"Told ya not to wake him up," came a young voice emanating from a beastkin man. His golden fur harmonized with the human girl's hair, and both shared a striking hue of blue in their eyes. Despite the awkwardness, Arlo managed to smile and stood up.
"Hello," Arlo replied, bowing his head in greeting.
The girl chuckled, "Are you the first person who cleared the entrance exam?" she asked suddenly.
Scanning his surroundings, Arlo realized he was the first one, with only the three of them at the front of the gate.
"Yeah, I think I was the first..." Arlo shyly replied, scratching the back of his head. He shifted his gaze to the beastkin man, who wore light armor and had an axe at his side. The woman, obviously a mage, had a slightly larger staff.
"You have keen observation," the girl, named Dorothy, remarked. "I am Dorothy, and that is my twin brother, Desmond," she introduced, extending her hand.
Arlo shook it and introduced himself, "I'm Arlo."
"Weird, most people question us that we're twins, yet you just accept it," Dorothy said with a smile.
Arlo side-eyed her comment and chuckled. "Good intuition, I guess?" he said, observing both of them. With his tiger and lion combination appearance, Desmond had a golden mane that, though not massive, still made him look intimidating.
On the other hand, Dorothy had a charming and cute appearance, holding a war staff meant for combatant mages capable of dealing both physical and magical damage. Her gold hair resembled her twin brother's mane.
Arlo turned his back and looked at the still-closed gate in front of him. "Do we have to wait for everybody?" he wondered. He reached for the gate, and as soon as his palm touched it, the gate vibrated, startling the three of them.
Arlo quickly dashed away while Dorothy maintained a poised stance, and Desmond, still sitting, gripped his axe.
The massive gate creaked open, revealing a glimpse of the light beyond. Arlo readied his staff, though he sensed his mana was running low. As the gate widened, a figure emerged—an imposing man donned in a white robe with golden trim. Middle-aged, muscular, and carrying a sword on his back, his face bore a stoic yet smiling expression.
"Wow, it's been a while since we've had three students in the first batch," he applauded. Arlo eased his stance. "First batch?" he inquired. The man seemed surprised, prompting Arlo to look around, where he noticed Desmond and Dorothy kneeling as a sign of respect.
"—S-sorry—!" Arlo swiftly bowed his head and joined them.
"Don't," the man, Victor Silvermane, interjected. "I always forget not everyone on the continent may know me." He continued,
"I am Victor Silvermane, the First Captain of the Kingdom's Brigade." Arlo immediately kneeled in respect, but Victor chuckled, instructing, "The three of you, stand up."
Arlo rose, observing that the gate was now wide open. Before them lay a grand castle with numerous buildings, its beauty leaving Arlo in awe. Victor expressed his surprise at having three individuals in the first batch.
"Well, except for the two of you. You must be Desmond and Dorothy from the family of Ironhart," he guessed.
"Yes, Milord. The two of us represent the Ironhart family," Desmond replied, bowing his head. Victor turned his gaze to Arlo.
"And you? What is your name?" Victor inquired.
"My name is Arlo," Arlo paused, "Arlo from the family of Agatana, Milord," he added. Victor raised his eyebrows at this revelation.
"From the family of Agatana... It's been a decade since I heard that family name," Victor mused. Arlo couldn't help but think that Lady Helia's family was supposed to be a famous noble. Victor smiled and gestured for them to follow as he began walking toward the castle.
As they entered, the gate started to close. Arlo glanced back, whispering, "Nico..." Suddenly, Dorothy bumped into his waist while walking.
"You're full of surprises. Not only did you not question our identity, but you also don't know Captain Victor," she remarked. "And really, you're from the Agatana family?" she added.
Arlo nodded in response. Dorothy mumbled something indistinct before returning to her brother's side. Arlo followed as they walked on the brick roads.
As they strolled towards the castle's entrance, a vast open archway loomed, guarded by two sentinels clad in full-plated silver armor. Spotting their approach, the guards saluted Captain Victor. Passing through the arch, the trio found themselves in a sprawling village, larger than it appeared from the outside. Houses and stalls lined the streets, offering a plethora of goods, from food to weaponry.
Arlo couldn't help but notice the attention they garnered. Eyes turned towards them, and hushed murmurs followed in their wake. Most of the villagers were young, like Arlo, donned in black robes adorned with the academy's insignia.
"Three first batch..."
"Two from the Ironhart family."
"The famous twins..."
"Who's the other one?"
These whispers filled the air as they traversed the village. Arlo remained composed, but the realization that his companions were well-known figures took him by surprise.
Captain Victor abruptly halted their progress, bringing them to a crossroads where a colossal goddess statue stood. Its towering height made even glimpsing its face challenging, and as Arlo squinted upward, the sun's rays nearly blinded him. On Captain Victor's side stood a woman in a maid uniform whom he introduced as Maiden Uri.
"This is Maiden Uri," Victor declared. The tall lady, with fair white skin and jet-black hair, donned a glass with an impassive expression, giving her an intimidating aura. She lifted her skirt and bowed. "I will be your servant, guiding you to the dorm for the first batch," she stated emotionlessly.
"I'll leave the three of you in her care," Victor explained. "By doing so, I officially declare you the first batch to pass this year's exam. I have high expectations, and tomorrow, training and classes will commence."
Captain Victor turned his attention to Maiden Uri, and with a swift motion, she bowed to him, her hand glowing in a soft blue hue. "Teleportation," she cast.
Arlo marveled at the sight, having never witnessed such magic before. "Long-distance teleportation," he mused to himself.
"Three of you, come near me," a soft voice emanated from Maiden Uri. As they gathered near the statue, she continued, "The Goddess of Life statue serves as leylines. Leylines are used for the Recognition of Long-distance teleportation. We need to teleport to the western section of the academy for your rooms."
With another graceful motion, Maiden Uri cast "Teleportation," drawing mana from the statue itself. A colossal magic circle formed, scanning them before vanishing into thin air, transporting them to their destination.
In the blink of an eye, they materialized near another statue, and the ambiance was markedly different. This place was quieter, with fewer souls traversing its paths compared to the last. It resembled an empty lot, save for the three diverging roads. From her pocket, Maiden Uri procured something, handing it to the trio.
Arlo accepted the metallic plate, a diminutive piece almost matching the palm of his hand. Crafted from copper, he discerned a hint of mana, and words were etched onto it.
"Arlo Agatana. Aquaria Haven Quarters?" Arlo read with a trace of bewilderment.
"What is this?" Arlo queried.
"That is the name of the household you've been invited to," Maiden Uri elucidated. "First batch examinees are assigned to one of the three major households: Aquaria Haven Quarters, Ironclad Bastion, and the Inferno Forge District," she continued. Arlo sought clarification for those arriving late.
"Those who missed the initial selection won't receive an invite from these major households. They usually reside in the southern part of the Academy, where we were before coming here. Some from the second batch might find invitations to guilds located in the eastern section of the academy," Maiden Uri explained.
Though Arlo felt a bit perplexed, he nodded. When he showed his plate to Maiden Uri, she pointed to the right road.
"Go left, you'll find the Manor by the river," she directed. As Arlo began walking, he looked back, expressing gratitude and bidding farewell with a smile. Dorothy chuckled, wishing him a good rest for the upcoming day, and she, along with her twin Desmond, headed down the straight road to their own manor.
As Arlo proceeded toward his household, the path became narrower, and the land on its sides gradually became shallow, creating the sensation of walking on a bridge. Arlo noticed something peculiar about the grass on the road.
"Is this seaweed?" he pondered, kneeling to touch the damp blades. "It's really wet, like I just pulled it from the water," he remarked. Observing his surroundings, he noted that the land on the side of the road was already shallow, revealing the bottom. However, the grass at the bottom was not ordinary—it was seaweed.
"By the gods..." Arlo cursed, realizing as he tentatively put his left foot to the side of the road, causing ripples. His foot touched water, yet he couldn't see it. "I am surrounded by water," he said in awe. He continued walking, and after a few minutes, he realized the sides were becoming shallower, even though the water is clear it's hard to see the bottom even with the light coming from the sky.
At the end of the road, a four-story house emerged, its windows lit. As Arlo approached, the invisible water turned deep blue, matching the color when he looked back as if they were already blue at the first place.
"You're the newcomer," a booming voice declared. Arlo looked at the house as the door swung open, revealing an old woman in blue attire, her white hair tied in buns. "Welcome to my Sanctuary. I am Aquaria Lavine," the old woman smirked at Arlo.
Aquaria gestured for him to come in. As Arlo followed, he felt a tingling sensation on his sides as he ascended the steps of the house. He grasped the plate, and it glowed.
"Detection magic," he whispered. He realized that was the purpose of the mana in the copper. It had the same purpose as the mana in the statues, like leylines. It detected its purpose as soon as you entered.
"Magic is getting creative these days," Aquaria amused as she grabbed a pipe and smoked before walking inside. "You must be Arlo. Helia told me about you," Aquaria said, looking back for a moment before walking inside.
"Y-Yes, I am her apprentice," Arlo answered. As soon as he entered, the door slammed closed. However, he was introduced to a grand hallway with a dining table in the middle and a giant staircase in the center.
The room was illuminated by a fire that was intact on the wall. Arlo recognized the design of the house—it was almost identical to Lady Helia's manor, the only difference being the dimmed lighting.
"An apprentice, eh? Yet you were adopted into her familia," Aquaria said as she sat on the couch with her legs crossed. "Tell me, did you like the road?" she asked.
"It was fine... The water was invisible at first... they mentioned a river, yet I couldn't see it," Arlo hesitated in his answer. The old lady chuckled as she puffed on her pipe and blew smoke through her nose.
"Ugh. Those maidens can't see a thing. I've always told them we're in the middle of the water, a mix of rivers and ocean, but they stick to their own explanations," Aquaria exclaimed with a hint of frustration. "But pretty clever magic, right?" she added, smirking.
Arlo, perplexed, laughed awkwardly as the old lady continued. "You noticed it and didn't question it," she said happily.
"The water..." Arlo began, voicing his realization. "It's like invisible, then it suddenly gains color as I get closer to the house," he explained.
"Illusion is my specialty," Aquaria declared. "I use it to confuse those who trespass without permission." Her tone turned serious. "Drowning is the best way to teach them a lesson," she jokingly said, then laughed.
Arlo joined in the laughter, then asked, "Is Lady Helia part of this household, too?"
"Not really. She was assigned to another household. Before I put these illusion tricks, she loved playing around in the water as if it knew her," Aquaria explained. "Okay, enough; you have to rest. Your room is on the second floor. Go left, and you'll see a door with your name on it," she instructed.
"Thank you," Arlo said, smiling, before heading up the stairs. Glancing back, he saw Lady Aquaria still sitting on the couch, puffing on her pipe while gazing out the window.
"Illusion magic... in the water?" Arlo murmured. He realized that the vast body of water was under an illusion magic cast by her. "She must have an incredible amount of mana for casting that kind of magic," Arlo remarked, continuing toward his room.
Upon reaching the door with his name on it, he opened it. A large window welcomed him; it was open, and though the room was smaller than the one in the Agatana household, it was good enough. He closed the door. A closet, a bed, and a desk. The walls were decorated in turquoise blue. All of his items were on the floor, and he noticed something on the bed—a black robe with the school insignia.
"This might be my uniform," he said, examining it. He grabbed it, feeling the smooth and cool texture of the high-quality wool. Arlo felt excited as he began unpacking his things, arranging everything in its place.
It took a while before he finished. As he sat on the bed, exhaustion washed over him. His body immediately lay down on the soft bed.
"Grandma..." he said, looking at the ceiling, memories flooding back from his first exam—the vision again. Recollections of a past only he would remember.
"I hope Nico made it...." he whispered as his eyes closed. Fatigue finally caught up, and he slumbered deeply in his bed.