Lunesday, 10th of Septimus, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

Josias stood at attention along with the rest of his companions at the courtyard of the Imperial College of Archior. He, along with hundreds of other students from the various faculties, had been gathered there for the opening ceremony.

The campus grounds itself was sprawled out with various buildings and other such spaces. It was like a city within a city. If it weren't for Count Lorenz' guidance and directions, Josias was doubtful that he or his companions would've ever made it past the front entrance. This place was just too damn big.

Josias had asked his wife's uncle whether or not they could tour the campus before the first day, but Count Lorenz said it wasn't necessary. They said the first week of campus would be a full on 'orientation week' and they'd get a tour then. Josias had accepted this because he didn't realise the full breadth of its size.

He had expected the college to be at most a moderately-sized complex of several buildings. But what he saw there was mind-boggling. It was larger than even the palace grounds. Thinking about it, he was a fool to expect the Feldonians to have any restraint on matters of grandeur.

Still, Josias was thankful he was staying at the home of the Military Faculty's Superintendent. Count Lorenz had shown him and his companions to the place where they had to line up. There were dozens of people separated into several files at the military faculty's column. It was a setup that also appeared on the other lines.

Josias and his companions stood at the line of the faculty that represented foreign students. Interestingly enough, besides them, there were a dozen others there. Most of them young men, and almost all of them had a self-important look to them. They must've been important, too, because most of them stood in front of Josias.

The two other lines were Feldonia's own nobility at the center, and the line for 'commoners' at the right-most of their formation. Well, even if they were called 'commoners', they didn't look any more common than many of those of the noble line. The luxury of their clothes went well with the equally pompous look on their faces. Perhaps there were a few who truly looked 'common'.

There weren't many women among the students of the military academy. There weren't too many women in general. Josias had expected this, though. Besides a few faculties, like those of the arts and medicine, the student body was male-dominated.

He and his companions were worried at first for their wives. They only calmed down after being told that the faculties their wives were in had a more substantial number of women. Even so, Josias wanted to remain vigilant. He had reminded Serena to always inform him of anything untowardly that might occur to him and Count Lorenz. Serena only laughed and gave him a reassuring kiss to his cheek.

Serena, Ruth, and Helena were assigned to the Faculty of Medicine to further their skills. Claire had been recommended to join the most prestigious of the faculties, that of Magic and the Arcane. Maria had entered into the faculty of theology and philosophy while Arta naturally took to the arts.

Safira had shocked everyone by signing up for the Faculty of Law and Governing. Josias had no clue what his cousin was thinking, but she was adamant. Looking over to where she was standing, her faculty looked no less starved of women than the military academy. But looking over at Hesekiel, he didn't seem too bothered.

The general lack of women – especially in the military faculty – made the presence of the women who were there stand out all the more. Most noticeably of course was the woman standing in front of Josias. Crown Princess Elizabeth Sybille of the Southerlands stood there stoically in her masculine clothing.

The princess had given Josias and his companions a friendly greeting alongside her betrothed. Speaking of the Crown Prince, he had returned to his position at the front and center of their formation after greeting them.

Standing on a slightly raised platform in front of the newcoming students were the professors and faculty members of the college. At their helm, Josias saw the affable old wizard, Count Melchior, standing over them, scanning their faces with a smile on his own.

As the Archmage cleared his throat, much of the conversations and talks between the students stopped. Others becoming more like hushed whispers. When the courtyard was silent enough, Count Melchior started his address, his voice strengthened by his man.

"I give my warmest and sincerest welcome to all of you, brave and bright young men and women, to our most humble institution." the Archmage said "While usually we would only hold a small ceremony and a short speech to open our new academic year, many things have been put in place that I feel require more ceremony.

"For centuries, this institution has stood as a beacon of light, shining brilliance upon the darkness of ignorance. From the first charter proclaimed by King Hrodulf Lawgiver nearly four centuries ago to the Skyfront scholastic guilds. To the enjoining of the University to the Divine School of Theology and the Arcane College a hundred years ago by Emperor John the Great.

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"Now we stand as one of the premiere institutions of higher learning in not just Feldonia, but dare I say Terradome, and perhaps, even all of Orbis. All the hundreds of you standing before me now, members of our eight great schools and faculties.

"Many hundreds or even thousands of exceptional men and women count themselves among our alumni. And within this campus, you tread upon their legacies. Even still, history marches on as only in recent years, we continue to make breakthroughs.

"His Majesty, King Albert V's sage foresight has lent it so that education need not be restricted by any mere matter of the circumstance of one's birth. While we have never before forbade anyone to learn within our walls, His Majesty's directives have so far encouraged the most amount of talents to come learn with us regardless of background.

"And not only that, but this year is one where we have even extended our mission the most to those of foreign realms. I am proud to see standing among you, sons and daughters of the foremost princes of Protestant Terradome. From our allies in the Kingdom of Iskaldr, Snaereveg, Rommerike, to our fellow brothers in the reformation against the corrupted ilk of the Catholics of Sanctum. To the various princes from the evangelical states of the Lowereich Empire…"

Josias could see the Archmage eyeing over the military academy.

"From even former, bitter, enemies not even three decades ago." The Archmage continued "I see of course the Princes of Caomaed and even from Blairbeth among you. But most of all, I am delighted to once more welcome the blood of the Old Sigeric Kings of Feldonia into our fold. To the most lovely Grand Ducal Princess Elizabeth Sybille Godwineson, I extend my warmest of welcome.

"The prestige your noble presences afford to our institution through your presence in our Military Academy is immeasurable, truly. And most inspiring of all are our friends who have traveled here far from Neacordis. For the first time in our institution's history, we have received students from outside our continent."

Josias gave a polite bow as the headmaster acknowledged him. It was rather embarrassing to be put on the spot, especially with all the eyes that were now on him. Some looked at him with interest, others with warmth, but there were also a few looks of indifference. Or, worse yet, there were some condescending looks coming from a few of the noble students.

He had expected for there to be at least some negative reception of him. So far, because of the influence of Count Lorenz and the king, Josias and the rest had only been treated with respect. But in a place like this? The wolves and vultures would be circling around to feast on what they'd see as easy prey.

Josias didn't really want to stand out too much and he was completely content with just learning as he can and living comfortably. But he wasn't just going to let anyone step over him or tarnish his honour. If people wanted to start unnecessary conflict with him, he'd be more than willing to oblige them. Within reason. In most cases, he'd be happy enough to just report them to his wife's uncle.

If connections were indeed that important in Feldonian society, only the truly powerful – or truly stupid – would be willing to pick a fight with him. But thinking about that, Josias wondered if honourable duels were a thing in Feldonia. Perhaps he might even be able to gain a certain level of renown from engaging in those.

Josias snorted under his breath. He was getting too ahead of himself.

The headmaster continued on his speech, addressing all sorts of issues. He stressed the importance of maintaining civility within academic grounds. He also reiterated how all students on the campus were to treat each other as equals. That in a place of learning, one's status shouldn't matter.

A noble thought but a pipe dream at best, and hypocritical at worst. Didn't the headmaster just mention how honoured he was to receive so many nobles and princes? Just from that alone, how could any of the so-called commoners hope to get a fighting chance? Well, unless they were really talented. Then again, many of them looked richer than even some nobles.

Continuing on the speech with more idealistic messages of academic pursuit and whatnot, Josias saw many of the students were starting to yawn. Josias personally found the archmage interesting, but the old man could talk. He didn't know how far into the speech they'd gotten, but it had already felt like hours. Despite the sun barely moving on the horizon.

"All in all, before I pass the floor to my colleagues to officially open orientation week, I would like to say one final thing." Josias sighed a breath of relief as he felt the speech was coming to an end "Reach for the stars in your pursuit for greatness! The road won't be easy, but if you persevere, I'm sure you'll see a satisfying finish to it all. Per aspera, ad astra!"

A cough from one of the professors on stage elicited an applause from the student audience. Count Melchior gave a satisfied smile and a nod before he did something that surprised everyone.

With a snap of his fingers, it was like the silver-haired archmage had dissipated into a cloud of smoke and dust particles. The next moment, he reappeared in the middle of the air as he floated – a blue-coloured aura exuding out of him.

His eyes also glowed yellow as he outstretched his arms towards the sky. From his hands, a huge beam of yellow-ish energy shot up to the sky, colouring everything around it in its hue. Josias didn't know what purpose that achieved, but the mere spectacle of it was amazing.

Seeing the sky, the beams of yellow light coalesced into the air, forming into a large orb. The next second, the orb dispersed and in its place, various, pretty patterns of flower formed. They glistened and glowed, lingering for a while before they disappeared.

Count Melchior disappeared once more, this time dissipating into lightning-like sparks. Appearing once more onto the stage, the old archmage gave a small bow. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the Imperial College of Archior."

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