[Lifespan Remaining: 2 days, 14 hours, 26 minutes.]
Arriving at Rexford Academy and entering it were two entirely different matters altogether.
Rexford was split into four quarters, with the Academy being the crown jewel of the northern district. With the east and west being the merchant and commoner district, and the southern being the slums...as far away from the nobles as possible.
But by the time their carriage reached the northern district, the road had become completely impassable. Hundreds of carriages crowded the avenue leading toward the Academy, many bearing the crests of noble families across the kingdom.
With no sign that the congestion would clear anytime soon, Noct, Noelle, and Aurora were eventually forced to continue on foot.
Most incoming students appeared to have done the same.
Young nobles and prospective students stood around the entrance with their attendants gathered behind them, surrounded by mountains of luggage.
’Huh? Are they planning on going to vacation or something?’
Noct himself didn’t actually bring anything, with Noelle carrying his single bag while Aurora carried one of her own. Yet, instead of excitement or nervousness, all Noct heard were complaints.
"How the hell am I supposed to live without my servant?!"
"Aren’t you supposed to let them through? They are registered members of my household! Surely those are permitted?"
"Ugh...who is going to dress me every morning...?"
Noct watched the commotion with an amused look on his face. "Did none of them know this would happen?"
"They knew," Aurora answered. "Most of them simply believed the rules wouldn’t apply to them. That was how they behaved at the Preparatory Academy as well."
"Now I’m glad I was bedridden."
"No kidding."
Aurora then glanced toward Noelle, who was sticking behind Noct like they were glued together. "Were you planning on making the same complaint?"
Noct looked at Noelle, already knowing what would happen from the original game. "Of course not, we already prepared for this."
"Really?"
Noct pointed toward another road branching around the Academy’s outer wall. There, several servants ranging from butlers to maids were already being directed down it.
"Rexford Retainer College, right?" he asked. "Any attendant who wants to remain on Academy grounds must enroll there and receive official certification."
Aurora looked at Noelle up and down. "Are you sure she actually needs to enroll? I’m fairly certain she could pass their certification examination without attending a single class—"
"I wish to be there," Noelle cut her off. "There are always things to be learned when it comes to household duties."
"Alright..." Aurora shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Noelle then handed Noct his bag before bowing to her Young Master. As soon as the bag touched his hand, he swayed, the weight catching him off guard.
"What is this?"
"Your luggage."
"Aren’t you at least going inside the gates with me?"
"I must report through the eastern entrance."
"You haven’t even enrolled yet, and you’re already neglecting your duties?"
"Until my registration is complete, I am not permitted to perform those duties on Academy grounds."
Noct quickly found himself sympathizing with the other nobles. Noelle started heading towards the eastern gate, leaving Noct to stare at her as she walked away.
"Ready to go in, Young Master Arcadia?" Aurora bumped him with her elbow. "Beginning to regret coming?"
"I’m beginning to appreciate everything she does for me."
"Because you already miss her?"
"This is heavy."
Aurora simply nudged her head at the entrance. "Then you had better get used to carrying it. You can’t play the sickly-young-master card anymore."
"How the hell are you faring so well?" Noct asked, his face perplexed.
Aurora simply shrugged. "My dad was a big advocate on independence. Well, its kind of ironic, considering that the Crusaders serve the Holy Church. But that’s how it is."
"Ugh..." Noct frowned, dragging his luggage across the floor rather than picking it up. "Let’s go inside before I embarrass myself any further."
As soon as they made it through the entrance, everyone was directed into a grand hall. Outside, it had been more hectic, but the moment he stepped inside, Noct found that everyone had kind of separated into their little cliques.
For gigantic banners hung from the walls, each depicting one of the mythical creatures representing Rexford Academy’s Houses.
The first displayed an elegant, white unicorn with a golden horn—House of the Unicorn.
Most of its students came from the kingdom’s highest-ranking noble families, particularly those who had graduated from Rexford Preparatory Academy. The unicorn represented purity, elegance, and the pride of inherited bloodlines.
Unsurprisingly, its prospective students had already occupied the most prominent section of the hall.
The second banner depicted a blue dragon curled around a silver star—House of the Dragon.
Its students were consisted of apprentices sponsored by various Magic Towers around the country. The dragon represented ancient wisdom, magical power, and an endless thirst for knowledge.
The third had a crimson griffin standing before a black shield—House of the Griffin.
Most of its students arrived through knightly orders or were squires from private armies with potential. The griffin represented courage, vigilance, and discipline.
Finally, there was a blazing phoenix rising from the ashes—House of the Phoenix.
The House had originally been created for exceptional students who lacked the sponsorship and conditions of the previous three Houses. Its namesake represented rising beyond the circumstances of one’s birth.
At least, that was the official purpose.
Over the years, Phoenix had also become the place where Rexford sent students who failed to satisfy the requirements of the other Houses. And consequently, it contained an unusual concoction of extraordinary hidden gems...and academic disasters.
Purely on paper, the distinction made competition be able to foster growth. But in reality, it separated the students and encouraged close-mindedness and sticking with your own Houses.
And well, even before Houses were assigned, most students knew where they belonged and formed cliques based on that.
Still, Noct knew what House he belonged to anyway. Even if he didn’t study much in Rexford Preparatory Academy, there wasn’t anywhere else but Unicorn.
’I mean...I’m the son of Duke! And all the siblings that went before me got sent to Unicorn instantly. Hell, even Faust was a Unicorn—’
’Surely, it’s the same for me as well...?’