After Greg and Vivian parted ways on an Academy path, he headed alone to the Training Ground in the Academy's eastern district.
It was afternoon, and the sunshine was pleasant, but the atmosphere inside the Training Ground was far more heated.
The circular arena, built from massive gray-white stones, was imposing and sturdy. Its tiered stands were now packed with first-year students who had just finished their assessments, along with some second- and third-year students who had come to watch.
At the center of the arena, the temporary barrier used for the assessments had already been removed, leaving only faint traces of disturbed magic power.
The crowd's attention was now focused on several enormous magical noticeboards suspended high on one side of the Training Ground.
The shimmering screens were densely covered with the assessment rankings and, most importantly, the name of the mentor assigned to each new student.
Most of the new students crowded in front of the noticeboards, craning their necks as they searched the lists for their names with anxious anticipation.
Once they found them, their faces visibly lit up or fell with disappointment. Then they hurried out of the crowd toward the area where the mentors had gathered, to make their first formal introductions and speak with them.
Greg, a second-year student, did not look out of place among the excited first-years.
He did not stop at the noticeboards. His gaze went straight to the other side-the area where the mentors stood.
Alice...
Greg silently repeated the name, quickly recalling the limited information he had about this mentor.
Shoulder-length, pale purple hair, a petite figure, and a fondness for oversized professors' robes...
His gaze swept over the mentors chatting warmly with their newly accepted students before finally settling on his target in a corner at the edge