“Lady Beatrix Gadreel Havenglow,” he murmured, holding out a hand. “Pleasure to meet you. My name is Samuel Grimwald.”
I received his hand with my free one. I expected a handshake, when he leaned down and kissed the back of my hand. My bodyguards tensed even as I stood there dumbfounded. Why was this man introducing himself to me?
When I didn’t say anything, Samuel chuckled as he straightened his spine and stood up like how I envisaged a military officer would. “You must be confused. I’m assigned as a recruiter for the Army. Well, more of an Inspector, really. And your bodyguards caught my eye during our introductory session earlier.”
“We told you; we will fulfill our duty to our lady. We have no interest in joining the Army,” Reuben growled, stepping closer to me.
“Unless mandated by the law, which will be in five years when the lady graduates,” Robin smiled, his hold on my hand tightening.
Samuel’s eyes traveled to our linked hands before meeting mine again. I could see how being an officer suited him; his frame was huge, his muscles on display despite the fit of his clothes, a complete contrast to my knights, who were more leanthan bulky. His black hair was shorn short, and his red eyes stood out in contrast to the darkness of his officer uniform.
His jaw tightened, addressing my bodyguards. “You will be considered free men and receive a salary directly from the Kingdom. You will have autonomy and as much freedom as you will possibly want. The compensation alone will be more than what a barony can afford to pay you.”
Now, it was my turn to tense up. I knew our barony didn’t have many resources, and I couldn’t even pretend to know exactly how the finances were budgeted, but did he have to say it like that? Tempting my knights with the promise of money. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame them if they chose a better financial future for themselves.
They had a different idea though when Reuben pulled me behind him and his twin. “Lord Grimwald, you dare insult our lady? I would not hesitate to stab your hand for even touching her, along with your filthy mouth.” Robin laughed, but it wasn’t filled with mirth.
I stared at their backs in shock. In normal circumstances, defying a noble would land you in prison, or even execution. However, the fact we were in the Magic Academy of Aerahelm, where technically all students were considered of equal ranking, regardless of their nobility …
Samuel chuckled, his laughs tinged with disbelief and surprise. “Such loyalty,” he muttered, glancing down at the insignia on my knights’ armor. “Aster …” He looked at me again with renewed interest swimming in his eyes, as if he was seeing me for the first time. “I will be here for the rest of the school year, as is my duty. I will see you around, my lady.”
It was only when he was out of sight that my companions relaxed, while my body was still too coiled up to be calm. What happened to my wish for an uneventful stay while I tried to lookfor a way to go back tomy world? I didn’t need these people looking in my direction.
Even more annoying was the fact I wasn’t doing anything! I wasn’t trying to get attention. I was minding my own business!
No moreevents, please, universe?
Chapter Eight
It hadn’t been a week since I had arrived at the academy, and yet it already felt like a lot of things had happened. Things I didn’t ask for. Things I didn’t want or need.
Mornings were the only time I could be by myself, because my bodyguards refused to leave me alone otherwise. I could hardly blame them; they were doing their jobs, and if anything terrible happened to me while on their watch, it would be their heads on the line.
So, I maximized my alone time by going to places a noble daughter had no business going to, aside from the library of course. My choice for today was the ranch.
The academy was more than a school. It encompassed half of the city of Aerahelm; one could reasonably claim the academy was a city in and of itself. There was a building or an area dedicated to every facet of learning, for every department, for every kind of training. One of which was the equestrian facility, where horseback riding and the care of horses were taught.
I had to use the school’s carriage system to get here, and its existence didn’t surprise me.
It reminded me of my potential modern university; it had an internal bus system that went through different stops throughout campus.
Has the school year started in my world? I was supposed to be an incoming Software Engineer student, which I realized wasone of the worst interests one could have when transported to a medieval fantasy world. No amount of computer programming skills would help me in this situation.
All I really had was my love for video games, and knowing how game systems and mechanics worked to maximize fun and entertainment. That was my dream — Software Engineer, Major in Game Development.
I swished my arm in the air again, hoping a user interface would appear. Nothing. If only it were that easy.
I watched as horses trotted around freely on the grass, within the boundaries of the ranch. Before this universe, I had never seen a horse in real life. Now, they were everywhere, and I was glad the existence of magic could keep the system sanitary. I had definitely read horror stories about how life used to be during the peak of horse usage in history.
Yes, I wasn’t a big horse fan. But it was fun watching them play among themselves. I supposed I should also learn how to ride one soon, if escaping this world involved traveling a long distance.
“What a strange face to be making for someone who intentionally had to go here and watch horses play,” someone on horseback walked towards me on the other side of the fence. I hadn’t realized there was a rancher nearby.
On closer inspection, I figured he was a student like me. He wore a training uniform with the school’s logo embroidered with his last name — Drakon.
My eyes widened at the discovery. I took in his short red hair and golden eyes, and while he was older, I knew his face. Amos Drakon, Elias’s older brother. He was bulkier and had a stronger jaw than Eli, but the resemblance was there. There was no mistaking it.
He looked surprised too, before his lips turned into a wide grin. “Bea? Eli’s friend?” He stepped down from his horse andencouraged it to trot away as he climbed the fence over to my side. Standing next to me, he was so much taller than I was, I had to crane my neck to look up at him.
