Paladin

“This year, the academy is really making a big statement, pulling off something like this.”

“Is this to re-enact the legendary saint parting the sea?”

“Are they making us walk across? What if the lake water collapses halfway?”

“It shouldn’t, but such a grand display must require many Grand Mages… Starfall Academy truly lives up to its reputation as the Empire’s foremost institution!”

“Let’s hurry across… If the Grand Mages run out of magical power, even if we don’t suffer, they’ll think we’re being ungrateful.”

After their initial astonishment, the students on the shore gradually began to move… and once again, there was a scene of goodbyes with parents.

“Wait a minute, I feel like this situation isn’t quite right.”

Among them, a gloomy-looking boy, sickly and seemingly listless, called out to his “friends” who were about to step onto the path in the lake.

“What’s wrong, Difenlight? You’re not scared of this too, are you?”

Someone couldn’t help but mock him.

“No, I think someone did this intentionally…’ the gloomy boy said weakly.”

“Aren’t you stating the obvious? Anyone can tell it’s the work of the academy’s teachers.’

Someone scoffed, but he still extended his spiritual sense to check once, ‘Nothing at all, you’re really such a coward!“

“No, it’s not. There’s really a problem, at least over there just now…

I felt a faint magical fluctuation,’ the gloomy boy pointed towards a certain direction where the lake water had risen high.”

His “friends” all extended their senses or squinted into the distance… but found nothing.

“Honestly, Difenlight, isn’t this kid just trying to scare us?”

Someone grew impatient, “He definitely is! This kid is still holding a grudge because we mocked him wanting to join the Azure Sky Knights…”

“No, no such thing…’ the gloomy boy hastily defended himself. ‘My physical condition is indeed not suitable for joining the Azure Sky Knights.”

“Alright, stop rambling. The fact that you’re a good-for-nothing isn’t news to us… Let’s go.

Oh, by the way, since you’re so scared, you can lead the way and warn us.”

Someone grinned.

“Hiss, how could you…,’ the gloomy boy panicked.”

“It’s settled then, no refusing!”

Without further ado, they dragged the terrified gloomy boy to the very front to clear the way.

“Look, nothing happened. To be scared of this, what a good-for-nothing!”

After crossing the river, one person roughly kicked the gloomy boy to the ground, and the others burst into laughter.

The gloomy boy had nothing to say.

But at the position closest to the apparent spellcaster, he clearly sensed the traces the other party had deliberately left for him to discover.

The exquisite magical proficiency and magical power control deeply shocked him.

‘The academy… actually has such an excellent magic teacher?’

‘I must find an opportunity to learn from them.’

“Slow down, get up quickly and help us with the luggage. Don’t drop it! Or else you’ll regret it!”

Of course, before that, Difenlight’s priority was to satisfy his “friends.”

Somewhere on the shore, a silver-haired beautiful girl in knight’s attire gazed solemnly at the lake water, which had not yet fallen.

“Sword energy… Could this truly be the work of a Heavenly Knight? The school shouldn’t have teachers of this caliber.”

She gently closed her deep blue eyes, sensing carefully.

“And this gentle deliberation… can this person also perceive the breathing of all things?”

Recalling the golden-haired young man who had once guided her, she couldn’t help but sigh.

“Master, I am truly useless, unable to reach this realm even to this day.”

At this moment, two noble young ladies in mage school uniforms walked over.

“Olivia, what are you staring at? It’s time to go.’”

“I’ll be right there.’ Seeing her two friends, Olivia showed a gentle smile.”

“Speaking of which, Olivia, why haven’t you changed into your school uniform? Aren’t you tired wearing such heavy armor?”

“Not tired, and as a knight, constant arduous training is proper,’ Olivia stated firmly.”

In fact, her armor was specially weighted, heavier than a male’s plate.

One friend, however, leaned in to sniff, then covered her nose with her hand: “‘It smells awful! Olivia, how long has it been since you cleaned your armor! When we get back to the dorm, you absolutely must take a good bath!’”

“Honestly, Olivia, you’re so pretty, why be a knight? Look at that beautiful face,’ she complained.”

“Having such a beautiful face and being a knight is truly a waste of beauty!”

“Becoming a knight is my dream…’ Olivia placed her hand on her chest.”

“We know, we know. You want to follow that most famous stallion, right? We’ve heard it a million times, but mages can also follow—”

“Exactly! There are barely any female knights in the academy…

And those boys secretly call you a ‘cute ape’ behind your back, it’s so infuriating!”

“I only want to be a knight,’ Olivia’s will was firm.”

“Forget it, it’s useless to persuade you now, but is this really okay…?

I mean, will the Blue Lion family really allow you to do this?’ Her friend looked worriedly at the silver-haired girl’s iconic blue eyes.”

‘I mean, it’s not that people with blue eyes are necessarily related to the Blue Lion family, but the girl’s background, without a doubt—’

“My aspiration has always been to join the Heavenly Knight Order.”

“But didn’t the Heavenly Knight Order reject you?

And not because of your lack of strength, but because they told you to consult with your family…”

At the mention of this, Olivia’s perpetually melancholic expression couldn’t help but deepen.

“Let’s not talk about that. Let’s discuss tonight’s pajama party… Olivia, this time you absolutely must dress up beautifully.”

Her friends quickly changed the subject.

“Mmm, I’ll attend.”

Olivia couldn’t refuse their kindness and concern, but for a long time afterward, her mind remained fixed on the knight who had split the lake with a single sword.

If one were to use the process of elimination, one would discover that this was the biggest difference between her and the Skyfall Knight Order.

‘Has someone enrolled?’

‘Black Dragon Knights… No, I must go to the Skyfall Knight Order no matter what.’

On the shore.

Many people were still discussing.

“Could His Highness Ryan be looking down on us, planning to skip class on the very first day?”

“I really wish His Highness could see this scene of the lake parting, so he’d understand that our Saintfall Academy is not to be trifled with!”

The more people talked, the angrier they became, seemingly convinced that someone was definitely despising them.

“He’s already here.”

At this moment, a person spoke abruptly.

“Ah, where?”

Hearing this, people turned their heads, their expressions changing slightly.

It was a handsome young man with short red hair and golden eyes.

He wore heavy knight’s armor, and a white cape, characteristic of the Hymn Knight Order, draped over his back.

“Say, Justy… you mustn’t be reckless; that’s His Highness the Crown Prince!”

Someone couldn’t help but say.

Everyone wholeheartedly agreed; no matter how dissatisfied they were, they merely grumbled.

But this red-haired, golden-eyed young man was different.

“That depends not on me, but on him.”

Recalling the ten thousand surrendered soldiers who tragically died in the Kingdom of Reik in the East, and the hundreds of lives of the fierce Saxes family in the South.

Say Justy, known as the “Sun Knight,” looked angrily towards a certain direction in the lake.