Chapter 4: Blue Hawk

Alec once again set his sights upon the road before him. It wasn’t quite a procession, but at least several dozen people had passed him by while he figured out his current situation. Most of them had been going in the same direction.

If he hadn’t been mistaken, there had also been a lot of kids.

He was in a kid’s body. This was the start of a save-the-world mission set in a fantasy world.

’Alex did always like his ’classics’ as he called them. Clichés.’ Alec sighed.

He wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with the System and if it had guessed how Alex would have started his journey if he had been the one to get roped into saving the world. But academies and schools were a staple in fantasy stories with young main characters.

It was only natural that his first stop in Miteria was an academy where he could learn more about the world, the politics, the people in it, and lay a foundation for his future strength. After all, it was a fantasy world with swords and magic. A proper school wouldn’t just be teaching subjects like math and geography.

Combat, magic, swordsmanship, and so on would also be part of the curriculum.

If Alec wanted to understand the power system his brother had set up for this world and then also use it to become strong enough to save the world in the original protagonist’s absence, a school that taught it was a good place to start.

’Is there anything else you need or should tell me?’ Alec asked the System as he stood up, left the hill, and stepped onto the road in the direction of the city.

[I’ll be able to tell you more about things as they become relevant.]

’She’ll be ’able,’ huh? I wonder why my System is restricted.’ But clearly, that was not something he could answer now. So, he trudged along the road and listened in to what few conversations he managed to overhear.

Fortunately, his clothes had also been replaced by outerwear more suitable to the medieval setting his brother liked to use. Simple, durable, and a little uncomfortable.

Alex had expected the city gates to hold some kind of inspection, and that he would have to find a way through, despite not having a passport, ID, or any papers. That was not the case. The gates were wide open, letting everyone in the company of a child inside. Lone children were also granted entry.

The only ones stopped by the guards wearing armor were groups or singles with nothing but adults, and groups where the children looked uncomfortable.

He wanted to slow down and listen in, but the crowd ushered him forward. Before he could think about where to go, an electronic trilling sound rang out inside his head again.

[Welcome to Gorao, home to the Vongrad Kingdom’s most prestigious institute of learning, the Royal Academy. Built upon the ruins of an ancient civilization, it is the cradle nurturing the kingdom’s future strength, the foundation of its current dominion.

[But beware, the Academy and the city are not without secrets. Danger lurks in the shadows.]

Alec stopped.

’That’s handy.’

“Move!” Someone shouted while simultaneously tackling him out of the way of a horse-drawn carriage that rumbled past in a hurry.

Alec and his savior fell to the ground with a couple of pained groans from Alec’s end. His savior had tried to make sure it wasn’t too bad, despite the sudden tackle, but being pushed onto cobblestone was going to hurt regardless.

“Ouch,” Alec said as the boy who saved him got off him and held out a hand.

Alec took it and pulled himself up while glaring at the ostentatious back of the carriage that almost ran him over. He took note of the blue hawk crest before turning back to the ordinary-looking boy who had saved him.

“But thanks. I have a feeling getting trampled by those horses would hurt a little more than hitting the ground.”

“I have a feeling your feeling is pretty accurate.” The ordinary-looking boy smiled and gave Alec’s hand a shake.

“Taryeon.”

“Alec.” He returned the shake.

“I doubt I need to ask, but I assume you’re also here for the entrance exam?” Taryeon asked while nodding in the direction Alec had been staring in before the incident. It was the tall building that was visible even from outside the city. It was the Royal Academy of the Vongrad Kingdom.

It was the biggest set of buildings Alec had ever seen. He had been to universities before that could contend in terms of the amount of space used.

But not even Notre Dame could compare to the height and decor of the Royal Academy.

The design reminded him slightly of the Roman and Italian medieval architecture, but if he had to compare them, the Royal Academy was sharper and less unnecessarily ornate. It was pretty to look at, but that wasn’t the intent behind its construction.

Alec nodded.

“You too?”

“Naturally. I know we haven’t even done the exam yet, much less passed it, but do you know which division you want to go to?”

’Well, shit. I don’t even know what divisions there are.’

“N-no, not yet.”

Taryeon raised an eyebrow.

“Really? I was just asking to be polite. I thought for sure you would want to be a mage with a build like yours.” He pointed at Alec’s body.

Alec looked down.

He was scrawny. He was skinny even before the transmigration, and the transmigration had only made him smaller.

He did not look like someone who fit the ’sword’ part of a swords-and-magic fantasy.

“Well, that’s an option.”

Taryeon looked at the suns’ location in the sky and patted Alec’s shoulder.

“Well, you still have until we arrive to decide. Just so you know, I’m going to study to become a mage.” Taryeon then pointed at another kid standing a few steps behind him.

“That’s Isidore. He’s going to enter the Warrior division. So you’ll have an acquaintance wherever you choose.”

’Does that mean there are only two divisions? Mage and Warrior? And I guess Warrior is the general term for non-mage superhumans? A little unimaginative, don’t you think, Brother? But I guess it works.’

Alec nodded.

“I’m grateful, both for saving me and taking the time to talk with me, but I have to ask…” Alec stopped walking, forcing Taryeon and Isidore to do the same.

“What do you want with me?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep