Runes A Tale Of The Abyss - 82 Chapter 73

Today was going to be an interesting day. Now that the Phoenix Class had finally finished their team formation, it was time for the joint exercises alongside the other classes.

The other three classes had been practicing for over two months now since they had created their teams long before, so the Phoenix Class would start from rock bottom.

Griff was walking through the empty corridor behind his classmates and Professor Julius to the courtyard where the other classes were waiting for him and his class.

Kato slightly brought his mouth to Griff’s ear and whispered.

“Look Griff, remember that I said we’re the worst class? We’re also not exactly liked, so don’t try to go be friendly like you were with us. The other classes are made of either pompous nobles, arrogant mages of families of magicians, or rich merchant’s children with talent. We’re the outcasts.”

“…got it. I’ll keep myself in check.”

Kato nodded at him and gave a slight, mischievous smile as he walked ahead of him. A couple seconds later Griff noticed that he was walking next to Sylvie and Ellen who were still looking at each other with daggers.

He decided to do the most logical thing. Interrupt like an idiot, hoping their anger wouldn’t be reflected on him.

“Umm… could you two chi-”

“Shut up Griff!”

Both said simultaneously as they kept looking at each other. Griff just sighed as Caphriel laughed in his head. This was going to definitely be a long, annoying year.

Griff picked up his pace, walking ahead of the two bombs that were about to go off any second now.

As he walked, he heard a couple kids around him whispering. Some were the usual friendly gossips, but one of them caught his attention.

“Eh? Seriously? You’re telling me that there was a skirmish at the Horhatz border?”

A boy with yellow hair asked the small, childlike student next to him in shock. This was Jilk. Jilk slowly nodded.

“I heard it from my dad, he knows one of the barons that guard the border.”

“Dang this is seriously not looking good for us then…”

Griff interjected right there.

“Hey! Uhm… excuse me for asking, but why is this bad news for us?”

The yellow haired boy looked at Griff as his eyes slightly widened and he smiled.

“Oh you’re the kid who beat Ellen! Nice to meet you, I’m Arnold, son of a merchant. As for why it’s bad… well, in the case of a large enough war we students are drafted immediately.”

“So… child-soldiers?”

“Pretty much.”

Griff nodded. It looked like things were going to get rough not only inside the kingdom but on the outside too.

“Alright, thanks! See you two later.”

Griff waved his hand in goodbye as he walked away.

———————————————————————

The courtyard was packed to the brim with students of the other classes.

“Bloody hell.”

“Let me guess… that’s the class with the first ranking?”

“Yeah… the Gilded Kings. It’s comprised of sons and daughters of marquises, duke’s, count’s and viscounts. Not even a single baron’s son is among them.”

“Well they sound like a bunch of pricks.”

“Well good guess! Because it couldn’t have been the other way involving high nobles.”

Kato really didn’t like the upper echelons apparently, which was no surprise to Griff, not after what he witnessed in the arena.

‘So… these are the children of those weirdos.’

[You had an encounter with high-nobility before?]

‘It wasn’t pleasant, so please no questions.’

[If it bothers you it must be very disturbing. Fine, stay alone with your thoughts.]

As the Phoenix class walked, they received all sorts of gazes, but most were disgusted looks.

“Sheesh… talk about prejudice.”

Kato mumbled. A few seconds later the Principal was seen walking towards the first year students in the courtyard. The students clapped as a sign of respect seeing her.

She gave a devilishly charming smile and raised her hand for silence.

“Thank you all for gathering here in short notice. Today I called all of you to announce that the Phoenix Class has finally finished the team formation stage of our curriculum, no matter how late they were… Even so, this means that the squad and class rankings will finally become official for the first year class!”

The other classes cheered hearing that they would finally have official rankings. Morgana cleared her throat and continued.

“Ranking fights amongst squads are now official, and the arena for first years is open for use! You can look at the rankings in front if my office whenever you want to. I bet you all know how important rankings are. Opportunities of all kinds are provided to the top 5 squads. And lastly… I’m hopeful that this generation of students strives to reach the epitome of magecraft! You’re all dismissed.”

The student body clapped as Morgana got down from the small podium that was prepared beforehand for her to deliver the speech, and walked back into the school building. The other classes were now dispersing into their own classes.

“Come on let’s go Griff.”

Kato said as he dragged Lance back into the building who was crying tears of Joy and praising the principal. Jewels was walking besides them with a slightly anxious gaze, looking at the ground, but Griff decided not to pry into what he was anxious about.

It seemed that starting today the real challenge would start in this school, climbing up the rankings.