"House of Valor? Heroes?" Theo shakes his head. "Those Blazebearers seem like good guys, but I don't know if I would truly fit in with their kind."
"I doubt there are only altruistic people among the Blazebearers," Sarah comments with admiration in her tone. "I mean, I have heard of great names from their House who were more like avengers. And they love the color red."
Theo looks at Sarah with a curious expression. "And you? Have you already chosen your House?" She strokes her chin with a thoughtful look. "I always thought I would join the Arcanists of Aetheris; they are known for being scholars focused on mastering the arcane arts, without a doubt the magicians' favorite House."
"Very interesting," Theo comments. "I imagine it is good to go to a House where you are with people who are similar to you." As soon as he says that, Sarah nods. "It is not only about getting along with those similar to us, but the House we choose will be the place where we will share many things during our entire stay at the Academy."
"There is also the student points system," Sarah explains. "As we complete special tasks and achieve good results in tests, our House and we earn more credits that are transformed into resources to make our life at the Academy more comfortable. By choosing your House, you also choose your teammates, and cooperating with them is essential for the success of the entire group."
"Group? I was never good at working in groups," Theo comments in a sad tone, and Sarah smiles lovingly at him. "I also never liked groups, but it seems very good to have a reliable partner…" She winks at Theo, and he smiles back at her. "Yeah, very good indeed."
The exchange of looks between them creates its own atmosphere, making Lorien roll his eyes. "Do you never get tired of flirting? I am still here." The white-haired boy complains, and Theo laughs. "What about you, Lorien? Which House do you prefer?"
"All Caelis have gone to Vaelthorne, as far as I know," Sarah comments in a cold tone, and Lorien nods. "It is true, my family seems to adore the company of those arrogant nobles. When I left home, my father said that if I did not join Vaelthorne, he would have me killed inside the Academy."
"That sounds horrible," Theo feels sorry for Lorien, and even Sarah frowns upon hearing that. But Lorien only smiles sarcastically. "I don't think he would truly kill me, but he would have me beaten in front of everyone without a doubt."
"And you are not going to Vaelthorne?" Theo asks, and Lorien laughs. "Of course not. Disappointing my father has become a very pleasurable habit." Lorien seems determined, and Sarah smiles. "That is a pity, you would enter there already with many powerful allies, but if you go to another House, they will call you a traitor and hate you."
"Let them hate me," Lorien says casually and then gives Theo a friendly look. "I already have the only friend who matters to me." Lorien's words make Theo smile, and Sarah simply stares at the white-haired boy with a doubtful look.
Theo turns his gaze back to Sarah. "It seems you are the only one who is sure about which House to choose." She shakes her head upon hearing that. "I said I thought Aetheris would be perfect for me. But I am no longer so sure, staying among intellectuals and mages does not seem as much of an advantage as…" She pauses and looks at Theo with shining eyes.
"As what?" Theo becomes curious, and Sarah's smile grows wider. "As going to the same House as you, of course." She laughs, and he laughs as well. "So, which House interests you the most?" She asks, and Theo makes a thoughtful expression.
"Is there not a fourth House?" He asks, and Sarah nods. "Nocthera, the House of Mystery." Upon hearing that name, Theo makes a curious expression. "They sound interesting…"
"I think so," Sarah thinks for a few seconds. "I myself once had a lot of interest in House Nocthera since Grandmaster Eruina was part of them when she was only a student at the Academy. But that was more than a hundred years ago; nowadays, they are more like a small group of misfits who do not fit into the other Houses."
"One hundred years?" When Theo makes a shocked expression, Sarah imagines he is surprised by her deep knowledge about the history of the Academy, but what is actually on his mind is Eruina's beautiful face and body and how it seems insane that she has lived for more than a hundred years.
He has already heard of people who lived more than a century with the help of Magic, but Theo assumed that such people would still show signs of aging. And Eruina does not look older than thirty, which makes her power seem even more impressive.
"Yeah, unfortunately they are not the same as they were back then," Sarah says in a disappointed tone. "The current members of Nocthera are very reserved and avoid even openly competing with the other Houses. They have gained new names in recent years like House of Losers, House of the Forgotten, and even House of Orphans."
"Orphans?" Theo smiles. "I guess they fit me better than I expected…" When he says that, he leaves Sarah thoughtful. "So it will be Nocthera? That will be your choice?"
"I would not say it is my choice but rather that I was chosen," Theo comments in a playful tone, and both Sarah and Lorien look at him with thoughtful expressions. "You know you do not have to follow me, right?" He asks in a friendly tone. "We can still stay together even if you are in other Houses, correct?"
"Hehe~" Sarah giggles. "I think it is time to bring Nocthera back to its days of glory. And maybe it will help me become Grandmaster Eruina's first disciple faster." In the end, Sarah winks at Theo with a loving smile.
"I also like the idea of joining Nocthera," Lorien comments in a calm but determined tone. "I doubt it would make my family more furious than if I became a Blazebearer, but I would certainly be less hated there."
Theo smiles when he sees Sarah and Lorien's loyalty. At that moment, the carriage finally leaves the village of Dragons' Gate and enters the long bridge that connects it to the Academy's main castle. The carriage can't move very fast because so many others are also following the route, so Theo opens the window to observe the landscape.
He can see the great Drakemor Castle ahead, built with towers so tall they pierce the clouds and buildings so wide they seem larger than entire castles. He can't see much beyond it, but there are mountains along the distant horizons, and especially the great lake of crystal clear waters that seems to stretch for miles in every direction.
"It is called Dark Lake," Sarah comments when she notices Theo staring at the bright waters reflecting the sunset. Theo makes a confused expression. "Why that name? The water looks crystal clear." Sarah also looks at the lake with a curious expression. "They say the name comes from the fact that this lake is so deep that not even magic can bring light to its bottom. And many powerful mages have tried."
Looking down from the bridge, the waters of Dark Lake truly seem opaque, different from the waters near the village that were clear. "It must be a dangerous place to swim…" Theo comments, and Sarah nods. "Oh, yes, I once read in a book that there are more dangers in the depths of this lake than in the entire territory of the Academy, which spans hundreds of miles."
"It seems very large." Theo grows even more impressed by the Academy, and Sarah tells him more stories and curiosities about it while they cross the great bridge. As they get closer to the castle, they hear the imposing roars of dragons in the sky, a few of them flying around the tall towers.
"Those must be the veterans trying to make a good impression," Sarah explains about the dragons in the sky. Theo thinks that makes sense, but the number seems strange. "There are fewer of them than I imagined."
Sarah makes a slightly sad expression. "Very few truly manage to form a Dragon Pact, and when they graduate, they are summoned by the Emperor to his armies across the Four Kingdoms. Most Riders around here do not show off their Dragons like that; those must be the most attention-seeking veterans without a doubt."
"I see…" Theo watches those few Dragons in the sky with their Riders as the carriage approaches the castle. When they finish crossing the great bridge, the sun fully sets, giving way to the great blue moon rising in the star filled sky.
The carriage stops in front of a massive iron and stone gate with a ten meter tall arch adorned with dragon statues. The coachman steps down from his seat and respectfully opens the carriage door. "My Lords, My Lady." The man bows as he extends his hand.
"I am not a Lo—" Theo tries to say something, but Sarah interrupts him. "We know, but it makes no difference to the castle servants. Almost everyone here is either a noble or a servant, and do not pity them, the Duke is very generous and pays them salaries that other commoners could never dream of. So instead of confusing them, just smile and let them do their jobs."
Theo nods and then smiles at the coachman as he steps out of the carriage. He also leaves his bag inside with Sarah and Lorien's belongings so they can be taken by the servants to the rooms of whichever House they choose during the ceremony.
The coachman tries to offer help to Sarah so she can step down without dirtying her dress, but Theo signals for the man to step aside and helps her himself. "My Lady," he says in a respectful tone as he extends his hand to her.
"My Lord," she accepts his hand and steps out of the carriage, drawing everyone's attention with her exceptional beauty. Poor Lorien receives no help at all while Sarah wraps herself around Theo's right arm, standing at his side.
Theo has nothing to complain about having such a wonderful woman like Sarah beside him, making the men around cast envious glances at him, while the women envy Sarah's beauty. And so the couple crosses the great gate together with several other nobles who are arriving, while Lorien walks along Theo's left side.