Sunlight streamed through Arthur's window, cutting across his face and dragging him out of sleep whether he wanted it or not.
He groaned and rolled over, checking the time on his mana watch. Six in the morning. The induction ceremony started at nine, which meant he had plenty of time to get ready without rushing. Still, the nervous energy was already building in his chest, making it impossible to fall back asleep even if he wanted to.
'First official day. Here we go.'
Arthur dragged himself out of bed and headed for the small bathroom attached to his room. The shower was hot and actually had decent water pressure, one of the few luxuries the Academy dorms provided. He stood under the spray for longer than strictly necessary, letting the heat work out the lingering soreness from yesterday's training session with Ren.
When he finally stepped out and wiped the steam off the mirror, his academy uniform was waiting on the hook where he'd hung it last night.
All black. Deep, rich black fabric that looked expensive and felt even more so. Golden accents ran along the collar and cuffs, intricate patterns that caught the light. The Academy's crest was embroidered over the heart in gold thread: a shield crossed by a sword, surrounded by stylised runes that represented the four nations. The uniform had been tailored about a week ago when they'd done final measurements. His body had changed enough from a month of constant training that the original sizing from entrance exams wouldn't have fit properly anymore.
Arthur pulled it on piece by piece. The shirt, the jacket, the pants, the boots. Everything fell into place like it had been designed specifically for him, which technically it had been.
He stood in front of the mirror and actually looked at himself properly for the first time in weeks.
Six foot one, athletic build that came from Arthur's years of training, combined with the past month of constant sparring with Ren. Light brown hair that was just slightly messy despite his attempt to comb it, giving him a casually dishevelled look that somehow worked. Hazel eyes with distinct yellow hints around the pupils, a trait he'd inherited from his father, according to Arthur's memories. Strong jawline, defined cheekbones, the kind of features that would probably make him stand out in a crowd even if he didn't want to.
The black and gold uniform made everything look even more striking. Like he'd stepped out of some recruitment poster for elite combat schools.
Arthur leaned closer to the mirror and grinned at his reflection.
'Okay, not gonna lie, I look incredible right now. Like, genuinely unfairly attractive. If I saw myself walking down the street, I'd probably be jealous of me.'
He turned slightly, checking the profile view.
'The uniform helps. Definitely helps. Makes me look taller somehow? Or maybe just more put together. Either way, solid choice by whoever designed these things.'
Arthur struck a deliberately ridiculous heroic pose, one hand on his hip.
'Arthur Reinhart, hero of the Academy, defender of justice, breaker of hearts across four nations. The ladies and gentlemen won't know what hit them.'
He held the pose for exactly three seconds before reality crashed back in, and he felt absolutely ridiculous.
'What am I doing? I'm standing in my bathroom, posing at myself like an idiot. This is what my life has become.'
Arthur shook his head and finished getting ready properly, strapping on his equipment belt and making sure everything was in order. No practice sword today; those weren't allowed during formal ceremonies. But he still had his mana watch and a few other essentials.
One last check in the mirror. He looked good. Ready. Like, he actually belonged here instead of being a transmigrated reader pretending to be a dead noble.
'Fake it till you make it. That's the plan.'
Arthur left his room and headed downstairs. The dormitory was already buzzing with activity despite the early hour. First-years running around in various states of panic, trying to get ready. Upper years are moving with more confidence, clearly used to this routine.
He made his way to the dining hall and found Ren already sitting at their usual table, nursing a cup of coffee and looking half-asleep.
"Morning," Arthur said, sliding into the seat across from him.
Ren grunted something that might have been a greeting. His uniform was slightly rumpled, like he'd put it on in a hurry. His hair was sticking up in the back.
"You look terrible," Arthur observed cheerfully.
"Didn't sleep well. Too nervous about today." Ren took another sip of coffee. "You look disgustingly well-rested and put together. I hate you a little bit right now."
"I had the same nightmare three times about showing up to the ceremony naked. Does that make you feel better?"
"Marginally."
They grabbed breakfast, which was somehow even worse than usual, probably because the kitchen staff was overwhelmed, and ate quickly. The dining hall was packed, students everywhere, the noise level already giving Arthur a headache.
"Ready to sit through hours of boring speeches?" Ren asked as they cleared their trays.
"Absolutely not. Let's go anyway."
They left the dining hall and joined the stream of students heading toward the main auditorium. The path was clearly marked with enchanted signs that floated in the air, directing everyone to the right building. As if anyone could miss it, the auditorium was the largest structure on campus besides the training centre, a massive gothic building with towering spires and stained glass windows.
They were about halfway there when Arthur noticed the commotion.
A group of elves were moving through the crowd, clearly searching for something. Or someone. There were maybe six or seven of them, all wearing formal robes in green and silver, Sylvaria's colours. They had that distinctive elven grace, moving like they were floating instead of walking. But their expressions were stressed, borderline panicked.
"Have you seen Princess Lyria?" one of them asked a passing student desperately. "Dark hair, green eyes, probably trying to avoid us?"
The student shook their head and hurried away.
Another elf stopped a different group. "The princess. Has anyone seen her? It's extremely important that we locate her before the ceremony begins."
Arthur and Ren exchanged glances.
"Those must be the consorts her father sent," Ren said quietly. "The ones she was complaining about yesterday."
"She's definitely avoiding them."
"Smart woman."
They continued toward the auditorium, leaving the frantic elven delegation behind. The building loomed larger as they approached, the gothic architecture even more impressive up close. The main doors stood open, students filing in steadily. Inside, the space opened up into something massive.
The auditorium could easily hold a thousand people, maybe more. Rows of seats descended in tiers toward a raised stage at the front. The ceiling stretched up impossibly high, supported by stone columns carved with intricate designs. More stained glass windows lined the walls, casting coloured light across everything. The whole place had an almost cathedral-like atmosphere, grand and slightly intimidating.
Students were finding seats, the noise echoing off the stone walls. First-years clustered together nervously. Upper years spread out more casually, clearly used to this. Arthur spotted a few faculty members standing along the sides, keeping order.
"Where do you want to sit?" Ren asked, surveying the rapidly filling auditorium.
"Middle section? Not too close to the front, not in the back where we can't see anything?"
"Sounds good—"
"Hey."
Arthur turned and found Lyria standing there, looking slightly uncomfortable. She was wearing the Academy uniform like everyone else, the black and gold somehow looking even more striking on her. The way the fabric draped on her tall, graceful frame made her look elegant and dangerous at the same time. Her dark hair with its green streaks was pulled back partially, revealing her pointed ears and the piercings that decorated the left one. Those shimmering green eyes caught the coloured light from the stained glass windows, making them almost luminescent.
She was stunning. Absolutely, undeniably stunning in a way that made Arthur forget how to form words for half a second.
'Okay. An elven princess in an academy uniform. That's... that's something.'
"Hi," Arthur said, recovering from his momentary brain malfunction. "Avoiding your consorts?"
"Successfully, so far." Lyria glanced around like she expected them to appear at any moment. "Look, this is probably awkward, but can I sit with you guys? I don't really have any friends here yet since I'm from a different country, and I absolutely cannot sit with those stuck-up elven students my father sent to 'look after me'. " She made air quotes with obvious disdain. "They'll spend the entire ceremony whispering about protocol and proper behaviour, and I genuinely think I'll lose my mind."
Ren blinked. "You want to sit with us?"
"If you don't mind? I know we just met yesterday, but you two seem normal. Relatively speaking." Lyria's expression was almost pleading. "I'll owe you one. Seriously. Name it, and I'll make it happen."
Arthur couldn't help but smile. The elven princess, actual royalty, was asking to sit with a Baron and a commoner because she was trying to avoid her own people. The irony wasn't lost on him.
"Sure," he said. "We were just finding seats anyway."
"Thank you." Lyria's relief was visible. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Those consorts are relentless. They haven't left me alone since we arrived."
They found seats in the middle section, like Arthur had suggested, with Lyria sitting between them. She immediately slumped down slightly, trying to be less visible. Several students nearby noticed the elven princess and stared, but Lyria ignored them completely.
"So what exactly do they do?" Ren asked. "The consorts, I mean."
"Officially? They're here to ensure my safety and provide support while I'm attending the Academy." Lyria's tone made it clear what she thought of that. "Unofficially? They report everything I do back to my father and the council. Every conversation, every class, every person I interact with. It's suffocating."
"That sounds terrible," Arthur said.
"It really is. That's why I'm here instead of at one of the elven academies in Sylvaria. I wanted to get away from all that, experience something different, and meet people who aren't obsessed with politics and bloodlines." She gestured around the auditorium. "This is supposed to be my chance to be normal. Or at least closer to normal than I've ever been."
"Well, you picked the right people to sit with," Ren said, grinning. "We're extremely normal. Aggressively average, even."
"Speak for yourself," Arthur muttered. "I'm clearly exceptional."
"You lost our last three spars."
"Details."
Lyria actually laughed at that, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "You two are ridiculous. I like it."
The auditorium continued filling up around them. The noise level rose as more students poured in, finding seats and greeting friends they hadn't seen over the break. The energy was building, anticipation mixing with nervousness. Everyone knew what today meant. The official start of the Academy year. The beginning of everything.
Arthur scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces from the novel. He spotted a few students he recognised from descriptions: a girl with distinctive silver hair that probably meant ice affinity, a massive guy who had to be from Ironhaven based on his size and features, and a group wearing Luminara royal guard emblems who were likely escorting someone important.
But no, Lloyd. Not yet.
'He's probably making a dramatic entrance. That seems like his style based on the early chapters.'
"So," Lyria said, breaking into Arthur's thoughts. "Are you two actually ready for classes to start? I heard the training here is brutal compared to other academies."
"Probably as ready as we'll ever be," Arthur said. "We've been training together for the past month, so at least we're not going in completely unprepared."
"Smart. Most students show up on day one having done nothing over the break." Lyria's expression became thoughtful. "What's your affinity, if you don't mind me asking? I'm trying to figure out who has what, so I know what to expect in joint training exercises."
"Lightning," Arthur said. "Single affinity. Nothing fancy."
"Lightning's not bad. Good offensive potential." Lyria turned to Ren. "And you?"
"Earth," Ren said. "Also single affinity. Also, nothing fancy. We're a very unfancy group."
Lyria's smile was genuine. "I like unfancy. Fancy is overrated and usually means people are compensating for a lack of actual skill."
The lights dimmed slightly, a subtle magical effect that immediately quieted the crowd. Everyone's attention shifted to the stage at the front. The ceremony was about to begin.
Arthur felt his pulse quicken. This was it. The official start. After this, there was no going back to the quiet training days. After this, everything changed.
Lyria straightened in her seat, her earlier casual demeanour shifting to something more composed. Ren leaned forward slightly, clearly trying to see the stage better.
The auditorium fell completely silent.
And the ceremony began.