Chapter 12

Eva Lemuria-15 years old

Today is the day I finally have to go the academy. It has also been a year since I became an adventurer. This year I stayed at 5th tier adventurer and completed many 5th tier missions. They were almost all easy for me to complete without much trouble or effort. The only time I had any sort of complications with a 5th tier mission was when an unexpected factor showed up. Things similar as to my first mission seem to actually happen more often than the guild lets on it seems. I know it can't just be me running into this problem, but I guess the other adventures have just learned how to deal with these problems.

4th tier missions are another story. I've only completed six 4th tier missions because they were all guaranteed to not have any unexpected factors. It would be really bad for me to take a 4th tier mission only for it to end up as a 3rd tier or above. For that reason, I stuck with the safer missions that popped up over time and each time they were a challenge for me. I fought only mana beasts of the 4th tier during these missions and I actually learned a lot from fighting them. The 4th tier missions were all to subjugate mana beast and each one was completely different from each other. A mana beast uses their magic as pure instincts once their animal instincts take over. A mana beast usually has a more human-like knowledge and way of thinking but once they start fighting their instincts take over and their mana becomes more raw with animalistic characteristics.

When I was fighting a lightning night tiger it had used magic that gave me an idea that I've been working on for six months. The tiger had eaten its own magic and then released a condensed beam of lightning at me. It would have definitely killed me if I wasn't covered in my flame armor before hand. I don't plan on eating my own mana but it had given me another idea that I haven't accomplished yet although I know I should be able to get it in the academy. It where I plan to create and train my new spells.

This is one of the reasons so many people go to the academy. The Academy offers to teach students spells they can use up to a certain point before they stop giving out spells and instead start encouraging the students to begin creating their own spells. A spell that is customized for someone will always be more powerful than a generic spell that everyone knows. My spells have actually almost all evolved in their own way and I've been told most of my original spells are completely different from others, while I personally feel they still need a lot of work.

This year has been productive in more than just my training. My relationship with others has improved tremendously this past year than in the past. Mother has always been clingy and stuck to me like glue when she can. This past year she would always welcome me back and then begin to treat any wounds I had herself. She may have done it a little forcefully and if my injuries were ever even a slight bit more serious than usual she would take the bandages and tie me up for a whole day so I couldn't go adventuring. She was a little too serious about my safety sometimes.

As for Lora, I realized at some point that I had let her in a long time ago. I remember before when she was born I didn't want to get close to her because I was afraid she'd hurt me the same way as George. Instead, she's constantly been at my side always clinging to me and treating me as her beloved Big Sis. I still fear the day she will suddenly change like George and either begin to fear me or she will start to hate me. For now, the only thing I can do is just keep the status quo the same. I will keep enjoying my time playing, reading, and talking to my cute little sister.

As for my non-family, I've actually had a couple of get-togethers with Cathy. I really didn't think I'd see her again after my birthday party, but one day while I was outside eating with Mother and Lora on a day I decided to take a break from adventuring someone came in and announced that Catherine Mercury had come to the castle to visit me. I wondered what she had wanted so I went to our reception room and found her there with one attendant standing behind her with a blank expression. She had told me she came to visit and hoped I wouldn't mind. I was a little confused on if she came for a specific purpose but she only responded she just wanted to have tea or talk with each other. I agreed and it was a nice day so I told her to come by in all the days that I decided to take a break from adventuring.

The adventures guild seems to have completely changed in this past year for some reason. Before almost all the women had kept their heads down and followed the males but now there's only a small portion of the women that still follow. Those few only follow if they actually like the guy or if they really do depend on them.The women have all formed their own parties and sometimes those parties will actually group up to take missions. Apparently, many adventures are actually rising up in the ranks for the first time in a while since they had joined the guild. I'm not sure what brought this change but I do feel a little left out because anytime I talk to the women in the guild they call me Miss Eva instead of just Eva. Still, they are all very friendly and always tell me information if they ask for it and sometimes they'll ask me about my missions I've taken and then they'll all gather around as I talk about it. I once asked Susan why they treat me like that. I asked if my identity got leaked, but she denied that and then just said they're admirers. I'm still a little confused about it but most of the time I let it go. Jones from my test is someone I haven't seen since my test so I assume he's either sleeping somewhere or on a higher ranked mission.

Overall this has been one of the best years that I've had. One issue would be that George would come home from the holidays and each time he's become more arrogant and hateful towards me. His hatred has become almost unbearable. It becomes so bad that when he challenges me to a duel like he usually does he actually has killing intent mixed in with his attacks now. He seems to firmly believe I'm just a monster that needs to be subjugated. Our fights have naturally gotten more intense because we've both have become stronger than when we were kids. I noticed how most of his spells don't feel as if they match him. He mainly focuses on his earth element and seems to have completely neglected his metal sub-element. The only difference is he has the ability to control six swords instead of two. I asked Shadow about it and apparently, Roland had only been teaching George his own spells and George hasn't made a single one of his own.

It makes it hard to believe that George is actually considered one of the stronger students at the academy. Shadow has told me that George is liked by many of the students at the academy. Girls fall in love with him and guys admire his supposed strength. I decided once I arrive at the academy myself that I'll try to keep a low profile. Wearing armor is not allowed but people are still free to change their uniforms however they want. When my uniform had arrived I quickly burned the long skirt and had a pair of pants made for mobility then I had a hood attached to it while afterward, I had the entire outfit enchanted. Now I have a uniform that's a mixture of white and a dark blue. There's also some gold trims, but overall I'm satisfied with my uniform in every way except if my hood is down the whole uniform seems to enhance my hair making it more noticeable.

Right now I'm sitting in a carriage in my uniform headed towards the Academy. Both Mother and Lora are with me and they're both crying like it's the end of the world. I guess this is the first time I have noticed they're a bit too attached to me. I thought Lora might be jealous of all the attention from Mother that I receive, but Lora seems to have slowly become exactly like Mother. It's something I feared would happen and now it has happened. Since I'm a first-year student I won't have a break until winter and then after that, I won't see them till I become a second-year student. This seems to be the reason for the breakdown. I'll even admit it will be a long time but I've luckily brought my armor and my weapons with me. I have my dagger hidden in my uniform and my halberd is wrapped up on the roof of the carriage. Mother had told me not to walk around with it all the time, but what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

“Mother we've arrived so its time to say goodbye.”

“But dear who is going to treat your injuries and what if someone is mean to you? Maybe I should join the academy as a teacher like that Roland. Speaking of that old man, if he gives you any trouble feel free to light his robe on fire. We have actually already told him we don't want him teaching George and more but your brother will not listen to us about this.” Mother

“Mom you have to stay at the castle and take care of Lora. She could awaken any time now so you can't be an instructor at the academy. As for that old man don't worry if he comes to cause trouble for me I won't show any mercy. By the way, you never told me about the enrollment process.”

“Oh, that is a very simple answer sweetheart. There are only two things that you will have to do before tomorrow to be registered. The first is go to the combat testing and tell them you're already an adventurer so you can skip the combat testing. After that, you just have to test your knowledge on a written test. Shadow has taught you a lot about beasts and I've taught you almost everything else so you should be fine with that. After that go to the general area where they'll tell you where your room will be. Since you are royalty you'll get your own single room but don't expect anything fancy.” Mother

“I see then this should all be very easy. I guess this is goodbye for now Mother. Lora its time to let go of me and say goodbye as well. Ok? I need to get going or we will cause a bigger scene.”

“Big Sis I don't want to let go! I want to stay with you here. Plus without you, mamma will only have me to hug and pet which is no good.” I think she just let some of her true thoughts out but ill gives her the benefit of the doubt since I know Mother can be scary.

I finally pry off Lora before shouldering my halberd while Julie appears from the second carriage with her arms filled with luggage for the both of us. I actually notice that she has more stuff for herself than me. I forgot ill have to rely on her for the rest of my time here and it scares me a little. She is like Shadow where you seem to forget she's standing next to you or you can't even feel her presence. I've gotten almost completely used to her pretense as of my maid when in the castle. She's always been there to help me change clothes and other things. The major problems would be she gets a bit too much touchy while changing my clothes and sometimes she's too perceptive with me. I give Mother and Lora a quick hug before walking away without looking back. I feel a little wetness in the corner of my eyes and wipe it away thankful Julie didn't comment on it.

I tell Julie to take our stuff to the general area while I go to the combat testing. As I'm walking I notice that I still draw attention from others, but it's not because of my hair or eyes, it's instead because I'm wearing a hood and pants, but I have a clear womanly figure. The other eye catcher is my wrapped up halberd on my shoulder. The looks are annoying but I'm used to far worse so I do my best to ignore them as I follow the flow of new students to the combat testing.

I reach an area filled with instructors watching students fire their spells at training targets or slash with their weapons at a training dummy. I spot an older man sitting behind a desk filled with paperwork so I walk up to him and see a sign for adventures check in. He seems to be filling out paperwork. I can tell he's bored of it since not many students become adventures till they after they start school.

“Hello, I'm here to check in as an adventurer. Is now a good time?” I try to be polite because you never know who someone is and I refuse to judge someone just on appearance.

“Yes, Miss now is a perfectly fine time. All we need to start with is your name and adventures rank. I'll then look up your information and give you an armband with your rank. I will also give you a paper that will go with the one you'll receive from the knowledge test that both go to the general information.”

“Okay my name is Eva Lemuria and I'm a 5th tier adventurer. Also please keep most of my information as confidential as possible please.” He nods then turns around to an enchanted stone. Apparently, these are used to store information on all registered adventures in the guild. The few stones there are, are all connected to each other which is why only well-guarded locations have them. I'm glad I was polite because this old man must be strong to be the only one guarding this stone.

“Well, I found you Princess Eva and it seems you have an amazing record with no failed missions and several 4th tier missions completed. I guess the school has an amazing genius this year. Here take this form and then go take the knowledge test. I don't think you'll need it but good luck.”

I take the form and ignore everyone else around me before thanking the nice old man after slipping on my armband. I begin making my way to the other side of the school where I find the knowledge testing area. There are several desks in the room and a few instructors just standing at the edge of the room watching all the students seated taking the test. I assume they are making sure no one cheats on the test. I spot a sign in desk and approach it. It’s a similar procedure to the combat test where I give them my name and they give me a test I'm supposed to take with me to an empty seat and complete. I do exactly that and I sit down and finish my test at a slow and careful pace.

After I turn my test in they check it then and there and then fill out a form that I'm supposed to take to the general area. They quickly dismiss me and I can only ignore the rudeness because they seem to be even busier here than the combat area. I leave without complaint and go to the general area. I spot Julie waiting next to our things and I beckon her to follow me to the center desk where a line is formed in front of a few female instructors. I wait in line for what feels like forever. We finally reach the front and are greeted by a very rude instructor.

“Yah ok hurry up and give me your two forms if you have them if not go get them or just leave.” I just decide to do as she says so I don't have to speak to her. I hand my papers over and she freezes before looking up. “I'm sorry Princess I didn't know it was you. Please forgive me. I will have these finished for you quickly.” She becomes panicked, but she was really rude earlier so I don't cause any trouble for her but I don't try to forgive her either. “Here is your room key, schedule, and other basic information for you. This is the room key for your servant. Her room will be located in a servant room next to yours. Have a nice day Princess!” She still seems to be freaking out but I just grab my things and leave.

Julie and I began making our way towards our rooms but when we entered an open courtyard I'm called out by two voices. Both have complete opposite moods and I recognize both of these voices. One is someone I'm excited to see while the other I could have gone without.

“Eva!?” “Eva!”

The two people are Cathy, my first friend and my brother who hates me, George.