Chapter 57: Privileged.
(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don’t hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)
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After a while, they were greeted by another wall with an entrance, this one not as magnificent as the first and surprisingly, another carriage being admitted in.
’Another privileged,’ Orion thought, amused.
The carriage was painted silver and gold like theirs, but the design was different in a unique way.
They followed after, the guards bowing as they passed. This passage opened up to another environment, which was distinctly cleaner and more pleasant than the last, and that was saying something.
Same silence and calm, uncharacteristic of an academy, same amenities, this time he could notice buildings that actually wrote dorm on them, and he was 70 percent sure it was a commercial building; it seemed students were expected to rent out apartments.
After another few minutes, they were greeted with another wall, the earlier carriage still in front.
If it wasn’t obvious before, it was now. It seemed students were being divided into districts or tiers of living and comfort, the factor or prerequisite he was yet to know, but he definitely wasn’t planning on staying at concentric circle stage one.
Another passage and another opening.
"The disparity is quite scary", Orion couldn’t help but mutter.
"Such is life", Erevan commented while chuckling.
This couldn’t even be referred to as streets; the roads were large, clean, polished with flora around, everywhere you turned, gardens were being managed and trimmed with fountains at every intersection or junction.
It was like an open prairie; the land was far larger than any of the outer districts, and he could even see people riding on small circular devices, moving about.
On each side of the central district were four buildings, which couldn’t even be called buildings; they were castles, like real noble castles, with the giant stone walls, unique windows and the large lawns.
His rational mind had concluded, four for the females and four for the males, with each year getting one, the luxury was eye-opening, and enticing, borderline suspicious.
Of course, all this he’d gotten from using The Seer; if he hadn’t, the only obvious structure was the towering building directly in front, it was obvious even from outside the academy, with the Four surrounding towers particularly prominent. Seeing it up close, one could imagine the size and the amount of space it could provide.
Of course, the main building itself was beautiful, made completely of whitish stones that glimmered in the sunlight,
There was no gate, just the surrounding lawn, with the occasional sighting of staff responsible for them and multiple paths leading into the building.
Still no sighting of any student, surely there had to be one or two exceptions.
"Where are the students?" Orion asked.
Erevan turned to him with a raised brow.
"They are on break, Orion. This is a new academic year, they’ll only be allowed to resume from tomorrow, today is for the settling in of first years." Erevan replied.
That brought a whole new round of questions.
’But not now, ’ Orion thought.
He simply nodded.
They soon arrived in front of the main building, their carriage stopping behind the one in front.
They got down, with Erevan taking the lead, and Orion following after, their gazes drawn.
They were blocked by a family of three. A handsome middle-aged man and an equally beautiful mother, both standing beside a young and pretty girl.
They all had silver hair and eyes, a smile was written on their faces, and Orion could almost feel the excitement oozing off the young girl.
"Patriarch, " the parents both greeted with a bow.
The girl quickly mimicked their bow, her childlike innocence shining through.
"You don’t have to pretend to be respectful, Aurelius, bowing doesn’t suit you," Erevan said with a smirk.
The man visibly shifted his smile, shifting into a sigh.
"Says the person that chastises me anytime I don’t follow protocol," The man said with a grin.
"That is for formal matters; today isn’t exactly formal, you don’t have to bow", Erevan chuckled.
"Come here," Aurelius said before they both hugged, patting each other’s backs.
The wife smiled at their reunion.
"It’s nice to see you again, Eira", Erevan said, greeting Aurelius’ wife.
"A pleasure seeing you too, patriarch," she said with a small smile.
"It’s nice to see you again, little Seris", Erevan greeted their daughter.
"You too, uncle," she said, a smile blooming on her face.
"Alright, I should introduce my troublesome little heir," Erevan said, patting Orion’s head.
"Meet Orion, and Orion meet my close friend and his family," Erevan said with a smile.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you all," Orion said somewhat awkwardly under the eager stare of the family of three.
"If it isn’t the prodigy, Erevan had been bragging so much about his young heir. I look forward to knowing much about you," Aurelius said, stretching out his hands.
Orion took it, a small smile forming on his face.
"It’s a wonderful coincidence, we arrived in a similar timeframe, I’m sure we can continue together," Eira said, gesturing for them to continue on.
Erevan nodded, and soon the five were on their way.
"I’m surprised Aurora wasn’t the one accompanying young Orion," Eira noted with a finger on her chin.
’Me too, lady, ’ Orion thought.
"Let’s just say, it’s my turn," Erevan said with a chuckle.
"Turn or not, knowing Aurora, you must have found something to bribe her," Aurelius commented.
Erevan just smirked.
Their discussion just continued, small talk forming between them.
Orion just observed them, somewhat fascinated. It was rare for his father to talk so much; they must have been quite close.
He noticed a gaze directed his way, his head turning to stare back.
’Seris, was it?’ He thought.
She was staring at him with a weird and very enthusiastic look.
The only other girl he’d met his age apart from his sister was Alice, and she had been quite shy in their first meeting, but it seemed this one wasn’t going to be reserved.
She waved in a childlike way.
Orion simply smiled back, but she kept waving, gesturing for him to do the same.
Orion was hesitant at first before he reluctantly waved back,
[First day and you already have a girlfriend. Smooth.]