Chapter 83: The First Day at Ambrose Academy
Chapter 83: The First Day at Ambrose Academy
Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting the quiet hotel room in warm shades of gold.
Andras slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, he simply stared at the ceiling before lowering his gaze.
Lyra was still asleep beside him.
Curled against his side, Lyra clung to him instinctively, as though letting go would somehow cause him to slip away. Her blue hair spilled across the pillow, while a peaceful smile rested upon her lips.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek.
"Lyra."
She shifted slightly, murmuring something unintelligible before settling back into his shoulder.
"Lyra."
"We’ll be late."
Her eyelashes fluttered.
"...Young Master...?"
She slowly opened her blue eyes before realizing the position they were in. A soft blush immediately spread across her cheeks.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," Andras replied.
She quickly sat up.
"We should get ready."
"There isn’t much time before the Academy opens."
Andras nodded.
The two prepared for the day, washing up before changing into fresh clothes suitable for the opening ceremony.
A short while later, they stepped out of the hotel and joined the morning crowds.
---
The district surrounding Ambrose Academy had transformed overnight.
Every street overflowed with people.
Carriages arrived one after another, each bearing the crest of noble houses from across the Empire.
Young nobles walked beside anxious parents, while commoner students clutched their admission tokens with barely concealed excitement.
Merchants enthusiastically advertised enchanted accessories, books, maps of the Academy, and souvenirs for visiting travelers.
The entire district buzzed with excitement.
Standing above everything else were the magnificent gates of Ambrose Academy.
Towering white walls stretched in every direction, while silver banners embroidered with the Academy’s crest fluttered proudly in the breeze.
The entrance itself resembled the gates of a royal palace.
Dozens of Academy staff members stood at the checkpoint, carefully verifying Admission Tokens before allowing students inside.
Andras and Lyra calmly joined the line.
Their arrival did not go unnoticed.
"Isn’t that Andras Darkmoor?"
"The son of Duchess Evelyne."
Whispers spread rapidly among both nobles and commoners.
Even several students from foreign races glanced toward him.
Elegant elves with long silver ears observed him with quiet curiosity.
Several vampires watched silently beneath dark cloaks, their crimson eyes betraying little emotion.
Andras ignored every gaze.
He had never cared about public opinion.
Soon, he reached the front of the line.
The Academy official smiled politely.
"Your Admission Token, please."
Andras retrieved the silver token from his storage ring and handed it over.
The official carefully examined the intricate engraving before nodding.
"Everything is in order."
He returned the token.
"Welcome to Ambrose Academy, Lord Andras Darkmoor."
"Thank you."
Andras gestured toward Lyra.
"She’s my personal maid."
The official nodded.
"Registered attendants are permitted inside designated areas."
"You may proceed."
Without another word, Andras and Lyra stepped through the gates.
---
The moment they entered, Lyra unconsciously stopped walking.
"...Beautiful."
The Academy was unlike anything she had ever imagined.
Countless elegant buildings stood throughout the enormous campus, connected by broad stone pathways lined with ancient trees.
Crystal lamps floated gently above the roads despite the daylight, while enchanted fountains released shimmering streams of mana into the air.
Students wandered in every direction.
Some wore noble attire.
Others dressed far more modestly.
Yet within these walls, all of them had earned the right to stand here.
In the distance stood the Academy’s central tower.
It rose higher than every surrounding structure, its peak disappearing into the clouds.
Surrounding it were training arenas, libraries, magical laboratories, dormitories, gardens, and lecture halls.
The Academy resembled a city dedicated entirely to knowledge.
Lyra looked around in amazement.
"It’s incredible..."
Andras smiled faintly.
"It certainly lives up to its reputation."
They had barely taken a few more steps when a familiar voice called out.
"Andras."
He turned.
Walking toward them was Seraphina Valebright.
Beside her stood a young maid with chestnut-brown hair tied neatly behind her head.
A warm smile appeared on Andras’s face.
"Oh?"
"Seraphina."
"For a moment, I almost didn’t recognize you."
"You’ve changed quite a bit."
Seraphina merely looked at him for a moment.
"...Good morning, Andras."
She ignored the remark entirely.
Then she smiled politely at Lyra.
"Good morning."
Lyra bowed respectfully.
"Good morning, Lady Seraphina."
Andras chuckled softly.
His attempt to tease her had failed once again.
His attention shifted toward the maid.
"And who might you be?"
The maid bowed gracefully.
"My name is Elara, Young Master."
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
"A pleasure."
The brief introductions concluded, and the conversation naturally shifted toward their journey.
Fortunately, none of them had encountered serious trouble along the way.
Just then...
The crowd suddenly became noticeably louder.
Curious, everyone turned toward the entrance.
The arrival of a royal carriage immediately drew everyone’s attention.
The golden emblem of the Imperial Family gleamed beneath the morning sun.
Princess Aurelia stepped down first.
Beside her stood her personal maid.
Almost immediately, numerous young nobles hurried forward in hopes of introducing themselves.
Unfortunately for them...
Aurelia politely ignored every one of them.
Her gaze swept across the entrance before stopping on a familiar figure.
Andras.
Without hesitation, she walked directly toward him.
The surrounding students stared in disbelief.
"She’s walking toward Lord Darkmoor..."
"I heard they met during the Princess’s banquet."
"The Princess ignored everyone..."
"Why is she going straight to him?"
Within moments, Aurelia stood before him.
"Good morning, Lord Andras."
"It is good to see you again."
Andras offered a courteous smile.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
"The feeling is mutual."
Aurelia’s expression softened.
"And..."
"Thank you once again for your gift."
"I liked it very much."
"I’m relieved to hear that."
"I was beginning to worry my taste might disappoint a princess."
A faint laugh escaped Aurelia.
"I assure you..."
"It did not."
She then greeted Seraphina.
"Lady Seraphina."
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Your Highness."
After exchanging a few more words, Andras glanced around.
"We should probably find the orientation hall before it becomes crowded."
The others readily agreed.
After asking a nearby second-year student for directions, the four of them made their way across the Academy.
The enormous campus bustled with activity.
Students from every province filled the walkways, while instructors guided newcomers toward their respective destinations.
Eventually, they arrived before an enormous lecture hall.
An Academy staff member stood outside the entrance.
"Students only."
"Attendants must remain outside."
Lyra, Elara, and Aurelia’s maid respectfully stopped.
"We’ll wait here, Young Master."
Andras nodded.
"We won’t be long."
The three students entered together.
The lecture hall was vast enough to accommodate hundreds of new students.
Tiered rows of polished wooden seats stretched upward in neat semicircles, all facing a grand stage adorned with the crest of Ambrose Academy.
Most of the seats were already occupied.
After a brief glance around, Andras led Seraphina and Aurelia toward three empty seats in the front row.
As they sat down, conversations echoed throughout the hall.
Some students introduced themselves.
Others nervously discussed the entrance examinations and future classes.
Many secretly glanced toward the three prominent nobles seated together.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation.
One by one, the conversations faded.
The final empty seats were claimed, and the restless murmur that had filled the hall slowly disappeared.
An expectant silence settled over hundreds of newly admitted students.
Every gaze turned toward the stage.
Then...
Creak.
The massive doors behind the platform swung open.
Several figures stepped into the hall.
The atmosphere shifted in an instant.
The orientation ceremony had begun.