The Academy's Great Hall was a testament to magical architecture at its most show-off-y. The ceiling displayed a perfect replica of the sky outside, complete with drifting clouds and the occasional surprised-looking bird that had apparently been incorporated into the spell by accident. Floating candles provided warm light, their flames dancing in colors that definitely weren't found in nature, and the walls were lined with portraits of famous alumni who occasionally waved at passing students.
It was, objectively, one of the most beautiful rooms West had ever seen.
It was also currently arranged to make absolutely sure everyone knew their place in the social hierarchy.
A-rank students occupied the front section, seated at tables that looked like they'd been carved from single pieces of enchanted marble. Their meals were served on actual gold plates by what appeared to be tiny floating spirits wearing bow ties. B-ranks sat behind them at silver tables, C-ranks at bronze, and so on down the line until...
"I think our table is over there," Kai said cheerfully, pointing to what could generously be called furniture in the back corner of the hall.
The F-rank section consisted of three wobbly wooden tables that looked like they'd been salvaged from a shipwreck, benches that groaned ominously under the slightest weight, and place settings that appeared to have been borrowed from a prison cafeteria. The "view" was mostly of other students' backs and a lovely close-up of the stone wall.
"Charming," West muttered.
"I love what they've done with the whole 'rustic dungeon' aesthetic," Kai agreed, sliding onto a bench that immediately tilted at an alarming angle. "Very authentic!"
The other F-rank students were already seated, a collection of miserable-looking teenagers who seemed to be competing for who could appear most defeated by life. They glanced up as Kai and West approached, their expressions ranging from suspicious to downright hostile.
"Great," muttered a thin boy with acne scars and a permanent scowl. "More competition for scraps."
"Oh, we're not competing!" Kai assured him brightly. "I'm Kai, and this is West! Mind if we sit with you guys?"
The suspicious looks intensified. F-ranks apparently weren't used to cheerful introductions.
"Marcus," the thin boy said finally. "And yeah, whatever. Not like we can stop you."
"Thanks, Marcus! I love your name—very classical!" Kai settled onto the bench next to him with obvious delight. "So what's everyone's specialties? Magic-wise, I mean!"
The question was met with uncomfortable silence.
"Specialties?" a girl with mousy brown hair and thick glasses squeaked. "We're F-ranks. We don't have specialties. We have disasters."
"I once tried to summon a butterfly and created a small tornado," offered another student gloomily. "Destroyed half the greenhouse."
"I can't even light a candle without setting something on fire that isn't the candle," Marcus added.
"See? Specialties!" Kai beamed. "Marcus, you're a fire magic specialist with targeting challenges! And you—" he turned to the girl who'd mentioned the butterfly, "—you're clearly advanced in weather manipulation with power control issues! These are totally workable problems!"
The F-rank students stared at him like he'd started speaking in tongues.
"Workable... problems?" the mousy girl repeated weakly.
"Absolutely! I bet with some practice and maybe different techniques, you could totally redirect that energy!" Kai's enthusiasm was infectious. "What's your name?"
"Sarah," she whispered, as if admitting to a crime.
"Sarah! Beautiful name! And I bet your tornado was actually really impressive from a pure power standpoint!"
Sarah's cheeks turned pink. When was the last time anyone had complimented an F-rank on their magical abilities?
West watched the interaction with fascination. Even while maintaining their cover, Kai couldn't help but try to build people up. It was like watching someone instinctively perform magic—not the flashy combat spells or complex theoretical applications, but the deeper magic of human connection.
"What about you two?" Marcus asked, suspicion giving way to grudging curiosity. "What are your 'specialties'?"
Kai and West exchanged a glance.
"Well," Kai said, scratching his head sheepishly, "I have this weird thing where I can sort of... help people feel better when they're hurt? But it's super unreliable and kind of makes me sick sometimes."
This was technically true. The fact that his "sort of helping people feel better" involved completely healing any injury or illness while absorbing all their pain was just a minor detail he happened to leave out.
"And I'm supposedly good with light magic," West added, "but mostly I just blind myself. Or other people. Usually other people I'm trying to help."
Also technically true. West's light magic was so powerful he could create miniature suns. The "blinding people" part happened when he forgot to hold back approximately 99.9% of his actual ability.
"Healing magic?" Sarah's eyes widened behind her thick glasses. "Even unreliable healing magic is amazing! That's way better than tornadoes!"
"And light magic is super useful!" Marcus added. "Even if you blind people sometimes, that's still actual magic that does what it's supposed to do!"
"Sort of what it's supposed to do," West corrected with a self-deprecating smile.
Before anyone could respond, a hush fell over the Great Hall. The massive doors at the front opened, and the academy's faculty began filing in. They moved with the kind of measured dignity that suggested they'd practiced this entrance, their robes flowing dramatically in a way that definitely involved magic because there wasn't even a breeze.
At the head of the procession walked Headmaster Aldrich Thornfield, a tall man with silver hair and the kind of presence that made people automatically sit up straighter. His robes were midnight blue with silver trim, and he carried a staff topped with a crystal that pulsed with soft white light.
"Students of Aethros Academy," his voice carried easily through the hall without any obvious amplification magic, "welcome to a new year of magical education and personal growth."
"Personal growth," Marcus snorted quietly. "Right. Like they care about F-rank personal growth."
"The Academy has served as a beacon of magical learning for over five hundred years," Headmaster Thornfield continued, "training the finest magical minds in the kingdom. Our graduates have become court mages, battle commanders, healers, scholars, and leaders in every field of magical endeavor."
West noticed that the Headmaster's gaze swept primarily over the A-rank and B-rank sections. The F-rank corner might as well have been invisible.
"This year, we have several new transfer students joining our ranks. I trust that all of you—regardless of your current ranking—will demonstrate the Academy's values of excellence, honor, and magical advancement."
"Current ranking," Sarah whispered. "Like there's any chance of it changing."
"Each student here has the potential for greatness," the Headmaster said, and for just a moment, his eyes seemed to find the F-rank section. "It is our job as educators to help you discover that potential, nurture it, and transform it into real achievement."
Kai was practically glowing with excitement. "Did you hear that? He said we all have potential for greatness!"
"He has to say that," Marcus muttered. "It's probably in his contract or something."
But West noticed that even Marcus looked slightly more hopeful than he had five minutes ago.
The Headmaster went on to explain academy policies, class schedules, and the importance of maintaining academic standards. Most of it was standard institutional speech, but West found himself genuinely impressed by the man's obvious dedication to magical education.
Then came the part that made his blood run cold.
"As always, our ranking system serves to ensure that each student receives instruction appropriate to their current abilities," Headmaster Thornfield announced. "Rankings are determined through a combination of practical examination, theoretical knowledge, and demonstrated magical capacity. Students are encouraged to strive for advancement, though movements between ranks are... naturally quite rare."
Translation: once an F-rank, always an F-rank.
"Monthly evaluations will be conducted for all students," the Headmaster continued. "Those who show significant improvement may be considered for rank advancement. Those who fail to meet minimum standards..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
"They kick people out?" Sarah squeaked.
"Only if you're really, really bad," Marcus said grimly. "Like, dangerously bad. Most F-ranks just... stay F-ranks until they graduate. If they graduate."
West felt a surge of protective anger on behalf of these students. They weren't stupid or incompetent—they were teenagers with developing magical abilities being told they were failures before they'd even had a real chance to succeed.
"The good news," the Headmaster said with what was probably meant to be an encouraging smile, "is that even F-rank graduates have found meaningful careers in magical support roles, equipment maintenance, and various administrative positions."
"Magical janitors," Marcus translated bitterly. "He means we'll be magical janitors."
"Hey," Kai said with genuine warmth, "there's nothing wrong with any kind of honest work. And think about it—equipment maintenance means you get to work with all kinds of amazing magical devices! Administrative positions let you see how the whole magical world operates! That's actually really cool!"
The other F-ranks stared at him again, but this time with something approaching wonder. When was the last time anyone had suggested that their futures might be "really cool"?
"You're weird," Sarah said, but she was smiling when she said it.
"Thanks! I'll take weird over boring any day!"
The Headmaster concluded his speech with some remarks about Academy traditions and the importance of upholding their reputation. Then came the moment West had been dreading.
"Now, I'd like to recognize some of our most outstanding students," Headmaster Thornfield announced. "These young people represent the very best of what Aethros Academy can achieve."
A spotlight—literally a beam of magical light—illuminated the A-rank section.
"Miss Aria Blackthorn, our current top-ranked student, whose mastery of ice and shadow magic continues to astound our faculty."
Aria rose smoothly from her seat, acknowledged the applause with a tiny nod, and sat back down with perfect composure. Even from the back of the hall, West could see the cool confidence that radiated from her like an aura.
"Miss Luna Brightblade, ranked second in the Academy, whose lightning techniques and holy magic applications have redefined what we consider possible for students her age."
Luna stood as well, but where Aria had been coolly gracious, Luna flashed a brilliant grin and actually waved at the crowd. Several students cheered louder for her than they had for Aria—apparently the commoner who'd fought her way to the top had more fans among the lower ranks.
West watched both girls and felt an odd pang. They were genuinely impressive—powerful, confident, clearly destined for important roles in the magical world. And he and Kai were going to spend the next few years lying to them, pretending to be bumbling failures while hiding abilities that made their already incredible powers look like party tricks.
It felt wrong. But it was necessary.
"Other distinguished A-rank students include..." the Headmaster continued, rattling off a list of names that meant nothing to the F-rank table but seemed to generate appropriate amounts of applause from the front of the hall.
Finally, mercifully, the ceremony concluded.
"Classes begin tomorrow morning," Headmaster Thornfield announced. "First-year students will find their schedules in their dormitory rooms. All others should consult with their academic advisors. And remember—excellence is not a destination, but a journey. Every day offers a new opportunity to grow."
"Easy for him to say," Marcus grumbled as students began filing out. "He's not stuck in F-rank forever."
"You know what though?" Sarah said quietly, glancing at Kai and West. "Maybe... maybe he's right about the journey part. I mean, maybe we won't be A-ranks, but that doesn't mean we can't get better, right?"
"Exactly!" Kai bounced up from the bench, which groaned in relief. "Every day is a chance to improve! And who knows? Maybe some of us will surprise everyone!"
As they walked back toward the dormitories, West caught sight of Aria and Luna in the crowd ahead. They were walking together—or rather, Luna was talking animatedly while Aria listened with what appeared to be polite tolerance.
"...can't believe they put transfer F-ranks in our year," Luna was saying, her voice carrying over the general chatter. "Did you see that cheerful one? He was practically bouncing!"
"Enthusiastic incompetence is still incompetence," Aria replied coolly.
"I guess. But still, kind of refreshing to see someone happy about being here, even if they are..." Luna paused, apparently searching for a diplomatic way to say "completely hopeless."
"F-rank," Aria finished flatly.
"Yeah."
West felt Kai tense slightly beside him, though his friend's smile never wavered.
"They seem nice," Kai said quietly as they turned toward their dormitory wing.
"They don't even know we exist," West pointed out.
"Yet," Kai said with a grin. "They don't know we exist yet."
"Kai..."
"What? I'm not planning anything! I just think it might be nice to be friends with them eventually. You know, if we ever have classes together or something."
West had studied their schedules. F-ranks and A-ranks didn't take any classes together. Ever. The Academy's tracking system was designed to prevent exactly that kind of interaction.
"Sure," he said anyway, because crushing Kai's optimism felt like kicking a puppy. "Maybe."
Back in their tiny basement room, they got ready for bed in companionable silence. West watched Kai carefully as his friend changed into sleep clothes, looking for signs of pain or discomfort. The minor healing from earlier that day shouldn't have caused much suffering, but with Kai's curse, you never knew.
"I'm fine," Kai said without turning around, apparently sensing West's scrutiny.
"I know. Just checking."
"The cut was tiny. Barely even registered." Kai flopped onto his narrow bed. "Though I did get a flash of what it felt like to be that B-rank student who shoved me. Angry, mostly. And kind of scared."
"Scared?"
"Yeah. Scared he's not as strong as he pretends to be. Scared the other B-ranks will figure out he's faking half his confidence." Kai stared up at the ceiling. "Kind of familiar, actually."
West felt his chest tighten. "Kai..."
"I'm not complaining!" Kai said quickly. "Just observing. It's interesting how many people are hiding who they really are."
"Including us."
"Especially us." Kai's grin was visible even in the dim light filtering through their tiny window. "But hey, at least we're hiding something awesome instead of something embarrassing."
"True."
They lay in comfortable silence for a while, listening to the sounds of the Academy settling down for the night. Footsteps in the hallway above, distant voices, the soft hum of magical systems maintaining the building's temperature and lighting.
"West?" Kai's voice was soft.
"Thanks for doing this with me. The whole... pretending to be normal thing. I know it's not exactly the life you imagined."
West turned to look at his best friend—the person who'd saved his life in more ways than one, who carried unimaginable burdens with a smile, who somehow managed to find joy even in their current ridiculous situation.
"Are you kidding?" West said. "This is the most fun I've had in years. Where else would I get to watch you convince F-rank students that tornado creation is a specialty?"
Kai's laugh was warm and genuine. "Sarah did seem pretty happy about that, didn't she?"
"You made her day. Possibly her whole year."
"Good. She deserves to feel good about herself." Kai was quiet for a moment. "They all do. These kids aren't failures, West. They're just... lost. Maybe a little guidance, some confidence, and they could actually be pretty impressive."
"You thinking of starting an F-rank improvement program?" West teased.
"Maybe," Kai said, and West could hear the smile in his voice. "Would that blow our cover?"
"Probably. F-ranks aren't supposed to be inspirational leaders."
"Damn. There go my plans for motivational speeches and team-building exercises."
Despite everything—their false identities, the necessity of hiding their true selves, the complicated web they were weaving—West found himself genuinely looking forward to tomorrow. Not because of their mission, but because he'd get to watch Kai continue being impossibly, infectiously optimistic in the face of a system designed to crush spirits.
Some things never changed. And honestly, West hoped they never would.
"Get some sleep," he said fondly. "Tomorrow you get to fail spectacularly at Practical Magic for Beginners."
"Can't wait," Kai replied cheerfully. "I'm thinking of accidentally turning my practice wand into a flower. Think that's F-rank enough?"
"Perfect. Just don't make it too pretty, or they'll start getting suspicious."
"Right. Ugly flower. Got it."
As West drifted off to sleep, his last coherent thought was wondering what Aria Blackthorn and Luna Brightblade were doing right now. Probably studying advanced techniques, planning their next magical breakthroughs, or discussing strategies for maintaining their top rankings.
They had no idea that the two F-rank transfer students they'd dismissed today were probably the most powerful beings currently at the Academy.
And honestly, West thought as sleep claimed him, that was probably for the best.
For now.