Vol.01: Ch.07: The Varona Royal Academy: A Journey of Prestige and Power
Darell and Lilith rode towards the Varona Royal Academy, their carriage proudly displaying the flag of the Baron of Xena. The journey to Varona was a long one, but the excitement of attending such a prestigious academy made it all worthwhile. The Kingdom of Gavaria was vast and diverse, with four dukes overseeing different sectors of the kingdom.
The Duke of Zukvar, known as the 'Military Minister,' had full control over the kingdom's armies and was responsible for improving its capabilities. He was a powerful figure and held great influence with the King.
The Duke of Wysteria, also known as the 'Agricultural Minister,' oversaw food production and distribution in the kingdom. This was a critical role, as ensuring the kingdom had enough food was vital for its survival.
The Duke of Ethil, or the 'Finance Minister,' was responsible for the kingdom's treasury and tax collection. He held significant power when it came to trade negotiations with other kingdoms, and his decisions impacted the kingdom's economic success.
Finally, the Duke of Lurris, the 'Interior Minister,' was responsible for the internal affairs of the kingdom and its development. He oversaw the growth and prosperity of Gavaria's cities and towns, ensuring they were safe and prosperous places to live.
The carriage of the Baron of Xena came to a halt outside the Flinster Inn, nestled in the heart of Asolear town, within the Duchy of Zukvar. Darell and Lilith had been traveling for days, and the comfort of a warm bed was long overdue.
As they stepped into the inn's reception area, the warmth and smell of freshly baked bread filled their senses. The receptionist greeted them with a warm smile and asked if they would like to book a room for the night.
Darell and Lilith quickly agreed and were shown to their room, which was cozy and comfortable. As they sank into the soft bed, they felt the exhaustion of their journey slowly ebb away.
After a few hours of much-needed rest, they woke up feeling refreshed and ready to continue their journey. As they stepped out into the town, they were struck by its beauty, with colorful buildings lining the cobblestone streets. It was clear that Zukvar's influence had made its mark on this quaint town, with its bustling markets and well-maintained streets.
When the evening drew near, Darell and Lilith made their way to the inn's dining hall, stomachs rumbling with anticipation. The scent of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, tempting their taste buds.
As they took their seats at one of the many tables in the hall, maids bustled about, serving dishes to the eager diners. Darell couldn't help but notice how full the hall was, with students from all walks of life, eagerly awaiting their chance to prove themselves at the academy.
Year after year, the Flinster Inn was packed with students, both from common and noble families, who had come to attend the academy's tests. And it was easy to see why. The inn was famous for its delicious dishes, and its reputation spread far and wide among the other inns in the area.
The raucous chatter and clanging of silverware came to a sudden halt as a hush fell over the dining hall. Darell and Lilith, curious about the cause of this abrupt shift, turned their heads to see who had just entered the inn.
Their eyes fell upon two women, who exuded an air of effortless grace and beauty as they strode into the dining hall. The first was a strikingly gorgeous woman, whose mere presence seemed to send ripples of excitement and admiration through the crowd. And by her side, stood another woman, whose captivating charm drew the attention of all the men present in the hall, and the ire of the women.
When their eyes met Darell's, the two women waved at him. Instantly, the room was filled with a wave of murmurs and whispers, as all the men turned to see who had caught the ladies' attention. Some men looked on in disdain, others were indifferent, but many couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
Darell couldn't help but roll his eyes at the attention the two women were garnering. He had grown used to being the subject of gossip and envy, having faced it since his childhood.
"Are you trying to get revenge for what happened at the banquet?" he asked a hint of amusement in his voice. But as he continued eating his food, Darell remained unfazed by the people's reactions to his behavior, knowing that he had powerful allies who would stand by him if needed. Some of the people present muttered under their breath, expressing their dissatisfaction with Darell's nonchalant attitude toward the women. But they knew better than to voice their opinions, aware of the support Darell commanded.
"Serves you right. You should not have acted so arrogantly at the banquet," Emma pouted, directing her words at Darell.
Darell simply shifted to the side, making room for Emma to sit beside him. Meanwhile, Ariel took a seat beside Lilith, and the four of them continued their meal.
When they finished their meal, Darell turned to Ariel and asked, "So, where's Eric?"
The mention of Eric's name caused Ariel to clench her fists in frustration. Darell and Lilith exchanged glances, sensing that there was more to the story than met the eye.
Emma, who had been quiet until then, shook her head helplessly, indicating that she had no idea where Eric was.
"Oops, the wrong question," Darell remarked, trying to lighten the mood.
But Ariel couldn't help but laugh hysterically at his remark. "No! It was the perfect question," she said, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
Taking a deep breath, Ariel explained, "That idiot said it's better to meet at the academy than waste time hanging out with his future wife."
Darell chuckled inwardly, thinking that Eric had probably told her that he was going to the academy directly. "I'm pretty sure he said he was going to the academy directly," Darell commented, amusement evident in his voice.
Darell, Lilith, Emma, Ariel, and Eric had been childhood friends for as long as they could remember. Their friendship was built on a strong foundation of mutual respect and equality, rather than any kind of opportunism or greed. They had grown up together, sharing laughter and tears, joys and sorrows, and had never let anything come between them.
Despite coming from different social backgrounds, their bond remained unbreakable. They treated each other as equals, and never let their differences in status or wealth come in the way of their friendship. This was one of the main reasons why their parents had never objected to their friendship and had even encouraged it, as they saw the positive influence each of them had on the others.
Darell couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Eric's inevitable punishment at the hands of Ariel. Emma caught his expression and playfully pinched his cheek.
"You got off easy this time, but maybe I should start giving you the same 'sessions' Ariel gives Eric," she teased.
Darell knew all too well what those "sessions" entailed and it made him break into a sweat. Emma grinned mischievously and playfully poked his cheek.
"I'll let you off the hook for now, but don't expect me to be so generous next time," she warned with a playful wink.
As they continued on their journey, Emma and Ariel suggested traveling with Darell and Lilith. The four of them continued on their journey, with Darell sleeping and resting his head on Emma's lap. Emma stroked his hair affectionately, while Lilith watched them with a smile.
Suddenly, Emma asked Lilith if she had anyone she liked. Lilith shook her head and revealed that she was focused on becoming stronger to fight beside her brother. Despite meeting several boys, Lilith hadn't found someone who piqued her interest yet. However, Lilith had a solemn expression, as she was aware that Darell had a system that made him a target for everyone in the world.
Meanwhile, Emma and Ariel exchanged a knowing look thinking that Lilith simply had not yet found the right person.
After a few hours of travel, the group arrived at the imposing gates of the capital. The guards stopped them and searched the carriage thoroughly before finally allowing them to pass.
Weary from the long journey, they decided to stop at another inn to rest for the day before the upcoming test. After a couple of hours of much-needed rest, they set out to explore the royal capital.
The bustling streets and grand architecture of the capital left them in awe as they walked through the city, taking in all its sights and sounds. After a long day of exploration, they reconvened for dinner at a cozy restaurant.
As the night drew to a close, they retired to their respective rooms, eager to get some rest before the big day tomorrow.
When the sun rose the next day, Darell woke up feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. He quickly got up, took a refreshing bath, and checked his equipment before putting on his finest clothes. The others were already waiting outside the inn, and they set off toward the Varona Royal Academy together.
The Academy held a prestigious test every year that attracted hundreds of thousands of participants hoping to change their lives. Although only a few hundred people would pass, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the hopefuls. They knew the rewards and benefits that awaited them if they were lucky enough to enroll in the Academy.
For commoners, enrollment would offer opportunities like marriage proposals with lower noble families or military employment. Enrolling in the Academy could drastically change their lives and elevate their position in society.
As they arrived at the Academy, they were met with a massive crowd of participants waiting for their turn to take the test. All eyes were on Darell and his companions as they walked through the crowd, their noble status giving them certain privileges in the Academy. This included a separate admission test for commoners and the omission of the interview test after the ability test.
When Darell and his group arrived at the designated testing area, they were met with an unexpected sight. The instructor in charge of the test was an old man who appeared frail. However, Darell immediately recognized the man and greeted him warmly.
"Well, if it isn't Uncle Lin," Darell exclaimed with a smile. "What are you doing here? I thought you were on planet Nebros."
The old man's eyes opened slowly, and he examined Darell from top to bottom, silently assessing him. After a moment, he gave a slow nod of approval.
"To think that the snotty brat I saw back in the day would obtain the Space ability," he muttered, shaking his head.
Darell tossed his hair with a cocky grin. "Well, Uncle Lin, I always knew I was destined for greatness. Being this handsome, I was bound to get some awesome ability."
Emma shot him a glare, but Darell quickly recovered. "Of course, I also had to meet the requirements of courting our kingdom's top beauty," he said, turning to Emma and flashing her a charming smile.
She blushed and looked away, and Lilith giggled, leaning in to whisper in Darell's ear, "Nice save, brother."
Uncle Lin cleared his throat, about to speak, but was interrupted by a sudden voice calling out to them.
"Guys!", called out a person in the distance. All of them turned their heads in the direction of the voice, curious about who was calling them.
Ariel, however, ignored the person, and the rest of the group paid little attention to him as well. Eric, startled by the reaction, asked, "What's wrong?", but nobody answered him.
Darell, realizing what was happening, shook his head and secretly gestured for Eric to talk to Ariel. Despite his attempts to get her attention, Ariel kept ignoring him, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Finally, she turned to the old man and asked, "When are the special tests going to be held for us?"
Without getting bothered by their antics, the old man replied, "Go to Instructor Walter, and he will be the examiner for you." As a group, they walked towards Instructor Walter, who was busy arranging paperwork.
When they approached the instructor, Instructor Walter, he greeted them with a warm smile. "Ah, the Famous Five. What brings you here today?" he inquired.
Darell spoke up, "Sir, we are here for the special test." He handed over the letters they had received from the Varona Royal Academy.
Instructor Walter took the letters and placed them carefully in a drawer. "Follow me," he instructed, leading them down a long corridor that opened into a hall filled with numerous doors. "You will each be assigned a different door and an Instructor will be waiting for you inside," he explained.
As they stood there, Instructor Walter addressed their concerns. "Don't worry, this is just a formality. We would love to enroll all of you in the academy directly, but that would create a lot of gossip among the people, and they might say we are favoring the nobles."
Each of them was then directed to a different door and instructed to enter. Darell took a deep breath and walked through his assigned door, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
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