"Let's go??" The voice sounded somewhat unsure, as if someone was trying to offer comfort, but with a familiar tone. I turned quickly, and there, standing behind me, was someone I hadn't seen in a long time—my childhood friend, Alice Seraphyne.
If there was one thing that never changed about Alice, it was her beauty. Her golden yellow eyes, sharp and full of life, always managed to capture the attention of anyone who looked at her. Her long, jet-black hair flowed beautifully, complementing her flawless beauty. She was the perfect blend of noble lineage and hidden strength that radiated from within her. Alice had always been like that—beautiful, graceful, and full of mystery.
I was taken aback, but a smile slowly formed on my lips. "Ah, Alice," I said softly, almost not believing that she was here. We hadn't met in a long time, and seeing her here at the academy felt like a strange coincidence. "So, you enrolled in the academy too?" I asked, still with a soft voice, trying to process the fact that my childhood friend, who had always been part of my past, was now going to walk the same path as me.
Alice smiled faintly, her eyes holding a depth that couldn't be hidden. "Yes," she replied calmly, her soft voice flowing as though she was already accustomed to this world. "I joined the academy like my brother. My family has always supported big steps, so... I think this is the right time."
I nodded slowly, realizing that Alice was also the youngest child, just like me—though in the world of nobility, it always felt a little different. We both came from esteemed, noble families, yet the path we were about to take here would clearly be far from easy. It seemed this academy wouldn't just test our physical and intellectual abilities, but also the fate and true strength hidden within each of us.
"So, we'll be rivals here?" I asked with a slightly joking tone, trying to ease the sudden tension between us. Yet deep down, I knew this wasn't just about rivalry—it was about a much greater journey, one that might change our lives forever.
"Maybe?" Alice replied with a teasing smile, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she was enjoying my nervous reaction.
Before I could respond, she quickly shifted my attention forward. "Hey, let's go to the front. Everyone's gathering over there," she said, pointing toward the crowd of students near the old wall.
I gave a brief nod and followed her from behind. Alice's steps were light and graceful, as if she was never burdened by the status or responsibilities that came with being a noble. On the other hand, I tried to match her pace, suppressing the nervousness and pressure I felt from the presence of students from various regions—each with their own style, manner of speaking, and noble emblems displayed on their attire.
A crowd of students had gathered around a large stone in the middle of the courtyard. The stone jutted out from the ground, covered in strange carvings that spiraled all the way to the top. I tried to read the inscriptions for a moment, but none of the symbols were familiar to me.
"Ancient language... maybe," Alice murmured, squinting her eyes. She stepped closer, examining the carvings with a serious look. Her black hair swayed gently in the morning breeze. "Or perhaps... it's a magical language," she added, her tone more certain.
I nodded faintly, and it wasn't just us who were confused. The other students also seemed puzzled—some were murmuring quietly, while others tried to copy the symbols onto paper. A subtle tension began to spread as no one could make sense of the carvings.
Suddenly, the sound of slow footsteps echoed from the corridor on the right, and an old man appeared. His back was hunched, his face deeply wrinkled, yet his eyes radiated an unusual authority. His beard was long, flowing down to his chest, and each step he took seemed to carry the weight of centuries of knowledge.