Chapter 13: Outing
The carriage clattered along the boulevard outside the manor.
The avenue is made of flat grey-white bricks and stones. It is very spacious and can accommodate three carriages running side by side at the same time.
In early autumn, the tall sycamore trees on both sides have fallen leaves that are flying, covering the road, and the wheels are rolling by, making a crunching sound.
A few minutes later, after driving into the neighbourhood, the scene suddenly became clearer.
The hustle and bustle gradually grew, and brick-red buildings stood on both sides of the square brick road.
Most of the windows have round tops and bottoms, and the protruding white window frames are often decorated with intricate carvings. The domes are curved, showing complex geometric patterns.
The architectural style of the Leonis Empire has shadows of Baroque, which is gorgeous and free.
Newsboys peddled along the streets, passing men in suits and leather shoes, wearing top hats or round felt hats.
The ladies looked much more relaxed, holding up small parasols and smiling and waving to the Knights of the Eternal Burning Sun, who are patrolling the streets.
'Luxurious, cosy, and easy lifestyle. And freedom is made of money.'
Astr looked out the window, and the gold-plated sign of the shop flashed in his eyes.
'When there is sunshine, there are shadows also.'
'The slum areas and outer cities of the Leonis Empire are completely different places.'
Thick smoke and sewage discharged from the factory gathered here, and the pipes covered everyone's heads like a spider web.
'Sour smell and hunger are synonymous with the lower city, so it is called the "Leonis Sewer" by players.'
"What's wrong, Master?" The maid noticed that Astr's expression was different.
For a moment, she felt as if Astr was far away from her.
"It's nothing," Astr retracted his thoughts, "I just remembered some memories and felt a little emotional." 'Memories of earth before I became a gaming anchor,' Astr thought to himself and retracted all his emotions towards his current life.
"Yes, it's been a long time since the last time you went out, young master." The maid nodded.
Astr did not correct the maid's misunderstanding.
On the contrary, Captain Ole looked at him twice.
The man who climbed up from the ground floor to the current level suddenly smelled a similar scent from Astr.
'How can that be possible? Young Master Astr is the heir of the Serene family, and he is definitely different from people like them who are struggling to survive on the edge of a knife.
I must have read it wrong. But that expression on his... no, it must be wrong.'Ole didn't think much about it.
As the carriage drove by, not long after, Astral Academy's landmark building, the statue of Princess Valkyrie, came into view.
The statue is dozens of metres high. It is a statue of a heroic woman with long, curly hair flying behind her head. Her face is a mixture of female charm and warrior perseverance.
She holds a sword in her hand and wears armour, as if she is chopping down the enemy, but also as if she is triumphant.
Two hundred years ago, a nightmare broke out within the Leonis Empire.
Across the river, the Kingdom of Rabbit, whose emblem is the white rabbit, took advantage of this to launch an attack.
Due to external and internal troubles, the Leonese Empire fell into a state of collapse.
At the critical moment, the royal princess stepped forward, wearing armour and holding a sword. With bravery and wisdom, she led the army to resist the invasion of the Kingdom of Rabbit, and after that, she also solved Nightmare.
However, not long after her triumphant return, the great princess died of illness and was buried in the royal mausoleum, surrounded by red roses. She was 23 years old at the time.
The nation grieved, and this statue was built in her honour.
On the base of the statue, gorgeous and powerful letters read:
[To commemorate the hero who is as beautiful and unyielding as Valkyrie][Princess Astral Rose]
Astral Private Academy is also named after her.
Astr also withdrew his gaze after looking for some time.
Driving past the square, they all came to the academy area.
Astral Academy has no walls because the area is so large that enclosing it would be unnecessary.
From a distance, the main academy that teaches basic subjects like math, history, etc. stands in the centre, majestic and tall.
Surrounded by the four major department buildings of the Wizard Department, Knight Department, Sage Department, and Alchemy Department.
Except for the Department of Wizards and Knights, other courses can be taken as electives as long as you pass the written part of the entrance exam.
But if you want to learn the skills of wizards and knights, in addition to the written test, you must also pass the "practical combat test" part.
Actual combat is not a test of fighting but a test of the candidates' character.
Only those who have a firm and upright heart and will not be swayed by evil are qualified to study in depth.
...
The breeze is gentle, and the grass is green.The coachman shouted, and the carriage slowly stopped in front of an elegant building.
The Wizard Department building is like an old woman, using her old eyes that have witnessed the passage of time and countless joys and sorrows to cast an ardent and encouraging look at the young juniors.
The Ole got out of the car first, unfolded the wheelchair, and then helped Astr and the maid get out of the car.
The Academic Affairs Office that handles entrance examinations is on the second floor. Just as the maid was about to knock on the door, she heard a conversation coming from inside.
"Aren't you going to highlight the key points for me? Why should you hesitate?"
"But... this is not in line with the rules."
"Tsk, what's wrong with it? Why do you think it's not in line with the rules? If you give me the key points, will I fail the exam? Haha, that's ridiculous! As a member of the Louis family, I just have to strive to get the best results in the exam. And if you help me, maybe my family can also help you."
'Louis family!' Astr raised his eyebrows after hearing this name.
'I think the genius wizard from 200 years ago was Samuel Louis, who participated and led the Wizards to defeat the nightmare, helping Princess Astral. 'I believe,' Astr reasoned based on his game knowledge.
Astr didn't wait and asked the maid to knock on the door.
"Dong dong." A heavy knock on the door interrupted the conversation inside the door.
Almost the next second, an impatient old voice rang: "Come in quickly!"
"Excuse me." Astr was pushed into the Academic Affairs Office.
What came into view was a chubby old gentleman and a young man with an impatient face.
The boy was handsome, but his high cheekbones and thin lips made him look very mean. Light blonde hair, amber eyes.
Astr determined that this young man was from "that" Louis family.
The Louis family is the first family in the Leonis Empire after the Royal Family.
No wonder it can make even the professors at the Wizard Department find themselves in a difficult situation.
When the old gentleman saw Astr, it was like seeing a savior. He hurriedly came up to him and asked, "What's the matter, kid? What's the matter?"
A young man from the Louis family clicked his tongue heavily, seeing Astr and the team.
Before Astr could respond, he said directly, "Let's talk later, Professor Keal. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the herbal medicine class."
"Ah, okay..." The old gentleman wiped his hands with a handkerchief. He also wiped the sweat off his forehead and hesitated to speak.
Obviously, he wanted this encounter to be the last in his life.
"Hello, I'm Astr Serene." Astr's soft voice drew the professor's attention back: "I'm here to sign up for the entrance exam."
As soon as Astr introduced himself, a young man from the Louis family, who was walking out with his books in his arms, paused.
Turning around, a pair of amber eyes looked up and down at Astr unceremoniously, and with a curl of the corner of his mouth, he sneered.
"Are you here to sign up for the entrance exam now?"
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(No young master troupe, Again No young master troupe, no faceslapping thing. Only little bit of face-slapping, maybe, but it will not affect the plot.)
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone