As I reached the main ground, I saw that there were already a lot of new students gathered there. Some of them were discussing their backgrounds, while others were just observing the surroundings like me. I walked towards a group of students
As I approached the group, I couldn't help but notice the nervousness etched on their faces. I decided to strike up a conversation with them and asked about their journey to the academy.
"So, how was your ride here?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"It was nerve-wracking," said one of the students. "I thought I was going to fall off my carriage the whole way."
Another student chimed in, "I was so scared that I was going to fail the Qi test and be sent back home."
Qi test? I had no idea what they were talking about, but I didn't want to seem clueless. "Oh, yeah. I heard about that. What exactly is the Qi test?"
One of the students, a tall guy with a shaved head, explained, "It's a test to measure the amount of Qi in your body. The higher your Qi level, the more powerful you are in battle."
I was still a bit confused. "And how do they measure your Qi level?"
The same student pulled out a torch and demonstrated. "They use a torch like this. The flame gets bigger the more Qi you have. If you can hold the flame without getting burned, it means you have a lot of Qi."
I couldn't believe it. This was some serious stuff. "Wow, that sounds intense
As time passed, my interest in their conversation began to wane. They were talking about mundane things that didn't pique my curiosity. I sighed, glancing around at the other students who were anxiously waiting for the ceremony to begin. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me. This was a new chapter in my life, and I was ready to embrace it with open arms.
As I scanned the area, I noticed some empty seats nearby.
Without any hesitation, I made my way towards the vacant chairs. But before I could even take a seat
I heard a voice call out, Don't sit there
I noticed a girl with light brown hair. Her eyes were brown, and they were simply mesmerizing. She had a beautiful face with a curved mouth, small ears, and a few freckles that added to her beauty. I was lost in my thoughts, wondering if every girl in the medieval world was this stunning.
"Excuse me, don't sit there. Those seats are reserved for the nobles," she said, interrupting my thoughts.
I quickly regained my composure and replied, "I'm sorry, beautiful noble lady. I had no idea. This humble peasant asks for your forgiveness."
She chuckled at my reply and said, "No, I'm not a noble. My name is Maria Boucher. Nice to meet you."
I introduced myself, "My name is Maxwell, but you can call me Max."
We shook hands, and I couldn't help but notice how delicate her hand felt in mine.
"So, Max, where are you from?" she asked, looking genuinely interested.
"I'm from a small village near the outskirts of the k kingdom," I replied, trying my best to sound confident.
Maria's eyes widened, "Really? That's interesting. You must have a lot of stories to tell."
I smiled, feeling a bit more comfortable now that we were talking. "Not many, I do have a few stories. What about you? Where are you from?"
"I'm from a noble family in the capital city. My family has been attending blood iron academy for generations," she replied proudly.
I couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated by her background, but I didn't want to show it. "That's amazing. I'm sure you must have a lot of knowledge of the academy and its customs."
Maria nodded, "Yes, I do. I can help you out if you need any guidance."
I smiled, feeling grateful for her offer. "That would be great. Thanks a lot, Maria."
As Maria and I continued to chat, I couldn't help but tease her a bit more about her noble status. "So, Lady Maria, what do you do all day in your fancy castle? Sip tea and count your gold coins?"
Maria rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a laugh. "Oh please, Max. We nobles have much more important things to do than count coins all day. Like, uh, organizing our wardrobe and planning our next ball."
I couldn't help but chuckle at her sarcastic remark. "Ah, yes. The noble life sounds truly thrilling. Maybe one day I'll get to experience it for myself."
Maria grinned mischievously. "Don't get too excited, Max. Being a noble is not all it's cracked up to be. There are strict rules and expectations we must follow. Plus, everyone is always trying to marry us off to the highest bidder."
I feigned shock. "What? You mean you're not looking forward to being married off to some old, rich nobleman you've never even met and join his Harem of wives that are half of his age?"
Maria shook her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "No, Max. I think I'll pass on that one."
We both burst into laughter at the absurdity of it all, enjoying each other's company and the lighthearted banter.As Maria and I continued to chat, I couldn't help but be curious about her background. She seemed different from the other students I had met so far. "So Maria, you mentioned earlier that you're not exactly a noble. Can you tell me more about your background?" I asked, trying not to be too nosy.
Maria smiled and leaned in, as if sharing a secret. "Well, technically I am a half-noble. My mother was a maid in the palace, she was the favorite maid of the second queen and my father, who was a noble, fell in love with her and married her. But because of the circumstances, my family isn't considered as high-ranking as some of the others."
I nodded, understandingly. "That's interesting. So, what do you plan on doing after graduation?"
Maria's face lit up with excitement. "I actually have a passion for business and trading. I'm hoping to start my own trading company one day, maybe even deal with artifacts and New technology!"
I was impressed by her ambition. "Wow, that's quite impressive. I'm still figuring out what I want to do after graduation."
Maria chuckled. "Well, don't worry, Max. You'll figure it out soon enough. Just remember to follow your passion and everything else will fall into place."
I smiled, grateful for her words of encouragement. "Thanks, Maria. I appreciate that."
Suddenly, a loud bell rang, signaling the start of the ceremony. The students started to disperse, each heading to their designated area. I wished Maria good luck and made my way to my commoner spot, feeling Little nervous and exited