In the Valemont Empire, kids from age 9 go to a basic school called Academia Primus to study, where they learn basic knowledge about the world and magic. Lior, a son of the Ravenhart estate, goes to one in the capital that most nobles attend—one where most nobles who would later get their rootcraft awakened go to.
Lior galloped on his horse as fast as he could, all the while looking behind him to check on Sid, who was also struggling with his. He never thought that Sid would be going to the same Primus as him, but that wasn't bad if he thought about it. It just meant that, unlike other nobles, the daughters of the Ravenhart estate aren't so bad to their servants. But well, the act might be bad for Sid.
Lior reached the school gates and slowed down the speed of his horse. Men dressed in protective gear could be seen standing there. Lior and Sid weren't so different either, as they were also donned in uniforms.
The school uniform was an ash-gray tunic which featured colored bands on the sleeves—that indicate the year or class rank of the students.
Lior and Sid both had black-colored bands, and that indicated that they were in their final year of Primus school.
The tunic was also accompanied by navy trousers and leather boots with black waist sashes and, if needed, a cloak. New Lior was most favorable to this uniform when he saw it in the morning, as the old Lior wasn't the best when it came to comfortable clothes that James could wear.
The gate guards looked them up and down and asked, "And where are you going to? If you're students of this school, why are you late?"
Sid was the one who stepped forward as he said, "I'm sorry, but my master had to change from a carriage to a horse this morning, hence the tardiness. Next time will be better."
The men looked at them once more before opening the school gates to them. They then walked through the gates. Lior turned to Sid, "What was that? Why did you have to apologize for what I caused?"
"Well, you didn't exactly cause it, as I was also slow riding my horse, so you had to slow down for me, and hence we got here late. But apart from that, as your servant, I've got to always shoulder the mistakes of my master."
"Is that what they taught you here?" Lior asked, his eyes gracing the compound of the basic Primus, and it was truly awesome and breathtaking. The buildings of the school were something that Lior hadn't seen before, no matter how rich he was in his previous life and this was understandable, as he lived in the modern world. And though this couldn't be considered ancient or historical, one would still call it that, as it's kind of like a fantasy world carved into Lior's brain.
They soon entered the school building. Sid, with the correct memory of the hallways, led them to the class but based on the rules, which he had explained to Lior, he wasn't to lead the entrance. Rather, Lior was.
They reached their class—the last grade of the Primus, and a lady could be seen standing inside. She was dressed in a gown with a name tag on her chest. It read, "Teacher Lyra."
"Good day, Lady Lyra," Lior said as he stepped inside the room, and his eyes moved around. He took in the different people that were inside the room—their faces beautiful and handsome—and it ended there as he proceeded to enter deeper, perhaps to sit on an empty chair. But he didn't proceed much, as the teacher finally responded to his greeting.
"Huh? Who are you, and where are you proceeding to?" she asked, and Lior turned his neck to stare at her.
He wasn't sure what to say as, well, his memories weren't that sharp. And again, were they in the wrong room? Is that why the teacher couldn't tell who he was? Lior was confused. So, he looked at Sid, who was behind him, confusingly still standing there.
The teacher also craned her neck to look at Sid, who had just wanted to enter the room, and her face finally bore recognition as she said, "Oh… Sid, you're here. Is your master finally alright?"
Sid bowed to the lady as he entered and kept his head low ever since. That managed to make Lior raise an eyebrow as he stared at him and then back at the room. But he didn't dwell on looking at them too much, as he focused on the interaction between Sid and the lady, or rather, the teacher.
"That's my master, Lady Lyra. Or what do you mean?" Sid said, gesturing towards Lior, who just looked at both of them as though bored, which he truly was.
The teacher looked at Lior, whom Sid pointed at, and her brows knitted. She looked back at Sid and said, "That's Lior? Yes, I'll admit that he has red hair and green eyes, but when has Lior ever greeted me audibly when he entered the classroom? Got here late? Or… it's just so complicated."
With a bored expression on his face, Lior stepped forward to meet the teacher, since he finally understood why she didn't recognize him at first. "Well, guess my new demeanor kind of shocked you, as it was unexpected. But yes, this is me. And I'd like to go sit down now."
She blinked as she stared at him again, caught off guard yet again by his words and clear voice. But she didn't stay that way for long, as she coughed, broke eye contact, and said, "Yes, you can go sit down."
Sid nodded, and Lior didn't even bother. He just turned and moved to his seat. A chair was empty just beside a blonde-haired guy, and Lior dropped his bum on it. He didn't look at the guy that much and just focused on the table as he breathed in and out, steadying his breathing. He was just focused on settling himself after the journey to school and adjusting to the new environment.
Lior wouldn't lie if he said that all the eyes, the stares, and the long moment it took for the teacher's brain to get jogged didn't strain him. It did.
Lady Lyra got the attention of the class back as she said, "It's really surprising to me and I guess to you all too. I didn't expect Lior to be back today, but I'm happy he is. I hope you guys are also happy he is."
It was as if Sid's announcement, that the new short-haired and confident guy who came to sit down was Lior didn't reach the students' ears at first, as the teacher's announcement brought an uproar in the classroom.