“Watch out!!!” A girl screamed.

A girl sliding on ice collided with Astra as they walked out of the shop.

Watson dodged out of the way as Astra, and the girl tumbled on the ground.

“Ow…I’m sorry. Are you okay?” The girl got up and reached her hand towards Astra.

Astra grabbed onto the hand and got up, “I’m alright.”

The girl asked, “My name is Isabella Phoenixvale. What’s yours?”

“Astra Gale,” Astra said.

“Sorry about that, Astra. I’m in a hurry right now,” The girl ran off, leaving a trail of ice behind her.

“Lucky you,” Watson grinned at Astra.

“Isabella Phoenixvale was ranked fourth on the mana test, just one rank above you. Furthermore, she’s from the prominent Phoenixvale family who are part of the high nobles. How’s it like meeting a gorgeous beauty on your first day?”

Astra crossed his arms, “Is she part of any noble factions?”

“Not any that I know of.”

Astra did not want to have relations with anyone from the noble faction. Astra wasn’t even from the city, so he was poorer than dirt. Wouldn’t he be treated worse than the commoners that came from the city? Who knew if the nobles would pretend to befriend him then backstab him at a later time?

Astra asked, “What now?”

Watson looked at the sunset in the sky, “It should be dinner time. Let’s head back to the dorm.”

Astra nodded as they walked back.

They entered the cafeteria together and got their food. There was only rice, meat, and vegetables. There wasn’t a variety of food, but the cafeteria allowed the students to eat as much as they wanted.

Astra and Watson sat down on an empty table on the first floor. Astra looked above him and saw an open ceiling with many floors above him.

“Who are those people on the floors above us?” Astra asked.

“Hm? Those people? Usually the nobles and people with influence. They get to eat more luxurious foods, and the higher up floors even get food that is beneficial to their mana pool.”

“Tsk.” Astra was becoming more and more frustrated with how the nobles had so many more privileges than the commoners.

“How can I get up there?” Astra grumbled.

“Pay a monthly fee of merit points,” Watson responded.

“Even though we have the merit system at this academy, it can’t get rid of the connections that the nobles possess. The point traders who wish to suck up to the nobles give them more points than normal. That’s how the nobles are easily able to acquire a significant amount of merit points.”

Astra sighed. Being rich sure was great. All the resources just come naturally.

They finished eating and headed back up towards their room. Jayce was laying on the bed, and Diddle was reading a book.

“W-Welcome back, g-guys.” Diddle stuttered.

“Were you just reading the whole time? That’s gotta be boring.” Watson said.

“Y-Yeah. I wanted to p-prepare for our class t-tomorrow.” Diddle went back to reading.

Astra went to his desk and found a piece of paper with his class schedule. Watson came over with his and compared the schedules.

“Hey! We have identical schedules!” Watson was happy that they got to be together.

Astra looked out the window and saw the moon shining brightly in the dark sky.

“Hey, why don’t we have a little chat? Just to get to know each other,” Watson suggested.

“S-Sure…” Diddle responded.

“So, where is everyone from? Tell us a bit about yourself,” Watson looked at Diddle.

“A-Ascelyn City. M-My family belongs to on-one of the lower noble fam-families,” Diddle stuttered.

“If you don’t mind me asking…” Watson said. “Were you born with a stutter? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

Diddle was silent for a moment before speaking again, “I-I was in an a-accident when I w-was a child wh-which gave me a con-concussion. Ever since th-then, I’ve had a st-stutter.”

“Sorry about that…” Watson’s curiosity had gotten the better of him. He looked towards Astra next.

“I’m from a reclusive village quite far from here. I happened to meet a mage from here, and he gave me a recommendation for Ascelyn Academy,” said Astra.

Watson nodded and looked at Jayce.

“…Topher City,” Jayce said nothing more.

Watson was about to ask why he was in Ascelyn Academy instead of Topher Academy but decided not to.

Watson pointed at himself and said, “I’m also from Ascelyn City, belonging to one of the middle-noble families. My family had relations with an academy mage, so I was apprenticed here at a young age.”

The four youths began talking to each other about their lives. They were talking about likes and dislikes when they all noticed that they had something in common. All of them hated the corruption of nobles here. Even Jayce spoke a few sentences on the injustice of the nobles despite his usually quiet self. They began ranting about the rules that the nobles were breaking and how incompetent the principal was for letting this corruption ferment.

This rant went on for hours until the four of them exhausted themselves and fell asleep.

……

….

…

“WAKE UP!!!!!!!” Watson grabbed Astra’s shoulders.

Astra woke up in surprise and head-butted Watson as he got up.

“Ow…” Watson cried out.

Astra chuckled as Watson winced in pain.

“Time for our first class.” Watson got ready and walked out the room.

Jayce and Diddle were not there when Astra woke up. They must’ve gone to class before them.

Astra prepared himself and quickly followed behind Watson.

They walked into the classroom full of rowdy kids, gossiping and chattering.

Astra and Watson sat at an empty table.

“Isn’t that Watson Whitley? Who’s that next to him?” A boy whispered.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him before. Wait, look at his clothing! He’s definitely not a noble!” A girl whispered back.

“What’s a commoner doing with Watson? Could he be leeching off Watson’s family?”

“That could be! Watson is a nice guy. This commoner must’ve tricked him somehow.”

Watson sat farther away than the two gossiping kids and didn’t hear them. Astra was irked since he could hear everything that they were saying.