Stepping onto the campus of Starlight Academy, Skyler couldn’t help but scan his surroundings. The trio strolled along the straight road, surrounded by trees.
He did his best to ignore the students around them who stopped to greet Jenny, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that many of the young male students were looking at him and Charles with hostile eyes, as if the duo had stolen their wives or something.
’Why are they treating Jenny like she’s a celebrity or something?’
Skyler let out a quiet breath of frustration.
He knew his sister was a genius when she was invited to join the Starlight Academy, but who would have thought she would be so famous? Just what had she done in the past four years to garner such attention?
Maybe his life at the academy would be easier because of his sister’s popularity?
Thinking this, his mood improved.
Amidst the faint chatter of students and their hurried footsteps, Charles broke the silence since Skyler was busy looking around.
"Are all academies this huge?"
His question was right. They had entered the academy premises, but the closest building he could spot was quite a distance away.
At this rate, he was certain it would take them a long time to reach it on foot.
If all academies on the continent occupy such a vast space, wouldn’t that mean half the continent is occupied by them? Surely not, or else he would have known.
Jenny kept walking forward, not even glancing back as she answered.
"Not really. Only the top three academies on the continent possess this much land. They earned the privilege due to their rich history and because they cultivate the most Lights who later work for the government."
Skyler hurried his pace to meet hers as he noticed the large water fountain standing a short distance from them. Riruru stirred in his jacket but stayed asleep.
"You didn’t bring your car inside because you said it’s not allowed. But is there really no transportation in this vast and ’famous’ academy? How do students even manage? I am sure they have to sprint to class every morning just to reach the building on time."
There was a hint of bitterness in his voice as he contemplated his grim future of running around every morning just to reach class.
The only silver lining was that he wouldn’t be the only one suffering in that future. Charles, his friend, would also suffer alongside him.
Jenny chuckled at his words. As the trio reached the water fountain, she suddenly turned left and pointed ahead.
"Those are the only vehicles students are allowed to ride inside the academy."
Skyler and Charles followed her gaze. Their eyes widened when they saw rows of brown, four-wheeled, floating vehicles neatly lined up by the side, under the shade of the trees.
However, let alone use them, no students seemed to acknowledge those vehicles!
Skyler’s expression turned somber.
"What a waste! Why is everyone walking when they can use those four-wheelers? Let’s use one of those!"
Unlike him, Charles had an idea as to why the students were not using the vehicles.
"I think they have to pay a usage fee. At Starlight Academy, students have to earn their own yearly fees through the academy. They probably don’t want to waste their hard-earned money on transportation."
Jenny was surprised by his deduction. She nodded in agreement and moved forward. A few students nearby noticed them, but after greeting Jenny from afar, they quickly left.
Skyler slid into the back of the windowless vehicle. It could hold four students and had no driver’s seat because it was automatic.
Jenny simply voiced their destination loudly, and the four-wheeler, hovering a few inches above the ground, smoothly began moving towards the nearest building.
A while later, they stood before the building Jenny introduced as one of the registration venues near the academy’s entrance gates for new students. The building was mostly empty, as registration for newcomers had already concluded for the year.
They were about to make their way toward the counter at the end of the hall they had just entered, but two middle-aged men, one in a luxurious suit and another who looked like his subordinate, blocked their path.
Professor Hawthorne was delighted to notice Jenny, one of the best students, while he was supervising some first-year idiots he had punished for breaking his favorite vase. They were supposed to run a circle around this area of the academy and return. But those morons were still not back.
"Student Jenny, why are you here? You should be attending the morning classes. It’s not good for you to skip them. Now, you are not just a normal student; you are one of those who passed the preliminary test."
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Beside him, Professor Noire looked at the two unfamiliar young faces behind Jenny. His eyes narrowed at Skyler as he tried to remember where he had seen him before.
Jenny greeted the professors. She didn’t particularly like these two older men, as they were the ones who had made things difficult for Max and her friends in the past. Yet, now that they had gotten stronger, these two men were always trying to get on their good side.
"Sir, I got a one-week vacation from the student department to go home for a while. I have just returned to the academy and will join the classes as soon as possible."
Before Professor Hawthorne could reprimand her for taking a vacation when she should have been training, since the time after the preliminary test was crucial for every student, Professor Noire suddenly pointed at Skyler in surprise.
"It’s you! The lucky youngster who was given a special pass to enter the academy by VP Doris a while back. I was wondering where I saw you before. Now I remember!"
Skyler’s brows furrowed. He didn’t like these two professors, not one bit. It was because he could sense visible disdain in their eyes the moment they realized who he was.
Suddenly, he grabbed Charles, the innocent bystander who was enjoying the show from the sidelines, and greeted them properly.
"Hello, sir. I am Skyler Ironhart, and this is Charles Mahson. You are correct. We are here to join the academy, as we were both given a special pass."
Charles cursed under his breath. This jerk! Why the hell did he have to involve him?! He was fine watching, but he didn’t want to be a part of whatever was happening! After all, he just needed to wait for the professors to drag Skyler away and then find a kind professor who would help him enter the academy!
Professor Hawthorne glanced at the other young man with Skyler and snickered.
"Both? Last I heard, only one person was given the special pass, and that was you."
Skyler glanced at his sister, hoping she would step in, but she didn’t. Frustration simmered within him, but then, with a sigh, he pushed Charles towards the professors. It seemed he had to sacrifice his friend to escape these evil figures.
"Esteemed Sirs."
He began, his voice a bit too loud.
"This young man, Charles, was granted a special pass to enter the Academy several years ago without any tests. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, he was unable to join, causing the academy to lose a talented student. But I have had a long talk with him, and he has realized the folly of his past decision. Now he is eager to rectify his mistake and join the academy."
Charles stared at Skyler’s face, his mind processing the words that had just escaped Skyler’s lips. Wow. He wanted to clap.
His dear friend was really very good at talking his way out of any situation!
’I need to learn from him!’
Even Jenny was surprised at her brother, who so easily stunned the two professors.
Professor Noire was the first to recover from his surprise and checked Charles from head to toe with a hint of annoyance.
"A 5-star? When did you get a special pass from the academy? Remember, if you lie, the consequences wouldn’t be good."
Professor Hawthorne agreed with him. He was quite displeased when he sensed that Charles was only a 5-star. Still, at least this kid was better than Skyler, who only had 1-star potential but had increased it after he accidentally entered the preliminary test.
Charles knew it was his turn to speak. He nodded at Professor Noire.
"Sir, Skyler is right. Four years ago, I was given a special pass to enter the academy. But I wasn’t able to. I believe if you check with the academy, you will get the proof."
Both professors fell silent, pondering whether to report this matter or simply kick these kids out of the academy. They knew Skyler had gotten lucky due to VP Doris, but to think he would bring another problem with him... this kid was truly something else.
At this moment, Jenny, who had been observing everything, finally intervened.
"Sir, Skyler is my brother. How about you check his words with the VP?"
Professor Hawthorne’s attitude changed when she spoke. He already knew Skyler was Jenny’s brother. But he just wanted to check him out to see what Doris saw in him to give this weakling a special pass.
"I believe if our model student says so. Jenny, you should go to your class. Leave Skyler and Charles with us. We will handle this matter and inform you afterwards."
Skyler gave his sister a deadpanned look. She could have spoken earlier. It was clear the professors valued her. But no, she just had to stay quiet when needed.