The Fake Hero Goes to Academy - Chapter 2- First step into the academy

The Empire of Zealith was renowned for its wealth and its mastery of beauty products. It stood at the heart of trade and spanned the second-largest continent. When the Hero of Humanity, the Child of Light, was born as the First Prince, the balance of power shifted, elevating the Zealith Empire above all others.

The Empire governed several kingdoms, each with its own cathedral. In one of them, my father served as the Pope. His reputation was exceptional, so much so that the Emperor summoned him often to reward his service.

His public life flourished, and his private life was no less warm. Though my mother died giving birth to me, Father raised me with unwavering care until I turned seven.

Then came the day everything changed.

I was asleep in my room when a knock echoed at the door. Moments later, soldiers of the Empire stood before us. They did not take just me, but my uncle and his family as well.

My father had summoned beings from the underworld. Taking them by surprise, he slaughtered numerous soldiers and even killed the Emperor’s younger brother.

He was captured, of course. And the crime of invoking such entities, along with the massacre he caused, was far graver than any ordinary murder.

That day, my entire family was executed.

They were beheaded right before my eyes. Their cries filled my ears as blades fell, one after another. Their blood stained my face, and their final expressions carved themselves deep into my memory.

…the most piercing scream came from my five-year-old sister, who knew nothing of the world. She had just woken from her sleep, still dazed, and before she could even call out to me or understand what was happening, her head was severed.

I remember it clearly. Her small head rolled across the ground and came to a stop at my feet.

I was forced to watch all of it.

And when it was over, they made me gather the bodies, to wrap them myself, as if I needed to feel every moment of that suffering without missing a single piece.

I still remember holding the bodies of my relatives, still warm in my arms. I still remember holding my little sister.

Her small hand was clutching the pendant I had given her, the one she used to hold whenever the dark made her afraid. She must have been terrified. And just like I had told her, she held onto that pendant, hoping it would keep the darkness away.

How foolish of me.

At that moment, only one thought echoed in my mind,

‘They could have… at least let her live… instead of me…’

She was the closest person I had. Gentle, kind, gifted with healing magic, and her baking was somehow always perfect. I could never understand why she had to die while I was left behind.

Would it not have been better if I had died too?

But fate had no intention of granting me that mercy.

That day, I was not beheaded.

But something inside me died all the same.

**

“We are here.”

Hearing the coachman’s voice, I snapped out of my thoughts.

“Here.” I handed him the copper coins for the journey from my new residence to the Academy.

Grerith School of Swords and Spells.

The Academy was vast, as it fell under the authority of the Six Wings.

Every continent had its own Central Academy governed by the Six Wings, and Zealith’s was this very one, the place I was now meant to attend.

Winter was already approaching, so it was no surprise that I had missed the welcoming ceremony.

Regardless, I stepped inside and handed my acceptance letter to the guard stationed at the gate.

“Pascal Eden.”

As he read my name, his gaze lingered on me, clearly aware of my origins and the stain on my past.

Even so, suspicion alone did not grant him the authority to stop me. He searched my belongings thoroughly before finally allowing me through.

“Do not cause any trouble inside, or I will personally detain you.”

With that warm farewell, I stepped into the Academy.

The front area opened into a long garden, a fountain standing at its center, with benches placed neatly around it. From where I stood, the main building loomed ahead, though I was already familiar with the layout.

There was a gym, a library, and the student dormitories, where I would be staying.

“Hmm… teacher’s office…”

As I walked toward the main building, I glanced at the direction board, only to feel my thoughts tangle. The language itself was clear, but the way the directions were marked made it unnecessarily confusing.

“Can I help you?”

I had already sensed her approach, but I did not turn until she spoke. It was obvious she was addressing me. There was no one else in the lobby.

As I turned she introduced herself, “Hello, I am Elli.” She was a short girl with brown hair and eyes of the same shade. Her aura was gentle, almost soothing. From her posture alone, I could tell she was a mage. And judging by the faint scent around her, her specialty was likely related to plants.

“The Administrator’s office. Where can I find it?” I asked, skipping any introduction. Giving my name would only make her wary, and right now, I needed directions more than anything else.

She blinked, her gaze briefly falling on my acceptance letter, which I quickly pulled back and slipped into my pocket.

She did not press the matter. Instead, she smiled and nodded. “Follow me. I will take you there. For first-timers, it can be a bit difficult to find. Usually, teachers scout new students on the first day, but it seems you enrolled late.”

As we walked deeper into the building, she spoke in a slightly hurried tone, as if afraid I might disappear the moment she stopped talking.

She pointed out several places along the way, the teachers’ offices, the cafeteria, and more. I barely paid attention. I knew I would forget it all anyway.

I have always been terrible with directions.

Bad enough that I had to slice through Arcana’s fortress just to find him.

*****

Knock Knock

After receiving permission, I turned the doorknob and stepped inside.

“Forgive me for the disturbance.” I offered a slight bow as I entered.

He looked to be in his late forties, perhaps older. Yet his wavy red hair fell neatly to his neck, and the sharp, aggressive aura around him made him seem closer to his thirties.

This was the bridge between the Capital and the Academy, Headmaster Perrywine Collen. A Count by rank, and the owner of the largest wine cellar in Zealith.

Personally, he was a Seven Star warrior with numerous achievements to his name. One of them was the defeat of my late father.

If it came down to a one-on-one fight, defeating him would not be too difficult. But in the presence of an army, under the right conditions, he became something far more dangerous. His [Battalion Aura] could bind every ally within its range into a single force, amplifying their strength to terrifying levels.

“Have a seat, Eden. There are several things I need to discuss with you.”

At his gesture, I set my bag down and took the chair across from him. I remained cautious, scanning for any sign of a trap, but there was nothing in the room more dangerous than the man himself.

Once I settled, he began without delay,

“So, are you prepared to face the prejudice and injustice, not just from the students, but from some of the faculty as well?”

For a headmaster, his way of opening a conversation was rather blunt.

******

A/N:- I hope you guys liked the chapter.