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Chapter 17: The Royal Academy

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The vehicle had been parked outside and we continued the road on foot. The spectacle behind the walls was divine.

A vast area, richly decorated with statues along numerous paths, water fountains further on, and tremendous vegetation. It was like a capital within the capital, this world was simply magical.

The architecture of the main building in the distance was reminiscent of a castle, with its many towers and buildings.

Other buildings emerged in the distance, this world was infinite.

As we walked, we passed more and more students from the academy. Some, grouped on a hill or a public bench, we imagined with curiosity.

(Is it because we're not in uniform?)

Then I looked to my right and noticed Hope and his duckling walk, spreading his feet wide apart and a smug glint on his face, following Muscle Man as he jutted his chin forward and rolled his shoulder pads.

(For God's sake...)

After a while, we arrived in the main hall. A large population of students were gathered there, chatting amicably but as soon as they saw us they fell silent and whispered to each other, was it really because of Hope? I started to feel uncomfortable.

"Alright, Shrimp, we're going to the dean's office. Watch your manners, now every word that comes out of your mouth can influence your future."

"Y-yes sir!"

And so, we headed to the dean's office. Due to the size of the establishment, the journey took us several minutes. We went through many stairs and hallways before finally arriving at a large door.

Muscle Man knocked and entered, followed by Hope and me. We found ourselves in a large office, large shelves filled with books or trophies on the sides and 1 semicircular desk on each side, computers and books placed on it, probably for the staff.

Further on, in front of a window that covered the wall and offered a magnificent view over the gardens of the academy, was the dean's desk.

"Dean Candace, I'm back with the new students."

"Good job Galviol, now thou youngsters, please join forward. "

We looked at each other for a moment then looked at the office again, nothing in particular, We were just triggered because we heard a voice but saw no one. Seemingly understanding, Galviol gave us a mild warning.

"The dean gave you an order, Go ahead and watch what you say!"

"Come on Galviol, do not be so forceful, thou shall fright 'em. Please, boys, join here, 'tis alright. "

We swallowed in sync and walked a bit. Then the moment arrived.

"Welcome to Nebula Academy, the court of guard of the Kingdom's future meetest emissaries. Mine name is Candace Elysium, and from now on, I shall also be thy dean."

The woman in front of us, or rather girl, was a very impressive young lady, she looked a little younger than me and Hope, both in appearance and height, she had white hair in a braided ponytail, blue eyes, and wore a dress similar to those of witches, but much more elegant and white. At first view, I would give her around 15 years old.

The strange young girl crossed her arms, a slight smug on her face.

"Hmm, 2 talented avatars from the countryside, the last time this befell was with a certain Elizabeth, sounds familiar?"

"What? You know big sis?!"

"Hehe, ay, thou could e'en say that it was me whom enlisted her when she was barely a middle schooler. Hence nostalgic."

We looked at her in surprise, she gave us a sly look, her smug growing wider and wider.

"Oh? she didn't say to thou? I be surprised, considering thou art her brother, Hope, yet 'tis true. A few years since, I got thy sister to join when she was merely E-rank, and today she is doing the like. Is not this a form of cycle? 'tis like I be receiving mine grandchildren, fufu"

I couldn't hide my amazement anymore.

"'Grand' children?! Not just children?"

"Oh, and thou might be anesidora, right? I've known a lot about thou."

"A lot?... How much?"

"A lot of teasing actually, Elizabeth hath been like mine pupil for years, yet this is the first time she's shown this much interest in someone. Hence I be most curious to wot what thou art hiding."

She gave me a teasing look so I ended up looking away. These people always seem to see right through me.

"Excuse me? Years?! When my sister was younger? You were already the dean?... Madam, how ol..."

"*COUGH* Hehem!! Dean Candace, isn't it time for the entrance exam?"

Galviol bumped into Hope's back, I began to understand what was going on there.

"Tch... We just met, I do want to get to know'em more."

"Yes, and since they will be registered for sure, you will have all the time in the world for that, as the ELDER of the academy, everyone follows your example."

We turned slightly blue after hearing that, this girl was a grandmother in disguise.

She showed a very annoyed face and a succession of small noises under her table made me understand that she was stamping her feet.

"Fine, fine! But once this is over, I do lack to hast a private talk with 'em, and I mean without thou! Annoying brat."

We tried to hold our laughter in front of the poor grumbling man. The dean put her hand to her ear and whispered.

"You can join."

A few seconds later, the door opened. A beautiful young lady, looking older and more mature than the dean, appeared.

She had long blue hair, green eyes and wore the school uniform, but hers was blue, unlike the usual red uniform. She curtsied elegantly and offered us a smile.

"Hope, Anesidora, allow me to introduce thou to the student council president: Iris Avalon. She's going to marshal't thou to the combat zone for thy exam. Iris, thou shall explain the test to 'em towards the way."

"Alright, Dean Candace. Please follow me."

She gave us the most dazzling smile we have ever seen. Hope was speechless.

We followed her outside and headed to the combat zone.

We walked behind her silently, Hope seemed very nervous, this girl wasn't only impressive in appearance, when we passed groups of students, they curtseyed at Iris, Who might she really be? Luckily, Hope was there to bring some information to light.

"Ehrm... It's amazing how everyone respects you, Miss Iris, you might be very reliable."

"Please don't mind it, being reliable is necessary as a student president, but sometimes it feels suffocating."

"Oh? Well, it can't be helped I guess? It's the price for being the strongest isn't it?"

"Somehow... But you will soon experiment it too."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

She waved at a group of girls looking at us, they nervously waved back and then started whispering. I noticed their gazes on me and Hope.

"You're the brother of Lady Elizabeth, aren't you? Everyone keeps talking about you since we know that you were going to join the academy."

"S-seriously?!" Hope shivered.

"Yes, the 3 of you have become the talk of the academy lately, 3 real Avatars, enlisted by Lady Elizabeth and Dean Candace. I'll be honest, I can't wait to see you in action."

Hope literally trembled, for one who dreamed of glory while always having been in the shadows, this must have been the most exciting moment of his life.

Tears of excitement began to fall from his eyes.

"God... I can't wait... I want... I want to fight now! I've been training so much since I was little, you know? Every day, no matter the weather. I don't I'm never stopped. I don't want to brag, but I'm the strongest... Physically in the village, I know what I have and what I can do. You won't be disappointed!"

"Fufu, I'm sure not, but don't be so formal, we're practically equals as defenders of the kingdom."

This word made my ears prick up.

"Equal? ??You don't have the presence of an E-rank."

Iris looked at me with a sweet smile.

"I didn't mean that in that sense, but you have sharp senses, as one would expect from an emissary enlisted by Lady Elizabeth. I am B-rank and, not trying to show off either, but I am currently the strongest student in the academy."

Hope shuddered.

"B-Rank?! For real??"

"Why would I lie about that?"

"No, I mean, I heard that most of the teachers were C-rank, I didn't expect to see a student literally stronger than everyone."

"Oh but really not, at her peak Dean Candace should be the strongest, followed by the advisor and maybe a few teachers. That's really no feat."

"It's true! I'm really impressed, you're the strongest student, it's incredible! Isn't that right, Dora?"

"...Yeah... It's amazing... If everyone is below C-rank."

Hope nudged me, in front of us Iris had slowed down and was looking at us out of the corner of her eye.

"Forgive my friend, he is very bad with people."

"No, he's right, it might seem unbelievable to be the strongest but... Well, like you said, when I'm out there, I'm average at best. For the Royal Academy, We should do better."

We entered the courtyard and passed a young student with a stack of leaflets in his hand. He curtsied to Iris before continuing on his way, staring at us.

"Besides, when you enter the academy, you have to join a special club, For example, I'm in the student council, but there's also the magic club, the fight club, and many others. So I was thinking..."

"You want us to join the council?"

Iris laughed elegantly and scratched her nose, looking embarrassed.

"Do you read minds? But yeah... I mean, we need strong people on the council to keep order, and I feel like you have what it takes, You don't have to answer now, we have time, but think about it, okay?"

We finally arrived in front of a large building, judging by its shape, it was probably an arena, the combat zone.

"Alright, here we are, I'll explain the rules of the exam to you when... Ah! Speaking of cats, here they are."

In front of the entrance, 2 people were talking. A tall man in the same uniform as Iris was scolding another guy, this one seemed more around our age, but more than that, he seemed very familiar.

Our eyes met and all three of us screamed at the same time.

"YOU?!"

Barron faced us again.