A month passed in a blink, and the day to visit the Academy finally came.
...
"Here is your invitation letter."
Vaelen looked at the invitation letter the Academy sent to everyone who has an affinity above 70 percent. If your affinity is below that, then you have to go through tests.
He took it, although there was no real use for it. Others might have to bring it to the Academy to pass the gate, but with his face already revealed, no one would stop him.
The Academy is on the northern side, not too far away from the walls, as there were missions given to students that require them to go out of the city.
The invitation is for tomorrow.
"You sure you're going alone, little brother?"
"Yes."
"Come on, I can drop you there."
"No thanks, I can go myself."
It's not like he would be taking any public transport; a driver could drop him off. He is already acting like a descendant of his family.
After that, he would have to live in the Academy dorms, even though it was in the same city as his house.
Unless he completes all his missions and courses, he won't graduate either. There is no set time period, but it would take from two to three years, depending on what the Academy has prepared for them.
"Little brother, if you go with a handsome Rank 4 ranker like me, then people will instantly make you their—hey, little brother, wait—"
Vaelen didn't listen and went back to his room.
He decided to pack some stuff and spend some time with his mother.
When he was halfway through packing, Eiselle herself came into his room.
"Packing already?"
"Yes, Mom."
"You sulking?"
Vaelen sighed. He didn't want to reveal his identity, but his mother convinced him. He wasn't angry or anything, as he really couldn't get angry at her.
But he did sulk a little, as his plans were disrupted. Still, nothing was set in stone anyway, so he accepted it calmly later.
"No, Mom, why would I? I'm not a baby."
Eiselle smiled; she knew that he had sulked for a while. She came and hugged him.
"Mom—"
"Yes, yes, you've grown up. In fact, you're already taller than me, but you forget that for me, you'll always be a kid."
"Fine... I'll miss you."
Vaelen said while sighing.
Although they get holidays in the Academy, it's only after six months, so it will still be a long time.
He wouldn't even care to stay away from his other family, but he would definitely miss his mother, the one and only person he really cared about dearly.
"Me too. Do take care of yourself, and no dangerous missions, okay? Mom will keep an eye on all the missions you'll be taking…"
Vaelen was speechless.
"Mom, it's the Academy. They don't even post dangerous missions."
It was true; rankers go there to learn, not to die, so all the missions are selected carefully. How can they throw untrained rankers into dangerous situations without teaching them properly?
"Fine, fine. Pack up. Mom will go with you tomorrow."
"Okay."
Vaelen couldn't say no to her, nor did he mind her coming with him.
...
Vaelen woke up naturally in the morning. There was no realistic dream this time either, so he slept peacefully.
After getting ready and picking up his bag, he went outside.
His father was standing there.
"Well, looks like we'll meet after a long time."
"Dad, please, this doesn't suit you."
"Tsk… brat, you've grown up, act like one."
"Tsk… You're acting like Grandpa now."
"Don't let him hear that."
"You should worry for yourself, Dad. You might receive my share too."
"Che… It's not funny anymore. By the way, there's a new mission that's going to be launched."
Vaelen was surprised. If it was mentioned by his dad, it was a big deal, a very big deal.
"What is it?"
"Expansion."
Vaelen's eyes widened a little.
"You mean the expansion of human territory? Shouldn't we wait until the initial period of the second stage is over?"
"Well… who knows when it will start? The human population is already growing, and right now we have the strength to expand, so everyone has given approval. Anyway, it will take some months until it's launched, so anything can happen in between."
Vaelen nodded. It really was one of the biggest missions humans were planning: to take back some ruins and reconstruct them, creating more stable cities where humans can live.
Due to peace and protection, the human population is rising. Although this city can still handle it, in the future, it won't be enough.
While talking, they arrived outside where the car was parked. Eiselle was already there with Zareth.
"Yo, lil bro, Mom said I can join."
Vaelen looked toward his mother, who shook her head, denying it completely.
Vaelen then looked at his dad and said, "Take care, Dad."
"You're too small to tell me that. Anyway, go now, it's already getting late."
Vaelen nodded and entered the vehicle, closing the door when Zareth tried to sneak in.
Eiselle entered from the other side. When they both sat, the vehicle started, and they flew away.
The Academy was on the northern side, so they had to travel more than 200 kilometers in total.
It wouldn't take long with their speed, though. At the level they were flying, only hidden lineages were allowed to fly, so there was no need to worry about collisions. Not to mention, the driver himself was a ranker, so he could manage it well.
There are many privileges for hidden lineages, but no one in the city minds that. In fact, they support giving them more privileges. The reason is simple: humans are alive because of them.
This city is built on the sacrifices of lineage families, and everyone knows it very well. That's why descendants of hidden lineages were loved everywhere unconditionally, unless they were really jerks.
...
There was quite a long line of people in front of the Academy. They all came here to see this generation's hidden lineage descendants.
They were all maintaining a safe distance, although most of them were eager to see Lysara.
Just as they were waiting, a vehicle appeared and landed in front of them.
"That's the vehicle of the Glacien family."
"Yes, it must be Glacien prince Arcten. He awakened with 96 percent affinity just two months after turning 16. Now he's 17 but decided to join the Academy this year."
"Isn't it obvious why everyone wants to join? Even if he had been 16, he might have come."
"Well, it's true…"
While talks among people were going on, a boy walked out of the car: light blue hair, pristine white skin tone, and a handsome face.
If anyone is considered beautiful after the Luminara family, then the Glacien house is second.
...
"He's so handsome, wow, the prince of my dreams… if—"
"Tsk, go look at yourself in the mirror first. I'm better looking than you, but even I can't think of becoming his maid, much less his wife."
...
Arcten smiled and waved toward the public as a gesture. It has become a norm among hidden lineages to show some interaction with the public. Seeing him do so, most girls were mesmerized.
Afterward, he made his way toward the gates and entered the Academy.
Just three minutes later, two vehicles arrived almost together.
"Ignis family and Zephyr family."
"Ignis prince Darion is already 18 and is about to be, so he might be the oldest of all descendants here."
"His affinity is also the second lowest among all the descendants, 88 percent."
"Too bad. I heard if he had been born a little later, he had a chance to make it to 90 percent."
"True…"
"Princess Aria is so beautiful…"
"Don't forget she also has 96 percent affinity… similar to Prince Arcten."
...
A boy with red hair came out of the Ignis vehicle, and a girl with light green hair came out of the Zephyr family vehicle.
Darion just waved once and headed into the Academy, while Aria sent flying kisses, waved, and before she even went back to enter the Academy, another vehicle arrived, followed by another one. There were only 10 minutes left, so it wasn't surprising. Aria stopped and decided to go with them.
"House Terran and Nereus."
"Prince Garric and Prince Nerion . They weren't able to make it among those who have 95 percent or above affinity, but nonetheless, they are still awakened with 94 and 93 percent, respectively."
Both Garric and Nerion had just come out when another three vehicles arrived. Two were moving together like they were coming as a pair: none other than House Viridias and House Luminara vehicles, while one came from the opposite direction, House Voltran.
Everyone's eyes lit up.
"Finally, Princess Lysara has arrived, and she has come with Viridias Princess Elowen."
"Well, they are cousins, so it wasn't unexpected."
"The other is Voltran Prince Volric. Only Tenebran Prince Vaelen is left."
"Sigh… among these talents, I hope he doesn't feel too self-conscious."
"True, although 83 percent is good, among this generation, it does fall a lot short."
When the vehicles of Luminara and Viridias landed, everyone's eyes were looking toward the Luminara family vehicle.
They all had seen Lysara on projection, an epitome of beauty, but seeing her in real life is what they desired the most.