Academy
The next day, on the boring Monday, I walked casually towards the academy.
Many students or cadets were also walking along the pedestrian areas of the Sciendufer city towards the academy. Signifying that the semester break had ended and welcoming the active learning days.
The atmosphere in the city here, as usual, was peaceful. Many three or four-story buildings soared with Victorian-era architecture. Most of these buildings were covered with climbing plants deliberately planted and regularly maintained. Making it beautiful and tidy. Trees were also neatly planted along the pedestrian area.
By the way, because my dormitory is located in a fairly upscale district, there are no shop stalls displayed on the roadside. So it's quite orderly here. But I also wanted to look around the lower-middle-class district and feel the 'fantasy' city atmosphere.
While walking, many eyes were focused on me. It wasn't strange. The cause could be either my handsome appearance or my bad reputation in the academy and its surrounding environment.
I thought maybe both. But I'm sure, among the two options, the reputation issue is the major contributor to the stares.
'Not that I care, but hey, mind your own business.'
Old Edward might have said something like that directly. But new Edward has taken over, so I, as the new Edward, just kept that sentence in my head.
Unpleasant glances came and went, continuously, even as I boarded the train. Or maybe, the magic-powered tram, I should say.
The tram I rode had 6 carriages, with the front and back carriages being special women-only compartments. This tram was also powered by magic crystals.
I was in the third carriage. I found a seat and then found a spot at the back beside the window.
There were some academy students or cadets here looking at me with uncomfortable gazes. But I couldn't do anything about it. So I just sat quietly and peacefully, ignoring their stares.
I took out a pocket book from my jacket pocket and started reading.
The pocket book I was reading was a romantic comedy novel titled "Silly Serendipity" written by Béau du Leiche. He is a fairly well-known author in the Heamgar empire, the neighboring empire.
As I was engrossed in my reading, I felt an intensely angry gaze. I glanced at the source of the anger.
And, a pretty girl with pinkish-red hair caught my focus. Her role in the game is quite significant, so I know her.
--
[Giselle Rhiannon Schroder]
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 15
Familiarity: Enemy, Disgust
Affiliation: Heroes Department of Sveitmann Academy, Schroder House
Strength: 41
Defense: 65
Stamina: 55
Agility: 37
Mana: 74
General Stats Evaluation: 54.4 (Champion)
Traits: Sword Master, Shielder, Sprit's Blessing, ???, ???, ???,...
Note: Further approach is needed to know the statistics in more detail.
__
With a rotten familiarity level, I was slightly surprised to see her general stats displayed.
'Maybe because I've been in the same class with her for half a year?'
Giselle Rhiannon Schroder is one of the harem, ah, I mean, heroines of the main character, Zephyr Orion.
As an important character, her statistics are high with her overall rating as a Champion. And her trait, Sword Master, is a high-level talent that allows someone to learn swordsmanship faster and more efficiently.
'I'm sure she has fully learned swordsmanship from her family.'
Giselle is the third daughter of Count Schroder. A quite well-known knightly family.
Giselle is a beautiful girl with a...how should I put it, quite...alluring body. She's also strong, so she has many admirers.
However, despite being pretty with her beautiful green eyes, you know how a girl with pinkish-red hair and half-pigtail style acts. Yes. She's annoying and is a tsundere with a high level of kindness.
Giselle often scolds old Edward for oppressing the commoners at the academy. But instead of stopping, Edward mocks Giselle and ends up being beaten because Edward is weaker.
That's why Giselle is very disgusted with Edward and becomes an enemy. Even now, innocent me is receiving sharp and disgusted looks from Giselle.
And when our gazes met...
"What are you looking at?" Giselle snapped.
I paused for a moment and smiled kindly.
"Nothing."
I quickly averted my gaze slowly and went back to reading my book, not caring about her reaction afterwards.
Of course, I still felt Giselle's disgusted gaze, but who cares? I'll just read my book until I arrive at the Sveitmann Academy station.
Occasionally, I turned to look outside to see the cityscape.
As the tram entered the area around the academy after several stops, I could see how magnificent Sveitmann Academy was just from its concrete fence. The concrete fence looked thick with a height of about 8 meters.
In front of the concrete fence wasn't just a road or a small sidewalk for pedestrians, but a long stretch of park with a fairly wide sidewalk on the outer layer. The park was shady enough to be used for relaxing or picnicking by the students.
Once the tram arrived at the Sveitmann Academy station, I got off. After that I headed to the tram station again inside the academy to get to the Hero Department. After arriving, I got off the tram again.
During the journey to class in Building A, the stares of Hero Department students often fell on me. As before, I didn't care and walked casually towards the class.
I looked around.
Sveitmann Academy is one of the most prestigious academies in this empire, the Ardterrion empire. Nationally ranked, there are only two academies below it. Durham Magia Academy and Sieben Speere Academy. All three have high admission standards.
Sveitmann Academy has many departments related to combat and magic. The most famous are the Hero Department, Knight Department, and Applied Magic Department. There are other departments such as Monstrology Department, Geomagia, Alchemy, Occultism, Magic Technology, Magical Health, Crafting Magic, and there are still several more.
As one of the prestigious academies, Sveitmann Academy has vast land, complete facilities, and magnificent buildings.
After arriving at class, I paused for a moment in front of the door and observed its interior. The class had the style of a university lecture hall with seats platformed upwards. Enough to accommodate 100 students.
The front rows were filled with diligent people. Zephyr was one of them. He had silver hair and purple eyes. Of course, as the main character, you can't deny his handsomeness. Hmmm, but for some reason, I, as Dark Saber, feel Edward is more handsome. I guess it's because of the villain's charm.
- - -
[Zephyr Orion]
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 16
Familiarity: Unfamiliar
Affiliation: Heroes Department of Sveitmann Academy, Adventurer Guild, ???, ???
Strength: 58
Defense: 60
Stamina: 77
Agility: 52
Mana: 89
Overall Stats Assessment: 67.2 (Champion)
Traits: Weapon Master, Warrior Soul, God Virion's Blessing, God Celeste's Blessing, Spirit's Blessing, ???, ???, ???...
Note: Further approach needed to know statistics in more detail.
- - -
'God's Blessing...'
Virion is the God of War and Celeste is the Goddess of Nature. Truly unfair traits. I'm sure he'll receive divine blessings again in the future.
Then I glance towards another direction. Zephyr is talking to a woman, a beautiful elf. She has long purple hair and purple eyes.
- - -
[Rosaire Serenaia]
Race: Elf (Lunar)
Gender: Female
Age: 32
Familiarity: Enemy
Affiliation: Heroes Department of Sveitmann Academy, Serenaia House, Crescentwood Forest, Alzenna Mage Guild, ???, ???
Strength: 41
Defense: 32
Stamina: 57
Agility: 56
Mana: 95
Overall Stats Assessment: 56.2 (Champion)
Traits: Elven Eye, Serenaia Bloodline, Crescentwood World Tree's Blessing, Mana Blessing, Friend of Spirit, ???, ???,...
Note: Further approach needed to know statistics in more detail.
- - -
I sigh.
'Once again, insane stats for the first year.'
Rosaire is one of Zephyr's heroines. As an elf, she's highly skilled in mana and archery. Not only that, she also received blessings from the World Tree. Whether that's common for an elf or not, I'm not too sure.
After checking the main characters, I head towards the back seat.
The back rows are mostly filled with less diligent students. And also, common folks.
Although magical technology in this world is quite advanced, social status gaps are still huge. The difference between the poor and the rich is like night and day.
Well, if you're a commoner but have good talents or traits, you'll immediately catch the attention of nobles and organizations, whether they're large, medium, or small.
Yeah, I guess that's how it is anywhere in the world. If someone has talent accompanied by balanced effort, it'll surely elevate their status.
There are plenty of examples here. Of course, Zephyr is one good example, but even commoners ranked in the top 100 are worth emulating.
Besides having good examples, there are also bad ones. That person is me as the old Edward.
As the one occupying his body now, I'm experiencing the same treatment. Many eyes are now looking my way.
The reason is because I never sat in the back rows before. And here I am now. And also, there's no one sitting near me, as usual.
'Looks like I really need to fix my reputation. Besides, a good reputation will also be advantageous.'
Soon after my inner monologue is over, a girl sits beside me on the right and glances my way.
I also glance at her. Our gazes meet. Because our seats are close, I can easily capture the details of her face.
She has a beautiful face with naturally red lips and shoulder-length blonde hair. Her red irises emit a mysterious aura. And with her ideal and enticing figure, her overall appearance looks mature. I know her. This woman is one of my favorite characters in Legends of Dragon Knight.
"Miss Bahraeel!"
I greet her politely and nod.
- - -
[Ishma Shermin Bahraeel]
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Familiarity: Neutral, Curious
Affiliation: Heroes Department of Sveitmann Academy, Bahraeel House, Bahraeel Company, Adventurer Guild
Strength: 72
Defense: 68
Stamina: 72
Agility: 65
Mana: 27
Overall Stats Assessment: 60.8 (Champion)
Traits: Child of The Ocean, Aura User, Spear Master, Martial Arts Practitioner, Identification Eye, ???, ???, ???,...
Note: Further approach needed to know statistics in more detail.
- - -
This woman is Ishma Shermin Bahraeel, one of Zephyr's minor harems in the game. She rarely appears during the main story. But she appears quite often at the beginning of the game.
Ishma is the second daughter of a wealthy businessman named Utzmal Bahraeel and his wife, Varsha Agni Bahraeel.
With Ishma's beauty and background, I think she should be in Zephyr's major harem and appear more often. But I guess the game story writer doesn't really like short-haired characters.
'And this woman has been hiding her strength all this time. Tch, rank 78th my ass! She should be competing with Zephyr by now.'
At that, Ishma gives a faint smile and responds with a nod.