Academy!

They drove through the bustling city, where businesses were already in full swing and people of all races and backgrounds rushed about their day. The capital of the Dragon Empire, still proudly named the Imperial Capital, was not only beautiful but alive with activity. The sight was refreshing—each individual working hard to improve their daily life.

One person, however, had no such worries about making it through the day. Sitting comfortably in his luxurious car—a vehicle so expensive its price could easily buy half the buildings in the Imperial Capital—Pyris gazed out at the city, his thoughts unreadable.

As he absently caressed his sister's hair, who lay sleeping against his chest, he felt a quiet contentment. Aurelia snuggled deeper into his embrace, and Pyris, watching her adorable movements, kissed her forehead and gently patted her back.

"Life really does know how to remain a mystery," he mused to himself. "No matter who you are or what status you hold, you always end up in some corner of it, trying to get by. Everyone has their own worries." Even the immortal would find life puzzling, let alone mortals.

[You're starting to scare me! Are you suddenly aspiring to be a stoic philosopher?] Lia's voice chimed in his thoughts with a teasing laugh.

[At your age and with your status, your only concern should be how to make the most of it, not brooding over life's mysteries, young man!]

Pyris chuckled. 'Right.' As if on cue, the car took a turn and sped up along a beautifully paved road.

Lining either side were tall, well-kept trees, and beyond them, vast clearings stretched out until his eyes strained to see the end.

"The academy is enormous!" Pyris remarked, staring at the expansive grounds. The endless green fields were part of the academy, where scattered students dotted the landscape.

Some were just arriving, and the road was noticeably busy with cars heading in the same direction.

His car slowed as it passed students walking toward the gates.

Pyris paid them no mind until the vehicle finally arrived at the academy's grand entrance—gates flanked by the towering trees he'd been admiring since they took that turn.

The academy itself was a gigantic, majestic castle. Regal and imposing, it stood defiantly against modern architecture, which had buried most ancient designs under sleek, sterile facades.

While other buildings had relegated old architectural beauty to museums and history books, the academy remained an awe-inspiring fortress of the past.

"Such an imposing structure... It feels like standing under a mountain," Pyris nodded approvingly. "And the compounds are incredible as well"

(Image in paragraph comments)

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As they stepped out of the car, Pyris and Aurelia immediately caught everyone's attention. Aurelia clung to her brother's arm with a bright smile, an act that left onlookers in stunned silence.

"The Obsidians…" they whispered among themselves, knowing full well who the siblings were. Their mere presence was enough to overshadow everyone else at the academy.

Aurelia, in particular, was famous—her cold demeanor had earned her the reputation of the "Unapproachable Queen." She never smiled, not even at other girls, making her an enigma.

"Who knew the Ice Queen could smile!" a student muttered.

"Who wouldn't, with a brother like that?" another responded, eyes locked on Pyris. "He's so hot! If he looked at me, I'd smile forever."

"So handsome… Is he a model?"

"Stupid! That's Pyris Obsidian! He's the young lord of House Obsidian!" a friend quickly corrected.

"Tsk, I know that! I'm just saying he's so hot it hurts."

Meanwhile, the boys nearby could only swallow their pride, metaphorically choking on the "dog food" the siblings unknowingly fed them.

____

"Can I walk you to your class?" Aurelia asked as they approached the academy doors. "Since you're new, I doubt you'd know where to go. This place is huge, and you might end up lost if you try finding it on your own."

"Sorry for the trouble then," Pyris said with a smile, accepting her offer.

Together, they walked through the wide corridors of the academy, attracting even more attention. Students turned their heads as the two siblings passed, marveling at how perfect they looked together, and how seamlessly they seemed to ignore the world around them.

Pyris, on the other hand, was captivated by the high, intricately designed ceilings. The castle's interior brimmed with history, from the paintings hanging on the walls to the carefully preserved architecture.

"I've never seen anything like this," he remarked, staring at the artwork. Portraits of powerful figures—none of whom Pyris recognized—hung proudly, each telling the academy's rich and ancient story.

Drawings of fearsome creatures, capable of inducing nightmares, served as reminders of the dangers lurking in the world beyond.

"These paintings are of the academy's most remarkable members," Aurelia explained as they walked. "The most brilliant students, influential teachers, and deans whose work shaped the academy and the world. There are even paintings of legendary figures that helped keep the academy standing through time."

Pyris admired the grandeur, marveling at the academy's unique charm and timeless history. Every step revealed more of the legacy it had built.

Ting! A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. Glancing at his phone—a sleek, glassy device it's interface display resembled an iPhone 15 but with a shimmering diamond-like black back looking sturdy—Pyris saw a notification from the academy's administration office.

Don't be fooled by the glassware of the phone, it was hard and would survive any fall.

Aurelia chuckled. "Looks like you've got your hands full" He read the message aloud.

"<<Student: Pyris Obsidian.< p>

Class: 1A

Elements: Time, Space, Darkness.

Club: Obsidian Roar

Activities: Active Sports.

Classes: Magic Classes, Tech and BM>>

Pyris read through the notification out loud for himself and Aurelia, a subtle smile playing on his lips, while Aurelia's face darkened with a solemn expression.

"She really went all out, didn't she?" Pyris chuckled, shaking his head. His mother had taken the liberty of registering him into the Obsidian Roar club, the family's pride in the academy.

*****

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