When the dawn began gently to break, Elwyn woke up as usual. He got up quietly from his bed, stretched, and then went to the bathroom. When he opened the door to his room, he discovered a small package on the floor, accompanied by a little note.

  Elwyn,

  I am truly sorry. I completely forgot to give you a garment maintenance stone before your departure. I immediately called upon the Divinity Ogme so that she could send you one. Take good care of yourself. I send you a big hug.

  Ophélia

  "It's rather rare for Mother-Ophélia to forget something… At the same time, it was thanks to her magic that we dealt with this kind of thing…"

  With caution, he opened the package and discovered a perfectly smooth grey stone, taking the shape of a bar. The object weighed half a kilogram and featured two distinct magical engravings on its main faces. Next to the stone was an instruction sheet, as well as the two usage formulas. The larger surface bore an engraving allowing the stone to be heated, thus facilitating the ironing of the fabric with the formula ? warms and smoothes ?. The second engraving was intended to detach dirt and impurities from the fabric when passed over it, with the formula ? purifies and cleanses ?.

  "I really hadn't thought about how to care for my clothes… Thank you, Mother-Ophélia."

  The young boy then placed the stone on his desk and resumed his way to the facilities. Once he was finished, he dressed simply by putting on a long-sleeved shirt and beige trousers, then equipped himself with his short sword. He then drank a large glass of water which he had previously filled using a jug that he had managed to recover after the banquet, before leaving his room and heading to the ground floor.

  On the wall at the entrance, Elwyn noticed a board on which four cards were pinned. Each of them communicated the time and subject of classes for each day for the four different years of study. He saw, therefore, that the first years had one hour of ? Mastery of the Quill ?, two hours of ? General Knowledge ?, and one hour of ? Etiquette and decorum ? before noon. In the afternoon, they had two hours of ? Theory of Magic ? for magicians or two hours of ? Manual versatility ? for non-magicians. Finally, one hour of ? Fitness ? and one hour of ? Magic practice ? or one hour of ? Combat mastery ?.

  "We get eight hours of classes per day… I suppose that after that, we'll have access to the Great Library for the rest of the day…"

  Once his schedule was in mind, Elwyn headed outside and decided to leave the academy grounds. As a warm-up, he then began to jog around the large stone wall.

  The landscape surrounding the academy was a vast plain on the southern half and a budding forest on the northern part. The watercourse crossing the island passed about fifteen meters from the western part of the enclosure.

  "It’s really peaceful here…"

  Once his warm-up round was completed, the young boy returned and headed to the training ground, still completely deserted at that hour.

  He settled in the center of the arena and drew his short sword to make a few swings to warm up his shoulders and wrists. Once ready, he assumed a fighting stance and began repeating movements he had learned from Volden, simulating a fight against imaginary opponents. Every movement was calculated, quick, and precise. Remembering every movement of feet and hands, the position of the legs and hips, the posture of the back, the height of the shoulders, and the position of the sword in space with each movement. More than a physical workout, it was a way to remember every technique that Volden had taught him and to chain them together into a harmonious whole. A sort of puzzle, with the objective of not breaking the established rhythm.

  — Is that an impromptu dance class you're giving me? asked Loyd, having just joined him.

  He too was dressed in simple attire, but his outfit was purple.

  — Already up?

  — Oh yes, war waits for no one.

  — If you say so.

  Elwyn then halted his thrusting motion and faced his companion.

  — So, what are you here to do?

  — I’m here to train as well.

  — To do what? You belong to the Domain of War, you don’t need to train like me.

  — That’s where you’re mistaken. Even a Divinity must continue to strengthen herself if she wants to remain in her position. It’s do or die, especially in my Domain. Even if for you it’s different, the principle remains the same.

  — One must become better every day, in order to be able to help more and more people… I see.

  — Alright.

  The two nephilim then divided the ground in two and began, in their own way, their training. Elwyn resumed where he had left off, while Loyd made two short spears appear in each of his hands and began, in the manner of Elwyn, a fight against imaginary opponents. However, the latter was simply seeking to familiarize himself with this set of weapons and to create his own combat moves. The rhythm was not the intended goal, but rather the efficiency and practicality of each movement and sequence in combat.

  Elwyn occasionally cast a brief glance at his companion.

  “He is completely unrestrained… Each of his movements is precise… no. Every movement he makes is deadly. He strikes to kill. He moves to kill. He positions himself to kill. He breathes to kill. He is a complete weapon with his spears…”

  On his side, Loyd was also conducting some analyses.

  “He is academic. Every movement exudes repetition and the pursuit of perfection. No movement is superfluous. Every strike is clean and precise. Every positioning is perfect… Nothing is natural about him; he is just a guy like any other in the end…”

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  After half an hour of chaining at their own pace, a single bell sound from the top of the Great Library resounded, announcing the opening of the cafeteria at seven o'clock.

  Looking around, they then noticed that a few students from higher years of study were watching and quietly judging them from the stands. Elwyn pretended to ignore them and sheathed his blade, while Loyd turned his spears to dust to make them disappear. They left the arena together and returned to their dormitory to take a shower, put on their uniform, and finally head to breakfast.

  The buffet was once again abundantly stocked with numerous choices: fleshy and nutty fruits, hard-boiled eggs or in the form of fluffy omelets, various cheeses and smoked meats to put on fresh bread or wood-fired toast. To accompany it all, a wide selection of flavored teas, freshly pressed fruit juices, cow or goat milk for a creamy sweetness, or simply fresh and pure water.

  Elwyn served himself a little of everything in reasonable quantities, while Loyd preferred a heartier meal. They sat down again at the back, with their backs to the wall and facing the entrance.

  About ten minutes later, they were joined by Arimélia, who had taken a meal as varied as Elwyn’s, but as heavy as Loyd’s.

  — Did you have a good night? asked Elwyn to the half-dragoness.

  — Yes. I was still a little afraid that we would end too late last night.

  — It's true that things could have lasted a little longer anyway, remarked Loyd.

  — It would have been a shame if people couldn’t get up for the first day of class, replied Elwyn.

  — Not false… By the way, I don't see the princess. I saw her bastard blond cousin from afar, but not her. Is she still sleeping? asked Loyd to Arimélia.

  — No, I don't think so. When leaving the dormitory, I knocked on her door to warn her.

  — I see.

  It was then in silence and calm that they had their breakfast, and about twenty minutes later, two bell sounds resounded, announcing that the first class of the day was approaching in half an hour.

  — It’s been a while now… Are you sure the princess is awake? asked Loyd once again.

  Arimélia then seemed hesitant, her head turned toward the entrance and hoping for a sudden arrival of Sylaria, in vain.

  — I’m going to go check... I hope she has at least woken up, she added softly.

  Suddenly, a young girl with long lilac hair arrived running at the entrance of the cafeteria. Sylaria, completely out of breath and disheveled, immediately joined Arimélia, with a face of despair and her hairdressing tools in hand.

  — Ari... I haven't woken up... I didn't have time to do my hair... I look like nothing and I haven't eaten yet... It's almost time to go to class, she said in a plaintive tone, ashamed and with teary eyes.

  Arimélia then tried to reassure her in her arms, while the two boys watched the scene in astonishment.

  “Wouldn't she take her for her mother, now?” they said to themselves.

  — Go get yourself something to eat and come sit down. We’ll see about the rest later, said Arimélia in a reassuring tone.

  Sylaria complied and returned with a rather light plate, consisting of a slice of bread, a piece of cheese, and an apple. At the same time, breakfast time was coming to an end and the supplies had been well depleted.

  While Sylaria ate as quickly as possible and her hair was being brushed, Arimélia brushed the latter's hair, in order to save time.

  — You make quite the team, remarked Elwyn.

  Arimélia sighed slightly in exasperation at the scene.

  — The princess is someone who gets up at her leisure and at her own pace, but this hour does not match the standards corresponding to her title.

  — She's lazy, anyway, added Loyd.

  — I didn't say that, she replied to him, the half-dragoness.

  At that remark, Loyd rolled his eyes.

  Once her meal was swallowed and her hair brushed, Sylaria finally seemed to resemble someone civilized, even if something was missing in her hairstyle to match her rank.

  — Thank you, Ari, you're saving my life, she said, relieved and grateful.

  — It's nothing, replied Arimélia a little embarrassed.

  The two boys then stared at Sylaria with a dubious look, but remained silent.

  — What's the matter, you two? she asked, a little annoyed at being stared at like that.

  — Nothing, replied Loyd.

  — It's just that I have the impression that you're missing something, replied Elwyn.

  — What would I be missing? she asked, still with that slightly annoyed tone.

  — I would say that you're missing a hairstyle to give the impression of being a princess.

  Sylaria then turned to Arimélia, who looked at her apologetically.

  — I'm sorry, princess, but I haven't learned how to do that sort of thing and my hair isn't long enough to allow me to do so.

  Sylaria then looked at the ground, despairingly.

  — If you want, I can try to do something for you, declared Elwyn.

  The three gazes turned towards him, perplexed.

  — What? he asked.

  — Nothing, it's just that you don't seem to have that kind of skill, replied the skeptical princess.

  — And if that's the case, you really haven't done anything with your life, added Loyd.

  Elwyn then shrugged his shoulders.

  — It's just a proposal from me, it's not as if I'm complaining about not being styled.

  Sylaria's cerulean gaze fixed heavily on Elwyn for several long seconds, with a strongly hesitant look. Time was pressing, but doubt continued to hang over her.

  — You should accept, princess. It's not as if you have any other choice at the moment, and it will teach you to get up so late, added Arimélia.

  — Buh... alright..., replied the plaintive Sylaria.

  Elwyn then took his place behind the princess, who placed her hairpins and ribbons on the table.

  The young boy then took the brush used by Arimélia and divided the hair into two symmetrical sections, which he tied on one side with a ribbon so as not to be in the way during the braiding.

  With a gentle and delicate gesture, but with a certain speed and dexterity, he took the hair at the nape of the young girl's neck and divided it into three strands, before braiding them by passing under the middle strand. He then went around one side of the head, going up to the top of the forehead, before securely tying the end. He did the same on the other side, but starting from the top of the head down to the nape. Finally, he ran the first braid over the top of the head, going from left to right, and secured it with a pin. He did the same with the other, but going from right to left, while attaching the first braid and securing it in turn. Once the braids were firmly fixed, Elwyn stepped back and examined his work.

  — It's done, I've finished.

  Arimélia, who had fully observed his work, was left speechless at the more than acceptable and unexpected result from the young boy.

  — So, what do I look like? asked Sylaria with great apprehension.

  — You really have useless skills. What kind of life have you had to know how to do that? asked Loyd, mumbling to himself.

  — So? asked Sylaria again, still anxious.

  — It's fine, you are perfect as you are, Arimélia eventually replied to her.

  Then the princess let out a sigh of relief before turning to Elwyn.

  — Thank you very much… and… sorry for doubting you, she told him, embarrassed by her own behavior towards him.

  — No problem, princess, the young boy simply replied to her.

  Suddenly, the bell began to ring three times, signaling the start of classes at eight o'clock.

  — Looks like I managed to do everything in time, remarked Elwyn.

  The four individuals left the cafeteria together and quickly joined the mass of students in blue ties and ribbons just in front of the northwest tower, the first-year tower.