“Welcome to orientation.” A voice says from on top of the stage, his deep voice echoing out calmly into the large stadium without assistance. “Congratulations. You've struggled hard, made it through all the tests with grit and hard work, and now… Now you've been accepted as students in the college. But unfortunately, life doesn't ever stop. The tests keep coming and they keep coming and they keep coming. You can leave this college right now and live the rest of your days working on a farm, but the tests don't stop coming. Everyday, you’ll wake up, thinking ‘what a wonderful morning, I’m going to have a nice, normal day.’ And everyday you’ll be a fool to think so. No, my young friends, the tests don’t stop coming. Questions are always lingering, and if you can see it, it can see you.” The black-robed man says before letting out a deep chuckle.

“But that’s what being a mage is all about. If there’s a question, you perk your ass up, and say ‘my asshole is right here, mister Question, please fuck me as you please.’ And then the question would be like, ‘no, you’re too eager. I’m going to think of another question just to fuck with you.’ And you, like any sane person, will want to blow your brains out with a mana pistol. But like I said, that’s what being a mage is all about.” He says before letting out another laugh. Suddenly, other students in the crowd began to laugh, and anger appears on the man’s face. “Hey! Shut the fuck up!” He yells, causing the students to go silent.

“Do you think this is a joke? Do you think you’re unfuckable by a question? Well, I got news for you, you little shits. In this life, you’ll get fucked by questions you’ve never even imagined, and if you choose to ignore them, those questions will let you rot until you’re begging to answer them. So don’t fucking laugh. This isn’t funny at all. In fact, it’s kind of depressing. Wait, where was I?” The man says before reading through his note cards.

“Oh, that’s right. What being a mage is about, yada-yada. Okay, here – Courses in this college won’t work in the usual class format. First, depending on your interests and specializations, you’ll be assigned a set of teachers as general guides in your roles as life-long students. Each of these teachers are specialized in a variety of things, so get to know them. And these teachers have the ability to offer you certain things, knowledge, training, magical potions, all sorts of stuff. But you’ll have to earn them. Nothing is free in this world; some things you have to crawl in the dirt to get, while others are a walk in the park, and at every step you’ll have to ask, is it worth the bullshit I’m going through? Anyways, that’s for you to answer. Okay, that pretty much sums it up. Now everyone get into a huge line, so I can let you know which teachers you’ve been assigned.” The man says before crossing his arms and waiting.

The students look at each other confused. There were hundreds of them here, were they really supposed to get in a line?

The black-robed man lets out a laugh. “Yeah, you think this is a joke? What did I say? This isn’t a joke. You all wanted to get into this college and become big bad mages, right? Then get in fucking line. Yeah, you’re not special. Wait your turn with the rest of the turds.” The man says ruthlessly.

A few people in the crowd broke out into tears, their sobbing echoing out. But the students did what they were told and somehow, tried to form some sort of coherent line.

Serah watches this wide-eyed. What the fuck did I walk into? She asks herself.