The next few days were uneventful, though the air in the academy grew steadily more charged.
Students were excited about the upcoming expedition, their voices carrying across courtyards and down hallways.
Teachers were busy finalizing itineraries, and extra safety measures were put in place.
With the hero, the imperial princess, and the elven nation's princess all participating, security had to be airtight.
Guards from across the empire—bearing the crests of various noble houses—were stationed at strategic points.
Most had been specifically requested by the academy to ensure there would be no mishaps during the journey.
The mixture of armor styles, accents, and heraldry created an oddly colorful patchwork of protection, though the tension between rival factions was palpable in the way some avoided eye contact entirely.
During these days, Ace occasionally crossed paths with Pete. More often than not, the so-called hero was surrounded by a small crowd of girls, their laughter ringing out as if his every word was gold.
Ace's gaze slid past them, but he couldn't help noticing Catherine among the group—always standing a little closer to Pete than necessary.
Her expression, however, wasn't the same as in the novel Ace remembered.
In the book, Catherine had gazed at Pete like he was some shining beacon, an untouchable idol worthy of pure admiration.
But now… it was different. Her eyes carried a sharper glint, her manner toward him was more deliberate.
She wasn't just doting on him—she was handling him, guiding him, shaping him. Treating him not like a hero, but like a tool.
Ace leaned back in his seat as this realization settled in. His actions—or rather, his choice to avoid direct involvement in their affairs—had already begun to change Pete's relationships.
The story's path was bending, subtly but surely, away from what he remembered.
The morning of the expedition broke under a pale gold sky, the sunlight gleaming off polished armor and the snow-white feathers of dozens of griffins lined up in the main courtyard. Each beast stood tall and proud, their powerful wings tucked neatly at their sides. Their saddles were fitted with thick, cushioned leather seats, and their armor bore the faint shimmer of mana stones embedded along the plating—both for defense and enhanced flight.
Each griffin could carry three people comfortably—one in the front, piloting, and two behind. The pilots, all trained guards, were already mounted, reins in hand, ready to take to the skies.
Students gathered in small knots, their voices buzzing with excitement. Professor Eldrin's voice rang out across the courtyard.
"Departure in fifteen minutes! Everyone, move to your assigned griffin!"
Groups began breaking apart, students walking toward their mounts. Laughter, chatter, and the rustle of cloaks filled the air.
Ace stepped out from the dorms, his white hair catching the morning light, the black-and-silver Thornevale crest visible on his uniform. His gaze swept the griffins until he spotted his assigned mount.
Without breaking stride, he approached. The pilot, a well-built man in standard griffin rider gear, straightened respectfully.
"Dismount," Ace said evenly.
The pilot blinked, startled. "My lord, I am assigned—"
But seeing Ace's glare, the protest died in his throat. With a quiet nod, he swung himself off the saddle and stepped back.
From behind Ace, a tall figure moved forward—a master-ranked warrior clad in armor with crest of Thornevale duchy. Without a word, the man mounted the griffin and took the pilot's seat, settling in as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The surrounding students noticed immediately. Murmurs rippled through the courtyard. A master-ranked warrior as a mere pilot? Some viscounts can't even Offord one master ranked warrior.
Ace's eyes shifted briefly to Lucy's mount. He lifted a hand and pointed.
"Replace him as well."
Another master-ranked warrior, also in Thornevale armor, stepped out from the line of guards and strode toward Lucy's griffin. Her assigned pilot looked from the newcomer to Lucy, clearly uncertain, until Ace's calm gaze landed on him. He dismounted without a word, replaced instantly by the Thornevale warrior.
Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. She glanced at Ace, searching for an explanation, but he offered none. The fact that he had arranged master-ranked warriors—figures treated with reverence everywhere—to serve as their griffin pilots left not only her but half the courtyard stunned.
The only others with such elite escorts were Princess Catherine and Princess Emelia. And Ace wasn't even royalty.
A heavy silence fell over those who noticed, broken only by the restless shuffle of the griffins' talons against stone.
The principal arrived, his voice carrying effortlessly across the courtyard, infused with mana so that even those at the farthest edge could hear him clearly.
"Good morning, students," he began, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "Today marks the beginning of your first academy expedition—an opportunity to not only hone your skills, but to see more of our empire beyond these walls. This will be both a privilege… and a responsibility."
Murmurs rippled through the courtyard, some students straightening in excitement, others fidgeting with nervous energy.
"You will not be traveling alone," Valmor continued. "Your journey will be under the constant protection of our finest: dozens of first-rate warriors, ten master-ranked warriors, and ten sages will accompany you at all times. The skies will be watched. The ground will be secured. You are in the safest hands the empire can provide."
A wave of awe passed through the students—some low ranking nobles were ecstatic as it's rare for them to even have a friendly relation with a sage, let alone travel alongside one.
"We have also established forward bases along your route," he said, pacing slowly. "Each positioned to be reached by midday. You will rest and take your meals there before continuing onward. By evening, you will arrive at your first destination: the city of Marlowe."
At the mention of Marlowe, a few noble-born students exchanged approving nods—Marlowe was known for its orderly streets and courteous count.
"You will remain there for two days, hosted in accommodations arranged by Count himself. From there, your next route will be announced by Professor Eldrin."
He paused, letting the anticipation hang in the air for a moment before adding, "The expedition will take you across cities of differing natures, strengths, and challenges. Pay attention. Learn not only from the training you receive, but from the lands and people you encounter. This is not merely a journey—it is a lesson in the empire itself."
The students broke into hushed conversations. The younger ones grinned like they were about to start a grand holiday, while the older, more politically aware students traded glances and smirks, each quietly evaluating which territories would impress—or embarrass—their rulers.
Up near the front, Pete's expression was practically glowing with eagerness. Catherine's eyes were ecstatic. Lucy sat in silence, her posture perfect, though her mind was already racing through what she knew of the cities mentioned.
The departure began with a roar of wings.The academy's elite guards soared first, their griffins cutting through the crisp morning air in perfect formation. They rose higher and higher until they formed a massive circle in the sky, each rider holding steady as the early sunlight caught on steel and enchanted leather.
One by one, the pilots assigned to carry students took off, their griffins beating upward to slot neatly into the protective ring. Excited shouts and gasps came from the students as they felt the sudden lift beneath them, the wind rushing past their ears.
Soon, nearly everyone was airborne—everyone except Ace and Lucy, still standing calmly on the ground.
Principal Adalf Valmor had just started walking toward them, intent on checking why they hadn't taken off, when a sharp shift in the air drew his gaze to the horizon.
From the horizon, the rhythmic thunder of synchronized wingbeats shattered the air.
A storm of griffins surged over the rooftops—twenty master-ranked warriors and sages, their gleaming armor adorned with the iconic crest of House Thornevale, cutting through the sky like an unstoppable force.
They were flanked by a formidable legion of first rate warriors and mages, all clad in the same battle-hardened insignia.
As they descended with deadly precision, the very air seemed to crackle with the weight of their presence. The courtyard fell silent, Everyone holding their breath in the shadow of their arrival.
Valmor's brows rose ever so slightly.
'Twenty? This is… excessive.'
Even the academy, for this highly public expedition including hero and princess, had only assigned ten masters and ten sages—and couple more to secure the route and prepare the bases.
For Ace to bring double that just for escort, while possibly sending more ahead to the path as well… It isn't just beyond protocol—it is a flex. This was a display of dominance, an unmistakable message that no one, not a single soul, would dare challenge them.
The principal barely parted his lips to speak, but before a single word could escape, the Thornevale griffins surged upward like a well-oiled machine, their wings cutting through the air with eerie synchronization.
In an instant, they reformed, splitting into a smaller, tighter ring—a formation that hovered just behind the students, its intent unmistakable.
The ring was for Ace and Lucy alone, a private shield forged from the might of Thornevale duchy. It was as if the air itself bent to their will, a silent threat hanging heavy in the atmosphere.
It was overkill, and everyone felt it deep in their bones.
Lucy's gaze locked onto the soaring griffins, her lips parting in awe, though no words managed to escape. The spectacle left her momentarily breathless, the overwhelming display of power seizing her voice.
The other students were even more stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief, their whispers drowned in the weight of what they were witnessing.
Some muttered curses, others simply stared—too stunned to react, caught between awe and fear. The Thornevale crest was stamped on every warrior, every mage, a visual reminder that they were witnessing something far beyond their own reach.
The only one who broke the hush was Pete, who said something sharp and self-righteous, but he was too far for Ace to hear over the wind.
Several of the academy guards glanced uncertainly at Valmor, silently asking what should be done. The Thornevale warriors looked far more seasoned—and far more dangerous—than the academy's own, and none of them had the authority to tell Ace Thornevale what to do.
The principal weighed the moment, then gave the smallest flick of his hand.
Let it be.
With that, the Thornevale formation shifted, opening a gap just wide enough for Ace and Lucy's griffin to join. Their griffin's wings spread wide, and with a single powerful beat, they rose into the sky to take their place within their own ring of protection.
And so, the journey began.