Chapter 19: Lilliths first day at the academy
The massive gates of the royal capital slowly opened before our carriage as lines of armored guards stepped aside for the NightBane crest.
Even after seeing it multiple times throughout my childhood—
The capital was still enormous.
Towering white walls stretched endlessly into the distance while gigantic stone towers stood like spears piercing the clouds above. Beyond the gates, countless streets intertwined throughout the city like veins carrying life through the kingdom itself.
Merchants shouted across crowded streets.
Nobles rode through the city inside luxurious carriages escorted by knights.
Mages illuminated floating lanterns above the roads as the evening sky darkened.
Even the air itself felt different here.
Heavy.
Grand.
Alive.
The royal capital was the center of the Kingdom of Magneto.
The place where the strongest gathered.
The place where power decided everything.
And honestly?
I could not care less.
I sat quietly beside the carriage window staring blankly outside while resting my chin against my hand.
Because despite all the noise and grandeur surrounding me—
My thoughts remained somewhere far away.
Specifically—
A certain annoying boy from a small border territory.
I softly traced circles against the window glass while imagining him again.
His stupid confused face whenever I said something unexpected.
The way he rambled excitedly whenever talking about strange ideas.
The way he looked at the world differently from everyone else.
A faint smile unknowingly appeared on my face.
I missed him already.
Badly.
Father sat across from me reading several documents before briefly glancing upward.
"You’ve been smiling at the window for the last ten minutes."
I immediately straightened my posture.
"I have not."
"You absolutely have."
I looked away silently.
Father simply chuckled softly before returning to his papers.
Thankfully—
He didn’t pry further.
Because if he knew the things currently running through my mind, he would probably become deeply concerned.
I imagined Leo standing beside me within the capital.
Walking through the streets together.
Holding his hand while showing him the city.
Watching his confused expression as I dragged him through noble events he clearly wouldn’t want to attend.
And eventually...
Living together.
Forever.
My fingers tightened slightly against my dress.
A small warmth spread across my face at the thought.
I wonder what expression he’d make if I suddenly told him that.
Probably panic.
That only made the thought cuter.
Eventually, the carriage left the crowded central districts and entered one of the wealthier noble sectors near the academy itself.
Large estates and luxurious manors lined the streets while knights patrolled constantly nearby.
Finally, the carriage slowed before massive black iron gates engraved with the NightBane wolf crest.
The capital manor.
One of several properties owned exclusively by the NightBane family.
The gates opened immediately upon seeing Father’s carriage.
As we entered, the massive estate came into view.
A grand manor of dark stone stood proudly at the center of the property surrounded by snow-covered gardens and elegant fountains partially frozen from the winter cold.
Warm lights glowed from countless windows while servants quickly gathered outside to greet us.
It was beautiful.
Still not as important as Leo though.
The moment I stepped out of the carriage, multiple servants bowed simultaneously.
"Welcome back, Lady Lilith."
I barely acknowledged them.
Instead, I quietly made my way through the manor hallways toward my room.
The familiar chambers had already been prepared perfectly.
A massive bed stood near the center of the room while a fireplace crackled warmly against one wall.
Elegant furniture.
Expensive decorations.
Large windows overlooking the capital skyline.
Everything a noble girl could want.
Yet the room still somehow felt empty.
Because someone important wasn’t here.
After changing into more comfortable clothes, I quietly locked the bedroom door before walking toward one of my bags.
Then—
Very carefully—
I pulled out the object hidden beneath several folded dresses.
A pillow.
More specifically—
A pillow awkwardly stuffed inside one of Leo’s shirts with a crudely drawn smiley face on it.
His pants were wrapped around the lower half too.
It looked ridiculous.
I loved it.
A soft smile spread across my face as I hugged it tightly against my chest before collapsing backward onto the bed.
The faint scent remaining on the clothes immediately made warmth spread through me.
"I miss you..." I whispered quietly.
I hugged the pillow tighter.
"The academy is probably going to be boring without you."
My fingers lightly traced the poorly drawn face.
"You should’ve come with me."
I buried my face into the pillow slightly while imagining him beside me again.
His warmth.
His voice.
His confused expressions whenever I got too close to him.
A small laugh escaped me.
"...You’ll definitely be mine eventually."
The room remained quiet except for the soft crackling of the fireplace.
Outside, snow continued falling gently across the royal capital.
And slowly—
Still hugging the fake Leo tightly against my chest—
I drifted off to sleep.
Tomorrow would be my first day at the Royal Academy.
————-
The next morning, I stood in front of a massive mirror while several servants adjusted the final parts of my academy uniform.
The uniform itself was elegant compared to most schools.
A black coat lined with dark silver embroidery rested neatly over a white dress shirt while a crimson ribbon sat beneath the collar. The academy crest—a golden star surrounded by intertwined branches—was stitched onto the left side of the uniform.
It looked nice.
Still not something Leo would care about though.
I stared blankly at my reflection while thinking about him again.
I wondered what expression he’d make if he saw me like this.
Would he compliment me?
Or would he just awkwardly stare for several seconds before changing the subject like usual?
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
"Lady Lilith?" one servant asked carefully. "The carriage is prepared."
I blinked before nodding softly.
"...Right."
A few minutes later, the NightBane carriage rolled through the academy gates.
The Royal Academy was massive.
Towering ivory buildings stretched across enormous courtyards while elegant fountains and magically illuminated pathways connected different sections of the campus.
Students crowded nearly every area.
Nobles.
Mages.
Knights.
The future elite of the kingdom.
And the moment I stepped out of the carriage—
The entire atmosphere changed.
Whispers immediately spread throughout the courtyard.
"That’s her..."
"The NightBane daughter..."
"The A-rank..."
"I heard she awakened at 4..."
"They’re saying she might become the youngest high-ranking mage in decades..."
I ignored all of it completely.
Honestly, hearing people obsess over my mana capacity had become exhausting already.
A-rank mana capacities were absurdly rare.
There were barely enough individuals within the kingdom to count on two hands.
Naturally, that made me the center of attention everywhere I went.
Unfortunately for everyone here—
I genuinely did not care.
Because while they obsessed over my talent...
I was currently wondering what Leo was doing right now.
Maybe he was still sleeping.
Or maybe he was working on another strange project .
A small smile unconsciously appeared on my face again.
I wonder if he misses me as much as I miss him.
Eventually, all first-year students were guided toward the central assembly hall.
The structure itself was enormous, resembling more of a royal cathedral than a school building. Massive pillars stretched toward the ceiling while glowing chandeliers illuminated the room with soft golden light.
Hundreds of students filled the seats throughout the hall.
The moment I entered, countless eyes immediately shifted toward me again.
I ignored them and quietly sat near the back.
A few moments later, an elderly man wearing long blue and gold robes stepped onto the stage.
The principal.
His voice echoed throughout the hall through amplification magic.
"Congratulations to all students who stand here today."
The crowd immediately quieted.
"You have passed the entrance examinations of the Royal Academy, the greatest educational institution within the Kingdom of Magneto."
I didn’t have to undergo this examination so I personally didn’t care about this speech.
Applause echoed throughout the room.
I lightly rested my chin against my hand.
The principal continued speaking passionately about honor, duty, and the future of the kingdom.
I barely listened.
Instead, my thoughts drifted back toward Leo again almost immediately.
I wondered what his face would look like when I visited during winter break.
He’d probably act surprised at first.
Then pretend not to be happy.
Even though he definitely would be.
I imagined hugging him the moment I arrived.
Maybe I should hold his hand more next time too.
Or maybe—
"Lady Lilith?"
I blinked.
The hall had gone quiet.
Apparently the principal had finished speaking several moments ago.
"...Ah."
Several nearby students stared at me strangely.
I ignored them immediately and stood up before leaving for my next lesson.
The lecture hall was already mostly filled by the time I entered.
And the moment I stepped inside—
Silence.
Every single person turned toward me instantly.
Even the teacher paused mid-conversation.
It was getting annoying.
I quietly walked past everyone and sat near the back of the room beside a window.
The teacher awkwardly cleared his throat before beginning the lesson.
"As future mages, understanding the ranking system is fundamental."
Several glowing diagrams appeared above the classroom through magic.
"The ranks of mages range from F to A similarly to mana capacities, however the two systems are fundamentally different."
I rested my cheek against my hand while staring out the window.
"Mana capacity determines one’s natural potential and total magical reserves," the teacher explained. "Mage rank, however, is based purely upon actual combat ability, magical control, and performance."
That part was actually true.
A person born with lower mana capacity could still surpass others through exceptional skill and talent.
Though naturally—
Higher mana capacities still held overwhelming advantages.
"An E-rank mage," the teacher continued, "might possess a D-rank mana capacity but lack practical ability."
Several students nodded while taking notes rapidly.
Meanwhile—
I wondered whether Leo had eaten breakfast properly today.
The teacher moved on toward basic magic theory shortly afterward.
Mana flow.
Spell structures.
Elemental interactions.
Normally, I would’ve paid attention easily.
But today?
My mind continued drifting elsewhere.
Back toward a certain boy from the Aldric territory.
I lightly traced circles against the desk absentmindedly while imagining him again.
I missed him.
A lot more than I expected.
