I was sitting on the bed of the newly prepared royal apartment for me. A bit fidgety, restless even as my legs were shaking.

I was nervous, pressured with this thick atmosphere in the room made by of course… Aronlight, what my uncle left me.

It was a bit of a surprise when Áron showed Aronlight, as I thought it would be a magical sword like Excalibur or such, but… well it is a magical weapon, it’s just… it’s only the handle, no steel, not even a scabbard.

The design is quite beautiful, having a leaf or maybe a vine like carving to its guard and of course a symbol of this world’s religion, the seven-pointed star.

It’s also… quite intimidating, it’s psychological for sure, this thing represents Uncle Luther’s legacy after all, and… yeah, it’s heavy, very heavy for me.

But there was no point on being this nervous, this is his weapon, my weapon now that will help me on this journey against a looming destroyer of this world.

So, I stood up, slap my cheeks lightly, focused, took it, and… nothing happens… just like before.

* * *

“HAHAHA!” Miss Marie laughed hysterically. “That is so, Luther! ‘Must know who you are, what you seek, what your feelings’, classic cryptic Luther.” Miss Marie mockingly said.

“So, what do I do know? And why does the ‘of my blood’ requirement isn’t applicable for me?” I asked confusingly.

“Huh… I guess Luther must have meant that literally, as in it needs to be his child, grandchild, and so on.” Áron gave a possibility.

“Then… again, what do I do know? I know who I am, in a meta and a literal way, I know what I seek, very, very… well, and… well, Lumenter is nice…”

“That might be it, Art! We’ve only been here for a couple of months, of course your fealings are incomplete.” Martyn gave his opinion.

“So… another advent-”

“No.” Martyn cut me off.

“Damn.”

“Then what should I do now? I need to unlock Aronlight!”

“Okay let me ask you this Art, why are you so keen to unlock the weapon? If you need, I can make the perfect sword for you, in an instance and without any password to unlocking its truest potential. I mean I get it, it’s your uncle’s and it might be a really good sword.”

“It is a good sword, a great sword I might add.” Áron said.

“Well gee… if it’s that great of sword, then why don’t you give us a showcase by unleashing its potential?!” Martyn made a good point with a sarcastic tone.

“I told you, I can’t. I’ve already relinquished my claim and status as the wielder, it needs another wielder.”

“Sure, you did buddy.” Martyn wasn’t taking any of it and well… I wasn’t too.

“You know what here.”

Áron, maybe a bit tired of Martyn’s disbelief, went to me and grabbed Aronlight from my hand, showing… well, what he’s been telling us.

“I told you…” He showed Aronlight, still hard as rock and very much colorless.

* * *

It still boggles my mind, I don’t quite know what to do as Martyn isn’t letting me go out to find what I truly feel towards Lumenter.

I mean I get it, it’s dangerous, and it’s a waste of resources while Martyn is in need of everything to fix this kingdom. But… I don’t know why, Martyn after his coma has lately been feeling more… I don’t want to really say it, but… well, yeah, possessive, very much cagey, not that suffocating though, just… really restrictive with us all.

“Daydreaming in my class, are you Sir Arthur?” Margrave Ramon, broke my trance.

“Ohh! Sorry... it’s just, a lot is just in my head Sir… mostly because I can’t use the weapon my uncle left me.”

“Ahh… Aronlight, it is a beautiful weapon, I’ve actually seetn it when I was a boy.”

“Really! How’s the blade? How long was it?” I got my chance to know what uncle Luther wielded.

“It was small, a fadaic falchion that even my daughter could use with ease, the handles were as the motif it was design, fadaic, lots of greenery and leaf like shape.”

“Woah…”

“But like what Sir Áron said, the weapon is personalized, it could be in any shape you dreamt of, as big as you want, and as small as you need. I am actually looking a bit forward to what yours would be!”

“Well, me too… but I just can’t fulfil all the requirements my uncle made.”

“Hmm… a young boy like must be struggling in the ‘Know thyself’ part, right?” Margrave Ramon guessed.

“More like the ‘Thy feelings to this World’ actually.”

“Ohh… and it seems, the Lord Protector forbade you from travelling like His Royal Highness?”

“…” I silently nodded.

“I think I could help with that!” Margrave Ramon then went to one of his table’s board, to reveal a letter for me. “If an adventure is too expensive for the crown, then a meeting of your peers might be a better alternative, to give you the answer of what you truly feel towards my world!”

* * *

With the letter of recommendation in hand, I was quite excited of where I would go as this is pretty much a ticket for me to taste this world’s formal education.

I wondered how magical it would be, how Hogwart-esque it’s going to be. Heck, the academy itself is on an island surrounded by a large lake! Going there would be a Hogwarts level entrance. But I digress, as much as it would be fun, I remembered… it’s still a goddamn educational institution.

From how Margrave Ramon described, the Académie will be more like the Clock Tower from Fate rather than Hogwarts, with the other mandatory lessons like in a university I have to take to graduate.

But well… that’s for tomorrow, right now I’m going to boast this to Martyn with how giddy I was walking towards his office.

As I was walking down the hallway towards Martyn’s office, skipping slightly even with this new, sort of adventure. I saw miss Marie, peeking at Martyn’s office, with a face that is very concerned.

I was confused but it was cleared up when I heard a music… coming from Martyn’s office, he’s playing…

Pulaski at Night?

“Miss Marie…” I went up to her. “Is that…”

“Yep… Pulaski at Night…” She confirmed.

“How long?” I was concerned.

“For me it’s been a couple of minutes, but… I heard he played it five hours ago, when I was going to the castle’s garden with Roison… and well…”

“Damn…” I knew right away… Eleanna didn’t heed my pleading for Martyn.

“Well I got to split now, Roison wants me to teach her math, so… take care of him ‘kay!” Miss Marie said as he left.

“Yeah!” I waved goodbye and nodded at her request.

After Miss Marie left, I stood there peeking slightly from Martyn’s door. Seeing the ever so, nearly workaholic, diligent man that is reviewing, signing, and keeping tabs on the important papers of this realm while listening to his… sad inducing song.

First time I heard him playing this song, was more or less after every hurtful things, whether physical or not, his mother did. Sometimes even when Alice scolded him, but this time… it was a first for a heartbreak more or less.

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Eleanna really was something else for him, as much as she can’t be Alice and miss Marie to Martyn, they can’t be what she is to Martyn.

All of them are all special and unique to him, no one can replace them.

Noticing I was wasting time observing him, I broke my trance and went straight in there, but before… Eleanna suddenly spoke near me.

“Pulaski at Night?” She said puzzlingly.

“Yes… and what the hell, El?!” I said to her, somewhat lividly.

“What did I do?” And… she doesn’t even know why I was mad.

“You promised that you’ll go easy on him!”

“Ohh that… yeah… sorry, but… every time I look at his face, I just… want to punch him!!!” She was… actually very violent on the delivery.

“El… Look, He’s playing Pulaski at Night! It’s the last thing everyone here want from him.”

“What? Does he become a downer or something?”

“Worst, he reverts slightly to his annoying cynical front from middle school!”

“Ohh…” And Eleanna realizes it.

“El… just… go easy please! He’s as fragile as you, you know! You remembered what I told you last night right? About the photographic memory he has that is hurting him.”

“Yeah…”

“So, please… you guys aren’t Ross and Rachel, you’re on a break, not broken up.”

“Yeah… wait, you watch Friends?”

“Ughh… My mom always hogs the T.V. and it’s either always N.C.I.S, Law and Order, or Friends… and I choose Friends, because mom… always nit-pick the littlest mistakes from those crime dramas shows in the court rooms and anything that involves lawyers, judges, and prosecutors…” I recounted… the horror I had the endure, just to enjoy a damn crime show whenever I feel like watching them.

“Haha… sorry, must be rough.” She chuckled slightly at my torment.

“Yeah, but not as rough as what you are doing to Martyn!” I reminded her again.

“Okay, okay… I’ll… think of cute cats whenever I see his face.”

“Atta girl!” I complimented her. “And… the letter you’re holding, Académie recommendation, right?”

“Yeah… how do you know?” As she said that I showed her mines. “Ohh… weird… are they letting us go?”

“Yes.” Martyn suddenly from nowhere appeared right beside us, with his doors fully opened.

“JESUS… Martyn!” Eleanna rightfully was mad and surprised.

“Aye!!! You’re talking to me!” And as he sees the opportunity, he went in to hug Eleanna and promptly stopped as Eleanna moved back.

“Dude you’re still in our shitlist, but yeah, El’s talking to you, for now at least.” I said to Martyn, with a firm reminder of what he still did to us.

“Okay…” He said defeatedly.

“But you can always hug me if you want!” I said with a slight dash of sarcasm, but genuine, nonetheless.

“…” And of course, he went silent and disgusted whenever say things like that. “Well, come on in, I’ll explained everything on why you guys are going to the Académie.”

So, with that somewhat cleared up between us three, we entered his office and awaited his explaining.

And… it was, quite simple really, they’re busy, really busy.

The movements from the Dragon King, Calos de Augusto, that Pere mentioned before was not a joke, he reported back to Martyn and his father, Margrave Ramon, that at least half of Carlos’ army is very near the border.

He said it was like they were blockading us, but not really as that would be an act of war that Carlos knows he could not afford.

So, that’s why Lady Chloé and Margrave Ramon is letting us go for now. As they, his majesty, King Clovis, and even Martyn are planning a contingency and counterattack plan if Carlos forwarded his pawns.

Of course, me and Eleanna still needs to be taught on everything this world offers. Which is the reason why we were being sent to the Académie, not only to learn, but to recruit people too Martyn added.

“Yeah! If Dark Academies have taught me something, there should be bright and eager people that likes to prove themselves.” Martyn said.

“Okay, but… why not do it yourself? You got the powers and the motivation!” Eleanna asked.

“Firstly, I don’t have time, realm management and a goddamn army at the borders! Secondly, you just want to drag me to a Hogwart-esque adventure are you?” Martyn nailed it.

“No…” Eleanna deny it, even though that was the truth.

“Art?”

“No!” I was lying too. “But seriously dude! A magical university! Like… how could you not be into it!”

“Because I know from the start, that it’s going to be more like the Clock Tower rather than Hogwarts.”

“How do you know-”

“Because you made the six of us watch two seasons of Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files in one sitting in film night! Even though we agreed no anime stuff for that week!!!” He… let out a justified grievance at me. “Also, I read the Light Novel too, in Ja, pa, nese.” And there Martyn goes, again, on boasting his multilingualism.

* * *

“You’re ready?” Eleanna asked.

“Yep, now beam up El!” I answered with a last-minute reference joke.

“…” And… well… Eleanna stood silently with a very judgy and cringed look. “Nerd…”

As Eleanna touched my right hand, she teleported us in mere seconds to a somewhat dense forest. We continued walking after that to the east, passing the branches, passing the trees, until we heard a roaring sound of a waterfall in front of us.

We picked up the pace as we heard that, passing the tree and branches more, even had to cut some thorny bushes in the front.

It was all not in vain as we finally got out of the forest and saw the thing that I hoped, predicted, and glad was right.

The castle like Hogwarts view from a far that is on an island in the middle of the lake.

There also we saw the ferryman that brings people to the Académie, with quite the number of newcomers that are lining up, which… I don’t exactly know how they’ll escort us all, considering there’s only one ferryman.

All of them are of nobility, as expected, though the funny thing is, I wasn’t looking at young people near my age or below that are furthering their education. But actually, people of varying ages that have been recommended by people from the Académie, to further and enhance their knowledge.

There were old people, though they were the minority, most are people in their 30s or even 40s, and the rest are kids like us.

Me and Eleanna went down there, joining the crowd, even got some attention as a couple of them knew who we were. But all around, we were there awaiting the people they are awaiting.

The Professors that are going to introduce us to the Académie.

And they did come as they teleported in front of us all.

“Welcome everyone! Welcome all that are trusted by the members of the Académie!” The one who speaks… was a duck, literally. “I am Professor Monty, your guide for today and your Teacher for Introductory to Familiars and Advance Bestiary!” He paused for a moment and introduced another Professor, a somewhat young woman in her late 20s. “Beside me is Professor d’Blanc! A Lady of House of d’Blanc! As all of you know to her family has gracefully supported the Académie through thick and thin! She will be your guide too and one of your History Teachers! One of her classes this season is the History of the Krones!”

“Any questions before we all start” Professor d’Blanc asked us all.

“Yeah, how the enfer are we going to cross the lake? There’s only one ferryman!” An old man amongst us asked, though somewhat rude in tone.

“Why do you think I’m here?” Professor Monty answered.

As Professor Monty answered he suddenly disappeared and reappeared not far from us, in a larger form that is floating on the lake.

“Whoah…” I let out a huge awe with my face and voice, seeing a damn gigantic white duck.

After the quite spectacle view, Professor d’Blanc instructed us to make a line to board Professor Monty. Where also she checked each and one of our letters of recommendation.

But when it was our turn to be checked, she was… stunned would be an understatement, as she literally took more time than the others to check.

“Professor d’Blanc? Is something wrong?” I asked her.

“…” She was still silent.

“Professor? Professor!”

“Huh? OH! Sorry, sorry… Lord Svard and Lady Florens right?”

““Yes?”” We answered simultaneously.

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to meet the second heroes! Sorry if this may sound forceful, but please be at my side, because I will be both your personal guide to the Académie!”

“Aww… we’re not riding Professor Monty to the Académie?” I was actually saddened that we might have a more private and boring tour.

“Ohh… I thought… well, that actually can be arranged my Lord!”

And as she said this, she handed back our letter of recommendations and forwarded us to Professor Monty.

Me and Eleanna climbed our duck Professor, grabbing on to his fluffy thick white feathers and then sat upon his back where we joined the others that have sat there.

We waited for a while, waiting until everyone was aboard including Professor d’Blanc. And when it was done, Professor Monty said hold tight as he swam across the lake.

It was a beautiful sight on the middle of the lake, with the sun still rising to the top, shimmering its light to show the beauty of clear blue lake that we are on.

The light also gave a unique beauty to the Académie that we were heading, again, it was like Hogwarts, very magical, very illustrious, and very much beautiful.

When we finally arrived and continue on foot to the Académie, we were greeted first with the gates that separates this city of learning to the outside world.

“Now everyone! Open your letter of recommendations as wide as possible and walk-through the Gate!”

It was a confusing command at first, but when she showed it with one of the student at the front, he fazed through the gate and his letter of recommendation was burned to a crisp.

Seeing this we all one by one, disciplinedly walked to the gate with our letter of recommendation wide open in one hand. When it was my turned to enter, I was really giddy at what lies behind that gate, and… I wasn’t disappointed.

Inside was a whole living city, quite similar even to Londini with how industrious and busy the streets are. The difference was, the citizens there were all students of course, and as expected, though I thought it would be a full uniform, they wore something to signify they were students of the Académie.

The thing they wore were actually quite simple, a dark blue hooded cape that reaches to their elbows. There are also a nice detail to distinct it, and it is the coat of arms of the Académie embroidered on front upper right part of the hooded cape.

The coat of arms more or less was an owl that carries a sword on its left hand and a feather pen on its right hand. The symbolism was quite obvious, but I do like what it’s trying to say with the pen being held on the right hand.

After enjoying the brief moment of this magical city, reality came back again as Eleanna bumped into me and made me realize the line was still going on my back and my front.

I moved of course to not hamper the traffic and joined the front, where there I was given one of the dark blue hooded capes.

With a bright outlook of the tour and the already cool entrance, I was excited for where me and Eleanna are going to go, but… well… Professor d’Blanc’s offer to be our personal guide was apparently not a special courtesy for us only.

As another Professor, quite fidgety, came to us and pulled me and Eleanna from the crowd.

“I am sorry about that Lord Svard and Lady Florens! But we cannot in all conciseness let you, the second heroes, be a part of the normal crowd! Instead we like you to join us in this more special crowd!” The Professor showed us the said special crowd. “These people are the best of the best that has been recommended by our most top members of the Académie, and the two of you are one of them, as our Margrave and the Crow of Diamant are once highly respected Professors of the Académie!”

With no way to wriggle ourselves out of this, me and Eleanna were forced to joined the special crowd to get started on the tour.

The tour more or less was like the university tour back home, with the showing of some statues, places of interest, dormitory, the hall of the university itself, classes, libraries, special faculties, and of course, its center, where all the students gathered to relax, learned more, or anything really.

It was simple, tidy and quite quick even. I knew why, because as the tour finished we were guided to our first class. It was an introductory class more or less, but not on studies or anything, but… on the Académie itself.

As we went in there I already expected of the typically large lecture hall, with the floor risen every step to be like a cinema.

And as I stepped into the room, a bit hounded by some people who knew me and Eleanna, I saw… her…

My eyes weren’t lying to me, I know whose red burgundy hair and green leaf small eyes those belong to.

Ioctoria….

She didn’t notice me, as she was having a conversation with another girl near one of the desks of the room. But the crowd that I am making is slowly attracting her.

“Art… you okay?” Eleanna noticed my sudden freezing.

“It’s… her…” I said to Eleanna in amazement.

“Her?”

“Ioctoria…”

“OHH!! Her!” Eleanna knew right away who was talking about. “Then go talk to her!”

“I… I can’t…” I was embarrassed.

“Pussy! Go to talk to her! Continue where you guys left off or regret it for all of your life!” She… had a point.

“O…okay! I am going to talk to her!”

“Nice! I’ll handle the crowd!”

I then left Eleanna to the crowd and went to Ioctoria.

I was giddy, nervous, really fidgety, but most of all… excited! Excited that I got a second chance to continue where I left off.

So… with courage gathered, I stood near her and tapped her shoulders.

“Ioctoria!!! Fancy seeing you here!” I said with a very delightful smile.

“I… I am sorry, have we met before?” And… her answer… kind of broke my heart.