"…What?" Liam blinked in a mix of confusion and surprise.
The question caught Liam off guard for a moment.
He stood still, facing the four boys blocking his path. They were around his age, maybe a little older. Each wore a dark coat with a crest on the chest. The crest was a sword crossed with a feather. He had seen the same thing on the guards at the gate.
Probably the sigil of the Royal Academy.
He had not expected to meet students from the Empire's top school this fast. It felt too early. He did not know if this was good luck or trouble waiting for him.
The boy who asked the question shifted his feet, waiting.
"Where did you buy the clothes?" the boy repeated, eyes moving from Liam's shoes to his jacket.
Liam paused, studying them for a brief moment. The boys stood straight with pride in their posture. Their coats were clean, their boots polished, and their belts carried small pouches.
