After what was certainly the most wonderful lunch Evin had ever attended and a casual stroll through the streets reserved for knights, Evin and Leanne approached the Academy building from the back. The building was still impressive to look at from this side, but it appeared much blander. Perhaps it was because the massive triangular rooftops didn’t have any windows on the back, making the structure look uniformly white.
However, Leanne did not take Evin to the main building itself but to a shorter four-story building right next to it. Evin guessed this was the dormitory.
As they entered, a guard greeted Leanne with reverence and respect. Noticing Evin walking beside her, the guard seemed to make a mental note of him before resuming his post.
Leanne explained the dorm’s layout, and eventually, they reached a door labeled 217.
Leanne opened the door and urged Evin inside.
The room itself was relatively simple: two desks, four chairs, a large wardrobe, and two beds. It was far from the luxury of Leanne’s house, with no grand decor on the walls or elaborately carved furniture. Yet, everything was crafted to a certain standard, clean and uniform—higher than what Evin was used to.
For him, it was normal for parts of a wooden frame to be rotting, floors to be creaky, and sections of walls and ceilings to be missing. And comparatively Evin had it good. Most children didn't even have their own room.
Yet still, there was something greater.
A room this perfectly built and maintained was something reserved only for the rich and noble.
“Here’s a map of the dorm and the Academy building,” Leanne said with a smile, handing him a piece of paper with detailed explanations. “If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the servants or guards—they’ll be happy to help. And if anyone asks, just tell them you were enrolled under my name.”
“I will.”
“There are two sets of Academy uniforms inside the wardrobe and four sets of casual clothes. I hope my taste in fashion suits you~. I’ve also stocked the bathroom with some basic necessities. And, if you need anything else, there’s a pouch with a Face and about a hundred Towers. You can use them however you wish, and if you ever need more, just ask.”
“That’s way too much money!” Evin replied, wide-eyed at the amount.
"Ah... You'll stop worrying about money soon enough," Leanne smiled. "For now, just know that it’s no sweat off my back. I’m happy to help.”
A small sigh escaped her mouth.
“Truthfully, I wanted to keep you at my house for a month or so to help you adjust to everything… but some things came up, and I couldn’t. But please, come by to visit whenever you want—you’re always welcome,” Leanne said, giving Evin a hug.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Thank you, Lady Leanne. For everything. Really.”
Leanne tousled his hair playfully.
“Alright, I’ll pick you up at noon tomorrow. There will be an opening ceremony of sorts for the new students,” she said, handing Evin the dorm room key. “Oh, and there should be another boy staying with you, so you can expect some company. Hope you get along!”
With that, she walked off, leaving Evin alone in the room. He looked around, his mind drifting.
A lot had happened.
And at the same time, everything felt so normal.
He had finally become a mage and... he wasn't expecting everyone to celebrate with him, but... it really felt like he was the only one with a celebratory mood.
And maybe Leanne was happy.
'And maybe the Voice is happy as well.'
"Huh? Why?"
It seemed a bit paranoid to Evin, but feeling he should at least be cautious, he walked over to the wardrobe and examined the clothes inside. On the top shelf, he found a small pouch, neatly put beside some towels and washing bowls.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he opened the pouch and marveled at the sheer amount of silver he was seeing inside it. Each one was as thin as possible, featuring intricate designs and a thick line ornamented with symbols: the Black Tower—the very tower in which the Empress resided.
The coins Evin was familiar, the one he used in his day to day life, had no such designs. They simply bore the numeral "1" in imperial digit and were made of copper.
Sifting through the coins, his eyes fell on the golden one. To think that this single coin held the same value as all the silver coins combined… it was a difficult concept for Evin to grasp.
Would this one bear the Empress’s face? He inspected the coin and found he was right. The thin golden coin showed a profile of a face—beautiful, yet not the celestial beauty he’d expected. Some might even say Leanne had a more attractive face, and they wouldn’t be wrong.
“But I probably shouldn’t compare a goddess’s face with that of a mortal mage,” Evin thought, shaking his head. He then turned his attention to searching for any recording devices as the voice had instructed.
Finding nothing unusual, he moved to the bathroom and inspected the items there—mostly hygiene supplies and a single water flask. Nothing seemed suspicious.
Evin sighed, but in the end he complied. He looked around everywhere lazily, between the sheets, under the table , over the wardrobe... until he felt the crinkle of paper on his fingertips.
Carefully, Evin pulled down the square-shaped paper from over the wardrobe and held it in his hands. Shocked that the voice had been right, he examined the intricate designs on the paper. At the center was a symbol—a dot surrounded by wave-like lines that seemed to converge on it. Other drawings appeared to support the central one in some way.
The paper and ink didn’t look normal either. Unlike the runes Evin had used to cast magic, which practically radiated energy, this one felt long-lasting and enduring.
"Huh?"
This time, Evin's search was much more engaged. After going through everywhere, he found two more similar papers: one tucked under a bed and another hidden behind the bathroom mirror.
Now thoroughly bewildered, Evin wondered who was so interested in him that they would plant three of these magical devices in his room. What exactly was going on?
"What’s going on here?" Evin thought, staring at the three papers with growing fear and confusion.