The bells rang through the air, and the sun reached its zenith. The loud nobility ceased their chatter, their eyes locked onto the academy's doors. Azure and Aqua pushed through the crowd, awaiting the announcement.
Aqua pulled Azure by her hand, keeping her close and not allowing her to disappear in the mob of people.
"Sheira is still not back." Azure scanned the area. Her eyes searched for a girl in a specific red dress, which would have made her stick out in the crowd like a sore thumb.
"I wouldn't worry about her." Aqua's eyes glowed, her gaze locked onto Sheira's presence within the academy. She was accompanied by another presence, rather powerful and old compared to most elves, yet a mere sliver of Sheira's power.
However, what pleased Aqua the most was the fact that the chain was not present around the headmaster's soul. He was not under the influence of the divine and was thus an ideal teacher.
Surprisingly, it's rare to see someone without a divine curse. Here is a hope he is not associated with the Red Dawn.
Her gaze fell on Azure, who held onto her hand with a grip that could crush iron. She peered at the entrance, and the ringing softened and eventually stopped.
The silence fell over the crowd like a blanket, not even a cough reached their ears.
The grand doors of the Academy opened, and three people made their way out.
The trio wore identical purple robes, and their hands were hidden in their sleeves.
In the middle was a woman with long brown hair and blue eyes, next to her were two men, elves by any stretch of imagination, yet their ears were only barely longer than those of a human.
Half elves, probably. Aqua smiled, her gaze relaxed.
She wouldn't judge them, after all, even her first love was a human girl who burned to protect Aqua. She quickly dismissed her thoughts, it was not the time to fall into the depressing thoughts that always seemed to creep up in her mind.
Her ears slumped, and her shoulders pushed forward.
The trance was broken by the loud voice of the woman.
She pulled a large, simple staff out of her robes and hit the ground. The wind rushed around her, and a powerful gust washed over everyone present, threatening to knock away any lighter-framed elven nobility.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" The woman spoke, and the wind obeyed. It carried each of her words to everyone present.
"I must thank you for gathering here on this fine day. As many of you know, this prestigious institution was created to nurture young talent like yourselves."
She let the silence reign for a moment, "Now, some of you might not be newcomers, but we will not discriminate against your status. To us, you are all welcome to improve and hone your specialty. I will now give the word to my colleague."
She stepped back, letting the half-elf man take the front.
His gaze was strict, and his stance resolute. He watched over the crowd, then he nodded in a satisfied manner. "Greetings, our new candidates!" He placed his hand on his chest.
"I am one responsible for proctoring your entrance exams. My name is Lazar, I am sure we will have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other… if you pass, of course." He chuckled menacingly.
Aqua's lips stretched into a line. The man seemed rather admirable and a proper teacher. At least when it comes to the first impressions, the teachers seem competent. However, they were still under the influence of divinity, thus she needed to be careful.
Her attention shifted, the speech did not matter to her, nor did the history of the academy. She turned to Azure, who keenly listened.
"Exams…" Azure muttered, her voice shaky.
"Is something the matter?"
"I know we will likely be admitted anyway… but the first time I did them I almost failed." She awkwardly rubbed her neck. "I am not the most studious person when it comes to academics."
Aqua snorted, and her expression lightened.
"Don't laugh at me! It would just be embarrassing for the champion to fail an entrance exam. I am embarrassed enough that I am on a losing streak ever since meeting you." Azure's cheek puffed.
"Azu~" Aqua leaned closer, her breath making Azure's ears twitch. "You are still hung up about that? Weren't you missing sleep just to train and study the magic I taught you?"
"You knew?!" The champion recoiled in shock.
It is quite obvious. She chuckled, "Azu, there is no shame in it. As you are now, you wouldn't lose against many entities."
If she were to compare her to an exterminator, as much as she hated to compare her dear friend with such, she would approach the low middle tier. While still far too weak, she was growing more powerful by the day.
At this rate, she would not have to use her cursed blessing ever again.
It warmed her heart that her friend would not rely on something as vile as a 'blessing'.
Her eyes and attention locked onto the speaker once more.
"The exam will be held in two days, until then, you will be directed toward your temporary lodgings. I wish you all the blessings of the divine upon you." The speakers curtsied and made their way back into the academy building.
"I guess that's it. We have two days until we have to do exams." Aqua sighed, finally letting go of Azure's hand. "We should go find Sheira, she seems to have finished her discussion and is heading toward the back. I assume there is another entrance there."
She felt a thug on her sleeve, making her stop dead in her tracks. "Aqua."
"Yes?"
"I am not the best at academics, as I said… so would you help me prepare and study?" Her hand clenched around Aqua's clothing.
"Azu, Even If I know many things, it doesn't mean I would be better than you. I do not know this world's systems after all."
"Then… we can study together and be on the same level!" She nodded proudly.
"Sure~" She stepped past Azure and toward the path leading to the back of the academy building.
Azure nodded and quickly took her place at Aqua's side.
The gentle wind blew past them, carrying a refreshing smell of the surrounding nature. They tread down the stone paths and soon found themselves on the opposite side of the building. In front of the small staff door stood the princess.
She leaned on the wall and closed her eyes while humming.
Her ears twitched, her eyes snapped open, and her gaze fell on the duo. "I knew you would find me. I wanted to avoid the crowd."
"Did you have any issues?" Aqua stepped forward, her eyes piercing through Sheira.
The princess shook her head. "None at all, the headmaster told me that three of us will be roommates since this year has a lot more candidates, they cannot spare more rooms. However, we still need to do our best with the exam."
It made sense to Aqua. The number of people she saw gathered in front of the academy was rather large, and the sheer fact that they could even accommodate them was phenomenal.
"Can I know what those letters said?" Azure tilted her head and crossed her arm, she stepped forward.
"Can't say~ It's confidential." Sheira crossed her arms behind her back and spun around. "Let us go to our room." Her hand slid into her dress and retrieved a small parchment.
"Female Section, 6-C." Sheira nodded. "So, building C, let's go."
She walked ahead, her face wore a serious expression. Unlike many times, Sheira didn't seem to be playing around, instead, she confidently led them toward the ornate dorm building.
The trio weaved through the crowd and quickly made their way inside the entrance hall of the dorm.
The inside rivalled even the palace, the golden chandeliers hung above them, and in front of them was the counter, with a single elven female with long white hair and blue eyes. Behind her was a wall with many keys belonging to each room.
The woman was busy staring at some kind of document, and her brows were furrowed.
Sheira quickly approached and knocked at the window.
The knock made the woman quickly snap toward Sheira. Her furrowed expression was instantly replaced with a professional smile. "Ah, students. Give me your registration card, please."
Sheira quickly handed the card with the number.
It took a moment for the employee to inspect it, and she quickly handed it back, together with the key. "Two extra keys will be made by tomorrow. Please make do with this one for now. Please head to the right hallway and to the end of the first floor, that's where your room is located."
"Got it, thank you." Sheira bowed, quickly followed by Aqua and Azure.
The trio turned toward the hallway to the right.