"We're here." it's only a quick trip to get to the Classicus, my grandmother's restaurant branch here near the academy, as my dad hum when the carriage stop and the door open.
We headed out of the ride and go straight in the restaurant which is crowded with nobles inside with the busy staffs doing their jobs and one old man greeted us.
"This way, your graces." the old man named Mister Dan who is definitely the one managing the restaurant lead us to the hallway on left leading to a stairway, we headed upstairs and went left to the corner, there are doors which leads to private rooms, it's for exclusive reservations.
I spotted Sir Orion and Sir Colin outside the door on the corner, both greeting us as my dad nod for them to come inside with us.
"Lord Dritan is waiting inside." Mister Dan said and open the door, as we enter and a large table with food as if there will be a feast, greeted us but there is a huge wall with another gold plated door that caught my sight instead of window from the other side.
"Get the rest of the knights to come in and eat." dad instructed Sir Ulysses who nodded and go while Sir Orion and Sir Colin look thrilled just seeing the table for them.
"That's all." mg nana said to Mister than dismissively who bowed and left.
"Come." my grandmother said as I did and dad go open the gold door, ushering me and my nana in the room.
A sight of another round table greeted me with food already waiting and looks like it was just served, the room looks extra luxurious with a glass wall over looking the view of the capital.
"I heard you laze around instead of reviewing before coming here."
"Ah!" I yelp surprise and turn to my left and look up to see my older brother, I already know he's here with his aura but didn't expect him to approach me passive aggressively.
"Brother!" I gushed jumping on him as he catch me swiftly, so used on how I always greet him this way.
He definitely grow taller and a lot more mature wearing his student council cloak, I'm only reaching his shoulder it's unfair, he's turning 17 this year, he only have a year left to attend the academy and is going to teach afterwards as a substitute professor in the same academy too, but he's still picking what subject he'll teach.
Other noblemen have their coming of age as soon as they turn 21 so he's still young even though he's close to looking exactly like dad, except brother have more softer facial features, no matter how scary he is to the others.
"I didn't laze around, no, reviewing is just too much for my brain, I couldn't take it." I said honestly which made him hum rolling his eyes funny and carry me effortlessly then put me down the chair on right while nana is on the left and dad is on the host chair, my brother sat next to me cross our grandma.
"I heard they made the exam harder." my brother said as I shrug and pick up my utensils, eyeing the ribeye steak in front of me that's already been sliced to bite size.
I automatically know it's my brother who sliced it already for me as I started eating leisurely.
"The exam feels like forever, I have to answer 500 questions in just 4 hours." I complained while eating which me my brother chuckle while eating.
"You didn't just answer randomly?" he asked as if he's so sure I wasn't taking the exam seriously.
"I mean, it's 500 questions."
I didn't live 3 times to not know things, and I only every read and study without a rest because that's all I can do, until nana involved me in businesses we have and newly made.
"You better pass the mana test then." he said, clearly doubting my academic test result that will be announced tomorrow.
"You're worrying too much." I muttered as dad hum while sipping on his red wine.
"It's alright if she doesn't pass, she's already doing well taking home study, I've been teaching her how to use her water affinity better than what your professors could teach." dad said while brother stared at dad in disbelief.
"You're coddling her too much, let her attend the academy-"
"As if you aren't going to follow around and look after your own sister, you're planning to teach at the academy even though you can just get out of there soon and help me instead." dad snickered which made me giggle while brother pinch my cheek which made me squirm while nana only laugh at the carbon copy father and son.
"Banter later, finish the lunch first, we need to be back by 15 at the academy." my grandmother scolded them playfully, as I continue savoring the delicious steak.
I had my fill, drinking the glass of lemon carbonated drink, it's a drink I invented after I find out that my grandmother have one of her mines, which has ores in it are still not used, one of the miner sent a sample of ore to my grandmother and our chef point out that it's used to make soda ash, they burn it to turn it to ash and combining it with carbon dioxide using alchemy in this life.
I took a sample and created a soda drink which almost made my father furious when I recklessly drink it without asking for someone to test it first before me to avoid poison.
Now we produce carbonated drinks, we even made our chef Mister Estelle have a revenue for that business after showing how to make baking soda, and that's how my interest in alchemy grow.
"I'll be watching the mana test later, I took my gorse with me." my brother said as we all finish eating lunch, I drink some water and wipe my lips with the napkin.
"Come with me, let's freshen up." nana said to me as I nod hopping off my seat and go with my grandmother to the door on the left, it's a comfort room.
Good thing there are cubicles and it wasn't an issue for some nobles to have no assistance whatsoever from their handmaids.
And our dresses are walking type, it's easier to move around by ourselves.
I use the bathroom cubicle in the corner and come out soon after, going to the sink to wash my hands and my face, I look around soon my grandmother come out of the other cubicle and wash her hands.
"Are you that nervous to dunk your face with water?" she asked in amusement as I just nod and feels refresh.
She use wind magic to dry my face and hands up which tickles and made me giggle as she hum chuckling and took us out of the bathroom.
"Let's go?" my father and brother both said in unison, while we nodded and get out through the gold door while dad escorted nana, and brother escorted me.
The knights are now waiting with bright auras, seemly enjoyed their fill as we all head out of the private room and head to the hall and downstairs to the backdoor to avoid other people dining downstairs.
Our carriage is waiting with a jet black draft horse with black leather straps and harness.
"Hades!" I gushed as the horse happily perk it's ears, looking at me as I pet it's head when the horse bow down asking for it with pure white aura.
"That horse almost attack Paul the other day, yet acting different when you're around." my brother said ruffling Hades' head who made happy noises tapping his feat as I giggle hugging it as it rest it's head on my shoulder comfortably.
"You smell like apples." I said patting his shiny and soft fur as the horse snarled softly and I let go.
"He was bathed earlier today and only eat apples for his meals these days." my brother said while dad open the carriage door and assist nana inside.
"Thea." my father called as I pat Hades head gently and go with dad and get in the carriage with him, while brother hop on Hades who both followed us at the back while the knights surround us with their horses.
A couple minutes of ride and we made it back to the academy, getting out of the carriage while brother proceed to the east side without a word with the knights.
Dad, nana, and Sir Ulysses entered with me while I immediately spotted Professor Rick waiting by the hall with other professors waiting for the other examinees.
Professors greeted us courteously with their purple yellow aura, as I let go of Sir Ulysses and I wave at dad and nana who both nodded while Sir Ulysses lifting his thumbs up behind again which made me smile as I go walk my way back to the hallway leading to the room at the end corner.
I entered with the assistance of Professor Rick as I get in the empty room, thank goodness I'm the first one.
"You're the first one to comeback my lady, if you don't mind, wait till everyone gets here and one of the student council or representatives will be assigned to assist the examinees in this room for the mana test." he said as I nodded and he left while I leisurely sit on my previous spot.
I hope it's either my brother or Sir Max who'll be assigned in this room.
Not long before the door open and I look to see who's the person, it's my brother who's holding a log book and fountain pen on hand.
"We returned too early." he said putting down something on top of my table from her pocket, it's a piece of candy wrapped in a silver wrapper.
I snatch it quickly, opening the wrapper and pop the piece of orange flavored candy in my mouth, while he sit on top of the desk and put on his hood that covers his eyes while chewing a candy that he has for himself, and checking the list he has in hand.
"Do you really have to cover your face? Can you even see what's on that list, brother?" I asked as he hummed shrugging and lowering the list and turning his face to me.
"I can see through the hood, it's casted with magic to make it not a hindrance with our sights, academy only gives the cloaks to the student councils, it's to make the student distinguish us easily and keep our affinity in check to not overwhelm the people weak with magic." he explained while I hum nodding and tapping the table.
We catch up a little, till he hush me and people started entering the room one by one, greeting us both while brother is checking the list.
"Raise your hand if it's your name." brother said and started reading names one by one without using courtesy.
I was called and raise my right hand while brother nod and I put my hand down as he carry on calling the others.
"Get up, we'll proceed to the Sectre hall." he ordered so casually and we all stand up, I can see the others eyeing him with a frown, I can tells it's for not using courtesy and not knowing he's the heir apparent of Wisteria.
I go and walk my way behind my brother followed by others, heading outside the room and going through the hallway.
We made it to the south wing of the academy, entering a massive hall that looks like a church and opera almost with the seats aligned and altar with a giant marble boulder in front, and rows of audience seats which are 10 floors in total.
It feels nostalgic.
I look around and spotted my dad and grandmother upstairs with the other nobles, but what caught my sight are Baron Birsha and his wife dare to be on the same floor as my family which made me feel furious and uneasy seeing their murky green auras near them.
I hate them really, they've been consistently trying so hard to approach my dad and my grandmother, even my brother who never really give them any attention, this is the lowest they could get, try to make the public think they're close to my family, to make the rest see them valuable, acting all high and mighty.
They're deluded just as much as their daughter who never stop sending me letters that goes straight to the fireplace.
That means Malina is here, she's two years older than me so she must be a repeater.
"Focus." my brother cut me off my anger as I look at him and take a sit as he turn his head towards where I was looking.
"They're expecting you to fail, they all thought you're still a weak child without mana." my brother muttered which made my chest tighten as I clench my fists and look down.
"Prove them wrong." is all he said and go walk his way back with the rest of the student councils and representatives.
I will.