We arrived at the gate after an hour of uninterrupted sprinting. And without further ado, both Henry and I went out, disqualifying us from a seat in the library.Even if we had more points than everyone else, defeating the boss was also a requirement for gaining a seat.But none of that was on our minds as we hurried past the soldiers who were attempting to check us in.“He…hey! Wait! Pause right there!"The two shadows dashing out of the gate caught the guards off guard and they were unable to respond as they entered the academy.“Huff…”"We need to go to the portal as soon as possible."Right, getting
I took a glance at the room's wall, which had a photo hung on it. It was a small snapshot around the size of a typical pocketbook when I first saw it, but it was now approximately the size of a flat regular tv in my world. Lisa had used her magic to enlarge it and return it to its former glory. The yellow musky colour that was typically present had vanished, and the image of a man, woman, and child was as plain as day. The man had brown hair and a face that one might see merely walking down the street. I don't want to pass judgment on somebody based on their appearance, but it was just too commonplace. He appeared to be one of those side characters who would be inserted in a comic book for a single line or page rather than a full chapter. If he became a fugitive, he
"As you can see... Isn't your mother's story heartbreaking?" Lisa looked at her son with a teary expression on her face.Eh. You don't tell someone that your own story is tragic. But who am I to argue?"Umm..." was all I could manage."Then I'll go sleep, mother.""Wait..wait..wait..wait..wait..wait..wait. I didn't tell you all that for nothing."Lisa straightened her back and looked me in the eyes for the first time with conviction."Your father received a present from my family, and that is the only thing I did not sell to compensate for his treatment. And I simply wanted to let you know that you are free to take it whenever you choose. Even after so many years, the Whitep
The party was hosted in a massive hall that looked more like a king's castle than an academy hall. The massive gleaming chandeliers looked wonderful as they illuminated the entire hall. Elegant tables were strategically positioned throughout the venue, with a stage in the centre for someone to address the audience. There were hundreds of people attending to the students; I'm not sure if it was always like this, but I felt like a big shot noble because of the manner the attendants attended to me. They even cut up the perfectly cooked rib of beef I requested in pieces. The food was delicious. normally, I believe that street foods taste better and are less expensive than those offered in fancy hotels or restaurants, but I was proven wrong this time. The meal here was far superior to anything I'd ever had.
Eliza sat down and re-examined the man in front of her. Her heels were ruined because of someone who couldn't dance, and she held them in her hand."Please accept my apologies, I will pay for the shoes.""There's no need. I have a plethora of shoes, and losing one means nothing. But I never expected someone like you to be so inept at dancing."She glanced at me in bewilderment. And what can I do but remain silent? I felt too arrogant accepting her invitation for a dance, if we had danced in front of everyone else, I would have been ashamed.My blunders caused her to trip, and her shoes broke."I can teach you to dance, Mr Riel.""You should at least understand the fundamenta
The Brightwing Academy stood proudly at the pinnacle of Magic expertise. The small island seemed insignificant in comparison to its significant advances in magic and military force. It is well-known around the world for magical studies relating to the four basic elements, the branches of which lead to all other elements.The academy developed not only world-class magicians and fighters but also items that would improve people's lives. It had a monopoly on everything magical, from military uses to common things, and it spanned numerous Empires.The Brightwing Empire's Magic tower, like the academy, dwarfs its surroundings. Divisions of magicians and researchers demonstrated their abilities through advancements on each floor of this tower.Only a well-known magician who has provided or completed a particular accomplis
Andrew made his way to the library. Today marks the academy's largest disaster in its history. The plundering of its imperial library!He was well aware that Gill and his men were on the other side of the library. And Gill needed his signal to proceed, so he had to hurry."Are you certain you can get rid of the guard?"Andrew inquired of a cloaked man who stood behind him.Behind him were roughly fifty men dressed in dark robes and hoods."As long as you keep the guard distracted, I can place this artefact, and the library will have no choice but to open its doors for us."The hooded figure was a Mage. Only at B-rank, due to stringent restrictions, anyone stronger than A-rank was
A few hours prior. Gill took a glance at the pupil who didn't know where he belonged. Of course, he figured out the student's identity in a flash. He was the student who sat at Eliza's table and even danced with him! His gut grumbled with envy and jealousy just thinking about it. However, that was all he knew. He was unaware of the student's strength or level. But he had to be cautious. There must be something exceptional about him that drew Eliza's attention, and the fact that he was able to approach him without being discovered already demonstrated his abilities. Gill shivered at the prospect of confronting someone he couldn't even sense. What if the student had a grudge a
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse