Irritated. I was very irritated and close to reaching my breaking point. Students were now following the lead of the teachers and looking at me in funny ways. I knew it would come to this after my encounter with Brandon but still, I had the right to be irritated. After the weekend passed, it was now time for the last week of class where teachers would get a chance to go over the exam with students and assign customized homework. 

‘That means the results will be posted on the board again this morning.’ I didn’t need to go there to know that I would be first again, whether or not the princess was able to keep up again is another thing entirely. 

The  rest of the week passed how I would have expected until it was time for the closing assembly, this time with the whole school. Usually, the school is large and sparse enough to separate the year groups with the first years being the most protected. This is mostly to protect from inter level bullying that might happen. Once we enter the second year things become a little bit less insulated, though there is still some form of separation.

The first years were ushered to a different and larger assembly hall to the one we were accustomed to in our stay here. we were directed to a grouping of chairs made available to us. Before I could sit, I heard my name.

“Solis! Over here.” It was Brandon waving at me. He came to stand right by me and seemed to be in the process of sitting beside me. I shrugged and took my seat. In the next hour, different students I had never seen began piling into the auditorium seemingly without end. The ages of the students ranged from 11 years of the first years to 17 of the seventh years, the last of the basic schooling year. Above that, there were the university students and those that stayed on even longer for further research, but their numbers were miniscule in comparison. 

The occasion started with a basic speech that droned on and on about the performance of the students and so on. It went on like this before the principal took to the stage.

“Another year has passed in this academy. A group of powerful insightful wizards are graduating while another crop of new faces have seen fit to join us. The academy has gone through this cycle numerous times, yet this one is particularly special.”  He looked up from what I’m assuming is the speech card he was reading.

“I’m known to not mince words and this school has never been particularly generous in saying how things are, so I’ll get right to the point. First years, some of you may not know this, but from the second year on you will be segregated based on your performance. A to J will be the levels, and above that will be S. Every other year knows this as this is usually something left till your second year to be explained, but this year is different.” He put his hands behind his back and walked off the podium to stand right in front of us. 

“There are anomalies within your year, more so than in the other years. Usually, these anomalies will just be put into the S class and left to their own devices but……” He sighed and closed his eyes before bringing his index finger and thumb to rub his eyes in frustration.

“The anomalies of your year have anomalies among them.” He opened his eyes and looked at us. 

“Two anomalies, to be specific.” We all knew who he was referring to, well most of us anyway. 

“The first is Aurora, princess of the empire and the one who set the record for most exemptions in a year, surpassing even her brother, the previous record holder. The other is Solis Whitefyre of the Whitefyre duchy.” His face grew solemn.

“Solis Whitefyre, just within his first year, opened a whole new branch of magitech research with his first year runes project. What he developed was not necessarily revolutionary in its inception, he just took what we had and used it in a way no one had ever thought of. I’m sure most of you that have read it can understand what I’m saying.” He paced a little in front of us trying to think up what to say. Then he began rambling as if talking to himself.

“Also, it is not as if things such as the Whitefyre orb had never been created. The ancient high elves conceived of such a contraption tens of thousands of years ago, however, that technology was lost after the dragon elf war. Only remnants of such a thing remain and these are what are used in charging up some of the most important buildings in the empire like the royal palace and the academy itself and cost the GDP of several small kingdoms to buy. Similarly, some other empires and kingdoms use these remnants in such a way because of what it provides. Perpetual, untainted mana that can be used for anything. Many, and I do mean many, have been trying to replicate what the ancient high elves achieved. However, nobody has been able to come close to realizing this dream until now. Now, it can be standardized for production.” He seemed to come back to himself as if realizing what he had just said before coughing into his clenched fist to gain back some semblance of control.  

“Don’t get me wrong, the Whitefyre orb is nowhere near the capacity of what the ancient elves could achieve with their device, but it is a very good step in the right direction. I say all this to say congratulations, young Solis. Your work today has created a frenzy of innovation even I will not be able to understand till all is said and done that will end up with you as a very wealthy man. I’m expecting more from you over the years.”

The rest of the ceremony passed somewhat normally before we were escorted back to our areas. I was packing for my trip back home when I heard a knock on the door. I walked over and opened the door and lo and behold it was the princess. She handed me an envelope.

“My father is expecting you to come visit him for a personal commendation.” She just stood there for a while after saying that. Then she sighed.

“It’s actually my mother that wants to have a few words with you regarding your project being a researcher herself. There will not be any fuss, I’ve made sure that it will cater to your preferences. That is all.” Princess indeed, straight to the point and curt.