THE SYSTEM I MADE
Chapter 16
"Arrival at the Valorwood Academy"
The day after Alex's stunning victory in the Eldraine Novice Tournament dawned with an air of anticipation and excitement. The entire estate buzzed with the news of his departure to Valorwood Academy of Arcane Arts, a prestigious institution where he would further hone his skills and unlock his potential.
In his chambers, Alex packed his belongings, carefully folding his clothes and securing his books. His heart raced with a mixture of excitement and nerves. The door creaked open, and Mirelle, his loyal maiden, entered the room.
"Young master, are you ready?" Mirelle's voice was soft, tinged with emotion.
Alex turned to her, his eyes reflecting the gratitude he felt. "Almost, Mirelle. I just wanted to thank you for everything. You've always been by my side."
Mirelle smiled, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "It's been an honor to serve you, Alex. You've grown so much, and I know you'll make us all proud at the academy."
Alex embraced her warmly. "I'll miss you, Mirelle. But I'll come back stronger."
As they pulled apart, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. Other young masters of the estate, their faces a mix of jealousy and admiration, passed by. Some muttered under their breath, unable to hide their envy.
"How did he get so strong so quickly?" one of them whispered.
"He's just a novice. He got lucky," another sneered.
Ignoring the comments, Alex made his way to the courtyard, where a grand carriage awaited him. The patriarch, Lord Gerald Eldraine, stood before it, resplendent in his ceremonial attire. Beside him was the councilor from the academy, who had been so impressed by Alex's performance the previous day.
Lord Gerald raised his hand for silence as the estate's inhabitants gathered around. "Today, we send off one of our own to Valorwood Academy. Alex has shown remarkable skill and determination. His victory in the tournament is just the beginning of his journey. He has made us all proud."
The crowd murmured in agreement, and Alex felt a swell of pride.
The patriarch continued, "Alex, you have a long road ahead of you. The academy will challenge you in ways you cannot yet imagine. But I have faith in you. Show them the strength of the Eldraine name. Make us proud."
Alex stepped forward, bowing deeply to the patriarch. "Thank you, Lord Gerald. I won't let you down."
With a final nod, the patriarch gestured to the carriage. "Go forth, Alex, and may your journey be filled with success and honor."
As Alex climbed into the carriage, he glanced back at the faces of those he was leaving behind. Mirelle stood with her hands clasped, offering a tearful smile. The young masters watched with varying degrees of emotion, but Alex's focus was clear. This was his chance to prove himself, to rise above his past and forge a new future.
The carriage lurched forward, and Alex settled into his seat as it went to the Valorwood Academy of Arcane Arts.
...
As Alex stepped off the carriage, the grand gates of Valorwood Academy of Arcane Arts towered before him.
"Good luck on your new journey, young master Alex," the knight driving the carriage said.
"Thank you, I'll do my best," Alex replied, watching the carriage drive away. A sudden thought struck him. "Oh shoot, I forgot my luggage," he said to himself, anxiety creeping in.
"Rest assured, master, your luggage is safely stored in the system's inventory," Aida's voice responded in his mind.
"Right, hehehe, Aida, you are a lifesaver," Alex said, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
He looked around, taking in the vast and imposing structure of the academy. "This academy is really different from modern-day schools, but the designs and the firm structure are amazing. Besides modern technology, this school is at the level of modern-day high schools, maybe even bigger," he mused, marveling at the grandeur before him.
As he entered, the buzzing of students filled the air. Whispers followed him as he walked through the gate.
"Wait, look over there, it's young master Alexander from the noble family of Eldraine," one kid whispered to another.
"We're having another freshman noble. I'm sure he'll climb the ranks quickly, just like how Damon Eldraine did," said another student.
"Pshhh, please. You mean Alex, the weakest of the young masters of the Eldraine. He's as weak like the freshmans. The only difference is his title as a noble," scoffed another.
A group of older students approached him, their intentions clear. "Owww, a little bug trying to look like a raging lion. How cute," one of the bullies mocked, clapping his hands in laughter as the group joined in.
"Don't make yourself look so tough just because you're a noble. You're no different than those weak freshmen," another added, their mocking tone ringing out as they circled him.
Alex felt a surge of irritation. In his past life, he had died at 31, and now he was being mocked by kids. But he quickly calmed himself, realizing that losing his temper wouldn't help. He walked between them, heading towards the academy entrance.
"Consider yourself lucky," he said, walking away.
"Who does this freshman think he is? Doesn't he know I am a senior, a second year! How dare he!" the student fumed, feeling mocked. He moved to grab Alex, but his hand was stopped mid-air by a firm grip. It was Professor Elise.
"Jaxon, I will not tolerate your behavior towards new students. If you do not stop your actions, I'll have you expelled from the school," she said, her voice calm but firm.
"Apologies, Professor. It'll never happen again," Jaxon said, a smirk playing on his lips.
"You always say that and end up bullying others. You are a second year, for crying out loud. You should make the new students feel welcomed. If I see you bullying one more time, you'll force me to expel you from the academy. Do you understand?" she reiterated.
"I understand, Professor. Guys, let's go," Jaxon said, and the group reluctantly followed him.
Professor Elise turned to Alex, offering a warm smile. "Sorry for the sudden commotion, young master Alex. I'll make sure such things never happen again."
"No worries," Alex replied, grateful for her intervention. "May I ask who you are? Judging from your magical power, you are not a student."
"Yes, that's right. I'm Professor Elise, the teacher for potion and medicine studies and development. I'm actually surprised you can sense magic and mana at such a young age. How did you learn magic?" she asked, curious.
"I learned magic on my own using my family's library books," Alex said, not wanting to reveal anything about Aida and the system.
"That's impressive. You must really love magic to have learned it on your own at your age. Kids your age tend to avoid studying and waste time on silly nonsense," she said.
"Lmao, I'm older than her," Alex thought to himself.
"Anyway, I was assigned to take you to your dorm room. Please follow me," Professor Elise said. She showed him around the academy, pointing out various important locations before leading him to his room.
"Wow, this is a comfy-looking bed," Alex said, taking in the neat, cozy room.
"I'm glad you like it. Our academy offers the best accommodations for our students, the best place to learn magic," she said, then hesitated. "Uhmm, young master, where is your luggage?"
"Don't worry about that. It's already sorted," Alex lied, not wanting to explain about the system's inventory.
"I see. Well, let me know if you need anything else. I'll be at the hall. Oh, before I forget, all freshman students will meet at the hall tomorrow morning. Be sure to be there. Everything will be explained to the students," she said, before leaving.
Alex looked around his new room, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. His journey at Valorwood Academy of Arcane Arts had just begun, and he was determined to make the most of it.