchemy.

The Second main departnt was the Arts Departnt. The subgroups under that departnt included Music, Acting, Literature, Dance, Painting, and so on. Adrien, who was in this departnt, chose the two main courses of Music and Painting.

The Headmaster smiled warmly and finished of his speech with his arms wide open. "Everyone may be excused except for the first years. First-years, please stay behind so that your advisors may test your mana capacity and hand you the schedule for your classes."

Quite a few people stood up, and Adrien noticed that the twins were among them. Adrien stayed seated as he looked around him to see who were first years like him.

Looking around, he found that more students had stayed then left. Are so of the older students staying behind to see who is in which departnt? To prove his theory, Adrien looked behind him, glancing up into the third row. He knew that those three were older students, so if they were still there, then that ant that other older students had stayed behind as well.

Sitting up in the third row were three familiar faces. Both the princes and Lianna Silva were intently watching the stage below them, anticipating the events that were to unfold. Red eyes locked onto his. Adrien’s back stiffened, though that didn’t stop him from hurriedly turning back to facing forward.

Hmm? Why am I acting this way? I shouldn’t be this nervous just from being stared at, even if the other person is ridiculously good-looking. Is this nervousness stemming from or the Original Adrien?

"Those enrolled in the Arts Departnt, please co forward." Two faculty mbers disappeared offstage at the Headmaster’s words.

Adrien sighed in relief at the Headmaster’s voice. He stood up and made his way down to the stage with the other first years.

The two faculty mbers ca back, each pushing a cart. One cart held a crystal ball, one that Adrien recognized as being a Mana Capacity Tester. The other cart held two fairly large stacks of papers.

Once they were lined up on the stage, Dr. Lee ca forward. The petite woman was holding a list in her hand, which she began calling forth nas from it.

"Lady Aefre Ceciles."

A girl with shoulder-length icy-blonde hair, and large, upturned eyes that were aqua in color stepped forward. Below her petite, upturned nose, just at the corner of her left upper lip, was a small beauty mark.

Dr. Lee pointed to the glass orb that had been rolled out onto stage when the first years were making their way to it. "Please place your hand here and concentrate your Mana into it."

Lady Ceciles placed a gloved hand onto the crystal. A blue light shimred around her before filling up the crystal ball, making it look like a sparkling ocean on a clear sumr’s day.

Dr. Redna gave a brief nod of her head. She then picked up the top paper from the left stack and handed it to Lady Ceciles. "Here is your class schedule. You are free to leave the concert hall or you may stay if you wish to observe."

After Lady Ceciles left, Dr. Lee called out the next na. "Lord Jas Wulfric."

A boy with dull black hair, and downturned eyes that were a greenish-yellow in color ca forward. He placed his palm on the surface of the glass orb. The center of the orb filled with white, mini tornadoes; five in total.

Adrien realized that this was a formality just to see if anyone’s Mana capacity had changed since they had last been tested. It was required for all nobles to be tested at the age of ten, then again five months before they turned seventeen.

Six more nas were called before Adrien heard his own na being called. He stepped forward and placed a hand on the glass’ cool surface. He felt his Mana pouring out of him, far easier than when he tried calling upon it during practice. The bottom half of the Mana Capacity Tester filled with a cyan-blue color, similar to the color of his eyes.

Is it only halfway filled because I don’t possess a lot of Mana? Or is it because I don’t have enough control?

Adrien removed his hand from the surface of the glass, amazed that it had grown colder to the touch after he had infused so of his Mana into it.

Dr. Lee handed his schedule to him. Adrien left the stage before he flipped it over. After morizing it, he decided to head to the Academy store to pick up whatever books he needed for his classes.

Tomorrow, I’ll finally be able to fill in the gaps in my knowledge of this world. Today counted as the first day for students attending Tris Academy, but the first official day when classes started wasn’t until tomorrow.

Once he acquired all the books and other materials, he decided to head to the Academy’s cafeteria. During the speech, the Headmaster had ntioned that the cafeteria would be providing a free course for those who wished to eat there.

The cafeteria normally charged around seventy Shekel for a full-course al and free refills on drinks. The canteens in each of the dorms also cost money for food and drinks. The tea that Adrien liked to drink cost him ten shekel for every cup.

He found the cafeteria with ease and grabbed sothing quick to eat. There had been three different courses to choose from for the day. Adrien had chosen the seafood course since he hadn’t had any in the two weeks since he had been in this world. He sat down at an empty table and ate in silence.