The Royal Academy.
The sheer scale of it made my jaw slacken. It wasn't just a building. It was practically another city — sprawling across valleys and plateaus, surrounded by high walls and what looked like dozens of separate complexes, training fields, towers, dormitories, even a massive lake shimmering on one edge.
"Holy…" I whispered. "That's not an academy. That's an entire kingdom of its own."
[Correction: The Royal Academy spans approximately sixty-five percent of the capital's landmass. It is a self-sustaining academic territory with its own governance, infrastructure, and economy.]
"So it really is a city," I said, almost laughing. "Who even needs a school that big?"
[The academy is the heart of the empire's magical and martial education. It houses over twenty thousand students and staff, including foreign exchange representatives from allied nations. Its purpose extends beyond learning — it serves as a military and research hub.]
I whistled low, eyes still locked on the glowing map. "Twenty thousand students… no wonder everyone treats it like a legend."
[Host's upcoming selection exam will determine entry ranking and dorm allocation. Examinations occur within the academy's training sectors on the upper district of the capital's grounds.]
"Southern district, got it. "I leaned closer to the map, squinting. "But wait — if the academy's behind the mountain, how do people even get there? Climb over?"
[Negative. A series of transport gates connect the capital's upper district to the academy's entrance plaza. Access restricted to registered students and staff.]
"So… gates," I said, impressed. "That explains why I haven't seen any road leading up there."
[Affirmative.]
I studied the image a moment longer, tracing the line between the castle and the academy. The two were close — almost connected — yet entirely separate. The symbolism wasn't lost on me.
"The seat of power and the seat of knowledge," I murmured. "Both on the same mountain… but on opposite sides. Guess that says a lot about how this kingdom works."
[Observation noted. The capital represents governance. The academy represents progress. Their separation prevents centralized domination of both state and intellect.]
I blinked, then chuckled. "You've really thought this through, haven't you?"
[System knowledge is absolute within acquired data.]
"Yeah, yeah. You're a walking library."
Still, I couldn't help staring at that glowing outline of the academy. Even through the faint shimmer of the projection, it radiated a sense of grandeur — an entire civilization dedicated to mastery. For a moment, I felt a small thrill crawl up my spine. That was where my path led next.
Whatever destiny this new world had in store, it was waiting there — behind the mountain, behind those unseen walls.
I let out a breath, closing the map. "Alright, then. One step at a time."
[Affirmative. Preparations for entry examination advised.]
"Yeah, I'll get right on that. After a nap."
[...]
The system didn't reply, but I could feel the silent judgment in the pause that followed.
I laughed quietly to myself and started back toward the inn, the sound of the bustling city around me blending with the hum of determination in my chest.
The map faded from view as I kept walking, the glow dissolving into thin air. My thoughts, however, stayed busy turning over everything the system had shown me.
The Royal Academy… an entire city of scholars, mages, and warriors. The sheer scale of it still amazed me. And if my memory served right, the academy's selection exam for commoners was taking place tomorrow.
"Tomorrow, huh?" I murmured to myself. "Guess the timing couldn't be better."
The exams were open to all talented youngsters across the kingdom, or so the rumours went. Youngsters, meaning anyone under thirty — apparently that's what counted as "young" in this world.
"Well," I said with a small grin, "that makes me practically a toddler." Sixteen years old. Still barely getting started by local standards.
Then a thought struck me. "Wait… if I'm only sixteen, and Emily's twenty…" I trailed off, frowning slightly as the pieces fit together. "Doesn't that mean she could technically apply too?"
She definitely had the talent. After all, the system had copied her healing abilities for me. She was already as strong as most veteran adventurers. If she possessed that kind of power naturally, then she should have been more than qualified to join the Academy.
So why hadn't she?
I thought back to the conversation we'd had the night before, when she'd mentioned her family — her parents living in a small town outside the capital. She'd said she visited them every few months after finishing a few guild missions and saving some money.
It made sense now. She hadn't joined the Academy because she couldn't afford to. Not in coin, and not in time. Someone had to provide for her family, and that someone was her.
"She's really been carrying all that alone," I muttered softly, feeling a pang of admiration — and maybe something else — settle in my chest.
For a moment, I wondered if it was possible to do both: to be an adventurer and a student. But then I remembered the map the system had shown me — the Academy sprawling across the entire other side of the mountain, a fortress of knowledge and training sealed from the world.
"No way they'd let students leave regularly," I said to myself. "It's basically its own city."
I sighed. It wasn't my place to judge her choices. But I couldn't help wondering what might have been if she'd had the freedom to chase that dream.
By the time those thoughts had run their course, I was already back at the inn. The scent of freshly baked bread lingered in the air as I stepped inside. Beatrice stood behind the counter, sorting through her ledger as usual.
"Morning again," I said casually.
She looked up, her eyes sparkling with that same playful mischief as before. "Back already? Didn't expect to see you until lunch."
"Yeah, I just needed to get some supplies," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
"Well," she said with a grin, "you look the part now. Try not to scare away my guests with that serious adventurer face."
I chuckled lightly, waving as I passed by. "No promises."
Her laughter followed me up the stairs as I made my way to my room.
The moment the door closed behind me, I exhaled, letting the tension of the morning finally melt away. I tossed my pack onto the chair and flopped down on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling.
The mattress dipped softly beneath me. The faint chatter from downstairs mixed with the distant sound of horses on cobblestone. For a while, I just lay there, thinking.
Tomorrow. The selection exam. If I was going to do this, I needed to go in prepared.
"System," I said aloud, staring at the ceiling. "Based on what you know… what class would be most appropriate for me?"
[Ding! Analyzing host parameters.]
The familiar blue screen flickered to life.
[Host is not constrained by standard class limitations.]
[Host possesses the ability to hold multiple classes simultaneously.]
[Host may choose which class to display publicly once multiple classes are integrated.]
I blinked. "Wait, multiple classes? As in, I can be a swordsman and a mage at the same time?"
[Affirmative. And even more]
I whistled softly. "Okay… that's a little overpowered."
[Compliment acknowledged. System thanks host for the praise.]
I sat up a bit, staring at the glowing text. "You're welcome… I guess?"
[Currently available for integration: Healer Class — obtained through host's absorption of Emily's abilities.]
[Would host like to integrate the Healer class?]
I hesitated for half a second, then grinned. "Yeah, why not? Let's do it."
[Ding! Initiating class integration…]