Prelude

A week had passed since the St. Nova ceremony. According to the exchange program, the students involved had to temporarily leave the academy and live with the noble affiliated with them.

It was an interesting and funny experience, funny when you think about some of Nebula's students who might come from a higher social rank but will end up in a lower domain, due to their inability to be a true heir.

In my case, it was a nice breath of fresh air. Zuri's family lived on a small plot of land surrounded by a vast forest where weak monsters could be found, making this place my favorite playground.

The Baron's financial situation was delicate and he could not afford to call on knights to protect his own lands, making my presence very welcomed and I could get absolutely everything, non-financial, that I wanted.

I was sitting on a huge stone next to a swamp, while Zuri was in the swamp, collecting disgusting toads.

She stood still for a moment then, with a sudden movement, grabbed a blue toad