Before I knew it, 2 hours passed by, and now I'm standing at the mansion gates with all my stuff in a carriage as my older sister is sending me and my brother Carson off. My older sister is a very busy person, and yet she still made time for us, which made me feel rather emotional. Even when I was only here for a short while, I still have numerous memories of my new family and whatnot. Rosaline is a tall woman with dark blue hair and emerald eyes, while Carson has light blonde hair like mine and emerald eyes as well.
" Oh… our little Miri is all grown up now." My sister said as she hugged me. " If u ever get bullied or anything, just send me a letter, I'll burn that place damn down."
" Ugh! Chill out, Ross. It's a school, plus I'm there, nobody would bully her." My brother rolled his eyes.
" What do u know, brat!" Rosaline hissed at Carson.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." I smiled happily and patted my sister's head. :3
"AHHH… Ur too cute!!" (She went to heaven)
"Eh?" Carson shot an annoyed look.
"Do you want a pat too, big brother? " I smile and hold out a hand.
"Ehem…" he cleared his throat with a serious expression. " Yes." He said in the straightest face ever.
" Okii." I pat his head too.
*What nice siblings she has* thought.
—----------------------
"You're gonna love it there, Mii." Carson went on as the carriage took off for the royal academy. " There's a bunch of subjects that you can chose and lots of clubs too if ur interested"
" Woa.. we get to choose subjects?" My eyes went wide, that doesn't sound so bad at all.
" Other than the three main subjects, you can choose the rest." Carson grinned, clearly happy that I was interested.
"What are those?" I asked.
" Uh.. Politics, Magic and history." He went on.
" We have to study politics?!" I groaned. * Seriously, the last thing I want to study is politics, it sounds like a drag.*
" It's not that bad, I promise." Carson laughed.
"Hm….. fine." I said, clearly not impressed.
"Where would we be staying?" I asked. " Dorms?" It sounds obvious, but again, this is a fantasy novel, so I'll check just to be sure.
"We'll be staying in the same small villa," Carson said. "Your room is on the second floor."
" Oh, I see." I smiled. A villa with my own room that might be big and comfy.
The carriage starts to move towards two tall pillars, and between them, a portal appears. As we passed through, I felt a shiver go down my spine. And in an instant, the forest scenery was replaced with a magnificent building right ahead. On the other side of the glass, I could see multiple carriages with different seals on each one representing each noble family.
"Oh wow…." My mouth fell open. I knew that the Royal Academy was supposed to be fancy and all, but this is like a palace, if not bigger.
Then our carriage stopped at the inner gates of this bewilderingly impressive establishment.
"It's time to get off Mii." Carson called as the carriage door opened.
" Right! I'm coming." I stamered getting to my feet and stepped off.
Some staff were taking our luggage off the carriage and bringing it somewhere. Probably where we were staying. This place is where my first struggle begins, and hopefully, the results will be as I wish. I might need to get used to things before I can do anything remotely useful at all.
" I'll show you around." Carson waved for me to come with him.
"Oki." I replied and quickly followed my older brother.
The Academy grounds were enormous. Wide, stone-paved paths stretched between manicured lawns and ancient oak trees whose roots broke through patches of moss and clover. To their left, a row of training fields shimmered with heat, already full of students swinging practice swords and casting sharp, colorful bursts of magic. To the right, the domed alchemy hall stood with its copper roof stained green and glass windows clouded by smoke and steam.
The main building stood at the heart of it all, shaped like a grand palace. Its outer walls were a patchwork of pale grey and ivory stone, stitched together over centuries of repairs and expansions. Ivy clung to the eastern side, creeping up to the tallest tower, where bells waited to ring at dawn, midday, and dusk.
"Looks like a castle," I whispered.
My brother laughed. "That's because it used to be one. Before the wars. Before the peace treaties and all the rules."
"Isn't that like 1000 years ago?" I turned over to look at him.
The entrance hall was colder than I thought it would be. Vaulted ceilings soared overhead, supported by massive columns carved with symbols of the Four Founding Houses—Flame, Stone, Gale, and Tide. The banners still hung above, though the colors were faded. The floor was tiled with polished obsidian and white marble, forming the shape of a circle within a square—the academy's seal.
We wandered past classrooms with half-open doors, where chalk floated on its own and diagrams shimmered in midair. A corridor lined with statues of old headmasters led them to the inner courtyard: a large open garden with a still pond, its water so clear it reflected the clouds like a second sky.
"Want to see the library?" Carson offered, nudging her lightly.
I nodded, and he led me down a quieter wing where the air smelled of paper and old wood. The Grand Archive was a towering room filled with shelves that stretched to the ceiling, ladders gliding on rails, and a glass dome overhead that made the whole place feel like a sanctuary of sunlight and knowledge.
"This place is too big," I muttered.
"Yea," he said. "You'll get lost at least five times at least."
They explored until the sun tilted lower in the sky, until their feet ached and their eyes had seen too much wonder to process. The Academy felt like a maze, like a palace, like a dream too large to fit into words.
By the time the sun dipped low behind the towers, my brother and I made our way back to the villa. The path was quiet now, lined with soft lantern light and the scent of warm grass and evening flowers. We didn't talk much—just walked in step, both tired from exploring.
Our villa sat tucked behind a rose-covered archway, familiar even after just one visit. Two floors of pale stone, ivy-covered walls, and dark blue shutters. The front door opened at our touch, the enchantment humming softly beneath our fingers.
Inside, it was warm. The hearth was already lit, and our luggage had been neatly placed near the staircase. Robes in Academy colors—navy trimmed in silver—were folded on the couch. Everything was waiting, just like they promised.
"Your room is next to mine," Carson said, heading up the stairs.
Mine was quiet, cozy. The bed had been made with fresh linen, and the window overlooked the garden where the fireflies had begun to glow. Even my little charm from orientation still hung on the wall, untouched.
Downstairs, we shared a quiet supper—bread, cheese, fruit—left in a basket on the table. A note was tucked beneath it: Welcome back. The ceremony begins at dawn. Your attendants will arrive tomorrow.
I sat near the fire with my tea, staring into the flames. Tomorrow, everything would begin. The plan is simple, so stick to it.