When the break was over, we returned to our class to do the practical class. Basically, we're free to do anything within the range of options. For example, continue training magic or any physical combat training, sparring with other students, and many things. It's during this day that we can also compare our abilities with students from other classes! After all, joint class is not that free, and it isn't held that often.
The practical class took up most of the lesson hours during this 5th day. But no matter, it was fun! We could also observe the others' sparring, and progress. The classrooms weren't that lively—in contrast to the liveliness that could be felt outside. Since it was our first time experiencing this Day 5, most of the first graders ended up being observants.
Iris also followed us to observe everyone else during this time, before she left to conduct her own practical class, which is none other than craftsmanship. Taking this opportunity, she went along with seniors to experience basic alchemy! This is the advantage of practical class!
Meanwhile, Carbuncle excitedly separated herself from us and busily observed here and there. Being a dragon, moving around different school buildings weren't so tiring to her, so she also took the opportunity to observe the other educational level, such as the Intermediate, Advanced, and Master Level. We could also go there to look, but heck, the buildings were located separately! Also, we had no acquaintance on the other educational level. I guess it will be a different story when Alt-nii and his friends are going to the Intermediate level!
After we felt content from observing the others—by we—it's now only Kiri, Luca, and I. We decided to continue practicing our combative skills. I took this chance to try to incorporate swordsmanship and magic. We were also eager to try sparring—it'd be just like how we studied together under Luca and Kiri's swordsmanship tutor!
In the middle of our practical class, we encountered Alt-nii and Clavis!
"Alt-nii, you're here! Clavis-nii, too! ...where is Harvey?" I asked when I couldn't find his figure at all.
"Harvey is being Harvey. He's conducting his own practical class," Clavis shrugged.
"Oh, the same as Iris?" I commented.
"Iris, too? They're really childhood friends, so alike. Is Iris interested in blacksmithing, too?" Alt-nii asked.
"Blacksmithing?" I furrowed my brows and shook my head, "No, she's interested in alchemy."
"Oh. Harvey's pa is a blacksmith, so he aspires to become one, too," Clavis explained.
"Really? That's great. Now our group has both alchemist and blacksmith. If they're great, I'd recommend them to the royal court!" Luca happily said.
Luca was just being Luca, haha! He really took his role as crown prince seriously, which was a good thing. Come to think of it, he didn't really hear my conversation back then when I talked about my knuckles-hair-accessories hybrid with Alt-nii or Harvey. It was too brief and Luca was talking with Kiri at that time, too.
Also, speaking of blacksmithing and Harvey... I couldn't help but to think of the special knuckle/hair accessories hybrid that Alt-nii gave me.
At first thought Alt-nii accidentally found this kind of headgear somewhere and bought it on an impulse for me. However, this seemed to be custom-made, based on what Alt-nii and Harvey told me before. Alt-nii customized the design he thought, Harvey and his pa miraculously could make it out of Alt-nii's absurd idea...
"I think Harvey's pa is quite talented. Alt-nii requested Harvey and his pa to make Alt-nii's gift for me, which is knuckle-hair-accessories," I quickly gave a review of Harvey's family's blacksmithing business.
"Whoa, can we take a closer look at it?" Luca was even more interested.
Kiri didn't make any sound, but his gesture indicated that he was also interested.
So, I decided to take off my twintails and let my hair down—and handed the headgear for them to see.
Luca attentively observed the headgear, looking at it from angles and trying to understand the mechanism. Did he seriously start to think of scouting members for his future royal court from now on? Or don't tell me he's also interested in learning blacksmith on his own? ...Nah, the former reason seems to be more like it. He was only looking and assessing the quality, it seemed.
Suddenly, I recalled about the adventure class, guardianship period, and many other things, so I decided to ask Alt-nii right now.
"Guardianship period? Ah, when you're in S2, the students of S4 will be in charge of the guardianship period, so yes, we will be with you guys!" Alt-nii excitedly announced.
"Eh, really? What a coincidence! I thought the Intermediate students would be tasked with the guardianship!"
"I guess it's because the Intermediate students' adventure will be on different level. Areas available for Basic Level students have teachers in charge or other staff in charge, to monitor the happening. The areas for Intermediate Level students and up won't," Alt-nii explained.
I see... Well, I guess that's a different level, then. However, even if there won't be any staff positioned at each level, there would still be the emergency staff on stand-by, just in case. But I heard we basically would receive some kind of protective charm to prevent life-threatening injuries or any other serious injuries.
I recalled Carbuncle's way of addressing the adventure fields as training grounds. I guess that's true, considering the mechanism and protective measures being applied.
"Eh, isn't Alt-nii 3 years older than Lyra?" Kiri suddenly asked. He seemed to notice Alt-nii saying that when we're in S2, they would be in S4. That'd be 2 years gap only, not 3 years.
"Ah, we were in the regular class of Basic Level 1 for a year, before finally entering S1. I'd want to enter S2 immediately after having regular class level 1, but it seems that the lessons for Basic Level 2 are taught during S1, so we had no choice," Alt-nii explained.
"S-sorry for asking!" Kiri apologized in a fluster.
"Don't mention it! If you apologize, that'd hurt more!" Alt-nii chuckled.
Well, it's not that unusual to see the same pattern as Alt-nii. The majority of my classmates are already seven-year-old, either by taking a gap year to study privately, or by going through the same pattern as Alt-nii.
With my coincidental meeting with Alt-nii and Clavis-nii, we ended up doing the practical classes together. Apparently, since it was the first Day 5 of the semester, the students were asked to do warming up only, and they were restricted to practical classes or wandering around lower levels of the adventure fields. Therefore, Alt-nii and Clavis-nii decided to spar.
Alt-nii's weapon was still dagger, while Clavis-nii's weapon was actually a knuckle with claws! It suited his image as a wolf beastman. I guess when he's older and stronger, he can even fight with bare hands, as he is one of the beastmen! That's pretty cool. Ah, but going with a weapon is surely a plus, nevertheless.
Day 5 was actually quite long, but we felt like it was so short! Time passes by so quickly when you're too immersed in something, huh?
In the end, most of the students reluctantly tidied up and prepared to go home when the "going-home" signal was heard. My group is included, of course.
Luckily, with Alt-nii's prior experience, my parents and the others at home already knew that we'd be returning home quite late. Also, since it's a weekend break tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, there's no problem at all.
I can't wait for the adventure classes, and I end up imagining several scenarios in my head, about the future adventure classes!
PS: The imagination was also supported by the little experience and knowledge I had as Reinst, so my past life was also quite useful in a way... Yay?