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Half an hour later, all the students of Brynhildr Academy had gathered in the Plaza of Beginnings.
Standing beside Ethan, were four more students, who were also chosen as VIP Candidates, who were personally chosen by the top Professors of the Academy.
Two of them were boys, and two were girls. All of them seemed to be around sixteen to seventeen years of age, and all four of them were looking at Ethan as if trying to discern his identity.
âDo you know him?â a cute looking young lady with curly blonde hair asked the beautiful lady beside her. âI havenât seen him at any of the wizard gatherings.â
âNo,â the beautiful lady with pink hair replied. âMaybe heâs one of those reclusive wizards that trains in the mountains.â
âI see. That explains why he didnât look familiar. But, I got to say, heâs quite the looker.â
âYes, he is.â
Ethan, who wasnât aware that the two ladies were gossiping about him, was feeling butterflies in his stomach.
The last thing he wanted to do was to stand out because he planned to leave the Academy after a few days. If people were paying close attention to him, wouldnât that mean that he might get in trouble if he were to leave the Academy without permission?
Just as the blue-haired teenager was wishing that he was back home at the farm, the Headmaster of Brynhildr Academy, Rinehart Eques, pointed his wand at his neck before clearing his throat.
This sound was magnified several times, catching everyoneâs attention.
Everyone stopped looking at the blue-haired boy, and focused their attention on the Headmaster of the Academy, who was about to give his opening remarks.
âThe time has come once again for another school year to begin,â Professor Rinehart said with a smile. âBrynhildr Academy has been around for nearly five hundred years, and has witnessed the growth of many young wizards and witches since it was founded.
âI donât want to bore all of you with a lengthy speech, so Iâll make it short. I welcome all of you, especially the returning students of Brynhildr Academy. May all of you have another wonderful year of learning, and may you grow to become responsible wizards and witches that will make this Academy proud!â
Cheers rose up from the students standing in the Plaza of Beginnings as they gave their Headmaster a thunderous applause.
Professor Rinehart smiled before raising his arms to continue his speech.
âJoining us today are the First Years, who will start their magical education within the Academyâs walls,â Professor Rinehart stated. âThe study of magic isnât just about learning more powerful spells, and concocting potions. True Magic is the magic that comes from everyoneâs hearts. For this is the unique magic that allows you to be different from the rest.
âAlthough the Study of Magic branches out into different paths, all roads lead to Yggdrasil. The Magic that had been given to you by the Great World Tree of Magic on the day of your birth, will one day usher in a new era of prosperity. Because of this mission, Brynhildr Academy was founded.
âSo, itâs fine to fail. It is fine to make mistakes. It is fine to feel helpless. Know that this is all part of the learning process. I promise you one year from now, when you walk out the doors of the Academy, all of you will have become a brand new, and better, version of yourselves.â
Rinehart then raised his wand and pointed at the sky.
The other professors behind him did the same.
One by one, the Second Years, Third Years, Fourth Years, also pointed their wands to the sky, as they joined the professors in signaling the start of the School Year of Brynhildr Academy.
âMay the Flames of Magic burn Forevermore!â Professor Rinehart shouted. ââEthan Principium!â
âââEthan Principium!âââ
The Professors as well as the Second Year students and above, all shouted in unison.
A few seconds later, a dazzling ray of light burst forth from the tips of countless wands, and flew towards the sky, creating an aurora of different colors.
Although everyone used the same spell, the colors of the light that came out of their wands werenât the same.
Some were white, some were black, others were golden, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. However, even these colors had different shades.
Some were lighter, and some were darker than most
There were even combinations of other colors, forming unique colors like pink, maroon, teal, yellow green, and the countless other colors that made up the colors of the world.
Ethanâs mouth gaped open as he looked at this amazing sight that he never thought was possible.
âM-Magic?â Ethan thought as his eyes widened in shock. âT-This is Magic!â
When he was still on the farm, he spent most of his days tending the animals. Whenever he wasnât busy, he would often read the Fairy tale books that his Grandpa had collected over the years.
These books had introduced him to the world of wizards and witches that flew in the sky riding broomsticks, as well as shooting magic out of their wands.
For the blue-haired boy, these stories werenât real, and simply a fantasy that was written to entertain people.
However, right now, he was seeing this fantasy come to life.
When the aurora faded, several colorful particles of lights descended upon the sky, and landed like snowflakes to the students in the Plaza of Beginnings, blessing them with the beauty of magic, as they embark on another school year inside Brynhildr Academy, where they would continue to learn the many ways they could improve their magic.
âEveryone, we will now start the sorting of the First Years,â Professor Rinehart said with a smile. âOnce I call your name, please place your hand on the Appraisal Stone. It will tell you which Manor you will be staying at.
âHowever, know this, the Manor is only a place where you will spend your days to rest within the academy grounds. It is not a label that defines you for what you are. No matter how powerful, or how weak your magic is, let your Heart lead the way to Greatness!â
Another round of applause reverberated in the Plaza of Beginnings.
Even Ethan clapped his hands because he felt touched with the Headmasterâs Words. However, after clapping a few times, the blue-haired boy finally realized what the nagging feeling that he had been feeling was ever since he saw the magical display.
âGrandma, I think I rode the wrong train,â Ethan said internally as the feeling of anxiety increased with each passing second.
He never thought that a normal farm boy like him would suddenly find himself in the midst of wizards and witches, who all excelled in the power known as Magic.
