"Here we go again—leaving home to grow stronger and better, isn’t that right?"

Just after bidding farewell to the family and lingering on the fact that Theo still hadn’t seen Bram, who had yet to get back home, they set out for the royal academy.

The week had already passed, and just as the baron had said, the emperor had called Theo for studies during the summer break.

Clara and Elias accompanied him, both having failed to break through within the given seven days. Their missions had been difficult and highly specific, and unlike Theo, neither possessed particularly exceptional beasts—except for the stubborn boar and an ape who wielded a sword.

After getting some training from Rhys, the poor thing had practiced so intensely that it could now thrash a training dummy from top to bottom with a single strike from the blunt edge of the sword.

The travel was as long as normal, with a considerable amount of waiting before they were allowed to enter the royal capital again.

This time, however, Theo was taken directly to the Royal Academy on the western outskirts of the capital.

And when Theo saw the sheer scale of the academy’s structure, he couldn’t help but compare it to his previous one, and the difference made the old academy seem insignificant to the one before him.

They quickly stepped out of the carriage and made their way toward the guarded gate.

When the guards stopped Theo and his attendants, Clara simply presented the letter issued by the emperor to the female guard, which also bore the headmaster’s signature.

At the sight of the two signatures of the two most prominent people, the guard immediately stepped aside, granting Theo and his attendants entry without asking another question.

"Welcome, new student Theo Merrick, to the Royal Academy of Elaria," a young man standing at the side said, as people of all ranks moved about as though it were any ordinary day.

Theo looked at the man and gave him a slight nod of greeting.

"I am a fourth-year student of this academy. My humble name is Ryan Clamber," the boy introduced himself.

Theo gave the boy another once-over.

’If he is a fourth-year... then that makes him two years older than me.’

"I will be your guide for the day until we reach the headmaster’s office, Young Master Theo Merrick," Ryan said with a polite smile.

Theo couldn’t help but find himself liking the humility in the fellow’s voice.

"Please, just call me Theo," he replied, stepping forward to give Ryan the silent interaction that he was ready.

Though slightly surprised by what he had just heard from Theo, Ryan began leading the way, enthusiastically emphasizing all the good things about the academy.

The open courtyard was very vast.

During their walk, Theo saw beasts of all kinds moving around freely, some basking lazily in the sunlight, while their tamers, presumably the students, lounged comfortably on the neatly kept grass rather than using the tables and chairs provided.

Theo hadn’t felt the vibe of a ’royal academy’ from the place up to this point, which made him let out a quiet sigh of relief.

As he was shown the whole campus, Theo’s appreciation toward the place steadily grew. The place wasn’t just gigantic; it was designed with near-perfect utility.

When they reached the cafeteria, Theo couldn’t help but smile. All the students younger than him sat calmly while having their food in an orderly and quiet manner. There was a sense of decorum to the room that he had never seen in his previous academy.

Students were talking, but not loud enough to turn the entire room chaotic.

It also seemed like all the students were eating using silverware, which added a new layer of meaning to the "royal" in the Royal Academy.

By the time the tour ended, they stood in front of a room where only a few students remained.

Ryan turned toward Theo before extending his hand to offer him a handshake.

"I would really like to have you as a classmate, Theo. You are a fun person to be around," Ryan said.

Theo ignored the offered handshake and instead gave a military-style handshake right away, bumping elbows. Ryan’s face brightened immediately before he returned the gesture.

At that moment, the door to the room he was standing in front of opened, and a student who looked a few years older than Theo stepped out.

"Theo Merrick?" she asked, her gaze fixed on Theo.

Theo noticed the academy’s royal grey uniform on her and nodded. There was a small badge pinned to her right chest, giving Theo the impression that she held some kind of authority among the students.

Theo nodded at her question, which made her move to the side.

"Please go in. The headmaster has been awaiting your arrival," she said, maintaining steady eye contact with him.

Theo could sense the curiosity in her eyes, but her posture was controlled, almost military-like.

"Thank you, Ryan. We will meet again soon." Theo waved his hand before heading inside.

But the moment Clara and Elias tried to follow him into the room, the female student stopped them, making them wait outside before closing the door behind Theo.

Inside, Theo found himself in a spacious room. And the moment the door closed behind him, his senses tingled.

"Welcome, Theo Merrick. I have been waiting for you for a while now," came a calm voice.

An old man, who easily seemed in his eighties, sat in the corner behind a desk cluttered with books and papers.

One glance around the room made Theo feel like he had just stepped into a dream. To have so many books in one place... this wasn’t just a study; it was practically a library.

He moved forward with a faint smile on his face but suddenly halted, his gaze looking above the old man.

A ripple of spatial energy flickered a few times.

Theo felt it clearly.

As if something was watching him.

"Hoh? You can detect my beast? Now that’s a sharper talent than what the emperor informed me about, Theo Merrick," the old man said, his eyes narrowing. The wrinkles on his face deepened as he raised a hand above his head, as if restraining something.

"Since you have noticed it, it’s getting harder to keep this little one’s excitement in check. Don’t worry if he gets a bit too close."

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