It had now been a few days since the initiation exam of the Royal Academy of Albion. And within exactly one day after this the classes would actually start to begin.
For some odd reason however, Marilyn felt a bit…anxious, to say the least. Because for the first time in a long time, she got to experience school again, for certain this time. So it was not an anxiety over failure, but of climbing up in the ladder of life.
She felt slightly unworthy, thinking to herself that this path she chose bore fruit because of luck or chance, not her own efforts to get in. And for her personally, that was the truth of it.
Standing upon the courtyard of the Royal Academy during sunset, that what she was thinking as of now. The news of her success in becoming a student here brought pride to the family, and as promised to her Bethany would now accompany her along the way.
The academy itself does have a section outside the school for the personal servants of students to live in, as well as Academy staff. It was a small town nearby, hugging the boundaries of the school, at most a ten minute walk to the academy.
She had thought that Vincent would also be living there considering it didn't count as a dorm, but apparently she was wrong. He was said to live in rural Leandon, not the academy district. She wondered why he didn't apply for a dorm, but then again it was the right of the student to have a dorm or not, otherwise he wouldn't be allowed the option to do so.
He might’ve just preferred the wilderness more than anything, that's all.
But in any case, the thought that she got into this place as a result of chance has merit to it in her own opinion. The thought of her succeeding in becoming an official student was also something that's down to luck as well.
She's average by her own and her tome system’s standards, and outside of a few quirks she's pretty much someone without talent in her own eyes. And as painful as it was to say, she considered her father's words of her potential as biassed. It could be based on truth, but still she didn't expect herself to be that much of a person.
Of course, she wouldn't want to waste this opportunity to learn and grow stronger, for that was her wish. She had promised to herself that she would put in effort into this new life of hers, as a way to thank the world for giving her this second chance.
Therefore—
“You're here, huh? Had fun exploring the school before actually getting to learn stuff in it?” An older girl's voice would come from behind, interrupting her train of thought.
Marilyn turned her head around, greeting the voice, “Helena!”
Her older sister, of black hair and emerald eyes, would rest her dominant right hand upon her hip, standing right beside her little sister. She was quite taller than her, with Marilyn barely reaching her shoulders, and Helena herself bore a more mature body compared to the younger girl, one could consider themselves jealous of her beauty in that sense.
She's wearing her combat armour, dwarven engraved enchanted platings strapped to her body. It seemed she had finished a sparring session of sorts.
“Sooo, are you answering my question?” She would suddenly say to her.
“Oh, uhm, yeah! It's quite big, but I had the time to do it while I waited for Bethany to arrive. It felt like a city almost.” Marilyn replied.
“I know right? Can't believe it's this well maintained after thousands of years, the gift of magic I guess.” Helena responded again, chuckling for a bit.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Marilyn chuckled in turn, as the two sisters would then observe the setting sun upon the horizon. A small airship in the distance was about to arrive here, so that's presumably where Bethany is currently in.
“Before we greet our lovely maid…what’s on your mind, hm?” Helena said again, in a more genuinely curious tone this time.
“I-it’s nothing much. More or less just thinking about how like…I’m here. I’m quite average, you know? Unlike you who got into the top rankings very early on…I’m pretty subpar.”
“Really now? That's all?” She said, “You suuure this is not about those two boys? Do you like any of them?”
“What? No! Adrian is nice and all but we just met, and Vincent is very rude and demanding! Plus, I think he doesn't like me, even though I didn't do anything wrong!”
Marilyn had panic in her voice as she said those words, causing her older sister to snort out a laugh. Marilyn herself wasn't even sure if she would like anyone that way at all right now.
“Just messing with ya! Of course you don't have anyone in mind right now, you're always too deep in your thoughts to think about that!” Helena would retort to her, “But, to actually respond now…I feel like you're just overthinking things, hm? Just because you're subpar doesn't mean you don't have talent. You got into this school and aced your exam, that's already better than like, what, most of the candidates that failed to even get selected? You should be proud of yourself!”
“Y-yeah, I know that. It's just my stupid brain thinking about this and all…”
“Then when it comes to what you want, just listen to your heart instead, no? Your brain can do strategies and knowledge stuff, but when it comes to actual feelings, your heart is the expert!”
“That sounds like it came from a book. Too cheesy and obvious.” Marilyn pouted a bit.
Helena would then pat her sibling on the back, making her almost fumble from the sheer strength she had. “See? You're definitely talented, lil sis! Just take things with stride and work hard, the future will reward you afterwards.”
She felt like Helena was just teasing her again there, but she knew it was to lighten up her mood. With that in mind, Marilyn would sheepishly smile, and Helena responded with a quiet celebration, smiling with her, showing her teeth even.
Fixing her posture again, Marilyn then continued to observe the small airship in front of them that's about to land. Without any sort of command the two girls would also approach the airship they awaited for its doors to open.
The well-known name of this particular craft was called a Galewing, and it had multiple variations for varying uses. The appearance was akin to how one would imagine a VTOL aircraft using magic as fuel to look like, with that touch of streamlined and clean civilian-friendly appearance and also the arcane due to how technology functions within this world.
The two would eventually stop a few metres away from the doors of the aircraft as it opened, and their expected guest would drop down from it afterwards.
Flaming red hair and blue eyes, with a height that's equal to Helena currently too. Dressed like a maid, and bearing a cold but nurturing face as she smiled. It's obvious who it was.
“Bethany!”
The two girls ran towards her, hugging her tight to which the woman replied by returning the gesture. And as the two younger girls would back off from it shortly after…
“We’re so happy to see you!” Marilyn would say to her.
“Yeah! I even saw Marilyn cry for you during the exam!” Helena would also respond.
“H-hey, that's fake news!” Marilyn tried to retort that statement, but—
“Your tone shows no signs of genuineness, so it's definitely true!”
Marilyn pouted in fake anger at Helena's further teasing, and Bethany just gently laughed at the two’s bantering.
“I am glad that I can also get to see you again, my mistresses.” She said, bowing as she did.
“Aaanyways! Yeah, we’re definitely happy to see you, Beth.” Helena said to her, “More so that you should actually be proud of this little one here you know? Subpar attributes but definitely someone with talent to somehow squeeze in through in spite of it!”
Marilyn laughed wryly at that. Bethany just politely nodded.
“You’ve worked hard to achieve this, for more than a decade you studied every bit of magic you can muster as you grew up. My lady, you should be proud.” She said, her gentle smile bringing a bit of light into both of their eyes.
“Yeah, I am. When you put it like that, I definitely deserve to be here, huh?” Marilyn responded.
“Indeed you are.” The maid said in response. “So before we can catch up, how about we start with you two showcasing your dorm rooms, hm?”
Those words brought excitement to both of the two girls, even more so for Marilyn. It was essentially a chance to show off how mature and well-kept they are. This was especially the case for Helena, who had lived in this school for around a few years now, as she's in her third year currently.
“Sure thing!”
And the both of them responded with those same two words towards their nurturing maid.