Walking out of the forest, Max and Astoria borrowed a carriage to the Storm Wind City. It took them one day to travel from the forest to the city. Max was of course not in a hurry to head to the academy. He has never been out to travel the mainland. He spent all the years in the clan and the Ever Green Forest. So he wanted to experience how the cities of the continent were.
The crowd was bustling in the city. Both sides of the road were filled with stalls. Most of the shopkeepers were ordinary people. But no one dared to make a mess like robbing because they feared the law enforcement officers.
From a distance, it was already possible to see the flag fluttering on top of the city, and because this it was the capital of the empire, it was also one of the most flourishing cities on the continent. The city walls were a hundred meters tall and made of the hardest granite. At the top and bottom, fully armored sentries equipped with pikes were standing guard and patrolling the wall. Their bodies emitted an austere aura that allowed one to see their heroic spirit.
The Storm Wind Empire always emphasized strength unlike the Red Lotus empire which is nobility centric. Even though the Empire also had nobles, they did not have enough influence over anything. The nobles of Storm Wind Empire were only granted superiority in business. When it comes to politics they did not have any impact different from the nobles of Red Lotus Empire who had a subtle influence on the politics after the Emperor.
So here the heroic spirit is the basic maxim not nobility.
The city was different from the cities from his previous life. Even if there were no tall skyscrapers and looming lights, the city was very energetic with the dynamic crowd.
The Academy was around a hundred kilometers from the city. It was almost four hours past sunrise. The climate of the area above the Storm Wind Empire to the north is not so hot even in the noon. It was because the northern part of the Empire is the Extreme north arctic icefields.
As they arrived at the academy Max was amazed by the sight. The scenery here was very beautiful. The academy was surrounded by clouds and lakes. The place was full of vitality. He felt that the fog around him has a function of calming down the mind.
It did not look like an academy rather a big town when he saw the range to which the walls had extended.
"It is indeed on of the four academies on the mainland."
Max praised.
Astoria smiled as she explained him about the academy.
The students of the Storm Wind Imperial Academy were divided into three levels. Students who have cultivation level below Rank 4 and the new students are allotted to the outer court. Those who have the strength above Rank 4 are allowed to enter the inner court. But not all students whose cultivation reached Rank 4 Star Knight can enter the inner court. There is also an age limit.
Most of the people of inner court are considered geniuses. Then the Star Knights who are extremely talented and have a strength above Rank 6 advanced stage can enter the core area of the academy.
The age of graduates differ by each person. Some people who cannot advance into the inner court graduate around twenty years while some of the students of core level do not graduate even at 25-30 years and choose to continue studying in the academy.
Max and Astoria stepped out of the carriage and walked into the academy when a person came to them.
"Idlers are not allowed to approach the academy. Leave here"
The man with a white uniform blocked them while putting pressure on them with his star power. But seeing that they did not follow his words he wanted to beat them. He was about to summon his natal spirit when he heard his companion's voice.
"Stop."
"Miss Astoria, I am Sorry. You can enter. But who is he?"
A man with the same uniform came to Astoria and apologised while looking at Max with inquiry.
"He will join the academy. I want to take him to meet the teacher."
"This...Ok."
The man hesitated for a while but when he heard her mention her master he agreed immediately.
'It looks like her master has a high status in the academy.'
Astoria nodded to him and entered the academy with Max.
"Are you crazy? Why did you stop her? She is the disciple of Star Knight Emilia."
"What!"
The man who previously stopped them broke out with cold seat on his forehead. 'Fortunately I did not make a move on them.' he thought.
Max followed Astoria as she entered a mansion. There was a pond inside the building along with a variety of flowers planted across the mansion. It was very peaceful.
"Master!"
As he entered the mansion he saw a he saw a woman with blue hair and green eyes sitting peacefully under the shade of a peach tree.
The woman was taken back hearing the voice when she saw a figure pouncing towards her for a hug. The woman stood up and hugged Astoria and patted her head
"You silly girl, where did you go? You have been missing for a week. What should I think?"
The woman flicked Astoria's forehead with her finger and reprimanded her.
"I am sorry, Master."
Astoria bowed her head guiltily.
Max has never heard a voice so gentle. The voice was so gentle that it could sooth the minds of people immediately after listening. The smile on her pretty face was warm. The tenderness in her gaze was like clear water quietly passing through. She looked around 30 years old even though he could tell she was probably somewhat older than she looks. Star Knights can maintain their youthful faces when they reach a certain level.
So Max thinks she should be above Rank 7 Star Knight. But he could not identify her star power as her star power was not at all aggressive but very gentle unlike his father.
Astoria slowly explained the in and outs of the matter. The lady looked at him with shock in her eyes. Previously she did not notice the boy concerned about the return of her apprentice. Now when she looked at him his Rank 4 cultivation did not escape her eyes. She had to admit even her apprentice is inferior to the young man in front of her. Even she could not believe that the boy defeated group of Rank 5 Star Knights. She looked at him with appreciation.
"I am Emilia. Thank you for saving my apprentice."
She thanked him sincerely.
"No, Miss Emilia. It was just a coincidence."
Max waved his hand hands with a smile on his face.
"Don't be so modest. If it were not for you she wouldn't have survived."
"Master, I invited Max to join the academy. What do you think?"
"Hmm? Since he is from the Red Lotus Empire, it is difficult to join the academy. But I will recommend him to the admission's office. I don't think they will refuse with his talent. Fortunately the admissions of this year will start tomorrow. You can take him to live in the hut on the backyard for today."
She replied after thinking for a while. She also did not want the academy to miss an excellent student. With her recommendation she does not think the academy will object because of his background.