Novels2Search
Mana Buster
Lead a New Life

Lead a New Life

Lane Cornwell. That’s me. I come from a noble house of minor standing. Although ‘noble’ is somewhat generous, considering my family’s origins. Every other young-blooded nobles still poke fun of me with it. Not that I blame them, our rise in the societal ladder is a combination of pure luck and either generosity or ignorance on the part of the more high-ranking nobles. Immediately after the rise was made official, my parents enrolled me in one of the four schools specializing in training young nobility so that they are ready to inherit their parents’ will and to either preserve their standing or take it even higher up the ranks.

Saint Merchia Royal School was built in the memory of the heroic paladin, Saint Merchia. His deeds in fighting for the kingdom in the Battle of Dawn had earned him a place in the pages of history. And now, I am to attend this undoubtedly prestigious school, with my family’s name riding on my success.

The prospect of being thrust into an environment so extravagant scares me, to be surrounded by so many people of high standing, it’s all so overwhelming. If it wasn’t for my mother, I wouldn’t be here right now.

“Cornwell? What are you doing here?” a voice broke me out of my reverie.

I then turn around to meet the owner, “Nothing really.”

There she is, Ceria Langdon. Per usual, she’s wearing the typical dress code for female nobles in the academy, matching blouse and ankle-length skirt, both white in color. Her flowing blonde hair has been tied up into a ponytail, held in place by a blue ribbon.

“You really should stop going on a trance like that when being talked to,” she chastises, her blue eyes piercing into mine.

“Oh, ah, sorry…” I tried to avert my gaze, but it didn’t work.

“It’s a wonder you ever made it through the test.”

“There was no test for me, remember?” I gave her a shrug, “I was accepted straight away.”

“Right, so…” she trails off, her puzzled expression says it all.

“It was a decision of some noble way up there,” I sighed while I point at the sky, “Wyard or some other.”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“Don’t know any Wyard, but he or she sounds like a loony.”

“Tell me about it,” I sighed, “Compared to you, I feel insecure.”

“Just don’t show any weakness, that’s the key,” she nods reassuringly.

That’s right, her family has a much higher standing compared to mine. From what I heard, she’s also one of the top five in the entry test. I guess I should count myself lucky, she’s the only one so far who doesn’t turn away or dismiss me when I told them about my family’s humble origin.

“There you are, Langdon,” yet another voice breaks in, this time it’s a more masculine one.

“Hail, Barlow,” Langdon responded in kind.

Nicholas Barlow. The man came into view, prim and proper, short hair as black as night, clear brown eyes reflecting his intelligence, wearing the dress code for male nobles of the academy, buttoned shirt with collars reaching up to the neck and trousers, white and black in color respectively. The two of us compared, he would have the looks more fitting for a blue-blood. The fact that he is taller by a few inches didn’t help my odds.

He was smiling when he saw Langdon, but then it fell into a frown after he noticed I was standing nearby.

“If it isn’t corn boy,” he sneers.

“The name’s Cornwell,” I retorted.

“Same thing, you wouldn’t even last for a week here,” the contempt in his tone is palpable, “Go back to the fields.”

“Now that’s just rude, Barlow,” Langdon steps in.

I have to say, feels good to have someone defend me like that.

“Come, we are out of his league,” Barlow takes hold of Langdon’s wrist before pulling her away.

“Hey, let go of me!” despite her brief effort, she eventually let herself to be dragged off.

I just stood.

Could I stand up to an actual noble? No way. He must have had more training and education than me prior to joining the academy. Even if I did try I would just cause trouble. Besides, this is my first day, if they caught me doing something like that, I’d probably get revoked of my ‘special treatment’ right away.

I won’t squander it over something petty.

Lost in thought yet again, I make my way to the dorms. It’s not far from where I was daydreaming, only a few minutes of walking. As expected from a school housing nobility, the living quarters are quite lavish. Grand halls and expansive rooms, ornate furnishings as far as the eye can see.

How did I even end up here?

Closing the door behind me as I enter my room, I began to unpack everything that I had brought with me from home. And by ‘everything’ I meant a few of my old clothes and some letters of encouragement from my parents.

It’s going to be lonely, I thought to myself.

Running away isn’t an option. I’ve come this far already. The only choice now is to just live this new life to the best of my abilities.

And maybe, just maybe…

Bring glory to my family’s name.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter