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The Brakebills Academy.
A prestigious school situated in the middle of the southern continent. Having fame throughout the whole world, because of its top-quality faculty and education. But the main reason was something else entirely.
It was the first and only established school directly affiliated with the churches of all 5 gods.
The Brakebills academy offered major and minor degrees for several courses. Providing room for higher studies, if you wished for it.
Due to its global infamy and luxurious prestige. It was very difficult to get admission into the school. Especially if you are not a high-ranking member of society.
The school boasted to be the largest infrastructure in the whole world. And its enormous size and several floors were living proof of that. The students of Black bills also enjoy several privileges in every field they took part in, unbeknownst to any other students in other schools.
As the wind blew past the giant infrastructure, making its way through every gap and corner to the terrace, brushing through her serene face.
A beautiful girl, standing all alone at the very end of the terrace of the world's largest and most prestigious school, looking over the tiny figures of humans on the ground with a calming expression.
Her blue eyes glistened in the striking light of the scorching sun. She lifted her head to the unending blue sky, pushing back her flowing silky black hair.
She was wearing the applied school uniform. The combination of blue and white enhanced her beauty to its utmost, as she focused her eyes on the sky, mumbling in a somber voice.
".....I am 15 as of today"
The girl sighed to herself looking around the empty terrace. Her 15th birthday away from her loving family. She gazed past the busy school ground, before moving down the stairs to the lower floors.
On every floor she crossed, she always attracted unwanted attention. Perhaps it was her beauty that attracted them or the most likely other option, her fame.
'....This is the most annoying part'
Even though she was almost used to it, after experiencing the same thing over years. It never felt any less annoying.
She graciously ignored every person gawking at her. Moving slowly in between them to the outer part of the giant school. To where her dorm room was. She just wanted to rest for now.
"Yulia! I was looking all over for you. Where have you been all this time?"
A girl with green hair appeared in front of Yulia with a shaky smile, her face drained. The green-haired girl took a tired breath, collecting herself. Before grabbing and dragging Yulia's body inside the dorm room.
"I am home."
The dorm room was neither as prestigious as school nor that large either.
It had a bookshelf on the left wall with a table and chair just below it. A window right opposite to the door. Along with a bed near the opened window. Even though it was Yulia's preference with a little restroom attached to the right side of the wall.
Yulia's eyes followed through the several little balloons and decorations hanging through the ceiling, finally stopping at her bed near the window. The 15 flaming candles over a red velvet cake.
POOF
"Happy birthday! Yulia"
The girl emerged from behind her. An honest and caring smile gave on her brightened face, as she extended her hands demanding a hug.
"Thank you, Zaida. I can't explain how happy I am right now."
Yulia replied, hugging her green-haired friend with all of his might until Zaida started tapping on her shoulder, choking for air.
"...You should really do something about that brutish strength of yours."
Zaida sat on the bed, her eyes following the sky outside of the window.
"So? Princess. You are 15, huh? I think you should thank your fate dearly. For giving you a such a wonderful and caring friend like me"
"Yeah! Yeah! I am very grateful"
Yulia replied. She tried to sound annoyed but her voice betrayed the traces of joy she felt after a long time. It's been several years since someone celebrated her birthday for her.
"....I really am"
She dropped her head, mumbling in barely a whisper.
"Okay… Let's not dampen the mood. Today is a happy day. Now blow the damn candles and give me my cake back"
Yulia's expression took a complete turn, hearing her friend's stupid remark. She sighed, staring at Zaida with an emotion that can only be described as pity.
She blew out the candles on the cake, as her only friend clapped for her. They ate the cake together chatting about various mundane and important things.
"...So? When is your next meeting with your family? Are they okay?"
Zaida asked Yulia with an uneasy tone. Her eyes darted everywhere in the room, fearing for the worst outcome.
"....They are okay….For now at least. They had promised me I could meet them after every 3 months of training. And as for my big brother.....there is still no news about my brother. They only know he is somewhere in the northern continent. Either alive or dead"
The room went silent for some time, as Zaida watched her friend's drooping expression.
"....Is there still no form of contact from your brother?"
"No. I tried magic letters, normal letters, adventurers guild, and every remaining possible way to contact him. But It never worked out…..I am not sure if he is even alive anymore"
Zaida thought for a few moments, before asking in a somewhat fearful voice.
"....I am sorry for asking this. But still! Do you think, by any chance, he abandoned you all alone here?"
Yulia's eyes widened with horror. Taking a deep breath she replied in a myoclonic voice, hiding her expression from Zaida.
"No! Alan will never abandon any of us."
Yulia suddenly replied, raising her voice.
"He might not be the greatest person in terms of personality. Beating up every snot-nosed church's kid just for the thrill of it. Always creating more problems for our parents. But, I could never deny the fact. He surely was the best big brother any person can ever have"
Yulia's tone became lighthearted by the last sentence, as she talked on and on about her brother. Her longing eyes looked out of the window as if to look for a ghost of the past.
Zaida smirked suddenly, slapping Yulia on her shoulder-
"It seems our saint is a Brocon…Oh those guys are going to be so much disappointed if they hear this"
The next day came and Yulia was getting ready for school. She took a bath first thing in the morning, getting ready for class and the extended training. But first came breakfast.
"Hey princess. How is it going today?"
She found her only friend at the cafeteria, sitting alone at one of the tables in the cafeteria.
"You are on time today, how?…. What is so special today? That even someone like you woke up early"
"Oh my! Yulia. Don't tell me you forgot about the sweet day. I don't want to wait in line to get them. So, I just woke up 2 hours early"
Zaida replied crunching o the chocolate with her teeth painted black due to the chocolate, her mouth full of food.
"....Figures"
Yulia stated, eating her breakfast in silence. Trying to ignore every eye in the cafeteria that fell on her.
'.....At least let me eat in peace'
Yulia stepped out of the cafeteria finishing her breakfast and bidding Zaida goodbye for the classes. She attended all of his morning classes. Leaving only the training regiment assigned to her by the churches.
'....It's done'
Yulia huffed tiredly, moving toward the staff room to inform her mentors about her completed regiment. But, as she drifted closer to the staff room, she started to hear a muffled echoing voice.
"....Are you sure it was a Griffin? We could get in a lot of trouble if this was a lie."
"Yeah.The purest breed at that. I am sure of it. I don't have any idea as to why it got into the northern continent in the first place. But we still don't have any update on its location"
The two higher-ranking men of the church that were in charge of training Yulia, were discussing something among themselves. As Yulia shifted closer to the staff office, not making her presence known to her mentors for now.
".....I don't know what the hell is going on anymore. First, we missed the child of the unknown due to death god's intervention. I have heard even the Monarchs have started making their moves. The upcoming years are not going to be easy."
"Yeah. We have to speed up our pace. In training and controlling the younger generation quickly otherwise, the upcoming wars are going to be hopeless for us"
Yulia heard several questionable things in their conversation about various things. But, what shocked her to the very core came right after their little conversation.
".....And there is also the issue of the shadow of death. That fucker is still alive"