3 weeks has gone by in the blink of an eye since the day I got my exam results. Today being the first day of the week meant that it's also the day school will start. And just like the schools back on earth, the school of this world also starts at roughly 8 am in the morning.
This is the first time I wore this world's uniform. On the school back on Japan that I went to, I wore a uniform similar to this one, but on that one I wore a male's uniform with the long pants, unlike now where I am wearing a skirt instead. However, back on earth my blazer's white instead of blue.
Anyway, walked towards the school using this main road together with dad. Dad is walking this time in his gambeson armor, wearing a metal helmet, and has a sword bigger than the one he normally uses during our training section.
"Did you really need to trouble yourself to walk me to school? "
"You don't like it? "
"No, that's not my meaning. What I'm saying is that aren't your guard barracks on the opposite way to this school? Wouldn't walking me to school make you late for work and also make you walk farther? "
"It's not a problem, it's not like I'm on post duty anyway. What I do there is actually just managing and commanding the guards. I'm the captain for this area after all. "
"Hmm, having a high ranking guard to be the commander makes sense. Come to think of it, do you earn a lot of money there? "
"I won't call it a lot, but it's definitely higher than the normal people's wages. Besides, the main benefits of working as a guard is the merits it provides, not it's pay. Some of the merits included are having to pay less taxes, being given priority over buying land properties, and more. But things like that aren't what a kid like you would worry about. "
"You have a point, I'll just leave those to you and mom until I grow up. "
We continued walking until we reached the school gate.
"Well then I'll drop you here. Do you need mom to come to bring you home? "
"There's no need to. I can walk home by myself. "
"Ok then. Remember, don't bully other kids, and make more friends instead. See you! "
"Mmn! "
I entered the school by myself. I walked up to the counter and asked the staff there for instructions.
I was told to head to one of the class that was assigned to me, sit on my desk according to the numbers given to me and wait for the role call, and our teachers would bring us to the training field where we will have our first assembly. I can check my class and my seat on the paper that is on the board.
I looked at the papers on there for my name, and just like last time I was too short to see anything clear.
After a bit of jumping up, I saw my details. Class A1, floor 1 room 2. My student number is 2, and it's most likely given according to our rankings in the exam. Besides that, there's also 5 class in every grade, divided into 25 students each, totaling into 125 students each grade, in a grand total of 6 grades.
I entered my assigned class, and inside I saw about 18 students like me sitting in their desk. It seems that there we're still students that haven't arrived, is what I'm thinking as I'm headed to the desk I was assigned to.
Mmn? On the right of my desk is the boy that I ran into on the day of my entrance exam. That desk should be numbered one. That means he is the only kid whose grades were better than me. That I have my respect for him, as he can most likely handle every magic, unlike me who can't actually cast miracles.
With a spiky black hair, brown eyes and a face screaming full of arrogance, he looked like your typical bully. But I am not the type to judge people based on their appearance, since I was on the receiving end of that treatment back on earth and it was unpleasant. No one even noticed that I have changed, it was depressing being compared to a last version of yourself. They were really shallow people is what I think.
Curiosity took the best of me as I immediately called out to the boy next to me to ask him about whether he is the first place on the exam or not, since I wasn't entirely sure. Besides that, I would also like to 'test' him out on whether he's someone problematic, like a bully.
"Hello, are you ranked first on the exam? "
"Yea I am. Is that a problem? "
He replied rudely, and arrogantly.
"No, I'm just curious. It's nice to meet you, my name is Kyrielle Buffet. What about you? "
"...I'm Richard. Richard Boreal. "
"Nice to meet you Boreal-san. "
"Ah. " He replied shortly to my greeting, not even putting an effort into replying.
I tried my best talking to him but it seemed like he wasn't interested. How boring, but it seemed that I was right, the desk placement was indeed given based on your ranking.
"Umm. Are you the one that is second place then?"
A girl's voice sounded on the left side of me. She sounded soft spoken, compared to this guy next to me.
I looked toward the left, and there is a girl sitting on the desk next to me. With long and straight blue hair, and golden hazel eyes similar to my mom and my sister. She looks cute.
"Yes I am. If I wasn't mistaken, I believe your grades were actually as good as mine."
"No actually... The difference of my score when compared to the second and the first place is actually pretty big. "
"I see. But you will be able to catch up someday, I'm sure. Anyway like I said, I'm Kyrielle Buffet, you?"
"I'm Gerdur, Gerdur Jaznun. It's nice to meet you. "
"It's nice to meet you too. I hope we can get along well. "
"Yeah! "
As I finished conversing, took a look around the class. It seems that all the students has arrived, as evey desk now have a student sitting the seat for it. In total there's 24 classmates, not including me.
A fat man teacher with buttoned shirt that looked like it's about to burst open any time soon walked inside our class, and sat down on the seat for teacher.
"Alright, good morning everyone. I will be your homeroom teacher from now onwards and my name is Zodd. Today is your first day at this school, but you don't have to be nervous, as we welcome all of you. For now, we need a class monitor. Who is up for the task, please raise your hand. "
No one raised their hands. It seems that this is my chance to take the spotlight and make a big first impression!
If you asked the me back on earth, I would never want to do something as troublesome as becoming a class monitor. But right now, I'm trying to live my second life to the fullest, and as such I want to try becoming one because it sounded fun.
And so for me to be nominated I should hurry and raise my hand since it's usually 'first come first serve' for nominating first year class monitors.
"You, the twin tail red haired girl. You will be the monitor. And you, the green haired boy at the back who raised his hand as well, you will be the vice. Please come out and introduce yourselves."
I walked out towards the front of the class, and stood there to wait for the green haired boy as well. My eyes locked with his as he walked forward, so I nodded my head to him to not make things awkward. His face looks relatively normal for this world, but his hair is smooth and short. His eyes is also brown in color, this must be the common eye color of this world. He is about 7 cm or so taller than me.
"Now that everyone's at that front, go on introduce yourself first, class monitor."
"I'm Kyrielle Buffet, but just calling me Kyrielle is fine. I'll be this class's president. It's nice to meet you all, and I hope that I can live up to your expectations. "
Everyone in the class clapped. I bowed my head and then continued talking.
"Thank you all. It's your turn now, vice monitor. "
"Alright. I'm Michael, Michael Georgia. It's nice to meet you all as well. And I will be the vice monitor, helping out with Kyrielle-san's task. I hope I can get along with you all, thank you. "
The class clapped again, and I also clapped for him. This boy, unlike the boy next to my seat, was polite, but bold. I think we can get along just fine.
"Take these you two."
The teacher handed us a green armband that attaches to our blazer's sleeve. Mine reads 'Monitor' and Mike's read 'Vice-Monitor'.
"Alright Kyrielle and Michael, wear that on your left arm and please gather everyone outside in the hallway and into two lines divided into boys and girls, and from short to tall. Then wait for the signal to follow me and head out. We will head into the field, take our position and have our morning assembly. "
"Understood. " (2x) Michael and I answered together.
As I turn around prepared to gather everyone, Michael talked to me.
"Kyrielle-san, it's nice to meet you. I hope we will get along. "
"Yea, it's nice to meet you too. Just Kyrielle without the 'san' is fine. In return I'll just call you Michael as well. "
"I have no objections. Let's get to work then. "
I gathered all the girls and have them wait in the hallway while Michael gathered the boys. We arranged them from the shortest to the tallest, and we both stood in front of the line.
Before long, I could hear a sound coming from a magic device hanging on the wall.
"Every class of the first grades, please gather at the assembly field. "
That is no doubt Principal Jack's voice. This is most likely a magic device that uses of a enchanting spell to make a PA system of sorts. It's genius that people of this era came up with something like this.
"Let's go then. " Zodd signalled me and Michael to follow him.
We walked in lines side by side down the hallway into the field. There, the field of about 50meters in diameter with extra spaces making a large rectangular shape, and a stage on one of it's longer sides, made the assembly field. The stage is empty at the moment while about 40 teachers sat on chairs at the side of the stage. They were all wearing formal wear like Zodd.
The field itself was full of sitting students, most likely experienced. There were mainly two groups, the bigger groups are the groups full of smaller children. And then the other groups were full of adults and teenagers as students, but overall their number is only about 10% of the total number of kids.
We followed the teacher and sat on our place, and we waited for the classes of B, C, D and E to come do the same. As we waited, Zodd crouched down and talked to me and Michael.
"You two, remember our position today. From tomorrow onwards I won't be leading you all here, got it? "
"We will."
"Alright. I'll take my seat over by the teacher's sides. If you have questions don't be afraid to just walk up there and ask me. And if any of your classmates want to go to the toilet, please tell them to just go. The cleaning staff should know the directions."
"We got it. " Michael replied to him.
"Good. I'll take my leave then. ''
He stood up and walked to the place of the assembly next to the stage where seats for teachers are aligned for them to sit, while the students sat on the ground.
The other classes gathered just like us, and once everyone is settled down, the assembly can finally begin.
While there are many student council members standing near the student's sitting place, only 4 stood near the teachers. They must have been the special guards or something.
Normally back on earth, we start a school assembly by singing the school's anthem as well as our national anthem. However it seems that this world doesn't have anything like that, since the start of the assembly was immediate.
Besides that, the assembly uses a kind of magic device shaped like a cone to have the magic devices that are like speakers to play the sound at an enchanced volume. It's a fantasy magical mic!
The start of the assembly was done by one of the student council's member, who acted kind of like a Master of Ceremony for this assembly. He started the assembly by introducing himself, and then welcomed the student council's president, who was a tall, slim and confident high school guy, to give a speech.
The outfit those student council members wore was similar to ours, but their blazer is black in color with a red strap on the sleeve of the blazer, rather than the class monitor's green arm bands. The president gave a speech about welcoming every student to a new term and also about the rules of this school. Most of the speech was rather boring so I didn't paid much attention, but something mentioned by the president grabbed my interest.
"-while this school is tolerant about policies regarding fighting, we of the student council do not encourage students to do anything of the sorts. Any student who is caught fighting will be punished to do community services as well as paying for any damages done. That will be all. "
Everyone clapped their hands, and I followed suit. After that, the MC of the assembly welcomed principal Jack to go do a speech. Principal Jack stood up from his seat at the side of the stage and went up the stage confidently. Like usual, he looks handsome with a cool mustache, making my young girl's heart flutter a bit. He picked up the mic and started talking.
He gave a speech about what this school is about, and also regarding student's fighting in the school as well.
"-the school may take a sum of fees to enter, but we only hope to further the research of magic. Magic is the thing that we humans are weak in compared to the Magic Race. We have to learn magic to bridge our differences and hopefully we can active true peace one day. Besides, magic devices improve our every day life. This device that I'm talking through is but one of the many inventions of mage craft. "
He passed for about a few seconds and then continued speaking.
"One thing that I'm sure many are curious about, it's regarding this school's policy about fighting. We don't encourage fighting of any sorts anywhere inside and outside of school. But what we encourage are honorable duels using magic, and under supervision of the school, using the school's training field as an arena. That is not just allowed, but actively encouraged because many newly invented spells was improvised directly in the middle of combat. This also helps develop a newer generation of mages that are experienced in combat, and could further our country's forces."
While dangerous, he has a point. Combat is a great motivator for new inventions even back on earth, I don't see any reason that this can't be applied into magic development as well.
"All this was our founder's intention, to have the arena be surrounded by the school itself so that duels can be spectated. So once again, I encourage you all to partake in duels, not just out of hostility, but out of the desire to improve your skills."
"In conclusion, I hope everyone can focus on their studies, as I believe that you all entered here not just on a whim, but rather you all have your goals, your purpose, for being here. With this, my speech comes to a conclusion. I give my thanks to the student council president, Henry for managing this school with me, and then the student council executive, Perl for holding this assembly as a master of ceremony, and finally the advanced mages as teachers here, have a nice day. "
Again, everyone clapped their hands as principal walked off the stage back to his seat. The rest of the assembly continued on without anything special.
Once the assembly was finished, we headed back into the class, with me and Michael leading the way again.
After we are in the class and sat on our desk, everyone started talking to each other, mainly starting with introductions. Me? I started to talk to Gerdur, the girl who sat next to me.
"So Gerdur, what do you do when you are free? "
"Me? I play around outside, with the neighbor's kids. We play all sorts of games, from catching insects to playing dodge balls. "
"Oh? Where do you live, can I join in? I have never played with so many people of my age before after all. Come to think of it, how old are you?"
"I'm 8. You? "
"I'm 6 actually. "
"What are you two talking about hmm? "
Michael, from the back of the class walked up to us and joined our conversation mid way.
"We were just talking about our age. "
"You are 6? How is that possible though? I thought the youngest people allowed in here were at least 7? "
"i don't know exactly either but I was allowed in here just like you all, so please don't bully me alright? "
"Of course we won't, that would be rude. I am 7 years old, it seemed that the oldest among our three are you, Gerdur-san. "
"Then I am your senior then! "
"Hahaha, I'll be in your care! " Michael and I laughed at her with sarcasm.
"What's with that attitude?! "
"Anyway, can I join you all in playing? " I asked Gerdur about it again.
"No problem! But, I thought you would have your play mates back in your neighborhood? "
Well... I was a shut in...
"I... Didn't play with anyone because I didn't leave the house alot. "
"I see. Where do you live anyway? "
"I live at the xxxx street's alchemy shop. I'm the owner's daughter. "
"Oh, that shop is where my father frequented. " Michael said that.
"I see. I might even know your father. "
"Hmm. If you were always left inside, then how come you don't get bored? "
I could just tell them that I practiced magic constantly, but I don't want to sound like I'm boasting right now, not in the first impression anyway.
"I read a lot of story books and also trained swordsmanship with my dad at the park. "
"Oh? Now that I think about it, you were that girl at the park who practised swordsmanship with her dad weren't you? "
Gerdur took a closer look at me, and I got shy when she stared at me intensely. Subconsciously, I curled my body a bit to hide it in embarrassment.
"Yep, there's no mistaking it. That red twin tail and the small body, you are that girl indeed. "
She leaned back onto her seat. And Michael took a chair to sit next to us as well.
"I-I see. Do you see me very often at the park? "
"Not really, I played with my neighbor kids alot back then and we usually play at the park. Whenever we got tired, we will sit on the tallest hill with that pink tree to west. And overlooking the entire park, the most interesting thing to watch were your practises with your dad, so we kind of stalked you for at least a year haha... "
"I see. "
"So, are you good? With the sword I mean." Mike curiously asked me.
"Not really... With this frail body of mine and a lack of talent how would I be good at it? "
"I can see your point, you lack the physical prowess. Someday I would like to try out swordsmanship as well. During that time, will you teach me? "
"If I'm free, then maybe. "
"I want too! " Gerdur barges in so that she won't be left out.
"Then someday if we get to play on the weekends I'll teach you all. Do you all live close to the park? My house is kind of close. "
"I live pretty near. " Gerdur answered.
"I don't live near there, but I'm not particularly far away either. 8 minutes walk could take me there." Michael answered as well.
"Alright then, I will head to your house to play Gerdur if you want! And we will invite you, Michael, if we know where you live we can even go pick you up."
"Thank you for the invitation. Oh? It seems the teacher is here now. "
"Before you go, Michael...? " Gerdur talked to Michael. She hesitated a bit because that's the first time she called her name.
"Yea? "
"Just calling me 'Gerdur' is fine. There is no need to add honorifics. "
"I see. Then, Gerdur. "
"Tsk. "
What was that? I heard someone clicked their tongue. It was from that kid to my right. It seems that he was bothered by our conversation. How rude can this Richard kid be?
Anyway, we disbanded our little heart to heart talk after the fat teacher entered.
Zodd talked to the entire class again, this time explaining what the classes will be like. He told us that the class will have a quite a few subjects, this includes History, Language, Arithmetics, Moral, Magic theories, combat drills and then 2 subject of your choice with the 4 sub class of magic : Elemental, Miracle, Illusion and Enchanting magic.
You can switch your extra class after a month of picking them, and then once you switched you have to study for another month before you can switch again, though it isn't encouraged because it leaves openings in the topics you haven't learn.
Zodd being our class teacher, he teaches us the most subjects. Outside of the magic classes and moral, he teaches us history, language, and math, what a hardcore teacher.
Anyway, school recess is just an hour before noon, I chatted again with my newly made friends as we went to the cafeteria to buy food. The food here is relatively normal quality, and isn't too pricey, typical of a school.
And then finishing the classes, we all went our seperate ways home. My route actually is quite close with Gerdur, so we walked for a bit before we got seperated.
School finished about 2 and a half hours after noon. And it takes another 15 minutes or so to walk back home.
Finally reaching home, I was tired after an entire day of work.
"Welcome back Kyrie. "
"I'm back, mom. "
"How was the school? "
"It was fun. There are lots of people there, and I made 2 new friends. But there's this one kid who was kind of rude to me, but he is also rude towards everyone as well. "
"I see. Every school have someone like that, just ignore him. "
''Hmm... "
"Anyway, have you eaten your lunch? There's still hours before dinner, so if you are hungry, help yourself to some bread. "
"Maybe a bit later. For now I want to wipe my body and clean first. "
"I see. Then I won't be taking your time. You have to prepare the bath yourself, as I'm busy with my work at the moment. "
"Alright. "
This concludes my first day at school. I prepared a bucket of hot water with my magic in the bathroom. And then I undressed myself to wipe my body with the wet towel.
...If only I can take a bath instead... I used to take baths a lot back in Japan. In fact, most people in the modern era like baths so much that it's a huge part of their daily life. In this world, the best you could get was just a public bath at the bath house every weekend. In any other day, you have to settle with just wiping your body with a wet towel.
And so, my first day at school ended up without much troubles, and I became the class monitor, as well as making 2 new friends. If you ask me, this is a really nice start for my school already, I don't see a problem at all.
(Chapter 18 end)