“I’m telling you, Sinor Beast meat is not bad.”
“Imara, you are nuts. That thing is pure muscle. It basically tastes like rubber.”
“You just haven’t had it prepared properly, Simon. If you marinate it in pineapple and lemon juice, it becomes a delicacy.”
“Li Qiang, please knock some common sense into this woman.”
“I’ll show you common sense, you—”
Imara and Simon had been arguing about food ever since we left the auditorium.
Somehow, the moment food had been mentioned, it was like a switch flipped inside both of them.
Following the crowd, we eventually arrived at the academy cafeteria.
The place was enormous.
Students were already gathering around tables while further inside stood a massive buffet displaying food from every kingdom.
Slayer salmon.
Talma deer soup.
Roasted potatoes with beef.
Honey-glazed river fish.
Golden berry pastries.
“LOOK AT ALL THE FOOD!” Imara shouted with newfound excitement.
Simon immediately covered his face with both hands.
“Please don’t embarrass us.”
“We’ve known each other for three minutes.”
“And yet I already suffer.”
I laughed.
“You two can keep arguing. I’m getting food before everything disappears.”
“Hey, wait for me!” Imara called, immediately chasing after me.
Simon sighed dramatically and followed behind.
After gathering our meals, we found an empty table and sat down.
I looked at Imara’s tray.
Then I looked again.
And then a third time.
“Are you really going to eat all of that?”
She flashed me a toothy grin.
“Not a single thing is going to waste.”
Simon pointed his fork toward her.
“Don’t worry. I like a person who knows what they can handle.”
“Simon, please not while I’m eating.”
“Well, when you ask so nicely, how can I refuse your command?”
That earned him an eye roll.
A few rows away, a crowd had gathered around one particular table.
Simon let out a low whistle.
“Wow. Our number one sure is popular.”
Imara glanced over.
“Let her keep it for now. By the end of this term, I’m planning to make that spot mine.”
The confidence in her voice was impossible to miss.
Simon raised an eyebrow.
“You sure are confident.”
“Of course.”
She leaned back in her chair.
“By the time I graduate, I want to earn honor that I can bring back home.”
Simon nodded thoughtfully.
“My goal is much simpler.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Survive five years.”
I nearly choked on my drink.
Then both of them looked at me.
“What about you, Li?”
I paused.
Honestly, the answer came easily.
“I want to learn as much as possible.”
Both of them waited.
“And?”
“And see as many new things as I can.”
The smile on my face must have looked ridiculous because Simon immediately pointed at me.
“See? That’s why I look normal.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
A few tables away, Siana Signer sat surrounded by students asking questions.
Almost as if she sensed our attention, she glanced in our direction.
For a brief moment our eyes met.
Then she calmly returned to her conversation.
Unfortunately, several students had noticed.
“Wow, three royals sitting together.”
“That’s a terrifying amount of political power at one table.”
“Did you know all three of them are in the Top Ten?”
The whispers continued around us.
I chose to ignore them.
Simon rested his elbows on the table.
“Well, Imara, if you’re aiming for first place, you’ll have opportunities.”
“The Inter-Academy Tournament is coming later this year.”
A grin immediately spread across her face.
“I know.”
The excitement in her eyes practically sparkled.
“What about you, Li Qiang?”
I blinked and pointed at myself.
“Me?”
“Yeah, you.”
I hesitated.
“Honestly…”
I slowly lowered my head onto the table.
“I’m pretty good at casting spells.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“I have almost no combat experience.”
Silence. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Then Simon patted my head.
“Why worry about little things?”
A second hand landed on my head.
Imara.
“Yep.”
I looked up.
The two of them were grinning.
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling back.
“I’m going to remember this.”
“Remember what?” Simon asked.
“The fact that you two volunteered yourselves as future training partners.”
The smiles immediately disappeared from their faces.
“Wait—”
“That’s not what we—”
I laughed.
Soon a magical announcement echoed through the cafeteria.
“Attention first-year students. Please finish your meals and clear the dining hall.”
Students immediately began standing and gathering their things.
Simon stretched.
“Well, where are you two heading?”
“My dorm,” I answered.
“I need to unpack.”
“Same,” Simon said.
Imara sighed dramatically.
“Boring.”
She stood up.
“I’m going to find my brothers.”
Then she suddenly paused.
“Wait.”
She pointed at us.
“What classes do you guys have tomorrow morning?”
I pulled out my schedule.
“Magic History.”
Simon checked his own.
“Introduction to Magical Theory.”
I blinked.
“Those are my first classes too.”
Imara’s eyes widened.
“No way.”
A huge grin spread across her face.
“Perfect! Let’s meet outside the dormitories before class.”
We both agreed.
After saying our goodbyes, Imara disappeared into the crowd while Simon and I headed toward the male dormitories.
As we walked, Simon suddenly spoke.
“So.”
I glanced over.
“So?”
“Nothing serious.”
That usually meant it was serious.
“I just realized something.”
“What?”
“When Imara introduced you, she called you Li Qiang instead of Qiang.”
“Oh.”
I scratched my cheek.
“That’s because in Shenguang only nobles have family names.”
Simon looked interested.
I continued.
“Calling someone by their first name alone is usually reserved for close friends, family members, or people you trust.”
Then I immediately realized how that sounded.
My eyes widened.
“I-I mean not that I don’t trust you guys.”
Simon laughed.
“We met today, qiang. I understand.”
The way he deliberately used my first name made me groan.
“It’s actually similar in Kamau,” Simon continued.
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Only nobles are born with family names, but commoners can earn one through great achievements.”
I considered that.
“That actually sounds pretty cool.”
Soon we arrived at the male dormitory.
“What floor are you on?” Simon asked.
“Floor four, room six.”
“Floor seven, room one.”
He extended a hand.
“See you tomorrow.”
I shook it.
“See you tomorrow.”
After parting ways, I headed upstairs.
By the time I reached the fourth floor, I was beginning to regret bringing two suitcases.
“Who packs this much?” I muttered.
A pause.
“…Apparently me.”
Eventually, I found it.
Room 406.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.
The room was larger than expected.
Two beds.
Several bookshelves.
Large windows overlooking the academy grounds.
One side was already occupied.
A boy with sandy-brown hair stood on a chair attempting to hang a banner above his bed.
Attempting being the important word.
The chair suddenly wobbled.
“Oh—”
His arms flailed wildly.
The chair tipped.
Without thinking, vines shot from my hand and wrapped around his waist.
The boy froze.
Dangling awkwardly in midair.
For several seconds neither of us spoke.
“…Well,” he finally said.
“That could have gone better.”
I slowly lowered him to the floor.
“Are you alright?”
“Yep.”
He dusted himself off before extending a hand.
“I’m Rowan.”
I blinked.
No bow.
No nervousness.
No Your Highness.
Just Rowan.
I shook his hand.
“Li Qiang.”
“Cool.”
That was it.
Just cool.
For some reason, I found it refreshing.
Rowan pointed toward the empty side of the room.
“Guess that’s yours.”
I nodded.
A brief silence followed.
Then Rowan looked at my suitcases.
“…Need help?”
“You want to help me unpack?”
He shrugged.
“We’re roommates.”
As if that explained everything.
Maybe it did.
While unpacking, conversation slowly became easier.
“So where are you from?” I asked.
“Panta Rhei.”
My eyebrows rose.
“The same kingdom as Prince Simon?”
“Yep.”
Rowan laughed.
“Though I can assure you my family owns significantly fewer palaces.”
I chuckled.
“What class are you in?”
“B Class.”
He scratched the back of his head.
“Honestly, I was surprised I even got in.”
I frowned.
“You got accepted into Ash-Fall.”
“So?”
“That’s impressive.”
Rowan looked genuinely surprised.
Then he smiled.
“Thanks.”
It was probably the first conversation I’d had all day that felt completely normal.
No titles.
No expectations.
Just two students.
Eventually, the final suitcase was unpacked.
Outside, the sun was beginning to set.
Then a magical bell echoed throughout the academy.
A voice followed.
“Attention first-year students. Classes will begin tomorrow morning. Please review your schedules.”
I sat down on my bed and looked at my timetable.
My eyes immediately landed on one class.
Practical Combat Magic.
…
I stared at it.
Then stared some more.
Rowan glanced over.
“Something wrong?”
I slowly lowered the paper.
“No.”
A pause.
“Maybe.”
Another pause.
“I’m starting to think tomorrow is going to be very painful.”
Rowan burst out laughing.
And just like that, my first day at Ash-Fall Academy came to an end.
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