Chapter 29 – Departure (3)

The Star of Annihilation
Chapter 29 – Departure (3)
Written by : eleven

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“I see that you’ve decided to take up on my offer.”

Desmond spoke to Roy as Roy was packing his belongings into his bag.

“Yea.”

“It also seems that your manner of speaking is what seemed to tick off my brother…. Hahaha!”


Desmond laughed as he noticed Roy’s nonchalant tone with him, completely disregarding status.

Roy shrugged casually and didn’t respond as he continued to pack.


“Well, we have a few hours before we start making our way back. Have you thought about what you’re going to do when we get to the Capital?”

“A little bit.”


Roy replied, not giving out too much information.


“For an 8 year-old kid, I sure don’t feel like I’m talking to one.”

“…. I get that from time to time.”


Roy shuddered and replied.

He truly did not act his age at times. At certain times it was quite helpful, but moments like these truly made him feel awkward.

He really did not need anyone trying to pry into his reincarnation.

‘I need to be more careful to avoid eyes in the Capital.’

Roy thought as he lifted himself up, closing his suitcase up.


“Before we make our way back to Lazarus, we have to stop by the Portaz Estate and give our greetings to the Baroness. Her daughter is a little bit older than you and is starting her first year in the academy this year as well.”

“I’ll be starting this year? I thought I was too young to be qualified as a first year student.”

“I think you tend to forget who you’re talking to sometimes. Despite the fact I may be quite laid back, I am still a prince you know? Not only that, but the Headmaster is someone you’re already acquainted with and he’s already excited to know that you and your friends will be attending the academy.”


Tubel, the 8-star Grand Wizard, was the Headmaster of the Imperial Academy. Roy groaned inwardly as he thought of the man who had pestered him with questions just the other day.


“Well, I know it’ll be tough for you as most of the students are nobles or direct descendants of some of the Magician Families of the Empire. Don’t worry though. A lot of the staff and personnel there base skill and wisdom over actual background.”

“…. I hope so.”


Roy had only heard rumors of the academy in his previous life as he wasn’t blessed with the same opportunities as he had now. A lot of the independent mages in the Empire were commoners and went to second-hand academies like himself and often shunned the Imperial Academy. Though, he wasn’t sure if the student body would be snobs like he assumed, or whether it was just exaggeration from the resentment and jealousy the commoner mages held.

Regardless, he would find out soon.


“Are you all packed?”


Lucius came by to the carriage where the First Prince and Roy were.


“Yes master.”

“Good. When we get to Lazarus, don’t forget that we will resume our training immediately.”

“….Huh?”

“Oh, didn’t your majesty tell you?”


Lucius asked with a mischievous look as he tilted his head towards Desmond.

Roy felt something bothersome coming as he dreaded the next words his new master spoke.


“I’ll be one of the stand-in teachers in charge of swordsmanship at the academy.”

“Ugh.”

“Oi, don’t give me that.”


Lucius scolded Roy as Roy groaned in displeasure.


“Why though? Won’t the kids be already begging to get more individual lessons if they hear that a Swordmaster of the Empire will be teaching classes?”

“It’s a surprise.”


This time, Desmond spoke up instead of Lucius.


‘Some surprise…’

Roy grumbled as he felt Ifrit’s mark start to quiver.


– That man is truly suited to be a good teacher for swordsmanship.

‘Yeah, I know. Sometimes even I can’t believe that I’m being taught by a Swordmaster of the Empire.’

– It’s truly a good thing. Don’t slack off. It’ll also reduce the amount of things I’ll be needing to teach you as well, but we’ll still also be working on hand-to-hand combat as well.

‘Ugh….’


Roy felt like too many annoying things were coming out of this trip to the Capital. If there was a silver lining among all of this, it was that Nate, Elizabeth and his mother were coming along as well.

“Alright, get your stuff ready, I’ll go grab the others.”

Desmond spoke as he put Roy’s suitcase in his carriage for him and turned around to go fetch the others.


* * *


The carriage ride to the Portaz Estate was nothing short of dull and awkward.

The other Archmages of the other two Princes’ envoys lifted their eyebrows briefly as they saw Roy, Nate, Elizabeth, Ferneth and Mathilde climb into the carriage with the First Prince.

Normally commoners would never ride together in the same carriage as nobility, let alone royalty.

However, inside the carriage ensued rather awkward silence for Roy.

Mathilde was busy talking to the First Prince while Ferneth was teaching Elizabeth of some new spell models.

Lucius was silent the entire ride as well, while Dante, the Spearmaster, was practically a chatterbox as he conversed with Nate.


“We’re here, your majesty.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Desmond thanked the horsemen who drove the carriage and tipped him as the group hopped out of the carriage.

Outside the carriage, Roy spotted the woman he thought to be the Baroness and… her daughter.


Red wavy hair and a pair of stone, cold eyes. Her milky-pearl skin didn’t seem like it had gotten much sunlight in her few years of age, and the girl was a stunning beauty for her age.

Ba-dump.

Roy felt her heart beating excitedly as his cheeks flushed red.

‘What the hell? She’s like twelve!’

Roy cursed his adolescent body as he tried to avoid Amelia Portaz’ cold look that was directed at him and his friends.


“So glad to see you again, your majesties. This is my youngest daughter, Amelia. Amelia, why don’t you greet the Princes?”

Illidia introduced her daughter as she bowed her head respectfully.

“Amelia Portaz, youngest daughter of the Portaz Family, greets the Imperial Majesties.”

“Oh, quite the young beauty!”

Michael, the youngest Imperial Prince, joked. He was fifteen and had been ogling Illidia on their first arrival here, and was now blatantly giving Amelia a sleazy look.

‘Disgusting.’

Amelia thought to herself as she bowed her head politely and put her right hand to her chest; the gesture one gave when Nobility greeted the Royalty of the Empire.

Michael truly disgusted her, and she thought that it was quite disappointing that the Royalty had such gall to act like so.

Desmond and Howard just looked at their brother irritably, but ignored him.

Amelia’s eyes then shifted back towards the 3 younger children she had seen earlier hop out of the First Prince’s carriage.


“Ah, these are the guests of my envoy. They also happen to be attending the Imperial Academy this year.”


Desmond spoke as he saw Amelia’s eyes dart towards the group from Kerto Village.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Amelia Portaz.”

Amelia slightly nodded towards the group.

Illidia, her mother, slightly frowned when she saw the commoners in the same carriage as the Imperial Prince and hid her thoughts and emotions as she plastered a fake smile and spoke.

“Well, I think that’s enough for introductions, don’t you think my dear Amelia? Please allow us to show you to the guest rooms.”

Illidia swiftly dragged her daughter’s attention back to her, and signaled to the servants to grab the belongings of the envoy and prepare the rooms.


‘Interesting.’


Roy thought as he examined Amelia’s mana reserves.

Amelia was a 1-star mage, but almost had enough mana to reach the 2-star mark.

While this happened, Amelia’s eyes also shook slightly, although nobody noticed.


‘Ridiculous! What are those monsters?’


She had heard that the Imperial Princes had gone out to Kerto Village for ‘Royal business’. But on their way back they brought back three children and 2 adults.

One of the adults was just a two-star mage, Mathilde. While the other was one, had strength she couldn’t measure. But the three other children were what shocked her the most.

Every single one of them looked at least four years younger than her, yet at least twice as strong.

In particular, the two boys caught her attention.

The boy with blonde hair and had a blank set of eyes, devoid of emotion, and holding a spear, was a 2-star mage and probably also chasing spearmanship, but also had a very odd and unique air about him that almost felt holy, yet slightly different.


But the other boy…

He was something that almost seemed frightening.

His irises were blood-red; and his black hair swayed in the air mysteriously. His figure seemed ferocious, yet calm. But his mana was something that gave her truly the chills.

Mana was something that every human being had, no matter how little in amount. Mana never had characteristics like aura or holy power or demonic energy.

Yet, this boy’s mana was seemingly leaking out of him in monstrous reserves and felt like it would completely devour her existence if she got close.

‘Who is he…?’

Amelia shook her head, clearing her thoughts as she headed back inside the manor.


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