Chapter 95: An Unexpected Visitor
Chapter 95: An Unexpected Visitor
The lecture hall gradually began to empty.
Students streamed through the enormous doors in groups, their voices filling the corridors outside. Some were still excitedly discussing the final rankings, while others had already begun comparing scores and speculating about life in their assigned classes.
The tension that had hung over the examination hall was finally beginning to fade.
Aurelia turned toward the two people beside her.
"Shall we go?"
Seraphina nodded.
Andras gave a slight nod of his own.
The three left the hall together.
They had barely reached the corridor when Aurelia suddenly stopped.
"Wait..."
She glanced around.
"Where are the maids?"
Seraphina looked around as well.
Her expression shifted.
"You’re right. I don’t see mine either."
Andras swept his gaze across the corridor.
Lyra was nowhere to be seen.
Before they could wonder where their attendants had gone, a middle-aged academy attendant approached them.
"Are you looking for your attendants?"
Aurelia nodded.
"Yes. Have you seen them?"
The attendant smiled reassuringly.
"There’s no need to worry. Many of the noble students arrived with their personal maids and attendants."
He paused briefly.
"However, the academy decided to conduct the entrance examination without informing anyone beforehand. It was intended to ensure that the students entered the examination without outside preparation or assistance."
"Since the attendants had already arrived, we gathered them in a designated room where they could wait until the examination was over."
Andras raised an eyebrow.
"Where is this room?"
The attendant pointed down the corridor.
"That way. The second room on the left."
"Thank you."
The three followed his directions.
As they approached the room, the sound of conversation grew louder.
Andras opened the door.
A surprisingly lively scene greeted them.
Several dozen maids and attendants had gathered inside, speaking quietly among themselves. Some stood in small groups, while others sat along the walls. A few noble students had already arrived to collect their attendants and were heading toward the residential district.
Near one side of the room, Lyra was speaking with two familiar figures.
Aurelia’s maid stood beside her, while Seraphina’s attendant listened to the conversation.
The moment Lyra noticed Andras, her eyes brightened.
"Young Master."
She immediately excused herself and approached him.
Aurelia and Seraphina were reunited with their respective attendants as well.
After exchanging a few brief words, the group left the room.
The academy had already prepared accommodation for the first-year students.
The residential district stood a short distance from the main academy buildings. Unlike ordinary student dormitories, the accommodations for the highest-ranked students were located in a separate section.
The first sixty students had been assigned to Class A.
Their accommodations reflected that privilege.
The buildings were constructed from pale stone and dark timber, with tall arched windows overlooking meticulously maintained gardens. Magical lamps illuminated the pathways, casting a warm glow across the grounds as evening settled over the academy.
The atmosphere was quiet and refined.
Nothing about the place resembled an ordinary dormitory.
It felt more like a collection of private residences prepared for young nobles.
Eventually, they reached the building where the top-ranked students had been assigned rooms.
Aurelia checked her key first.
"Room One."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Looks like this is mine."
Seraphina glanced at her own key.
"Room Two."
Andras looked down at his.
"Room Three."
The three exchanged glances.
Aurelia smiled.
"Then I suppose we’ll see each other tomorrow."
"Good night, Aurelia," Seraphina said.
"Good night."
Andras gave her a slight nod.
"Rest well."
Aurelia entered her room.
Seraphina followed soon afterward.
Andras continued down the corridor with Lyra.
Eventually, they stopped before a polished wooden door bearing a small silver plaque.
Room Three.
Andras inserted the key.
Click.
The lock released.
He pushed the door open.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
The room was considerably more luxurious than he had expected.
A spacious bedroom occupied most of the suite, furnished with a large four-poster bed covered in deep-blue sheets and a thick white blanket.
A tall wardrobe stood against one wall, while a polished writing desk rested beside a wide window.
Several shelves had already been stocked with fresh parchment, ink, quills, and other basic stationery.
A small sitting area occupied the opposite side of the room. Two comfortable armchairs surrounded a low wooden table, creating a quiet space for reading or conversation.
A crystal lamp hung from the ceiling, filling the room with a soft magical glow.
Beyond another door was a private bathing chamber.
The entire suite had been designed with comfort and privacy in mind.
Lyra looked around, visibly impressed.
"This is much nicer than I expected."
Andras walked toward the window.
Beyond the glass stretched a beautifully maintained garden, illuminated by scattered magical lamps.
"I suppose the academy doesn’t want its best students complaining about their accommodations on the first day."
Lyra smiled.
"It certainly seems that way."
Andras took another look around.
The academy had clearly invested considerable resources into its first-year accommodations.
For someone accustomed to the Darkmoor estate, it wasn’t particularly extravagant.
But it was comfortable.
More than enough.
Eventually, Andras loosened his clothes.
"I’m going to take a bath."
"Yes, Young Master."
Lyra immediately began preparing dinner.
---
The bathing chamber was equally impressive.
White stone covered the walls, while a large circular bath occupied the center of the room. Magical runes had been carved into its edges, allowing warm water to fill the basin without the need for servants.
Andras lowered himself into the water.
The warmth gradually eased the lingering tension in his muscles.
The examination had been relatively easy for him.
Still, several hours inside the Simulation Realm had left him somewhat tired.
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow...
His academy life would officially begin.
he would have direct access to the knowledge and resources of one of the continent’s greatest magical academies.
And perhaps more importantly...
He would be surrounded by countless talented individuals.
A faint smile touched his lips.
There might be some interesting opportunities waiting for him.
After finishing his bath, Andras returned to the bedroom and changed into fresh clothes.
His gaze fell upon the academy uniform that had been prepared on the bed.
He picked it up.
The uniform was elegant without being unnecessarily extravagant.
A fitted black jacket formed the foundation of the outfit, its high collar trimmed with subtle silver embroidery. The academy’s crest—a stylized silver tower surrounded by a ring of stars—was embroidered over the left side of the chest.
Beneath it was a crisp white shirt paired with a dark-blue tie.
Matching black trousers completed the ensemble.
The fabric was smooth and remarkably light, allowing freedom of movement without sacrificing its formal appearance.
A dark mantle had also been provided.
Its edges carried the same silver embroidery as the jacket, while the academy crest was displayed prominently across the back.
Andras ran his fingers across the fabric.
"Not bad."
A voice came from behind him.
"Dinner is ready, Young Master."
Andras turned.
Lyra stood beside the dining table.
Several dishes had already been arranged across its polished surface, and the aroma of freshly prepared food filled the room.
Andras took his seat.
Lyra served him before stepping back.
Andras glanced at her.
"Aren’t you going to eat?"
Lyra shook her head.
"I’ll eat after you’ve finished, Young Master."
Andras frowned slightly.
He pointed toward the chair across from him.
"Sit."
Lyra blinked.
"Young Master?"
"We aren’t at the Darkmoor estate."
He gestured toward the empty chair.
"There’s no need for you to stand there and wait for me to finish."
Lyra hesitated.
"But—"
"Sit and eat."
His tone left little room for argument.
After a moment, Lyra nodded.
"Yes, Young Master."
She took the seat opposite him.
The two began eating.
For a while, the only sounds in the room were the quiet clinking of utensils.
Eventually, Lyra looked up.
"Young Master..."
"Hm?"
"Why did you spend so much time in the lecture hall?"
Andras leaned back slightly.
"There were several speeches."
Lyra smiled faintly.
"Speeches?"
"Long ones."
A trace of weariness crossed his face at the memory.
"Professor Alaric explained the examination rules, academy regulations, scoring system..."
He paused.
"And then there was the examination itself."
Lyra’s curiosity grew.
"So..."
"How did you perform?"
Andras continued eating for another moment before answering.
"Quite well."
"I ranked third."
Lyra’s eyes widened.
"Third?"
Andras nodded.
"That’s why we’re sitting in this room."
He gestured casually around them.
"This is the residence assigned to the third-ranked student."
Lyra looked around once more.
Her expression brightened.
"So Princess Aurelia ranked first?"
"Yes."
"And Lady Seraphina ranked second?"
"Exactly."
Lyra smiled.
"That explains why they went to Rooms One and Two."
Andras nodded.
"The rankings determine the rooms."
Lyra’s eyes gleamed with genuine happiness.
"Young Master, that’s wonderful."
Andras gave a faint smile.
"It wasn’t particularly difficult."
Lyra knew better than to argue.
She simply continued eating.
The conversation gradually shifted to other matters.
By the time they finished dinner, the plates had been cleared away.
Andras leaned back in his chair.
"Lyra."
"Yes?"
"Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin teaching you."
Lyra looked at him in surprise.
"Teaching me?"
"Yes."
He folded his arms.
"Whatever the academy teaches me, I’ll make notes of the important lessons."
"I’ll teach those lessons to you as well."
He paused.
"And I’ll add what I already know."
Lyra’s expression softened.
She lowered her head slightly.
"Thank you, Young Master."
"There is no need to thank me."
Andras stood.
"Since I’ve said I’ll teach you, then I’ll teach you. I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep."
Lyra nodded.
"I understand."
The evening had grown quiet.
Outside the window, the academy grounds were illuminated by countless magical lamps. The distant sounds of students returning to their rooms gradually faded into the night.
Tomorrow would mark the beginning of their academy lives.
For tonight...
They could finally rest.
Andras was about to retire for the night when—
Knock.
Knock.
The sound came from the door.
Both of them paused.
Lyra glanced toward Andras.
Andras’s expression shifted slightly.
He hadn’t expected any visitors.
Another knock echoed through the room.
Knock.
Knock.
"I’ll see who it is," Lyra said.
She walked toward the door.
Her hand closed around the handle.
Click.
The door opened.
Someone stood on the other side.
Lyra’s eyes widened.
Andras’s gaze sharpened.
Because the person standing before them was—