A few days had passed since the incident with the vines in Blake's room and the ice in the garden, today, Blake was strolling around the manor and somehow, ending up at the training grounds. There, he saw his younger sister, Flora. Sweat adorned her features as she swung the wooden sword elegantly. She looked elegant while doing it as if she was dancing. A happy smile was on her face as she listened intently to Sir Okumura's teachings.
Blake smiled after watching for a few more minutes and decided not to disturb them. He left the training grounds with a bright smile and a proud look on his face.
***
"Blake, meet me in my study," the duke said simply before turning around to leave.
Blake sat there, in the library with yet another history book in hand, dumbfounded. He stared at the duke's back as it slowly disappeared around the corner.
Blake: What the hell was that?
Blake placed his book down before walking towards the duke's study. With a deep breath, he knocked on the door. A simple and soft 'come in' could be heard from the other side. Blake pushed the big ebony door open and there, the duke sat behind his desk, scribbling down on papers, next to him, Milford stood, holding a document in his arms.
"Come, sit down," the duke invited.
Blake rushed to the chair across from the duke's and climbed up. As he sat down, his legs dangled off the chair as he swayed them back and forth. The duke continued scribbling away on the pieces of papers as Blake only watched.
Soon, the duke finished and set his quill down, looking up and meeting Blake's eyes. The duke's yellow eyes stared into Blake's similar coloured eyes. The duke flashed a soft smile before dismissing Milford and guiding Blake to the rest area in the study.
"Did you want to talk to me, father?" Blake asked as soon as he sits down on the soft couch. Blake's father flashed a soft smile before he sat across from Blake.
"Always straightforward," the duke laughed before nodding, running his hand through his short green hair. Blake only let out a small giggle before the duke continued, "I would like to relay some good news to you."
"Oh? What is it?" Blake replied, his eyebrow quirking up in interest.
"You have been granted a scholarship to the Silver Edgewater Academy, they saw talent in you after the rumour of you unlocking your 7th circle. They contacted me this morning. If you don't mind, would you like to attend?" the duke asked with a mischievous smile on his face as he saw Blake freeze.
"Father, excuse my rudeness, but did I hear you correctly?" Blake asked, staring at the duke with a gaze that showed how he didn't trust what the duke just said.
With a chuckle, the duke nodded, letting Blake know that he was speaking the truth as he held up an official letter from the academy itself.
Blake's mouth dropped as he recalled the contents of the novel he long had forgotten. Silver Edgewater Academy, a historically built institute based on the friendship between the first emperor of the empire, Emperor Edgewater and the most magically talented elf prince, Silver. Emperor Elizabeth Edgewater, the first emperor was a woman. She accomplished many great things, one of which was the first to establish friendly relations with the elf kingdom.
Silver was the 3rd prince of the elven kingdom, he was the one who Emperor Elizabeth had befriended during one of her expeditions. Prince Silver taught Emperor Elizabeth magic, thus unlocking her first magic circle when she was 19.
The Silver Edgewater Academy had stood strong for nearly 900 years now, with Prince Silver still standing strong as its headmaster, it has and will continue to prosper as one of the top academies around the empire.
"I got... a scholarship... to one of the best institutes in the empire?" Blake asked, unsure. The duke hummed and nodded, placing the letter on the table and sliding it over to Blake.