The glint in Sage Alana's eyes changed. "I've heard many tales of your exploits in the Xingyuu Empire. From the Battle of Liguang to the Siege on Yongtein, your names are like claps of thunder in my ears. Practically everyone has heard of you three now."
"Thank you for the praise, Sage Alana," Benedict said awkwardly. He was clearly not used to his newfound attention.
"Did we do anything that impressive?" Shirley tilted her head in confusion. She was not pretending. To her, those battles were not exactly glamorous. They were desperate, hard-fought, brutal, and most importantly… they were losses. She was not fond of remembering them.
As if reading her thoughts, Sage Alana's mouth curled up a tiny bit. "Indeed, you did. The Li Family, the Imperial Council, and the Featherwind Sect… To survive on those battlefields required an abundance of determination, skill, and luck. However, you three did more than survive. You excelled. I am expecting great things from you." She turned to Elizabeth. "The Zino Kingdom will be hosting a banquet party in five days to celebrate our victory in the Xingyuu Empire. I'm here to invite Your Highness, Sir Benedict, and Lady Shirley as guests of honor."
Elizabeth was gloomy, after recalling a certain party with the Grand Nobility Households last year. That was her first real introduction to the world of politics, one where she exchanged invisible blows with Lord Archibon, Lady Kalasena, Lord Fredrick, and the rest of the Grand Nobility. It was no deadly battle against Rank 3 Kings, but neither was it pleasant. In addition, right after that, she was attacked by the Whispering Shadow's Second Hand. There was the Lannisail explosion too… She shuddered inside.
Holding back the urge to decline the sage's invite, since it would be rude, she decided to ask, "Who else will be in attendance?"
"The First Sage and I will be the hosts. Invited are the seven Engelsheft Families, some Hochlaegen Families, and the Celestial Council of Magic. The guests of honor will be the heroes returning from the Xingyuu Empire. I anticipate there will be more than five hundred people in attendance." She added after a pause, "It should be a lighthearted affair, so there is no need for concern."
"…I see," Elizabeth replied, mildly embarrassed that her thoughts were read. "Then, we accept."
The sage smiled. "Glad to hear it. We shall meet again in five days. For now, I hope you enjoy your rest. Welcome to the Zino Kingdom."
"Thank you."
With that, the Second Sage was smoothly wheeled out, along with her maids and Arcane Knights. However, one of the Arcane Knights in the back lingered for a second and briskly returned, his expression nervous. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. The young man had short brown hair, a handsome face, and a toned physique. A simple sword and a wand hung off his waist. He wore the standard uniform of the Arcane Knights, which consisted of a light leather tunic, some metal joints, and a layer of chainmail underneath. The crest of a blue and golden dragon twisted up the front of the tunic, flanked by a sword and a wand. It was the symbol of the Arcane Knights. Judging by his aura, and the fact he was last in the line of knights, showed his position was not high. Was he a recent recruit? Elizabeth contemplated, as the man approached.
"I… I am honored to finally meet you, Sir Benedict!" the man shouted excitedly. Noticing the weird looks he received, he quickly corrected himself. "Sorry for startling you, sir. It's just that… I heard so many stories about you that I couldn't help but admire you."
Benedict scratched his head. "Uh… Thanks… I guess?" He was not really sure how to reply.
Shirley chuckled. Seeing that, the man added, "Of course, I didn't mean to ignore you either, Lady Shirley! However, as fellow swordsmen-"
"You don't have to explain. I'm not offended," she said.
On the side, Elizabeth was amused. "Are you forgetting me?"
The man's eyes widened into saucers. It seemed he finally realized what he did. He dropped to his knees and knocked his head on the stone floor, begging. "Please forgive me, Your Highness!"
"What's your name?"
"It's Melvin, Sir Melvin of the Vensire Family!"
"You can rise, Sir Melvin. Like Shirley, I'm not upset, but in the future, you should act more prudently. Other people aren't as forgiving as me."
"Thank you, Your Highness." He got up, bowed, and rushed out the room.
"What was that about?" Benedict was perplexed.
Elsewhere in the capital, there was a small cluster of buildings, divided by the rest of the upper districts by a tall wall. It stood out in the densely populated city. This was the First Celestial Magic University, one of ten spread across the Zino Kingdom. It was also the most famous and prestigious one, only accepting the best of the best. Currently, there was a grand celebration taking place on its grounds. Colorful banners were strewn about, while large crowds navigated through the buildings, boiling with excitement and pride. Today was their graduation ceremony! More than five hundred students stood in the bright hall. Light streamed in from the tall windows. People were chatting, sharing stories and reminiscing about their experiences. There was laughter and smiles to be found everywhere. And yet, there was a subtle, somber air hanging.
This graduation ceremony and the number of people present was highly unusual. Due to the mandatory military draft and the unpredictable class schedule, the hallways would normally be vacant, except for a few students here and there. The same went for the graduation ceremonies. Since the students were constantly moving, the graduation ceremonies occurred every month with a handful of attendees. Their celebrations were short and forgettable. However, with the worst of the Second Great Kingdom War over, these drafted students finally had the chance to return. That was why, despite the grand occasion, a dark undercurrent lurked. These students, survivors of the war, carried personal scars and deep wounds from the battlefield. Everyone laughed and smiled, but it was just a façade. It was deeply disturbing.
Freon stood near the edge of the crowds where there was no one to bother him. He was wearing the school's uniform: a white shirt with a blue and golden blazer accompanied by a blue pair of pants. He snorted inwardly. It was a bit funny, in a sense. His enrolment in this university was a product of blind favoritism, created by his sister's achievements. People hoped that he would recreate her legendary feats to become a Condensed Drop Arcanist in record-breaking time. That did not happen. Instead, he wallowed in the initial stages of Gaseous Fog. He was worse than terrible… The First Celestial Magic University's entrance requirement was Medium Gaseous Fog. He was related to Ten Dawn Nassandra, so he was exempted, but he was stuck a Low Gaseous Fog Arcanist. That meant, out of one thousand students, he was near the bottom. He ranked 977th... Thus, they expelled him. He was unaware exactly when, but it must have happened sometime after the heavenly phenomenon created by his uncle. So, why was he here, if he was not a student?
Well, once he joined the battle against the Xingyuu Empire, he showcased an abnormally high Core Level. Starting at High Gaseous Fog, it took him less than one year to break through and coalesce a Condensed Drop Core. His speed and battle records were absolutely horrifying! It was practically unheard of! He had become one of the most powerful Arcanists in the human world. To be perfectly honest, Freon had forgotten about this university. It seemed… tiny, now that there were genuine Rank 3 Kings around. He did not really care that he was expelled. However, the same could not be said about the university. They were panicking, scared about the repercussions of having expelled a peerless Ten Dawn. Not to mention, his ties to the Arcellius Family was an open secret, meaning they knew as well. Ultimately, they shamelessly begged him to come back.
"What a joke."
"What's a joke?" a girl asked timidly.
Freon turned his head. The voice came from one of his few friends, Yuna. She wore the same uniform with a frilly blue skirt instead. Despite her innocent and shy appearance, she was a fairly powerful Arcanist, standing at Peak Gaseous Fog. That reflected in her school ranking of 41. She had a good chance of breaking into Condensed Drop. It was even more impressive, when one considered she was not a descendent of any Engelsheft Family. She did not have a Bloodline to lean on. She had excelled by her own talent and efforts. Unlike Freon. He worked hard too, of course. He fought, bled, and nearly died multiple times. Still, he was a descendent of the legendary Arcellius Family. The grand Bloodline pulsed through his veins. The disparity made him uncomfortable.