Luciferis stood in front of the Academy's gold gates. The Academy was great in size, probably enough to shelter a few thousand people at once.
But that was to be expected. They were in the Capital Buim after all.
'The Aurelion Empire is the strongest right now, both in military and in economy. But the Sovereign Gothic Domain is slowly catching up in military might. Back then, I was there to balance it all out, but I wonder who'll fulfill that role now.'
His eyes flickered towards William, who was staring at his own image inside a small handheld mirror; he had dressed up just to enter the Academy.
"Hey, Leonidas. Can we go inside now?" William asked, sliding the mirror into his pocket. Impatience was evident in his tone.
"We have to wait until Butler Mime comes with our luggage."
William sighed, running a hand through his neatly slicked back hair once more. He felt like a fish out of water with how the other students looked.
The noble students were walking around with a pompous aura, all of them dressed in expensive clothing, their faces covered in makeup. But Luciferis didn't mind them at all.
'I was super ugly in my previous body anyway, I don't know anything about making myself look good.'
"Hey, Leonidas." William, who had squatted down from the frustration of feeling insecure, looked at Luciferis with a blank expression.
"You're handsome, I'm gonna follow you, alright-"
"Please don't be insecure or feel bad about yourself, Young Master Number 2." Mime, who had appeared behind them with their luggage, suddenly commented.
Their sudden appearance made William jump to his feet. While Luciferis was staring at the butler with intrigue.
'I can't even think about them anymore,'
Mime smirked at Luciferis, like they could read the boy's thoughts.
'Annoying mind reader.' Luciferis remarked mentally before walking through the gates of the Academy, the air feeling different instantly.
"It feels like I'm inhaling pure gold dust..." William sighed, following closely behind Luciferis, who was casually approaching the main building, which looked more and more like a castle as William observed it.
Mime trailed behind them both, a small smile ever-present on his face as the luggage floated behind him, getting the attention of all the nobles who all recognized Luciferis as Leonidas, the youngest son of the Grand Marquis.
"Greetings, Sir Orchel and Mime. And... Sir William Burner." A teacher stood at the large mahogany double doors of the academy, a forced smile on his face.
"After you go in, please wait for a 4th Year to come and give you the tour, as right now, recess is in progress."
Luciferis almost wanted to punch the fake smile off the teacher's face, especially when he looked at William with such disgust, but he had to be patient.
The three walked in through the double doors, the sight inside catching William of guard as his jaw opened so wide that Luciferis was afraid it might touch the ground.
The Academy's interior was much larger on the inside, with fountains, whole parks, and even a market inside.
"What the hell?! Why is it so big?! It's like a city! And, we're also on a mountain!"
"It's probably due to some spell by the Grand Headmaster Varner." Mime's eyes flickered across the vast expanse of the Academy's interior, flowing rivers, and farmlands.
'It is like they've prepared for something big. The Aurelion Academy has served as a shelter during war or crisis before.'
Varner, a person with whom Luciferis was good friends back then. He was one of the most powerful Vitin Mages in the world despite not even being 30 yet.
"Ah, hello there!" A young man, who seemed bubbly and naive, ran towards them all. A big grin on his face.
"I'm Harold Van Mitn! Nice to meet you," He extended his hand towards Luciferis. The Mitn house wasn't a very important clan of nobles, but nobles nonetheless
"Leonidas, right? I'm a big fan of yours!"
Luciferis looked at Harold's almost obsessive shaking of his hand, and William also noticed the way that Harold was looking at Luciferis, like he were a legendary fighter.
"Nice to know, I guess? But why me?"
Harold's grin became larger as he took a step back, staring at the faint blue Vitin surrounding Luciferis' body.
"Well... Your father, Grand Marquis Vilkens, told my friend's father that you awakened Frost as an Element! We almost passed out when we first heard that, hell, even the Grand Headmaster and Headmaster both yelled at the top of their lungs when we informed them!"
He was talking at a rapid pace due to his excitement, but every one of his words only darkened Luciferis' face.
"You've basically become another Chosen Hero of Winter."
Luciferis' eyes widened while the expressions of William and Mime both turned deadpanned.
"Father... He told your friend's father?" That was shocking. Josephine did inform the siblings and Vilkens about his Element, but why did Vilkens tell another noble?
Mime cleared their throat, the luggage floating into the air once more, the white Vitin around them more visible this time.
"Anyways. We'll discuss this later with the Grand Headmaster. Until then, Harold, please refrain from calling Young Master Leonidas anything like this. He's not one to fall for simple flattery."
Harold rubbed the back of his head, a sheepish expression on his face as the naive air around him vanished completely, which surprised Luciferis.
"I knew it... Can't trust these noble bastards' kindness." William mumbled under his breath. To him, Harold definitely seemed fake from the start.
Harold sighed, quietly turning towards a path that led down the mountain and onto the streets of the Academy's streets.
"Just so you know, we call the city inside the Academy Aure. Not super creative, but it works."
Luciferis walked just a step behind Harold, his expression showing he was stressed out. And that was what to do now that everyone knew what his Element was.
'So much to keep it a secret...' He thought to himself as the conversation between Harold and the other two kept going.
In his past life, Luciferis was a normal tailor; he wasn't even special in that regard since he didn't have a breakthrough until he turned 20. But after getting thrust into the world of Vitin and demons. He adapted quite fast.
'I reversed time when I was 25, as the youngest, Chosen Hero of Bloody Inheritance... I wonder who'll inherit that title now since the selection is super random.'
He sighed, remembering the time when he got suddenly teleported from making a dress for his friend's daughter to in front of the Emperor and the other Chosen Heroes.
'But they won't be immortal if they don't have the Light Element alongside Inheritance, the strongest Formless Element.'
"Hey, Leonidas!" William shook Luciferis roughly, bringing him back down from the sky. They had walked down the mountain that quickly?
"O-Oh, yeah? What's up?" Luciferis blinked a few times, adjusting himself to the new surroundings. They were dead in the middle of the market street, and Luciferis had bumped into an older girl who was now on the ground, glaring at him.
"Sorry about that," Luciferis quickly helped the girl up to her feet, she looked to be around 20.
Mime put forward a handkerchief for the girl who snatched it from his hand as she prepared to go off on Luciferis.
'Most nobles stay in the Academy until their 7th Year, after which they graduate fully, but most drop out at the 5th or 6th Year since the 7th is largely ceremonial and not necessary.' He pondered as the girl finally began speaking.
"First of all, brat. I don't mind you bumping into me; that crap happens. But you were just staring at me like I wasn't even worthy of your attention! I'm the daughter of the Duke for god's sake!"
Luciferis' eyes widened as he stared at the supposed daughter of the Duke, because if that was true. He might have to really get sincere with his apologies.