My feet hit the neatly paved walkway as I stepped out of the carriage.
Maya followed behind me carrying my personal bag.
As we approached the academy gates, a guard stepped forward and raised a hand.
“I’m sorry, sir, but only registered students are allowed to enter the academy grounds at the moment.”
“Is that so? Alright, I understand.”
I turned toward Maya and the four guards who had accompanied me throughout the journey.
“Well… I guess this is where we part ways. Thank you for accompanying me this far.”
The head guard bowed.
“It was an honor to serve you, Your Highness.”
The other guards quickly followed his example.
I then looked at Maya.
She looked one sniffle away from bursting into tears.
“Oh, Your Highness…” she said, her voice shaking.
“Please be safe.”
This time I gave her a genuine smile.
“I will.”
Taking my personal bag from her, I slung it over my shoulder before grabbing my two large suitcases from the guards.
Then I turned and walked through the gates.
Into Ash-Fall Academy.
Ash-Fall was beautiful.
The path stretched ahead, lined with colorful flowerbeds and perfectly trimmed hedges that looked as though they were maintained daily.
Small grassy fields spread out on either side, dotted with trees beneath which students sat talking and laughing.
Honestly, I had never seen so many people my age gathered in one place before.
Students were everywhere.
Some were chatting excitedly.
Others wandered around carrying luggage like myself.
As I continued walking, I noticed a line forming in front of a large booth staffed by what appeared to be senior students.
A sign hanging above it read:
Bag Collection & Campus Tours
Seeing no better option, I joined the line.
Soon it was my turn.
“Welcome to Ash-Fall!” a girl with blue hair and round glasses greeted.
“May I see your admission form?”
I handed it over.
As she read it, her eyes widened slightly.
Ah.
She recognized me.
Without comment, she opened a large book filled with names and quickly flipped through several pages.
“There he is.”
She pointed toward another student.
“First-Year Male Dormitory, Floor Four, Room Six.”
The student attached three tags marked with the number six onto my luggage.
“You can leave your bags with us,” she explained.
I handed them over.
Then she pointed toward a gathering of newly arrived students.
“Campus tour group is over there.”
………………………………
The tour began shortly afterward.
Our guide led us through seemingly endless sections of the academy.
“This is the main library, available to both students and faculty.”
The building was massive.
I was fairly certain it contained more books than the royal library back home.
We continued onward.
“This is the cafeteria.”
The room was enormous.
“It doesn’t look crowded now, but trust me, when lunchtime arrives you’ll probably want to eat outside.”
The group laughed.
As we moved through the academy, I lost count of how many rooms we passed.
Classrooms.
Alchemy laboratories.
Mage practice halls.
Weapon storage rooms.
Training arenas.
Dormitory towers.
One building even housed a massive indoor greenhouse filled with herbs, flowers, and magical plants from across the continent.
Soon we arrived at another set of large doors.
The guide grinned dramatically.
“Prepare to be amazed.”
He pushed them open.
The moment we stepped through, my eyes widened.
Before us stood a gigantic outdoor stadium.
Rows upon rows of seats surrounded a massive combat arena.
“This is where student tournaments are held,” the guide announced proudly.
“We also host inter-academy competitions.”
He pointed toward the arena floor.
“This year Ash-Fall is hosting.”
Excited whispers spread throughout the group.
I stared at the structure in awe.
This wasn’t a school.
It was practically a city.
Eventually the tour ended near the Registration Hall.
A large crowd of students stood in line while others gathered around a massive ranking board.
“Get your timetable and class badge here,” the guide explained.
“That concludes the tour. Good luck, everyone.”
Then he disappeared almost immediately.
He must have been busy.
As I joined the registration line, students around me began making conversation with one another.
I had fully intended to spend the wait in silence.
“Hi.”
I blinked.
A girl standing in front of me had turned around.
For a moment I wasn’t even sure she was speaking to me.
“Uh… hi.”
She smiled.
“My name is Imara.”
Honestly…
Imara was beautiful.
Her dark skin glowed beneath the afternoon sunlight.
Golden eyes sparkled with confidence.
Long curly hair cascaded down her back, decorated with delicate gold jewelry.
She wore the academy uniform paired with sturdy combat boots.
And she was tall.
Almost as tall as me.
The moment she introduced herself, whispers erupted around us.
“Isn’t that Princess Imara?”
“The princess of Kamau?”
“That’s her.”
Ah.
That explained it.
I had heard stories about her.
Princess Imara of Kamau.
A talented warrior known for her skill with a spear.
She tilted her head slightly.
“And you are?”
“Li Qiang of Shenguang.”
The whispers immediately doubled.
“Wait, Prince Li Qiang?”
“No way.”
“Two royals in the same line?”
“They’re probably both snobs.”
I rolled my eyes.
People really loved making assumptions.
“It’s nice to meet you, Prince Li Qiang,” Imara said cheerfully.
“Li Qiang is fine.”
“Then call me Imara.”
I smiled.
“Nice to meet you too.”
The conversation quickly became surprisingly easy.
“So,” she said, nudging my shoulder, “ready to survive five years of academy life?”
“I’m as ready as anyone can be.”
“From what I’ve heard, you’ll do just fine.”
“You’re one to talk. Princess Who-Slays-Dragons.”
She immediately looked offended.
“I’ll have you know I’ve never even seen a dragon before.”
That earned a laugh from both of us.
As the line slowly moved forward, she continued asking questions.
“Is it true elves can enchant people just by looking at them?”
I laughed.
“Elves are beautiful, but I’ve never heard of anyone being enchanted.”
Before she could ask another question, a staff member called out:
“Princess Imara of Kamau.”
“Looks like that’s me.”
She flashed a grin.
“Don’t disappear before I get back.”
“I’ll try my best.”
With that, she entered the registration room.
Several minutes later the doors reopened.
Imara emerged and immediately spotted me.
Then she raised both thumbs into the air with a huge grin.
I couldn’t help laughing.
Either she had done very well…
Or she was simply excited to be here.
Soon another name was called.
“Prince Li Qiang of Shenguang.”
My turn.
I stepped through the doors.
And the room beyond was unexpectedly quiet.
A single desk sat in the center.
Behind it sat a woman with silver hair and half-moon spectacles.
“Name.”
“Li Qiang of Shenguang.”
Her pen paused.
Then she looked up.
“Prince Li Qiang.”
Her voice remained calm and professional.
“My name is Professor Lia. I oversee first-year registration.”
I offered a polite nod.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
She opened a drawer and removed a silver badge.
In the center was a single crimson letter.
S
My eyes widened slightly.
“You seem surprised,” she noted.
“A little.”
“The ranking system is based on entrance examination performance.”
She gestured toward the badge. Get faster updates on g.com.
“S Class represents students with exceptional academic, magical, or combat potential.”
I examined the badge.
“So this determines our classes?”
“Partially.”
Professor Lia folded her hands.
“The academy uses six ranks.”
“S, A, B, C, D, E.”
“At the end of every academic term, students are re-evaluated.”
I blinked.
“Re-evaluated?”
“If your performance improves, you may rise.”
“And if it declines?”
“You may fall.”
That sounded stressful.
“The system rewards effort, not status.”
She slid my timetable across the desk.
“A prince may fall to B Class.”
“A commoner may rise to S Class.”
“Your standing depends entirely upon your work.”
For the first time that day, I found myself genuinely impressed.
I liked that.
Titles meant little here.
Results mattered.
“Welcome to Ash-Fall Academy, Prince Li Qiang.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
I bowed and left.
The moment I stepped outside, Imara waved.
“Over here!”
Several students immediately moved aside as I approached.
Whether they were being respectful or simply avoiding two royals, I couldn’t tell.
Probably both.
“So?” Imara asked eagerly.
I showed her the badge.
Her eyes lit up.
“S Class!”
“Apparently.”
“I knew it.”
Together we walked toward the ranking board.
The crowd parted surprisingly quickly.
Names shimmered across the magical surface.
First-Year Entrance Rankings
1.
???
— 210 Points
2.
Princess Imara of Kamau — 199 Points
3.
???
— 188 Points
4.
???
— 181 Points
5.
Prince Li Qiang of Shenguang — 177 Points
I stared.
Fifth.
Not bad.
But…
Three people ranked above me.
And whoever held first place had scored a ridiculous 210 points.
Imara leaned over.
“You’re staring at the board like it personally insulted you.”
I sighed.
“I’m trying to decide whether I should be impressed or offended.”
She burst out laughing.
“You should be impressed.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re second.”
“True.”
Her grin somehow became even bigger.
Then suddenly a voice echoed throughout the academy.
A magical announcement spell.
“Attention all first-year students.”
The conversations around us immediately quieted.
“Please proceed to the Grand Auditorium for the First-Year Orientation Ceremony.”
“The ceremony will begin shortly.”
Excited murmurs spread through the crowd.
Students immediately began moving toward the massive central building.
Imara stretched her shoulders.
“Well.”
She grinned.
“Looks like the real academy life is about to begin.”
I looked toward the enormous auditorium.
For the first time since arriving at Ash-Fall…
I felt nervous.
And excited.
Together with the crowd, we began walking toward the Grand Auditorium.
hey guys, I know I said last chapter was my favorite but this one is my new favorite because it introduces one of my favorite characters I want to bring , next chapter we’ll meet four more characters including our ml!!!!!