Velren struggled under the weight of the stacks of books in his arms. Not to ntion the bags that were hanging off both his shoulders—filled with all sorts of necessities—didn't make things any easier.
'This is too much...'
Gramps, on the other hand, walked ahead with ease, occasionally taking swigs from a bottle of booze he had picked up from a store they passed earlier.
Velren gritted his teeth and tried to keep up.
"Are all these books really necessary?" he huffed.
Gramps glanced back, raising a brow.
"What, too heavy for ya?"
"That's not the point!" Velren scowled.
Gramps snorted.
"Books are knowledge, kid. And knowledge is power. Not the kind of power you swing around like a sword, but the kind that'll keep you from looking like an idiot when soone asks you a simple question."
Velren clicked his tongue but didn't argue. It's not like he was against learning, but did they really need this many?
As they continued walking, Gramps suddenly spoke again.
"Listen to , kid."
There was a shift in his tone—one that made Velren straighten his back.
"You've read the brochure, so you should understand how the academy works. Your grades, skills, and effort will all determine your success there," Gramps said.
"But there's sothing it didn't tell you."
Velren frowned.
Gramps continued with a firm voice.
"In a place like that, there's always sothing ugly lurking underneath. It doesn't matter how hard you work—so things can't be changed."
"...What do you an?"
"Your status."
Velren's grip tightened on the books.
"Discrimination isn't rare in the academy," Gramps went on.
"You'll see it. Nobles looking down on commoners. Humans sneering at other races. People stepping on those weaker than them just because they can."
Velren stayed silent, absorbing every word.
"Keep your head down," Gramps advised.
"At least for now. You don't need to get tangled in that ss right away. Observe. Learn. Figure out the ga before you decide to play it."
Velren exhaled slowly.
He had a feeling this advice would be more important than he realized.
***
After their tiring shopping spree, they now stood before the entrance of the academy.
'Wow...'
Looming before Velren were massive gates—towering arches of gleaming white stone, adorned with intricate carvings that depicted warriors, scholars, and legendary figures of history. Beyond them, the academy stretched out like a fortress of knowledge, its towering spires were reaching toward the sky. The grand halls and buildings bore an air of prestige, with their ancient architecture that seamlessly blending with modern enchantnts.
Students his age flooded through the entrance. So looked nervous, clutching their belongings tightly, while others were excited, chatting away eagerly with newfound friends or family mbers. A few older students stood around, either watching the new arrivals with curiosity—or ignoring them entirely.
Velren wondered what kind of expression he was making right now.
Before he could dwell on it further, Gramps—still casually drinking from his bottle—suddenly muttered.
"Oops. Almost forgot."
Velren blinked.
"Huh?"
Gramps rummaged through his robes, then pulled out an envelope. With little care, he plopped it right on top of the stack of books Velren was carrying.
"Whoa—!" Velren barely managed to steady himself before it all tumbled over.
"Take that to the reception desk," Gramps said lazily.
"You'll know when you get there."
Velren stared at him.
"...That's it? That's all you have to say?"
Gramps shrugged.
Then, without warning, he patted Velren's shoulder.
"No need for a farewell," he said simply.
"It's not like we won't see each other again."
With that, he turned and started walking away.
Velren sighed, watching the old man disappear into the crowd.
Well... he was right.
It's not like this was goodbye or anything.
***
Velren found himself inside of a massive hall, its ceiling was high and adorned with floating crystal lamps that bathed the room in a soft, golden light. The polished marble floors reflected the glow, while towering pillars lined the edges.
The space was bustling with new students, just like him. So huddled in small groups, chatting excitedly, while others stood alone, nervously clutching papers or bags. The air buzzed with murmurs and the occasional exclamation as students reacted to whatever awaited them.
At the far end of the hall, a long counter stretched across the room. Behind it, several staff mbers, clad in neat clerk uniforms, handled the incoming students one by one. So flipped through thick ledgers, while others used pens that glowed faintly as they scribbled.
'That must be the desk...'
He made his way to one of the empty spots at the counter, where a woman stood, busy organizing a few docunts. She wore the standard clerk uniform—pressed white blouse, dark vest, and an erald brooch pinned at her collar. Her hair was neatly tied back, giving her a composed, professional look.
Sensing his approach, she glanced up.
"Welco," she said in a polite but practiced tone.
"Are you here for the registration procedure?"
Velren hesitated.
'Is that what this is...?'
He glanced at the envelope Gramps had given him earlier and placed it on the counter
"Uh... yeah."
The clerk carefully opened the envelope, pulling out several neatly arranged docunts. Her eyes scanned them with a practiced efficiency, flipping through each page with precision.
She nodded slightly before speaking.
"Mr... Velren, correct?"
Velren gave a small nod.
"That's right."
The woman set the docunts aside and retrieved a small, engraved keycard from a compartnt beneath the desk. She placed it on the counter, and underneath it was a big, neatly wrapped box.
"This is your dorm keycard. It will grant you access to your assigned room and various academy facilities," she explained.
"As for this box, consider it a welco package."
***
After what felt like an eternity of navigating hallways, staircases, and an occasional wrong turn, Velren finally found himself standing before the entrance to his assigned dormitory.
The academy dorms were built with both function and elegance in mind. Each structure was made of white stone and dark wood, with tall, arched windows allowing natural light to filter through. The buildings surrounded a central courtyard, filled with neatly trimd hedges and stone pathways leading to different dorm wings.
Velren approached a door labeled with his room number. With a small exhale, he inserted his keycard into the slot, hearing a soft click before pushing the door open.
Inside, his room was more spacious than he expected.
A large bed sat against the wall, neatly made with dark blue sheets. To the right, a sturdy wooden desk with an unlit lamp rested beneath a window that overlooked the academy grounds. A bookshelf, mostly empty, stood in the corner, waiting to be filled.
There was even a small private bathroom—a luxury compared to what he had expected from dorm life.
The mont Velren stepped further into the room, he imdiately dropped the stacks of books onto the desk with a dull thud. His shoulders sagged from the weight finally being lifted, and without a second thought, he let the bags hanging from him slip off, falling onto the floor with a soft rustle.
Not caring to unpack anything yet, he walked over to the bed and collapsed onto it, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Tomorrow would mark the official entrance ceremony, followed by his first day at the academy.
"This is it... huh?"
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