First day at School

Nolan stood at the window of his room, gazing out over the vast expanse of the Duchy of Andrew. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a soft golden hue over the fields and Gardens inside the castle walls. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind—returning to the duchy after the capital's grand festival, resuming his studies at home, and now, preparing for something he had never truly thought that he would experience again: going to school with other noble children.

It had been over a month since the festival concluded, but the memories of that time still lingered vividly in Nolan's mind, especially the note from Nova that he had yet to address. Each day, his thoughts wandered back to the handsome young noble. Nova's presence had ignited a flutter in his heart that Nolan could barely understand, let alone control. Yet, there was no denying it now—he felt something, a pull, a connection. And his parents just informed them last night that soon, Nova would be visiting the duchy, staying with them for a week.

The thought filled him with both excitement and dread. He had no idea how to approach Nova about the note, nor did he know how to navigate his own confusing emotions. But that problem was for another time. Today, he had to focus on the new chapter of his life: attending the prestigious Duchy 'Academy of Saint's magic and Science'.

Nolan sighed, pulling away from the window. His family had decided that it was finally time for him to leave behind the confines of home schooling. For most of his life, he had been tutored privately due to his weak constitution, but after the sudden change in his physical strength and the approval of several doctors, his parents had agreed to let him attend the academy in the duchy. It was a renowned institution, attended by children from noble families across the region. And the talented kids from all walks of life.

But that didn't make it any less daunting.

"Are you ready, little brother?" Juno's voice came from the doorway, pulling Nolan out of his thoughts. His older brother stood there, tall and imposing as always, but with a gentleness in his eyes that only appeared around family. He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe, watching Nolan with a small smile.

Nolan took a deep breath and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Juno chuckled. "You'll do fine. The Academy is tough, sure, but you've been preparing for this your whole life, remember how you used to cry when me and your sisters used to go to school alone. And with your newfound strength, you don't have any weakness hindering you either, there's no one who can look down on you anymore."

That was true. His sudden improvement in health and abilities had shocked everyone, including the doctors attending to him since childhood, well he's always amused at the looks they used to give in the beginning as he assimilated his soul in the body more and more the better he got and stronger his constitution became. He was no longer the frail child who needed constant care. Now, he was stronger—both physically and mentally. But that didn't erase the nervousness that came with stepping into a completely new environment, filled with expectations and preconceived notions about who he was supposed to be, although he was a archmage in his previous life, he started from humble background and never really got proper education like the kids in noble family, although he was given etiquette lessons daily at home, he's still not sure how to handle himself around the kids of the same age as his body.

"They'll all be watching, you know," Nolan muttered, turning to face Juno. "They expect me to be just like you and the older sisters—perfect, talented, the son of the Duke Anderson and younger brother of next in line to continue the Anderson legacy Great Juno."

Juno raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you're worried about? That you won't live up to some imaginary standard? You're Nolan Anderson. That's all you need to be."

Nolan gave a weak smile, though his anxiety still gnawed at him. "Easier said than done."

"Look," Juno stepped into the room and placed a hand on Nolan's shoulder. "You've got this. The Academy is full of noble kids who think they're better than everyone else because of their family names, but so what, you have it too. Moreover you've got something more—you've got heart, and you've got strength now. Trust yourself. And besides," he added with a wink, "I am always there if anyone gives you trouble."

Nolan couldn't help but laugh at that. "Thanks, Juno."

"Anytime, little brother."

As the day of Nolan's first day at the Academy arrived, the Anderson household was buzzing with excitement. It wasn't just Nolan's big day—everyone was also preparing for the arrival of Nova Bright. The news that Nova would be staying with them for a week had spread quickly through the castle, and the entire staff was ensuring everything was perfect for their guest.

Nolan stood in front of his mirror, adjusting the crisp uniform of the Duchy Academy. The dark blue jacket, adorned with the Anderson family crest, fit him perfectly. The white shirt underneath was pristine, and the tailored pants added to the distinguished look expected of the Duke's son. But no matter how well the uniform suited him, Nolan couldn't shake the nervousness twisting his stomach into knots.

"You look so so pretty ," Eloise said as she stepped into his room, followed closely by Elspeth. "Like a proper Anderson heir."

Elspeth grinned. "You'll make quite the impression on your first day."

Nolan smiled embarrassed at his sisters wording. "You two aren't helping my nerves, you know."

Eloise smirked. "You don't have to be nervous. If anyone gives you trouble, we'll take care of them." 'Truly brothers and sisters, they said the same thing as Juno.' Thought Nolan.

Nolan laughed. "Thanks, but I think I can handle it. I hope."

"Just be yourself, Nolan," Elspeth said, her tone more serious. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone. The Academy is full of people with their own agendas, but you're stronger than they know. Let them see the real you."

Nolan nodded, feeling a bit of the tension ease. His family had always been his greatest support, and even now, as he prepared to step into the unknown, they were right beside him, encouraging him every step of the way.

The Academy itself was an impressive sight. Built on the highest hill in the duchy, even higher than the Duke mansion, it overlooked the bustling city below, it is to symbolize that knowledge is above all. The sprawling campus was surrounded by tall white stone walls, with lush gardens and ornate fountains dotting the landscape. The main building, where most of the classes took place, was a towering structure of marble and glass, with intricate carvings that depicted the history of the duchy and its noble families.

As Nolan walked through the gates, he felt the weight of a hundred eyes on him. He could hear the whispers as he passed—students talking about the youngest Anderson finally attending the Academy after years of home schooling. Some looked at him with curiosity, others with disdain, and a few with open contempt.

"That's him, isn't it? The weakling who never left his family's estate."

"I heard he's only here because his parents pulled some strings."

"Do you think he'll even last a week?"

These people can comment on a child of a duke so openly because the academy gave them assurance that no one can touch a student of the academy. But as kids they forget that they have to come into society and and the academy can only protect them until they are studying here not for a life time. Clearly not far sighted.

Nolan kept his head high, determined not to let the comments get to him. He had expected this. After all, rumors about his frailty had circulated for years, and now, everyone was curious to see if the stories were true.

He was about to head toward the entrance when a familiar voice called out to him.

"Nolan!"

He turned to see a group of students approaching him, led by a tall, broad-shouldered boy with dark hair and a cocky grin. It was Cedric Walden, the son of a high-ranking noble family that was close to the Andersons. Cedric had always been a bit of a bully, using his viscount family's influence to get what he wanted. Nolan had met him a few times before, but they had never been close. Cedric only remembered the few times that he saw Nolan, always hiding behind his family members and even once snatched a toy from him and he never retaliated, emboldening the little bully into what he's now.

"Fancy seeing you here," Cedric said, stopping in front of Nolan. His tone was light, but there was a smugness in his eyes that made Nolan uneasy. "I didn't think you'd actually show up. Heard you were too sickly to attend school."

"I'm here now, aren't I?" Nolan replied, keeping his voice steady.

Cedric chuckled. "Yeah, but for how long? I give it a week before you're back in bed, crying to your parents, it's only my concern for you, why don't you stay in your fancy mansion and stay safe, right" sarcasm was oozing out of his every word.

Nolan felt a surge of anger but didn't show it on his face trying to stay calm. "We'll see about that." He doesn't want to give any sort of satisfaction to these kind of 'masochist in the making'.

Before Cedric could say anything else, a loud bell rang from the Academy's main building, signaling the start of classes. Nolan gave Cedric one last look before turning and walking away. He had more important things to focus on than petty insults.

The first few periods at the Academy were a whirlwind of activity, he was taken from one class to another, thankfully a classmate was assigned to him to bring him around for the first day. Nolan quickly realized that the curriculum was far more rigorous than anything he had studied at home. The classes covered a wide range of subjects, from history and politics to advanced magic and scientific theory. Despite his initial nerves, Nolan found that he enjoyed the challenge. His soul and body being in harmony provided him strength that allowed him to keep up with the physical demands of combat training, and his sharp mind and knowledge of an arch magus helped him excel in the more academic subjects.

Still, it wasn't easy. Many of the students continued to treat him with suspicion, and the pressure of being the Duke's son weighed heavily on him. But with each passing class, Nolan grew more confident in his abilities. He had something to prove—not just to the other students, but to himself, he's the arch magus, and the teenage hormones are not going to throw him off balance, he wants to enjoy this experience and not ruin it by letting the body take over his senses.

And then, that evening, the long-anticipated moment arrived.

Nova Bright had arrived at the Anderson estate.

Nolan's heart raced as he watched Nova's carriage pull up to the grand entrance of the castle. It had been weeks since they last saw each other, and the note Nova had slipped him at the festival still burned in his pocket, always carrying it along wherever he went. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about what it meant, about what Nova had written.

As Nova stepped out of the carriage, he gazed around and finally his eyes met Nolan's across the courtyard. For a moment, everything else disappeared—the Academy, the other students, the expectations of the noble world. It was just the two of them, standing on the edge of something neither of them fully understood yet.

His family members were already moving down the stairs to welcome Nova.

Nolan took a deep breath and stepped forward as well, determined to finally have the conversation tonight, that had been weighing on his mind since that fateful day at the festival.

This time, there would be no interruptions, he already made sure of that.