Shulim did not join in the other students' discussions. While the peers before her were indeed remarkably skilled, the spells they had demonstrated so far were basically all Second-Tier magic; not a single person had cast a Third-Tier spell yet.
However, that was only natural. At their age, most were still at the D-Class level.
Magic was not something where simply reaching one tier placed the next within arm's reach. One often had to study and toil within a tier for a long time just to touch the threshold of the next. And even after brushing against that threshold, truly mastering the spells of the next tier was no easy feat.
Although these peers were all prodigies possessing B-Class or even A-Class talent, crossing the threshold into the Third-Tier at only eleven or twelve years old was still exceptionally difficult.
Even Shulim, who possessed S-Class talent across all elements and had received instruction from the Fairy Queen Semilis, had expended a great deal of effort to cross the threshold into Third-Tier magic. And even though she had touched the threshold of B-Class for quite a while now, how long it would take her to truly master Fourth-Tier magic and step into B-Class remained unknown.
For that very reason, one of the graduation requirements of Manacos Magic Academy was that a student's strength had to reach C-Class.
While that might seem like an unnecessary requirement, it was precisely because they understood that reaching C-Class was not easy for students that such a condition had been established.
Moreover, many young instructors at Manacos Magic Academy possessed only C-Class strength. Although becoming a full professor required one to be B-Class, the threshold of B-Class was exceedingly difficult to cross. Talent merely granted possibility; turning that possibility into reality was far from easy, and one might well have to wait until past the age of fifty...
Nevertheless, even if they only cast Second-Tier magic, this Second-Tier was different from the boys and girls who reached Second-Tier upon graduating from preparatory schools. Without exception, the students standing here had already reached an extremely advanced level within Second-Tier.
Though both were Second-Tier, having just entered it and approaching its peak were entirely different concepts.
“Whoa, look at that person—!”
“Wait, no way. Could that be...?”
“What, what? Who is that? Why are you all so surprised?”
A sudden commotion erupted from the back of the crowd.
Curious, everyone turned around to see what was happening.
They then saw a girl of exquisite beauty and lavish attire walking toward them.
The girl possessed radiant golden hair that cascaded naturally down to her waist, and crimson eyes like red wine that carried an enchanting hue. Seeming long accustomed to being the center of attention, she showed not the slightest reaction to the crowd's stares.
In addition, several heavily equipped knights followed closely behind her.
The knights remained fully alert, surveying their surroundings to protect the girl's safety.
“That's right! I've seen her once before. That's the empire's Ninth Princess—Her Highness Alicia Serionce!”
“Is it really Her Highness the Ninth Princess? That's the first time I've seen her in person!”
“No way... Could the Ninth Princess be here to enroll too?”
“Probably. It's not like she'd come just for a tour...”
“Really?! Doesn't that mean I might become classmates with Her Highness?”
“Keep dreaming. Her Highness will definitely be in the Special Class. Do you think you can make it?”
“How would I know without trying...?”
While most were still discussing the arrival of the empire's Ninth Princess, many noble boys and girls had already stepped forward to greet her.
“Greetings, Your Highness Alicia. I am the third son of a Frontier Count...”
“My respects to you, Your Highness Alicia. My father is a general in the Imperial Army...”
“...Your Highness Alicia, I hail from the Eastern nations...”
Toward these noble youths, whether they hailed from the Pasara Empire or not, Alicia displayed impeccable royal etiquette, smiling as she responded to each of them.
“There is no need for such formality, everyone. Right now, like you, I am merely a student coming to study at Manacos. Please treat me as a fellow student~”
“Yes, Your Highness Alicia! It is our honor~!”
“Your Highness Alicia, your generosity is truly touching...”
The noble youths hastened to shower her with compliments.
Alicia gave a helpless smile, then turned to the knights beside her and said, “You may return now. I can handle the rest on my own. Your presence here will only cause inconvenience for the academy.”
The escort knights hesitated, and one of them spoke up:
“...With all due respect, Your Highness, your safety—”
“There is no need to worry. This academy is one of the safest places in all of Langard. I won't be in any danger. Or are you doubting Manacos's capabilities~?”
“This—”
Alicia's words very successfully drew the attention of the Manacos staff on-site. They were now staring unblinkingly at the knights, looking ready to have a serious debate depending on how the knights answered...
Feeling the intense gazes from all around, the knights broke into a cold sweat.
“We certainly have no intention of questioning Manacos. In that case... very well, Your Highness. We will wait outside for you. Please do not wander off on a whim.”
The knights compromised and left. Without their intimidating presence, the imposing aura surrounding Alicia's arrival softened considerably, successfully closing the distance between her and the students.
She chatted affably with the other students taking the assessment, not minding whether they were nobles or not. Even when noticing a few hostile stares, she maintained her smile throughout. Such an approachable demeanor quickly earned her immense popularity among the students...
As the Ninth Princess of the Pasara Empire who possessed a degree of succession rights to the throne, her coming to study at Manacos was undoubtedly explosive news. Even though many had not yet seen her face in person, she had naturally become the hottest topic among this year's new students.
The empire's Ninth Princess...
Manacos really attracted all kinds of people, with even someone as noble as an imperial princess being no exception.
Shulim sighed internally with wonder.
“Number 77, please enter the assessment grounds!”
Although Alicia Serionce's arrival had caused a commotion, it did not disrupt the continuation of the assessment.
Shulim glanced down at her number tag. Number 77—that was her.
...
Stepping into the assessment grounds, Shulim first offered a polite bow to the professors on the judging platform.
The professors flipped through Shulim's files.
“Hmm, let me see. Number 77, Shulim Hayeral...?”
“Er... are you Student Shulim Hayeral?”
Although somewhat puzzled by why the professors were repeatedly confirming her name, Shulim still nodded.
“...Very well. Then, Student Shulim Hayeral, you may begin the assessment.”
Receiving the signal from the professors, Shulim gripped the Treant Wand in her right hand and walked into the first testing station.
The assessment consisted of two parts in total: one tested magic power, requiring examinees to attack targets with magic, while the other tested magical responsiveness, requiring them to continuously dodge or block incoming attacks.
Rate on N.U.
