Ivan woke to the sound of birds singing outside his window. A beam of sunlight fell across his face, warm and promising. He yawned, stretching his arms wide, feeling a sense of peace and contentment he hadn't felt since leaving home. For a moment, he was just a boy in a soft bed, with the whole day ahead of him.
Ivan mumbling to himself, smiling
"Finally, a good night's sleep on a cloud... Mom would never believe it..."
Then his eyes landed on the calendar hanging on the far wall. A large, red circle marked the date. His blood ran cold.
*"Academy 1st Year - Opening Day."*
*Ivan shooting upright in bed
"TODAY?!"
A sharp, rapid knock came at the door. The head maid's stern voice followed.
"Master Ivan? Lady Alicia is waiting in the main foyer. She is... losing patience."
Ivan panicked, scrambling out of bed
"I'm up! I'm up! Tell her I'll be right there!"
He moved in a blur, splashing water on his face and scrambling into the fine, new attire a maid had laid out for him—a simple but well-made tunic and trousers, a world away from his village clothes but still humble compared to noble standards. He burst out of his room and sprinted down the grand hallway, his shoes skidding on the polished marble.
Outside, Alicia stood tapping her foot next to the magnificent Luthor carriage. She was dressed in an exquisite academy uniform, tailored to perfection.
Alicia to the maid, exasperated
"How can one person take so long to put on one set of clothes? Go tell him if he's not here in ten seconds, I'm leaving his rustic behind!"
Just then, Ivan came skidding to a halt in front of her, panting.
Ivan bending over, hands on his knees
"I'm here! Sorry! I lost track of—"
Alicia cutting him off, rolling her eyes
"Save your breath, we're late. Get in." She climbed into the carriage without another word, but Ivan caught the slightest hint of a relieved sigh.
***
The Marquess's carriage rolled to a stop before the towering gates of Alethea Academy. The air itself felt different here—thick with the scent of old stone, ancient parchment, and the sharp, electric tang of concentrated ambition. The academy was a breathtaking complex of spires, libraries, and arenas, a city within a city.
Dozens of other carriages, each bearing the crest of a great noble house, were disembarking their students. It was a parade of wealth and privilege.
A hush fell over the crowd as a particularly imposing carriage, escorted by a squadron of knights in the Duke's livery, arrived. The door opened, and Leo stepped out, his chest puffed out, a confident grin on his face as he scanned the other students as if assessing future rivals. His twin, Maria, followed, her expression one of cool superiority.
Next emerged William Edgar. At 183 cm, with his white hair slicked back perfectly, he cut an imposing figure. But his emerald eyes looked through the crowds, lost in some internal calculation. Without a glance at anyone, he strode purposefully away from the carriages, heading straight for the vast library wing, his goal clear and solitary.
Finally, Kent stepped down. He looked small beside the memory of his siblings' grand entrances. He adjusted his uniform, trying to blend into the background as Leo and Maria walked off without a second look in his direction. The familiar feeling of being an outsider began to settle over him.
But then, a voice cut through the noise, friendly and familiar.
Ivan waving enthusiastically
"Kent! Over here!"
Ivan, ignoring the stares his shouting drew, pushed his way through the crowd toward his friend. Seeing a friendly face, Kent's posture straightened, and a genuine smile broke through his nervousness.
"Ivan! You made it."
Ivan grin walking towards him
"Barely! Alicia almost set the horses on fire to get us here on time."
Alicia, who had followed at a more dignified pace, sniffed
"Don't exaggerate, commoner." But she didn't protest their reunion.
Alicia, who had followed at a more dignified pace, now found herself standing with them. She could feel the weight of dozens of eyes upon her. Whispers slithered through the air like snakes.
*"Is that the Luthor heiress? Why is she with... them?" Speak one student
*"That's the half-commoner son of the Duke... and who is that other boy? His clothes are so plain." Said noble girl
Alicia's first instinct was to stiffen, to put distance between herself and this social liability. Just a week ago, she would have. But now, she found herself ignoring the stares. She looked at Ivan, who was chatting animatedly with Kent, completely oblivious to the judgment swirling around them. He treated Kent not as a political entity or a symbol of shame, but simply as a friend. He had even stood between her and a bandit's sword with that same reckless disregard for station.
Internally, Alicia sighed.
"He's an absolute fool. No manners, no sense of propriety, and about as subtle as a thunderclap. But the thought held no malice. Before, all I could see was my family's legacy. My name, my rank, my future alliances. It was a cage I never even knew I was in. But he... he just sees people. He saved me not because I was a Marquess's daughter, but because it was the right thing to do. And he defends Kent for the same reason. It's infuriatingly simple. And... I can't help but be impressed by it.
snapping, but with less bite than usual
"Will you two stop gossiping? The ceremony is about to start. Try not to embarrass yourselves—or me—too much."
Ivan just grinned back at her.
"Don't worry, we'll be the picture of nobility! Right, Kent?"
Kent gave a hesitant but sincere nod.
As the great bells of Alethea began to chime, signaling the start of the opening ceremony, the three of them stood together at the threshold of legend. The noble heiress, the duke's ostracized son, and the commoner dreamer. Their paths, once separated by an unbreachable chasm, had converged. Their journey was just beginning.
*************