The night at the campus looks like a drawing from a book, with glowing paths leading the way and soft, warm lanterns hanging from trees and buildings. Groups of students and faculty gathered in clusters, their conversations blending into a pleasant hum that filled the air with a sense of celebration and camaraderie. Some students with their family are visiting stalls and spending quality time.
As Robin made his way through the vibrant scene, the gentle breeze carried the aroma of foods being cooked by vendors. He walked past intricately lit arches and fountains, heading towards the banquet hall. The atmosphere was both lively and serene, and despite the crowd, Robin felt a quiet anticipation building within him.
Ahead, the banquet hall came into view, it was not as grand as he thought. The banquet hall located in the gothic looking main building of the academy.
The banquet hall felt more like an oversized dining room, with small, round tables spread throughout the room. A modest raised platform stood at one end, prepared for the banquet's host. Robin took his seat at one of the tables, with Oliver stationed behind him, ever ready to assist, while Andrew stood guard alongside other security personnel.
The table before Robin was lavishly decorated, filled with an array of dishes, all contained in modern, self-heating pots to ensure the food remained warm for the guests. In contrast, a small ice pool was embedded into the table, keeping drinks and alcohol chilled and easily accessible.
Robin had thought he arrived early, but he quickly noticed a few guests had already taken their seats. Gradually, more people filled the hall, with teachers and high-ranking officers making their way to their designated spots. The atmosphere grew more lively as familiar faces from the VIP room began to mingle, many accompanied by their families. Some of the VIPs grouped together, engaging in quiet discussions, likely talking about business or networking, their voices blending into the background .
Despite most guests gathering in groups, Robin's table remained empty. No one dared to join him—after all, no one knew who he was. Sitting with an unknown figure without an invitation might have seemed improper, and they likely feared the embarrassment of taking a seat that could have been reserved for someone else.
After some time, Liam entered the hall, accompanied by two elderly men. Robin immediately recognized one of them from the VIP room earlier, part of the group of distinguished older guests. The other man, however, was unfamiliar to him. As the trio approached, Robin could feel the atmosphere shift, the presence of this trio made the room silent.
Liam stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of the room. With a warm yet authoritative tone, he began his speech.
"Honored guests, esteemed teachers, and cherished friends," Liam started, his voice carrying smoothly across the banquet hall. "It is truly a privilege to stand before all of you this evening. This gathering is a celebration not only for the festival but for the bond you guys share with the academy . I thank each and every one of you for making the time to be here."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, meeting the eyes of various guests. "In particular, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to one man whose presence here today is especially meaningful. Despite his immense responsibilities, this man—a pioneer in the field of magical research—has honored us with his company. Please, join me in thanking Professor Nicolas from the Magic Research Center for being here tonight. Also some of you guys might know him as one of the oldest and wisest teachers this academy ever had , the guy who is more qualified than me to be the dean of this institute but he's afraid of his duty and made me the dean please give applause for my dearest colleague professor Simon.
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A round of applause rippled through the hall as Liam turned toward the old guys beside him, acknowledging his nod of appreciation. Once the applause subsided, Liam started addressing all important guests one by one , he also made some light jokes here and there.
" I've already taken enough of your important time let's enjoy the meal"
After finishing his speech liam with his acquaintance sat with Robin.
As the murmurs continued, Robin maintained his composure, though he couldn't help but feel the weight of their curiosity. Liam's presence alone was enough to draw attention, and now with two prominent professors beside him, Robin could sense the crowd's growing gaze. But Robin didn't care for them.
Liam’s booming voice broke through the buzz of the crowd. "Hey, kid, are you enjoying the event?" he asked, his wide grin .
Robin responded with a small smirk. "Yes, and you delivered quite a speech, old man."
Liam chuckled before gesturing to the two elderly men beside him. "Let me introduce you to two of my closest friends, Professor Simon and Professor Nicolas. "
Both were distinguished in appearance, with Simon having a stern but thoughtful expression and Nicolas offering a gentler smile. They seemed intrigued by Robin, their eyes analyzing him with Curiosity.
Robin nodded, maintaining his polite demeanor. "It's an honor to meet you both."
Professor Simon, the more reserved of the two, looked at Liam, then back at Robin. "So, this is the young man you were talking about earlier?"
Liam nodded, his voice growing more serious. "Yes, he’s the grandson of my younger brother, the one who went missing years ago."
Robin was a bit worried that his grandfather's reputation might make things hectic for him. Seeing the concern on his face, Nicolas laughed and said, "Don't worry, no one can hear us. There's a sound barrier around us."
Robin blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Nicolas’ casual tone. "A sound barrier?" he asked, glancing around and he saw Everyone was talking within their own circle some took pick but it doesn't look like they can hear them.
"Liam told us everything about you. It must be chaotic, adjusting to this world after coming from your own," said old man Nicolas, his voice heavy with sympathy as he took a sip from his drink.
"It's alright, and thanks for your concern," Robin replied with a polite smile.
"I hope this doesn't sound rude, but did your grandfather ever mention why he was in your world? Or tell you any stories about other worlds?" Nicolas asked, his eyes narrowing as if searching for hidden truths.
"No, he never talked about things like that. To me, he was just a regular old man," Robin said,
"Did he store anything on his terminal?" Simon asked, his voice faint, as though speaking was an effort.
"I checked, but the data had been erased when it attached to a new hoste," Liam replied from the other side of the table, his tone casual yet firm.
"You mentioned a diary, didn’t you?" Nicolas pressed, his brow furrowing.
"He had a diary,the language was unknown and i couldn't read them or remember them also the teleportation was so sudden, I didn’t have a chance to grab it ," Robin said, frustration creeping into his voice.
"That diary could have been an incredible discovery for our civilization. It might have given us insight into the rifts," Nicolas sighed, a deep regret visible on his face. "Those rifts are unpredictable. Who knows how many secrets lie within them?"
Robin remained silent for a moment, considering how little he truly knew about the rifts or his grandfather’s connection to them. He hadn’t yet processed the idea that he been part of something so much larger than himself.
"Look at you, always so professional. Are you here to interrogate the kid?" Simon teased, a light chuckle escaping his lips. It broke the tension, drawing a small smile from Robin.
"Sorry, I got carried away," Nicolas said, raising his hands in surrender. "Let’s enjoy our meal." He lifted his glass. "A toast to Robin, and to new beginnings."
Everyone raised their glasses, and Robin found himself relaxing. The dinner, filled with light banter and conversation, turned out to be far more pleasant than he expected.
As the meal wrapped up, Nicolas leaned back in his chair. "If you ever find yourself in the Central Continent, come visit the head office of the Magic Research Center in the Great Forest. I’ll give you a personal tour. It’s not every day we get someone with a connection to the William family."
"I’d like that," Robin replied, smiling warmly. "Thank you."
As the night deepened, Robin bid farewell to the group, even when he was leaving people were curiously looking at him and wondered about his origin.
The cool night air greeted him as he stepped outside, a stark contrast to the warmth of the dining hall. The stars above were different from the ones he had grown up with, and as he looked up, he realized just how far from home he truly was.
Back in his room, he laid down, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.
Tomorrow would be exciting. He’d witness magic and sword duels things he had only read about on novels and mangas.