[Lifespan Remaining: 21 days, 7 hours, 22 minutes.]
’That’s the Academy...?’
The place was big enough to fit an entire city. Actually, Noct was pretty sure it was at least as big as Rexford Capital, maybe even bigger. Calling it a campus felt like a gigantic understatement.
As they approached, the ship finally began to level out. Noct loosened his grip slightly, though he wasn’t quite ready to trust whoever was responsible for their transportation.
Apollo, meanwhile, hadn’t moved from his position.
The instructor guided the vessel toward a broad landing platform extending from the island’s edge. Workers were already waiting there, waving them toward an empty dock beside several smaller ships.
A few moments later, the ship finally landed softly. All the students remained where they were, yet the workers on the ship had already begun moving equipment and preparing the ramp.
Annie had both hands pressed over her mouth, while Alice stood beside her, rubbing her back while looking a little pale herself. Though once the entire ordeal was over, everyone began slowly making their way down onto the green grass below.
The workers guided them toward a spacious square beyond the landing area, where a familiar figure waited at the foot of a broad staircase. Instead of the clothes she had been wearing before, Headmistress Scarlett now donned a more relaxed look.
"Welcome, everyone," her voice rang loud and clear. "Welcome to Babylon, the true home of Rexford Academy."
She gestured toward the buildings behind her. Beyond the staircase, a wide avenue led farther into the island, branching toward structures that Noct vaguely recognized from the game. Though seeing them on a screen and standing in front of them were two entirely different matters.
"The grounds you visited in the capital handle admissions and our affairs with the city. Your lives as students, however, will take place here."
Scarlett began walking slowly along the front of the gathered crowd. "Your classes, accommodations, training facilities, and most of the services you’ll need are all located on Babylon. You’ll have time to familiarize yourselves with them before lessons begin."
A student near the front raised a hand. "Headmistress? How do we return to the capital? Is there some kind of schedule for the airships?"
Yet when that exact question was asked, a small smirk appeared on the Headmistress’ face. "You may descend however you wish."
"Pardon?"
"Magic, aura, holy power. Whatever means you have available to you," she clarified. "As long as you follow the Academy’s rules concerning your departure, you’re welcome to visit the capital. However, the Academy will offer no more airship services."
The students stared at her, unsure whether they had misunderstood or simply didn’t want to believe what they had heard.
"And if you fail to return by your designated date," she continued, raising one finger, "you will be expelled. Any exceptional circumstances will be reviewed by the Academy."
’That’s quite harsh...’
Though Noct understood the intention behind it somewhat. There had been a rule in the game, one that hadn’t seemed particularly important at the time, so Noct barely paid attention to it.
Students of Rexford Academy were sworn to secrecy. What they learned about the Academy, its facilities, and whatever else happened within its grounds wasn’t something they could freely discuss with outsiders.
Back then, Noct had assumed that it was to protect their teaching methods or some kind of exclusive research. After all, a place that gathered so many talented people was bound to have a few secrets worth keeping.
But there had been another explanation as well. In times of crisis, Rexford Academy could serve as the kingdom’s last bastion.
’Right...there was something like that.’
Noct slowly looked around again.
The wide avenue beyond the square led toward buildings that could accommodate thousands. Farther away, forests and hills stretched across the island, with enough land between them that he couldn’t even see where the campus ended.
’So that’s why...’
The secrecy probably existed to conceal Babylon itself.
Someone searching for Rexford Academy would find the enormous complex in the Northern Quarters. They could watch the gates, count the people entering, and examine every wall surrounding it.
Yet the actual Academy would be somewhere above their heads.
Noct thought back to the time he had spent walking around the capital. Not once had he noticed anything suggesting that an island this large was floating overhead. Even now, the clouds underneath them completely obscured the city.
It was probably also why Rexford Academy held their entrance exams at seemingly random times each year as to make things unpredictable.
Though if the students were sworn to secrecy, that explained why Adelaide had happily talked about classes and uniforms without saying a word about where he would actually be living.
"Now, before you’re shown to your residences, there’s one more matter to attend to." Scarlett stopped at the foot of the staircase and turned toward the gathered students. "Noct de Arcadia and Alice Alstromeria. Please come forward."
Noct looked toward Alice, who seemed just as surprised as he was. She glanced at him briefly before stepping out of the crowd, leaving him with little choice but to follow.
The students moved aside to let them through. Unfortunately, that also gave everyone a rather good look at their uniforms. Noct could feel the attention following him all the way to the front. By the time he reached Scarlett, he already wished she had simply handed him another letter.
"The first and second-place students of this year’s entrance examination," the Headmistress announced. "Both of whom demonstrated exceptional ability under circumstances far beyond what was expected of them."
Alice stood a little straighter beside him. Noct, meanwhile, wasn’t entirely sure where he was supposed to look.
"Your performance deserves recognition," Scarlett continued. "Though this year marks another achievement. For the first time in the Academy’s history, both of our highest-ranking freshmen belong to House Phoenix!"
That statement definitely got a reaction. Noct noticed several students looking toward their crests again, as if hoping they had somehow mistaken the symbols. Farther back, a few students were glaring at them, clearly unhappy about the decision.
Though the Headmistress didn’t seem all too concerned. "Let this serve as a reminder that your House does not decide what you’re capable of achieving here. What you do from this point onward will."
She then turned and handed Alice a piece of paper. Alice unfolded it, leaning slightly so that Noct could read it alongside her. The words were straightforward enough, a pledge to protect the Academy’s secrets.
Yet as they began to speak, Noct tried hard to pinpoint if there was any magic or mana contained inside the words or the script itself, yet he realized there wasn’t. He glanced at Scarlett, who held a big smirk on her face, knowing that he would try to find something about it.
Behind Scarlett, even Instructor Nova had stopped what he was doing to repeat the pledge, his usual indifference nowhere to be seen.
’They actually mean it...’
For years, students had graduated from this place and become leading figures in the world. Yet they still kept its secrets.
Noct had never quite understood why Rexford Academy held so much influence within the kingdom. Powerful instructors and talented students explained some of it, but surely those people eventually left.
Now, he was beginning to understand.
They left Babylon. Yet, their loyalty to the Academy went with them.