Chapter 5: The Royal Academy

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If you asked a commoner who defends the realm, he will mention the ‘People’s Legions’—and then proceed to mouth off about his cousin or relative that is part of them.

If you went to the highest officers of the legions and asked the same question, they would proudly declare ‘the patricians’, for they knew how much the nobility invested in funding the legions, and of course, most of them were patricians themselves.

Then what would happen if you went to the patricians with the same question? They would praise their Rex’s effort and accomplishments in managing the realm and keeping all its factions working together.

What would I say if you asked me? The Rex said. I would say that there is only one true defender of the realm, and it is gathered here today before me. I bow my head to you in respect, for I know that many of you will perish. He did as he said, and lowered his head deeply. But know that your sacrifice will be remembered and your families rewarded.

A thunderous cheer echoed through the mountains. Birds scattered from the forests and even the fierce beasts began to roar and flee.

I announce then, that Banniard’s proud and loyal Knighthood Orders shall advance to the Dark World and bring death upon humanity’s foe. The Rex bolstered the army’s emotions, bringing them to a new, almost unprecedented, intensity.

The hundred thousand men shouted again, infusing their voices with mana. Their cheer resounded all through the mountain range, making rocks roll down from the peaks and even the land itself trembled.

The bloodiest stage of the war had begun.

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After a remarkably boring week, the day he awaited with excitement and dread had arrived. His first day in the academy.

Brencis and Kiara walked through Centorbis’ crowded streets accompanied by a squad of guards and Brencis’ mother. The Royal Academy, surprisingly enough, was not located in the city core, but in the first ring, and so they crossed the humongous gate that connected the core with it.

Brencis gawked at the sight of ten Bronze Knights guarding the thirty-meter-tall gate, five at each side, and had to resist the temptation to check their levels with his status bracelet. He’d done it in the past and such action was not received well by Knights on duty.

Considering that no kingdom had more than a thousand knights—as far as Brencis was concerned—having ten of them standing to guard the capital’s core gates was a testimony to its importance. Centorbis’ core was more often than not known as the realm’s heart and it proved to be so.

Brencis felt the sight dull as they entered the first ring, not that it was really dull or lackluster. In fact, it was almost as beautiful as Southwell’s core, but Centorbis’ core felt like a wondrous world of its own.

The streets of the core had almost every single corner carved with artistic patterns and magical runes. The buildings, tall and wide, were from the most expensive kinds of wood and stone that money could afford; and numerous artifacts to make the life of the residents more comfortable littered around. Carrier orbs, message orbs, light orbs, soothing orbs, weather orbs—all of it a luxury anywhere else but a high noble’s keep—abounded as if ordinary tools.

Instead, the first ring, while still having luxurious buildings—made from expensive wood planks, each costing more than what commoners could earn in their whole lives—and carefully adorned streets, lacked that mysticality that artifacts gave the core.

The sense of dullness did not last long, after all, he’d lived his whole life in Southwell’s outermost ring. There the only buildings that could be called ‘acceptable’ compared to those of the first ring were only the local church and the ministry of enforcement’s office.

They reached the academy entrance a while later. It was not that big compared to the other buildings around and it was built simple and without the flair so common in Centorbis.

It would be a confusing sight for anyone who didn’t know it was Centorbis’ Royal Academy entrance to see dozens of fancy carriages, pulled by finely bred horses and even tamed beasts, stopping in front of that simple building and riding away. Paired up with men and women wearing ornamental artifacts standing by the carriages as guards or lecturing their children, the sight could be hard to digest.

“So, we’re here…” Brencis muttered.

“Yeah, this is it.” Kiara nodded.

Brencis turned around and looked at his mom.

She walked forward and embraced him, planting a kiss atop of his head. “Go there and make mom proud.” She whispered.

“Yes.” Brencis groaned in embarrassment but did not push her away. He knew how hard it would be for her to live without him in a new city and surrounded by unknown people of different upbringing.

“Be sure to contact me as soon as you can.” She released him and smiled.

Brencis nodded and turned.

“You ready, mommy boy?” Kiara nudged him with her elbow and whispered.

“Leave me alone.” Brencis’ face turned red and he walked ahead.

Kiara chuckled and followed. “Wait for me.” She said. “You don’t know who to talk with.”

Brencis slowed his pace and waited, still not looking at her.

They left behind the guards and Brencis’ mom and had to squeeze past the patrician crowd to get to the entrance.

Kiara took a golden medallion with the symbol of a purple flame in it and showed it to one of the entrance guards. “We’re from the Fuegni clan.” She said.

The guard glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. “So?”

“We’re new recruits here.” She frowned.

“Your inscription letter?”

“We don’t have one.” She said. “The R-”

“Without a letter you’re not a recruit here.” The guard replied with mild hostility and stopped looking at her.

“We were recommended by the Rex himself. What do you think you’re doing?” She snapped.

The guard widened his eyes and looked at her, then turned to look at his companion to the other side of the door.

“Please, come this way.” The other guard opened the door and bowed his head.

Kiara snorted and pulled Brencis forward.

“Confirm your inscription with the receptionist to the left.” The guard said after they crossed the door.

Kiara stomped her foot and turned around, but the door had already closed. “These b-…” She gritted her teeth and turned around again. “These people really don’t care about patricians.” She said. “I hope this place lives to its reputation.” She continued walking.

Brencis followed, shrinking his shoulders from the stares directed at them after Kiara’s fuss.

Kiara slammed the bell on the receptionist’s counter repeatedly and announced. “Kiara Fuegni and Brencis Murat ex Fuegni. Recommended by the Rex himself.”

The woman behind the counter looked at her stunned for a moment and then took out a few papers. She scanned them with a quick glanced and nodded. “Yes, you’re both on the list.” She said. “Please pass through the door to my left and wait with the other recruits for the status examination.”

Kiara walked away loftily without saying anything else.

Brencis threw an apologetic glance at the receptionist and followed Kiara.

The room was filled with simple furniture. Chairs and tables of common wood. If something gave the room an air of luxury, it was the light orbs sticking to the walls and ceiling.

In the room were at least fifty kids around their age, all with different kinds of attires—beast furs, leather clothing, fine suits or dresses—with only their lavish appearance as a common factor. A great part of the kids stood with their arms folded or leaning on a wall, probably considering the chairs unworthy of bearing their noble rears. The remaining few sat, uncaring of the chairs' material.

To the end of the room was another door, a blue board on the wall to its left with a wood desk in front and a few shelves containing books and chests farther to the left.

Most kids turned to look at them at the same time as they entered.

Brencis couldn’t shrink his shoulders any further no matter how much he wanted. “Let’s seat.” He said.

“Why should we?” Kiara raised an eyebrow. “They prepare such cheap furnishings for us as an insult. If we desire become centurions, we shouldn’t let them slight us like this.”

The gazes of the kids that heard her words showed approval.

“Please.” Brencis said, showing her eyes that couldn’t be more pitiful.

She let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay, just-” She paused. “Just stop that face or others will think you weak.” She pulled him to the table closest to the front of the room and sat there.

They waited for another thirty minutes until the door near the board opened. By then the room was so packed that some of the proud nobles were forced to sit on the unworthy chairs.

A wizened man entered through the door. He wore a yellow shirt and gray pants and had a red leather bag slung over his left shoulder. Most of the kids glanced at him and turned back to whatever they were doing. The simple man was probably a servant preparing the desk for the instructor.

“Silence.” The man stood in the middle of the room and said.

Most kids threw annoyed gazes but otherwise kept ignoring the man.

“What’s wrong with him?” Kiara said, but Brencis did not reply.

There was something about the man’s eyes that made him imposing, as if a beast hid behind the guise of a frail man, even though it was not evident. Brencis sat straighter.

“Silence.” The man said again, but this time his voice resounded through the room, echoing as if they were in a cave and kept bouncing from wall to wall, growing louder. Every kid in the room groaned and covered their ears, except Brencis and a scarce few others. The waves of sound did not affect them for some reason.

The sound stopped and the room was left in utter silence. Some of the most curious and strong-willed kids lifted their arms and pointed their bracelets at the man despite their dizziness. They paled after seeing what appeared in the blue screen and made a clumsy legionnaire salute.

Brencis’ curiosity craved to do the same, but he knew better than to try his luck.

“It is too late for that now. You’ll be up for a nice reward later.” The wizened man’s mouth parted in a sinister smiled. “Except you.” He looked at the kids who didn’t affect the sound wave. “A disciplined and discerning recruit is always well rewarded. This time your reward will be the lack of one. Any objections on that?

Brencis and the others shook their head repeatedly.

“Great.” The man nodded and turned to address the whole room. “The first thing you’ll learn here,” He said. “Is to get rid of overconfidence—the bane of talented people. It won’t matter if you become a Knight in the future if a Duelist sticks a knife through your throat because you underestimated his ability to get said knife through it.” His expression grew somber and everyone felt a chill crawl up their backs as if he had uttered a direct threat to them. “A sharp edge and enough strength can cut the skin of any person, no matter their level, artifacts or dream. Remember that.” He said, and his expression eased.

“But that’s enough of that. I’m not here to undermine your spirit. The proctors will see to that. I want you to step in front of me to register your status. One at a time.” His voice lost all edge and he returned to look like a frail old man.

The kids hesitated, looking at each other, unable to talk.

The man cleared his throat and breathed deeply as if about to shout.

One of the kids stood up and hurried towards the old man, declaring his name. He was just a second faster than others that also had begun to do the same.

The man’s sound attack had been avoided. The rest of kids sighed in relief.

The man turned around and opened one of the chests in the shelves behind him. He took out a blue orb that fit in his palm and turned towards the kid in front of him. “Take this orb and infuse your mana performing your highest elemental masteries.”

The kid nodded and took the orb, concentrating his mana in it.

A series of letters and numbers appeared on the blue board behind and the old man took another blue orb from his leather bag and pointed at the board. It glowed for a moment and then stopped.

“Next.” The man took the blue orb from the kid and waved his hand at the boy, beckoning him to return to his seat.

The next kid went and everyone focused on the words appearing on the board, knowing that it was best to get to know their competition’s status from the beginning. More and more passed and a few times the status appearing on the board caused gasps in many of the kids and even praise from the old instructor.

“You’ll go after me.” Kiara stood and walked to the instructor.

“W-what? Wait, no-” Brencis tried to complain, but Kiara was already in front of the instructor.

She took the blue orb and closed her eyes, focusing completely on infusing her masteries correctly.

Kiara Fuegni | Novice | Patrician

Age: 13

【Level: 10】

【Mana: 21/21】

【Barrier: 11/11】

Magic Power: 14

Mana Control: 11

Mana Perception: 12

Constitution: 9

Agility: 12

Skill: 10

Strength: 13

Core: 【5th Rank】 Fire

Elemental Affinity

Fire - Beginner (9/10)

Air - Beginner (1/10)

Arts Mastery

Sword Mastery – Beginner (8/10)

Footwork – Beginner (5/10)

The old instructor whistled in appreciation and the room of noble kids gasped—the biggest one yet.

“So you’re the Fuegni young lady people whisper about. A very nice talent indeed.” The instructor nodded. “We’ll just have to work in the other aspects and maybe you’ll get to finish the five years.” He took the orb from her hand and waved his hand. “Next.”

She clenched her fists and glared at the old man for a moment, then turned around and directed her fiery glare at Brencis, commanding him to do as she said and be the next.

Brencis hesitated but still stood up. He knew better than to anger the Fuegni young lady any further, lest she decides to get even with him later during their training.

Brencis took the orb and began to infuse his mana, his hands trembling and his back sweating. He could feel all the eyes in the room piercing his back. He took a deep breath and shook his head, focusing only in the orb. He first injected his mana violently and made it flow in a spiral with a violent impetus. Then he changed his mana flow and injected single uniform rush and kept his mana flowing in a file. His mana trembled but maintained a somewhat even flow.

Brencis Murat ex Fuegni | Novice | Squire

Age: 12

【Level 7】

【Mana: 19/19】

【Barrier: 7/7】

Magic Power: 15

Mana Control: 8

Mana Perception: 10

Constitution: 9

Agility: 7

Skill: 8

Strength: 11

Core: 【6th Rank】 Fire

Elemental Affinity

Fire - Beginner (6/10)

Earth - Basic (7/10)

Arts Mastery

Sword Mastery – Beginner (6/10)

Footwork – Beginner (4/10)

Spear Mastery – Beginner (2/10)

The blue board flickered and his status appeared, garnering another round of gasp from the other kids.

“It’s him…” He could hear the noble kids whispering his name and things about him. “A sixth rank core…”

“He’s not what I expected.” A nearby kid whispered to another.

“Yes, I heard Southwell’s prodigy was calm and charismatic. That one couldn’t help but see him as a leader after meeting him.” The other responded. “He doesn’t give that feeling.”

Brencis clenched his fists and they turned white. Those rumors were about him. Somewhere down the line information about Brencis mixed with his and people had a wrong idea.

“Yeah, I guess the Fuegni clan bolstered him to gain the prestige they lost after losing Southwell.”

Brencis turned around and walked back to his seat, cutting off whatever words of praise the instructor was saying.

He sat and folded his arm, looking down with a deep scowl.

Kiara nudged him with her elbow. “They’re just a bunch of jealous kids, don’t mind them.” She whispered.

“Yes, they are.” Brencis said, not minding that the patrician kids heard him agree with her words.

After an awkward silence the old man cleared his throat and called for the next. The examination ended after a few minutes and the clapped his hands once.

“Now that we are through with this I want to leave a few things clear before you go receive your reward.” The old man stood firm and regained his imposing demeanor.

“First allow me to introduce myself, I’m the vice principal Basil Aemilii.” The vice principal bowed his head—a little too much, considering his position. “First and foremost, I’d like to welcome you all to Saint Remus’ Royal Academy. It is our institution’s pleasure and honor to receive for the first time such a variety of students.

“As you might know, this is the first year our institution is accepting recruits from all over the continent. With the ongoing war against the demon and the first continental alliance, the Lord Aetherlings have seen fit that every great academy in the continent begin a student exchange program to bring closer the diverse cultures of the land.”

So that’s why everyone dresses so differently. Brencis thought.

“Knowing that, I must warn that you behave properly, as each one of you is representing their nation and any shame you bring unto yourself you do as well for your nation.” The vice principal’s voice made most of the tangle of emotions the kids had going through their hearts fade; all but one. Fear.

They knew that the man spoke seriously and even though he didn’t say it, they knew his words contained a threat. ‘Behave properly, otherwise…’

“Well then,” The vice principal smiled again and that dreadful moment from before seemed to never have happened. “Without further ado, again, welcome to Saint Remus’ Royal Academy.” He waved his hand and pointed at the door at the end of the room, which had opened at some point.

“Don’t forget your reward.” He added.