Elena and Evelyn arrived in a building that at a glance, looked like a science and technology faculty. Although similar, this building was called a magic research building.
Without wasting any further time, the two girls entered the building together among several other students with the same objective.
"Eve, which lab is our magic research class in? Is that one?" Elena glanced right and left then pointed to a lab with an open door.
"No, Ely. That's lab two, our class is in lab one." Evelyn shook her head as she glanced at the lab signboard in front of her.
"Well, then our class is right next to this lab." Elena shrugged her shoulders a little.
Like that, they walked through the corridor and finally arrived at the intended lab.
As soon as they entered, they took a glimpse of the entire lab. It could easily be estimated that the magic research lab could accommodate over five hundred students. In that lab, there were many magic devices and alchemy tools too.
"Huh, the instructors are here, and there are so many students... This is the right lab, right?" Elena softly muttered as she realized the number of students present at the lab was over four hundred.
"Hmm, I think we're in the right lab, Ely. Look, My informants are there. Let's go over there." Evelyn pointed to four girls near a research table in the middle.
Elena didn't mind that. She just followed Evelyn until they got close to Joanna and co. As a morning greeting and courtesy, it was inevitable to exchanged greetings before anything.
"Nee, why do the students in this one lab look a lot more than our usual class? As I recall, the students in the first grade are not more than three hundred." Elena asked with curiosity after they exchanged friendly greetings.
"Oh, for that, Miss Elysia. Look at the badges on the arms of the students there. Yes, as you can see, the magic research class is a mixed class of first and second grade." Joanna pointed secretly, then enlightened the girl who had not realized it.
"Oh, so like that. But why a combined class?" Elena nodded in understanding, albeit her confusion increased because of that.
"..." Joanna glanced at her dorm mate, but the latter did likewise. They looked at each other for a moment because they didn't know either.
"It seems like the second-year students will help guide the first-year students in the magic research class on the first day? As we can see, all of these magic devices and alchemical tools need some explanation, right? We don't know all that yet, and the instructor won't explain everything. So, they might be here today as a study group." Betty only predicted it with her limited information. She didn't know the exact truth.
"Yes, the study group is right. My big brother told me before. The second graders will mentor their juniors on this first day. It is the same with the fourth to third graders, sixth to fifth grade, and eighth to seventh grade." Evelyn clapped her hands with a smile. She already knew about this combined class.
"What about the ninth graders?" Elena asked, and it represented Elysia, who also didn't know.
"Well, some ninth-graders will practice in the field and no longer study as we do. They are free and flexible in learning according to their interests." Evelyn shrugged her shoulders slightly.
"Hum-hum, what Miss Evelyn said is true. The ninth graders are at the end of the year. They have already studied most of the academy learning material. So they just need to prepare for a few things like exams and practice." Joanna nodded in support of Evelyn's statement.
They chatted lightly for another ten minutes until the magic research class was about to begin. Another instructor came to the lab, so today would be guided by two instructors.
The students sat in their free seats with their respective groups which were still relatively random and irregular. It was the same as the second graders who were separated from the first graders.
"Good morning, students. I am the alchemy instructor who will guide your magic research class today. Greetings, my name is Scarlett Lewis. Then, next to me is..." The bespectacled woman with the same hair color as her name introduced herself with a cheerful expression.
"My name is Joseph Smith. I am an instructor and a magic equipment craftmaster." The large blacksmith-like man with a rather unfriendly face introduced himself without the slightest smile.
"Yes, as you know... The class on the first day is a combined class of second and first graders. Your seniors already formed their study groups with the same number or even more. They will guide you in various things to facilitate the introduction of equipment here--" Instructor Scarlett continued her introductory and opening speeches for some time.
After that, the first graders were asked to make groups of four to six people. Of course, Elena and Evelyn would be in the same group as Joanna and co.
The group members were registered with a group form at the behest of Instructor Scarlett. The first graders' groups were ready, and the second graders' groups had also been formed because it was their group last year.
Strange but true, those groups of first graders instantly got a study group with their seniors. It was determined by the instructors at random as soon as the group forms were submitted.
"Who is our study group, Eve?" Elena asked the girl who had just returned from reporting the group form.
"Hmm, we're group one, and we're paired with group ten. Where are they?" Evelyn replied while looking at the paper in her hand. Then, she tried to find the senior group in question.
"Group ten? Oh, they're over there. Let's join them." Elena pointed to a group of girls not far from them.
"Uhm." The girls nodded in agreement. Then, they walked over to their senior group.
"Hi, nice to meet you. We are from group one, and we are paired with your group, seniors." Elena showed the group form as she greeted them with a lovely smile.
"Oh, lovely to meet you. Thank Goddess, we are a group of beautiful juniors and not stupid boys." The closest senior looked at the form and greeted the juniors with a sigh of relief.
"Hehe, I know you two. You are Elysia Avery, and you are Evelyn Mitchell, am I right?" Another senior immediately approached and greeted him. She possessed the aura of leadership in the group.
"Um, yes, that's us. However, can you please introduce yourself first, senior?" Elena glanced at Evelyn for a moment before answering that.
"Ah, how rude of me. Apologize, I was just a little excited when I met two kind-hearted fairies from first grade. Introduce, my name is Kyra Bailey. Princess Evelyn probably knew about the Bailey Family before?" Kyra greeted with an aura like a cheerful class president.
"Yes, I know about your noble family. You are Miss Kyra who once came to Ariatha Palace with your family. I still remember you even though I was little at that time." Evelyn gave a polite smile for formality.
"Oh my, you're still with that polite smile again. How many years has it been since then, hmm? About eight years ago? Ah, never mind, you've grown into a curvy and voluptuous girl. I'm a little jealous." Kyra wryly smiled as she looked at her flat assets even though she was one year older than Evelyn.
"Hehe..." Evelyn giggled awkwardly. However, only she and the girl beside her knew she was feeling uncomfortable for some reason.
Elena only glanced at Evelyn for a moment, but she didn't do anything. Elysia was aware of it too, but she was silent until the right time came. Maybe, something happened in the past? Evelyn got a little weird with her fake smile when she met Raylee too, right?
At that time Elena and Elysia were focused on Kyra and Evelyn. They did not notice a girl with glasses was staring at Elena with a doubtful and complicated look.
After that, the six girls from Evelyn's group introduced themselves to six girls from Kyra's group and vice versa.
"Hehe, you are lucky that you are in the same group as us. Our group is the best in the second-grade magic research class. Besides, we have the genius Nova May. She is the best of the best of us." Kyra happily hugged the bespectacled girl's arm.
"What are you saying, Kyra? I'm not as great as you think." Nova looked embarrassed when given the spotlight like that. Because of Kyra, there were eleven pairs of eyes fixed on her.
"Humble as usual. Yes, even though Nova looks a little less convincing, she is reliable." Kyra freed Nova's arm with relaxed movements.
"Wicked, after praising me, you are now teasing me." Nova responded shyly to the taunts. It brought light chuckles from the other girls.