A Strange Mood, The Royal Branch Academy

As the carriage moved throughout the cold night scene, crossing through various winding routes that led towards the vast reaches. Those on its interior remained in a state of silence, a strange air wafting about as one could even feel a slight tension in the air.

Three different adults sat in stillness as they didn't even speak to each other, two being a handsome black-haired man along with a beautiful green-haired woman nested in his embrace.

The final party was none other than the blond-haired fat man who occasionally swept glances towards the green-haired beauty, despite focusing his attention on the window, his eyes showing a strange look.

With rattling noise, the carriage shook ever so slightly as from the small front windows; one could distinctly make out the strange grey-skinned entity's struggle in dark battle robes that towed it towards the distance.

Curiously, two children of a similar age were staring out this tiny window; one of them carried an unusual look, being oddly contemplative for a child of his years. The other showed a look more fitting for his age, filled with excitement and yore as he basked at the sight of the unfamiliarity.

"Hey, I'm Jae, what's your name? That summoning of yours is quite incredible; what's it called?" Jae asked with beaming eyes that stared fixedly onto the Darkness Soldier.

Grevlin, who had previously been lost in his thoughts, only now snapped back to his senses upon hearing Jae's words. He gave Jae a look with a hint of discomfort on his face; he wasn't one to talk to strangers and frankly avoided contact from anyone else but his family.

Jae, on the other hand, was born of high birth, from since young he had been mingling with members from different walks of society. He wouldn't shunt away from a gathering nor show shyness in front of strangers. If anything, he was only a bit timid when faced with the unknown as well as dangers.

"Huh? Did I say something wrong?" Jae said with confusion his eyes. After thinking a bit, he gave Grevlin a good look and spoke again.

"Hmm, I might have spoken incorrectly, I'll ask again; I really like your summon; I've never seen it before, especially one as unique as yours. Can you tell me its name?" Jae asked with a smile on his face.

Grevlin hesitated for a while, casting a look towards his father, who wasn't looking at him; he then looked at Jae.

"It's Grevlin, that's my name... as for that creature, it's my Dark Soldier."

Grevlin replied in a somewhat vague manner, not bothering to stare at Jae any longer; Jae looked at him with a slight disappointment in his eyes before he thought of something.

Moments after, his eyes lit up as he asked, "Hey Grevlin, I couldn't help but notice that you're also at the minimum requirements for the Royal Branch Academy. Are you planning on enrolling as well?"

This time, Grevlin was surprised; he stared at Jae and asked, "Royal Branch Academy, what's that?"

"Huh, are you for real? How can you not know about the academy?" Jae asked while giving Grevlin a strange look as if this should be common knowledge.

Vawn also made a pensive expression as he stared at Grevlin before looking at Marius and Ria.

'Odd, how can he not know this? Could it be that they're from the far-off edges of the empire? But even if so, they should at least have some knowledge of something so basic.'

While thinking, Vawn recalled the sightings from earlier as he pondered, 'Now that I think of it, that child's summon is unusual, say not of its abilities, it's even capable of towing our carriage for such a long time. Not only that, but even that boy was able to narrowly avoid a fatal injury from an E Class Assassins, while his father is more than likely at the levels of those Famed Warriors. They truly are a strange bunch, but even if so… heh, it only makes it more interesting.'

Vawn contemplated with a smile on his face as if trying dig deep into their secrets. On the other hand, Marius only glanced at his wife and spoke to her with his mind.

"Ria, what do you think? When we do settle down, we can't keep him home with us all day. Should we send him to that school?"

"Hmm, I've heard of Artimans and their customs; even in the Hellshire, we have facilities for training our younglings, the only difference is the methods used. Let us gather some more information before we make our choice, dear."

Ria said, her eyes then fixed onto Little Rose who slept in her hands with a snot bubble on her nose. The two tigers, Little Black and Little White also sat on her lap while sleeping.

Marius nodded as he played with her hair, and the two continued on in silence. Neither Vawn nor Marius and Ria interfered in the conversation that Grevlin and Jae were having; it seemed that though different, they each had the same beliefs in raising children to handle their own affairs.

By this time, Grevlin had nothing to say about Jae's words, forcing Jae to make a complex look before he spoke again, "It seems you really don't know of it, I don't know why you lack such understanding, but it's fine, I'll tell you about it."

After saying those words, Jae's face became filled with excitement again as he peered outside and spoke once more.

"The Royal Branch Academy is one of the numerous branches for our empire's number one school of warriors and other legendary characters. It's said that any graduate from its ranks is sure to become either Famed Warriors or, even better, granted the opportunity to become Royal Knights."

When Jae spoke to here, his eyes shone with excitement as he gripped his small fists tightly while speaking again.

"As you know, Royal Knights are the strongest of all warriors in the empire, people with a greater degree of strength than Famed Warriors. It is my greatest wish to become one, and it is the very reason I am enrolling in Ivanov's Royal Branch Academy. You know, I might just be talented enough to be transferred directly to the main royal academy, hehe!"

Jae's eyes shone with ambition and competitiveness, especially due to his birth. He wasn't one to not aspire for great things.

Grevlin, on the hand, preferred silence; if he could merge with a shadow, he would do so gladly; the only things he cared about were his family and nothing more.

Following true to his nature, Grevlin didn't say anything more to Jae and only fixed his eyes on the outside, Jae seeing this frowned, but said nothing; he snorted and looked outside. There he saw a bright collection of lights in the distance from what seemed like a vast city, pushing away the darkness of the night.

"Look, father, we're almost there!" Jae said in excitement while pointing his finger and staring at Ivanov from afar.

Vawn also noticed it; he nodded his head and spoke, "Indeed, it truly was quite the journey."

Marius and Ria also gave the glittering city in the dark a good look, the duo's eyes flickering as they knew that from this point onward, their life in Valoria had truly begun.