Chapter 38 " Huntington Academy"

"Noooooo!"

Caelan jolted awake, his own scream ringing in his ears. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his breath unsteady. Sweat clung to his forehead as he sat up, trying to calm himself.

That nightmare again. The dungeon. His comrades dying. No matter how much time passed, the images stayed.

Shaking off the lingering fear, Caelan threw off his blanket and stood. His gaze fell on the sword leaning against the wall—the new one he had bought as soon as he returned to Liras City. He grabbed it without hesitation and made his way downstairs.

Outside, the backyard was silent, the sky still dark. A faint chill hung in the air, but Caelan barely noticed.

He took his stance and swung. Sharp. Relentless. His enemy lived only in his mind, but he kept fighting.

This had become his routine. Every time the nightmares woke him, he would come here, sword in hand, fighting an invisible enemy that lived only in his mind. It had started as a way to distract himself, but now, it felt like a habit—almost a ritual.

Minutes passed. Then hours.

Only when the first light of dawn stretched across the horizon did Caelan finally stop. His muscles ached, his breathing was heavy, but he simply stood there, gazing up at the sky.

"This is it. The last day of the entrance exams."

He couldn't keep Arthur and Sarah waiting.

With that thought, he turned and rushed back inside.

He quickly washed up, changed into his usual clothes—plain and old, the same ones he had received from Oren, the village chief’s son in Mitra Village—then grabbed a simple breakfast. It wasn’t much, but he ate quickly before heading out.

The streets of Liras City were already coming to life. Merchants opened their stalls, people who worked in administrative job ,clerk But Caelan paid them no mind. He walked with purpose, arriving at their meeting place in no time.

Arthur was already there. He stood tall, but his hands fidgeted slightly, betraying his nervous excitement. Caelan couldn’t help but smile.

Arthur had been waiting for this day for a long time. He could have enrolled earlier, while Caelan was busy with missions, but he had chosen to wait so they could enter together.

As I approached, my gaze drifted to Arthur’s clothes. Unlike me, he was dressed almost like a noble—his blue coat with gold trim, brown vest, and crisp white shirt gave him an air of refinement. If I didn’t know better, I’d have mistaken him for one.

In contrast, my dark blue tunic, worn and faded, marked me as a village boy. A simple belt held it in place, paired with plain brown trousers and knee-high boots. Standing beside him, the difference was obvious.

Since arriving in this world, I had never cared about my appearance. Survival had always been my priority. But now, standing beside my friend, who looked completely at home in this world of wealth and refinement, I finally noticed the difference.

Most of the students at Huntington Academy came from noble families or wealthy merchants. They would all be dressed in fine, expensive clothing. And here I was, still wearing the same outfit I'd worn since Mitra Village.

I should’ve at least bought new clothes for this.

For the first time, I wondered how others would see me. Would I stand out? Would they look down on me?

I pushed the thought aside. Today was important. No matter how I looked, I was determined to take the exam.

I gave Arthur a small nod. "Sarah still isn’t here?"

He smirked. "You know how girls are. They take forever to get ready."

"That makes sense," I admitted. "Besides, it's still early."

A few minutes later, Sarah finally arrived.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said.

Like Arthur, she had dressed for the occasion. She wore an elegant red and white dress with a ruffled neckline, puffed sleeves, a black ribbon at the waist, and lace detailing at the hem. She looked every bit as refined as the noble girls I had imagined.

It seemed I was the only one who hadn’t prepared for this day.

Arthur clapped me on the back. "Let’s go. A carriage will take us to Huntington Academy in the East District."

As we arrived at Huntington Academy, I took in the sight before me. The academy was enclosed by fortified walls, with towering gates serving as the main entrance. Guards stood at their posts, watching over everyone who entered.

We approached them, and Arthur spoke up. "We're here to take the entrance exam."

The guards examined us one by one, their gaze lingering on me before turning back to Arthur. "The two of you will be taking the exam?"

"No, it's the three of us," Arthur corrected.

The guard gave a slight nod. "Go to the main building. As you enter, you'll see a room marked 'Entrance Exam.' Take a seat inside and wait for the examiner."

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"Thank you, sir," Arthur replied.

As we stepped inside, I was immediately struck by the academy’s grandeur. A sprawling courtyard stretched before us, centered around an ornate fountain. Nearby, luxurious carriages stood in neat rows—no doubt belonging to nobles and aristocrats. Surrounding the courtyard were multiple buildings, likely dormitories, lecture halls, and administrative offices.

At the heart of it all, the main structure towered over the rest, its spires reaching skyward. Intricate stonework and massive windows adorned its façade, radiating an undeniable air of prestige. To the right, a domed building with gothic elements caught my attention—perhaps a library or research center. Neatly paved pathways wove between statues and lush greenery, completing the picture of wealth and influence.

Following the guard’s instructions, we entered the main building. The moment we stepped inside, an elegant hallway greeted us, its polished floors reflecting the golden glow of chandeliers overhead. Decorative paneling lined the corridor, and solid wooden doors stood at regular intervals, each exuding a quiet sophistication.

It didn’t take long to find the entrance exam room.

We hesitated at the door, exchanging glances.

"Arthur, you go first," I said.

"Ahh… okay." He took a deep breath before pushing the wooden door open and stepping inside. Sarah followed next, and then I entered.

The room was large, with tall windows letting in streams of sunlight. Wooden benches stretched across the space, leading up to a teacher’s desk at the front. Nearly twenty students were already seated, their expensive, well-tailored clothing a stark contrast to mine. As we walked toward the back, I felt their eyes on us—on me. Some held confusion, as if questioning why someone like me was here. Others looked outright annoyed.

I ignored them. I’m not here to impress them—I’m here for answers. Let them stare.

A loud, exaggerated sigh cut through the room.

"Oh? This is unexpected." The voice carried the smooth arrogance of someone used to having the last word.

I turned toward the speaker—a noble, without question. He had wavy, light brown hair and sharp green eyes, his well-fitted attire practically screaming wealth. His gaze flicked to Arthur and Sarah before settling on me, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"I didn’t realize Huntington Academy had started charity admissions," he mused. "Tell me, did you mistake this for a recruitment center for hired help?"

Sarah stiffened. "Excuse me?"

The noble tilted his head lazily. "I mean, look at him." He waved a dismissive hand in my direction. "No proper attire, no presence. What exactly is he doing here? Carrying your bags?"

Arthur’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "Caelan isn’t a servant. He’s here to take the entrance exam."

The noble’s smirk faltered. "You’re joking." His eyes narrowed slightly, as if searching for the trick. Then, he let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Surely, you can’t be serious. An examinee?" His voice carried across the room, drawing the attention of others. Some looked amused. Others indifferent. A few whispered among themselves.

I was about to respond when the door suddenly swung open.

A man entered, drawing every gaze in the room. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, with dark brown hair that was slightly messy—one side falling over his eye. He wore a dark coat with gold accents over a crisp, high-collared white shirt. His sharp smile and confident stride told me everything: this was someone who had little patience for nonsense.

He scanned the room, his gaze landing on us. "What’s going on here?"

The noble stood up immediately. "This guy claims he’s here to take the entrance exam," he said, pointing at me. "What kind of academy is this if you’re accepting someone like him?"

The man closed his eyes briefly, as if exhausted by the complaint. Then, he sighed.

"Listen," he said, his voice even. "Huntington Academy—and all academies in Liras City—accept any student who is intelligent enough and can pay tuition, regardless of background. I know many of you are nobles, but once you enroll here, your status means nothing. Every student is treated equally. Whether you were born in a mansion or a farmhouse, it doesn’t matter within these walls."

A tense silence followed.

The noble’s fingers curled slightly, his jaw tight with barely concealed irritation. But he said nothing more and sank back into his seat.

I heard the professor’s words, but I doubted them. Could an academy like this truly remain untouched by noble influence? Would powerful families really stay out of their children’s affairs? Somehow, I wasn’t convinced.

The man stepped forward. "Good morning, everyone. I’m Elias, your examiner for this entrance exam. I’m also a professor at this academy."

He lifted an hourglass. "Here are the rules. When the sand runs out, whether you’re finished or not, you must stop writing. At that point, I will collect your parchment."

"If you don’t understand a question, you may ask for clarification. However, I will not provide answers."

He continued, "The second part of your exam has no right or wrong answers. Instead, we evaluate your responses based on reasoning and logic. The passing grade is 60% or higher."

Professor Elias glanced around the room. "Now, be ready. I will distribute the parchments and quills. Do not start until I say so."

I took a deep breath as he walked down the rows, placing exam materials in front of each student. This was it. I had no plan—no backup. If I wanted to find my way back to my original world, I had to get into this academy.

"Before you begin," he announced, "write your name, place of origin, and age on the parchment."

I quickly wrote down my details, my hand steady despite the weight of the moment.

"Is everyone ready?" Elias asked, scanning the room. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he flipped the hourglass over. "You may begin."

I lowered my gaze to the parchment. The first section covered computation, geography, history, and logic. Skimming through the questions, I nearly smiled. Too easy. My weeks in the public library had paid off.

History. Geography. Simple.

I moved to the second part. This required me to give my opinions on the economy, tax systems, and business structures. Unlike the first section, this wasn’t something that could be answered by memorizing books or listening to a tutor. It required perspective.

And that’s where things got interesting.

The system here was outdated—far behind what I knew from my original world. I answered carefully, basing my responses on logic and efficiency, wondering how the academy’s professors would react. Would they dismiss my ideas as nonsense, or would they recognize the flaws in their current systems?

The examiner had said there were no right or wrong answers—only reasoning and perspective.

After reviewing my work, I raised my hand.

Professor Elias looked over. "Do you have a question?"

The room went still. Some test-takers glanced up, while others remained hunched over their parchments.

"No," I said calmly. "I’m finished."

A flicker of surprise crossed Elias’s face, but it was gone in an instant. "Alright. Wait while I collect your parchment."

I set my quill down and leaned back slightly, exhaling slowly.

Now, all I could do was wait—

And see how much this academy truly valued logic over tradition.