"Oh, how handsome you all look!"
Cynthia gushed, her jade-green eyes sparkling as she scrutinised her son and his friends. They were standing in the living room, the four boys positioned next to each other in a straight line.
Beverly, Charlotte, and Ross sat on the sofas to the side, watching the unfolding scene with great amusement.
The little silver-haired girl seemed to be in a daze at the myriad of dazzling colours on display.
At both ends, Nico and Leon stood, garbed in items of clothing that caught an individual's eye. The former wore an impressive navy blue suit, with little amethyst gems that glittered softly inlaid into the vest and along the seams.
He sported a bowtie of a similar colour, with little grey streaks across its surface. His pale face was clean-shaven and smooth, while his hair appeared polished and well-kempt, a far cry from the grime it had once endured in the Dungeon.
The boy made a quick adjustment and sighed contentedly, feeling the little tendrils at the bottom of his man-bun dangle in the air almost like a half-braid.
'If I'm going to attend a banquet for one of the top Academies in the world, I may as well look the part.'
On the other side, the half-blood wore a fiery suit streaked with splashes of silver here and there. His muscles seemed to bulge beneath the attire, making it look like it was about to be ripped to shreds.
Leon's fiery-red hair - which complimented his clothes perfectly, also had some major work done, now styled chaotically to one side.
Finally, it was Isaac's and Oliver's turn.
Both were dressed in cream-white turtlenecks and suits. A combination that matched their delicate features flawlessly.
The only difference was that the younger brother had gold and blue accents embroidered onto the seams of his jacket, while the elder sibling's outfit held green and gold accents.
They also had their green hair styled in an elegant seventy-thirty cut with the little tips at the front serving as a miniature fringe.
Nico's mouth twitched, gaining a greater appreciation for the deadly charm the two elves held.
He snuck a glance at Leon and found his friend fidgeting uncomfortably under the intense stare of Charlotte.
Nico couldn't help it and burst out laughing.
The half-blood turned to him with a mildly chagrined look and sighed in exasperation.
Clutching his stomach, the brown-haired boy had difficulty keeping his balance, such was the strength of his giddiness.
Nico's laughter abruptly cut short a few moments later, though.
He discovered that Lottie had changed targets, now gazing at Isaac and Oliver with respect, admiration and wonder in her precious, adorable, and sweet eyes.
A dark look manifested on Nico's face, his eyes promising a world of pain and torment.
The two green-haired boys clad in immaculate white only showed a bitter smile in return.
A snigger from the end of the line made the brown-haired boy snap his neck towards Leon.
There, he found a smug expression plastered on the half-blood's features, his bottom lip trembling silently in the effort it took to conceal his chortle.
It was Nico's turn to show a chagrined smile.
And just like that… it was soon time to depart for the Academy.
Even as he bid his mother, father and sister goodbye, Nico spared some time to glare at the two elves.
This was going to be a long night…
***
As the eye-catching quartet stepped foot into Airedale - the priestess had kindly teleported them just outside its gates - loud murmurs and the bustle of activity assaulted them from all sides.
The city was in an uproar.
And rightly so, for today marked the last day before the new academic term began.
Many sought to buy last-minute supplies to aid their child's education. The children themselves trailed behind, the hubbub and noise of the city causing their youthful features to twinge with anticipation and anxiety.
They couldn't wait to get started. Especially those who had succeeded in forming a core.
…After all, what awaited them was a whole new world.
One where they would learn how to wield mana with all its intricacies.
Yet, as always, an equally crushing apprehension sprouted forth alongside that anticipation. The fear of the unknown brought with it a possibility of terror as it sought to overwhelm them whole.
Nico, Isaac, Leon and Oliver were among the many people in Airedale that night.
The sky above shifted to an orange hue as the last embers of twilight cast a fiery glow on the city. Shadows then flowed in response to Twilight's will.
In one of these lightless pockets, the young quartet stared up at a sign leading to the Inner Circle. They ignored the stares of the masses, instead fixing the signpost with an intense look.
Nico shook his wrist, gazing at the timepiece strapped there. Based on his estimation, they would be cutting it quite close.
It was better to hurry.
Signalling with a flick of his eyes, the brown-haired boy weaved through the crowd, followed by the half-blood and two elves. Nico's mind inadvertently turned back to the conversation he had had with the Saintess earlier that day.
She had mentioned that some high nobility would be attending but didn't specify exactly who.
Did that mean there was a chance of royalty also joining the same institution he did?
Even worse, what if it was royalty not just from the Augustus Empire, but from a few of the Major Races as well?
Nico's stomach sank, his anxiety now suddenly very high.
What if he did something wrong to embarrass himself on the first day?
He would hate that!
All he wanted to do was lie low, stay in the background and not attract as much attention as his talent would doubtless bring.
Nico did not look forward to the calculating looks of his peers. They would no doubt be passing judgment on whether he deserved to have such god-like talent or not.
Was it too much to ask to be left alone?
Releasing a helpless sigh, Nico and his companions stopped outside the barrier to the Inner Circle.
Before long, the magnificence, splendour and grandeur of SilverWing Academy unfolded right before their eyes.