187 The Royal Academy
The soft rays of the setting sun painted a warm orange hue over the lush Hartfield Royal Garden.
The evening air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds added a serene soundtrack to the scene.
Amid this tranquil setting, Arthur walked side by side with Princess Anastasia.
Their steps echoed on the cobblestone path as they strolled leisurely.
A few steps into the garden, they both remained quiet, content to savor the peaceful atmosphere.
It had been a long day filled with emotional reunions and discussions, and now was a time for a more relaxed connection.
"Arthur, I'm glad believe you're finally back," Anastasia said, her voice soft and wistful.
"I missed you so much," she whispered almost inaudibly.
Arthur smiled at her, his eyes reflecting the same sentiment. "I missed you too, Anna. It's good to be home."
Anastasia blushed slightly as she felt happy at Arthur's words.
"Yeah, there's no place like home they say."
They continued walking until they reached a particularly beautiful area with a large oak tree.
Arthur led Anastasia to a cozy spot under its sprawling branches, where they could sit in its shade.
Anastasia settled down beside Arthur, the two of them close enough to feel each other's presence but leaving room for comfort.
She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. It was a simple act of affection, one that spoke of their closeness.
Her voice was a gentle murmur. "What are your plans for the Grand Martial Arts Tournament in six months?"
Arthur's gaze drifted to the horizon, and his eyes took on a thoughtful glint. "I'll be joining the Royal Academy officially tomorrow."
"I'll have to get back into the swing of things quickly, but I already have a plan in motion for the tournament. The tournament this time would not be too simple."
Anastasia's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's amazing, Arthur! Finally, you'll be joining me at the academy. Humph! I'll see how those idiots would react."
"Which idiots?" Arthur asked, roughly guessing what she meant.
"Those pesky nobles of course!" She sneered.
"Hehe, I see. Princess Anna is still the most sought after," Arthur chuckled.
"Anyway enough about me. Tell me about your journey quick! What was it like to sneak into the Heavenly Sword Sect? Were you caught and that's why you're back?."
"How did you begin to cultivate? What level are you now?...and also did you save any damsel in distress along the way?" Anastasia asked a bunch of questions in one breath.
"Woah, calm down a bit. Let's take it one by one!"
"Okay, so tell me. Did you really do the 'saving a damsel in distress'?"
"Wait, that's the first thing you want to hear about?" Arthur was amused.
"Yes," Anastasia replied.
"Well, no I did not."
'But I did capture a damsel in distress instead. But you don't need to know about Cora,' Arthur thought.
"Really? I thought you said you were the main character of the universe. Don't those main characters you always told me about encounter things like that? You said it was um...plot that's right, plot you said."
"Hahaha! You still remember those stories of mine?"
"Of course."
"Well, what came I say. I am not just the typical main character," Arthur scratched his nose with a smirk.
"Yeah, right."
A gentle silence settled over them as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows and painting the garden with deeper shades of red and orange.
Their connection was unspoken but deep. In the tranquility of the garden, with the beauty of nature surrounding them, it was a perfect moment for them to reconnect.
The sunlight filtered through the leaves above them, creating intricate patterns on the ground.
Anastasia's warmth beside him, the soft rustling of leaves, and the subtle scent of flowers combined to form a tranquil cocoon, cocooned from the outside world.
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The morning sun bathed the royal city in a soft golden light as the royal carriage rolled through its bustling streets.
"Hey, who's the big shot?" Asked a random passerby to the person beside him who answered.
"Hmm, I don't know. It could be one of the princes."
"Do you think it could be Princess Anastasia?"
"Maybe?"
"If it was, I wish I could get a glance. I always heard that she was the prettiest of all the princesses of the royal family."
*Knock!*
"Shush! You don't want to be heard. Have you forgotten how the nobles are?"
The other one shivered as he recalled a distant memory, "Sorry I forgot."
Arthur sat by the window, peering out at the vibrant city life.
His keen senses detected powerful auras hidden among the crowds, leaving him curious about the identities of these cultivators.
'Hmm, I never knew that the city had so many experts hidden within. I wonder what their motives are,' Arthur thought as he took a mental note of a certain peculiar aura he sensed.
'I should check out who that is when I have the chance,' he decided as he memorized the location of the persons aura.
"Arthur, it's been a long time since you came out here," Anastasia said with a smile. "The royal city has become more bustling and also a hub of talents that are popping up left and right. Father said it's a sign of a new era to come but he didn't tell me the details."
"Hmm, Father is right. A new era is indeed upon us," Arthur said
"Really? You know about it? Please tell me. Father said his usual, 'You're too young to know this things'."
Arthur laughed as he wasn't surprised. Back when he was on 'Earth' and without his memories he never really understood why the seniors of the cultivation world always did that but when he got his memories back and returned to the cultivation world he had an inkling of understanding.
"Okay, I'll tell you later. We are already close to the academy. Tell me more about it first,"Arthur said.
"Fine, but you promised," Anastasia said with narrowed eyes and then began to tell Arthur about the structure of the Royal Academy.
As they traveled deeper into the city, the carriage occasionally passed grand estates, each belonging to one of the empire's noble families.
The streets teemed with people, from commoners to nobility, with guards stationed at key points to ensure order.
The royal carriage came to a halt, and Arthur and Anastasia stepped out, greeted by the ever-vigilant royal guards who had accompanied them.
The grand gates of the Royal Academy loomed before them, ornate and imposing.
Anastasia gave Arthur a quick rundown of how the academy was structured, explaining that it was like many of the major sects on the continent.
These were things Arthur already knew but what he valued was the information about the different geniuses in the academy.
Although he already got some of this information through the Jade Maiden's information network, there were some things he had yet to know and Anastasia had filled up the gaps in his knowledge.
The Royal Academy catered not only to the royal family but also to noble families, clans, and selected talents from all over the empire.
After walking through the gate, Arthur found himself in the vast and impressive courtyard of the academy.
Imposing buildings lined the paths, and the area was alive with students and instructors.
Their arrival did not go unnoticed. A senior figure with a neatly trimmed white beard approached them, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. "Welcome, Princess Anastasia, and this must be Prince Arthur. A pleasure to meet the Prince for the first time," he said with a warm smile.
"Indeed, Elder Hamwell," Anastasia replied with respect. "Arthur, this is Elder Hamwell, one of the most esteemed members of the academy."
"It's an honor to meet you," Arthur said, offering a polite nod.
Elder Hamwell nodded in approval. "I have heard lot about you. Especially how your guidance has brought benefits to the empire and even the academy. You are already highly valued amongst the higher ups."
"But I must say, you have hidden yourself very deeply, Prince Arthur," Elder Hamwell spoke with a glint in his eyes as he detected Arthur's cultivation level.
Arthur didn't correct him; he deliberately didn't keep his cultivation level hidden from the elder.
He met Elder Hamwell's gaze with a calm expression, his jade-like eyes revealing only a hint of intrigue.
"It's nothing but a minor thing in the matters of the palace."
"I understand," The Eldered smiled as he knew the royal family was not that United underneath the surface.
"Please follow me as I take you through the formalities."
Arthur and Anastasia followed the elder as he led them to a certain building.
The elder explained the logistics of Arthur's entry, and it soon became official.
Arthur was now one of the academy's elite disciples. The academy would provide him with the best resources and guidance to help him reach even greater heights in his cultivation journey.
The Elite Disciples were the strongest disciples of the sect and they were all candidates for the Prime Disciple position of the Royal Academy.
There are 12 Elite Disciples in total and now Arthur is now the 13th one.
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