Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur sighed before standing up and waving toward Elara.

All eyes turned toward him. Seeing him, they finally understood.

Elara's face brightened instantly. "There you are! A student had told me they saw you enter!"

Arthur walked towards her, conscious of the hundreds of eyes tracking his every move.

"Princess... There is no need to shout like this, everyone is looking at us..." He shook his head.

Elara seemed to suddenly realize the spectacle she'd created. Her eyes widened and she smiled sheepishly. "Oops, sorry."

Arthur shook his head again. "It's okay."

Before they could continue talking, a commanding voice echoed through the hall.

"Good morning everyone."

Arthur turned towards Elara. "The headmaster is here, we need to sit down."

Elara nodded eagerly.

Arthur returned to his seat next to Sarah, who watched him with a raised eyebrow.

As he took his seat, a floral scent wafted past him. He turned to find Elara sliding into the seat on his other side, her golden hair brushing his shoulder.

"Hope you don't mind," she whispered, ignoring the collective gasp from nearby students. "The view is better from here."

Sarah leaned forward to glance past Arthur at the princess, her expression unreadable. "Princess Elara," she acknowledged with a slight nod. "Pleasure to meet you."

Elara smiled, the gesture warm yet calculated. "No need for formalities. Just call me Elara. We're all students in here."

Sarah didn't quite manage to hide her surprise. Royalty asking to be addressed casually wasn't an everyday occurrence, even in the Academy.

"As you wish... Elara."

The name sounded strange without its title.

Arthur ignored the two women on his side and focused on the S-Class students entering the hall.

One by one, they filed in.

Five students.

'That's it? There are only seven students in S-Class?' Arthur thought, having counted himself and Elara with the five he saw. For the Academy's elite tier, that seemed suspiciously small.

Before he could reach any conclusion, the headmaster appeared at the podium as if he'd teleported there. Arthur felt no spatial fluctuation, which meant the old man had used some other method of movement.

"SILENCE!"

The command carried authority, instantly quieting every student. Even whispers died in throats.

Headmaster Moonshadow surveyed the assembly with eyes that had seen centuries pass.

His hair was pure white, just like his beard that reached his chest.

"Welcome to the Academy of Mera," he intoned. "For those returning, welcome back. For those joining us, prepare yourselves. This is not a school for the faint-hearted or weak-willed."

Arthur's eyes caught Professor Lucas Ashencroft watching him with a slight frown from among the faculty.

Clearly, the instructor had noticed something that concerned him.

"The Academy exists for one purpose," the headmaster continued. "To identify and nurture those with the potential to shape our kingdom's future."

"Some of you will fail."

"Most will achieve mediocrity."

"And, a precious few will excel, becoming leaders of the future."

The old man's eyes swept over the assembled students, lingering briefly on certain individuals—potential standouts he'd already identified, perhaps.

"This year brings unique challenges. Wars with the demons in the Northern Territories have intensified. Magical anomalies have been spotted. And yet, we persist."

He detailed academic requirements, housing arrangements, and disciplinary policies. Most students listened with varying degrees of attention, though Arthur noticed several B-Class students taking notes.

Then the headmaster's gaze settled on the S-Class students, and he sighed deeply.

"Unfortunately, this year we don't have the minimum number of S-Class students. Traditionally, we require ten to form a proper class."

Everyone stilled. This was unprecedented.

"Hence, we have decided to disband S-Class."

Gasps erupted throughout the hall. Even the professors looked shocked—clearly, this hadn't been announced to the faculty beforehand.

Ash Ashencroft shot to his feet. "Headmaster, this is—"

"Sit down, Mr. Ashencroft," the headmaster commanded. "I haven't finished."

Reluctantly, Ash complied. The headmaster wasn't a pushover.

"After consulting with the king, we have decided to create a special class combining the S-Class students with select A-Class students who have demonstrated exceptional potential."

The hall erupted in whispers again.

Sarah's posture changed instantly. Her eyes burned with sudden intensity, back straightening as if someone had replaced her spine with steel.

It was as if a miracle had descended—she'd thought she'd lost any chance at S-Class, but suddenly hope had returned.

"Elite Class will replace S-Class for this academic year only," the headmaster continued. "Twelve students total. Seven current S-Class and five selected from A-Class."

Arthur glanced at Sarah, who was practically vibrating with tension.

"The chosen A-Class students are as follows, Viktor Thornwyck"

"Liora Gilderhaven."

"Henry Stones."

"Teryn Blackwood."

"And, Sarah Draketower."

She closed her eyes briefly, a tiny exhalation of relief escaping her lips. She was worried that she hadn't been picked.

Each name sent ripples through the assembly. Arthur noted that three of the chosen students represented the powerful families of Caldera.

"These students will enjoy all privileges previously reserved for S-Class,"

The headmaster continued detailing the arrangement, but Arthur was already assessing the impact on his plans. The Elite Class would change the dynamics he'd anticipated.

Sarah turned to Arthur, something unreadable in her expression. "Looks like we'll be classmates after all."

"So it seems."

"You don't sound surprised."

Arthur simply smiled. "The Academy is full of surprises. This is just the first of many."

Before the headmaster concluded his speech, he raised his hand for silence once more.

"One more thing." His aged voice carried easily through the hall. "It's our honor that the royal princess Elara will be joining us this year. A round of applause, everyone."

The assembly erupted in thunderous applause. Most students who had already been aware of her presence, but there wasn't any official statement, until the headmaster spoke.

Elara stood gracefully, offering a perfect curtsy to the headmaster before turning to wave at her new classmates.

The gesture was practiced, elegant, and yet somehow genuine.

"Thank you all," she said, her voice sounding like a remedy. "I look forward to learning alongside you."

The applause intensified. Several students in the back rows stood to get a better look at her.

Arthur watched the performance with interest.

When she sat down, she leaned close to Arthur. "I hate this part," she whispered.

"You perform it well."

"Years of practice." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Now everyone will be watching me, waiting for me to fail."

"Or succeed," Arthur countered.

Sarah watched their exchange with sharp eyes. "You're not what I expected, Princess."

"Oh?" Elara raised an eyebrow. "And what did you expect?"

"Someone who'd use her title to avoid real work."

Arthur tensed, but Elara laughed. "If that were my goal, I'd have stayed in the palace. I'm here to learn, Draketower. Same as you."

Sarah studied her for a moment, then nodded.

The headmaster concluded the ceremony after giving the students their timetables.

Students began rising for dismissal.

As they filed out, Professor Lucas Ashencroft intercepted their small group.

"Azarel, a word, please." His expression was professionally neutral.

Arthur nodded and walked with Lucas to the side, away from curious ears.

"Meet me at break in my office," Lucas said in a low voice. "I need to talk to you. It's important."

"About?"

"Not here." Lucas glanced around. "Just be there."

Arthur nodded, filing the request away. Lucas wasn't one for dramatics, which meant the matter was genuinely concerning.

He rejoined the group, where Elara and Sarah waited. Neither asked what Lucas wanted, respecting the privacy of the conversation.

There were some boundaries even curiosity wouldn't cross.

"Shall we head to class?" Elara asked, adjusting her perfectly positioned bag.

Arthur nodded. "History of the Kingdom, right?"

"With Professor Aldergate," Sarah confirmed. "She's ancient enough to have probably lived through most of what she teaches."

Elara giggled. "Accurate. She was my father's instructor, too."

They made their way to the eastern wing of the academy, where the history department occupied an appropriately aged section of the building.

Tapestries depicting famous battles and coronations hung between carved wooden doors.

Room 12 was already filling with students when they arrived.

The Elite Class designation meant they shared some general courses with the rest of the first-years, though their specialized training would be exclusive.

Their entrance caused an immediate stir. Conversations halted, heads turned, and eyes widened.

"We are in the same class as the princess!"

"With the guild master?"

"Sarah Draketower? Rumours might have been right..."

The three ignored the whispers, moving toward the front of the class where seats remained open.

Other students quickly moved aside, creating a path.

Arthur slid into a middle seat at te front row.

Sarah took the chair on his left, whilst Elara gracefully settled on his other side.

The classroom was designed in the traditional academy style.

Single chairs with their tables in rows and columns, giving everyone clear views of the lecturer's platform. Ancient maps decorated the walls, and a timeline of the kingdom's history ran the entire length of one wall.

Professor Aldergate entered precisely as the bell chimed.

She was indeed ancient—white hair pulled into a severe bun, face lined with countless wrinkles, but her eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence.

"Welcome to History of the Kingdom," she announced without preamble. "For those expecting to nap through tales of dead kings, I suggest leaving now. The past shapes our present in ways you cannot begin to comprehend."

Her gaze swept the room, lingering briefly on the Elite Class students sitting together.

"Interesting," she murmured. 'The princess, a dark horse, and a Draketower. History does have a way of repeating itself.'

"Today we begin with the founding of Caldera. Not the fairy tales they tell children, but the blood-soaked truth."