Chapter 33: Unexpected Encounter
1052 Words
After arriving back at the academy, Caine decided to just head back to the dorm and rest up for the entire day.
The next day, the staff delivered the completed academy uniform to Caine. The uniform was a plain white coat with golden threads sewed on all edges and the Royal Academy's Crest embroidered on the top left.
Caine quickly put the uniform on and headed to the classroom he recieve today's lesson.
The lessons today were about the basic fundamentals of the four common elements.
In order for one to get more powerful in magic, one would have to deepen their understanding of the elemetal laws that govern it.
It seems for the first three years of the academy, the students will be taught about the first four elements, Earth, Water, Wind, Fire. Then for the final year, they will move on to Illusion, Lightning.
As for the last two remaining elements, well… First of all, there ain't many users who are able to wield those two elements thus there ain't as much information as the other six elements, and second, the students don't need it anyway, if the students ever cross path and antagonize a wielder of those two element then the only outcome will be death.
Of course, the Imperial Academy doesn't only just teach the students about magics, they also teach them about the history of this empire and the neighboring empires, as well as politics and finance. After all the students who come to this school are nobles and some will inherit their family title.
"And so today's lesson shall end here. Oh right, Hasen-Sensei wanted me to tell you that tomorrow's lesson on history will be at the Stone Runes, so please prepare yourself for tomorrow's trip."
"""Yes!"""
…
During lunch, Caine decided to go out to explore the town for a bit.
The town was huge, it was full of shops and restaurants, it was well organised, the travelling merchants were all lined up neatly.
Unlike the city that Earl Rustichel governed, the roads here are all paved in concrete slabs. It's also much more wider!
Caine couldn't help but immerse himself with the street foods, the aroma is just too good!
"Mnn! Delicious!" The food humans eat is hundred times better than the food Caine ate back when he was still an ancient dragon. The food he ate before was all raw and tasted like blood.
It could be helped, with his large body in the past, he couldn't really do much. Even if he tried frying the meat with fire, it would just get burned into charcoal right away.
"Huh…? Ain't you Caine?" A boy wearing the same uniform as Caine suddenly called out from the side.
"L-Lucas."
"Ah, so you remembered my name."
"Of course." Everyone introduced themselves during the mock battle, and what's more Lucas was one of the opponents that he defeated during the match.
'If I remembered correctly, he is Lucas Von Ronfield. His father is an Earl, who is also the Captain of the Royal Guards that govern the Royal Capital's defence.'
"So Caine, you must also come to town to buy whatever necessary for tomorrow's trip right?" Lucas asked.
'Huh? Of course not, if I ever needed anything during the trip, I'll just make it with creation magic. I'll be bringing a magical bag as a disguise.' Caine thought to himself, however, just as he was about to reply yes, a young woman about 16 years old appeared out of a store, holding some wrapped up boxes and called out to Lucas.
"Young Master, the manager said that the remaining goods will soon be delivered to the academy."
"Ah yes thank you. By the way, Caine this is Lisa. Lisa this is Caine Von Rustichel."
The young woman looked at Caine and slightly bowed, "Young Master Caine."
"A-ah, Caine is fine. You could just drop the formality." Though he was used to being called that back in the Earl's estate, however, he still finds it quite long and unnecessary.
"Alright, Caine it is then." The young woman replied instantly.
Lucas chuckled then said, "Lisa is serving me as my personal servant during my stay in the academy, but she is also an apprentice knight, working to join the royal army."
'An a-aprentice knight as a personal servant?' What is an apprentice knight doing as a servant? Training?
Lucas who seems to notice Caine's complicated expression quickly added, "It can't be helped, all of the servants serving at my father's estate are either apprentice knights or veterans. Even the butler is a 35 years old veteran who fought alongside my father in the past but was injured during one of their subjugation missions."
Yeah, but still. That's still unusual even for a captain of the Royal Soldiers.
Realising the atmosphere had become awkward, Lucas spoke up again, "Cough… Caine, you must have finished buying your preparations right? Well, seeing that your servant is not with you, it must mean they went back with the goods."
"Y-Yes, I have finished buying them." Caine smiled wryly, he wasn't going to correct him if possible.
"Alright! Caine, do you want to come with me to get a drink?" Lucas suddenly dropped all formalities and put his arm around Cain's shoulders. No in fact, there was no formality in the first place!
"...Drink, you mean alcohol?" Caine tried to reply with a straight face.
"Yes, alcohol."
"Y-Your father permits you to have alcohol?" Caine asked in surprise.
Lucas shook his head and replied while dragging Caine along, "Of course not, but he doesn't know."
Caine smiled wryly and turned to look at Lisa.
Seeing that Lucas quickly replied, "Don't worry, Lisa is on my side. She wouldn't report it back to father."
"Come on just a cup. Even if I only could take a cup, after all we are only eight." Lucas added.
'So you know that you are eight years old?' Caine shook his head but then he said to himself, 'Mother will kill me if she ever find this out.'
…
"C-Caine, -Burp!- how come y-you ain't d-drunk at all?!" Lucas asked while being dragged out of the bar by Lisa.
"I told you to not force yourself." Caine shook his head. Lucas decided to have a competition to see who will get drunk first, but the result is just too one sided!
That's because Caine's vitality is just way too high for alcohol to affect him. Even if he drank poison, there wouldn't even be fart!
'Sigh… Seems like my alcohol tolerance is just way too high.'
- Writer
