"Alright." Eli did not delay and followed Dean Athena in the school of academics office.
In the conference room, all the faculty members and the deans assembled to wait for the two of them. Every one of them wore a serious and even a nervous expression.
After settling everyone down, Athena presided over the meeting and she took an envelope before them. "The categories of the tournament are finally here." She announced.
There was a heavy silence in the room, it seemed like the announcement of the categories was a major event in the Farauld Institute. Eli remained observant as it was the very first time she was witnessing everyone in a panicked expression.
She was also wondering why they were this tense. Fraud Magic institute was one of the top schools in the entire Prasinos. To Eli's understanding, there was no reason for the deans and the faculty members to become this uneasy.
"As you all know, the Grand Tournament will be hosted by us in just a few months. The education council has completely decided on the matter regarding who will host and now what would be the categories of the competition." Athena explained.
"While we are busy rebuilding our Empire, the council were already deliberating on how to target the Farauld Institute as they saw that we are in no way ready for even competing with the tournament. Now we were driven into the corner by forcefully making us the host…
I am sure that all of you also expect that the categories that the council has selected were also disadvantageous to us.
Now we have no choice but to face this matter head-on. Because we need to fight, we have to fight. Regardless of the categories that were chosen weren't the school's specialty." Athena looked at everyone who was still nervous about the announcement.
She opened the letter as everyone held their breaths. When she read the contents, a flash of surprise appeared in her eyes before she changed her expression to calm down. Eli along with Dean Simmone and Dean Zeke managed to notice her sudden change in expression.
She took a deep breath and finally looked towards the Deans as well as the rest who were in the room. Then Athena read the contents of the letter.
"As usual, for the Research Institute, there is a selected area of study, as long as the subject matter is proven not to harm the society and our land." Athena first announced the mechanics of the research institute.
Everyone nodded in understanding. As research was an area that would be very hard to take advantage of, it seems like the council did not place any rules that would hinder the Farauld Magic Institute which was now renowned due to Eli and the recent releases of the institute.
Athena then continued with the announcement, "The events for the School of magic will still be, as usual, a battle of strengths for the devourers, casters, and summoners. There will be three categories for each event, however… Unlike the previous tournaments, there would be no segregation between the Class A mages to the lower-tiered ones!"
"Ah, as I thought! They figured us out really well!" Dean Simone rubbed his head in distress.
"I can't help but think that it was Vanderford who pushed this idea… Everyone knows that they boast of the high rate of A class Mages from their school as compared to us and any other institute in Prasinos!" Some agitated faculty members could not help but express their accusations and frustration.
"Sigh… we have to prepare ourselves for the events for the School of Academics. For sure they would not select the categories where our institute excels very well." Another teacher voiced out.
Dean Simone raised his hand to signal the teachers to pause as Athena still has to finish announcing the rest of the categories.
"Last but not least, the School of Academics… the chosen category for this year's tournament are…
Economics, Fine Arts and Music…" This time, Athena could no longer hold her composure as she finally announced the categories.
Even the teachers, Simonne and Zeke joined the blast of discussions over the chosen categories. Disbelief and frustration were written on their faces.
"Seriously?! Do they still call this tournament? They were practically asking us to take them on with their specialties!" Zeke exclaimed in annoyance, he could not help but feel bad with his two senior deans who were now in a tight spot.
"Heh.. might as well take out Economics in the category and replace it with medicine so they would be sure that the Vanderford and the Green Wave institute will most likely take the first place in this category!" Dean Simone lamented.
"I know right… fine arts and music… it was something that both the Green Wave Institute and Vanderford specialize in!" The rest of the faculty members lamented.
Eli raised her hand as she was not able to fully understand the situation as to why they seemed to have been discouraged the moment they found out that their Institute might lose in the tournament.
"Pardon my ignorant question, I would like to know why is it a big deal that we should not lose the tournament?"
Zeke was the one who answered Eli's question patiently. "It's like this Councilor, for the three schools that we have and every event we won will be tallied according to our rankings on each event. The material prize was not at all these emotions that we are letting out.
It was actually the main prize in which the overall champion could select two institutes and compel them to accept 10 students and 2 faculty members at most to learn the knowledge taught in those schools.
This would in turn allow the winning institute to learn the selected school's exclusive learning techniques, principles and ideas. Bringing them back to their own institute to help them develop. Is it not too enticing as a price? You get to demand a school to teach you the knowledge that they worked hard to develop!"
"Right, Councilor, their intent was really obvious! They wanted for the Farauld Institute to definitely not get the first place because they wanted to get the knowledge that you taught us!" The teachers cried foul.
"I see…" Eli nodded in understanding. It seems like the schools in this era had a strong sense of propriety in the knowledge they impart to their students.
Although it was kind of uncommon in the modern era because the government is usually on top of the decision as to what area of knowledge a school has to teach to their students.
"Well… let's not stress the matter of whether our institute will win or lose. Besides, whatever knowledge I have previously shared, there is no way that we could keep it a secret forever especially if it would be frequently applied in real life.
What is more important was the well-being of our students. We have to ensure that even in this unfavorable situation, their spirits were not weakened! That's our role as an educator." Eli then mentioned her final thoughts on the situation.
With her words, the deans and the teachers started to calm down. It seems that their emotions started to subside upon Eli's reminder not to dwell too much in winning, but to instead protect the student's spirit.
"The councilor's words are right." Dean Athena cast a grateful look at Eli for reminding everyone to focus on the right track. "For now we have to start selecting and preparing the students that would represent our school in each of the categories. Faculty members, you are dismissed."
After the announcements and a few reminders, the faculty members excited the room and resumed their duties. Only Eli and the three deans remained in the office.
"Sigh… this tournament will be harder to manage…" Dean Simone lamented.
"Indeed, although my problem is obviously heavier… for I worry about the number of students that I could send for the music category…
You all know that we have abolished the fine arts and music department and instead made it an elective subject. I am even doubting if we could even send 10 students for both categories!"
"How come this happened? Do we have a few enrollees for music and fine arts?" Eli asked curiously.
"It was because fine arts and music were the foundational learning area for most of the nobles, and so they find no value in attending the institute just to exclusively learn the art.
Moreover, instead of staying in the Empire to learn, they could go to other kingdoms that do really well in music and fine arts.
Just like the fashion land the Belizia Kingdom, the Vanderford which boast numerous talents in painting and sculpting and the Green Wave institute, particularly the Sirens and the Elves who are good in music." Athena explained dejectedly.
"We tried to sustain the fine arts and music department but then, no noblemen were really interested in enrolling. In fact, the students we have now were commoners, however, we ourselves felt pity for these commoner children because our faculty even started to leave to go to specialized schools!
We could no longer find a teacher to cater to their area of interest…
Therefore, we have no choice but to ask some artists and musicians in the Empire to temporarily take them in as an apprentice in exchange for the institute's sponsorship."
