Stay in Anthos

To William's sadness, the paper said he was second to last in the evaluation.

****

Anthos School training will last a year and William needs to do his best.

William was also pleasantly surprised to meet the next heir to the Duchy without knowing that he had caught Raimon's attention.

It has been four days since the school started.

There was no more hellish training until the last day, just like the first day, it would test human limitations.

However, the overall schedule was also arduous.

For the first four months, carrying weapons was forbidden, and the four months would be devoted solely to physical training along with classes in culture and manners.

"Holding a weapon without basic elements will only cause problems. The training begins after the intermediate evaluations."

Hearing instructor Roland's words, all the students sighed deeply. However, there was nothing they could do.

After the comments, the children had to spend each day as soldiers and scholars in the classrooms and training grounds.

****

During this time Raimon stayed in the government palace reviewing documentation and learning the workings of the duchy from Anthos City. Rogelio was his political teacher and Reineza his training partner.

During the first week, Raimon sent a letter to Duchess Dalia to be able to use Castle Anthos as his home during this year of study away from Castle Cailleach. However, there was a problem with the castle.

Duchess Dalia replied that she would only be able to visit it for the second half of the year after the butlers had finished restoring the uninhabited castle.

Every day after her classes with Reineza and Rogelio, she would take some time to attend the first year's classes. She never missed a day and her interest in William grew as time went by.

On William's side, things were not always good, but he focused all the time on trying to control his power. The instructor Roland explained everything about the blood aura to him and he was giving the best of his talent.

"Everyone! Get up!"

"Yuck..."

"Already?"

"Sigh..."

Wake up at 5 am.

Training for 2 hours after the 6 o'clock meeting.

At 9:30, students will have their meals and personal time, and then training will start again.

Then afternoon training follows along with mental training and liberal arts class at the end of the day.

That was the daily routine at Anthos' school. The etiquette class was one of the hardest for William since, although he belongs to the noble class his family had already fallen into ruin.

"Phew, when will this day be over?"

"I'm tired, tired. I need to do this for a whole year."

"Exhausted. Shall I close my eyes for a second?"

Not a few children, especially nobles from other kingdoms would fall asleep.

It was unavoidable. They were forced to listen to a boring lectures after training. Even an adult would have difficulty sitting through the lecture.

Especially for the children who had no thoughts other than "I want to be strong."

Of course, the instructors who knew that did not overlook them.

"Hey there, there, don't fall asleep!"

"You think this is a time of rest? Anthos school is not a place where fools are given the right to handle weapons!"

"To acquire the virtue of a warrior and better serve the Duchy or be an influential person in Thunder Continent, you need to train your head and not your body! If you neglect the liberal arts class, you won't be in good shape!"

The instructors shouted words like modesty, honor, and protection of the weak.

It was not a warning.

The Duchy Flower school, from the very beginning, taught the right attitude that a knight and warrior should have along with the right amount of power.

Graduates need to perform feats for the welfare and peace of the continent, which is also a reason to raise the prestige of swordsmen and fighters.

Most of the prospective students are also aware of that fact, and even those who did not know what the instructor was trying to say.

In the end, the children had no choice but to keep their minds and bodies tense until dinnertime.

"Hugh, the rice is so delicious."

"Right. Rice has never been so good..."

"Sigh. I can rest for a while now."

7 p. m.

It was all over.

From this moment on, neither the tiger instructor nor the assistants would intervene.

It meant that they didn't care about the students after school hours.

Of course, there were no children who got into serious trouble.

It was probably because they wanted to go to bed and rest.

It was time for most of the children to return to their dormitories.

A familiar voice filled the dining room.

It was Instructor Roland.

"Ouch, there's something I forgot to say, so I'll say it now."

"Yes!"

"All gyms, indoor fitness rooms, and other training areas are always open, so trainees who want to practice and use them at any time."

"..."

Roland walked out of the dining room after saying that.

The children sat for a moment with blank expressions on their faces and then started cursing.

Some of them were so harsh that you wouldn't believe a child could say that.

Of course, some of the apprentices didn't say anything.

They were the kids who got good marks in the main evaluation and received letters from their relatives that the next heir of the family was looking for candidates for his guard, and they thought about continuing their training, even though Roland had not informed them.

It was the same with William.

After finishing his meal, he waited until his stomach felt empty and then headed for the gym.

His expression was so calm that one could not associate it with either liking or disliking.

An unfamiliar instrument used to train the lower body, he had never seen in his life.

Standing in front of him was William, who remembered his rank in the test.

'Lower rank.'

That was true.

He tried with all his might, even pushed his body down, but the result didn't change.

All it did was last a little longer was his willpower more than anything else.

In a way, it was good that he was able to keep going.

However, he didn't seem disappointed. Not the least bit upset.

It wasn't because he was comforted by Raimon's words, "The current ranking is not the future results."

It was because he knew that such an outcome was natural for him to obtain.