The Garden

Kyle then heard the whispering voices behind him… He wasn't sure which of his attribute improved his sense of hearing but he was quite thankful for it.

"Brass Emblem… Another noble family, huh? I wonder which family is he from…"

"He doesn't have a fancy carriage. His luggage case is new but cheap. His coat is the same… I'm guessing he's a son from a countryside noble family."

"Nice try… But it's not… I'm 70% sure that he just robbed that emblem from someone. Did you not hear about the incident--"

"Idiot… The emblem is marked. You can't steal it. The guard will be able to tell."

"Whatever, he still looks like a newspaper seller in the streets of our city… Heh heh…"

Kyle could only sigh in his mind as he waited for the guard to finish inspecting the emblem.

"Uhmm… Ehem… Is there something wrong?" Kyle asked the guard after noticing that it was taking some time.

"Nothing… We just need to scan it. Wait for a moment." The guard replied as he handed the brass emblem to one of his colleagues.

After a few seconds, the scan was finally completed.

"Vale Chambers… You may enter." The cold and deep voice from the other bulky guard stopped everyone from gossiping.

In the meantime, Kyle was also curious about how the guard learned his name through that invisible scan.

The brass emblem doesn't have any other texts engraved on it aside from the "Vermont Academy" written at the bottom part of the insignia.

However, the guard only held it for a few seconds and he didn't use any mystical item but he still learned of his identity.

After getting the emblem back, Kyle briefly glanced at the people behind him.

Well, he just wanted to look at the guy who called him a newspaper seller.

Although it was true, that was over a year ago and many things have already happened. It didn't feel nice being called as such once again and it was also quite rude since it feels like he was being mocked.

After remembering his face, he decided to just continue entering the gate.

He would first have to get verified in the Registrar Office so he can get his uniform and ID. He would further be assigned to his dormitory after that.

There are several signposts pointing in the direction of various offices and buildings so it wasn't that difficult to find the Registrar Office.

Kyle passed through the Auxillary Supplies Room, First Information Room, and Lockers Room, before arriving at the Registrar.

In the meantime, he also noticed that the academy castle, or building, appears properly maintained and there is almost no moss or dirt that can be found on the walls and stone pillars.

"Next!"

Kyle heard a female voice behind the window of the office as the next student approached her.

It didn't take long until his turn since there are three windows assisting the students.

The process is smooth since Mr. Heinz has already completed all the requirements that must be submitted and he only needed to show up for the formalities.

In just a few moments, he received a small box containing his uniform including his identification card and the keys to his dormitory room.

"Do you have any questions?" The beautiful lady in the office asked with a smile after providing all of these things.

Perhaps, if this is a normal Academy, he would think that this kind and gentle-looking lady is a harmless person. However, after knowing Lesley or even Denise, he's sure that this lady is also a Spellcaster.

"Ahem… I would like to know if the dormitory room I'll be staying in is for four or eight people…" Kyle asked after organizing his thoughts.

"Since you're assigned to the Seven Pillars Garden… It'll be a four people room, Vale. As I've checked, you already have two roommates assigned to your room seven…" The office lady replied after checking the documents.

She then continued to explain that the Seven Pillars Garden has seven rooms that can accommodate a total of 28 people.

All the other dormitory rooms are for 8 people already.

"I see…" Kyle nodded as he also realized that it was all thanks to the brass emblem that he could stay at the Seven Pillars Garden.

It seems to be a nice place and only nobles, or people with a great background, can stay in the Seven Pillars Garden.

After thanking the kind office lady, Kyle followed the direction leading to the Seven Pillars Garden.

Normally, he would still have to visit the Health Room for a medical check-up and meet the Vice Headmaster in the Academy Admin Office for shadow extraction before he can get his uniform. However, all these steps were omitted thanks to the early arrangement made by Mr. Heinz.

"Ohh… This looks really nice…" Kyle muttered in admiration after seeing the Seven Pillars Garden at the separate building close to the left wing hall of the Academy.

The garden has a monument of a four-winged horse made of black stone at its center. Then, surrounding this garden were the seven rooms arranged in a crescent moon form.

As Kyle was thinking of going close to the monument to read its description written on a steel plate, he saw someone going out of room seven so it immediately attracted his attention.

'Hmm?'

It is a young man with short gray or maybe a little silver hair wearing the uniform of the Academy. With the way he carries himself, Kyle can guess that this person is indeed noble.

Then, four more students from different rooms appeared as they seem to have planned to go somewhere.

Kyle then heard their conversation although he didn't really plan to.

"Zeno! I heard that the first thing we'll do after the ceremony is to reveal our Spirit Strands… Is it true that there's going to be a reward for the highest scorer?" A chubby young man asked the silver-haired youth after they met.

"It's true… However, don't think too much of the reward since I'll be taking it for sure." Zeno replied without any hint of arrogance in his voice as if he was simply reminding his friends.