The Unexpected and Unforeseen
The academy's entrance ceremony had concluded.
In front of the grand lecture hall, a vast crowd had gathered—people from across the kingdom, along with hundreds of new students. The air was thick with life and noise.
Students' guardians, friends, or servants had all come together, chatting away.
Some were sharing their thoughts on this very moment.
Others were bidding farewell to their children, knowing they would be apart for quite some time.
Still others were seeing off their precious children with good educational opportunities ahead.
A sea of people swirled together, savoring the last remaining time.
Just one step away from the main crowd, people stood watching the lively students.
On the terrace of a tall building, professors gazed upon the year's new students.
They looked at the overflowing potential with expressions of anticipation.
What kind of students had arrived this year?
"Another big year. A little more than last year, I suppose. We have some truly exceptional young ladies."
A young woman with red hair rested her arm on the terrace railing, chin propped up.
Remediela smiled gently and looked at the students' cluster as if it were nestled in her fingertips.
Most students at the academy were promising talents ripe for cultivation.
They didn't just absorb what she taught like sponges—they turned it into something uniquely their own.
Soon, in just a few years, these students would become renowned talents.
Feeling that experience every year, she was excited to see what students this year would be waiting to be taught.
"It seems there are more new students than in a few years ago."
"Oh, Professor Halbert. You returned this year, didn't you? I'm so glad you've come back to the academy."
"When I finally take a break, my heart feels even emptier. It was better for me and the students to take up the teaching post."
Next to Remediela, a man with silver hair swept to the side and a neatly trimmed mustache smiled warmly.
"Ah, that young man must be the famous Dael Rondo Langland. His character seems excellent too."
"Yes? The only student who cut a golem in half with a single sword was him. He seems to have more fame than his reputation suggests."
"Really? I'm quite looking forward to him already."
Among the many students, one stood out, drawing the attention of others.
When Remediela pointed to the black-haired youth, Halbert nodded with a smile.
Remediela, who had overseen his exam as supervisor, was certain he would top or place second in this Knight Academy.
Although she was a mage and didn't know much about knights, her belief remained firm.
Actually, last year she could have been sure it was first place, but this year it was hard to say for sure.
The reason was...
"Excuse me for a moment. There's a student worth noting."
Someone subtly pushed Remediela, who was lost in thought.
Rogelos, the newly appointed professor, stood on the railing where Remediela had expected, watching the students.
She naturally frowned, displeased, but Rogelos paid it no mind and pointed at the students.
"Look over there."
Rogelos's finger pointed to exactly one student amid the huge crowd.
A platinum-haired student surrounded by as many students as Dael was.
He looked natural, as if accustomed to the gaze.
Remediela's expression shifted from displeasure to anticipation after confirming the student's appearance.
"That's the reason I came to this academy. Remediela, you should know that well."
"The successor of Noche Tower, Ferdan Aitana?"
As a mage, Remediela would know.
Noche, Amanecer, Tarade.
The three towers stood out among the many magic towers.
When they heard that the successor of Noche Tower would enter the academy, all the professors were abuzz.
Rogelos proudly shifted his gaze to Professor Halbert, as if it were his own pride.
"It seems Dael is the most promising student in the Knight Academy? Ferdan is promising not just in the Magic Academy but across the entire academy."
"Heh heh, since I've been living in seclusion for years, I don't know the recent news well. Professor Rogelos, are you that eager to boast about your students?"
Between the Magic and Knight Academies, a strange rivalry flowed.
In the awkward silence, Remediela couldn't stand it and stepped in.
She pointed to a student far from Dael and Ferdan, forcing their gazes away.
"Besides Dael, there's one more outstanding talent in the Knight Academy. To my eyes, this student has the potential to be even better than those two."
When her words drew interest from Halbert and Rogelos, the commotion from the distant student cluster drew everyone's attention.
As they turned their gazes, a girl walked toward the two students with lively steps.
The crowd seemed to part for her momentum, as if pressed by her presence.
"Is it a fight already? We shouldn't... interfere."
Unlike the somewhat tense atmosphere, no big collision occurred.
Soon after approaching the two students, the girl turned back her steps.
Seeing this, Rogelos let out a scoff and spoke.
"Oh, a spirited Knight Academy student. You already show so much energy. So, who is this promising talent?"
It was clearly a mocking tone toward the Knight Academy.
Halbert's expression tightened, but Remediela opened her mouth to change the topic.
"That girl right there."
"Oh my. What family? My memory doesn't recall it, so she doesn't seem particularly famous."
"She appears to be from a commoner background. Her name is Lir Ostrin."
Remediela, who had watched Lir's exam, had investigated her background.
But she couldn't find any information beyond what was on the application form.
"Anyone can be a knight..."
"However, she received a recommendation from Professor Helahem."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Halbert's face brightened upon hearing those words.
A recommendation from Helahem.
Rogelos sat quietly, not understanding the meaning, but Halbert, who knew it, carved the name Lir into his heart.
"Professor Rogelos. Offering a recommendation as a professor means staking the honor of the position."
"......"
"His proud recommendation had never been given before."
Thus, this was also quite a big piece of news.
Since the proud Helahem had given the recommendation with sincere pride, it meant he was confident.
"Either way, we'll watch their potential over time. Isn't there one more student among those on our lips besides these students?"
This cohort had one more hidden issue.
It had been an issue among mages and the professors of Farnike for quite some time.
But unlike other students' cases, it was different.
A 'great student' submitting an application. It wasn't the case.
It could be said it was rather an awkward issue.
"......There's someone over there. I wonder if students still don't know who it is."
A student with long bright yellow hair walked around the grand lecture hall.
Rogelos and Remediela looked at the student with curious expressions.
The student's cloak was blue. It meant they were from the Knight Academy.
"Why is the daughter of the Amanecer Tower Master, Leonne... in the Knight Academy..."
Halbert's eyelids twitched upon those words.
It was something that generally couldn't happen.
Magic requires talent. That talent is inherited from parents and passed down through generations.
And the daughter of a tower master would have tremendous magical talent.
"......Why is she in the Knight Academy?"
It was hard to understand.
In the long history of this academy, many successors of magic towers had entered, but they were all in the Magic Academy.
Yet here was a girl with bright yellow hair wearing a blue cloak.
Halbert could not help but show doubt about that point.
***
On the much higher VIP seats, only two people remained, looking down on the bustling crowd below.
The only sound here was from far away, but soon Noche Tower Master Eberich made a sound.
"What do you mean? Amanecer?"
"I don't understand what you mean. Aren't we supposed to call them by their original names here? There's no strict 'Tarade'."
Eberich glanced at the Amanecer Tower Master, Leonne, then turned his eyes to the students.
"......A trivial choice. Just as you put Ferdan in Farnike, I only put Serpin."
"Ferdan is just a simple successor, but that Serpin is your daughter. Wouldn't it be normal for her to become a mage?"
Moreover, Eberich thought the name Serpin Altamet sounded like a mage's name.
Upon hearing that, Leonne looked at the sky and let out a faint smile.
"Serpin wanted to be a knight. That child had enough talent and passion. So I sent her to the Knight Academy."
"Even though the mage's talent would have been tremendous? Does that mean the knight's talent is outstanding?"
Both tower masters knew that knights were merely supporting mages.
Unless it was a chosen warrior blessed by the gods, choosing a mage was always right unless the talent gap was too great.
Leonne nodded quietly.
"Of course. The child's talent is entirely focused on being a knight."
"A rare case."
Upon those words, Noche Tower Master Eberich nodded.
Well, since there would be no competition with his own successor Ferdan, it was fine.
It was also fortunate that there would be no rivalries between tower heirs.
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