"Listen up, brats!" Master Luwin shouted, hands on his waist. He looked annoyed about having to lead the class. "I'm going to do a head count, you better be present, or else you're going to do the midterms alone!"
Jonas is on his second day of school and has yet to make any friends. He stood alone in a corner as Master Luwin went through a checklist of the students. Jonas looked around, observed his unruly classmates and fellow young Mages.
They all found themselves in an open field somewhere in the vast property of the Imperial Academy. The weather was fair, and the breeze was cool, even with the glory of the afternoon sun.
Present in the class are Alexios and his crew. He had his eyes locked on Jonas; he still had his unfinished business with the Geisler. Though he was curious about why Lord Stein interrupted him and seemed to care with Jonas. But in the end, he concluded that there is nothing to it.
Bella, the damsel with the yarn affinity, was also in the class. She had been following Jonas and never spoke a word. Every time Jonas attempted to engage in conversation, Bella would turn red and stutter her words. The boy couldn't comprehend this and thought she must be pulling a prank to make fun of him, something he is used to.
Another familiar face present was Cara, the girl whom Jonas believed had teased him severely. He thought she cast a spell on him and others during their attributes class yesterday, making everyone forget her for a short time. Jonas only remembered this morning after having breakfast, and finally pieced it together.
"Geisler!"
Jonas yelped as he heard his name being called out loud and jolted in his place. His eyes widened, and he stuttered, "Yes?"
"I said you are in Team 26 with Bella Everkind, Cara Severus, and Alexios Komnenos. Now, get moving before I smack you. I'm not allowed to do that, but I believe I should be able to because you are not listening. Move it!"
Master Luwin pointed to an area in the open field where the students he mentioned were standing idly, waiting for Jonas to join them. Master Luwin wiggled his outstretched pointy finger to implore Jonas to move immediately. He looked intense and impatient as he did so.
"But… Why?" Jonas foolishly dared. He was genuinely clueless, but he also didn't want to be in a group with the Mages mentioned.
Of all the people that I could've grouped with, why them? How unlucky I am. Is this what being free is? Jonas cried internally.
"Move it!" Master Luwin was in fumes. His voice was thunderous at this point. The other students caught by the shockwave felt like they were swept away and stumbled a few feet.
Jonas moaned and whined. He begrudgingly walked towards his group, and they met him with different reactions.
Bella was speechless. She had nothing better to say, so she hid behind Cara. She had her eyes take glances at Jonas, but whenever he caught her, she would look away, and her lips would visibly shake. He thought she was making fun of him, and she was letting out mischievous grins.
Cara didn't think much of it, but she gave Jonas a sly smile and wiggled her eyebrows in quick repetitions. Cara knew that Jonas would know at this point that she had a spell that made everyone forget her, and he would loathe this.
Adding to Jonas' agony was Alexios, who was sizing him up aggressively. There are no words exchanged, and he would let Alexios stare as he positions himself between Alexios and Cara.
Jonas sighed, "Why am I even with you guys?"
Cara gave him a shrug as a response and smirked, "I like our little, fun party. It's full of personality."
"Shut up," Alexios growled. His knuckles cracked, and his breath was loud.
A few minutes later, when the groups had been settled and figured out, Master Luwin stood at the center of the field, surrounded by 25 other teams he helped create. All of them consisted of four other students and were distributed at random, regardless of gender or affinity.
"Listen up! Let me make this quick and easy to understand: the group you're with will be your group for the rest of your pathetic years in the Academy!"
Master Luwin announced, and the response was fascination, elation, and groans. Many were outspoken in their complaints.
"Quiet! You don't get to moan about so you better get used to it! Because starting today, you will work with your group, study with your group, and train with your group in preparation for your first midterm exam! Do you understand?"
Master Luwin was loud and clear, but no one responded.
"I said," Master Luwin inhaled before he let out the words, "Do. You. Understand?"
The young Mages replied with a mix of enthusiasm and indifference, "Sir, yes, sir!"
Jonas couldn't be bothered to utter the words, so he mumbled instead. He was hoping for a better second day in the Academy.
In his past life, he hated going to school. He was neither particularly smart nor athletic, but he wasn't stupid and bad at sports. He was just painfully average, and he was aware of that, and he would accept that more and more as he grew older. He would carry that reflection even when he was reborn in this world, and he would often think of himself as a mediocre slave to Hans and Adolf Geisler.
"Your midterm exam in the next two weeks will have two tests: the first is a trial of strength, and you will spar with another group, fight individual members, whoever wins a fight gets a point. The first team to win four points wins. More details to be followed."
Master Luwin read from his scrolls. The students had different reactions. They were all uncertain, questions were muttered worriedly, and doubt lingered throughout the groups.
But Jonas froze. He was not sure how to respond to what he heard. He was unwilling to use his powers from the start; he thought he must find a way to control his spells as soon as possible.
"The second part of the midterm exam is a trial of cooperation. You will enter an artificial vault made to test your skills and ability to work together. It will have real monsters from the Holy Land to imitate real challenges in real vaults. Teams that will succeed will have their members rewarded with a spellbook of their choosing."
After Master Luwin finished reading the scrolls, the students were filled with amazement and wonder. It definitely helped improve their morale and enthusiasm.
Especially Jonas, whose eyes lit up and, unknowingly, formed a smile: "Wow!" he blurted loudly.