As the sun dipped below the horizon, the knights worked together to reclean the house, ensuring every corner was spotless. The garden was trimmed and tidied up, and the rooms were arranged for their charges.
By the time they finished, Remia had taken charge of dinner.
As for the reason no servants were hired in the house, the source was once again the royal knight.
Remia was under a strong assumption that servants hired through third-party organizations couldn't be trusted. And those that they could trust—those who have been with them since childhood—would be a liability here. The knights would be forced to protect them in case of danger. It's better this way.
Despite her strict demeanor of a fighter, she seemed at ease handling the chores.
Camilla, the lone female knight among Rael and Eon's group, volunteered to help Remia. Though Camilla had little experience with household work, she was eager to contribute something as her teammates took care of recleaning the house earlier.
"You're better off training," Remia commented as Camilla awkwardly chopped vegetables.
Camilla shrugged. "I don't know how to cook, but I can at least help with the basics. Besides, it's not like I'm going to fight monsters right now."
By the time dinner was ready, Camilla had assisted with everything from chopping to stirring.
In a far corner of the house, Kaelith and Drystan, two of the knights, whispered among themselves. Their topic of conversation? The women.
"Remia's something, isn't she?" Kaelith muttered with a grin. "That S-line figure, her sharp gaze… Every man would yearn to woo her."
Drystan smirked but shook his head. "You're too focused on romance. We're here for years—don't get distracted."
Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, don't act like you don't notice. Besides, being stuck here for so long could be a great opportunity to… I don't know, win her over?"
Drystan shrugged. "She's attractive, sure, but I'm not interested." He said it convincingly, but his gaze lingered on Camilla. Despite her being married—and the wife of his close friend and a fellow knight of House Garcia—Drystan couldn't help stealing glances at her while she worked.
As for the third knight and the leader of the group, Philip Nightingale was busy doing pushups on the roof.
After dinner, the group retired for the night.
Rael and Eon, as usual, shared a bed. Eon clung to his arm, her breathing steady and peaceful as she slept. Rael, however, lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
His thoughts wandered back home. The home was filled with nothing but unpleasant memories, but it was still his home. He missed it.
"Arcana World…" he murmured under his breath, gripping Eon's hand lightly. "By the time I leave this world and return home, I will become strong enough to defeat Raphael even without the need to depend on my ocular abilities."
The room fell silent, save for the faint sound of the wind outside.
Outside the duplex, deep in the woods, the mysterious figure mumbled as he stared at the figure sleeping on the roof. "Philip Nightingale and Royal Knight Remia, as long as I can draw these two away from the house, the mission can be accomplished."
*
The morning sun cast long shadows as Rael, Eon, and Artaigne boarded a rental carriage bound for the academy to get their admission scrolls, which were like student identity passes.
The knights saw them off, staying behind as per academy rules.
"We'll patrol the area and await your return," Remia assured, her gaze lingering protectively on Artaigne. The latter nodded.
The trio stepped through the towering iron gates of Heavenly Academy once again, their gazes sweeping over its grand spires and sprawling grounds.
Unlike typical academies in Gaia, the Heavenly Academy divided its students by age groups and specialization:
Primary Division (Ages 8-12): Requirement: Ability to face Rank-4 beasts.
Secondary Division (Ages 13-18): Requirement: At least 5-star soul realm or ability to face Rank-6 beasts. Alternatively, possessing a platinum-grade Arcana spirit.
Advanced Division (Ages 19 and above): Requirement: At least 6-star soul realm or ability to face Rank-7 beasts, or having a platinum-grade Arcana spirit.
Special Division (No age limit): Requirement: Direct entry via entrance trial or clearing the biannual trial for students from other divisions.
To graduate from the academy, students needed to reach rank 7 and complete a rigorous graduation test.
So, normally, they would go into Primary Division, and as time passes, over the next 8 years, they would change the division and then slowly graduate. But as they were going into the Special Division, Rael was confident that it might not take that long to graduate as the Special Division would have unlimited support from the academy and be blessed with even forbidden knowledge.
When he was here a day ago, he was here for the test. Now that he got inside, he couldn't help but wonder how his academic life was going to be. Rael couldn't wait to start the academy.
As instructed earlier day, the trio returned to the administration building to meet the vice headmaster, Ban Zhao.
Ban Zhao, they learned from the clerk Yasmin, was no ordinary figure. Hailing from the Eastern Han Dynasty, she was a demigod renowned for her unparalleled knowledge and scholarly pursuits rather than combat.
They entered her chamber, a room filled with ancient texts, intricate scrolls, and a map of the known worlds. Ban Zhao sat behind a massive desk, her demeanor calm and poised.
She looked up, her eyes sharp yet kind. "Rael Garcia, Eon Garcia, and Artaigne Pendragon. Welcome to Heavenly Academy."
Her voice carried authority, yet it was laced with warmth.
"Your performance in the trial was impressive," she began, addressing Rael directly. "The special division will benefit from talents like yours."
Turning to Artaigne, Ban Zhao's expression softened. "And you, young lady, are quite the rarity. You must know that in Heavenly Academy, while we indeed give great support to those individuals with high-grade Arcana spirit, the inborn ability would always take priority for us. After all, one's inborn ability cannot be taken away from them even if their soul orb gets damaged. You can be assured that Arcane Reversis' ability would be highly valued here. You'll find the academy eager to cultivate your potential."
Artaigne bowed slightly, nervous yet grateful. "Thank you."
Ban Zhao then shifted her gaze to Eon, her tone tinged with curiosity. "You're the middle sibling of the famed triplets of Garcia House, I suppose? I heard about your time manipulation ability even before you applied to the academy. Tell me, how long have you been training your inborn ability?"
Eon's response was straightforward. "Since I could walk, I guess."
Ban Zhao smiled faintly. "Dedicated and disciplined—a good foundation."
"What about you, Azrael?" Ban Zhao turned a bit curious as she looked at Rael. "I heard about Camelot's rookie tournament and enquired a bit about you too. However, it seemed no one, apart from your father, was aware of your inborn ability. What is your inborn ability, by the way?"
Rael fell silent for a couple of seconds and then opened his mouth. "Ocular powers." He said, although in a gloomy tone. "My ocular powers cover various abilities, but every time I use them, my eyes would be damaged. So,I don't use them unless it is absolutely necessary."
"Hmm…" Ban Zhao fell silent, grabbing her chin as if she was contemplating the matter. "Alright, it is not a matter. You awakened a celestial-grade Arcana spirit, a top-tier weapon type. I guess it would compensate for the lack of using your inborn skill on a regular basis."
Taking a brief pause, she handed each of them the admission scroll and a student emblem, its design unique to the special division. "This marks you as members of the elite. Wear it with pride and responsibility."
The emblems glimmered in the light, a symbol of their achievement and the expectations placed upon them.
With nothing else to do, Ban Zhao led the trio through the academy grounds by herself, explaining its layout as they moved.
"The academy is divided into seven sectors, each designed for a specific purpose," she began.
Sector 1: Administration and academic buildings, where lectures and official affairs take place.
Sector 2: Teacher quarters and student dormitories, housing the majority of the academy's population.
Sector 3: Breeding grounds and the Botanic Sanctuary, used for raising magical beasts and cultivating rare plants.
Sector 4: The Special Division's exclusive area, equipped with elite facilities for training and study.
Sector 5: Arenas and training centers, both indoor and outdoor, for practical combat and testing.
Sector 6: A hub of knowledge and creation, including the Great Library, an observatory, a temple, alchemy laboratories, and a smithy.
Sector 7: Four separate dungeons, used for advanced training and trials.
Ban Zhao paused at the entrance to Sector 4, its gates engraved with intricate runes. "This is where you will spend most of your time. Only special division students and faculty may enter here."
Inside Sector 4, Ban Zhao detailed their upcoming coursework.
"As members of the special division, your curriculum will be more rigorous than others. You are expected to master a wide range of disciplines," she explained.
Core Subjects (Daily):
History of Realms and Empires
Runic Lore and Inscription (Runes and sealing magic)
Martial Disciplines (Practical combat)
Bestiarum Arcanum (Study of magical beasts)
Herbiary of the Arcane (Study of magical plants)
Venefic Wilds (Study of wilderness monsters)
Supplementary Subjects (Biweekly):
Alchemical Arts (Potion and pill crafting)
Toxicology and Venomcraft (Poison-making)
Astromancy and Celestial Wisdom (Study of stars)
Occult Mysteries and Forbidden Knowledge (Rituals and lost arts)
Enchantment (Weapon enhancement)
Ethereal Studies (Spirit realm interaction)
Smithing and Artifice (Weapon forging)
Diplomacy and Courtly Intrigue (Negotiation and espionage)
She concluded, "Every Sunday, you will venture into the wilderness for hunting missions, a cornerstone of your training."
The tour of Sector 4 revealed its impressive facilities. Lecture halls, combat arenas, alchemy labs, and a spiritual meditation garden were among its many features.
"You have three weeks before the academic year begins," Ban Zhao said. "Use that time wisely to familiarize yourselves with the academy and its surroundings."
The trio nodded, their minds buzzing with anticipation and plans.
After their tour, the trio decided against returning home. Instead, Rael suggested exploring the wilderness, eager to test their skills. And of course to help out Artaigne. Since she lacked training since childhood, she should train whenever there is time in order to catch up with her peers. What's a better time than the next three weeks of break before the academy starts?
"Let's start with a Level-1 region," he proposed. "It's the safest area and good for beginners."
Eon smirked, clenching her fist. "Safe or not, I'm not holding back."
Artaigne hesitated but eventually agreed, knowing she had to grow stronger to stand alongside them.
******************