Chapter 65 - 65: Stance (1/2)

After Aron agreed to hear Belle out, she personally walked with him and Evanora into the academy while giving a short tour in the process. However, neither Evanora nor Aron showed any interest in her little sideshow.

Once they entered the main building, Aron noticed the lack of students which caused him to raise a brow. Belle caught on to this and showed a smile before speaking. ”First years are always the first to be brought into the academy. The other years arrive a week later unless under special circumstances.” Her alluring, cheerful voice was more than happy to answer any questions he had or at least that's how it seemed.

Aron simply nodded as he had nothing to add to her response. Belle continued to try and strike up conversations multiple times concerning Aron and his background, but all the questions were met with simple vague answers.

'I guess he's not as loose lipped as the men here,' Belle thought to herself ceasing to ask questions. A short while later, the trio arrived at a grand looking tower that was attached to the main Galos Academy building.

It's height however surpassed that of the main building and its outer structure was coated in gold. Whether this carried a deeper purpose or was merely for show, Aron couldn't tell.

Standing at the entrance of the tower were two fairly young-looking individuals, a man and a woman. The man was average height and body, he had medium length black hair neatly combed in a formal fashion. By human standards he could be considered quite attractive despite the frown he wore. His attire was very similar to what most noble men would wear, quality leather boots and pants with a plain shirt and stylish overcoat that usually carried their family's emblem.

Unlike the man, the woman had anything but a noble air around her; at first glance one would even think she was a bandit of sorts. Her attire on its own was simple enough, tight fitting leather pants that showed off her slender figure along with a light armored top that left her hands exposed. Around her neck was a snow-white fur accessory of sorts that had a white, short, cape that covered only one shoulder up to her lower rear.

The outfit alone wasn't all that eye catching but the woman was another story. She had platinum blonde hair that was braided and decorated in a traditional northern style manner. Her brows were neat and elegant, making her hazel eyes look all the fiercer along with some painted symbolic blue lines just below either eye. What's more, her exposed arms were covered in rune like black tattoos with two wolf silhouettes near the shoulder.

Aron couldn't help but be drawn to them out of curiosity. As they got closer, Belle showed these two individuals a smile and spoke. ”The tower on its own is quite secure, you could go train or study,” she advised with a smile to which the woman showed a smile in return, her lip ring only adding to her charm. The man, however, simply narrowed his eyes in irritation.

”It was Aela's idea that we waste our time here,” the young man explained bluntly which caused the woman addressed as Aela to frown and shoot him a hateful glance. ”It is your honor to be able to guard Lady Belle's tower, Reginald! So watch the way you speak,” she retorted, her earlier friendly demeanor all but vanished.

”It's quite alright but can we not fight in front of the guests, this is my first impression after all,” she suggested with a smile, but both Aela and Reginald showed looks of worry as if she had scolded them.

”Please forgive their manners, this is Reginald and Aela. They are rank three third years who are vying for recruitment into my faction, I only accept the best of the best though, so they are still in a trial period.” Aron took note and nodded his head, wondering what she meant by faction.

He, however, chose not to voice his curiosity and instead introduced himself and then Evanora. Aela and Reginald were shocked to learn that they were both commoners, but this shock paled once they learned Aron and Evanora were in the top three of this year's Journey. One that included multiple heirs from the top families.

'That explains why she's brought them here, normally students would need to work their hearts out before getting noticed by a professor, let alone the Grand Mage,' Reginald thought while clenching his fist in jealousy, how could he not?

It was clear he worked hard for two long years and yet he hadn't even been fully inducted into Belle's faction. Yet this unknown commoner was being invited into her personal tower during his first day as a student so of course he felt jealousy.

Him and Aela hadn't watched the broadcast because it wasn't cast within the academy itself, so they were unaware of who placed in what position.