†††
Early in the morning, when we finally reached the Academy 's entrance, several other breathtaking wooden beast-drawn carriages were waiting outside to come to visit the maze-like city structure of the Academy. So even if it encompasses a vast flat landscape near the coast, several more trees are present, indicating that it has the right number of beasts that could also be ideal for potential great outdoor hunting. So it not only shows that many people who are here could therefore live but also the apprentices and their servants.
While we are still waiting for our turn to be searched, Professor Strauss showed me another parchment of the academy's map. Upon checking it, the academy's structure looks like a huge box surrounded by a water canal with three small boxes inside. There are four gates in each direction on the first wall, through which every traveller must pass. It does seem to have control points in each of these gates, where each transport is carefully assessed by means of a certain wizard's mystical item called "crystal balls".
It is situated in the southwest region of the Kingdom of Darathos, by the sea, such that the inhabitants of the Fortress of Lunaria can have convenient access from their trip. As we followed after our carriages were checked extensively. Professor Strauss has shown a thin steel bar that he says is an evidence that he lives in this place. It is granted not only to teachers and students, but also to merchants and guardsmen entering and leaving the Academy for proof of citizenship.
He also mentioned that the sons of the lords were the ones supposed to take the position vacancies in the castles. Exceptions might have been made, but in fact, it was a question of who the mates of your father and mother were. Mages are different, though. They are selected as long as you have magical power. So, anyone can join.
"Fear not. You'll get your badge soon, child. As you can see, as heavy as it is, this is to ensure the safety of the people living inside."
The carriages are positioned in an extremely ordered manner within the next stone wall. In this wide area individuals who mounted their carriages will leave them for further assessment and walk from the first ground to the next where trade stalls and recreation facilities are situated. It's a half hour walk to the next ground, where I need to register for a building where freshmen need to sign up.
Behind the third wall, there are small meadows and pubs built especially for students, where students stay and sleeping quarters are situated. We have hurriedly gone to the next establishment for that reason, and Professor Strauss seems hell bent to find a way to put me to an assessment tomorrow. Even though I'm a little excited about what I saw, I kept walking before we got to the building.
Knights-to-be student dorms are situated in the eastern section of the ground, while mage apprentices are situated in the western sector. Ages ago, students were also in the northern and southern regions, however due to the decline in student numbers related to the conflict, they are not being used and maintained for future generations of students.
The deepest portion of the Academy's heavily fortified stone walls, which is also in the fourth ground, is the massive and ancient castle where the teachers reside, with the exception of the Headmaster who stays as the Royal Archmage in the Royal Castle. Professor Strauss has confirmed that he never attends the academy if there is no case at the moment or special need to regularly attend.
I let my sight marvel at the tranquility of the walls surrounding this academy, and I began to ask, "Do I truly belong here?"
As soon as we reached the inside of the building, there were only five people in the Mage apprenticeship Department, while there were 15 in the Knights Freshmen section. They might be here to register as well. Professor who left me a while ago said that I need to fill in some of the details that the interviewer requires, so I should be ready for the assessment next morning. Thanks to Sir Lyol's showing me how to write and read my name, I 'm sure I'm able to put it down.
"Local residents who would like to sign as a wizard, yeah!"
"It's a total heck of a kingdom called to hire little fries! Really unbelievably awful creatures!"
Overlapping conversation is overheard by the Knights Apprentices as they convey their frustration with peasants like me in the registration of this academy whilst waiting for my turn. The first two people I wait in line with look at with their eyebrows furrowed while the receptionist encourages them not to fight inside the hallway. But…
Despite this modesty, the young boy with orange hair laughed and turned his head and responded to them. He has a pleasant demeanour, and he wears a brown silk coat with dark green fur on the bottom that touches his knees with a white tunic and a golden neckline that indicates he's noble.
"Arrogant lower aristocrats like you should just stop showing your ignorance. We all know that you're only here because you're not going to inherit the sphere of influence of your family."
... and the chestnut colored hair boy continued,
"Learn as best as you can, boys! You're not going anywhere, you know!"
He also bears the same vest of dark green fur on the edge of his brown silk coat. However, his behavior is the exact opposite of being a nobleman. He's got this feeling that appears to be easy to deal with.
After the atrocious actions and the other group's hysterical laughter, they avoided intimidating our team and we started to agree to terms. We've finished our registration in no time, but we've been told to sit in the lobby next to the attendant's room until we've been briefed with our next assignments in the assessments.
Plenty of students are here in the room whose already completed the registration. Although the only two girls from our group are shy and are not conversing well, I remained silent but the two initiated the talk with us commoners.
"I am Pomell Von Grandine of the Great Lake Territory from the North. Rowan and I are also noble. I therefore apologize for what they have done.."
"Hey! Hey! Alright, I'm Rowan Veer Tybalt. Just call me, Roe. I really can't bear those kinds of people. They are indeed the brats of this realm.."
... and I am correct.
These two people are not the same as the other nobles who exude their names. I say, our former lord flaunts, but that's understandable to the morality of the citizens. Anyway, I don't even understand too much about the aristocrats. Yeah, who am I going to judge that, right?
"I... I am Theanisia. My sister here is Gloriana. We are twins. Uhhh, you can call me Thea. We are from this town."
"I am Gloriana, my lords, just call me whatever you want."
"Please." the boy with orange hair gestured to stop the formalities.
Even though they have bent gently, I can still sense their anxiety towards them. These two girls are wearing long brown dresses that don't go well with their facial features. I say, they 're both simply gorgeous. Thea, whose dress is longer than Gloriana, has reddish brown hair, while the latter has fiery red hair. Also, I suppose that since they were wearing the same vest shades, Pomell and Roe were named ordinary people.
The four of them are now gawking at me. I guess it's my turn for the introduction, huh.
"I am Lemu---"
"I 'm sorry for the behaviour of my groups' earlier. I hope we'll get to know each other better."
"...rr"
A beautiful young girl wearing a stiff-faced expression clad in tough leather inside a chain mail very much like Sir Lyol's. After bowing, she immediately turned her back, placed her hands on her chest and scampered back to her group of freshmen knights.
Roe, who saw my surprised reaction laughed and grabbed my neck.
"So, you're a bad boy, eh!" then he laughed vigorously.
After clearing his throat. He said, "Ahem. Roe, let him finish his introduction!"
"Yeah! Apologies. Go on, buddy!"
"I am Lemure. You can call me Twig. I am from the Southeastern part of Wilderfort near The Forest of Krane."
I, instead, lowered my head slightly as a show of respect for them. Roe, who's suppressing his chuckle, let out a big laugh that made the other groups glare at us with disgust.
"Pfft, are you really letting anyone name you Twig? That's rude, you know!"
I scratched my head and said, "Oh , yeah. people insist on calling me because it matches the definition of my gangly body back then."
"HA HA HA HA. I think we're going to be friends, Twig. Just don't forget to call me Roe only. Aye?"
He stuck out his hand and made a handshake with me. I hesitated because it's the act of both an individual of the same status, so you're only able to do it if you really committed to something substantive. He glared at me as he took my hand and squeezed it.
After three men entered the room, we stopped talking. They are grown men with black hair and a large chest, wearing a full metal plate suit. They 're frighteningly tall, and they've announced something we never anticipated.
"I am pleased to see the young Knights and Wizards taking part in this new era! We are the three magic Knights who are going to carry out this assessment! I have heard that there is someone out here who can take us by himself. I hope you younger folks will do your best and fight with all your strength! Now, follow me to the Castle Grounds!"
†††