Arriving at the Academy

As soon as I arrived at the stables, Dennis and Lena were already waiting for me with a carriage Ready to go. Before loading up the carriage, we exchanged greetings, and then we began our journey.

Around halfway through the trip Dennis got bored of the awkward silence and asked, "Michael, are you confident you'll win the newcomers tournament?"

I replied, "Well, I can't guarantee that I'll win, but I can't see myself not being in the top ten."

Dennis nodded and said, "It's Good to be cautious".

I turned to Lena and then asked, "Lena I've already decided who I'm going to select for our team would you like to see them?"

Lena gave me a confused look before asking "haven't you been in the castle training how have you already found who you want for are team" I nodded understanding why she was confused so I pulled the four files out of my spacial ring before showing them to her.

As she opened the first file, she recognized her own name and face, and a shocked look crossed her face as he saw his daughter's expression.

Dennis also took a peek since he was sitting right next to her before laughing out loud.

Lena looked at me, then asked, "Was I being followed?"

"I had every student who joined the royal academy followed for two days. That way I could make an informed decision about who I wanted to select for our team."

In response, Lena frowned even harder and said "Michael, you can't just spy on people."

A little confused, I replied, "of course, I can, the papers you have in your possession are proof of that."

Lena smiled frustratedly, "No, I mean it's an invasion of privacy and it'll upset others."

I pondered for a moment before asking, "So you would rather I pick a team at random rather than gain information and create a team that would get along and works well together?" Your short-term discomfort is more important than our long-term success? I don't understand."

Hearing my words Lena set the file on her lap before saying, "fine Michael, you can do whatever you want, just don't show them to anyone else."

ok, I can do that, trying to hold back his laughter Dennis reached over and grabbed the files before reading threw them. And then asked, "o two of these people only have C grade mana cores why them?"

Well, the main attraction out of the twins is Sarah, I thought she would be a good strategist. I was looking for people who would get along with each other and have a trustworthy character for our team.

Dennis Nodded before saying it's rare for even B grade mana cores to be selected for teams that represented a class, Much less C grade mana cores this isn't going to be a popular decision that's for sure.

I nodded and said "I'm not looking to be popular I'm looking to build the best team possible are kingdom hasn't won the continental championship in 46 years, That is my goal.

If we work hard enough and save enough money, we can nourish everyone's Cores up to A-grade by the time we've entered our fourth year in the academy, only will we have a real chance. Dennis sighed and said, "I saved up a long time so that I could get Lena an elixir when she awakened her mana core, but she awakened a B grade mana core"; an elixir of that quality would cost at least 10,000 gold.

We're gonna have to do a lot of missions and place high in a lot of events if we want to earn enough money for everyone. During our conversation, the carriage stopped and I could hear the driver say, "Your highness, we've arrived at the academy."

Dennis, Lena, and I left the carriage then we could see the academy it was a sight to Behold The academy was located on a large mountain all you could see from the foot of the mountain was the path upward and massive black marble walls and a golden gate.

We could see people heading up the mountain and parents crying as they told their children goodbye. As I watched the mothers and fathers with tears in their eyes, I couldn't help but pay a bit more attention. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to care that much about someone.

As I was lost and thought looking at everyone saying goodbye I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned around I saw Dennis who still a few tears on his cheek after saying goodbye to Lena he said: "alright Michael remember your promise to look after Lena for me".

This time, Lena didn't complain. She knew it was hard on her father.

I responded, "I know I'll take care of her for you."

then he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me as I stood there awkwardly not knowing what to say, Dennis noticed my discomfort and released me, while Lena smiled wryly. Trying to get out of the situation, I turned to Lena and said, "well, let's get going, the academy should open soon".

I turned around and started climbing the mountain as soon as I finished speaking.

Dennis gave Lena one last hug before letting her run off to catch up with me.

When Lena caught up, she couldn't help but ask, "Do hugs really make you feel that uncomfortable?"

I hesitated for a moment before responding, "I was not sure it was my first hug so I just didn't know how to respond" I was facing forward so I couldn't see it but Lena had a sad expression on her face before asking "not even your mother hugs you?"

I shook my head and said, "nope never I almost never even speak to my mother it's harder on those who marry into the family to adapt to the spell I guess since they still remember what it was like to have emotions."

Lena didn't respond the rest of our trip up the mountain which didn't bother me any. We only had to wait for around fifteen minutes before the gates to the academy opened and a middle-aged man in golden robes welcomed us with a booming voice I thought was amplified by air magic "Welcome students to the royal academy please follow me to the battle arena where we will explain the rules and rewards for the newcomer's tournament".