"To think I would see a Star Student from the Vestas.
I guess the Vesta Family is finally sending the gems they have been hiding all this while."
The old man spoke as he glanced at Elara, who stood there with a confused look on her face.
"Didn't you say that we get Excellence Stars by performing extremely well in the Academy?" Vaan questioned.
"That is correct." The old man nodded.
"Then why did Elara get an Excellence Star when she just joined?"
"Are you jealous of your own fiancée?" The old man smiled playfully.
"Would you get jealous if someone praised what's yours?
No right? You'd only be proud and feel joy. I am the same, honestly. You can even give her a Black Card if you want, wouldn't really change anything since that would only be doing the inevitable.
What I am curious about is the criteria, how did she get an Excellence Star without even doing anything?" Vaan questioned.
"She is a 21-year-old 4th Circle Mage, that is what she did to earn an Excellence Star."
"I am 20, if I become a 4th Circle Mage by the next year, would I get an Excellence Star as well?"
"No." the old man shook his head.
"Although it would be a great achievement that would give you an Excellence Star in one way or another, just becoming a 4th Circle Mage wouldn't make any difference.
The Academy has deemed her to be a Star Student so she got an Excellence Star as a bonus. You, on the other hand, were only deemed as a normal student and did not receive a star."
"Hmmm."
Vaan nodded, "Although I don't understand half of what you said, but whatever." Saying those words, he glanced at Elara, the girl nodded, picked up her card, and stepped away.
The couple then walked near a wall, waiting for the other two Vestas to get their SICs.
The process wasn't long and once it was complete, the old man glanced at Vaan and pointed at the room behind him.
"Go inside and you all will receive your uniforms.
Right, I forgot, whenever you show your SIC to someone you do not wish to reveal most of your information, click on this little arrow, once you do it, it will only show your name and Identification Number."
"I understand."
"Now leave." The old man waved his hand.
Vaan nodded, then while holding Elara's hand, he walked through the door, entering another room where sat a woman who looked like she was in her mid-30s. The woman seemed to be busy writing something in her notebook when Vaan and the others entered, she didn't even spare them a look and,
"The Vesta Family?" she questioned.
"Yes."
After the confirmation, the woman pointed at the four white uniforms lying on the table.
"Pick them as per the queue you've registered yourselves in."
The woman spoke while she continued to do what she was doing.
"Do we only get one? I thought we were supposed to wear this every day." Vaan questioned.
"You don't have to clean these uniforms, once you keep them inside the Almira provided to you by the Academy, they will revert back to how it was when you first received them, it can even repair the damages it took unless you pass through a certain threshold.
If that happens, you would need to request a new uniform and there are chances that some actions will be taken against you for destroying the uniform after investigating the cause of destruction, so be careful and if possible, don't destroy it."
The woman spoke and as if she didn't want to any further questions, she pointed at the door behind her back and,
"Congratulations, you people are now officially part of the Agresia Academy, take your uniforms, walk through the door and you will be guided by some student volunteers along the way."
"Oh? So do we not have any entrance ceremony or something?"
"There is one ceremony arranged where you will be greeted by the Headmaster of the Academy, it will be held on 7th Novembrin."
"I understand." Vaan nodded.
This made sense since an entrance ceremony should be held when all the new students have entered the Academy, keeping it a week after the Academy starts would make sense since almost all the students would be available by then.
The woman nodded, still focusing more on her work than on Vaan. Vaan didn't care, he simply picked his uniform, then together with Elara and others, he walked out the door and again, he was greeted by the marvelous sight of the Academy that had perfectly integrated Magic and Technology.
Vaan could see various people busy with their own things, some were chatting, some were reading, some were eating, and as he and others looked around,
"What are we supposed to do from here? She said we will be guided by a volunteer, I don't see anyone here like that." One of the two mages spoke up and as he said those words, a young man wearing the uniform they all just received walked towards them.
"Oh? It looks better than I thought." Vaan muttered as he glanced at the uniform the man was wearing, he still hadn't gotten a good look at his uniform, but now that he had, he was pleasantly surprised.
The Agresia Academy's uniform was a blend of modernity and elegance, exuding a sense of sophistication and simplicity. The uniform was predominantly white, the design was sleek and contemporary, featuring clean lines and a minimalist approach.
The jacket had a tailored fit, thin lines in a darkish shade of green gracefully contrasted with the white fabric. The trousers matched the jacket, maintaining the same clean and crisp appearance. The entire thing was completed with the Academy's Emblem, embossed in a muted metallic tone, signifying the prestigious status of the institution.
Vaan was satisfied and while he was imagining how he would look when he wore the same uniform, the student approached them and,
"Are you the new students?"
"That is correct." Vaan nodded.
"Then you must be looking for a place to stay."
Vaan nodded again.
"Well, you wouldn't know since you just got here but the Agresia Academy does not provide you with free Residential Areas, Residential Areas are actually managed by senior students and they usually charge Monthly Academy Points as rent."
"Academy Points?"
Vaan frowned.
"It is the currency used in the Academy, it can be exchanged using Gold Coins but the students who do that are often looked down upon since the Academy is a place where one aims to prove himself and not use his family background. Most of the students here earn Academy Points on their own, as for ways to earn them, you will learn about them soon enough so you do not need to bother.
Of course, as a new student wouldn't have any Academy Points, he gets a 3-month grace period from the Academy where they can live in a Residential Area and pay 3 months later.
The reason I am here is to tell you some basic things about these Residential Areas."
"What is it?"
"Since different Residential Areas are managed by different students, the rents differ, some are posh but absurdly expensive while others are simple and peaceful with affordable living costs, perfect for the new students."
The reason I volunteered to guide new students is because I want you to come to our Residential Area, we have big, well-furnished rooms with very affordable rent that almost anyone can pay without any problems."
"If you are so good then why do you need to advertise yourself like this?" Vaan raised his eyebrow.
"How would a new student know what to choose? There are chances that they get fooled by the excessive luxury other areas provide and fall for their trap, we volunteer like this to prevent that from happening. After all, seniors are supposed to take care of the juniors, no?"
"How would I know if you are not scamming me instead?"
"You can go around and look for the residential areas that are not already full yourself, I just want you to hear my offer and then decide on your own. I assure you that you won't be disappointed."
"Alright, then let's hear what you have to say." Vaan nodded.
"Before that, can I see your SIC?" the student questioned.
"Why?"
"It would give me a rough idea of your ability, the stronger your skills, the better the offer I can provide you, it's mostly for your advantage, honestly. Since you wouldn't be able to hide your skills in the Academy for a long time anyway."
Vaan nodded in understanding as he took out his SIC and passed it to the student.
The student held the card and,
"A 3rd Circle Mage at 20 huh, you are quite good, I am sure this will give you a great deal."
The student spoke, he didn't even care if the person he was talking to was Vaan Astra Vesta, the only child of one of the strongest Mages in the world, he only looked at his level.
Then, the student turned towards Elara and asked for her card,
And the moment he held Elara's card, his eyes widened in absolute surprise,
"A-A Star Student!?"
"What?"
"A Star Student?"
"That girl?"
"Wait, she is not wearing the uniform, she must be new."
"Then she must be looking for Residential Areas! Let's go! We need to get her into our Residential Area!"
Within a few seconds,
Vaan's group was surrounded.
