Chapter 19: First Day
Meliodas and Tyka walked through the entrance of the boys dormitory, raising a hand in greeting as they passed Hermet. He returned it with a smile.
Liora was waiting for them outside, seated on one of the benches near the Fountain a book resting in her hands. The morning breeze stirred her hair gently as she read, completely absorbed.
Meliodas paused for a moment, drawing in a deep breath of fresh air before stretching his arms. The sunlight felt warm against his skin, the morning clear and peaceful.
“Morning,” Tyka said casually, lifting a hand.
Liora looked up from her book and returned the gesture with a small smile.
The three of them walked into the main building, it was suprinngly empty.
Tyka’s stomach growled loudly as his eyes drifted toward the rows of clean plates and abandoned tables in the dining hall.
“Are you sure we can’t grab a little food, Liora?” he asked, clutching his stomach dramatically.
Liora sighed. “If someone hadn’t slept like a baby, we could’ve eaten already. We’re late, Tyka.”
Tyka hunched over, lowering his voice into an exaggerated whisper.
“So cruel,” he lamented. “How can you expect me to concentrate while I’m starving? Truly heartless. Absolutely tragic.”
Liora and Meliodas both laughed.
Meliodas patted Tyka on the shoulder. “She’s right, Tyka. Come on, missing one meal won’t kill you.”
Tyka opened his mouth to argue, then paused. “…Probably.”
Meliodas turned to Liora as they continued walking.
“So,” Meliodas said, “Lake Class. Better than we expected.”
Liora nodded, a small smile forming. “Yeah. Better than expected.”
She waved them forward. “Come on. Let’s go.”
The trio walked through the corridors until a hanging sign came into view.
LAKE CLASS.
They stopped in front of the door, a moment of silence fell between them.
“This is it,” Meliodas said quietly, breaking the silence.
“Don’t be so melodramatic, bro,” Tyka replied.
Meliodas raised an eyebrow, but before Tyka could notice, he stepped forward and pushed the door open. Liora followed closely behind him.
Meliodas paused just inside the doorway and took a deep breath.
“Are you planning to enter,” a voice said dryly, “or just stand there all morning, student?”
Meliodas turned.
A familiar-looking dwarf stood behind him, arms crossed, beard neatly braided, one thick eyebrow raised in mild annoyance.
“Professor Bernard,” Meliodas said, surprised. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bernard waved him off. “Save the pleasantries. Get inside.”
Meliodas nodded and stepped fully into the classroom.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a voice thundered through the room.
“Hey, bro! Over here! I saved you a seat!”
Tyka was waving enthusiastically from across the room, one arm raised high like a banner.
The classroom itself was simple in design. Three rows of desks stretched across the space, each row slightly elevated above the one in front of it, creating a gentle slope toward the back.
Heads turned, first toward Tyka. Then toward Meliodas.
Liora immediately shrank toward the side, hiding from all the attention the two were getting, to no one's surprise Tyka's huge frame made for a good hiding spot. Meliodas only sighed softly. He had grown far more accustomed to Tyka’s… actions than most.
Ignoring the stares, he walked over and sat beside Tyka. They had claimed seats in the third row, tucked neatly into the corner.
Meliodas leaned slightly toward him.
“Was this your idea?”
Before Tyka could answer, Liora spoke up, her voice more nervous than usual.
“No…it was mine,” she said quickly. “We won’t block anyone if we sit here.”
Meliodas glanced at her, then nodded. “Good thinking.”
Before anything else could be said, a firm voice cut through the low murmurs.
“Now, now,” the voice said evenly. “Students, please settle down.”
“For those of you who don’t know me,” the dwarf said, his voice calm but firm, “I am Professor Bernard.”
The room quieted instantly.
“I will keep formalities short, please do not interrupt. Questions may be asked after I finish.”
A wave of nods passed through the classroom.
“Good. Then let us begin.”
He put his hands behind his back and paced slowly along the front of the room.
“Frist of all I want to congratulate each of you for entering the Western academy, this is no small achievement you should be proud, now as you can see, each of you has been assigned both a rank and a class. The class you have been assigned will remain in place for the next six months. After that period, new opportunities will open to you.”
He paused, as he let the information sink in.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“The Western Academy places great emphasis on self-guidance and personal responsibility. As such, mandatory instruction is limited to a single course: Straum Fundamentals, which you will attend for only a handful of sessions. Any further study is left to your own initiative, with the Academy library serving as your primary resource, or your selected mentor.”
A few students straightened.
“The subject will be taught by either Professor Elowen or Professor Adelion,” Bernard continued. “You may, however, also select additional classes based on your needs. For more information, speak to me after class, or consult one of the Hermet brothers.”
Bernard gestured lightly with one hand.
“As you are likely aware, there are currently four active classes within the academy: River, Current, Lake, and Ocean.”
A low murmur rippled through the students.
“Each class corresponds to a rank awarded to Straum users by the Orbis. These ranks are based on demonstrated capability, control, and strength."
A hand shot up.
Bernard stopped walking.
“I believe I said questions would be held until the end,” he said flatly.
The hand hesitated, but a female voice spoke anyway.
“What about the Sky Class?”
A few students leaned forward.
Bernard regarded the room for a moment, then nodded once.
“A reasonable question,” he admitted. “The Sky Class is currently not open, more information regarding the Sky Class will be provided at a later date.”
Professor Bernard resumed his pacing.
“Your ranks represent your standing within the academy. They are not fixed.”
His gaze sharpened as he looked towards the students.
“You may rank up or down depending on your actions, both within academy grounds and beyond them. As long as you are enrolled here, your rank is subject to constant evaluation.”
The room fell again into complete silence.
“Treat that fact with the seriousness it deserves.”
Bernard let the words hang for a moment before continuing.
“Now, and pay close attention to what I'm about to say, as you probably already know, none of you are considered true Straum users yet. You are, at best, initiates or, if you prefer a less flattering term, trainies.”
A few students stiffened.
“Do not mistake your assigned class for a rank,” Bernard said evenly. “You are not River Realm users or Lake realm. You will not be considered as such until at least your second year, regardless of rank.”
His gaze swept the room.
“Remember that.”
He turned slightly, continuing without pause.
“Each of you will report to me once every month, or your chosen mentor that depends on you, you will detail your progress, your difficulties, and any obstacles encountered during training. This is not optional.”
A pause.
“These reports allow us to guide you properly. They also tie directly into your first major evaluation.”
Bernard’s tone sharpened.
“After winter, you will be subjected to a team evaluation. You will be placed into teams of three to six students and will spar against one of the academy’s professors, team composition is your responsibility. But remember more numbers is not always the wisest thing.”
Meliodas glanced at Tyka and Liora. Both of them nodded, Tyka grinning as if the idea excited him far more than it should have.
Bernard continued.
“Failure will result in expulsion.” The word hit like a hammer, as some of the students showed faces of concern.
“The second evaluation will take place at the end of the academic year,” Bernard said calmly. “By that point, the academy expects each of you to have reached at least the Second Realm of Straum Manipulation."
No one spoke. A wave of nods followed instead, Bernard finally stopped pacing.
“Well,” he said, clasping his hands together, “I believe that covers everything you need to know for now.”
He looked over the class once more.
“Questions?”
A hand rose, shaking slightly.
“Yes?” Bernard said.
A fragile-looking boy spoke up, his voice uncertain.
“I don’t understand, Professor. Isn’t the second realm the Current Realm? But we aren’t even River yet, and you said we won’t be until at least our second year.”
A few students snickered. Quiet laughter spread through the room.
Bernard raised a single hand.
The room fell silent instantly.
Meliodas didn’t laugh, but he swore he heard a girlish voice whisper from somewhere “Commoners. I don’t even know why they’re accepted here”
“That is a fair question,” Bernard said calmly.
“The realms, though titles or classes would be more accurate terms, are River, Current, Lake, Ocean, and Sky. These are classifications, not internal stages. They are assigned by auditors of The Orbit and earned through overall capability. Raw power alone is not enough to advance.”
He paused, allowing the information to settle.
“The realms, on the other hand, refer to your internal growth,” Bernard went on.
“There are six realms in total. You are all currently in Materialization, the stage at which Straum first manifests.”
He waved a hand dismissively.
“I will keep this brief. Professor Adelion will explain the details later.”
Bernard continued, his voice firm.
“After Materialization comes the Flowing Realm, followed by Condensed, Pressurized, Integrated, and finally Embodied.”
He looked directly at the fragile boy.
“You are expected to reach the Flowing Realm at the bare minimum if you wish to call yourselves proper Straum users. Is that clear?”
The boy nodded quickly.
Another hand rose.
This time, it belonged to a broader student, thicker build, confident posture. Meliodas studied him briefly, the boy was clearly a Nobel.
“What about the sixth class,” the boy asked, “and the seventh realm, Professor?”
Bernard slowly swept his gaze across the classroom before letting out a quiet sigh.
“The sixth class,” he said at last, “is considered a myth.”
A murmur rippled through the room.
“No one has ever officially reached it,” Bernard continued. “But if you insist on knowing its name… it is called Cosmic.”
The room fell deathly quiet.
“As for the seventh realm,” Bernard went on, his tone sharpening, “that is not something any of you should concern yourselves with.”
He paused, letting his words sink in.
“The likelihood of even a single student in this academy, no, in this entire generation, reaching the fifth or sixth realm is effectively zero,” he said bluntly. “No matter how talented you believe yourselves to be. The world is not forgiving, and advancement is not earned through effort alone.”
He hesitated, then shook his head slightly.
“I’ve already said too much.”
After a moment, he continued.
“If you must know,” Bernard said quietly, “the seventh realm is called Authority.”
A chill seemed to settle over the room.
“I can count the number of known Authority users currently alive on one hand,” he finished. “And those recorded throughout all of history… on two.”
Tyka spoke next. He didn’t bother raising his hand.
“Why do you say that, Professor?” he asked. “Aren’t you basically discouraging us?”
Bernard sighed.
“Student Tyka,” he said calmly, “I’ve heard you’ve been sparring with Professor Kazzek. So let me put things into perspective.”
He folded his hands behind his back again.
“Professor Kazzek is currently in the middle stages of the Fourth Realm. I myself am at the early stages of the same realm, as are most of the professors here.”
A pause.
“We were all considered great geniuses in our time,” Bernard continued. “Kazzek was once the number one student of this academy. I am not trying to crush your ambitions,” he said evenly, “but the truth is that most Straum users will be fortunate to ever reach the Fourth Realm.”
His gaze shifted to Meliodas.
“Take Student Melioda' s father, for example. The Great Master Archypego. He is an Ocean-class master and has only just entered the early stages of the Fifth Realm. Even so, he is without a doubt one of the strongest individuals in the world.”
As soon as Bernard finished his sentence whispers started to fill the room.
Meliodas felt it immediately, eyes on him, whispers spreading. He flushed slightly but said nothing, keeping his gaze forward.
Bernard continued.
“The few Sky-class Grandmasters that exist are rare, and all of them stand at the peak of the Fifth Realm. As for the Sixth Realm…”
He hesitated.
“The only confirmed cases are those of Chosen Ones… or individuals who have manifested an Authority.”
“Manifesting an Authority,” Tyka repeated with a grin.
Bernard clicked his tongue.
“I’ve said too much again,” he said, placing a hand on his forehead and sighing. “Yes, it is possible. But as I stated before, the circumstances surrounding those cases are extremely specific and extraordinarily dangerous.”
His eyes flicked briefly toward Meliodas as Bernard continued.
“Do not get foolish ideas.”
He paused, then straightened.
“That will be all for today. You will be notified when your mandatory class begins.”
Bernard gave the students a short nod and turned to leave.
Before he could step through the doorway, a voice spoke up again, hesitant.
“P-Professor…?”
The same small boy raised his hand halfway, fingers trembling. “C-could you clarify the mentor system?”
Bernard stopped.
He turned slowly, studying the boy for a moment before speaking.
“Mentorships are an optional path the academy offers,” he said calmly. “If a student is accepted by a professor as a personal disciple, they are no longer required to report to me.”
A ripple of murmurs passed through the room.
“In such cases,” Bernard continued, “your mentor assumes full responsibility for your training. You may choose not to attend standard classes at all, should your mentor deem it unnecessary, if you secure a mentor, notify me immediately. I will confirm the arrangement with the professor in question.”
He paused once more.
“Any further questions?”
Silence.
Satisfied, Bernard nodded once and left the classroom.
