Orientation

Levre Stadium—the second-largest structure in Levre, surpassed only by the Royal Castle itself. It can accommodate up to twenty thousand spectators. From public spectacles to athletic trials, this massive stadium can hold any event from across the continent. Between dealing with my mother's passing and never having reached the age for my official debut, this marks the very first time I have set foot inside a structure of such grand scale. But rather than awe, my immediate thought is: How much money did Father spend to build this?

“It’s so huge!”

Amelle, walking alongside me from the dormitory, gazes up around the stone structure in wonder.

Around us, hundreds of students wear the same uniform mantle and lower-body garments as ours, signifying the junior division... while the senior students wear a noticeably deeper shade of blue.

Our class assignment was decided a week ago when we went to the clock tower together: Class 1-F. Right now, we’re searching for our seating sector together.

“Oh, look at the commoners crawling into our class…” A spiky, brown-haired noble boy sneers as we approach our class section.

“They say Class 1-F is the absolute rubbish of this year's… and now I see why. I scored a 77 on my entrance examination—why must I be forced to suffer among trash? I should have studied harder.” A green-haired boy clutches his temples, making a show of getting a headache just from seeing us.

“Wait, look at that—is that a bloody sword?” The spiky-haired boy bursts into a loud laugh, pointing at my sheath. “What century are we living in? Bringing a piece of iron in a world full of spirits? If it were a modern firearm, at least that would look fashionable… but a blade? Don’t tell me you lack even a bottom-tier spirit contract and can’t afford a musket?”

Amelle's face flushes with anger, and she steps forward to confront them.

“Lumi has a—”

Hearing Amelle almost reveal that I have a spirit, I extend my right arm to stop her. I pull her close before whispering, “Amelle, I told you before, it’s a secret that I have a spirit contract.”

“But… they’re mocking you, Lumi!”

“It does not bother me at all, Amelle. They are merely insecure children who ended up in the lowest class.”

Amelle lets out a huff as she sits near the edge of the class row, while I slide into the seat directly to her right so she doesn't have to sit next to the boys who just insulted us.

“Why are you sitting right beside me, ugly?” The spiky-haired noble boy snaps, standing up the moment I settle into the chair.

I tilt my head up, meeting his glare calmly. “You are a nobleman, are you not? I suggest you refrain from making a public spectacle of yourself in a public space where people can watch. However, if you wish to settle this later, I would be more than happy to accommodate you in private.”

The boy stammers, his face flushing crimson, before slumping back into his seat without uttering another word…

After a short while, the orientation assembly commences as the principal steps up to the central podium in the middle of the arena field… High above in the royal box, I spot my father, King Darius, seated upon the central throne. To his left sits the Second Queen, and to his right stands Prime Minister Raynald… Below them, I catch sight of Grandfather Lenningham, though he seems to be doing his best to avoid looking in my direction.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 35th annual enrolment ceremony of Levre Academy! I am your host, the third headmaster of this institution, Orphus du Nashville. To begin our proceedings, allow us to extend our warmest welcome to our distinguished guests… His Majesty, King Darius du Levre; the Second Queen, Her Highness Elizabeth van Levre; the Prime Minister, Sir Raynald Revano; and lastly, the scholar who achieved the top score on this year's entrance examination—the First Prince, Lucius! Please join me in a resounding welcome for Prince Lucius as he delivers the opening address!”

The crowd rises and gives deafening applause to Lucius. I simply follow the crowd, standing to applaud as well. I gather that even citizens from across the capital have entered the stadium just to catch a glimpse of the First Prince.

A young boy steps forward to the edge of the royal box. He possesses brilliant golden hair like my father's and blue eyes similar to my late mother's…

“Thank you for the introduction, Principal Orphus… Esteemed guests, faculty, and fellow students,” Lucius's voice filled with grace. “I am Lucius du Levre, First Prince of the Levre Kingdom. Today marks not only my enrollment into our nation's most renowned institution, but also the year of my official debut into high society. Standing before you today, I pledge to devote my entire heart and mind to the service of our kingdom as your prince and future sovereign…”

My younger brother continues his address, but my eyes drift toward the woman seated beside my father… A woman with long, straight, pale-blonde hair falling down her back. Even though her demeanour appears flawless, I still cannot bring myself to accept my father's decision to remarry so swiftly after Mother's passing. Even with the reason of securing an alliance.

An even louder round of applause thunders through the stadium after Lucius concludes his address; it seems the populace holds remarkably high expectations for him. As his older sister, I can only feel pride, seeing how he has grown into a remarkably fine prince—especially considering how effortlessly he delivered such a speech in front of this massive crowd.

My father attended today as a parent rather than a ruling monarch; he will not be delivering a formal address. Because of that, the ceremony transitions into the formal acceptance of new students into the academy.

Starting with Class 1-A, students descend to the centre of the arena, where they are presented with their student badges and official textbooks by the principal and two faculty members positioned at his sides.

I descend the stone steps toward the centre of the arena when our class is called by the secondary host from the faculty office of Levre Academy.

“I’m so nervous… my hands are shaking,” Amelle mutters in front of me.

“In an arena of this scale, the spectators in the grandstands cannot possibly discern our faces. Just think of them like ants.”

“That’s true…” Even so, she still appears restless, no doubt with this crowd size and the sea of aristocrats. Even as a princess, I might be unable to remain as calm as my little brother if I had to deliver a speech in front of all these people, because as a royal family, a small mistake is fatal.

From behind, I watch as Amelle reaches the front of the line. When her turn arrives to receive textbooks and a badge, Principal Orphus smiles warmly down at her and offers a reassuring pat on her head. She lets out a soft, happy hum before turning back toward our class sector.

Then… the principal flashes a subtle smirk at me as he hands over my materials. “Do not forget that you still have an assignment to fulfil immediately following this.”

“…Don’t tell me the primary reason you arranged for the ceremony to be hosted in this stadium was so we could fight before thousands of spectators?” I whisper.

He then reply it with a small voice instead, “That is one of the reasons, but the main reason is to celebrate First Prince Lucius’s debut into society. Surely you have no desire to be endlessly ridiculed for wielding a sword throughout your academic career? Then perform as expected.”

I can only offer a wry smile upon hearing his response…

“If I stay here too long, it will hold up the other students behind me.”

I turn around to head back to my seat alongside my classmates.

Then, before I can even take my seat—the principal’s voice echoes through the entire stadium.

“Ladies and gentlemen… As a special conclusion to today's proceedings, I would like to introduce a student entering under my personal sponsorship—Ms. Luminera! Following this, you shall witness an exhibition duel between myself and this promising individual. I hope you will find the display thoroughly enlightening!”

Amelle turns to look at me, her eyes wide with shock. “L-Luminera… Was he actually serious a week ago about duelling you right here in front of everyone?!”

Before I can answer her, the spiky-haired boy walking ahead of us turns around, shock and disbelief painted across his face. “Is the principal out of his mind?! Why would he waste a grand exhibition match on a sword-wielding nobody from Class 1-F?!”

High up in the royal box, I can see my father, King Darius, leaning forward on his throne with narrowed, intense eyes toward Principal Orphus. Grandfather suddenly buries his face in his hands with a sigh after seeing me.

“Don’t worry, Amelle… I’ll be back shortly. Please take care of my belongings in the meantime.” I hand my textbooks to her, turn around, and walk directly toward the centre of the stadium stage.