The carriage came promptly, and students were encouraged to leave rather than stay to watch all the applicants cross the finish line. I was hesitating between staying to see the prince and the faun or leaving and potentially not being able to see the elf. I hadn’t seen what uniform he received, and as I was thinking about this, I remembered I had not gone to pick up my uniform after getting treatment. The saintess got her uniform quickly because she didn’t need to stop by the healing tent. Which, now that I think of it, is and was odd. She came close to the deadline with a giant flash of light and yet only had three scrolls and no scratch on her. I vaguely remember a big fuss was made when someone from the temple showed up. But again, my mind was distracted by my own business. I feel like I should have paid more attention to the saintess, but I wasn’t planning to get involved with her or even become friends. My entrance into the Knoles Academy was just to get me closer to earning recognition to expand my family’s small coven. That was it, and nothing more. Again, I went to grow lemons, but life had other plans for me. 'Plans' which I had no idea about until I heard my name being called by the person I least expected. Once I did get my uniform, boarded the carriage, and saw the few five-star ranks, I realized that I was the only one who got lucky with my rank. They were all from top families. I could tell by one simple coat of arms on their clothes. All royal, elite, and noble families have a coat of arms. My lack of one told all of them that I was a commoner who simply got lucky or showed off to get their name into a top organization, coven, position, or guild. I definitely felt myself become small. Apart from the fact I was clearly not one of them, I also didn’t smell good. A lot of them chose to let me know by sitting further away than necessary. A few of them also plugged their nose, and others made clear glances my way, but none outright commented on it. The reason was the nice gold trim on the uniform on my lap. Technically, I was one of them in the ranks of the Knoles Academy. As five-stars, we were better than the others, so it was up to me to clean up my act and not shame the top rank. Despite the school being inclusive of many races, there was still a hierarchy of ranks. The top ranks, such as five and four-star, could mingle with each other with no problem. However, lower ranks were expected to know they were not to think they could easily enter the higher ranks. For example, a three-star should not be in the five-star classes or the facilities specified for five-star. This will be important to remember because there was a certain three-star who practically went everywhere regardless of her rank. A few people let her know, though, and not exactly in the nicest way. This whole thing with the three-star student wasn’t any of my business until someone, or should I say creatures, made it my business. The ride didn’t take long after we were teleported in the carriage. Thank goodness for that because I was ready to jump out, as were all the others in the same carriage. But we didn’t jump out. We all had to step out of the carriage with decorum and grace, holding our gold-trimmed uniforms as we made our way to the front of the line. As our rank, we had the privilege of being attended to first, which felt wrong. There were other students in line waiting, and we just passed them without saying a word. They just let us, and it wasn’t from respect or admiration, it was simply from tradition. A tradition that quietly told everyone to hold their tongues and work hard to earn their stars. I was at the back of the five-star line, so I got to feel those glances and hear the whispers more than anyone. In my group, there were three other dark practitioners, which meant four of us rode that carriage. As we glanced at each other, we tried not to outright stare, we came to a silent agreement that even though we shared the same attribute and perhaps the same experiences of prejudice, we were not to gather openly. Many dark practitioners are born into a coven like I was into my family’s, and as I’ve said, covens offer protection, so it wasn’t a shock to discover all of them already were aligned to a coven. Two shared the same insignia of a coven, while the other had a different one. I knew one of the insignias belonged to a top dark coven that only admits dark practitioners. But I digress. The important part came after finally receiving the keys to my dorm in the five-star rank building, gawking at the beautiful architecture and high ceilings, and taking a nice shower, I headed toward the communications office to call home. I could only make an immediate call home in a power crystal because I didn't have enough mana after the test to make a long-distance call on the crystal mother had given me. Of course, I can still send small written messages on it that take about three or four days to receive, but this news needed to be shared immediately! There weren'tt many students in the communication office, which was not what I expected, I thought it would be buzzing with students trying to tell their parents the good news. Now that I think about it, most of them were nobles who probably traveled with their own communication crystals, looking glass, or artifacts. Plus, it was more likely they all decided to explore the academy in awe, which I did shortly after completing my call. The communication building is in the same style as the great hall except on a smaller scale and with more furniture. Mostly desks holding large crystal balls the size of a person. I approached one of the available ones, where an old lady with a light pink suit sat. “Where are you communicating?” asked the old lady as soon as I greeted her. In my mind, I instantly thought of a hag because they looked very old. Hags are old witches who have gained a lot of wisdom and extended their lifespan to be near immortals. There is a famous hag that I cannot name because I don’t want to summon her wrath. The lady at the desk was not a hag, they were a human named Leslie, according to her nametag. There’s a difference between witches and humans that I should point out now. Humans are mortals with no powers, no aura, and no mana, just their hands, and the skills they are born with. Witches are also mortals with an extended lifespan but not quite as long as elves. All creatures are technically mortal, but there are exceptions, like dragons who live such long lives they appear immortal to many. There are immortal creatures, but that information is top secret and not taught at Knoles Academy. “Uh, the-the west region.” “Sector?” “Uh-um, 313.” “Name?” “Oscuro Village, Noctur residence.” “Nature?” “No, it’s Noctur.” “Spell it.” “N.O.C.T.U.R” “Family crest?” “None...” “Calling reference?” “Um, vocal.” “Go ahead,” “An-daa-laann-daaa~” I blushed at having to hum a tune my family had come up with to receive communications. “Alice? Alice, is that you?” I heard my mother’s familiar voice come through the crystal. “Yes-yes, mother, it’s me,” I answered, and once I did, she accepted the call so I could see her. Her dark eyes came into focus first, then the image spread to reveal a heart-shaped face and black hair. Mother’s complexion is quite fair compared to mine and father’s, but it still makes me think of soft cream, the kind the cafeteria puts on hot chocolate during winter. I never quite paid attention to our complexion till I went home for the first time after meeting Emilia. “My daughter! How is everything?” She sounded bright and excited, but her voice lowered to ask the big question. “Did-did you pass?” “Is father there?” “Just a moment,” she moved away from the crystal and shouted for father to come. “ALICE!” My father’s face filled the crystal image. His vibrant green eyes were what I saw first, his olive skin looked darker than usual from potentially being outside more. I wonder if he kept himself busy outside to cope with his nervous energy. His light brown hair got in his eye, which he swatted away as mother told him to move back. My father has sharp and tight features, which make him look handsome. He resembles a younger grandfather, so they are always boasting about their handsomeness. I’m told I look more like my mother rather than my father, which both are thankful for. Their features, they said, are better for boys rather than girls. “Hello, father. You look tanned have you been working outside more?” “Yes, I’ve been trying to create a new type of amulet. Alice, please, tell us, did you...” “Oh, I well...” I lifted my gold-trimmed sleeve. Father was slower to get it, mother shook him when she realized it for him to see it. “I passed!” They congratulated me to no end and promised to let grandfather know as soon as he got back from his hunt, then they would tell grandmother, my maternal grandmother, and hopefully get a hold of my aunt Zazie, who could pass the news to uncle Alas. “Please tell Mr. Edward and Mrs. Wend,” Mrs. Wend is Mr. Edward’s wife. They don’t have the same last name because Mrs. Wend preferred it that way. Both of them are the only neighbors that endured being in the middle of nowhere along with my parents. “We will, we will! We’re so proud of you, my daughter!” Mother said with glittery eyes “Look at my daughter growing up to be a great witch. All on her own.” Father choked up at the end and needed to excuse himself. We ended the phone call with promises to keep in touch every other week on Saturdays. I promised and wiped my eyes as I hung up. “Thank you, madam,” I said before leaving. I didn’t receive a reply from Ms. Leslie, but it didn’t matter I still came to her the next time. Ms. Leslie and I didn’t become close because she was a woman who liked to mind her own business. I know because she told me constantly about my business being mine and her business was not to be nosy. She was one of many staff at Knoles Acadamy that I got to know throughout my stay. She retired a week before my practical year began. I didn't say goodbye to her since I was just a small pebble who appeared in her path, who she didn’t dislike, and who understood to mind my business just like she did. Aside from my family, there weren’t many adults, up to this point, who had made a big impression on my life. I have met some good people, some bad, and some who I never quite figured out. But that all comes with growing up, doesn’t it? Most of my growing up happened outside of the home during what many call their Academy days, the period when you go to school or live under the school's name before you turn twenty. Basically, the time before you are considered an adult. My road to adulthood has been... something... not all good, but not all bad.