"At last! We're in the Academy!!!!" Rylan, a boy with a mop of fiery red hair, shouted, his voice echoing through the grand courtyard. He puffed out his chest, a triumphant grin splitting his face.
"Shut up, Rylan," Collei, a boy with sleek black hair, said, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Are you not ashamed that there are so many people here?" He glanced around, his eyes catching the stares of other students. He wished he could melt into the ground.
"No!" Rylan boomed, ignoring Collei's plea for discretion. "I'm gonna become the first Spear Fire General!!" He thrust his hand into the air, pointing towards the sky as if claiming the heavens.
The people around them, including the Rethrus group, who were just entering the Academy, couldn't help but turn their heads and stare.
Jack, his eyes rolling, couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, boy," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "I think he have a long way to go before he become a legend."
Leo, his gaze fixed on Rylan, couldn't help but feel a pang of amusement. "He's a bit much, isn't he?" Leo said, his voice a soft chuckle.
Even Rethrus, usually quiet and introspective, couldn't help but smile.
He had seen his fair share of braggarts, and Rylan reminded him of a few he'd met in his past life. He wondered if Rylan's confidence was genuine or just a facade.
"Ah, shut up!" Collei said, his voice a hushed plea. He tugged on Rylan's sleeve, his face burning with shame. "You're making me look bad!"
Rylan, however, was undeterred. He puffed out his chest, his grin growing wider.
"No way!" he said. "I'm going to be a legend! Everyone will know my name! The Spear Fire General, Rylan, the greatest mage of all time!"
Collei let out a sigh, knowing that this was going to be a long year. He shook his head, hoping that the other students wouldn't think he was a complete idiot for being friends with Rylan.
"Look at those two there," a guy with glasses said, nodding towards Rylan and Collei. "The red-haired one is kinda annoying."
"Don't be like that, Julian," Beatrice Montgomery, the daughter of Sir Jaime Montgomery, a Count of the Silver Lake County, said, her voice a gentle but firm counterpoint to Julian's cynicism. She is a girl of quiet confidence, a natural leader who held a strong moral compass.
"Tsk, I just don't like those kinds of people," Julian Langly, one of the sons of Joseph Langly, the Count of Mercia, mumbled, his gaze lingering on Rylan. He was a boy of privilege and ambition, his eyes reflecting the desire to rise above his peers.
Jasper, Julian's younger brother, a boy with brown hair and a shy demeanor, wrung his hands.
"Do we really have to fight? I mean, we're rich, right? Why can't we be like the other noble houses?" He looked at Beatrice, his eyes reflecting a sense of unease.
"Jasper, my little brother," Julian said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.
"Do you really wanna stay in that small county your whole life? Half of the known houses' sons and daughters are joining the military.
And do you really just want to be a part of a lesser house if we can marry a daughter of a Duke or greater than it?"
Jasper, his face turning red, stumbled over his words. "Beatrice is a girl, and she's joining." He couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Beatrice's courage and determination.
"And let's not forget the fact that you're a light user," Julian said, a smug smile spreading across his face.
"You're the rarest in here. Act like one. Don't be a scaredy-cat, Jasper. You're special."
Jasper, his eyes widening, looked down at his hands, his fingers tracing the faint glow emanating from his fingertips. "But…we only train for like a month," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
"Don't worry, we have expensive equipment," Julian said, patting his brother's shoulder.
"And don't be gloomy, with your magic, you'll be the top 1 in this year."
Jasper, his heart filled with a mixture of trepidation and a glimmer of hope, looked at his brother, his eyes reflecting a yearning for something more. He wished he had the courage to follow his own path, but he also knew that he was bound by the expectations of his family.
The academy was vast, sprawling across the land like a sleeping giant. The students stood in awe, their eyes darting around, taking in the towering structures and sprawling courtyards. Suddenly, a wave of water parted, revealing a massive screen in its wake. The screen shimmered, then flickered to life, displaying a list of the top 60 primary applicants.
"Most of them are from noble houses," Rethrus muttered, scanning the list. His gaze fell on the names at the top, Aric Valeric and Cassian Valeric.
"So they're strong," Rethrus said, his voice tight.
"No, they just have better equipment," Aethra replied, a hint of cynicism in his tone.
"They can afford to train with the best teachers and the most advanced tools."
The students gasped as the name at the very top of the screen flashed. "It's Prince Ezra!"
"Why would a royalty join us?" murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"I mean, his brother is a general," a random kid whispered. "I guess he's here to prove himself."
Prince Ezra smirked, his gaze scanning the crowd.
He didn't bother to acknowledge their whispers. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he stepped forward, a plume of fire erupting around him as he landed on the ground. The crowd went silent.
"Tsk, so arrogant," Jack said, his voice dripping with disdain as the crown Prince Ezra wore glowed with power.
"So, that's the prince," a blond kid with a wand whispered, his eyes wide.
The prince strode towards Aethra's group, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth," he said, his voice smooth and confident. The students parted, clearing a path for the prince. A wave of excitement swept through the crowd, especially among the girls.
"Aackkkkk, Prince Ezra! You're so strong and beautiful!" a girl screamed, her voice trembling.
"He's really pretty," Beatrice murmured, her gaze drawn to the prince's regal bearing.
"Woah, so that's the prince," Rylan shouted, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
"Ahh, minimize your voice," Collei hissed, glancing around nervously. The crowd's attention was now focused on Elizabeth.
"Now I know why the prince joined," the random student said again.
The crowd went silent, their gazes locked on Elizabeth. Even the girls were stunned by her ethereal beauty.
"Is she a noble or something?" Beatrice asked, puzzled.
Julian and Jasper were speechless, their eyes widening in admiration.
"I guess we have another reason to fight, right, brother?" Julian said to Jasper, a glint of determination in his eyes.
"Yes, brother," Jasper replied, nodding slowly.
Rylan, too, was captivated by Elizabeth's presence. He was speechless for a moment, his gaze fixed on her. Even Collei, normally so outspoken, was rendered silent.
"Oh, having her means you have to own the world," a kid declared, his voice overflowing with awe.
Aethra watched Elizabeth, a new realization dawning on him.
"Oh my princess, you're more beautiful than the last time I saw you," he said, dropping to one knee and kissing her hand. His heart pounded with a mixture of admiration and something else—something he didn't quite understand.
Elizabeth, uncomfortable with all the attention, was searching the crowd for Rethrus. "Uhm, your majesty, you don't have to kneel," she said, her voice soft.
Jack couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey, prince, get off my girlfriend," he shouted, stepping forward, his fists clenched. Leo, Haldrin, and Hans stood behind him, their faces hardening with anger.
Justus chuckled, shaking his head. "The effect of her beauty is so unreal," he mused. "Having her means you win life, indeed."
Ezra smirked, glancing at Jack with amusement.
"Oh, you, the hot-headed guy." He looked around the crowd. "By the way, where's the fire guy and the dark one?"
The group looked around, their gazes searching the crowd. The fire guy and the dark one were gone.
As the students made their way to the speed test, Aethra turned to Rethrus.
"Race each other?" he asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.
Rethrus smiled. "You're faster than me."
"You need twenty participants for each race," a voice boomed from behind them. A wave of students, already forming a queue, confirmed the announcement.
"Yo!" A redhead with a black-haired companion appeared before them.
"My name is Rylan, and this is my best friend, Collei."
"Hello," Collei answered, a friendly smile on his face.
"This was the loud guy earlier," Rethrus and Aethra thought in unison.
"Hello!" Rethrus greeted them happily.
"They seem like nice kids," Rethrus thought.
"You wanna race too?" Aethra asked calmly.
"Hehhe, yes!" Rylan answered, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
"You know, you will fail this test if you will be on par with a fast opponent," Aethra said, his voice even. "You might choose a weak opponent if you wanna pass."
'I agree with Aethra,'Rethrus thought.
"Huh, you thought you're that strong?" Rylan shouted, his voice booming. "I'm gonna be the greatest fire spearman this world will ever see!"
"Ahh, don't shout," Collei said, gently placing a hand on his arm.
"Yes, we'll find another opponent to run with," Collei said.
"No, we'll fight them," Rylan said, his eyes gleaming with competitive fire. More students gathered, eager to join the race, their voices a rising tide of excitement.
Leo joined the group, his eyes narrowed in determination.
"Should we join Rethrus, Aethra, and Leo to race?" Jestus asked the group.
"No, let's scatter if we wanna pass," Jack admitted, his voice laced with a touch of hurt. "We can't beat those beasts."
"Listen, those men are strong," Collei said to them, his eyes sharp. "Their stance says they are."
"Did you see the short guy?" Rylan asked, his voice almost a whisper.
"That guy has the same height as we are," Collei interrupted, shaking his head.
"That's a mage," Rylan said, his voice a mixture of respect and slight fear. "I'm clearly sure he's well-oriented in magic than physical test."
"Hayst, suit yourself. But I will fight another group," Collei answered, his eyes gleaming with a quiet defiance.
"Okay, let's meet up later," Rylan answered.
"Let's join the first batch," Julian said to Jasper. "Let's go!"
The first twenty were arranged, their faces a mix of excitement and apprehension. A guy with a chest full of gleaming artifacts, his eyes glinting with a sense of superiority, joined the fray.