Chapter 100: I Want to Be Someone Like Him
Upon entering, I quickly realized that the inside was quite different from what I had imagined.
The structure of the tower didn’t give off that tall and narrow vibe I expected; instead, it was surprisingly spacious. The spiral staircase leading to each floor extended all the way up to the top – climbing it must be quite a workout… not that I’m out of shape, but what about those folks on the eighteenth or nineteenth floors? They must be gasping for air!
Going up and down every day would be pure torture, especially without an elevator.
“Miss Peilo, I bet you’re silently praying right now to avoid the top floors, aren’t you?” Teacher Melville turned around with a knowing smile, as if he could see through my thoughts.
I simply nodded.
Well… it might not be exactly as you picture it. These stairs? I could run up and down a few times without breaking a sweat. But if I had to do it every single day, I could see it getting rather annoying pretty quickly.
“The academy designed the dorms this way for a reason,” Melville continued. “We’ll sift through those with weaker physical abilities during tests and assign them to the higher floors… makes sense, right?”
Oh, so this is all part of the daily training? They’ve really thought this through.
Suddenly, Carlos chimed in, “But this isn’t a problem for Miss Peilo; sticking her in the top floors is no big deal.”
I shot him a glare.
“In general, first-year dorms won’t be on the lower floors, especially for those delicate girls. Physical training is fundamental here, and the academy won’t cut anyone any slack. If they can’t handle just this little struggle, they might as well not show up… So, Miss, your room is on the fifteenth floor.”
… Alright then.
At this point, do I even have room to argue? Fine, bring on the hassle; it’s not the end of the world.
Following Teacher Melville, we stepped into the quaint corridor on the fifteenth floor.
“Rooms 01 to 08 here are all for girls’ dormitories; feel free to pick any of them.”
“Are they all the same?”
“Yep, all quadruple rooms.”
Well, what’s there to choose?
I casually pushed open the nearest wooden door labeled “1504.”
“This one’s good.”
A soft light spilled onto my face.
The furnishings inside… well, it was unsurprisingly not luxurious.
A simple desk and chair, a wooden bunk bed that didn’t look too comfy, but surprisingly clean and tidy.
What I was pleasantly surprised about was that the space was much larger than I had imagined—roughly close to one hundred square meters! It even had a separate washroom and bathroom, and they were partitioned! These conditions were already more comfortable than most commoners’ homes.
After all, it is the Royal Academy.
The freshman tests will last two days; after interviews, students must participate in written tests and practical assessments, meaning others wouldn’t move in until tomorrow night.
I tossed my books onto the upper bunk by the window, and Melville handed me the key to 1504 along with a map of the academy.
“The academy has a church, library, infirmary, and dining hall. Right next to the teaching area, there’s an entire street of shops. The products won’t win any awards for excellence, but they should meet your everyday needs. You can browse there later.”
He stroked his beard and pulled out a fancy silver badge to hand to me.
“After the opening ceremony, make sure to wear the academy badge on your chest; forgetting it means you’ll be punished.”
I nodded, taking the badge. I noticed it had a vibrant lion’s head engraved on it, just like those chariots we rode in… how many of these badges do I have now?
“Well, that’s it. The school uniforms will be distributed the night before the opening ceremony. The time below is yours to spend freely. You can leave the school, but make sure to return before tomorrow night. I must be going now.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Teacher,” Carlos said.
“It’s nothing; my study and the principal’s office are on the same floor. I’ll be there most of the day except during class. Miss…”
“Just call me Pepé,” I interrupted.
“…Miss Pepé, feel free to come find me if you need anything.”
“Sure, thanks!” I curtsied again, only this time with a bit more flair.
The elderly yet spry teacher waved us off and hurried away. He really seemed quite busy today… even so, making time to come pick me up on Longdoll Street makes me feel a bit guilty…
In the afternoon, Carlos took me to the most bustling market in the Royal City—Marsweld Street—to stock up on my academy supplies.
The things my mother sent were at the estate. I still wanted to go back on my day off, so I can’t keep hauling those back and forth. As we strolled through the academy’s commercial street, I found that, just as Melville said, it basically only catered to daily needs… the quality of the goods wasn’t terrible, but to me, it left a bit to be desired.
But hey, I can understand it.
Though this should be the academy with the most noble kids in the world, being at the top of the pyramid still means there aren’t many at the peak; the vast majority are common nobility or slightly better-off commoners. The academy has to prioritize them, of course.
So, I had to go out and buy my own stuff.
This isn’t me being picky. I could tough it out in the harsh conditions back in the village, but now that I can afford better, why should I settle? That’d just be self-sabotage!
Plus, I have standards for beds—a soft one is a must!
Or else I feel like I’m sleeping in a carriage! No thank you.
Once back at the tower, I promptly lined my wooden bed with soft satin and down blankets, clearing every layer until it was snug as a bug. I lay down to test it… feeling like I could sleep like a baby.
Now, I was thoroughly satisfied.
During this time, Carlos went to visit Grandma Bersa, and by the time he returned, it was already dusk.
The dorm would definitely be empty tonight, so I slung my bulging little bag over my shoulder and headed back with him to the estate on Longdoll Street.
That evening, Carlos recounted a lot of details to pay attention to while living in the Royal City. His previously carefree demeanor glowed with clarity under the candlelight.
I could tell he wasn’t entirely familiar with the Royal City. Most of his knowledge probably came from hastily gathering information over the past couple of days, yet he spoke in detail and with sincerity.
That was the first time I felt a gentle side to this guy.
Then came the next day, when he was set to leave.
…………
The sun in the Royal City had a gentle warmth.
Golden rays poured through the lofty screens, shining on the small grass growing on the brown earth, causing Carlos’s white outfit to take on a slightly yellow hue. He waved, a smile breaking across his scruffy face.
“I’m off.”
I feigned impatience.
“Get going.”
Inside, however, there was an emptiness creeping over me.
“Are you going to be okay? Take care of yourself,” Carlos said, a tinge of worry in his voice.
I rolled my eyes.
“No need to fret, seriously… you’re leaving and still acting all parental…”
The last part came out more like a whisper to myself. Carlos probably didn’t catch it. He continued nervously, “Don’t argue with Her Majesty the Queen. If anything comes up, you can seek her advice… take it seriously; many want to talk to her but can’t.”
“… I know!”
The church’s war chariot smoothly rolled to a stop at the entrance, and Carlos took a couple of steps forward, then turned back for one last look at me.
“Little Shay…”
“Carlos.”
We both called each other’s names simultaneously, then burst into simultaneous laughter.
“You go first.”
Carlos shrugged, gesturing me to take the lead. I hesitated for a moment, but eventually couldn’t suppress the question that had been nagging at me.
“Will… will you come back?”
A bird glided across the sky.
Carlos looked up, staring at the golden light spilling from the heavens, his lips curling ever so slightly.
“Probably not.”
“… Why?”
“Order Royal City has stood tall for hundreds of years; it doesn’t need a knight like me.”
“Oh…” I lowered my head, “Then you’ll just stay in Winter City?”
“Maybe, but not for long.”
“Why…?”
The wind stirred the grass and flowers in the yard, tousling his golden-white hair across his cheek.
“Why are there so many questions…” Carlos’s smile broadened, “Because there’s just so much to do. My mentor, Mr. Ryan, dedicated his life to establishing a sense of justice in this world, and for the people. Now in his seventies, he still stands with the weak…”
He gazed at me, his eyes holding a dizzying depth of emotion.
“I want to be someone like him.”
