The rhythmic hum of the magic train as it glided smoothly along the tracks was far more pleasant than the constant rattling of a carriage. Of course, it was much faster, too, but the journey still felt long as we had to travel almost a week to reach the nearby station from Romer.

Light filtered through the windows, casting faint reflections of golden hues over the four of us. I leaned back in my seat. Now that we were so close, I felt a sense of calm.

My fiancé, Nebula, was seated across from me, her posture as graceful as ever, even after days of travel. Unlike how I didn’t care to keep my spine straight for people to see, she did. Her calm expression didn’t falter as she gazed out of the window, watching the passing landscape, the houses, and occasional towns blurring by.

Lilian, on the other hand, was sprawled lazily beside me, clearly not enjoying the confines of the train compartment. The wild girl did not like being confined, she had thrown a fit in the carriage before, but thankfully the train was at least a bit larger. Mirella sat beside Nebula, her back straight, her red eyes ever-watchful as she took in everything.

“It’s been a long trip,” Nebula finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice was as cool as the air outside, but there was no edge in it. She shifted slightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Lilian groaned and stretched her arms above her head. “Yeah, I’m stiff. How much longer do we need to be crammed in this place?”

I glanced outside, watching the terrain shift from the dense forests of Ethenia to more open fields as we neared the western border. “We’re really close,” I said. “One last stop before Waybound.”

“Thank the heavens,” Lilian muttered, resting her head against the window. "If I have to sit here any longer, I’m going to start charging you for my suffering, Iska."

The vampire maid and the vampire fiance shot her a look, and she tilted her head, unsure of what she had said so wrong. Mirella shook her head and chuckled softly. “What a wild little girl. Please don’t get in trouble in the Academy.”

“I won’t,” she shrugged.

Nebula shifted her gaze to me. “Aren't you worried about the entrance exam?”

“Oh? Your father didn't tell you?” I tilted my head.

I had that part covered already.

“Huh?” she blinked. “Tell me what?”

“Eh, you'll see,” I shrugged. “Let’s stay focused here, we’re close.”

Lilian snickered. “Focused? You? Please. You’re the same guy who once got lost trying to find the kitchen in his own house.”

“That was one time,” I grumbled, though the memory made me smile faintly. "And besides, that mansion is huge. More importantly, are you insulting your master?”

Nebula looked at us disapprovingly. “You two need to stop acting like this.”

Lilian made an unpleasant sound, and I shook my head, looking out the window again. My mind wandered about the Academy. The best place on the continent for magic and combat. The issue with my lifespan aside, that was where all the plot heavy stuff will start to happen— things will get difficult there.

– Kreachhhh-!

The breaks screeched. Suddenly, the train began to slow, the hum of the magic engine softening. The peaceful atmosphere changed as an announcement sounded through the speakers above.

[Attention, all passengers. Due to issues with road construction ahead, the train will make an unscheduled stop at Tremora Station. We apologize for the inconvenience, it might take up to a day or two to fix.]

Lilian immediately poked her head out the window. “Looks like there’s a problem up ahead!” She said, glancing back at me with a grin. “We’re stopping early, let’s go!”

Of course, she was the only happy one. Around us, the other passengers groaned, and Sir Carlos who was in a nearby seat sighed in frustration. Not everyone wanted to pay for a carriage when they had already paid for the train, so they’d probably take an inn to spend the night before returning to the train.

Of course, I, as a young master, didn’t have to worry about that. I pushed myself up from the seat. “Let’s not waste our time then,” I said, looking at the faces of my people. “We’ll take a carriage.”

Nebula stood up gracefully, while Lilian bounced to her feet with her usual enthusiasm. Mirella followed suit, calm and composed as ever. We stepped out of the compartment and made our way to the platform along with the other busy passengers.

…..

The Knight Order accompanying us was much shorter than when we left Romer since most of them stayed when we got on the train. Sir Carlos and a few others got into the train with us while Sir Lukas led the other knights back to Romer.

Sir Carlos and the rest of the remaining Knights excused themselves to bring carriages here for us after we got off the train, and not long after, we were inside the carriage again.

We traveled through the roads of Tremora City, but… that didn’t last long. Before we knew it, the carriage suddenly slowed, and Sir Carlos appeared near the window with an awkward smile. “...Road’s blocked, young master.”

“Again?” Even Nebula sounded annoyed while Lilian began to jump seeing that she’d get to get off the ‘stupid carriage’ soon.

“Let me check it out,” I sighed, pushing the door open and stepping out into the fresh air. Sir Carlos stepped back as I landed, and Nebula followed me with her usual grace. Lilian hopped out behind her, and Mirella came last, her gaze sweeping the area for threats. We moved toward the front of the carriage, where a crowd had gathered, blocking the road.

They were circling something while cheering and chattering among themselves. They were so absorbed in it that they didn’t notice the Nobles here. If the carriage wasn’t a normal hired carriage but had our Family’s insignia in it, they might have reacted differently. It made me curious about what they were so absorbed in.

“Excuse me,” I pushed myself through the crowd while Nebula and Mirella stayed back, but Lilian followed behind me excitedly. Once I reached the front of the circle, my brows rose.

In the middle of the street, two figures were locked in combat. I watched as their swords clashed with a force that sent sparks flying. The crowd murmured and gasped with each strike. They were enjoying the duel.

A single eyebrow remained high as I recognized a banner flying high from the other side of the road, from a carriage. “Hey, what's that?” Lilian pointed and asked.

“I thought the Head Maid taught you enough about politics?” I said, and she shrugged in response. “....That’s the flag of the Roshmar Kingdom.”

“Oh, the sandwiched Kingdom. Why is it flying here?”

“I think I know…” I took a second look at the duel—its players.

Now I noticed that one of them was a blonde knight clad in the distinctive armor of Roshmar. She was battling a local adventurer, the latter of whom wore the insignia of a B-ranked Adventurer. The fight was fierce.

The adventurer was skilled, his speed and movements sharp and trained, but the knight held her own with ease and even overpowered the adventurer with a relentless aggression that screamed of pride and honor. She was stronger.

I crossed my arms, watching as their blades collided, sending ripples of energy through the air. My attention sharpened as I took in the knight’s stance, her style. I had recognized her already.

She’s the Maid Servant, personal guard, of Alaric Roshmar, I thought to myself, my eyes scanning the crowd. If she’s here, then Alaric must be close. Or is he in the carriage?

The duel had clearly drawn a crowd, townsfolk and travelers alike standing shoulder to shoulder, their eyes glued to the fight. Was he the type of person to attract such a scene for no reason?

A few minutes passed as I kept my ear open, my Demonic Sphere active. From what I gathered from the murmurs of the onlookers, the duel had begun because the adventurer had insulted the Kingdom of Roshmar, calling it a “little poor land sandwiched between two empires.” The knight, fiercely loyal to her homeland, couldn’t let the insult slide, and thus the duel had been arranged right in the middle of the street.

“Hey, what? You're suddenly silent.” Lilian poked me with her finger.

“That's the personal guard of the prince of Roshmar,” I replied.

“Oh.”

“I don't think the people know.”

I stood back but didn't bother to interfere. I watched closely. It was no Matriarch vs. Vampiric Father, but there was always something to learn from a duel. And I had my reasons for wanting to see how it played out.

As the knight pushed the adventurer back with a well-timed strike, clearly not using her full power and rather just disciplining him, my eyes drifted toward the crowd. From what I knew of the Prince’s character, he must be watching. He wouldn’t let his servant cause a commotion like this alone without keeping an eye on her.

I squinted, focusing on the Levels of the people around me. I had an idea of what his level must be around during this time. It wasn’t hard to spot him once I knew what to look for—a figure standing toward the back, clad in a dark cloak. His presence was muted but unmistakable. The level hovering above his head confirmed it.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

[Level 25]

“There you are, Prince Alaric Roshmar,” I muttered to myself as his green eyes watched from the shadows, observing the duel in silence.

Alaric was known for his calculative nature. He wasn’t the type to charge in recklessly, even if his servant was fighting. In fact, this was likely an order from him. He was quite patriotic, so I wouldn’t be surprised. But I didn’t expect him to cause trouble on his way to another nation’s Academy just because of that.

I folded my arms, watching both the duel and Alaric. The two fighters moved swiftly, their swords clashed with a powerful force that sent sparks flying. The adventurer was quick with sharp movements, but the knight had the advantage in both strength and skill. Her Level was higher. Every time the adventurer tried to strike, she blocked effortlessly and countered with a ferocity that kept him on the defensive.

The sound of steel ringing against steel filled the air as their blades met in mid-swing, creating a ripple of energy that caused the nearby crowd to murmur in awe. The adventurer’s face was strained, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he struggled to keep up. The knight remained relentless, her strikes growing stronger.

– Shing!

It wasn’t long before she managed to disarm him with a quick, fast swipe. His sword fell into pieces, and cuts appeared on his forearm.

The adventurer hissed in pain and staggered back, falling onto his ass and gasping for breath. “I… I give up!” he panted, raising a hand in surrender.

That should have been it.

But the knight didn’t stop.

Her eyes shone coldly as she approached him, her sword rising high. The crowd fell silent all of a sudden, watching as she moved in for the final strike, not to end the duel, but to take his arm—based on the trajectory of her sword.

She aimed to sever his limb, planning to leave him crippled.

I frowned, slightly displeased. My eyes flicked to Lilian, and without a word, she shot forward, moving with the speed of a bullet. Her claws extended as she leaped into the fray, blocking the knight’s sword with one swift motion. The clash sent a sharp sound through the air, and the crowd gasped at the sudden appearance of a demi-human.

“Not trying to play the hero, but,” I started, stepping forward, “isn’t it a bit much to cut off his arm—something important for his career and livelihood—when he’s already admitted defeat?”

The knight’s eyes flicked to me, and everyone followed. People whispered as I stood over the adventurer, but I ignored them. The knight’s lip curled in disdain, “Is this how the Ethenia Empire shows respect? By interfering in a duel?”

“Well, he said he’s given up, the duel ended when he surrendered,” I replied with a shrug, helping the man stand up. He thanked me, and I just nodded.

She scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “In Roshmar, we don’t accept cowards who insult our Kingdom. This is justice. I–”

“Jana, enough.” Before she could continue, a voice cut her off from the edge of the crowd.

The knight froze, her head turning slightly toward the source of the voice. Prince Alaric stepped forward, his face still hidden, his expression calm. Green eyes locked with mine, as she stared at me silently. I stared back, and he turned to his knight, “Come back, you’ve done well.”

She scowled, clearly frustrated by the order. But as her gaze shifted to me, her eyes fell on the family emblem pinned to my chest. She grunted, recognizing it, then sheathed her sword with a sharp click.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her wide back straight as the crowd began to boo her. I stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure with mild curiosity, while the crowd began to whisper about me instead.

I ignored their words, I had heard them far too many times by now.

“Well, that was something,” Lilian said, dusting off her claws as she returned to my side. I laughed softly while the crowd began to disperse by Sir Carlos’ shouts. “She's a demi-human, by the way.”

“You can tell? She's hiding her features well,” I looked at her and she nodded.

“I smelled her. She's a Demi-Lion, I think. But I'm not sure. How can those proud bastards serve a human?”

“She is a Demi-Lion, yeah,” I turned back to the knight’s retreating back. Their carriage started moving again not long after, as I stared at the flag growing distant.

“...They’re definitely proud,” I said, “but pride bows to ambition and intelligence, Lilian. They're an interesting duo, we'll definitely run into them in the academy, let’s not pick a fight with them.”

“I wouldn't.”

A place filled with ambitious nobles and scheming royalties, the Academy was a battlefield where personal power alone wasn't enough. I already encountered and likely offended a prince and I wasn't even in Waybound yet.

“Well,” I patted Lilian on her shoulder and smiled at the dispersing road ahead, “Let's get going.”

****

The road stretched on endlessly as the carriage rolled smoothly along. We left Tremora, and the city of Waybound grew closer. By now, the sun had climbed high in the sky, and the spires of Waybound City loomed in the distance, towering above the horizon like something out of a movie.

After what felt like forever, the carriage came to a halt in front of the city’s gate, the tall walls that encased the city, where the city guards began to inspect our carriage. Sir Carlos on horseback took care of the necessary stuff, and they stopped bothering us.

After a few more minutes, Sir Carlos stepped forward, pulling open the carriage door with a small smile.

I hopped down from the carriage, stretching my legs as the others followed. Nebula was the first to step down, Lilian bouncing behind her and Mirella at last. The air here smelled fresher, the mana in the air was cleaner, and the buzz of the city ahead already had my attention.

The [Knight] Captain faced me with a sad look in his eyes, even as he smiled. “Young master, this is where we part ways,” he said. His voice was formal as always, but there was something more in it. Pride, perhaps.

“So it seems, Sir Carlos,” I replied, facing him.

Sir Carlos stood at attention, choosing his next words. His hand was on his chest as the remaining knights followed suit. “It has been an honor, young master,” he said. “If any issues arise in the Academy, I’ll certainly come with the rest of the knights.”

“I know you will,” I nodded at him. I had a feeling, if things went as the original timeline, that he’d live on that promise someday.

He tried to say something more but stopped himself. Then, without another word, he bowed and then turned on his heel. He and the knights rode away on their horses, their duty complete.

I faced them for a while, watching them vanish in the distance, and only then did I turn to the city gate. The walls were tall, we couldn’t see the stuff inside except through the narrow gate.

Nebula was beside me, her gaze fixed on the gate, the intricate magic system around it that could erect a barrier around the city if needed. “So this is Waybound…” she murmured.

I hummed, my eyes taking in the scene ahead. The four of us walked into the gate and into the tunnel, my eyes narrowing as I spotted two figures up ahead. They were standing beside the guards on the other side of the tunnel, but seeing us come, they turned around.

Red hair. Golden eyes. Nebula’s eyes widened slightly. “Is that…?”

“Yep,” I replied, already bracing myself. “That’s my brother and sister.”

This would be our first meeting. I did know them from Iskandaar’s memories, but I’d never met them after crossing over to this world. We made our way toward them, and as we got closer, Riasmin crossed her arms with a strict look on her face.

“You’re late,” Riasmin Romani said, her voice like ice. She’d always been like that—serious, commanding, and hard to impress.

“Yeah, well, the train acted up,” I replied. Before I could add anything, the young man beside her stepped forward. Riasmin’s eyes focused on him too. He was silent for a moment, staring at me with that piercing look I knew from my memories.

“Iskandaar,” Iaskin Romani said, his tone low.

I frowned. “Yeah? What’s up?”

And then—wham! Out of nowhere, the bastard threw a punch aimed right at my throat. I barely had time to react, blocking it with my forearm just in time.

“Hey, what the hell?!” I shouted, stumbling back a little.

[Level 47]

He was a strong young man—21 years old, a second-year student. Although he hadn’t used his full strength, it hurt quite a bit. I expected Riasmin to stop him, but she smiled for some reason. So I expected him to attack again, but instead of pressing the attack, Iaskin burst out laughing, his whole face lighting up.

“Ahahaha! I can’t believe this!” he grinned at me. “Your bones didn’t break! So the rumors were true!” He grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me into a side hug, grinning like an idiot. “You’re not a cripple anymore?! Oh, the gods know I’ve been waiting for this day.”

I blinked, catching my breath. I think there were other ways to test that… I let out a polite laugh to join him, “Yeah, well, stuff happened.”

Riasmin sighed, even though she had a trace of a smile on her lips. She turned to Nebula with a much softer expression. “Let’s ignore those two idiots. Nebula, right?” she asked, her voice warmer now. “Mother told me to take care of you and show you around.”

I looked at my fiance. Nebula quickly composed herself, bowing her head. She looked quite flustered. “It would be my honor to be guided by the Goldstorm herself.”

“Oh, not that silly title,” Riasmin giggled, flattered. “Just call me Riasmin, please. Or ‘sister-in-law’ works too.”

“Oh, haha…” Nebula let out an awkward smile. The two of them continued to exchange pleasantries while Iaskin kept his arm around me, still grinning like a madman.

“I really didn’t expect this,” he said. “Honestly, I thought I’d have to carry you all the way to the Academy. But Father’s reports were true! What is your Level?”

“Uh…”

“You know what, never mind. You’ll catch up with your peers in no time, don’t worry about it,” he tapped me on the shoulders. Iaskin was a good guy, not perfect, as he too liked to gamble and chase women, but he wasn’t trash. In fact, he bought Iskandaar to bars back in the day to cheer up the cripple boy, but after Iaskin left for the Academy, Iskandaar lost himself to bad friends and fell to true depravity.

The siblings were quite close. Even if, my eyes looked from Iaskin to Riasmin, there’s going to be a big fight between them in the future. Perhaps I could change that.

“Yeah, I’ll catch up real fast,” I said to him with a chuckle.

After some more chatting, during which both siblings shot Lilian a look and then turned to me with a frown, prompting Nebula to defend me, Riasmin glanced up at the sky. Her expression turned serious. “Brat, you really are late. It's my bad, too, that I kept talking nonstop. The Orientation speech should be starting anytime now.”

I could already see where this was headed and raised an eyebrow. “I think we’re gonna miss it then. Unless you want us to sprint there?”

She didn’t bother answering with words. Instead, Riasmin clapped her hands together, and the ground beneath us trembled slightly. Her [Goldstorm] title showed itself in real time.

Golden sand began to rise from the earth, swirling around her feet like a living thing. Nebula’s eyes widened in surprise as the sand gathered into a shimmering, solid shape beneath us, forming a large, floating board.

“Hold still,” Riasmin said with a smirk, stepping onto the board as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “This’ll get us there fast.”

Before any of us had time to fully register what was happening, the board shot into the air, carrying us up with it. The wind whipped through my hair as we ascended quickly, leaving the ground far below. Nebula held onto my arm instinctively, and even Lilian yelped in surprise, her usual bravado momentarily gone.

Riasmin stood at the front, completely unbothered by the speed, her golden eyes focused on the distant spires of the Waybound Academy.

“Try not to fall,” she called back, her voice full of that usual calm confidence as we soared toward the tall towers in the sky.

The city below became a blur as the academy’s high spikes drew closer, blue stones and white marbles gleaming in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight—both the city sprawling out beneath us and the looming, majestic towers of the academy ahead.

This was it.

We were finally here.

The Waybound Academy.