The Thandor household was grand, with ten maids attending to its every need. The noble family consisted of Kalvein Thandor, the former General of the First Squad of the Kingdom of Bane, his wife Ashtrin Thandor, a noblewoman and daughter of a priest, and their son, Alaric Thandor.
The front door suddenly burst open, and Alaric came rushing inside.
Dirt stained his shirt, sweat covered his face, and a small bag hung at his side.
The maids turned toward him. Ashtrin looked up from her seat.
"Mother, Mother, look!" Alaric exclaimed. "Today I got a big bird and a rabbit with my bow."
He quickly pulled them from his bag and proudly held them up for her to see.
Before Ashtrin could say anything, a loud laugh came from the other side of the room.
Kalvein walked over.
"Haha! That's my son."
"Of course I am." Alaric grinned.
Kalvein took a closer look at the rabbit and bird.
"These are rather big." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe you have more talent for hunting than I expected."
Alaric immediately shook his head.
"No. I want to be a knight like you."
He pointed at his father.
"This is just training my patience, like you told me before."
Kalvein looked at him for a moment before laughing again.
Ashtrin walked closer and gently wiped the sweat from her son's face with a cloth.
"Alaric."
"Yes, Mother?"
"Did you go into the forest alone?"
"Yes, Mother."
Ashtrin let out a sigh.
"Son, don't you know it's dangerous? What if you encountered something bigger than a bird or a rabbit?"
She continued wiping the dirt from his face.
"But I didn't."
A laugh escaped Kalvein.
Ashtrin immediately shot him a glance.
The former general quickly looked away.
"I know you didn't," she said. "But there's always a possibility."
Alaric lowered his head slightly.
Ashtrin stared at him for a moment.
Then her expression softened.
She smiled and pulled him into a hug.
"Alright then. You did well today."
She gently patted his head.
"Now go clean yourself up and come downstairs for dinner."
Alaric nodded.
He handed his bag to one of the maids and immediately rushed toward his room.
That night, the family gathered around the dinner table.
Kalvein set down his fork and looked at Alaric.
"So, your mother and I have been thinking about sending you to Elysium."
Alaric looked up.
"Elysium?"
Ashtrin nodded.
"It's an academy for noble children. You'll learn history, literature, arithmetic, and many other things. It would be good for your future."
Alaric frowned.
"But I don't like all that school stuff. Natalia already teaches me how to read and write every day. That's enough for me."
Ashtrin stopped eating and looked at him.
"Don't say that. It's the dream of many people in our nation to study there, and we're fortunate enough to be able to send you."
Alaric crossed his arms.
"But I don't need any of that to become a knight."
Ashtrin sighed.
"You're still young, son. You don't even know what you'll truly want in the future. Maybe you'll find something else you're interested in besides being a knight."
Kalvein suddenly cleared his throat.
Both of them looked at him.
"There are also sword tournaments."
Alaric's eyes immediately lit up.
"You're serious?"
"Of course I am." Kalvein chuckled. "I've been there myself, so why would I lie? It's not only about studying. It's an academy where all kinds of dreams are pursued."
Alaric leaned forward slightly.
"Are there a lot of kids my age there?"
Kalvein laughed.
"More than you can imagine. The academy was built by five nations."
Ashtrin quickly interrupted.
"Don't tell him only about that."
Kalvein looked at her.
"But it's true."
"I know it is." She pointed at Alaric. "But what if he only focuses on sword fighting and fails his classes?"
She looked directly at her son.
"You'll have to repeat a year."
Alaric's face immediately twisted.
"Ehhh? That sounds miserable."
Kalvein burst into laughter.
Ashtrin lightly smacked his arm.
Then she turned back to Alaric.
"Son, this is a great opportunity. Most noble children would be happy to attend Elysium."
A trace of worry appeared on her face.
"You might even make some good friends there."
Alaric frowned.
A sigh escaped him.
"I'm full."
He stood up from his chair.
"I'll go back to my room."
Before either of his parents could respond, he hurried away.
Back in his room, Alaric threw himself onto his bed.
He stared at the ceiling.
Elysium Academy.
He imagined a massive arena filled with students holding swords.
The image brought a smile to his face.
Then his mother's words about studying returned to his mind.
The smile disappeared.
He grabbed a pillow and threw it onto the floor.
"Who even invented schools?"
He groaned.
"They should've just made it an academy for knights."
Still complaining to himself, he rolled over and pulled his blanket up.
Before long, his eyes grew heavy.
And slowly, he drifted to sleep.
A few days later, Alaric sat on the grass in front of the house.
A wooden sword rested across his lap as he stared at the sun hanging between the mountains.
The evening sky was painted in shades of orange and gold.
A voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Son, what are you doing out here?"
Alaric looked back and saw his mother walking toward him.
He quickly straightened his posture.
"Nothing much. Just looking at the sun."
Ashtrin sat down beside him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply watched the sunset together.
"You know," Ashtrin said quietly.
"Hmm?"
"The sun you're looking at right now... can you tell me what it's saying to us?"
Alaric looked at her with a confused expression.
"But how can the sun talk?"
Ashtrin laughed softly.
"Not literally."
She turned her gaze back toward the horizon.
"The ending of a chapter and the beginning of a new one don't always tell the whole story of a book."
Alaric tilted his head.
"What does that mean?"
Ashtrin remained silent for a moment, searching for the right words.
"You might hate the idea of going to Elysium right now."
She looked at him.
"But that doesn't mean you'll hate it forever."
Alaric listened quietly.
"Sometimes the sun disappears behind clouds," she continued. "Yet we know it's still there."
Her eyes returned to the setting sun.
"And sometimes, it sets beautifully, like it is now."
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Life is a little like that too. We never really know what chapter comes next."
Alaric stared at her.
His mother always spoke in strange ways whenever she wanted him to understand something.
Ashtrin slowly stood up.
"So don't worry too much, son."
She brushed the dust from her dress.
"I promise this won't be a permanent chapter."
She smiled.
"And it won't always be cloudy either."
With those words, she began walking back toward the house.
Alaric watched her go.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then his gaze drifted back to the sun slowly sinking beyond the mountains.
He remained there until the last light disappeared from the horizon.
As the days passed, Alaric's birthday finally arrived.
His parents organized a small celebration, inviting neighbors and family friends to the estate.
The hall was filled with laughter, conversation, and the clinking of glasses.
At the center of it all stood Kalvein.
Raising his glass, he smiled proudly at the gathered guests.
"Today is my son's fifteenth birthday."
The crowd applauded.
Kalvein continued.
"And soon, he will be attending Elysium Academy."
Whispers immediately spread through the room.
"Elysium Academy?"
"That's one of the most prestigious academies among the five nations."
"Expected from the son of the former General."
The guests nodded among themselves.
Meanwhile, Alaric stood quietly in a corner with his arms folded.
His expression was less enthusiastic than everyone else's.
"Elysium this, Elysium that..."
He sighed.
"It's getting annoying."
Throughout the evening, guests approached him one after another.
Some wished him a happy birthday.
Others congratulated him on entering Elysium.
Alaric politely thanked them, though his smile grew weaker each time.
Eventually, he had enough.
"Excuse me."
He slipped away from the gathering.
"I'm going to sleep early. I need to prepare for the trip."
The guests nodded in understanding, allowing him to leave.
A few days later, the morning of his departure finally arrived.
A carriage stood waiting outside the estate.
Several maids carefully loaded his luggage into the back.
Alaric stood before his parents.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he bowed slightly.
"Alright then. Since you both want me to go so badly, I'll take my leave for now."
A smile appeared on his face.
"I'll come back during the holidays."
His mother's eyes were already beginning to water.
"Please write to us often."
Alaric laughed softly.
"Yes, Mother. I will."
He stepped forward and gently hugged her.
"You take care while I'm gone too."
Ashtrin held him tightly before finally letting go.
When Alaric stepped back, he noticed his father looking away.
A grin immediately formed on his face.
He walked over.
"I guess even the former General of the First Squad gets emotional sometimes."
Kalvein glanced at him.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Watch your mouth."
Alaric laughed.
Kalvein placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Go out there and live the life you want."
His expression softened.
"But don't forget whose son you are."
The two shared a firm handshake.
Before leaving, Alaric bowed one last time.
Then he turned and headed toward the carriage.
Just as he was about to climb in, Kalvein shouted after him.
"And your jokes still aren't as good as mine!"
Alaric looked back and laughed.
His mother immediately added,
"Write us letters!"
"I know!"
Alaric waved above his head without turning around.
Then he climbed into the carriage.
The door closed behind him.
Slowly, the carriage began to move.
Alaric looked through the window as his parents grew smaller in the distance.
His mother continued waving.
His father stood beside her with his arms crossed.
He watched until they disappeared from sight.
The smile on his face slowly faded.
A heavy breath escaped him.
His eyes grew watery.
One hand moved to cover them as he leaned back against the seat.
For the first time, the reality of leaving home truly settled in.
After several days of travel, Alaric finally arrived at Elysium Academy, deep within the nation of Valerith.
The academy gates were already crowded.
Students his age stood in groups, their voices filling the air. Some looked excited, others nervous. Many seemed to be feeling both at once.
Alaric stepped down from the carriage and took a deep breath.
"So this is it."
He reached into his pocket and unfolded the small paper his father had given him before he left.
After reading the instructions one last time, he made his way toward the registration area.
Students were called forward one by one.
"Next."
Alaric stepped forward.
He was asked for his name, nation, and family background.
Though he tried to remain calm, his voice trembled slightly as he answered.
Afterward, he was directed to another desk to complete the admission process.
Several teachers asked additional questions before instructing the new students to wait.
A short while later, a receptionist handed him a student card.
"Welcome to Elysium Academy."
Alaric thanked her and entered the academy grounds.
The moment he passed through the gates, he stopped.
The academy was enormous.
White stone buildings stretched across the campus, decorated with blue accents and golden rooftops that gleamed beneath the sun.
For a moment, he simply stared.
"So this is where I'll be studying..."
A quiet breath escaped him.
"You could've warned me, Dad."
He lowered his gaze to the card in his hand.
First Year.
Classroom Two.
As he searched for the building, he noticed a girl nearby repeatedly checking her own student card.
She looked just as lost as he felt.
After hesitating for a moment, Alaric approached her.
"Excuse me—"
The girl jumped.
"Aah!"
Alaric flinched as well.
Both of them stared at each other in surprise.
"S-Sorry," Alaric said quickly. "I didn't mean to scare you."
The girl pressed a hand against her chest.
"No, it's fine. I was just startled."
Alaric scratched the back of his head.
"I was wondering if you knew where Classroom Two is."
The girl blinked.
Then she looked down at her card.
"Oh."
A relieved smile appeared on her face.
"I'm looking for the same classroom."
Alaric smiled.
"Then maybe we can look for it together."
She nodded immediately.
"I'd like that."
The two began searching through the academy grounds.
After several wrong turns and more than a little confusion, they finally found the classroom.
"There it is."
Alaric let out a relieved sigh.
Then he looked toward her.
"Ah, I don't think I got your name."
The girl gave a small bow.
"Sorry. My name is Lalanat. I'm from the Balp Nation."
Alaric returned the gesture.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Alaric, from the Bane Nation."
A smile appeared on his face.
"Looks like we'll be classmates."
The academy bell rang.
Students quickly began entering the classroom.
Alaric chose a seat near the middle of the room by the window.
Lalanat quietly took the seat beside him.
As the room slowly filled, Alaric found himself thinking about home.
His parents.
His father's lessons.
The path that had brought him here.
A sudden creak interrupted his thoughts.
The classroom door opened.
Every student immediately straightened in their seats.
A woman stepped inside.
"My name is Alice."
Her voice was calm and steady.
"And I will be your homeroom teacher."
She paused and looked around the room.
Before continuing.
"This academy was built through the cooperation of five nations."
Her eyes swept across the students.
"Understanding where we come from, and understanding the people around us, is the first step toward respecting one another."
The room fell silent.
Alice began her introduction.
"First, Valerith. The High Crown Nation. Respect its royal descendants. Their status carries great influence throughout the continent."
"Second, Bane. A nation renowned for military discipline and tradition. Strength there is earned through effort, not inherited through words."
Alaric sat a little straighter.
"Third, Caelwyn. The nation of scholars. Never underestimate the power of knowledge. Words can cut deeper than swords."
"Fourth, Balp. A prosperous trade nation. Wealth is their weapon, and alliances are their currency."
Lalanat listened attentively.
"And finally, Dravenn. The border nation."
Alice's voice lowered slightly.
"Often underestimated, yet known for producing some of the most resilient people in the world."
The classroom remained silent.
Alaric could almost feel the invisible lines separating the nations.
The pride.
The history.
The expectations.
Alice smiled faintly.
"Now, make your way to the central courtyard."
She folded her hands behind her back.
"The principal will formally welcome you to Elysium Academy."
Her eyes moved across the room one final time.
"Pay attention."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"This is the beginning of your journey."
The students made their way toward the courtyard.
As Alaric walked, he suddenly felt someone tap his shoulder.
Surprised, he turned around.
It was Lalanat.
"Wanna walk there together?" she asked.
"Ah, it's you."
Alaric smiled.
"I don't mind."
The two walked side by side toward the courtyard.
When they arrived, the students were instructed to stand in separate groups.
The principal soon stepped forward.
The crowd gradually fell silent.
"I welcome all first-year students to Elysium Academy."
His voice carried across the courtyard.
"This school was founded through the cooperation of five nations."
He paused briefly.
"Your homeroom teachers may have already explained the rankings among those nations, or perhaps they will do so later."
Some students exchanged glances.
The principal continued.
"However, remember this."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"There is no rule requiring you to worship those above you, nor is there any rule allowing you to look down on those below you."
The courtyard remained silent.
"Within these walls, you are all students."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And therefore, equals."
Several students seemed surprised by his words.
The principal folded his hands behind his back.
"I hope your time here will be meaningful."
His smile widened slightly.
"Learn from one another."
"Challenge yourselves."
"And leave this academy better than when you arrived."
The students applauded.
A few moments later, they were dismissed and instructed to return to their classrooms.
Not long after, the school bell rang again.
Students immediately poured into the hallways.
Some rushed toward the dining hall.
Others gathered in groups, excitedly talking about their first day.
Amid the crowd, Lalanat spotted Alaric.
She raised a hand.
"Wanna walk together?"
Alaric looked over.
"You again?"
A grin appeared on his face.
"I don't mind."
The two joined the stream of students heading toward the dining hall.
The moment they entered, Alaric froze.
His eyes widened.
Long tables stretched across the room, filled with freshly prepared food.
Meat dishes.
Soup.
Fresh bread.
Desserts.
The smell alone was enough to make his stomach growl.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Lalanat noticed immediately.
A laugh escaped her.
"Let's get in line before you start drooling."
Alaric quickly straightened himself.
"I wasn't drooling."
"You were close."
The two joined the line.
After receiving their food, they searched for a place to sit.
Eventually, Alaric spotted an empty table tucked away in a quiet corner.
"Let's sit over there."
Lalanat nodded.
As they settled into their seats, Alaric suddenly spoke.
"Lala, you okay with that?"
She blinked.
"Lala?"
Alaric pointed at her.
"Your name is kind of difficult to say."
Lalanat's face immediately turned red.
"Oh."
A nervous smile appeared on her face.
"Well... my mom used to call me that."
Alaric smiled.
"Then I'll keep calling you that."
Lalanat lowered her gaze slightly.
"I don't mind."
For a brief moment, the table fell quiet.
Then suddenly—
A loud voice cut through the noise of the dining hall.
"Didn't I tell you to give up your seat?!"
The cheerful atmosphere shattered instantly.
Students turned toward the source of the shouting.
Alaric and Lalanat looked up as well.
Their first day at Elysium had just become a lot more interesting.