After Theo arrived at the academy, Frederick took him directly to the student dormitory. The preparations had already been completed, and Theo didn't need to make any additional arrangements. The staff had provided him with everything he needed, and starting tomorrow morning, he would begin attending his academic classes.
When they arrived, Theo raised his eyes toward the large gray building. It was old-fashioned, with long windows covered in semi-opaque glass, and a slanted roof covered in dark tiles. The place seemed silent and majestic, carrying the scent of the past in its stone walls. He noticed the massive wooden door, adorned with simple carvings on its edges—not complex, but they added a touch of elegance to the overall appearance. Even though the building looked ordinary at first glance…
Frederick stepped forward, and Theo reluctantly followed him toward a man who appeared to be in his mid-forties. He was wearing an elegant gray suit and stood firmly in front of the door as if he were part of the building itself.
Frederick smiled respectfully and said: "Hello, sir. Could you tell me where room number 156 is?" Then he pulled out a brass key bearing the same number.
The man raised his eyebrows and said: "Oh, is this the new student? Welcome, I'm George, the dormitory caretaker."
George exchanged a few words with Frederick, then looked at Theo, who was carrying his large bag on his back and standing silently. He looked exhausted after a long journey.
George said in a formal but not harsh tone: "Before I let you in, I must tell you something important. Leaving after sunset is strictly forbidden. And if there's something urgent that requires you to go out, you must first get my permission. I hope you'll follow the rules."
Theo answered quickly, trying to make a good impression: "Yes sir, I promise I won't cause any trouble."
George nodded, then gave a slight smile and said: "You two must be tired from the journey, so I won't keep you long. Let's go, I'll show you to your room."
The three of them entered the building's main hallway. The place felt strangely quiet, as if life had paused inside it. There were no sounds except the echo of their footsteps on the polished stone floor. The walls were decorated with old frames.
They reached the room, and George bid them farewell, saying: "I wish you a pleasant stay, son. If you need anything, don't hesitate to knock on my door."
George walked away, and Frederick turned to Theo to give him one last piece of advice:
"Theo, listen carefully. There are two students who'll be studying with us in this academy... Marks and Mans Winch. You may never meet them, but if you do, it's best to keep your distance. Don't befriend them, and don't try to provoke them."
Theo raised his eyebrows: "Why?"
Frederick replied in a low voice: "Because they're from the royal family of the Winch Kingdom. It's strange that they've been sent to an average academy like this, which means something unusual is going on. Remember, don't cause any problems. We don't want Mr. Austin to get involved in something because of you or me. Do as I say—for your own good."
Theo nodded without argument: "Understood. Don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble. I came to study, nothing more."
Frederick smiled and patted his shoulder: "Good. That's what I wanted to hear."
A few minutes later, Frederick also said goodbye and left. That's when Theo realized he was now completely alone. No friends, no relatives—no one to rely on but himself.
He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the small room. It was simple, containing a single bed, a wooden wardrobe, a study table and chair, and a dark curtain covering the window. It wasn't spacious, but it seemed suitable for someone seeking a bit of peace.
He began unpacking his bag, organizing his books and clothes. Then he threw his tired body onto the bed and closed his eyes.
Despite his fatigue, he couldn't fall asleep easily. His thoughts were spinning rapidly... anxiety, fear, excitement, curiosity. What awaited him tomorrow? What would the teachers be like? Would he find someone to share his thoughts with?
All he wanted was one thing… knowledge. He wanted to become strong—not to rule or boast, but so that he'd never feel helpless again. He wanted to understand this world in all its aspects—its secrets, its powers, and its history. For that reason, he swore to himself that he wouldn't waste this opportunity.
He suppressed his excitement and tried to calm down. Tomorrow was his first day in class, and he didn't want to be late.
....
In the administration section, behind one of the large doors with a brass handle, Richard, the academy director, sat behind his messy desk filled with files. His eyes were red from lack of sleep, and his forehead was furrowed with intense thought. Only a week had passed, yet one teacher had already resigned, and a student who hadn't even completed two days had left the academy in anger. The cause of all this was the troublesome student Mans.
Richard clenched his fist on the desk, muttering: "That boy is truly unbearable… arrogant, disrespectful, and acts as if the whole academy is under his command."
He knew that Mans was from the royal family, which made dealing with him difficult. He couldn't scold him, nor could he expel him—making that family angry could bring disaster upon the entire region.
"He must be angry because he was sent here, that's why he's acting this way. But why were they sent here? Of all academies?" he asked himself hopelessly, then added internally: "The Winch Kingdom is far away, and this academy doesn't match their level at all… there must be a hidden reason."
But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't grasp the real reason. All he knew was that he was stuck with this nightmare, and he had to handle it with extreme caution.
Knock knock knock
Richard lifted his head, startled from his thoughts. "Who's there?"
A voice came from behind the door: "It's Alfred, sir. A man wants to apply for a teaching position."
Richard was pleasantly surprised and said quickly: "Let him in immediately."
The door opened, and a tall man entered, with smooth black hair and bright green eyes. He was wearing simple clothing that looked old.
Richard stared at him with suspicion and thought, "Very young." That thought lasted only a moment before his expression returned to normal.
The man smiled faintly as he approached Richard and said in a calm voice:
"It's an honor to meet you, sir. My name is Lionel, and I came after hearing about a vacancy in your teaching department."
Richard smiled and gestured toward the chair in front of him: "Please, have a seat, Mr. Lionel."
Lionel sat calmly and placed a small leather bag beside the chair. Then he handed over some documents with a slightly trembling hand:
"I'm at level three and have three years of teaching experience, sir. I previously worked at Rona Academy, but due to some issues, it was shut down. I'm looking for a place where I can settle."
Richard took the documents and read them for a while. Then, rubbing his chin, he thought Lionel's level was average—barely acceptable—but that wasn't what mattered to Richard now. He wasn't looking for quality; he needed someone who could handle that troublesome boy. So he set the documents down and smiled:
"You must have researched the academy before coming. Do you know two members of the Winch royal family are studying here?"
Lionel became tense and replied with a faint smile: "I know my level isn't high, sir, but I promise I won't let you down and I'll do my best at work."
Richard smiled: "No, no, that's not what I meant. Actually, we're going through a tough time. Because of those two students... the reason the last teacher resigned was them. Dealing with them is hard. I need someone who can handle them without being intimidated. Do you think you can do that, Mr. Lionel?"
Lionel was shocked. He hesitated and said nervously: "Sir, I... isn't there another class I could teach?"
Richard narrowed his eyes at Lionel: "Mr. Lionel, I told you the teacher who resigned was teaching this class. Are you saying you can't handle the task? If so, then perhaps there's no teaching position for you here."
Lionel panicked and replied quickly: "No sir... if it's the only place, I'll teach it."
Richard gave a rare smile: "Alright, from this moment, you're a teacher at Trina Academy... you can start tomorrow. Remember, you can't mistreat them, no matter what happens."
Lionel nodded: "Of course, sir. I would never do something foolish like that."
Richard pulled a small key from his desk drawer and handed it to him: "Room 12 in the west wing. We start classes at 7 a.m."
Lionel took the key, thanked the director, then stood up and said: "I promise, sir... I won't disappoint you."
Richard called Alfred and told him to show Lionel to his room, then sat back in his chair and thought with hope:
"Theo and Lionel… I hope they can last for a while."