In front of a cheap inn on the western side of the capital, Larasati prepared to head to work while Lala and Ryan steeled their resolve for their very first day as academy students.
Wearing a thin, revealing dress, the beautiful elf spoke, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
"Today you'll officially be academy students… As for me, I'll be settling here in the capital as an adventurer."
Lala and Ryan, now dressed in their academy uniforms, smiled warmly at her.
"We'll be living in the dorms, yes," Lala replied, "but we'll visit you every holiday."
Ryan added in his calm, gentle voice, "Perhaps Natasya and James will come along too…"
Larasati had been with the four children of Carrington Village—Lala, Ryan, Natasya, and James—for four years now, ever since they were ten.
By this time, she had mastered the human tongue fluently, though her elven Sundanese accent sometimes slipped out unconsciously, especially when she muttered in her sleep.
After the life-and-death battle in Carrington Forest, she chose to settle in the village, working as a gardener for a local noble of tumenggung rank.
She was more than just a friend, Larasati was their teacher. She guided the four children, imparting her knowledge of the world and her experience in combat.
With preparations complete, they set off together toward the northeastern part of the capital, where the academy was located.
As they walked, they chatted casually.
"Larasati, elves don't age, right?" Lala asked.
"I was shocked when I first heard how old she was," Ryan added bluntly.
Larasati only smiled, walking between them as she ruffled their hair with her slender hands.
"Still, you know, elves only live around twenty years longer than humans," she said warmly, her smile shining beneath the morning sun.
"Our race isn't immortal, we only look eternally young," she explained.
In the novel Pe and Kob, elves could not live for centuries. The original author, Agoy, who had been silent all this time, suddenly murmured inside Lala Rosalia's mind.
I wrote the concept of elves differently in this world, just like the premise you made when you were still Yoga.
I designed their lifespans to be only slightly longer than humans'. All of this was just for James's harem, since he's the protagonist of the novel.
His voice echoed in Lala's inner world, lingering until their footsteps carried them to the capital's main square.
There, on the outskirts of the plaza, stood the Adventurer's Guild where Larasati worked.
"This is where we part ways," Larasati said softly. "Don't forget to visit me on your days off. Your parents entrusted me with your care, after all."
"Don't worry, we'll be fine in the dorms," Lala answered gently.
Ryan continued as they walked, "We're not kids anymore… Just wait, we'll be back this weekend." His words might have sounded cold, but Larasati understood the warmth behind them.
"See you, then!" Larasati called out, waving as Lala and Ryan walked farther and farther away.
Their steps carried them northeast, toward the academy.
This was no ordinary school. It was an academy filled with both commoners and nobles.
Ryan's own family bore the title of Raden low nobility. In Carrington Village, they lived within the territory of a tumenggung noble.
The Kingdom of Nusa had a complicated hierarchy of nobility within the empire.
At the top was the Maharaja, ruling over many kings within the empire. Beneath them, the kings ruled vast regions.
Then came the Adipati, governors of large territories.
Below them were the Tumenggung, also called Arya, who ruled smaller regions.
The Raden Mas and Raden Ayu were lower nobles, most without lands of their own, living under tumenggung domains—though some did hold small territories granted by the king.
There were also honored knights and officials, often chosen from the commoners. And beneath them all were the common folk—the lowest rung of society.
Lala, daughter of simple farmers, was among the commoners. But between her and Ryan, the gap was never a true burden.
In her heart, Lala no longer felt like a man from Earth, but rather like a girl born of this world of fiction.
Conflicted between the remnants of her identity as Yoga and her growing feelings as Lala, she felt a bittersweet turmoil within her chest.
After parting with Larasati, the journey toward the academy quickened Lala's heartbeat.
Every so often, her eyes stole glances at the boy whose shoulders now rose taller than hers.
"What's wrong, Lala?" Ryan asked suddenly.
Startled, Lala quickly looked away. "N-nothing…"
"Relax. It's only our first day as students," Ryan said reassuringly, though misunderstanding her feelings. "You're acting strange. During the entrance exam you were so calm."
It wasn't nervousness. She was looking at him as a man. Her lips pursed into a pout at Ryan's obliviousness.
Noticing her sulking expression, Ryan slowed his pace and matched her steps.
Peaceful silence lingered as they passed rows of food stalls along the roadside, a sign that the academy was near.
Finally, they arrived at the iron gates.
Beyond them, the grand main hall loomed. Above the archway was inscribed: Academy of Ki Hajar Dewantara. The hall itself was crowned with a statue of the founder, a half-body figure in suit and tie, glasses perched on his nose, and a cap on his head.
"We finally made it," Lala breathed, unconsciously tugging Ryan through the gate.
"L-Lala!" Ryan stammered, flustered.
The two hurried past the academy guard.
"Good morning, Mister Ray!" Lala greeted.
The guard, Pak Ray, chuckled warmly. "Morning, young couple."
Ryan's face flushed crimson, his cheeks burning all the way to his temples, but Lala's grip dragged him along until they reached the doors of the main hall.
Just before entering, Ryan stopped.
"Wait, Lala. I'm in the warrior class…"
"Oh right, I forgot," Lala said, her face breaking into an adorably silly expression.
"You'll have to find your classroom inside. We'll split here," Ryan explained.
"But our path is the same, isn't it?" Lala argued.
"Yes, but you're in the mage class." Ryan smirked as he looked at her.
Together they entered the hall, but soon separated Ryan heading to the warrior class, while Lala made her way to the mage class.
Inside her mind, Agoy murmured once more.
Don't forget—he's the heir to the Nodachi no Katana. The Shevchenko family is one of the great warrior clans.
Sitting at the top row of seats, Lala whispered back into the world of her thoughts.
Yeah, I know… James is already in Class Two with Natasya. He's probably inherited the War Dragon Saber, the weapon once wielded by Pitung, the human hero.
Besides, ever since time rewound, the outline of the story has already changed.
Agoy chuckled, teasing her.
Hahaha, you really are the introvert overthinker.
Not long after, two boys entered and sat on either side of Lala, one with long black hair on her left, the other with slick red hair on her right.
Ahh… so I'm classmates with Aserion and Ikmal. And I'm even seated between them…