After the transfer students from Starlink Academy and Imperial Academy entered the campus, there were no further conflicts.
Vice President Regis led them all to the academy's dining hall.
Inside the hall, Headmaster Aleister personally welcomed the students from both visiting academies before the entire faculty and student body. As thunderous applause echoed through the hall, the expressions of the transfer students from Starlink Academy and Imperial Academy grew solemn.
At that moment, most of them finally realized that they represented not only their own academies but their nations as well. They could no longer afford to behave as they had at the gates earlier—any loss of composure would tarnish their countries' honor.
Thus, both academies' delegations abandoned their previous hostility and adopted a friendlier demeanor.
During the banquet, they conducted themselves with decorum. The two vice presidents leading the delegations even displayed a touch of political grace, conversing with Saint Fusion Academy's senior faculty with such poise that many nodded in approval.
After the banquet, the transfer students from both academies were assigned to a dormitory reserved exclusively for them to rest for the night. As for class assignments, those would be announced the following day.
That evening, in the Headmaster's office, Aleister examined two thick stacks of documents detailing the transfer students. After some thought, he finalized which students would be assigned to which classes.
When his gaze fell upon the red-haired boy with the spirit Red Dragon Archfiend, and the purple-haired boy who possessed Shark Drake, Aleister paused briefly. Then, a knowing smile crossed his face as he murmured, "Perfect. This should make for good training."
The next day, as Alicia gazed absently at the sky while asking Yuui about Synchro and Xyz Summoning, Professor White entered the classroom with two boys in tow.
"That person…!"
Alicia immediately recognized the red-haired boy. If she remembered correctly, his name was Ace, and his spirit was that formidable Red Dragon Archfiend.
As for the other boy with purple hair, Alicia didn't know him, but something about him felt dangerous… as if she were facing a shark.
Yuui blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly. "Heh, talk about a small world! Shark Drake and Red Dragon Archfiend in the same room… their masters probably don't get along, huh?"
"Huh? Yuui-san, what do you mean by that?"
"Heh, well, that's a long story."
Yuui folded his arms and smiled. "Those two spirits are actually mine. Back when I created them, they were born at the same time… just in their embryonic forms, before they had any consciousness of their own.
"Even then, they instinctively disliked opposing attributes. Red Dragon Archfiend may be DARK, but it also carries the FIRE element, so to the WATER-attribute Shark Drake, it was immediately detestable. And, of course, the feeling was mutual."
"So they fought a lot, huh?" Alicia mused.
"Exactly," Yuui nodded. "They'd constantly brawl, and I spent more time breaking them up than I care to remember."
As Alicia pondered this, Professor White began introducing the two boys to Class E.
"Everyone, these are the two transfer students joining our first-year class. They'll be studying alongside you for the next three months—let's give them a warm welcome!"
Applause filled the room as everyone looked curiously at the two boys. They already knew a bit about Synchro and Xyz Summoning from their textbooks; however, theory could never match firsthand experience. With two practitioners now standing before them, their curiosity was palpable.
Aside from the new summoning methods, many were also interested in hearing about the other continents and nations.
When the applause faded, Professor White clapped the boys on the shoulders with a smile. "Alright, you two, introduce yourselves! Maybe share your hobbies—you might find some like-minded friends."
The red-haired boy, Ace, scoffed dismissively, stepping forward to address the class. "My name is Ace—Ace Rexus! One day, I'll become the strongest in the Axel Republic—the king of all duelists in my nation!"
The class exchanged uncertain looks, while the purple-haired boy frowned slightly at Ace. Was this kid ambitious, or just arrogant beyond reason?
For a moment, silence filled the room—until Alicia, seated in the front, began to clap.
Seeing her lead, the rest of the class joined in hesitantly.
Ace noticed Alicia's gesture and smirked slightly.
He found himself liking the blonde girl with the round cheeks. Back home, even after he became a Signer and summoned Red Dragon Archfiend, everyone—including his own childhood friend—mocked his dream.
To have someone applaud it, even once, felt good.
Professor White nodded approvingly at Alicia's initiative. 'Not bad,' he thought. "Whatever he said, at least she prevented an awkward silence and helped him save face."
Then, turning to the purple-haired boy, he said, "Nash, your turn."
The boy named Nash nodded, stepped forward, and said coolly, "My name is Nash—Nash Austine. That's all."
He returned to his spot without another word, leaving both the class and Ace puzzled.
"That's it? So cold…" someone whispered.
Professor White's cheek twitched. Looking at the two, he sighed inwardly. A hot-headed, arrogant redhead and a cold, prideful purple-haired boy—both problem children, through and through.
Still, since the assignments had come directly from the Headmaster himself, there was nothing he could do except hope the next three months would pass peacefully.
...
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