Lilith and I were in a carriage headed to the city of Berdun, or as everyone else called it, Academy City.
I was dressed in the academy uniform: a dark gray button-down jacket and slacks.
Lilith sat across from me, she wore a simple tunic and a pair of baggy pants. She looked out at the passing scenery with a curious expression.
"Lafayette?"
"What?"
She turned to face me. "You don't plan on sleeping around do you? I doubt my heart could take it." She grinned but she wasn't joking.
I frowned. "No, but it's not because I care about your feelings. I don't care about chasing tail."
Well, there is one, but she doesn't need to know about that.
Lilith's eyes narrowed as she leaned forward. One of her pupils was a little clouded. The one who was scarred during her time in the north.
"Good. I want you to know I'll kill any woman you take as your own. So don't go getting any attachments."
My frown deepened. "You're a child in the body of an adult. I'm sick of it, honestly."
She smirked as she reclined in her seat.
"Maybe when you graduate you can show me what real adulting is. I'm a great student, Master Lafayette."
I cringed.
There is not a day that passes without me cursing her for adopting me.
That damn dragon was both a blessing and a curse.
Mostly a curse.
I sighed deeply.
Outside, Burdun came into view.
A large urban sprawl with cobblestone streets and blue rivers.
In the center of the city were five massive towers that dominated the skyline. Connected by skyways and surrounded by a high stone wall.
The academy.
My eyes widened in genuine disbelief. "How the hell did they manage to build something so massive?" I placed my hands and face against the glass as we rolled into the city.
"Dragons and earth users," Lilith answered as she leaned against the window. "It took nearly a century."
I blinked at her answer, before it occurred to me that I spoke aloud. "It's a little overkill."
"It's an empire," Lilith replied. "Massive long-term projects are practically a necessity."
I glanced at her. "Did you ever attend here?"
She nodded. "Yep."
Our carriage rattled through the city and joined a long line of other carriages. All of them led up to a massive gate in the academy walls.
A carriage would roll up and a child dressed in the same uniform as me was dropped off.
Girls in skirts and boys in slacks.
When we were about three carriages away from the gate, Lilith crossed the cabin and sat beside me.
I tried to stand up but she pulled me back down. "Listen, I want to give you a little advice."
I yanked my arm away.
"What?"
Lilith gave me a serious look. "Stay away from fire users, they're genuinely insane."
That's rich. "Crazer than you?"
"Yes," Lilith answered instantly. "They will fight you to the death without hesitation or reason. If you plan on surviving you'll want to avoid as many of them as possible."
Just then our carriage rolled up to the gate.
Two guards stepped forward and opened the door. "Name of attending first year?" One of them asked.
A shiver ran up my spine due to the rapid intake of cool air. "Lafayette Dumica Tide."
The guard flipped through his list until he landed on my name. "Alright, come on."
I moved to exit the carriage, but Lilith pulled me back in. The guard raised a curious brow. It was obvious he recognized Lilith, though he didn't make a scene of it.
"Ma'am, you've had plenty of time to speak with your son, there is a line."
Lilith glared at him. "I'll say when I'm done."
She looked down at me, her expression softened. "Remember our deal, and what I said about fire users."
"I'll see to that." I snatched my arm from her grip. She looked me up and down, before a long sigh escaped her.
She looked like she wanted to say something else.
I didn't care enough to ask.
I grabbed my bag and got out of the carriage.
As I walked through the gate, Lilith watched me go with a conflicted expression.
Then she closed her door.
The academy grounds were littered with first years. Some of them looked lost, others had eager expressions…
And a few looked completely aloof.
I had no idea what we were supposed to wait for, so I found an isolated bench and sat there. A nearby tree provided a nice bit of shade and cover.
Before I could even enjoy the seat properly, two redheaded boys were already on the approach. Their eyes were a fiery orange.
Fire users.
How convenient.
"Hey, can we sit with you?" One of them asked as he already took his seat. The other boy sat on my right.
I was sandwiched between them.
I expected the typical anime threats. But they just sat there, loud and observant. "I could beat that guy, and that one, and that one too."
He didn't say it to brag.
He spoke as if it was fact.
The other boy nodded. "Yeah, I think we'll have it easy this year." They both looked at me. "What about you? Got any targets?"
The other boy pointed at a small girl with dead seriousness. "You could probably beat her. Or maybe him." He adjusted his finger to point out a tall lanky boy with white hair and blue eyes.
Another water user.
I reclined on the bench and ignored them.
The boys didn't seem bothered, but they stayed seated. Eventually, I could hear the voice of an adult shouting. "Alright students, form up!"
I turned to see several adults in long white robes. They walked out of the central tower and onto the courtyard.
Along with them were 24 students. 12 in uniforms that had colors correlated with their affinity. And 12 with pure white uniforms.
The two boys and I got up from our bench to join the gray blob that formed around the man with the brass megaphone.
"I said form up! Not create a mob! Have you children no discipline?!"
"Form ranks!" One of the students in a colored uniform shouted. It was orange.
The mass of first years slowly morphed into large blocks. The professor nodded in satisfaction as he walked through the space between each section.
"I am Head Professor Tectus, but as far as I'm concerned I am your new god. And it is my duty to separate the soldiers amongst you, from the breeding stock."
He paused and looked around, he made eye contact with a few students.
P"Because if you cannot fight, the only thing you're good for is producing a child that can."
A few students looked around worriedly.
Tectus continued.
"If you feel you cannot handle the pressure of becoming a page, then you will join Professor Linda for the standard course and orientation."
He pointed out another professor who gave a quick nod.
He raised a finger. "However, if you want to prove yourself exceptional. That you are the best among the best. You will stay right here, and you will run."
He stopped in front of the white-haired boy with blue eyes and looked down at him.
"Before you are even assigned a room, you will run until you've either exhausted yourself or the competition has given up. Then, and only then, will you be assigned a room and your schedule."
"Is that understood?"
The boy smirked.
"Yeah, I guess."
Tectus narrowed his eyes and looked away. "Make your choice now, but let it be known that if you choose the standard path you will stay in it until graduation."
"Because greatness cannot be taught. Either you are born with the drive, or you are not."
He stepped back.
"Now choose."
Immediately, the majority of the student body headed towards Professor Linda. She took them to the central tower. Along with the other professors.
What was left of us was about 40 students.
30 of which were fire users.
Tectus grinned at the sight. "As always, my kin wants to dominate." He slammed a fist against his chest. "Fo lixoreum!"
Every fire user slammed their fist against their chest. "FO LIXOREUM!"
Tectus's orange eyes shone with pride. He then turned to the rest of us.
"For the rest of you, it means, to victory. Before the empire, during the empire, and after the empire. We always chase victory."
He lowered his fist.
"Now, let me explain something to you." He turned towards a student in a colored uniform and grabbed him. "This is an elite scholar."
He brought the boy before us.
"He just reached the position this year. Fourth-year student Lance Voca Blaze." Lance gave a brief nod as Tectus continued.
"He and his eleven peers will choose amongst you to become their page."
Tectus released Lance and grabbed a student in white.
"This is a third-year page. They serve under sixth-year Elite scholars. Out of the 12 of you who will be chosen to be a page, only three of you might make it to this point. The rest of the positions will have been taken by someone not originally chosen."
He pushed the page aside.
"Are there any questions? No? Then let's get moving!"
He threw a hand forward. "You'll lap the grounds until only one of you remains standing! Go!"