A few days later after the dungeon break, my invitation for taking the entrance exam of the Imperial Academy arrived. Even though I was in the middle of researching about demons and the seal that kept them locked, sohow, I had to head to the capital, Azte, to take the exam.
A month after receiving the invitation, Aunt Zaira brought to Azte. She used a teleportation spell and we appeared at the gates of Azte City.
Azte City was the capital of Praiji Empire. It was also the most flourishing city of the country and it was ho of the Imperial Academy which was located at the western side of the city. But I was wondering why we teleported outside the city gates. I asked Aunt Zaira about it and her answer was
"You have to present yourself to the gate guards. This way, they can keep track of the people that enter and exit the city manually. Also, we need to get you issued a city pass since this is your first ti here. It can only be done at the gates."
"I see."
"The city has a magic barrier around it and it will automatically record whoever enters or exits the city via all sorts of ans. The city pass is the aid to do that."
We waited in line to enter Azte City. Honestly, we could just speed up by presenting herself to the guards, but it was a famous rumor in the country that the pri minister never enters the capital via gates but through teleportation. And she was the only one who could teleport directly inside. Plus, Aunt Zaira was the epito of patience.
Once we reached the gates, we were imdiately asked for the city pass. Aunt Zaira presented a token I was very familiar with, it was a circular item made of black jade but plated with gold and the Celestine Family's crest was engraved on it. The Celestine Family's crest was a staff where a nine-tailed fox was curled up on it base. The fox's tails were spread out evenly so it looked like a fan was spread behind the staff.
When the guards saw it, they imdiately dropped to one knee.
"Archduchess!" said the guard. I noticed him trembling as he kneeled which made confused.
I could hear whispers from the people around us.
"Is it really the archduchess?"
"The pri minister?"
"She looks young."
"What is she doing here?"
Well, there were more statents but I focused on the closest ones.
"Please rise. I am here for common matters." she said. But even with a smile the guard did not stop trembling. "First of all, I would like to get a city pass for this child."
The guard looked at with a weird expression but I just flashed a smile.
"This child is"
"A mber of my household."
Apparently, it was a famous story among the people that the archduchess does not produce children of her own. Instead she adopts children and trains them to be the empire's strongest assets, apart from herself.
"I see." the guard responded. "Please follow to the guardhouse."
We left the line and branched off to the guardhouse not that far from the gates. According to Eliza, anyone who had never been to the city had to be registered inside the guardhouse. The only exception was the imperial family who usually had their own badge to pass through. Apparently, Aunt Zaira had one as well.
We reached the guardhouse and we were instructed to head to a room. Aunt Zaira and I waited for about five minutes before another guard ca in with parchnt and a quill.
"Greetings pri minister." the guard greeted and bowed. "I am the captain of the west gate guardhouse, Vig Adros."
"Nice to et you. I just want to register her so she can enter and exit the city whenever she wants. She will be a student of the Imperial Academy in the future."
"I see. Very well." the captain turned to . "I will ask you a few questions, just answer honestly."
Captain Adros asked basic questions like; my full na, where my hotown is, age, etc. It took about ten minutes for the procedure to be completed and once we were done, I finally received a card with the details I gave away just a while ago.
"This pass will let you freely move inside the city." said the guard that gave the card. "Please try not to lose it. Getting a new one costs about fifty golden coins."
I just nodded my head. The central continent used coins as its standard currency which ranged from copper, silver and gold. Among mages and the upper class, magic ores were also used as currency, but it was rare since it was usually used as a power source and a magic item.
After everything was done, we finally left the gates and Aunt Zaira chartered a carriage for us to use.
"Can't we just teleport to where we're going to stay?" I asked her. I felt uncomfortable inside the carriage since I was used to travelling either by teleportation or riding Vyfal.
"The barrier around the city prevents teleportation spells from activating." she replied. "Why do you think we teleported outside the city gates?"
"Why can't we teleport inside the city?" I asked again.
"It's a defensive asure. Most nobles and imperial family mbers live in Azte City, it would be a bit difficult to catch an assassin or a criminal if they could use teleportation spells." she reasoned. "The only place allowed for teleportation spells is the Imperial Academy, but only within campus premises."
"And you?"
"I have to follow the rules as well. Just because I'm the pri minister and the sole archduchess of the empire, that doesn't an I'm exempted from it."
"That's not what I heard."
"Baseless rumors. Well, maybe not entirely baseless. I do it when there's an ergency that needs my attention."
I nodded my head. I was very grateful Aunt Zaira was very patient in answering my questions.
A few minutes later, the carriage stopped and we got off. I noticed that we were in front of a mansion. I imdiately asked Aunt Ziara where we were.
"It's our house in Azte."
Despite my shock, I just nodded. She might've noticed I had so many questions so she urged to go inside. Once we were, I started my barrage of questions.
"We had a house in the capital? Why have we been staying all the ti in Celestine Territory? Why didn't Ed and the others tell ? Since when have you had a house here? And-"
"Okay stop. One question at a ti okay? Geez, you were worse than the twins the first ti I brought them here. At least Torii was silent when I brought her over."
"Aunt Zaira-"
"First of all, the house has always been here, nobody just lives in it all the ti though. Second, if we lived here, you guys would never get trained the way you did back at our ho/ It doesn't have the space and resources. And lastly, there had been no reason to use it until you guys were of age to attend the academy."
"So, this where Eliza and the others stay during weekends and short holidays?" I asked.
"Correct. And you will be staying here for the sa reason as well."
"I see."
The Imperial Academy was a boarding school and the students had to stay within the academy grounds during school days. Eliza once told that the students were allowed outside the academy during weekends, holidays or special circumstances.
I just nodded my head in understanding. There was no use stretching it out anyway. It was already there and the only thing I could do was adapt. But there was one thing puzzling though
"Aunt Zaira," I called while we were passing through the front yard. "Why do we need to study in the Imperial Academy?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Well, you already taught us everything we could know about magic and combat. We're probably way advanced than the students in our year level. So why do we have to study in the academy?"
"Are you stupid?" she asked.
My jaw stiffened in annoyance.
"I taught you guys how to utilize your potential and use it to the fullest. I taught you how to fight, wield magic, study history and even devise strategies. But I never taught you simple things like manners, etiquette, and many more. And the one thing I could never teach you kids is experience." she smirked. "That one, you have to gain for yourself. Experience is the best teacher and lesson for each one of us, rember that."
"That's deep. Are you sure it's okay to say those words to a fifteen-year-old?"
She scoffed at my direction. "Your ntality is not that of a fifteen-year-old. And even if you don't understand my words now, you will understand it soon as you grow older."
I just shrugged my shoulders and we entered the three story manor of the Celestine Family. Once we were inside, a servant imdiately greeted us.
"Welco back, your excellency."
The servant who greeted us was a woman who looked to be soone in her middle thirties. She was wearing clothes that looked expensive and different from the other servants I had seen so far. I then deduced her to be the head servant of the house.
"Welco to the capital Miss Luna. I am Mildred, the head servant of the Celestine House in Azte City."
"Thank you. Also nice to et you."
"Your excellency, I have finished decorating and furnishing Miss Luna's room, would you like to see it?"
"Of course. Lead the way."
Mildred led us further inside the house, all the way to the second floor.
A/N:
Hello readers! This is the official chapter 11. Err... I can't believe I ssed up my update schedule already on the first week/ But I assure you guys, it won't happen again. I hope. Anyway. Enjoy! Also, please tell what you think!
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