With Lord Izta's palace being locked, today, Emery and friends returned back to their provided housing, the mountain site where everyone from Class 77 lived during their time in the academy.
The main reason they returned to this place was to say farewell. As of tomorrow, they would have to move to the location reserved for elite class students.
When they passed through the courtyard, some acolytes stared at them with the most unusual gaze.
Most of these acolytes were unable to pass the first game and now among the five of them, Klea and Emery managed to reach the final match. Thanks to that achievement, they became some kind of instant celebrities.
Not sure what would have happened tomorrow, the group decided to hole up again at Klea's place and have a similar party like the one they are having after they won the first game. But this time Emery made sure to remind them not to get drunk as tomorrow is an important day.
The boys were surely disappointed as they were still unable to accept their defeat from Chumo in the last drinking competition. As for Klea, she was the first to agree with Emery 's suggestion but Emery somehow can see a trace of disappointment in her expression.
It was a day full of fun and relaxing activities. It was nice to take a good break from all the training they had to do and spend time with friends.
As they say, time flies when you are having fun and late night came just as exhaustion started to settle into their bones. Most have already planned to rest, but Julian approached him.
Julian explain to Emery the reason he joined Roran's faction. The game had taught him that there was something more important than just fighting on the front lines. The first step to gain important knowledge for that still-vague dream was by joining Roran's faction.
"I want to be a great commander Emery, I wish to make a difference to our world...
so we won't be pushed around like now… that's my dream, and I believe the Harlight faction can help me towards that goal."
Emery listened to Julian's story and his declaration to chase his dream with such determination. Without him realizing it, envy started spreading in his heart.
Emery felt that he did not have such a grandiose purpose as Julian. For now, all he had for a purpose was to protect his friends and loved ones from danger. He started to wonder, could this even be called a purpose in life?
Julian's determination to chase his dream reminded him of a certain girl who shared a similar strong determination as Julian. Gwen, the princess of the Lioness Kingdom, the princess bound to her gilded cage, who wished to see the world outside the castle walls. Emery wondered if fate would let them be close again like they used to.
Exhausted by their activities and the rowdy party they just had, they immediately fell asleep, some just barely managing to get into their own bedrooms. Morning came way too quick for their tastes, but everyone gathered together before walking outside.
This would be the last time they walk out of that place as a resident and they couldn't help but feel a little sentimental. Strange as it might sound, those rooms had seen their first meeting, their burgeoning friendship and many other things that made them get closer to each other. Now they had to leave this place behind.
While it was a little bit sad, perhaps it was a sign of their growth.
When they walked out to the main court, the five friends were surprised by a group of acolytes who had gathered, it appeared they all knew this was their last day in class 77. Not sure what these people were trying to do to them, Emery and the others started to feel cautious. But suddenly one of the acolytes started to clap and together they all followed.
"Way to go, Emery!" One student whistled and shouted amidst the sea of clapping sounds.
"Congratulations, Earth group!"
"You made class 77 proud!" One acolyte raised their fist and cheered.
"Give those elites hell for us all!" Another voice joined in.
This was surely one of the weirdest experiences they ever had, after all, these people used to look down on them.
Many of the acolytes in class 77 were those from lower realm worlds and witnessing Emery achieve success even with his subpar ability and lower world origin reignited their spirit. If a lower world acolyte was able to reach the final of the Magus Games with diligence and effort, they could too.
At the end of the line, Emery saw three familiar faces waiting for them. They were Zuna, Zaku, and Zidi, the three acolytes from Zalueo.
Zuna, their leader, came closer to Emery and looked down at the ground before sighing. "You are right. Us deciding not to stick with you five will be my greatest regret in my entire life."
"Me too…" Zaku interjected.
"Me three." Zidi looked away and said.
The three giving them a weird Zaiueo handshake and wishing them luck in their new class.
They have reached the end of the line, but the five of them still looked around, as if searching for something. They looked at each other and laughed, unable to believe they were searching for Magus Minerva among the gathered crowds.
"Why do you even care about that female magus anyway? She never really did anything noteworthy for us." Klea asked Emery.
"Well, you might be right, but regardless, she is still our first instructor. Without her, we wouldn't be able to take our first steps here." Emery explained.
"I can see your point…" Klea answered. "But she doesn't seem to be that competent of a magus. With our transfer to the elite class, we'll find a much better teacher. I can't wait."
The group walked together towards a nearby transportation gate and was teleported to a certain enclosed room. With the exception of the magus hub, this was the first time they were actually transported into a building by going to the transportation gate.
What was more, dozens of soldiers clad in armor stood ready all around the room. They looked as soldiers Emery saw when they first arrived in the Magus Academy. They were the academy knights...
While they checked their surroundings in slight awe and bewilderment, a familiar voice called out for their name in a cheerful tone.
"Aah, my favorite five are finally here! Welcome!"
Speak of the devil and she shall appear. The five of them simultaneously turned their heads towards the source of the voice, only to find the one and only Magus Minerva waiting for them in the middle of the room. When they looked at her, Minerva spread her hand out and said.
"Welcome to elite class! I am Minerva and I will be your instructor. Hehehe! Aren't you all happy?" Magus Minerva introduced herself.
"…"
All five only stared at her in bewilderment.
"Ah, I'm touched! Are you guys so happy to see me and now you can't say anything? Come, come, the others have waited for quite a while."
"The others?" Emery asked.
Minerva did not answer, she merely gestured for the five to follow her. They walked through a large door leading to a slightly smaller room where the other acolytes were waiting for them. When they entered, the others immediately stopped chatting amongst each other.
"Here, they are your new classmates in the elite class."
When everyone turned around to look at them, Emery started to see a lot of familiar faces, most of them he saw in the magus game.
"Yo!!.. Emery my friend we are in the same class now," the young man stared towards the other acolytes in the room saying. "Remember not to make trouble with my homie here. Or Gerri the Violet flame will burn you!"
Another group they knew well approached Emery and said. "Now that you are here, you have proven yourself to stand beside us the Kaleos."
Besides Anas, the Kaleos acolytes and Gerri, there were also Aiko the Jade Flash, Okoye, Roran's two men Lymord and Alara, Orycon the combat acolyte and also the goat half-blood acolytes Igor and Ivar.
Almost all in this class were all the acolytes he competed against in the second game.
Unsurprisingly, Emery also saw Micah and his friend talking and whispering amongst each other while occasionally shooting them a hateful glance. Among them, Emery saw one youth he thought he would never see again. This acolyte was leaning against the wall, he was Lodos the Maniac.
"Dammit." Emery massaged his temples. "Did they really put us all together like this? What are those higher-ups in the academy thinking?!"