11 The Capitol

Time goes really fast as we travel to the capital. After two days traveling in carriage we almost arrive at the capital. What changed is Lein joining me in my morning practice, as we teleport away to a distance mountain. As expected from the number one of our entire year, her physique is much better than mine. She could follow my morning practice easily. Also her swordsmanship is much better than mine, if it not for my arithmetics I won't be able to follow her movement. She still surprised at my teleport tho, and keep asking me how did I do that. Then when I explaining about the black hole theories and quantum's physics she definitely got those stupid face. It wasn't because she is stupid, but it like I am teaching a university physics to a five years old children. She gave those blank face. At the end I explained it vaguely.

"So basically it like this clothes Lein. If I spread it out it would be around 2 feet, to go from the edge to the other side. Then what if I fold the edge together?"

"Emmm... It would only take a really short distance?"

"Correct. That basically what I am doing when teleporting, I fold the space like these clothes so I could move to the other side with only one step."

"... How did you fold the space? Did you make the earth flip over???"

"Sigh... I calculated it. I fold the coordinates between two place and then puncture a hole on it, so I can move to the other side with one step. "

"That doesn't make sense?! How did you make a hole on it?? How did you fold it if you didn't flip the earth?"

"... Let's just forget it. We already got back to the beginning again."

Yep, that kind of discussion. This is really tiresome. She frowns since she still doesn't get it. I mean there is no substance since you can't see a space. It there but it wasn't there at the same time. It a vague concept after all. Also... I kinda dissatisfied about something

"Ara? Hey, did you still dissatisfied about last night?"

"... Kinda, it just weird. Although I could accept you're a lesbian, still isn't it too much of you to...."

She smirks at me.

"It only a normal skinship between a girl. It not like we never do those before."

"Yes, it normal... If you aren't attracted to her. I could feel your emotion fluttering you know..."

"So what? You gonna bite me?"

"... How about I leave you here?"

"What? You dare?"

We bickering for a while. Also what happened last night actually pretty normal. The place we camp was near a water spring, so while waiting for dinner the girls took a bath there. Or more like Lein kidnapping Fransisca there, which is found out by Elsa. So they took a bath together, of course, I am not peeking at them. How did I know? Easy, after they got back, Elsa told us about it, and I could feel how happy and fluttered Lein was. We also heard a few details like how Lein and Fransisca being so close to each other during the bath. I could also see Fransisca blushing really bad, before shutting Elsa mouth with her hand. Something that wasn't normal skinship definitely happens! Also from Lein smirk last night, I definitely know that is revenge for me.

"Anyway Zein, I am still wondering why you didn't choose to join in battle competition?"

"Hmm? Isn't it simple? I don't want to stand out."

"Eh? Why is that? Isn't its great? We would be a prodigious twin."

"... It would be troublesome, and I am sure people won't think it like that. They would denounce you for sure. After all many people jealous of you, and I don't want them to do that."

She suddenly pounces at me with a grin as she swings her sword.

"Whoa, how thoughtful of you. I guess you indeed love me."

"..."

"Silence agreement ey?"

"Tsk, I hate this shared connection."

"I know, I know~"

She teases me as we spar, it one-sided since we decided not to use magic. I could only parry or dodge her. We only stopping after my breath goes rough. I could tell, from the sparing that she at least stronger than me by 50 percent. Technique wise, I am better at hand to hand combat, but I lose at strength, speed, and stamina. So I can't land any productive counter, even after calculating her movement. I could also see how she would evade it.

"Still Zein, you're much stronger than the last time we spar."

"...that ... Was... 3 years... Ago after all..."

I answer her while panting, I could see her sweating. But her breathing still normal.

"What next then? We already do a mountain running, then those stretching and body training, then swordsmanship spar."

"... Wait... We... Do magic... Training.."

"Magic training? Finally! You gonna teach me?"

"Sure... After my breath..ing... Normal.."

"Then I'll do some work out first, also made me this shoulder pads! It really good for those mountain running."

By how she could move like normal with that, she should have around 8-10 in strength, agility, and stamina. Then father should be around 30 across the board? Crazy, it means he could lift 2.1 tonnes of weight? Then his spar with Sir Richard definitely a friendly match where they both only used 20-30 percent of their power. I am sure if they both serious, no one would be able to follow their movement. Sir Richard definitely take it easy against me too. After 10 minutes break, my breathing finally normal. Lein comes to me at once.

"Magic practice now?"

"Yep. Anyway, I want to know how much your comprehension first. I remember that mother always teaches you about magic theories when we're home."

"Hmmm... At the gate of intermediate magic, I guess. As you know I could use wind, water, and fire. Since my aptitude is there, that the only elements I am good at. While the other only on early beginner."

"... My sister indeed a genius."

"Thank you, thank you."

She bows around at the imaginary crowd.

"Well, try to launch an intermediate magic on that dummy."

I created a few dummy from dirt, around 20 meters away. Indeed earth magic is easier when I touch the ground.

"Whoa... how did you do that?? You make a human dummy 20 meters away, while chantless?"

"Just shot it. I would teach you about it later."

"Fine"

She pouts at me, then goes focus afterward while looking at the dummies.

"Ooo, fire burn and pierce my enemies. Fire Lance!"

Three fire lance, around 10 feet, formed over her head, it took around 4 breath of time I guess for her to form it. Then it threw themselves towards the dummy as Lein moving her hand. Two of it hit the dummy, making it burned and pierced. While the other miss by half a feet from the dummy, hitting the tree behind it. It slow, it took them 4 breathe of time to cross 20-meter distance. I cast a water ball immediately since I don't want a forest fire. She looks at me after casting it.

"How was it?"

"Hmm... Which answer do you prefer? Flattery one or the truth?"

She creased her brow.

"The truth one."

"Then... Chanting aside since it pretty normal to chant and your chant was short already, the castings speed is passable."

As I said that as 5 blue fire lance, around 15 feet, hovering around me at once, making Lein surprised.

"Then your control over it, only 2 of it from 3, hit the target. Its power is barely passable, it pretty good from normal standard but for me not yet. Then the speed of your fire lance... It slow. So if it in a real fight, it hardly useable. Except you could make it like this."

Every one of my fire lances crosses the field in a breath, and maim the remaining dummy making them crumble as then burned. Also as it passed the dummy, and having a contact on the ground, it exploded. The explosion makes a crater around 5 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep. Lein could only gape her mouth when she watches the spectacles.

"How did you..."

"You should be able to do that too."

I cut off her words before it finished. Since I used around the same power as her, with practice she should be able to do that too. Although I am not sure if she can make five fire lance at once, I believe her intelligent is the same as Silva at least. In last competition, Silva could launch 5 fireball at once making the spectator cheer.

"I could? No, from the start... How do you make a blue fire lance??"

"Hmmm, it about the same as the blue fireball that I used before at the dinner."

"Ah, when are you explaining magic theories with brother Ramza?"

"Yup.."

"I... Couldn't understand anything about that conversation..."

She mumbling shyly at the end...

"Nah, you didn't understand because you don't know the basics knowledge. You're my genius twin after all. It won't be hard for you to learn it."

I grin as I encourage her, making her smile at me.

"Then you should teach me thoroughly."

"Well, we should talk about it step by step."

With that, I explained chemistry molecules to her one by one. She is at loss tho, still, we go back to our convoys since its almost time to depart. Nothing eventful happened in our way as we reach the capital by noon. The capital city of Hearthstone kingdom, Heathor. A big city, even for modern times. With four gateway and a majestic castle in the middle of it. A river stretch from the north to the southeast of the city. It got a canal around it, with 20-meter width and 10 meters deep, a folding bridge and 20-meter high gate. All I could think when seeing it, this city really fortified. They make a canal surrounding the city landscape that around 15 kilometers in diameter. Yep, it circular if you look it from bird eyes. The total citizen is around 300000 household.

It split by 3 inner walls and four districts. So the first zone, from the gate to the second wall, is the commoner zone it around an hour slow walk so 3 to 4 kilometers, the second zone is the rich merchant and lower noble manor, it took around 10-20 minutes on feet. While the third zone is the high-level noble manors around 10-15 minutes walk. Of course, the last one is the castle surrounded. There only 2 gates to reach the castle, which is on the west and east.

While the district split by 4, west district is consist of the general shop, you could find food, daily necessities, and clothing here. It where the merchant and adventurer guild located. It also kind of slum, since those poor and refugees living here at the edge of the first zone.

The south district is where the pubs, restaurant, cafe, and inn located. It connected directly with the west district. Also, many shady merchants located in between them. It the effect of slum I guess.

While East district it a military base. From training field, barracks, and military housing is located here.

The north district is guild and academy district. It full of any kinds of guild, from the medical guild, church, alchemist, blacksmith, magic and many other kinds of guild on the northwest. The stadium for competition also located here. Basically, this is like a community place. While the northeast is the academy ground. At first, there are many kinds of academy here, but since the 100 years ago they combined and become Herth Magic Academy. Only the middle schooling still divergent, well it only four middle schools tho which is merchant, knighthood, commoner and noble middle school. In the end, they would join the Herth Magic Academy if they want to continue their studies.

Anyway, it really a big city. We passed the gate easily with our convoys of 3 nobles family. We split we Ramza by the second zone as he goes straight to his workplace, while we go to our academy.

The academy itself seems like a small city, with their teachers and students lodging, and many kinds of class and research building. It took the entire northeast first and the second zone after all. There a park, forest, and a small lake in the academy it took around two hours to walk around the academy. We go straight to our dorm by the western side of the academy. Of course, the male and female dorm is separated. So we part ways as we reach the dormitory area, I already take my baggage away when we waiting to go inside the capital. Well, it wasn't that far apart only 10 minutes walk tho.

The dormitory wasn't crowded yet since there still 5 days until the opening ceremony. Just think that there 4 batches of students from the entire kingdom studying here. It really crowded when the term start, at least there is 12000 student living here. Well only a hundred of them is a noble tho.

After all there only around four hundred noble families in our kingdom. It seems like a huge number, but when we thinking that our kingdom is as huge as half of Russia, it pretty normal I think. Our continent is as big as Europe with only 5 nation on it. So yeah the territory is vast.

Although the big noble wasn't that much, only 5 Duke family, 15 Marquis and 40 Earldom in our kingdom. The other 300 plus noble is only viscount or baron, which most of them working for the big noble or as a civil servant, while the other is the knight of the kingdom.

There is hardly anyone in my dorm as I walk up the stairs to my room on the fifth floor. The fifth floor is consist of a noble and those scholarship students who got a great achievement like Silva. Mostly is Earl, Marquis and Duke sons tho. There only 3 room anyway. So the entire floor with only 6 student living and their butler. Well, right now it only me, Silva, Zack, Rick and William from Laitlis Earldom living here, in a dorm that seems like a penthouse of a luxurious apartment. William and Rick are junior this year, so he going to graduate in two years. While the other one is already graduate last year. It was a scholarship student Benard, he is one of the top 10 in his year. That why right now it only 5 of us here.

Right now... I could say, I everyone of my housemate is disgusted with me. They were my childhood friends tho. When I open the door of our living room, I could see three figure inside. Which one of them is a butler, while the other two is a student. They are Zack and Silva conversing about some magic material for the new term. Zack van Drew is a young man with dark green wavy hair that cut short and brown eyes. His stature is kinda lanky and tall, but under his shirt, it was full of muscle. He majoring in territory management, although all of us still learning martial arts, magic, and other basic knowledge.

When I open the door they both looking at me. Silva looks relieved when seeing me like he found out something good. I guess he relieved because he thought all those things before was only his dream. While Zack frowns and scoffed at me.

"Oh look who's here, the young master of Dageraad household. How have you been?"

Yep, it full of sarcasm. After all, our family is close so they definitely know my accident. Hmmm... Well, I already decided to keep acting like a jerk tho, outside my family and those that have known about it. The reason, I got a feeling Duchess Rames would really send the letter if she found out I am back to my oldself already! So I decided to only snort at him, making Silva got much more relieved.

"Whoa, how rude of you? Not even replying to my greetings. We were an old buddy before."

He still talking full of sarcasm, while I could see Rum smirking at the edge of my view.

"Good. So could I leave now young master Drew? I am tired of traveling.

"Oh, sure sure. How inconsiderate of me."

He smirks at me before looking back at Silva. As I leave the room they continue their conversation. I got inside my room, and sit down on the bed, while Rum arranges my belongings at once.

"Did you got anything you want to say Rum?"

I ask him, he glances at me in a smirk.

"There is nothing much young master."

"I could see you smirking tho."

"It wasn't much, I only thought you were cute before."

"Sigh... You do know why I am doing those right?"

"I don't know."

"Your face betrayed you Rum."

"Young master thinking too much."

This guy seriously... He loving this for sure.

"Anyway young master, what are you planning? If you may enlighten this butler."

"Stop with that way of talking. Kinda disgusting of you. Anyway, it as you expected."

"I understand. Seems like in that accident you're hitting your head hard enough. Since you even ask me to stop all the tiresome way of talking. I starting to like that way though."

"Sigh... Seriously Rum, did you hate me for all those years?"

"Is this question as a master or as an old friend?"

"An old friend."

"I didn't hate you, I was pitying you. You lose all your confidence just because of small matter. I know that your head is smart, but you acting stupidly at that time."

"Hahaha, that kinda unexpected. I guess when someone broke down they just can't use their brain."

"Indeed. So should I arrange your evening walk?"

"Hmmm... Not right now. I want to rest for a while."

"I understand. Then I would take my leave."

"Ah, before that could you told me how you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Those sudden knocking and all those magical butler skills of your."

"Oh, you already know how I do that deep down in your heart tho."

"I see. So most of the butler got those aptitudes for space magic. That way you could find out."

He didn't answer me and only smile before he opens his mouth in a sigh.

"Not as high as your achievement in that. At most I could store a couple of items, and shorten a few meters of distance. It took me years of practice just to do that."

"I see the other part is sleight of hand then."

"Correct. Then have a good rest young master."

He left the room with that, I lay down on my bed right away. I definitely not going to rest, I just wanted to try a couple of magic. I haven't tried this before, I thought since got a huge pool of mana so maybe I could enhance my physique. I try to channeling my mana to surround my body. This is kinda hard to do. I could feel my mana leaking out, while what I wanted is for it to stay still as it covering my body. Also, I can't emit too much mana, since those two was outside the door. This is really hard to control, too much mana and those two would notice me, while too little it would leak and dissipate slowly.

At the end after a few hours, I stop trying. The results are disappointing, with around 1 point of mana per half an hour, I could only increase around 0.1 points of attribute across the board. Which mean my strength only increase by 7 kilograms benchmark. This is really ineffective. It much more efficient if I just hurl a 5 fireball at once. There must be something wrong in my assumption since on the book I read about beastman tribe. It boasts about their body strengthening magic, even though their mana pool is lower than a normal human. So how did they with a lower amount of mana increasing their strength by 50 to 200 percent?

I sighing as I walk out of my room. Rum wasn't there as I go out, it around the time he goes out to buy ingredients for food after all. Hmmm, I should tell him to stop doing those too. After all, there is a cafeteria for students. Zack and Silva weren't in the living room too. I sat down on the couch outside, this is really like a penthouse. Usually, there is 20 room each floor since there only 6 people on this floor we got a balcony for ourselves. Then I could see a carriage coming to our dormitory, I frown when I look at the seal. That is... Duke Rames family seal.

From the carriage Reiya steps out, he looks to our building. When our gaze meets he wave at me happily. Okay, he definitely going to live here from now on. Sigh... This going to be a tough year.

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