Orith Magical Academy.
Anyone in the Westside Kingdom, even people outside of it, have naturally heard of this name. It was one of the most famous and prestigious magical academy in the Central Continent, founded by the Archmage Salter one hundred years ago. Even though it was not as ancient as the other learning institutions, the quality of education it provides for the past decade is top-notch, producing powerful figures with the title of Archmage every ten years.
Naturally, it was hard to enter this academy that kept making elites one after another. A lowly and average mage with mediocre talent couldn't possibly hope to enter such grandiose paradise. Only those who have proven themselves to be talented enough to master magic were given permission to enroll in the academy.
If Valiance had tried entering this academy without the recommendation letter, it would've been extremely tough for him to enroll. Maybe if he managed to somehow enter it, it would be like fourth or fifth try. However, there was a strict rule in Orith that anyone could only get two tries before they're permanently forbidden to test their abilities any further.
Valiance looked at the massive gate of Orith, with a huge arch made out of steel saying "Welcome to Orith Magical Academy!"
He gulped, clearly nervous, clutching the recommendation letter in his white robe's pocket. Looking at the sheer scale of young men and women going in and out of the academy, one could only imagine the reputation Orith holds among the people of Westside.
"Alright Valiance, don't be a nervous prick," he muttered to himself, trying to calm down. "You can do this, you are Kalli's son after all. He's gonna laugh at you if he saw you like this."
When he thought about what would be Kalli's reaction, he subconsciously made a slight smile before turning into sorrow. Shaking his head, Valiance forcibly repelled all the negative emotions gathering. He did not have any time for this.
"Let's see…"
Valiance pulled open a tiny scroll that depicted Orith's outer area. He looked at it for a second before rolling it back, moving forward. As he entered the academy, a wave of people came to and by as he bumped to a person.
"Sorry," he nervously chuckled before continuing to proceed to his destination.
After a minute of walking, he finally reached it. The registration office of Orith. However, there was a huge problem, truly huge. There was a long line of people on the way to the office. When Valiance looked at the end of the line, there was a teacher taking care of enrollee's application form. It seems like there was more process other than writing some crap on their forms.
If Kalli was him, that old guy will probably lose interest after seeing this. He chuckled when he recalled how he first met him. That guy did not even bother to follow the usual process.
The heat of the sun was deadly as it mercilessly blazed on the people lining up. While Valiance was already used to it because of their adventure couple years ago in the Mihara desert, one of the most famous desert in the world filled with sand monsters, he still felt uncomfortable as he could smell the stench of sweat coming from other people.
He slightly pinched his nose, only using his mouth to breathe. While he was not used to breathing through his mouth, it was better than smelling scents that made him nearly vomit.
Hours passed as the sun began to set. He was now near the counter, only the second in queue. As long as he wait for more, he could finally rest. After the guy in front of him got his application form approved, Valiance happily moved forward.
"Form," the teacher in charge coldly said as she did not even bother looking at him, sitting on her chair as she looked toward the mirror.
Looks like even in Orith, there are people like this. It seems like they infiltrated every corners of society.
Valiance silently snickered before pulling out the recommendation letter and handed it.
The teacher took it without even looking but then she suddenly felt the texture of the paper. Could it be?
She looked at it, her eyes suddenly lighting up, beaming a smile as though all her fatigue from working all day long at such a hot weather dissolved in an instant. It's actually a recommendation letter written by the Dean! What's more impressive was that the recommendation originally came from the headmaster.
Just who is this guy?
She scanned Valiance with great interest, but her smile slowly disappeared. He just felt…ordinary. He looked young and fresh, yes, but he doesn't look like a noble or even acts like a prodigy. He just looked unremarkable.
The teacher frowned, looking at the letter again. "Is this letter yours?"
"Yes," Valiance nodded. "Is there a problem?"
"No," the teacher furiously shook her head, but within her mind doubt was creeping in. "What's your name?"
"Valiance Esteban," he immediately replied.
"Valiance…" the teacher muttered, feeling quite strange. "You name is…interest."
"Many people also told me that."
"Are you sure this letter is authentic?"
At this moment, Valiance was beginning to feel something was amiss. This teacher doesn't look like asking him to process his registration. In fact, it looked like she's interrogating him.
"I'm sorry, but why would anyone forge a recommendation letter?" Valiance rebuked. "It's a huge crime if one did that."
The teacher's expression turned dark upon hearing this, tempted to blast him out but she did not dare to. This was probably someone with connections to the headmaster.
Maybe he's just pretending to be ordinary to test me out?
The more she thought about it, the she realized her guess was probably the truth. Just like what Valiance had said, no one have enough guts to forge a fake recommendation letter because they will be caught easily. If that's the case, then this Valiance person was probably some prodigy from a noble family.
"Alright, I understand," the teacher replied, signing the letter as she stood up. She looked at the line behind Valiance and announced, "Come back tomorrow, the application process for today is now officially closed!"
"Aww man!"
The enrollees behind Valiance simultaneously grumbled as they began to scatter, directing toward the front gate. The teacher looked at Valiance again, smiling, "Welcome to Orith Magical Academy! Allow me to introduce myself, I am Professor Ayanna Blackrose. A mentor in magical theory."
"Nice to meet you, Prof." Valiance bowed down respectfully, his voice extremely soft.
"It's now getting late, we'll finalize the process tomorrow." Professor Ayanna continued. "For now, I'll be giving you access to dormitory in advanced."
"Thank you for your kidness."
"It's nothing," Ayanna chuckled, shaking both her hands. Please give me a good evaluation, Mr. Esteban.
---
"This will be your room, Mr. Esteban," Ayanna stated as she gave him the keys to the room. "Just call me if you need something. There was a teacher summoning button attached on the wall inside, just don't…use it as a prank."
"Thank you," Valiance said respectfully.
After the teacher left, Valiance inserted the key to the keyhole and twisted it, producing a click sound from the other side of the door. Pushing it open, he looked inside the room in fascination.
The interior of his room was quite simple, the walls were painted with white. There was a medium-sized bed on the corner that looked extremely soft which could fit about two people. There was even a faucet and refrigerator on another side. Valiance suddenly recalled what old man Kalli used to say whenever he used these marvelous inventions, "These were the cheap copy of things from Earth!"
"Excuse me but who are you?"
Valiance shivered slightly when heard that sudden voice coming behind him. He was not really a fan of surprises, as he was easily shocked. When he turned around, he saw a girl just about half an inch shorter than him. She have a short black hair and blue eyes. This girl was wearing the Orith Magical Academy's official student robe, with its signature black and blue color, with blue being dominant. Valiance noticed she was holding a mountain of books.
"I…was told this is my room," Valiance nervously explained.
"Really?"
"Really," Valiance furiously nodded, trying to avoid being called a pervert in his first unofficial day (or night?).
"Was it that old hag Ayanna?" the girl asked coldly.
"Yeah, I think so…? Oh yes, that's her name."
"Whatever," the girl entered the room, putting the books on the wooden table.
"You're not going to chase me out?" Valiance looked at her with surprise.
"No," she replied. "Just remember your boundaries. I'm not going to set the rules, since I know you have a common sense."
"Y-yeah…" Valiance nodded his head absentmindedly, before a thought appeared in his mind. "Wait, wait! How is this even possible, a boy and a girl, in a single room!?"
"Nothing new," the girl briefly replied. "Orith made changes in its dormitory rules three decades ago. They were now allowing mixed room, where students with any sexes could now live in a single place. You're not well-informed, aren't you?"
"No," Valiance admitted, his face becoming blank rather than embarassed of his own ignorance.
I have vast knowledge about magic since the old man taught me a lot of things. I also knew many things across the world. Though mundane things like the rules of Orith was out of place for me.
"Anyway, I'll just sleep on the floor if you don't mind."
"I don't mind," the girl replied without hesitation. "Although the rules said no one should sleep on the floor."
"There's something like that?"
Valiance's expression became peculiar when he heard this. Even something as simple as sleeping on the floor was forbidden! Didn't they know it helped spine to realign itself and improve their postures!?
Then his eyes suddenly widened as he saw a book flying toward him. He effortlessly caught it, even though it was unexpected. "What's this?"
"Rulebook. Read and memorize them all."
"Oh, okay," Valiance chuckled when he heard this.
The girl narrowed her eyes. "Go to sleep. The class time starts at 5."
"So early?"
Valiance looked at the wall clock, finding out it was already 7 in the evening. He heaved a sigh of relief, at least it was still quite early.
"Do it," the girl replied. "I don't feel comfortable sleeping before a boy."
"Figures."
Valiance sighed helplessly. He lay down the bed, his body sinking on its softness. It felt kike some magic was at work here. Just immediately after laying down, he could already feel sleepiness taking over him. Just before darkness claimed him, he saw the girl looking at him coldly. And then, nothing.