This Victor guy came closer to us with a smile on his face. Yuri looked visibly annoyed, I've never seen that kind of expression on her face before.
Is this person some sort of creep?
"You never answered my letters. What's up with that?" Victor said with a smirk on his face, and I already knew what kind of man he was.
"I don't have to, and I'm not interested," Yuri replied sharply. Then, with my hand still holding hers, she turned us around to continue with our plans.
I couldn't possibly intervene, I'll let Yuri handle this situation. She has ice magic, so I'm not all too worried.
No…
There's a possibility that this guy has something up his sleeve. It would be ignorant of me to think that Yuri is the only one who possesses a crest.
As we turned our backs to continue moving toward our destination, Yuri flinched, her other arm was being held by Victor.
"Oi! Let go of her!" I said. Yet, as I looked into Yuri's eyes, she looked angered but not scared.
Victor seemed to ignore my entire existence and continued to look Yuri in the face. "Can't you give me a chance? You won't regret it. You don't have to be a maidservant all your life."
"I can change that," Victor said, trying to convince Yuri, but I couldn't allow it!
"You creep! Go away!" I shouted, letting go of Yuri's hand as I tried to separate his grip from her shoulder by yanking it.
I'm so weak. Now that I think about it, even if I were in my adult body, I wouldn't stand a chance! This Victor guy is quite muscular and toned!
"What's this kid's problem?" Victor muttered, though he didn't try to hit me. He just told me not to get in his way.
And I'm definitely getting in his way.
Then—we felt it.
Cold. The hand I had just been holding glowed white. Yuri was fully intent on using her ice magic, so I stepped back and looked around.
We were causing a commotion with all these onlookers!
"Let go. Leave me alone. I have no feelings for you." Yuri's voice was full of irritation. Any man who heard those words from their crush would have their heart crushed!
Victor seemed pissed that she rejected his advances, but he too looked around and probably thought it was better to end this than risk his reputation.
"Terrifying," he said.
"Fine." Victor finally let go and stepped back.
The two stared at each other with hostility, and this Victor guy didn't seem to take Yuri's remarks to heart. Then I looked at my right hand, where the Arsenal Crest was supposed to be.
I need to one day learn how to activate and use you… I need the Siege Fiend's power to protect Mom and Yuri from guys like him.
Then Yuri softly took my hand again and smiled at me. "Sorry for that. Let's go!" she said cheerfully—and it was endearing how quickly she could recover!
But as we walked away, my eyes glanced back at Victor, and I knew that people like him… won't stop until they get what they want.
I remember that all too well…
I need to master the Arsenal Crest soon…
---
We finally arrived at Matrona's guarded wall entrance, though we had to ride a carriage for it, that was the first time I ever ridden one.
As usual, it was packed with multiple families and soon-to-be students. Though there's another entrance where already enrolled students enter—those people must be my seniors.
I must say, the uniform is fashionable: black and red ties under the snow backdrop. I can see checkered lines, but they're all covered by thick wool coats. I can't imagine wearing that five times a week, Yuri will have some new laundry to deal with.
After entering the guarded walls, which went smoothly thanks to Yuri's supposed connections, I can only gather that maidservants like her were once part of the military.
Interesting.
But now, we were met with the final wall, and behind it was Matrona…
The Circle of Education.
"What's wrong, Arsen?" Yuri asked. She noticed that I was shaking.
The thought of entering anything school-related was too much for my heart to bear. My mind kept conjuring awful scenarios one after another. I wanted it to stop. I'm a grown man, why am I shaking so much?
Then I felt it, she touched my cheek.
"Nervous? No worries. Fail or succeed, I'll still be proud of you," Yuri said gently.
The warmth of her touch under the cold helped calm me down. I can't believe I'm being this pathetic, I've prepared four years for this moment, including my entire adult life.
I took a deep breath. "I'll succeed for you, Yuri, and Mom!" I said enthusiastically.
"That's my Arsen," Yuri said before guiding me toward the final entrance that separated Matrona from the inner circle.
We were first met with another entrance wall, and I cannot exaggerate how defended and secure this place is. Guards were everywhere, and I knew those people in red-and-black cloaks were sorcerers.
Wait…
Why am I not excited?
I'm about to learn sorcery, something that didn't exist in my past life.
Why am I only realizing that now?
Then, a man with neatly styled hair, a monocle, and red-and-black robes approached us.
He looked stern and well-educated.
"Yuri, this is the son of Chernov? Natalia's?" he spoke in a refined and professional tone.
Yuri stood tall, pride in her posture. "He's a smart child, dare I say, a very miraculous one."
The man seemed intrigued as he raised his eyebrow along with his monocle. "Oh? It's quite rare to hear you praise someone, let alone a child."
Yuri gently nudged me to step forward. Thankfully, this man seemed far less creepy than Victor.
"Arsen, this is Ivan Draka. He's a Sixth-Tier Sorcerer, and he might become your professor," Yuri said.
The phrase 'Sixth-Tier Sorcerer' instantly caught my attention.
"Nice to meet you, sir," I said politely. Ivan seemed to be analyzing my entire existence.
"Hmm. I don't quite see anything remarkable about this kid," Ivan said bluntly. "But I'll trust your words, Yuri."
He didn't even bother sugarcoating it. My face almost showed my shock, but I held it in.
"Oh please, you'll see. Arsen will prove it," Yuri said confidently, and now I could feel the pressure mounting.
For a moment, Ivan didn't say a word. Then he looked at his golden watch, it must've been an expensive brand.
"Very well. The exams are about to start soon." He knelt down to meet my eyes.
"We have high expectations for you, child. Do not let the Sorcery Kingdom down."
Do every adult in this kingdom say that exact line everytime?
But…
Ivan's eyes were peach-colored, no, not just that. They glowed with a fiery red hue, unlike Yuri's calm, glassy eyes.
It was intimidating. They had high expectations of me, but who am I to be afraid or pressured?
I straightened my posture and met his gaze head-on, trying to show him that I was far older than I looked.
"I've prepared for this day ever since I was born. I have zero intention of wasting it."
Both Yuri and Ivan widened their eyes, and some nearby officers looked stunned that a five-year-old could speak with such conviction.
"See, Ivan?" Yuri said with a small, triumphant smile.
Ivan stood up, brushing snow from his robes.
His face remained stern. "You're right, Yuri. I admit it."
Then he turned around. "Follow me. Yuri, you can wait at the visitor house. I'll guide Arsen to his section."
Yuri nodded, she already knew the procedures for this sort of thing; she had experienced it herself once.
"Arsen," she said as we walked inside Matrona itself. "Do your best."
"I will, Yuri!" I showed some semblance of confidence.
Finally, the first milestone of my new life…
Kindergarten.
Chapter End.