The Inauspicious Route to my Happy Ending

Mikyle found himself smirking just thinking about the situation Caleb had found himself in. A boy who had been interested in one of the girls that Caleb had been two-timing just happened to see the photos as he was passing by and told the girl about them. It's safe to assume that Caleb Brown won't be able to find a romantic partner for the time being.

"Just let me know who the sorry sap is so that I can dig dirt up on their family in case of any retaliation," his brother, Nathaniel, advised.

Mikyle looked at Nathaniel and Lianna as if he had been betrayed. "Is there no trust?"

Nathaniel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course we trust you, brother."

"But we also know how you are," Lianna finished for Nathaniel.

Before Mikyle could say anything to defend himself, the lights pointing at the stage brightened and the Headmaster walked up to the podium that had been placed on it.

Headmaster Bailey was an elderly man with bushy gray eyebrows and a beard to match. His green eyes were vibrant and the only thing youthful about the man. "It is a new day and a new year for both old and new faces. I and the staff give a warm welcome to everyone and we thank you for selecting Tris Academy as your school," the Headmaster began his welcoming speech.

Lianna leaned over to Nathaniel and whispered just loud enough for Mikyle to hear her. "The school always provides free food. Shall we eat there today?"

"Whatever you want," Nathaniel readily agreed.

Mikyle glanced down into the first floor seats, easily spotting the person who had caught his attention just a few moments ago. "Sure," he answered, a smirk splayed across his lips.

* * * *

Adrien listened intently as he watched the Headmaster-a man who closely resembled someone from those Chinese Cultivation novels that Seo-ah had been into for a short time when they had become so popular that they had spread to South Korea. The elderly man was just finishing up the introductory speech for the new school year.

"First-years who are in the Arts Department, your advisor will be Doctor Selma Lee." Headmaster Bailey waved his hand to indicate a middle-aged woman with long, frizzy brown hair tied up into a high ponytail. She had large, lake-brown eyes, and freckles adorned her face. "First-years who are in the Physical Department, your advisor will be Ethan Talbot." The Headmaster then gestured to a tall and burly man with short, curly brown hair and stormy-gray eyes. There was a long scar crossing the man's neck and disappearing down his shirt. "Everyone may be excused except for the first years. First-years, please stay behind so that your advisors may test your mana capacity and hand you the schedule for your classes."

Quite a few people stood up, and Adrien noticed that the twins were among them. Adrien stayed seated as he looked around him to see who were first years like him.

Looking around, he found that more students had stayed then left. Are some of the older students staying behind to see who is in which department? To prove his theory, Adrien looked behind him, glancing up into the third row. He knew that those three were older students, so if they were still there, then that meant that other older students had stayed behind as well.

Sitting up in the third row were three familiar faces. Both the princes and Lianna Silva were intently watching the stage below them, anticipating the events that were to unfold. Red eyes locked onto his. Adrien's back stiffened, though that didn't stop him from hurriedly turning back to facing forward.

Hmm? Why am I acting this way? I shouldn't be this nervous just from being stared at, even if the other person is ridiculously good-looking. Is this nervousness stemming from me or the Original Adrien?

"Those enrolled in the Arts Department, please come forward." Two faculty members disappeared offstage at the Headmaster's words.

Adrien sighed in relief at the Headmaster's voice. He stood up and made his way down to the stage with the other first years.

The two faculty members came back, each pushing a cart. One cart held a crystal ball, one that Adrien recognized as being a Mana Capacity Tester. The other cart held two fairly large stack of papers.

Once they were lined up on the stage, Dr. Lee came forward. The petite woman was holding a list in her hand, which she began calling forth names from it.

"Lady Aefre Ceciles."

A girl with shoulder-length icy-blonde hair, and large, upturned eyes that were aqua in color stepped forward. Below her petite, upturned nose, just at the corner of her left upper lip, was a small beauty mark.

Dr. Lee pointed to the glass orb that had been rolled out onto stage when the first years were making their way to it. "Please place your hand here and concentrate your Mana into it."

Lady Ceciles placed a gloved hand onto the crystal. A blue light shimmered around her before filling up the crystal ball, making it look like a sparkling ocean on a clear summer's day.

Dr. Redna gave a brief nod of her head. She then picked up the top paper from the left stack and handed it to Lady Ceciles. "Here is your class schedule. You are free to leave the concert hall or you may stay if you wish to observe."

After Lady Ceciles left, Dr. Lee called out the next name. "Lord James Wulfric."

A boy with dull black hair, and downturned eyes that were a greenish-yellow in color came forward. He placed his palm on the surface of the glass orb. The center of the orb filled with white, mini tornadoes; five in total.

Adrien realized that this was a formality just to see if anyone's Mana capacity had changed since they had last been tested. It was required for all nobles to be tested at the age of ten, then again five months before they turn seventeen.

Six more names were called before Adrien heard his own name being called. He stepped forward and placed a hand on the glass' cool surface. He felt his Mana pouring out of him, far easier than when he tried calling upon it during practice. The bottom half of the Mana Capacity Tester filled with a cyan-blue color, similar to the color of his eyes.

Is it only halfway filled because I don't possess a lot of Mana? Or is it because I don't have enough control?

Adrien removed his hand from the surface of the glass, amazed that it had grown colder to the touch after he had infused some of his Mana into it.

Dr. Lee handed his schedule to him. Adrien left the stage before he flipped it over. After memorizing it, he decided to head to the Academy store to pick up whatever books he'll need for his classes.

Tomorrow, I'll finally be able to fill in the gaps in my knowledge of this world. Today counted as the first day for students attending Tris Academy, but the first official day when classes started wasn't until tomorrow.

Once he acquired all the books and other materials, he decided to head to the Academy's cafeteria. During the speech, the Headmaster had mentioned that the cafeteria will be providing a free course for those who wished to eat there.

The cafeteria normally charges around seventy Shekel for a full-course meal and free refills on drinks. The canteens in each of the dorms also cost money for food and drinks. The tea that Adrien liked to drink cost him fifteen shekel for every cup.

He found the cafeteria with ease and grabbed something quick to eat. There had been three different courses to choose from for the day. Adrien had chosen the seafood course since he hadn't had any in the two weeks since he had been in this world. He sat down at an empty table and ate in silence.