Barton then started to talk about the changes in the academy. Unlike the Aclein Academy that allows all the students to pursue freedom in the Arcana path, Eternal Institutions was taking a systematic approach, for both Elite and Common division students.
It's like the school management will decide on which student should take what kind of path after analyzing their abilities for the upcoming four weeks. It is more advantageous for lower-grade students. However, the path of Arcana is a long way. Even a Lower Elite Realm Arcana Master would be able to live for two hundred years.
So, even if the higher grade students would be forced to start from scratch, it would only help them in the long run. At least, that's what the new school management thinks. Whatever system they follow at the main branch, they implemented the same at all the branches including this Aclein City.
Just like Azzy, several students hate to follow the rules other people set for their lives. Moreover, the higher grade students are in a rebellious phase where every restriction irks them. The auditorium was filled with murmurs, forcing Barton to stay silent for a brief period of time to let them digest it before he continued to speak about the next change.
"Now, here comes the next change in the system. Aside from Elite and Common Division, there's one more division, or rather, one class is added. It is termed as Class Zero." His statement caused everyone to pay attention to the stage once again.
Barton proceeded to explain. "It isn't some mysterious thing. Basically, it's just a similar version of the Elite division from before except that this Class Zero is a separate class of Elites nurtured by the academy where students of different age groups will become classmates. That means a grade-3 student and a grade-10 student will study together."
Everyone became curious and stared at the principal as if they are asking for more explanation.
Barton continued, "Class Zero or Class Z students receive enormous benefits compared to the rest. First, there's a fee waiver. Your boarding fees, tuition fees, travel expenses, food, and every kind of expense will be covered by the academy.
On top of that, per annum, there's a one million credits merit scholarship for each and every student. You'll receive a quarter of that amount on your prepaid card every 3 months.
Class Zero will have separate instructors who will only concentrate on teaching them. Every month, your seniors at the university will come by and mentor them for three days.
Earlier, I informed you about the inclusion of weapons training in the regime. Usually, you will be taught by your current teachers or other recruited experts. However, the students of Class Zero will be taught by Master Class experts.
Along with these benefits, the upper management has decided that our training grounds 1 which has numerous habitats and has excellent indoor facilities will now become exclusive to only Class Zero. I'm sure most of you, if not some of you, must have heard or seen the might of the robots against the enemies when our academy was invaded, a while ago.
Now, Class Zero students will have a special class where they will frequently spar with the robots that have perfect control over their movements. But, worry not. Even Elite Division students will also get a chance to spar them too."
Barton's statements about Class Zero didn't bode well with the students. After all, this isn't some kind of top academy where there are numerous geniuses around who can compete with each other for the place.
Most of the students within this academy weren't talented and don't have great ambitions too. When they heard that three divisions were removed and will just be divided by Elite Division and Common Division, more than half of them were hoping to get into Elite Division, thinking that they will get to enjoy the same perks like the ones who used to be Elite Division. Little did they expect that the so-called Elite Division is nothing more than a combined form of Soul weapon, Soul beast, and Soul plant divisions... Common Division is more likely to be the Drop out division where the students don't get to choose anything.
How does it change anything? If anything, it only gave the geniuses more preference while taking away their freedom in Arcana studies and the right to use facilities.
The more Barton talked about the benefits of Class Zero, the more the listeners felt disappointed except for some who were looking forward to getting into the class.
However, it wasn't over yet. The most important of Class Zero is yet to be announced.
After informing the students regarding the new class, Barton finally spoke about the requirements to get into it. And when the students heard those two requirements, they felt entering such a class is at the same level as entering a top university.
The foremost qualification to enter Class Zero is to possess a Gold Grade Arcana spirit, which eliminates more than 97% of the competition right away. The other qualification is to defeat a gold-grade beast of the same realm without taking the help of others and skill cards.
Only those who fulfill the above two requirements will be able to enter this special class. There's also a third qualification where their potential is shown by an analyzing machine. However, due to the last year's incident with Azzy blowing up the machine, Barton requested the main branch to scrap the third rule.
"F***k. It's so unfair." Someone from the tenth grade swore in frustration. Because it is dark, no one can exactly pinpoint the person but several ambitious people also felt the same way. On the other hand, others felt relieved that the requirements are very high. As long as there are people who will be on the same boat as them, even in despair, some people will feel happier.
Barton frowned for a moment but he tried to sympathize with their feelings and let it slide and continued while taking out a list from his pocket. Adjusting his spectacles, he read, "Currently, these are the students who proved themselves and entered the Class Zero. From Grade-4, Anner Light and Flora. Congratulations."
Two girls who sat next to each other stood up together with smiles on their faces as everyone clapped. Azzy was a little bit taken aback upon hearing the surname Light but he didn't pay much attention to her for she's only low-rank-2.
On the other hand, he heard this genius sister of the ex-vice president of the Disciplinary Committee. Matilda bragged about Flora a couple of times to him in the past. Even though he wasn't close to her and she wasn't what he would call a friend, she's still not a stranger either. Although Matilda took the same path as Snivy without even informing him in advance, Azzy felt he might look after her from time to time if needed.
Barton continued, "From Grade-6, Raven Passel; From Grade-7, Rain Nightingale; From Grade-8, Annabel and Larch; From Grade-9, Azrael, Lark Sandrou, and Gideon; From Grade-10, Mia Leveret, Claire Lefeuvre, and Calder. There are a few more exchange students who came to our academy from the other branches. Of them, five more will join the Class Zero."
For some reason, Barton didn't say those names, maybe it's because he just wants to show off the proud achievements of his original students. Whatever it is, the crowd was pleased with how their academy is attracting the talents.
"Now, the next important change is the introduction of bonus score, which is a precious chance for Common Division students."
His next statement drew the attention of students who were in the drop-out division during the previous year.
"Every Friday evening, missions will be posted on the notice board on every floor of the academic buildings. Each mission will have certain requirements to accept it and have a relevant score according to its difficulty. Upon completing a mission, you receive a bonus score. And those bonus scores will be added to your monthly evaluations, where you will get a chance to move from Common to Elite Division.
Unlike before, the number of students in the Elite Division was fixed. So, if a Common Division student gets promoted, then, the last-ranked student of Elite Divisions will get dropped down to Common Division. You'll hear the details from your homeroom teachers."
After Barton was done explaining the changes, the Orientation moved on to the questionnaire where the Principal gave a brief introduction regarding the second Awakening and the mutation of Arcana spirits.
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