Days passed by until it was already the enrollment day in the Magic Academy. There were dark circles under Luna's eyes as she spent most of her nights studying her magic element. Her once empty small notepad was now full of complex words and she even used another five to be able to write all her ideas.
She hurriedly took care of herself and dressed nicely than usual though it wasn't as elegant as before like when visitors came in. It was on the simple side to balance the look with her eye-catching white robe.
It was Akiro's gift. Though they had a bit of fight, Luna wasn't childish to even think of throwing this beautiful robe away.
There's no way she would not use the same robe she wore when her magic finally awakened.
'I can do this!' Luna thought.
The rectangular brown luggage full of her things was in her hands. Packing up her things was one of the reasons she stayed so late at night.
Although Luna suddenly paused, brought down the luggage, and immediately summoned her golden flames.
"I almost forgot!" She said.
A bright golden magic circle surrounded with flames enveloped her entire body. Then, her gentle golden flames healed her tired self. Her pale face came back to life when her rosy cheeks emerged once again and the deep dark circles under her eyes were gone. Moreover, her injured fingers from writing so many self-made theories began to be as good as before.
Luna looked like a real priestess with her white and golden colored robe and her youthful appearance.
After that, she made sure there was nothing left and finally went downstairs with her luggage. It was heavy for her but she could still manage to bring it downstairs.
In the hallway, Akiro saw Luna helplessly carrying her luggage which made his brows deeply furrowed.
'So it's the reason she is taking so long,' he said.
He took long strides and quickly grabbed her heavy luggage with ease and looked at her with his usual blank face.
"The carriage is already waiting for you," he said.
Then left her after. He decided to let her be by herself all the time since that's what she wants. Luna was not a dependent person like he expected. She just needed to do graduate and do it in one year. If not, he would not let her escape his sight.
Meanwhile, Luna silently went downstairs. She didn't think that much of Akiro. He's just a passing person she met in Vermillion and will, later on, be just an acquaintance without minding each other.
'Right, it will be just like that,' Luna thought.
When she reached the entrance of the mansion, two-horse carriages could be seen. The other one seemed the usual carriages of the well-off while the other looked like a vehicle befitting of a higher-ranked mage. There was also a unique symbol on both sides.
It seemed like he's going to the academy today too.
She walked towards the other carriage though someone called her.
"Lady Luna," Miss Zione said.
"What is it?" she said.
In the middle of it, Luna wondered when did they start calling her with the title of a Lady. As far as she knew they first called them with a 'Miss' in her name which was an honorific for a non-noble person in Vermillion.
"Your assigned carriage is the one on the left. Someone will be using that one," she explained.
Luna sighed. She didn't want people to know that she was acquainted with the rumored powerful honorary master mage. It would be bothersome when people started asking about him through her. Although a few knew about her living in his mansion, their number was nothing compared to the populated academy.
When she went inside, Akiro was already there. She sat opposite him.
"Why are we in the same carriage today?" Luna said.
While asking, she suddenly noticed his appearance that had a black cape-like that of a king over his lavishly designed clothes.
"I don't want to come from the mouth of others that I accepted someone as my future official student," Akiro said.
"Furthermore, this will be your new name. It can be permanent as long as you graduate at the Magic Academy," Akiro said.
Luna took the official document from his fingers.
'Luna Noir sien Mendelevinn'
'First name: Luna Noir
Last name: sien Mendelevinn'
Title: Lady
It was stated in that piece of paper. Although her eyes widened after reading a certain part of the second statement.
"I-I will be carrying your last name?" Luna asked.
What kind of culture did they have here? Her face was flushed though she couldn't identify if it's out of embarrassment or shock.
"Of course, as there's no other way to indicate your original name as they would be certainly investigating every country with that kind of name. You know what will happen next," he said.
"But I need more explanation. In my knowledge, it's only possible to carry someone's surname by birth, adoption, or marriage," Luna said.
Birth and adoption were out of the question but she wouldn't certainly want to get married.
"It was allowed for Master Mages and above to give their last names to their official students though would not be considered as an official relative of the family. It's only the name they can get," Akiro simply explained.
"So that's it," Luna said.
"Then where did you get the Noir," she followed.
She didn't mind having another name though her curiosity filled her mind.
"Just some passing name I remembered in my teens," Akiro said.
"And the title?" Luna asked.
"It should be for a person with sien Mendelevinn as her last name," he said.
"Are there more? Just ask away," Akiro followed.
The atmosphere between them seemed to relax after many days. It was perfectly fine to Luna as she couldn't handle the icy and indifferent expression of him in this closed space. She was fine with his blank face but not his usual ruthless attitude of a Master to his student.
Luna continued to ask questions while the carriage traveled to the North Village which was mostly known as the North Capital.
It took them a few hours to reach the village. The north was quite far from the south and this was the fastest they could travel while using the best carriage that used magic to speed up many times than a normal carriage without magic.
The carriage stopped once Luna yawned. She was feeling sleepy but it seemed that they reached their destination.
The door was opened by the coachman. Akiro went outside and reached for her hands. It was what she wasn't used to.
She accepted it and went down the carriage while having Akiro as her escort.
There were many people where they stopped. The dark-colored wooden door opened in front of them and was welcomed by a sea of people in different classes but they certainly took all of their attention.
'Why wouldn't they be?! This Honorary Master Mage was just seeking attention,' Luna thought.
Although Akiro walked like it was nothing and boldly took a seat at the very front. He even pulled her to make sure she wouldn't change seats. Many seats were lined up though no one was seating in the forefront except them.
"Akiro, why did you chose to seat here?" she whispered.
"Why would I not be? A master mage?" he asked.
Luna pitifully gave up. He seemed to forget that he's the only master mage, not both of them. She didn't know if it's part of the custom to accompany him here.
She just sat there quietly while waiting for the event to start and acted like she didn't hear their loud whispers.
-- To be continued--