“Since you have all made your decisions, let us begin forming teams. Each team will consist of five members. Choose wisely, for an endless series of assessments and that ‘whatsit-called’ competition await you.”
Yue Wu, having forgotten what Lucy had told him the previous day, struggled to recall the name of the event.
“What exactly is inside your head?”
Unable to bear it any longer, Lucy stepped forward to clarify.
“Attention, everyone. Every December, the various academies host their annual Magic-Martial Arts Tournament. The top ten participants will qualify for the world competition, and the rewards for the latter are several times more generous than the former.”
“As your instructor mentioned, teams will be composed of five members. By mid-November, you will undergo the academy’s qualifying elimination rounds.”
“Naturally, in addition to securing their participation, the top ten teams will also receive awards from the academy.”
The students below the stage began to murmur amongst themselves, their discussions centered entirely on the upcoming competition.
“Alright, quiet down!”
Yue Wu slammed his hand forcefully on the podium, and the hall instantly fell silent.
“Listen closely! When the time comes, fight with all your might! Do not show any mercy. Anyone who dares to stand between me and my prize money will not be forgiven! Therefore, all of you must make it into the top ten, or else I will subject the losing teams to a devilish training regimen.”
It felt as if Yue Wu’s demeanor had shifted abruptly in that moment, leaving Lucy beside him exasperated. All the students below were visibly shaken by the surge of ‘fighting spirit’ he exuded.
“You, shut your mouth! Is prize money really that important to you?”
Lucy simply couldn’t believe Yue Wu was the type of person to be short on funds.
“Heh, isn’t this just a way to give them a little pressure and motivation?”
Yue Wu threw his head back and laughed heartily.
“Now, let’s get to the main event. We’re going to draw lots. There are thirty paper slips, with five identical ones, making a total of six matching sets. So, you’ll be divided into groups by drawing lots.”
Yue Wu always played by his own rules. The students had already decided on their teams, but his unconventional method had completely disrupted their plans.
“Come on, come on, place your bets! Bah! Wrong phrase. Come and draw your lots!”
Yue Wu placed the thirty paper slips on the podium, inviting the students to come up one by one and pick.
“A?”
Hera was the first to pick a slip. Upon opening it, she found the letter ‘A’ written there.
“Mine’s a D.”
Seeing Hera’s ‘A’, Cola eagerly tore open his own slip, only to discover a ‘D’. Somewhat dejected, he returned to his seat, awaiting his four other teammates.
“This concubine’s is also D.”
Gloria opened her slip and found a ‘D’ as well.
Lyon opened his to reveal a ‘C’.
Kro had a ‘B’, Hazet an ‘E’, Elisa an ‘A’, Charlotte also an ‘A’, and Keffir a ‘D’…
Group A consisted of Hera, Elisa, Charlotte, Brode, and Charles. Brode was tall and slender, choosing melee combat, while Charles, similar in build to Brode, opted for mid-to-long-range combat. Thus, Group A’s composition was two melee, one mid-range, one long-range, and one support, making for an ideal lineup.
Group B comprised Kro, Lux, Raphael, Xi, and Seville. Lux was innocently adorable and chose long-range; Raphael had a steady temperament and chose melee; Xi, a mixed-blood with half Chinese heritage, chose melee; and Seville, timid by nature, chose long-range. With two melee, two long-range, and one multi-path member in this group, Kro felt a significant burden of responsibility.
Group C included Lyon, Cloister, Agaf, Prosius, and Heraclitus. Cloister and Heraclitus were twin brothers, both melee fighters; Agaf was a heterochromatic youth who chose long-range; and Prosius, quite handsome, opted for mid-to-long-range. Although this team seemed adequately balanced, it was, in fact, a problematic group, one that gave Yue Wu the most headaches.
Group D was made up of Cola, Gloria, Keffir, Lilith, and Nif. This team’s composition, with two multi-path, one melee, and two support members, would face initial struggles but become unstoppable in the later stages.
Group E consisted of Hazet, Model, Lepton, Keffir Kingston, and Baolo—five males, all specializing in melee combat.
The final group, Group F, had Liuli, Anya, Antini, Eileen, and Milna. Contrary to Group E, this group was composed entirely of female long-range fighters.
Yue Wu then swapped members between these two groups. Keffir Kingston and Baolo from Group E moved to Group F, while Eileen and Milna from Group F moved to Group E, thus creating a more balanced formation.
“Excellent. Now, each team, please select your captain.”
Yue Wu nodded with satisfaction.
Hera was elected captain of Group A, Kro of Group B, Lyon of Group C, Gloria of Group D, Hazet of Group E, and Liuli of Group F.
Out of the thirty students in the class, fourteen were female and sixteen were male, making the ratio almost one-to-one.
“Today’s lesson will be on meditation. Don’t assume my meditation is like everyone else’s; you’ll understand once you try it.”
Yue Wu had already prepared thirty copies of meditation scrolls and distributed them.
“So, your task for today is meditation. I will check on your progress tomorrow, which means you’re dismissed early today. Continue your practice once you return home.”
Yue Wu irresponsibly announced the end of class. Lucy did not intervene, as Yue Wu had previously told her that he would be responsible for the Priest faculty’s curriculum, and she had granted him some authority.
“Alright, little Princess Scheffiel, I’ll take you for a stroll. Lucy, would you be interested in joining us?”
After gently setting Scheffiel down, Yue Wu deactivated her levitation, intending to explore the academy with her, and extended an invitation to Lucy.
“Let’s go then.”
Lucy turned her head, striding purposefully ahead. She hadn’t expected the girl Yue Wu brought today to be a princess from the O Continent Empire.
“I want to watch people fight.”
Along the way, Scheffiel made a request.
“Are there any classes competing in the academy’s arena today?”
Yue Wu looked to Lucy.
“I believe so. I recall some senior students from the Warrior and Mage faculties being in the arena today.”
Lucy pondered for a moment.
Yue Wu: “Then let’s go.”
Scheffiel: “Off we go!”
Lucy: “Wait for me!”
At this very moment, those who had come to pick up Scheffiel arrived at the entrance of Fiore Academy. There were three individuals: two wore gold-trimmed robes, and one wore a plain robe.
“This is the place. Merlin’s friend and Scheffiel are both within this academy.”
Scheffiel and Helen simultaneously removed their hoods, looking up at the sign above the entrance.