Elyandra walked through the bustling corridors of the Royal Academy of Magic, her footsteps echoing softly on the polished stone floor. His mind was absorbed in thoughts about the intriguing encounter with Celestina at the food hall.
"I wish I had asked more," Elyandra reflected, frowning slightly. "About her being a Saint... about what she meant by 'sharing the same fate'. But the break was over so quickly... and they all dispersed."
A twinge of frustration hit her. Information about other Santas was extremely rare and valuable. House Valemortis had always kept her isolated from this aspect of her identity, and the opportunity to learn more had slipped through her fingers.
"On the other hand," she thought, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. "It was a relief to walk away from that table. To be the center of so many looks... it's exhausting."
She mentally consulted the schedule that had been provided to them. The next activity was a presentation of the Academy of Magic campus. It was an opportunity to get acquainted with the vast estate, its facilities, and its secrets.
Following the directions she had been given earlier, Elyandra went to a large garden that extended beyond the main buildings. Upon arriving at the indicated location, she came across an extensive group of candidates, all gathered in dispersed groups, waiting for the arrival of their respective teachers. The atmosphere was one of expectation, and a faint buzz of anxious conversation filled the air.
Elyandra approached one of the groups that seemed to be forming, being one of the last to arrive at the meeting point in the extensive garden. His presence, even discreet, did not go unnoticed. Some of the students who were further in the line noticed her, their eyes widening as they recognized the features and unmistakable aura of a high-caste noblewoman.
A murmur ran through the small group. The sight of a Valemortis, especially one who was already seen as a Saint, arriving last, caused a certain quiet uproar. Elyandra, with her keen perception, caught the expressions of surprise and a certain reverent awe on their faces, but she did not immediately grasp the meaning of that reaction.
In an instant, as if a silent order had been given, the students ahead began to move away, opening an unexpected path for Elyandra. She watched the movement with an expression of complete confusion.
"What the hell is that?" Elyandra thought, her brow furrowed in a crease of disbelief. "Why are they moving away? I arrived last, I should be at the end of the line."
One of the girls, with a nervous look and a forced smile, addressed Elyandra, bowing hurriedly.
"This way, Lady Valemortis. It can pass.
She gestured, indicating the space that had been opened in front of the group. Elyandra, still processing the strange situation, hesitantly accepted the invitation and began to walk down the makeshift corridor that had formed.
As she moved forward, she could hear the whispers of the other students, a constant buzz that made her frown even more.
— ... the Saint... so humble... Arrive last...
— ... a Valemortis... so much modesty...
— ... a high-caste noblewoman... What an example...
Elyandra's confusion turned into growing irritation.
"Humble?" she thought. "Modest? I just arrived late! Since when did arriving last in any situation become an act of humility? Isn't the basic sense that he who arrives last is last?"
His mind was buzzing with the contradiction of the situation. She, who had always cherished order and logic, was being elevated to a position she did not understand, based on her status and her holiness. That special treatment made her deeply uncomfortable and exasperated.
Elyandra finally reached the front of the makeshift group, her eyes fixed on the ground, trying to disguise the blush that rose to her cheeks. Unwanted attention made her uncomfortable, always preferring discretion to ostentation.
As she briefly looked up, she observed the other groups scattered around the garden. It was no surprise to note that the nobles with whom he had shared the table in the eating hall also excelled in their respective groups. Seraphina Vancroft maintained an elegant posture as she listened intently to a teacher, a group of students of lesser nobility following her with respectful looks. Ernest Thorne, with his infectious smile, gesticulated excitedly as he chatted with others, his energy infecting the group around him. Celestina Lyra, still with her shy aura, was next to a teacher, answering questions in a low voice, with other students watching her with deference. And Arvid Eldrune, with his usual concentration, seemed to debate a point with the teacher in his group, the others listening attentively.
It was the natural order of things in that world: the high nobility inevitably gravitated forward, leading not by choice but by birthright and status. The lower castes recognized this hierarchy, and the scene was the purest representation of the social structure of the Empire.
Suddenly, a low, inquisitive whisper came to Elyandra's ears, coming from a nobleman right behind her.
"Hey... that thing in Lady Elyandra's ear... Isn't it a thoroughbred black earring?
The question, though whispered, seemed to spread quickly through the small crowd behind her, generating a new buzz of comments and curious looks. Elyandra heard the words and felt a pang of irritation. It was not her "pure-blooded" condition that bothered her; in fact, it was a characteristic that conferred on it certain undeniable benefits. What exasperated her was the meaning that that "black earring" carried: the mark of a commodity, of a valuable property within that hierarchical system. It was a constant reminder that, in the eyes of many, she was more of an asset to her home than an individual with her own autonomy.
Elyandra took a deep breath, preparing to use the authority of her name and lineage to silence the whispers that troubled her. It was a conditioned reflex, an instinct to assert one's status in order to restore order.
However, before he could utter a single word, two firm hands landed on his shoulders, one on each side. The sudden touch startled her, her eyes widening slightly, though no sound escaped her lips. An unexpected shadow covered the sunlight that bathed her.
Slowly, Elyandra raised her golden eyes, following the expanse of the shadow until she found Armand Velacroix's smiling face. The teacher stared at her with an amused twinkle in his eye, as if he had just discovered an interesting riddle.
"Hello, Lady Valemortis," Armand said, his voice melodious and engaging. "It looks like I'll be the teacher in charge of this group." I noticed that he waited for the other high-caste nobles to choose their groups first, very noble of him.
Elyandra felt a strange feeling arise from within her soul under the teacher's penetrating gaze. A trembling smile crept across his lips. That man, with his princely beauty and unexpected attention, left her slightly unhinged. The situation, which she was about to control with her bloodline, had suddenly been diverted by the teacher's intervention.
The young low-caste noblewomen who witnessed the interaction between Elyandra and Professor Armand could not disguise their looks of admiration and a touch of envy. Whispers of "lucky" and "I wish I had this attention" ran through the group.
Elyandra, for her part, rolled her eyes mentally. "Ridiculous," she thought. "He's handsome, I admit. If I were still a man, I would probably envy him too much. But hey, surprise! I was a man. I'm not going to fall for the charm of a guy, no matter how 'prince' he looks."
With a polite smile, Elyandra brought her hands to the ones resting on her shoulders, giving them a light pat.
"Professor Armand," she said, her voice soft but with a firm tone. "Arriving by surprise behind people is not exactly... delicate. And other people may find this situation somewhat strange.
The teacher let out a low, charming laugh, his blue eyes fixed on Elyandra's.
"Oh, Lady Valemortis, you don't have to worry about that. After all, you're still too young to be in my sights. Armand was a little thoughtful out of nowhere. "But I must admit that I wouldn't think it was a bad thing to wait another eleven years.
Elyandra smiled calmly, her golden eyes impassive.
"That could be a problem, Professor.
His voice was soft and disinterested, but in his mind, the situation reached a new level of strangeness. "Eleven years? Is he flirting with a child? How bizarre!"
Armand let out a melodious laugh, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Oh, Lady Valemortis, of course it was a joke!" I have a lovely wife, and even if I didn't, I would never have a relationship with someone so young. Be... Inappropriate, to say the least.
He winked at Elyandra, as if sharing a secret.
"I was just trying to break the ice. After all, I'll be your teacher if you pass the tests, won't I?
His explanation, while reasonable, did not completely dispel the sense of strangeness that hung over Elyandra. "Wife? He doesn't look like the type," she thought, analyzing the teacher's carefree charm. "But anyway, at least he backed down. Eleven years... what a peculiar fellow."
Armand pulled away from Elyandra, an amused smile still on his lips, and walked to the front of the group. His imposing posture and aura of leadership were undeniable as he addressed the students.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Armand Velacroix, and I will be the teacher responsible for guiding you through the presentation of the Royal Academy of Magic campus.
He gestured with a broad movement to the vast surrounding facilities.
"Get ready to know the place where knowledge and magic meet.
Elyandra quickly pulled herself together, adjusting her posture and expression. Without hesitation, she repositioned herself at the front of the group, a little further to the side, following the subtle example of the other high-caste nobles who were already ahead in their respective groups.
Armand Velacroix watched the formation of the group, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Excellent." If everyone is already here, we can start our exploration.
The atmosphere of the academy was of a grandiose scale, even being exaggerated in its magnitude. The campus was divided into nuclei, each dedicated to a specific function. One of these nuclei was the dormitory, a structure that looked more like an opulent mansion. It was notably larger than Elyandra's own home, designed to accommodate a vast amount of students without compromising comfort.
Armand Velacroix guided the group through the halls and corridors of the dormitory, presenting every detail. The students were not only surprised by the colossal size of the place, but also by the impeccable organization and cleanliness. Armand was keen to point out that this space was more than just accommodation; It was a home, and the students themselves were responsible for maintaining order and cleanliness, with the help of servants who took care of only the heaviest work.
Elyandra watched everything with admiration, noting how noble and rustic the place seemed. It was as if it had come straight out of a fanciful fairy tale, with its pure Victorian design exuding nobility and a richness that manifested itself in every detail, from the shimmering stained glass windows to the solid wood furniture. The air there breathed opulence and a tradition that reminded her of her own lineage.
Leaving the sumptuous dormitory, Armand Velacroix led the students to what he called the Training Zone. It was a vast open-air space, with no imposing walls or structures surrounding it, but its grandeur was almost as exaggerated as that of the bedroom. The place looked like a stadium, with several delimited areas focused on different types of magical practices.
"This place is used for practical training in magic, fencing and other extracurricular activities," Armand explained, gesturing to the different sections. "The structure of this place was set up with runes to protect the students in case of any problems during magical practices.
To illustrate, he walked to the center of what appeared to be a fighting octagon. He clasped his hands together, and with a gentle crash, two huge splinters of earth and stone rose from the ground, one on each side. The students were surprised by Armand's calmness, who performed the feat with such naturalness. Elyandra, in turn, took the scene seriously, absorbing every detail.
Armand then clasped his hands together again, and the gigantic stones began to move towards him, ready to crush him. A shiver ran down the students' spine, who were frightened by what seemed like a fatal outcome. Elyandra widened her eyes. However, before the stones even hit him, runes projected on the ground triggered each other, emitting a soft glow that paralyzed the masses of stone in the air, inches from the teacher. Slowly, the stones returned to their original places, the ground recomposing and erasing any trace of the damage.
The students looked on in astonishment, and Armand smiled, his voice calm and didactic.
"This level of intervention can be adjusted. We can have more or less interference from the runes, depending on the need of the training. He added. "Even in simulated combat, runes can be used to avoid fatal injuries.
Elyandra raised her hand, drawing the teacher's attention.
"What kind of magic do these runes work with, Professor?"
Armand considered the question, a faint smile of approval on his lips.
"Good question, Lady Valemortis." The runes, by themselves, only assimilate the magic that is presented to them and replicate it on a scale equal to the one that was used.
Elyandra frowned, the curiosity in her golden eyes deepening.
"And where does the magic she uses to replicate come from?"
Armand pointed to the ground beneath his feet.
"There are two types of magic stones, Lady Valemortis: trigger stones and energy stones. Trigger stones only work with the injection of mana, which gives them certain pre-defined uses of magic.
He paused, his gaze becoming more serious.
"Energy stones, on the other hand, serve to store large amounts of mana, working as fuel for very specific places. Underneath us, for example, there is one of these stones.
In Elyandra's mind, Armand's explanation translated into a familiar and pragmatic concept. "Oh, I see. So these stones are basically... batteries." The logical simplicity of the concept, despite all the magical complexity, made a faint smile appear on his lips.
Armand Velacroix, with an inviting smile, addressed Elyandra.
"Lady Valemortis, would you like to test the system?"
The question echoed in the air, attracting the attention of all curious students. Elyandra felt the pressure of the looks on her back, the expectation palpable. Internally, his mind was racing. "What could I test? I didn't think of anything!" A warmth rose to her face, but she maintained her noble and self-confident pose. For the others, the hesitation lasted perhaps five seconds, but for her, in her anxiety, it seemed like an eternity.
She was about to deny it, choosing not to reveal her gifts so soon when luck intervened. Celestina Lyra's group, led by her own teacher, approached to inspect the training ground. Armand Velacroix noticed the arrival and reconsidered.
"Well, maybe we'd better deal with that another time," he said, with a nod to Elyandra.
Elyandra agreed, feeling immense relief for not having to show off to that audience of students. His mask of serenity was intact.
Advancing to the main nucleus, Armand led the group into the heart of the Royal Academy of Magic. The structure was so surreal that even after catching a glimpse of its silhouette in the distance, Elyandra could hardly believe her own eyes. The Academy was a colossus of beauty and grandeur, a spectacle that would make the eyes of even the most drowned nobles shine in the rivers of greed and money.
Composed of shades of pure white and gleaming gold, it looked like a palace of angels, an ethereal fortress erected to house the secrets of the universe. Slender spires and adorned spires scraped the sky, while towering arches and twinkling stained-glass windows radiated a magical light. It was so absurdly vast that Elyandra felt tiny at its base, a grain of sand in front of a mountain. A drop of sweat ran down the side of his face, not out of fatigue or nervousness, but out of sheer incredulity in the face of such magnificence.
"Not even in my previous life would I have imagined seeing something like this," Elyandra thought, speechless. "In that world of concrete and steel, a building with such a level of fantasy and opulence was unimaginable for an educational institution." It was a testament to the power and magical art of the Divine Light Empire, a place where architecture itself was a form of magic.
Armand then opened the gleaming, rustic entrance door to the academy. The interior was so dazzling that it dazzled the view: the floor, made of a marble of unbelievable purity, was so bright that it reflected the students like a mirror.
The moment Elyandra saw that, a whirlwind of thoughts hit her. "But what the hell is that? A mirror? RayTracing? This floor could have cost the value of a building in my past life... But calm down... I'm wearing a skirt! How am I going to get into this place?!"
Armand, who had noticed Elyandra's sudden stop at the door, watched her curiously, as did the other students behind her, not understanding her hesitation.
"Has something happened, Lady Valemortis?" The teacher asked.
Elyandra, without even looking at him, maintained her full pose of a nobleman of high caste and said, in a serene voice:
"I apologize, Professor. Nothing happened. I was just wondering if such a shiny floor wouldn't reflect the students' dress.
At that moment, the low-caste nobles around noticed Elyandra's question, and at the same moment, they were also somewhat fearful of the possibility. Armand, in turn, let out a light laugh.
"Oh, Lady Valemortis, don't worry about it.
Elyandra turned her attention to him, and the teacher continued:
"The floor reflects the surroundings, yes, but it was designed in a way that does not reflect people. Look at my reflection.
Elyandra did as he asked, and to her surprise, she noticed that Armand's reflection on the ground was blurred, with no details, just an indistinct silhouette. That surprised her.
Elyandra, inside, thought it was magnificent and surreal. The other nobles behind her, however, were still fearful. Elyandra did not notice the persistence of fear; She just believed the teacher's words and entered the hall without hesitation, without her skirt being an enemy. The girls behind her were startled by the initiative, but when they noticed that there was really no problem with the reflection, they followed her fearlessly.
Elyandra stood in front of the teacher, her hands elegantly clasped in front of her body, waiting for him to continue the tour. Armand watched her for a moment, a faint smile on his lips.
"Lady Valemortis is, indeed, a very humble noblewoman.
Elyandra tilted her head to the side, misunderstood. "Humble? What did he mean by that?"
Then, she heard the whispers of the noblewomen behind her.
"It was very kind of Lady Elyandra to test if it was true.
"Yes!" She noticed our hesitation and used it as a test to prove that there was no danger.
"It's too much!" She is so noble as to have noticed the danger of being quickly embarrassed.
Elyandra heard that with a smile and a blank, almost expressionless stare. In his mind, however, a single sentence echoed: "What the hell is going on here?"
Elyandra then let out a small cough, discreet enough not to be rude, but with the clear intention of drawing attention to the fact that this was not a time for whispers. Armand smiled, noting the innate class with which Elyandra carried herself even in an uncomfortable situation.
The other noblewomen, who witnessed Elyandra's subtle "intervention", were even more amazed, whispering among themselves about how she was, in fact, a noblewoman of high caliber. The hubbub, however, caused a slight blush of nervousness to appear on Elyandra's face.
Armand then raised his voice a little, drawing everyone's attention.
"Okay, please form a line again." Let's continue our tour.
Elyandra prepared to follow the teacher, but noticed that the students crowded behind her, their eyes shining as if they saw her as a role model. Elyandra smiled affectionately and followed Armand again. She was accompanied by nobles who watched her in awe, her quiet smile reverberating through the upper class as the professor introduced the academy to the students.
The rooms were Victorian and beautiful, some so different that they seemed to have come out of other times. Others, with unique looks, seemed to have come from other eras. Elyandra was fascinated by everything she saw, but did not show it in her noble posture. Only his smile was seen by those around him; Her noble model mask was still intact, revealing a good and disciplined noblewoman who was an example to everyone.
Armand finished introducing the academy to the students. The tour seemed short, but it took a long time. When the tour was over, Elyandra was still keeping herself in her noble good form, while the other nobles were somewhat dejected. It had been a magnificent and tiring return for those present. However, Armand and Elyandra were still in excellent shape. Some nobles questioned Elyandra about her endurance, after all, it was not common for nobles to maintain such vigor after a long walk, despite everyone having a good overall physical shape.
Armand then said that the tour of the gym was over. Everyone agreed that, even if it was just to introduce the place, it had been a great tour, making the students' eyes shine. Some noblewomen approached Elyandra and asked her what she thought of the tour. She kept a calm face, put her hand to her chin thinking for a moment, and then said that the gym was so visually magical in a way she never expected, and that it surprised her so much that she couldn't stop thinking she should try even harder to get in.
The girls then began to ask personal questions about Elyandra, which she tried to answer calmly. The professor observed the conversation for a few moments until he decided to intervene, saying that the candidates could now end the day sleeping in the dormitory that had been initially presented. This made everyone's eyes shine. At that moment, Elyandra noticed that she would not be going home that day, something she did not expect.
After the revelation that she would spend the rest of the exams inside the campus, Elyandra headed to a giant courtyard inside the Academy. Night had fallen, serene and somewhat cold, but she didn't care. She sat on a bench, immersed in her meticulous thoughts about everything that had happened. I reflected on the first test and the expectation of the second.
"This place is so big it doesn't even feel like a gym," she muttered to herself, in a mental monologue. "Having stayed at home for so long seems to have distorted my conception of the world. After all, how big is this Empire... No, how big is this world?"
It was then that a voice called her, pulling her out of her reveries. Armand Velacroix stood there, standing beside her, staring at her with a curious expression. His arrival so suddenly made Elyandra surprised.
"What are you doing here, Lady Valemortis?" He asked.
Elyandra stared at him with a suspicious look at first, but soon shifted her focus to the nightscape ahead, keeping silent for a few moments.
"It's nothing special," she said at last. "I just wanted to be alone for a while.
Armand sat next to her, also in silence. Elyandra watched him from the corner: his noble and somewhat fanciful clothes gave the impression that he was a man of considerable financial capital. She then returned to face the scenario.
The stillness lasted until Armand broke the silence.
"What did you think of the first day of exams?"
Elyandra assimilated the question.
"It was as expected," she replied thoughtfully. "But I couldn't help but notice the questions asked with the intention of making the candidate make a mistake. I found them somewhat dishonest.
Armand let out a laugh that surprised Elyandra. For a moment, she felt like she was talking to a close friend.
"It seems like when I used to get together with my old friends to make small talk and laugh, what a funny guy," he thought, with a faint smile.
Armand stopped laughing and explained:
"Yes, yes, it's true. We took this year's test with the intention of eliminating many candidates who did not have the knowledge we are looking for. Therefore, we asked many boring questions so that you would make mistakes without realizing it, if you did not understand the subject.
Elyandra covered her mouth with her hand, giving a slight laugh.
"And I was one of the eliminated because of these questions?" She asked, a playful tone in her voice.
Armand hesitated for a moment, somewhat evasive.
"I can't reveal that, Lady Valemortis.
Elyandra nodded.
"I understand.
Both stayed a while longer enjoying the moonlight. Finally, Armand stood up.
"Well, I'm going to leave. It would be good for you to go rest for the next test.
Elyandra took the hint and went to the rooms that had been informed to her. After entering the dormitory and climbing some stairs, she stopped in front of a door. It was adorned and somewhat eye-catching. Elyandra stared at her with curiosity, searching through her memories and coming to the conclusion that the number 12 was indeed what she had been told.
She took the handle and opened the door, moving inside and saying:
"I'm sorry for being late.
Elyandra had been told that she would share the room. However, her gaze fell on someone she wouldn't dream of meeting that night.