As Nyx and Astor stepped out of the assembly hall, taking in the sprawling grandeur of the academy grounds, they were approached by a well-dressed man who bowed deeply before them. His posture was formal, his dark uniform crisp and perfectly tailored.
"Good afternoon, young masters," the man greeted them. "I am Deric, and I have been assigned as your personal butler for the duration of your stay at the academy."
Astor raised an eyebrow, glancing at Nyx before asking, "Only you? We don't get a full staff?"
Deric smiled politely, as though he had anticipated the question. "The academy has strict rules, young master. Only one outsider from each noble family is permitted within the academy grounds. It is an effort to foster independence and self-reliance among the students. I assure you, however, that I am more than capable of attending to your needs."
Nyx gave a small nod, his calm demeanour masking his thoughts. He had expected something like this—the academy was known for instilling a sense of discipline and autonomy, even among the highest nobility. Still, having someone like Deric at their disposal would undoubtedly make their time here more manageable.
Astor, on the other hand, seemed a little less convinced. "Well, let's hope you can keep up with us," he said with a mischievous grin, already plotting some sort of antics. "Lead the way, Deric."
Deric gestured respectfully. "If you would please follow me, my lords."
The butler guided them through the academy's vast courtyard, which was filled with students wandering around, some talking in small groups, others already engaged in training. The path they took led them toward a section of the academy that was quieter and more secluded, just a short walk from the main building.
After a few minutes, they arrived in front of a large mansion, easily comparable to a small palace. Its grand exterior was crafted from polished stone, with elegant arches and large windows. The entrance had two ornate wooden doors, and a wide, well-kept garden stretched out around the property. It was clear that this was no ordinary dormitory; this was a residence fit for nobles.
"This will be your home during your stay at the academy," Deric announced, opening the doors and stepping aside to let them enter. "The mansion has been prepared for your arrival, and each of you will have your own private quarters. There is also a study, training room, and various other amenities to ensure your comfort."
Astor let out a low whistle as they entered the mansion's grand foyer, taking in the high ceilings and the luxurious decor. "Not bad," he muttered, clearly impressed.
Nyx, while quieter in his reaction, couldn't help but be equally impressed. The mansion was spacious and finely furnished, with everything they could possibly need. Yet, despite the opulence, it felt more like a place of work than a place of rest.
Deric motioned toward the grand staircase that led to the upper floors. "Your rooms are on the second floor. If there is anything you require, do not hesitate to let me know."
Astor was already halfway up the stairs before Deric had even finished speaking, eager to explore their new home. Nyx, on the other hand, lingered for a moment, looking around thoughtfully.
"This place will do," Nyx said, more to himself than anyone else, before following Astor upstairs.
As they reached the second floor, they found their rooms—spacious and well-appointed, with large beds, wardrobes, and even balconies overlooking the academy grounds. It was more than enough to accommodate their needs.
Astor popped his head out of his room, grinning. "I'm calling dibs on the training room later."
Nyx shook his head, amused. "As long as you leave some time for actual studying."
"We'll see," Astor shot back with a wink.
Nyx's POV
As I entered my room, a sense of comfort washed over me. The room was elegant, yet not overwhelming—designed with understated luxury. The walls were lined with smooth stone, accented by deep blue tapestries, and the floor was covered by a plush carpet. A large bed with dark wood posts stood against one wall, a window with a view of the academy grounds beside it. A desk sat in one corner, already set with parchment and ink, waiting for me to get to work.
It was clear that this place was meant to be a home away from home for the nobility. I couldn't help but wonder if each of the higher nobles had a similar setup, reserving an entire floor of the mansion just for themselves and their attendants. The mansion was large enough for it, and knowing how the academy worked, it made sense to offer us a degree of privacy, even while we were expected to interact with the rest of the students.
I crossed the room and stepped out onto the balcony, taking in the view. The sprawling academy campus stretched out before me, the towering buildings and training grounds interspersed with gardens and courtyards. It was a world of its own—self-contained, isolated from the rest of the kingdom.
Beyond the academy walls, the distant city of Astrylis was just visible on the horizon, its towering spires reaching into the sky. The capital of the Starlight Duchy, home to some of the most powerful families in the kingdom. I wondered how many other students here came from places just as prestigious as our home.
The royal family must have their own residence, probably something even grander than this mansion. It wouldn't surprise me. Their status always demanded more. I thought back to the assembly, where Prince Orian and Princess Seraphina sat in their special seats, the attention of the entire hall on them. Even here, in a place where talent was meant to be the great equalizer, the lines of hierarchy were ever-present.
I leaned against the railing, feeling the weight of it all sink in. The academy wasn't just a place to learn—it was a microcosm of the kingdom itself, where power, status, and influence mattered just as much as skill. And while our family might be less strict about maintaining certain formalities, we were still part of this intricate web of nobility.
A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Astor would have a harder time adjusting to that. He never cared for titles or hierarchy, treating everyone the same way. It's something I admired about him, but it also made him stand out. Mother's warnings echoed in my mind: We need to be careful, especially Astor.
I sighed and pushed those thoughts aside for now. There would be time to worry about the politics of the academy later. For now, this room, this place—it was a sanctuary, and I intended to make the most of it.
The next day, we spent the entire morning and afternoon exploring the academy grounds with Deric, our personal butler. To say the academy was vast would be an understatement. It was almost overwhelming in its size, sprawling out far more than I had anticipated. The sheer scale of it made me realize that this place was built for the elite—those who would one day shape the future of the kingdom.
As we walked, Deric led us through each department, explaining as we went. The academy had a department for every element: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, Shadow, and more obscure ones like Celestial. However, to my surprise, there was no separate department for Arcane affinity, the rarest and most versatile of all. I found that curious, considering the prestige of this place. Perhaps Arcane magic was studied differently.
Beyond the elemental departments, there were specialized areas: Rune and Enchantments for those who focused on imbuing objects with magic, Forging for crafting weapons and magical items, and Combat and Weaponry for physical fighters. Astor seemed particularly interested in the Combat halls, his eyes lighting up at the sight of sparring arenas and racks of enchanted weapons.
The Alchemy labs were a mix of excitement and danger, with bubbling potions and strange concoctions being brewed. It was a place where one mistake could mean disaster—or a brilliant discovery. Then there was Divination and Necromancy, two branches of magic I had only heard stories about, both mysterious and unnerving in their own ways. Curses were taught here as well, which made sense; understanding how to defend against them could be just as important as learning how to cast them.
As we moved on, Deric pointed out the Beastology and Summoning department, where students learned to tame magical creatures or summon beings from other realms. I could see Astor's curiosity pique again, his playful side imagining all sorts of mischief involving exotic beasts.
We passed by the private training halls, reserved for the most elite students, and then the common training arenas, open to everyone. Astor and I exchanged glances, both of us eager to test ourselves in those spaces.
The exam arenas, known as the Big Ten, were massive structures built for large-scale competitions and assessments. We would be spending a lot of time there for the upcoming tournament, which was only six days away. The pressure of it was starting to settle in the back of my mind, but I pushed it aside for now.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the academy, we finally made our way past the teacher's residences—grand buildings in their own right—and the common student dormitories. The difference between where we were staying and the common student residences was stark. I wondered if that would cause any tension, but I supposed it was just how things worked here. Rank and status dictated everything.
By the time we finished our tour, the sky had darkened, and the campus took on an almost ethereal glow. It had taken us nearly the entire day just to see everything, and even then, there was still more to explore.
"We should head back," Astor said, sounding slightly tired but still brimming with energy. "There's a lot to take in, but tomorrow, we start training."
I nodded, feeling the same. The tournament was in six days, and while we had come far in our training back home, the academy would push us to new heights. I had no doubt about that.
As we made our way back to the mansion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building. This place was more than just a school—it was the stage where we would prove ourselves. And Astor and I were ready.
The next morning after breakfast astor said let's go to the common arena for a spear, I thought private training halls are based on CP(contribution point) so right now we can't excise it, but in the common arena there will be too much eyes but f#ck it, they will eventually know our power then I said let's go, as we reach the arena we the there are many first years are sparing and practicing there technique and spells, we were in our lite armour so as we enter most of the eyes fall upon us, in that time I said to astor don't go all out and reframe from using body casing, he nodded.