Imperial Scholar Camp Campus - 637

Skymender opened the letter and read it.

"Congratulations on entering the Imperial Scholar camp. I assume. I will now explain the general design of the Imperial Camp. When you first arrive, you will be taken into the Imperial Capital by people employed by the Imperial Camp. During your stay, you will be in one place, the Imperial Scholar Camp Campus. Everything you need will be provided, but leaving the Campus will not be permitted unless under special circumstances. This is not to imprison you or prevent you from speaking about the Imperial Scholar Camp Campus, but to allow you to completely focus on studies and learning during this time. Further information will be provided at the Campus. Good luck."

Skymender put the letter down. Now, with more information, he was ready to set out. He naturally took some books with him, along with a few other things he had packed. He did not bring too much. After all, he did not know how much room he would have.

Waving goodbye to everyone, he left the Sky Barony house and began his long journey to the Imperial Capital. He brought less people this time, totaling only two carriages.

Naturally, he brought along Li Youcai. He also brought Hope.

The ride was calm and boring. Skymender found himself staring out of the window most of the time. He didn't feel as immature as before. In fact, he even felt aged. He had experienced a lot in the last year.

There wasn't much talking, nor were there any unforeseen circumstances. Ten days later the giant walls of the Imperial Capital appeared in the distance. 

Skymender prepared himself.

They arrived at the gates. They skipped the lines, of course. 

Skymender stepped out of the carriage and was received by a scholarly looking man. 

"Lord Skymender. I have been sent by the Imperial Scholar Camp to pick you up."

Skymender nodded. "Let's go."

Without another word, he boarded a carriage. Li Youcai and Hope stayed behind. Until it was time to leave, they would stay at his aunt's house.

The carriage moved swiftly through the bustling city. The scholarly man sat inside of the carriage with Skymender while someone else drove it.

"Here is a basic list of the rules. If anything needs to be known outside of what is in here, it will be spoken to you. If you have any questions, you can ask them to me whenever."

Skymender nodded and began to read the book. There were a lot of rules. Some were written in smaller font, while some were written bigger. Skymender focused mostly on the bigger rules, before focusing on the smaller ones.

Eventually, he had a gist of the Imperial Scholar Camp. He understood how it would work for the most part.

He looked at the scholarly man and asked a question.

"How many people will be at the Camp?"

The book had rules, but not anything about the more specific information.

"Including you, 16."

Skymender nodded. It would be weirder if there weren't so few people. These were all people with the potential to be the future Imperial Scholar.

Skymender asked another question. "How old are they?"

"I cannot completely confirm, but you are definitely the youngest among all of them."

Skymender nodded. Also expected. He did not have any important questions at the moment, and they soon arrived at a large gate. Inside was a walled area, but it was extremely large. He had never seen this area before. It was in a weird area neither in the commoner area nor the noble area. It was near the Imperial Palace, but not in its sector. Skymender and the Scholarly man stepped out of the carriage.

As he looked at the gate, it slowly opened. Inside, a brick path lay. Ahead were multiple buildings, each one multiple stories and clearly very expensive.

The scholarly man walked inside, leading the way.

"Welcome to the newly created Imperial Scholar Camp Campus, Skymender."

Along the path were beautiful trees with falling leaves. If he had come here during the fall, its beauty would have been multiplied.

He was led along, and soon reached one of the buildings. 

"This is the male dormitory. You can go in and choose any room on the first floor. Later on, based on performance, other rooms can be obtained."

Skymender nodded.

"You have a few days to settle in and explore. There are plenty of restaurants, and all food is free. There are other things around, though not everything is currently accessible. When the time comes, I will come and get you."

Skymender nodded again. "What should I call you?"

The elderly man spoke. "I am but a scholar. You can call me Scholar Ming. During your stay, I will be guiding you."

Skymender nodded. "Thank you, Scholar Ming."

Scholar Ming bowed as Skymender turned and entered the building.

He walked around the first floor, which in itself had more than 16 rooms. Even if all of the people participating in this camp were male, there would be enough rooms.

A few of the doors had indications that they were taken.

Skymender found a random one close to the door and entered it. Inside was a simple, but sufficient room. It had a bed, a desk, necessary rooms such as a kitchen and a bathroom, as well as many expensive appliances such as a stove.

Skymender dropped the few bags he had brought on the ground and looked around. There was not anything special, but everything was expensive.

Skymender changed his clothes and relaxed for a while. The long carriage ride had caused a bunch of built up fatigue, especially since he was still young.

He took a short nap before waking up and taking a shower. Wearing new clothes, he stepped out of his room.

He looked around the male dormitory, but did not see anyone.

He stepped outside and walked further into the Imperial Scholar Camp Campus.

He saw many congregated buildings, and as he walked further, he finally saw another person.