[The screen fades in with the words "Day 1" accompanied by a ticking sound. The numbers on Daico's alarm clock flicker into view.]
Daico - [Taps his alarm] Yaaawwwnnnsmacks lips This bed is horrible... [Looks around groggily until he spots the clock] Huh...? I actually woke up early? Wonder what my teacher's gonna say when he hears thi-
[A sudden knock interrupts his thought.]
Voice - ATTENDANCE!
[Daico rushes to the door and swings it open.]
Infront of him stood a man with heavy armor- yet his helmet moved along with his voice as if it were his face.. strange..
Mr. Moss - Oh! You're awake already, Daico? HMPH! That's why you're my favorite! First student to open their door today.
Daico [Internal] - What? This school has over a thousand rooms... and I'm on the second floor. Just how lazy are these people?
Daico - Really? How?
Mr. Moss - Dunno, kid. But good job. [Gives an aggressive thumbs up and winks.]
[Mr. Moss continues down the hallway, shouting "ATTENDANCE!" He receives a few responses, but one door remains silent.]
Daico - Huh. That was Feiyah's room, wasn't it? Skipping attendance? That's... not like her. Nerdy four-eyes pulling a no-show? Eh. Not my problem.
[Daico freshens up in the bathroom, brushes his teeth, dons his uniform, and makes his way to the academy grounds.]
Daico [Internal] - Whoa... that's a crowd. And here I thought I'd be the first one here. Is that why no one answered earlier? They were already out? Dedication overload...
[Daico scans the students.]
Daico [Internal, unimpressed] - Yup. Just as I thought. A bunch of snobby mugs. Maybe three people here look strong enough to even lift their heads this early. What am I doing wrong?
Feiyah [From a distance] - Sir Daico~!
Daico - Sir what now...? [Turns around.]
Feiyah [Panting] - I huff knew I recognized you! puff
Daico - Heya, Feiyah. How you holding up?
Feiyah - I-
Daico - You skip attendance or what?
Feiyah - Oh! Uh... I was just sleeping! That's all. awkward laugh
Daico - Where's your glasses? Aren't you blind?
Feiyah - Well, not completely, bu-
Daico [Interrupting] - Shhh! It's starting. Ooooh, I'm going first! [Rushes off.]
Feiyah - Wait! You can't skip! That's bad luck!
Daico - Screw luck and her mother! [He forces his way to the front of the line.]
[He ends up beside a snooty student already at the front.]
Kirbo - Um, annoyingly posh tone What are YOU doing here? Trying to cut in line, skinny boy?
Daico - Move. I need to go first.
Kirbo - EXCUSE ME?! I come from a ROYAL BLOODLINE-
Daico - I'll trade you my gum. Still warm.
Kirbo - That's disgusting... wait, what flavor?
Daico - No idea.
Kirbo - Gimme. [Takes the gum.]
School Principal 1 - THE TRIALS BEGIN NOW. FIRST STUDENT, STEP FORWARD. PLEASE. CHILDREN.
[Daico approaches nervously.]
Daico [Internal] - This isn't how I wanted this to go. I was gonna be cool and mysterious. Not some line-cutting weirdo.
Principal 1 (Osco) - Place your hand in the cauldron, child.
[Daico complies. He stares with anticipation.]
Principal 2 (Shejia) - Hmph... doesn't look impressive. Give it another second.
Mr. Moss - Fingers crossed, kiddo! [Winks with enthusiasm.]
[The cauldron changes color.]
Osco - Oh dear. Another peasant, child.
Shejia - Hush, Osco. Be nice to the lad~
Daico - Wait... so I...
Mr. Moss - You rolled a 1-Star! Just like me! And it's the same one too!
[Daico stares at the now white cauldron.]
Daico - Lava...? I got... Lava?
Osco - Next student, child.
[Daico silently puts on his earbuds, melancholy music playing as he walks away.]
Daico [Internal] - Dammit... all my dreams... crushed.
[Feiyah steps up next. Daico turns to look but is immediately intercepted.]
Student 1 - HEY! DON'T LOOK! THAT'S BAD LUCK!
Student 2 - LOOK AWAY!
Daico [Internal] - Seriously? Like I'll jinx her by looking? These royal idiots...
Mr. Moss [Suddenly yelling] - OHHHHHH! A 5-STAR?! WAIT, IS THAT A 7-STAR?! SOMEONE TELL M-
Osco - Calm down, you buffoon. Child. [Lightly slaps him.]
Shejia - Incredible, Feiyah! You're the first girl in two years to receive a Sorcery above 3-Star!
Daico [Internal] - Dang... she broke a record.
Student 2 (Abella) - Hey~ look at my cauldron, big bro~?
Student 1 (Dokoso) - Yeah, Onichan!
Daico - Nope. I'm out! [Storms off.]
Dokoso - HEY! IF I GET A COMMON, I SWEAR-
Abella - YEAH! SAME!
Daico [Internal] - Stupid luck... If it weren't for this shitty roll, I could've been great. [Expression shifts to realization.] Wait... Lava is the most common sorcery, right? That means it's well-documented! Maybe that means... more abilities, more potential... could this be a hidden advantage?! I've got a million sorcery books!
[His eyes glisten with hope as the background fades to white.]
Daico - Could I really still be greaaattt~?
[Cut to Daico reading a book, now wearing a poker face.]
Book - "Lava is the weakest 1-Star Sorcery recorded. Disorganized and ineffective in all categories. Often only useful when paired with the 4-Star Sorcery, Switcher, to convert lava into water for farming."
Daico - ...Well. Where's the rope? Chair's right there too.
[A knock at the door.]
Feiyah - Sir Daico...? Are you in there?
Daico - Yeah. Door's unlocked. [Tries to hide the book] Gibberish... this goddamn book-
Feiyah - Hi~ Sir Daico. Is that a sorcery book?
Daico - Uhh no? I mean, yeah. sigh Yeah it is.
Feiyah - Neat! ... So! What Sorcery did you get, Sir Daico?
Daico - Just Lava. Drop the "Sir" too. Makes me feel ancient.
Feiyah - Oh- Okay! .... [Awkward silence]
Daico [Internal] - She's waiting for me to ask... sigh Go on, flex on me, nerd.
Daico - So what did you ge-
Feiyah - SO! I got this super rare 8-Star Sorcery! It's Nature-based! Miss Shejia said it's the first in three years for a girl! And also-
Daico - Great job. So, what brings you here?
Feiyah - Oh?~ Do I smell... sniff sniff Jealousy?
Daico - I'll skin you alive.
Feiyah - Right! Actually, I wanted to borrow a sorcery book... to identify mine~? [Gives a cute look.]
Daico - Look, your feminine charm doesn't work on me. Just ask like a normal person.
Feiyah [Internal] - H-He saw right through me...
Daico - You want the early or late edition?
Feiyah [Internal] - How can he resist...? He's still giving me the book, but...
Daico - You forget your brain with your glasses or something? [Taps her forehead.]
[She snaps out of her daze.]
Feiyah - Oh!~~ Sorry~ I zoned out~ awkward laugh
Daico - Thought you picked the Lobotomy Sorcery or something. Anyway, here's the one I was reading.
Feiyah - Thank you~! [Flips through pages] Here it is! "Nature" and it says... [Her expression drops.]
Daico - I won't laugh, Feiyah. Go ahead and cry.
Feiyah [Tearing up] - Oh no...
Daico - Want me to read it with you? Here we go. 3... 2... 1...
Both - "Nature is an 8-Star Sorcery focused entirely on supportive abilities, with little to no combat use."
Daico - Womp womp, Feiyah. Better luck next time.
Feiyah - You're a jerk, Sir Daico...
Daico - Type shit.