“The Exhibition Match, better known as The Clash of Manors, is an annual event held during the first quarter of the school year,” Cassandra explained. “Each Manor will send one representative for their First Years, Second Years, Third Years, and Fourth Years. They will fight a round robin match, and the winners of the Exhibition Match will receive Twenty Thousand Merit Points each.”
“T-Twenty Thousand Merit Points?!” Ethan was shocked after hearing Cassandra’s explanation. Currently, he only had 220 Merit Points, and he already thought that it was already a lot. 𝑂𝒱𝗅xt.𝒸𝑶𝓂
“Yes. Each member will get twenty thousand Merit Points.” Cassandra shrugged. “But, this is just an opening ceremony to motivate the First Years to be diligent in their studies. At the end of the year, a Grand Battle between the Manors will take place, and the winners will receive Two Hundred Thousand Merit Points each. Now, that is what I call a grand prize.”
“T-Two Hundred Thousand…” Ethan was at a loss of words. His concept of money right now was blurred.
After getting settled into the Academy, he received an allowance of 500 gold coins a month.
Since he thought that this was too much money, he decided to give half of it to his Grandma, so she could use it to fix their house, the other farm structures, and equipment, which were in need of constant maintenance.
Basically, as long as one had Merit Points, they wouldn’t need to spend anything else inside the Academy aside from that.
Poor Wizards and Witches also used Merit Points as currency in the Academy, allowing them to have a little leeway with their finances.
In general, Copper, Silver, and Gold Coins were only used when one left the academy grounds.
“Wait. Earlier, you said that each Manor will send one representative for each School Year to participate in the Exhibition Match, right?” Ethan asked.
“Right.” Cassandra winked at the blue-haired boy. “That also means that you, Ethan, are the only candidate that your Manor can send as their representative for the First Years. Now, I have some good news, and bad news for you. Which one do you want to hear first?”
Ethan nodded. “The bad news first.”
Cassandra giggled because she had already expected this answer from the blue-haired boy who was two years younger than her.
“The bad news is that… it is almost guaranteed that the ones you will be facing in the First Year Bracket are the Pillars of the Academy,” Cassandra replied. “Langston Kerr, Lily Langley, Kurt Hale, and last but not the least, Nicole Asta, whom everyone thinks is the Strongest First Year in the Academy. Your chances of beating them are very slim.
“However, the good news is that the magical tools, and artifacts that are manufactured within the Academy can be used in these matches. With our Club backing you up, your chances at victory are no longer zero. Isn’t that great? You really hit the jackpot when you agreed to cooperate with me.
“Also, there is one more thing. Luna being the representative of the Second Years for the Dud Manor is nearly set in stone. Although she’s just a normal girl on the days without the full moon, her knowledge in using our magical items is second to none. It will be best if you ask her for pointers.”
Cassandra then glanced on the door and placed a finger over her lips.
A few seconds later, Luna returned carrying a wooden box, which she had taken from their Club’s warehouse.
“President, I got them all,” Luna reported. “But, I’m really not sure if we should let Ethan use them…”
“It’s fine, Luna,” Cassandra assured her Vice-President. “You know what they say, no risk no gains. I’m sure that Ethan understands this as well, right, Ethan?”
“Yes, Miss Cassandra,” Ethan replied.
“Just call me Cassandra. We are now business partners, so dropping the Miss is the right thing to do. I’ll also just call you Ethan.”
“Very well, Cassandra. I look forward to our collaboration.”
The red-haired lady then took the wooden box from Luna’s hands, and passed it to the blue-haired boy, moving her head close to him.
“Don’t forget what I told you earlier,” Cassandra whispered. “Luna might be able to help you awaken your magic. Make sure to ask her for help on the next full moon.”
“Understood,” Ethan whispered back. “I’ll ask for her help when that time comes.”
Luna, who didn’t hear what the two were whispering about, pouted. Although she was quite happy that Ethan was getting along with her Club’s President, she felt that the two of them were planning something behind her back, and it made her feel uncomfortable.
‘I’d better ask Ethan later what he and the President talked about while I was away,’ Luna thought. ‘I just hope that the President didn’t tell him about my embarrassing moments.’
Cassandra then left Luna to explain the details of the magical tools that they had deemed “not safe to use” by the students of the Academy.
Although she was a shy girl, Luna still did as she was told, and explained the uses of each magical tool in great detail. She also came clean and made sure to tell Ethan why these products were stored in the warehouse, instead of being sold in their shop.
Only when the blue-haired boy assured her that he understood the danger of using the tools given to him by Cassandra, did the angelic lady finally felt relieved.
“Call me when you are going to experiment with them,” Luna stated. “That way, if something happens to you, I will be able to call for help right away.”
“Got it, and thank you,” Ethan replied. “I’ll do my best to use moderation when experimenting with them.”
Half an hour later, the two left through the backdoor of the Clubhouse and headed back to Dud Manor.
Ethan had received many magical artifacts from Ccassandra, and he planned to Master their uses before the First Exhibition Match between the different Manors began.
Although his chances of winning against the True Prodigies of the First Years, whom he had accidentally become a part of, was slim, he had no intention of surrendering without a fight.