Road to Academy

The Rama Tree, a place where Vin, Renz, and Jeannie took a moment to rest. The cool breeze drifted through the air as the sun began to set. A beautiful moment, yet one destined to end.

They rose from their resting place and continued along the path they had chosen. Now back to her usual cheerful self, Jeannie walked ahead of Vin and Renz.

"Come on, I have some important information."

Her sweet and gentle voice carried a sense of excitement as she walked with a bright expression.

Vin and Renz exchanged glances, silently acknowledging their thoughts about Jeannie.

"It's good to see her cheerful again,"

Renz said with relief.

"Yeah… but what was she about to say earlier?"

Vin wondered, directing his question toward Renz.

Walking ahead of them, Jeannie caught a bit of their conversation as they moved together.

"Do you two know about the 'party' system?"

She turned her gaze toward them, a smug expression on her face.

"No, we don't,"

Renz responded, curiosity evident in his voice.

Vin glanced at Renz with an unreadable expression before shifting his gaze to Jeannie.

"Jen, you're from Valiky Elf, right? You probably know a lot about that system."

Having some prior knowledge about the Valiky Elf race, Vin sought confirmation about what Jeannie was about to reveal.

Jeannie smiled at Vin before turning her gaze toward the path ahead. The sky was now painted in hues of orange, signaling the sun's descent.

"That's right. As a Valiky Elf, I have access to a lot of information about various things here."

"Valiky Elves are well-known for their love of reading and gathering knowledge."

"That includes the 'party' system, an interesting system unique to the Academy."

The city was growing quieter, with fewer people in sight. At that moment, the street lamps began to glow, illuminating the path ahead.

Renz, who had been intently listening to Jeannie, was suddenly distracted by the bright light emanating from the street lamps.

"Wow, how is there a tiny sun over there?"

His face lit up with curiosity and amazement.

Vin, who had remained silent, observed something peculiar. Beneath the street lamps, he noticed a faint flow of magic.

"(Magic? Is that light powered by magic?)"

He questioned internally.

Jeannie, still in the middle of explaining, gave Renz a short answer to satisfy his curiosity.

"That's a magic lamp, powered by fire magic. It's similar to the Fireball spell we saw earlier at the Academy, but it doesn't require mana."

Renz was momentarily puzzled.

"Fireball at the Academy? Wait… when did we go there?"

His confusion was evident as he turned to Jeannie for clarification.

Meanwhile, Vin's expression darkened as he stared at Jeannie, his brows furrowing.

"(So… she knows about the time loop incident?)"

Jeannie stiffened, realizing what she had just said. She bit her lip anxiously, scrambling for an explanation.

"Eh, um… What I meant was… when we first entered the Academy."

"You saw it, right? That zodiac engraving when we stepped inside."

"That's what I meant."

Her voice was laced with nervousness, and she avoided making eye contact with Renz.

Vin quickly stepped in to divert the conversation.

"The zodiac engraving lit up because of magic. That's all. The magic used is the same as the one in these street lamps."

His expression remained unreadable as he looked at Renz.

Still puzzled, Renz slowly nodded in understanding.

"Oh, I see. Then… Jeannie, what were you about to say earlier?"

Shifting the topic now that he had grasped the explanation about the lamps, Renz turned back to Jeannie.

She continued walking, still somewhat tense, placing a hand over her chest to steady herself. But when Vin had stepped in to save her from further questioning, she let out a relieved sigh.

"Well, that's the gist of it. Oh, look over there, the Academy is in sight."

"I'll explain more once we get there."

Taking the opportunity to change the subject, Jeannie pointed toward Dilveria Academy.

Even from a distance, its grandeur was undeniable. The Academy's towering pillars reflected the glow of the magic lamps that lined the streets, adding to its magnificence.

"Will we still be able to enter now that the sun has set?"

Vin glanced at Jeannie, clearly uninterested in the Academy's beauty.

Renz, on the other hand, was in awe.

"We can still register. The Academy remains open until tomorrow."

"It only opens once a year. Right now is the perfect time, since the Academy opens every August."

Jeannie patiently explained to Vin.

At that moment, Vin turned to Jeannie with a serious look.

"How do you know about the years and months?"

His gaze was sharp as he questioned her.

"It's simple. The Elf race has a sort of calendar, it marks the passage of years and months."

"It works by tracking the appearance of the red moon."

"A red moon signifies the completion of a year. But three days ago, on August 16th, the red moon appeared differently."

"Perhaps this unique red moon emerges once every 17 years."

Jeannie explained calmly as they approached Dilveria Academy.

"(That's the month I was born… I feel like there's something unusual about that moon.)"

Vin briefly speculated about the event. Something about that red moon lingered in his mind, as if it held a deeper connection to him.

With the sun now fully set, Vin, Renz, and Jeannie arrived at the Academy's front gates. Darkness enveloped the city, but the glow of magic lamps adorned the streets and houses, casting an enchanting light upon the world around them.