The SkyRail coasted to a halt, its final destination announced in a calm, magical voice that echoed through the cabin, “Now arriving: Zephyr Academy Transit Hub. Please gather your belongings.”

Albedo rose from his seat, coat slung over one shoulder, and stepped off onto the station platform, once again greeted by the magnificent gates of the Academy City.

Even after seeing it once before, he still was shocked, this was a metropolis, and there were some changes from the last time he had visited.

Now there were magical billboards scrolling with important information at various intersections all across the city.

[ Welcome New Students! ]

[ Entrance Ceremony: Central Auditorium – 8:00 AM ]

Everywhere around him he saw students all wearing the Academy Uniform, filtering into the school.

For males, it was a dark crimson and black coat with silver trimming, alongside a black pants with silver accents, and as for females, the coat was the same, but with a silver skirt and black leggings instead.

Most of the students Albedo saw around him were freshmen, as seen from the fact the school’s crest on the coat was surrounded by blue, the freshmen color.

Albedo was currently standing just outside the gate, watching students flow in. While most students arrived using the SkyRail like him, for the truly wealthy and powerful, they had arrived in their own method.

Dozens of luxury vehicles parked ahead in organized columns. Some bore the banners of noble lineages, sapphire wolves, golden dragons, silver phoenixes and purple lions.

Other vehicles bore the insignias of prominent guilds or global conglomerates.

Yet, no one paid Albedo much attention and he certainly preferred it that way.

Then he spotted her.

Elara.

She arrived on a SkyRail herself, a leather-bound bag strapped across her shoulder and a wide smile on her face as she scanned the crowd. Her auburn hair was pulled into a loose ponytail.

The moment she saw Albedo, she lit up.

“There you are!” she called, jogging over with a light bounce in her step, “You didn’t wait long, did you?”

Albedo shook his head, a ghost of a smile on his lips, “Not really. You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” she said, eyes bright, then glanced around, “So many people… it’s kind of crazy. I heard this year is being called the Golden Generation, all the big Noble Houses are sending someone this year.

“Really?” Albedo feigned surprise, but he actually knew this information from the Novel. All of the major Noble Houses and Guilds had sent their heirs as freshmen this year.

This heightened the stakes of the Novel, as the protagonist would eventually rise to be the King of the Golden Generation, earning him fame across the world.

Of course, with Albedo here, that storyline will probably go differently.

Elara and Albedo began walking to the Central Auditorium as she spoke, “And here I thought surviving the Entrance Exam was tough, this is just crazy. We’ll be up against the best of the best, and ranking is so important.”

“Yeah, I saw the rewards for the highest ranks, they’re really pushing the boundaries this year.” Albedo responded.

“Are you kidding me. Private training rooms, personal training from professors, access to special training dungeons even outside of exam time, and that’s not even everything. They wanna push this Golden Generation as much as possible.”

Albedo nodded, and the duo made a left turn, arriving in a colossal plaza with white marble paths leading in every direction.

After walking through a rune-scanned security arch, the road opened up into a colossal plaza with white marble paths leading in every direction.

At the center stood a vast dome-like structure supported by dozens of golden spires, the Main Auditorium.

It towered above everything else around it save for the Central Spire in the distance, where the Eye of Aeons watched silently from its perch like a divine sentinel. The Auditorium doors were open, and students streamed inside by the hundreds.

Elara looked up in awe, “It’s like a cathedral… but for monsters.”

“Not inaccurate,” Albedo replied, walking beside her as they passed through the arching doorway and into the main hall.

The inside was no less grand. Thousands of velvet-cushioned seats were arranged in a cascading semicircle around a massive arcane stage.

The ceiling was a dome of ever-shifting constellations, enchanted to display the real-time sky above the Academy. Floating platforms hovered at various points, likely designated for faculty, security, or announcement displays.

Already, groups had claimed rows, nobles in tight-knit circles, commoners in their circles, and some duos like themselves choosing to remain low-key.

“Seating’s unassigned,” Elara noted.

“Back row,” Albedo said immediately.

Elara grinned, “Figures.”

They moved to a relatively high tier of seats and sat side by side. From here, they could see everything. The stage. The crowd. Even the whispers between students.

“Woah, is he that new teacher?”

“Shh, do you want to die? He’s a Noble, he might punish us if he see’s us staring to much.”

“Isn’t Royal Status not meant to be flaunted in the Academy?”

“That’s what they want us to think. My brother attended is an Upperclassmen and the truth is, Nobles have the most resources and money, so they widen the gap between them and most commoners quickly. As the strongest, they’re the most influential, people like you and me can only keep our head down and graduate quietly.”

Albedo chuckled as he thought about what they were discussing. It was all true.

At least in the Novel, although there was the occasional commoner genius, due to the lack of resources and knowledge of the most efficient training methods, most promising commoners either became the lackeys to Nobles, or fell behind.

The protagonist, who was the strongest in his year-group and the disciple of Raphaeline, was still subject to Nobles discriminating against him, and that caused him a-lot of trouble throughout especially his first year.

Students continued filing in until every single freshman had taken their seats, eagerly awaiting the Entrance Ceremony to begin.

Then suddenly, the doors closed and all of the lights turned off, except for the lights on the stage in the middle. Then, Raphaeline walked onto the stage.

“Oh my god, even after seeing her once, I can’t get over the Headmistress. She’s so beautiful, and even from back here, her aura is terrifying.” Elara said as she stared at Raphaeline.

“Welcome, students of Zephyr Academy,” she began, her voice smooth yet commanding, “I’m sure all of you know who I am, but I will introduce myself anyway. I am Raphaeline Cortezia, Headmistress of Zephyr Academy.”

All of the students remained dead silent as they listened, not wanting to draw attention to themselves in any way.

“You all here today, stand on the threshold of greatness. Here, you will be tested, molded, and, for the worthy, elevated to heights you never dreamed possible.”

“But do not let your success at the Entrance Exam get to your head. Not everyone who passes the exam even reach Senior Year, and not everyone who reaches their Senior Year graduates.”

A collective gulp could be heard around the auditorium as she said that.

“Now, let me explain the way your classes are structured. The top class is the Myth Class, with the top twenty students. This class has access to the most and best resources and are the ones scouted first.” As she said that, murmurs began throughout the room.

“However, do not get complacent if you start in Myth Class, twice a year, there will be Ranking Examinations, which means you can move up from Class S to Myth Class, or you can fall from Myth to Class S or even lower.”

Raphaeline’s eyes swept over the crowd, lingering for a heartbeat on each section of the auditorium before continuing.

“I urge you all to try your hardest to get into Myth Class, while all students have advanced facilities and resources, Myth Class students have benefits such as private training facilities, instruction from high-ranking professors, including myself and several former war heroes. You will receive priority mission assignments, special permissions for breaks, and priority access to strategic dungeons uncovered throughout the continent among others.”

Whispers of envy and ambition flickered across the crowd.

Elara leaned toward Albedo and whispered, “I swear, I’d kill for one of those private chambers to train in whenever I want.”

Raphaeline’s voice cut through the murmurs again.

“Continuing on. Electives are vital to your education here. You have options such from Alchemy and Beast Taming to Runic Engineering and Beast Taming. There are a maximum of 2 electives per student, so choose wisely.”

She then paused for dramatic effect, and the lights behind her flared to life, forming a massive projection of a list titled:

[ MYTH CLASS – TOP 20 STUDENT RANKINGS ]

The crowd leaned forward collectively, breaths held.

“I will now announce the rankings of the Myth Class for this academic year’s start. All students, when your name is announced, please rise.” Raphaeline declared.

“Rank 20 – Dorian Lewis, heir of Marquis Lewis.

A whistle echoed somewhere in the hall, followed by laughter. A boy with tousled blonde hair and a smug grin stood up and winked at the audience. His uniform was barely buttoned right, his tie was loose, and a sword hung lazily from his hip.

“Ladies,” he said dramatically, “I’m open for training sessions… personal ones.”

The crowd groaned and chuckled in equal measure.

Elara rolled her eyes. “Ugh, that guy.”

“Expected,” Albedo muttered. In the Novel, Dorian was a big player.

He was the classic rich best friend, the lazy perverted playboy heir to the Marquis Lewis Family, who would eventually become a powerful, hard worker after befriending the protagonist, but still maintaining some of his perverted ways.

“Rank 19 – Julian Greaves. Son of Baron Greaves.”

A few polite claps occurred, but no-one was particularly invested in him.

“Rank 18 – Lira Voss, Daughter of Count Voss.”

Another name flashed, and another. Names with accompanying family crests or guild affiliations, each carrying weight and expectation.

As Raphaeline moved through the list, murmurs grew with each new reveal.

“Rank 13 – Veronica Silverstone. Daughter of the Chrono Guildmaster. Tactician and battlefield control specialist.”

A girl with sharp features and platinum hair stood up and gave a slight nod from the middle rows. She didn’t smile or wave, just coolly acknowledged the room.

Albedo had recognized her from the Novel as well, as she was eventually a big ally to the protagonist and his group.

“Rank 10 – Kaden Nightstone. Son of Count Nightstone.

A skinny boy with slicked-back black hair and sallow eyes stood up and smirked. He adjusted his gloves slowly, glancing toward the ranks below with a gleam of superiority in his gaze.

Kaden was the classic lackey in the Novel, just being a loser who followed the big dog main villain in the Academy.

“Now that one gives me the creeps,” Elara muttered.

“I agree,” Albedo replied flatly.

Then came names even more known to Albedo, from the Novel’s deepest arcs.

“Rank 6 – Zeus Duskbane. Son of Duke Duskbane.

Gasps and awed murmurs echoed. A towering figure stood in his seat, a boy with spiked dark red hair and sharp golden eyes, muscles straining beneath his uniform. He cracked his knuckles and gave a respectful nod toward the stage.

“Duke Duskbane’s son? Isn’t he a war hero’s kid?”

“Of course he’s in the top ten!”

As the whispers continued, Albedo recalled what he remembered about Zeus. While he was a villain early on, he quickly befriended the protagonist due to their similar views, and they became friendly rivals, constantly pushing each-other.

Next came

“Rank 5 – Morgana Blackstone. Heiress to the Blackstone Corporation.

A beautiful girl with jet-black hair, obsidian eyes and a calm, unreadable expression stood. Unlike others, she didn’t bask in attention, her presence alone silenced the room.

For Morgana, she was a master at Dark Magic like Blood and Shadow Magic, and was one of the deadliest in all of the freshmen.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for.

Raphaeline’s voice cut like a blade, clear and strong:

“Rank 4 – William Frost. Son of Duke Frost.

The room fell completely silent.

A second later, the uproar began.

“WHAT?!”

“HE’S FOURTH?!”

“No way. Duke Frost’s son… ranked below third?!”

A boy stood, dressed in pristine white and silver. His brown hair was combed immaculately, his blue eyes cold and proud.

However, William looked utterly displeased.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t even move, just clenched his jaw tightly.

Elara leaned in, voice hushed, “He’s the one who made the news for freezing three people on an excursion 2 months ago. Since he’s the Son of Duke Frost, people say he’s untouchable.”

William was one of the most iconic characters from the Novel. Cocky, arrogant, overbearing, yet powerful, he made life a living hell for the protagonist.

Raphaeline let the noise die before speaking again.

“Rank 3 – Miranda Starwind. First Princess of the Human Empire.

The room exploded into chaos.

“WHAT?!”

“No way, Miranda Starwind isn’t first?!”

“She’s the Princess! A Celestial! Who could possibly rank higher?!”

All eyes turned to a calm, composed girl seated gracefully among the elite.

Silver hair cascading down her shoulders, eyes like blue stars. She smiled softly as she stood up and nodded once, acknowledging the attention with regal poise.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice melodious and gentle.

Yet even that simple word seemed to hush the noise like a command.

Elara stared with wide eyes, “She’s so pretty. I didn’t know humans could look that elegant.”

Albedo, however, watched Miranda longer than most. He already knew her secret identity, the Reincarnation of a God-Realm Being, and the true threat and blessing her awakening would bring to the Academy.

Next came the big two. Everyone was eager to see who had dethroned William and Miranda, including those two themselves.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep