Walking back, he could catch Merency staring at him multiple times, but each time he gave her a single gaze, she quickly turned away.
The sun truly had already set, as the darkness of the night lingered all around him. Barely any lights shining anymore. When all the students start living here, it will be much more lively and bright.
But right now he was enjoying some of the peace. His leg had already healed completely, but his dirty uniform wasn’t fitting for a celebration. But Merency seemed to have long noticed his discomfort about the outfit, as she didn’t lead him to the great hall directly, instead stopping in front of a small shop.
Steven walked inside cautiously, but inside was just a single lit lamp with an old woman sitting next to it with a sewing machine.
A tailor? He didn’t have time to get his measurements before the ceremony happened. Turning backwards, wanting to ask Merency what was going on, he could find her.
"Don’t worry, son. This won’t take longer than a minute.’’ The old lady spoke, her voice not much more than a whisper. Staring at the lady, Steven decided to come closer.
Walking just in front of her. ’’I really need to go now.’’ His voice was calm, but his sharp tone could’ve cut paper.
As the old lady slowly rose up from her chair, she grabbed his arm with surprising speed. But his automatic barrier didn’t let her, instead sending out a small light.
"Sir Bright, could I touch your clothes for just a single moment?" She spoke while her eyes scanned his whole body.
Letting out a sigh, Steven deactivated his barrier, letting the women touch his sleeves. As a happy smile slowly formed on her face. ’’It will only take a moment.’’
With that, she raised her other hand, whispering something inaudible as the color slowly drained from his suit and even the destroyed parts started to fix themselves and change into something new.
And after just a single moment it was all over.
Now standing in a tailored navy blue suit with elegant golden embroidery and trim, worn over a crisp white shirt and dark blue trousers. There also was a golden crest in the form of a tower on the left part of the chest and a six-sided diamond below it.
A master in creation magic? Not bad; he was impressed by her precision, which he couldn’t mimic, or at least not for clothes.
"You can send the bill to our lovely principal," he finally spoke, not giving the old lady another gaze as he left her shop.
Stepping outside, Merency was already waiting for him; she too had switched somehow into an elegant blue dress with the same golden trims and a diamond on the chest next to the royal crest, fitting her figure perfectly.
"Let’s go; we don’t want to let them all be waiting for too long, right?" He spoke, only having thought about skipping the whole thing for a small moment to pay it back to the principal.
"So what is your connection to this commoner Lucy?" Merency finally spoke, her voice filled with anticipation.
"We just know each other from a long time ago, nothing more," he answered casually, watching her catch a breath of relief.
At last, the voices of other people could be heard from the great hall. The road in front of it was entirely empty, as everyone had already walked inside, except for a single young man who was crawling on the floor.
Steven had seen him before; he was one of the first people he had met just at the beginning. He didn’t even know how this man reached this place.
But paying him not a single thought more, they both walked towards the great doors.
As the hall was filled with multiple hundreds of students.
Passing through the masses, they all moved aside as they saw him, allowing him to return to their table on the balcony without any issues.
The two tables were already nearly completely full.
The second table was already completely full with the rest of the Diamond Class members he hadn’t met yet, but the first still had two open seats.
At the head of the table was sitting Edward, who only gave him a slight forced smile. To his right was sitting Lucy, and to his left was June.
They had been ordered after their position of arrival. And of course this Frostes girl had taken his seat.
Just as he was about to protest and force her away, the principal’s voice echoed. "Welcome, everyone, and congratulations once more for making it here. Please, sit down.’’
Sitting down at the number four seat just next to Lucy, Merency sat down in front of him. As she gave Lucy some kind of death stare.
As slowly, quietness filled the hall, and everyone sat down. Yumoth spoke once more.
’’You all managed to come this far, but some of you managed to achieve something far greater. I would like to call up a few people to the front for their achievement today.’’
’’Starting with Edward Eden, who not only managed to be the first to clear this path but also was the fastest person during the first section.’’ As Edward slowly rose, walking towards the ledge of the balcony, jumping over the fence, he simply continued to walk in the air.
"Secondly, towards Steven Bright, who managed to be the fastest clearing the second section."
Steven waited.
Surely Yumoth would call him up for being the fastest through the third section as well.
But the principal never did.
"And thirdly, towards Lucy Starpasser for being the fastest to clear the last section."
Steven stood frozen for a moment; he had barely wasted any time on the last part. How was she faster?
Lucy stood up beside him; instead of walking towards her, she walked to him and grabbed his arm, intertwining theirs.
And with a snap of her finger, the space around them began to warp; he could’ve escaped her easily but let her do it.
As they found themselves just next to Edward.
’’But there is one last person I want to congratulate.’’
A fourth? Steven had never heard of four people being called up.