***
The next day.
Byrone City.
Jack looked very busy in the morning. He seemed to be preparing his horse cart to take Aiden to the Astralis Magical Academy.
He didn't have a better cart, just the usual trade cart he used. It was different from the nobles who mostly used horse-drawn carriages to transport their children.
Even so, it didn't quench the passion in Aiden's heart. At the academy, everything was measured by ability, not how much money they had.
"Be careful, Aiden. The noble children are different from us, they'll look down on you," Leonora said, preparing Aiden's supplies.
"Don't worry, Mom. They're noble children, but against my magic power, they're no match for me," Aiden replied, Leonora smiling broadly.
"Try not to stand out, Aiden. Don't seek enemies with them, the children of the nobles," Leonora advised, Aiden listening intently.
After all the preparations were completed, Aiden said goodbye. He hugged his mother's body tightly, exchanging feelings of sadness at having to part from each other.
Jack looked at them, his face looked strong and resilient, but his heart was fragile.
He still wasn't ready to let Aiden go to Astralis Magical Academy, especially since he had to blend in with so many noble children.
Aiden walked out and climbed onto the horse-drawn cart. As Jack and Aiden left their house on the hill, Leonora smiled and waved with tears in her eyes.
She would always wish Aiden the best during his time at the magic academy.
Again, Jack also gave the same advice to Aiden. However, he added something that Aiden suddenly heard thoroughly.
"Never be afraid of them if you feel that you're doing the right thing. They may be the children of nobles, but that doesn't mean you have to kiss their ass to survive," Jack replied.
"Your dignity is far more important than your safety. A man's dignity is at his feet, never kneel to anyone," Jack explained.
'He seems to know very well how the nobles behave towards commoners like him.I'm really sick of this caste system,' Aiden complained.
"I understand."
"Try to make good friends you can trust, it doesn't take many, just one is enough," Jack said.
"By being with your best friend, you won't feel lonely there. I'm sure you can do that, Aiden," he continued, to which Aiden responded by nodding slowly.
The location of the Magical Astralis Academy was quite far compared to heading to the Arcanis Sword Institute.
It was in a corner of the city with a very large academy compound, making it one of the best magic academies in Arcanis.
From the direction of the city's main street, Aiden and Jack could see several horse-drawn carriages transporting noble children. The number was not small, reaching dozens.
"Since the Astralis Magical Academy is famous throughout the kingdom and only the Byrone city in the south of the kingdom has a branch of the academy, many students in the surrounding cities come to join," Jack said, Aiden responding with a nod.
"That's why the competition to enter the academy will be fierce," Jack replied.
"I'm sure you'll be able to pass the exam with ease, Aiden. That's because we believe in you," Jack said, still driving the cart while occasionally turning his head to the side, looking at Aiden.
'Although I don't really have a deep emotional bond with them, only Aiden's memories, but somehow his words are enough to calm my uneasy heart,' Aiden said.
The gentle and caring attitude shown by them made Aiden feel attached to his parents on Earth again. They disappeared for years without a word, leaving Liu Feng desperate to find their whereabouts.
Whatever the case, his abilities have not been able to find them. Even before Aiden was able to do so, he lost his life due to his failed research.
Now, Aiden is eager to help Aetherna so that he can return to his world, becoming Liu Feng who spends his entire life trying to find his parents' whereabouts.
Jack's horse cart stopped right in front of the academy's gate. Not only him, but the horse-drawn carriages of the nobility did the same.
The academy guards forbade parents of students from escorting them into the academy building.
Aiden was amazed to the point of speechlessness. The splendor of the academy building was evident before his face, as if the architectural style of the medieval times was far more complex and intricate than modern architecture.
The young man turned his head to the side, staring at the arriving nobles and looking at them sarcastically.
Aiden hadn't officially become a student of the academy yet, but he already felt their aura of dislike from them towards him.
'They're looking at me sarcastically.I'm really curious about their abilities,' Aiden said, wanting to challenge them.
"Remember what I told you, Aiden. Good luck to you," Jack said, saying goodbye.
Among the escorts of the academy students, Aiden was the only one who came by horse cart. That brought laughter from the other nobles.
"Haha! A commoner seems to be trying to join the magic academy."
"His abilities must be weak. He won't be able to compete with noble children like us."
"He must have failed in the first round. I'm sure of it."
They continued to talk about it, as if a commoner entering a magic academy was deviant. However, Aiden clearly knew the rules where everyone had the right to choose their job, whether knight, mage, or adventurer.
Astralis Magical Academy did not reject anyone, commoners and nobles alike.
Even so, since the Magical Academy was associated with the school of noble children, when they saw commoners applying, they really looked down on those people.
Aiden stepped into the academy building area. There, he saw that both registrations were filled with students, who were assigned to fill out forms before entering the exam.
While Aiden was waiting in line, a girl tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Aiden turned his head and saw the girl was dressed in a beautiful noble gown.
"What's your name?" the girl asked, enthusiastically.
"Aiden Aswald," Aiden replied.
"Aswald? I've never heard a noble name like that," said the girl.
"I'm not a noble, I'm just the son of a common merchant," Aiden replied.
The girl gasped. This was the first time she had ever seen a prospective student of the magic academy come from a commoner.
Still, the girl's response seemed normal, there were no negative feelings and so on that Aiden saw.
"Hmm... are you sure you can beat them?" the girl asked, pointing ahead at the three young men in fancy noble suits.
Aiden followed the direction of the girl's hand, looking at the three young prospective magic academy students who were watching him.
They seemed to be talking about Aiden with their cynical gazes directed at him.
"Who are they?" asked Aiden.
"Sons of famous nobles in Portsby City. The boy in the middle is Aleksei," the girl replied.
The girl sighed with her arms crossed, "It looks like the noble children have joined forces to defeat you. You must be careful."
Aiden smiled slightly, then nodded in agreement, "I already know the consequences. I won't lose to them."