“It’s so hot!” Vanessa complained as the wagon they were riding stopped outside the gates of a large city. They had arrived at the third and final stop before they reached the capital. The City of Emerald Plains, Evergreen City, was only a day’s fast ride away from the capital and is surrounded by vast farmlands.
The city was built in the middle of the central grasslands as a pioneer village for farming and raising animals at the beginning of the kingdom. It has now expanded into a vast farming city, supplying almost a third of the kingdom with grains.
The weather was on the warm side at this time of the year with sparse rainfall. People around them wore light and revealing clothing and had tanned skin.
Kyle and Vanessa had been on their journey for ten days. They were scheduled to arrive at the capital in two days. Vanessa was clearly excited upon the information. She has not seen her little brother in almost four months.
“Meet back in the morning at sunrise!” The driver of their wagon yelled at the couple as they jumped off to join the que for people entering the city.
Kyle waved his hand in response and walked to the back of the que with Vanessa in tow.
He was carrying his bow tied to his backpack slung on one shoulder which had the ore wrapped in his clothes. A quiver full of arrows was hung on the other shoulder. Vanessa only had her clothing. She had given away all her savings to Alex before he left. The two dressed in plain clothes looking travel-worn gathered curious gazes from the people around them.
Once, they had entered the city, the two headed to find an inn with some directions from a gatekeeper.
“Let’s get something to eat, I’m starving.” Kyle pointed to a stall selling cheap meat skewers.
Kyle had no real need to eat as his Divine Physique only needed energy from the world to live. But he made a habit of eating regularly to blend in with mortals. Also, he enjoyed the varying tastes.
He bought a few skewers and handed one to Vanessa as the couple resumed their journey.
“Should we get some gifts for Alex? Maybe some nice clothes or books.” Vanessa muttered between bits while looking around at the shops.
“Let’s wait till the capital. There should be more choice there.”
Vanessa agreed as she finished her skewer.
***
Michael was not happy. Specifically, he was not happy with his roommate. He had turned ten years old a few months ago. He was tested to have superior mana capacity, as expected of an old noble household.
His father, Duke Edward Von Gray, was very proud of his second son Michael who had a much larger mana capacity than his first born. He had been praised endlessly and told that he had superior talent by his family and servants.
He went into the royal magic academy with his head held up high. When he had went off to find his room that he would be residing in for the next eight years, he found a tall thin boy already inside, smiling at him.
He introduced himself as Alex. No surname. A hunter’s son from a far away village. Michael scoffed at giving his noble name to a peasant, much less living in the same room.
He immediately turned around and went off to find the headmaster. Upon meeting the old fogey, and complaining about his living arrangements, he was told that this was done on purpose to bring a sense of comradery and friendship between those of different social classes.
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He was also informed that the headmaster would contact his father if Michael was to cause any problems to a commoner. People with large mana capacities were far too rare and the Kingdom would not allow social differences and pettiness of nobles to ruin the future of promising youths.
The number of new students this year was a measly sixty. Divided into two classes. It was a pitifully low number, seeing as the kingdom had a total population numbering in the tens of millions. The entire academy had less than 400 students ranging from the age of ten to eighteen.
Michael huffed and puffed back to his dorm room. He thought about what to do for a bit, and came to a decision that he would just ignore the commoner until he gave up.
Upon arriving at his room, which was much smaller than his bedroom back at the mansion, despite having two beds and two desks, complete with individual drawers, he went straight to the unoccupied bed.
Alex, the commoner, attempted to talk to him again.
“Hi, like I said before, my name is Alex. Nice to meet you! I wonder if we’ll be in the same class.”
He was too cheery for Michael’s liking. Talked endlessly too.
“……wanted to go hunting but……Sis was too strict… small lake near the house”
“Ahhh! Be quiet for a minute, will you?! You’re so noisy!” Michael finally lost it and yelled out.
“So…what’s your name?” Seemingly unfazed, Alex asked Michael.
“You won’t stop if I don’t reply right…Michael…name’s Michael. Now be quiet and leave me alone.”
Alex stopped talking, perhaps influenced by the roommate’s sullen mood, and went to his bed and started unpacking his clothing.
Alex carefully put away the money in the only drawer with a lock and placed the key in his pocket after locking. Michael saw this from the corner of his eyes. He scoffed inwardly. ‘Hmph, poor peasants. Putting away meagre amounts in a locked drawer.’
“So, it’s about dinner time. Coming to the mess hall?” Alex questioned Michael and started changing into the academy uniform that was given.
Michael shot a glare at Alex. Alex smiled back, completely ignoring the annoyance visible in Michael’s eyes.
“Mikey!! Hi! Let’s go have dinner. I’m hungry!” An immature feminine voice interrupted them as the door swung open. A small girl, a full head shorter than Alex barged into the room.
“Oh? Is this your roommate, Mikey? Hi hi, nice to meet you! My name is Amelia Von Gray! Let’s get along!” Amelia went up to Alex and started shaking his hand and looking all over him.
Michael could feel veins popping on his head as he yelled at the intruder.
“What are you doing here Amelia?! This is the boy’s dorm. Don’t barge in randomly! And don’t call me Mikey!”
“Aww c’mon Mikey. Don’t be like that! Come come, sister will introduce you to a beauty!”
“Oh, by the way! What’s your name handsome?”
Alex was rather speechless at this overly energetic small girl. He noticed that she was very cute and had a nice smell.
“Hahaha…hi, my name’s Alex. Nice to meet you Amelia.” Alex gave a small bow along with his name as he learned that the brother and sister were nobles.
“Hi Alex! C’mon Mikey, let’s go already!”
“Don’t call me that name! Ah! Wait, let me change!” Michael yelled at his sister who was attempting to pull him and Alex out of the room, despite her smaller physique.
“Fine, I’ll wait for you outside the dorm with Alex. Don’t take too long!”
“I’m not a girl! Go already!” Michael pushed the two out and slammed the door shut.
Alex followed the tiny girl, pulled by his hand to outside the dorm building. The new students, whom were all male since it was a male only building, looked on curiously at the girl who openly intruded into their safe haven.
Some nobles who knew the girl’s identity opened glared at Alex with hostility. Alex, of course, did a magnificent job at ignoring all the stares.
As they reached outside the building, Alex couldn’t help but speak to the tiny girl with a happy expression.
“You and Michael get along rather well. You siblings?”
“Yep! Mikey and I are twins. Father said Mikey is older by a few minutes! Oh, I’ll introduce you to my roommate.”
The two saw an equally small girl, waiting with a nervous expression, looking vigilantly at the surroundings a short distance away from the front door.
“Susie! Come meet Alex, he’s Mikey’s roommate. You know Mikey yeah? My twin brother!”
Alex looked at the small girl called Susie who timidly came towards them.
“H…Hi, my name is Susanne. I’m Amelia’s roommate. Nice to meet you.” The girl gave a small smile towards Alex.
It seemed that the girl was not a noble, much like Alex. Alex also introduced himself. The trio waited for Michael, who came out shortly after, still with a sullen face.
“C’mon Mikey! Don’t be so mopey! Let’s go!”
Alex thought his upcoming life would be very fun looking at his new friends.