Chapter 16: “A Ruff Morning (2)”

In the original novel’s prologue, this day at the academy was meant to be the first major turning point. She recalled how the story went: Arthur and his childhood friend Liana, in an attempt to get to the academy on time, took a “shortcut.” This, however, only caused them to arrive late to the academy.

Shortly after they set foot on the massive academy grounds, a demon in hiding launched a surprise attack.

Celestia clicked her tongue. ‘That ridiculous author,’ she thought, ‘Setting up a grand academy, only to have a single demon attack it.’

It truly was the height of cliché.

Half a century ago, the Demon King had been slain by the legendary hero. Since then, demonkind had gone into hiding, biding their time. The sudden appearance of the Tower and its ominous 15-year deadline had been interpreted by many among the Demon Race as a harbinger of the Demon King’s resurrection.

The Orthodox Faction of the world; the alliance of Humans, Beastkin, Elves, Dwarves, and other races that had banded together under common cause, saw the Tower as a divine trial bestowed on them by the Gods.

Somewhere in their hiding, the demons had received a prophecy.

—The Demon King’s revival will be thwarted by a hero from the new generation.

To demonkind, this meant one thing, find and eliminate any potential new heroes before they could rise. And what better place to find the world’s most promising young talents than Summit Academy, the very institution gathering youths aspiring to conquer the Tower and earn glory?

Thus, the demons had begun to move in secret, planting spies and agents wherever they could to sabotage the efforts of the Orthodox Faction. The attack during the academy’s opening week was one such act of sabotage, a bold attempt to sow fear and perhaps kill a prospective hero while he was still green.

Celestia sighed, recalling how the novel portrayed it. It was just a singular demon, one that could kill a veteran knight. The creature hid itself in the academy, looking for an unassuming victim.

It had ultimately found Arthur, of all people.

The thought made Celestia roll her eyes. Arthur was undeniably brave and gifted, but he had been just a freshman student on day one, and somehow he ended up vanquishing a demon. He nearly died in the process, of course, only triumphing by the skin of his teeth.

Liana had been instrumental too, as the silver-haired girl had a latent gift for healing magic in the story which awakened to save Arthur at his moment of dire need.

“Such a generic setup,” Celestia muttered under her breath, absentmindedly fanning herself even though the morning was mild. Martha glanced up from her notebook at the sound of Celestia’s voice, thinking that her Miss called her.

‘One demon attacking the entire academy… If the demons really wanted to eliminate or instill fear in the next generation’s heroes, why send only one?’ It was a glaring plot hole that had bothered her even as a reader of the novel.

The carriage had a gentle bump, pulling Celestia from her thoughts. They had passed under a grand stone archway marking the entrance to Summit Academy’s domain. Peering out the window, Celestia saw that the books had not been exaggerated, the academy grounds were vast, an entire campus nestled in a mountain and surrounded by dense evergreen forest. A well-maintained path wound through the trees, wide enough for multiple carriages, and indeed there were other carriages visible ahead and behind hers along the route. Some carried noble families delivering their children in style, while others looked to be public carriages ferrying groups of students who could afford the fare. Off to the side of the path, Celestia could see clusters of students on foot, hiking up the trail with their luggage carried behind them by hired porters or on their own backs.

The road emerged from the thick woods to the sight of an immense open courtyard. As her carriage rolled onto the cobbled plaza, Celestia’s eyes widened ever so slightly. It was like entering a small city within the mountains: a central quadrangle spread out before her, easily large enough to fit several football fields end-to-end. Beyond the lawns and walkways stood imposing buildings.

To the north end of the grounds, built against the rising slope of the mountain itself, were three soaring towers of differing heights; mage towers, by the look of them. They were cylindrical and made of smooth grey stone, with small windows spiraling upward.

‘Those must be the personal laboratories or offices of the three Archmages on the principal-council.’ The academy was famous for its trio of Archmage principals, each of them a master of a different school of magic.

The carriage circled a central fountain where water danced and sprayed in a gravity-defying magical display. Finally, it veered toward one side of the massive courtyard, heading closer to a cluster of buildings that seemed slightly removed from the academic halls. Celestia spotted a signpost they passed: “Female Dormitories” with an arrow pointing further along a split path.

After a few more minutes, the carriage slowed to a smooth stop in front of one of the dormitory buildings, which were all four stories tall.

Martha quickly tucked away her notebook and stepped out of the carriage first. She turned to offer a hand to Celestia as the young noblewoman descended. Celestia emerged with one hand lightly holding her skirt, the other still gripping her closed fan.

For a moment, conversation around the dormitory entrance hushed.

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A small crowd of students had gathered near the dorms, some arriving with their own luggage, others simply chatting and enjoying the social scene before the day’s events. The carriage’s arrival and its distinctive crest drew attention immediately, and when they saw her, recognition sparked murmurs.

Celestia Von Reingarde was known to many by reputation. Whispers darted from student to student:

“That insignia’s from House Reingarde, isn’t it? A ducal house from the Empire…”

“…I heard that Celestia Reingarde was attending this year.”

“She’s really pretty… but I also heard she’s… um… not someone you want to cross.”

“I heard she made a maid from her estate cry and beg on her knees for spilling tea once!”

“No way, really?”