The two boys emerged from the room a few minutes later, garbed in their new Arcadia uniforms. The white shirts and dark plaid trousers made them look sharp, whereas the long black mage robes over the top had flashes of red within.
Judging by the usual ranking convention that Arcadia used, Michael surmised that it was this color to identify they were still first-years.
That’s when he saw Melody waiting on one of the arm chairs, one leg thrown over the other, her soft white legs exposed by the plaid skirt of the uniform. She had her arms crossed beneath her bosom, wearing an impatient expression.
"Holy crap she’s beautiful..." Rudy muttered.
Michael too was surprised.
He had seen Melody dressed in all sorts of noble attire throughout these past three years, from elegant ball dresses, to summer sun dresses. Yet his heart fluttered as he saw her there in the Arcadia uniform.
She no longer looked like a doll—she looked like a woman.
For the first time since meeting her, Michael truly imagined her as his fiance, causing his cheeks to heat up in response. All he could do was hopelessly avert his gaze, trying to hide the rising embarrassment of his thoughts.
"Y-You took your time," Melody exclaimed, sounding slightly flustered.
As Michael raised his head, he saw that her own cheeks were burning red, enhancing her features. It truly was a sight to behold. Googlᴇ search noveⅼfire.net
"Well? What do ya think?" Rudy stepped forward, twirling around—showing off his new uniform.
Melody cleared her throat, "It is acceptable. Now, its time to go," she announced, heading towards the door.
Out of instinct, Michael moved in step with her and reached the door, pulling it open with grace. It seemed that the action had been ingrained into his very being after acting as her butler for so long.
The girl let out a satisfied nod and walked through the entrance, her eyes lingering on his figure for a few extra moments.
"Oh wow, you’re such a gentleman." Rudy’s cheerful voice sounded as he strolled past, clapping Michael on the shoulder.
Michael didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry, so he instead shook his head and let out a chuckle. His body had moved on its own, despite him technically being free from his butler duties now that they had been accepted into the academy.
He closed the door behind him and looked into the hall, only now realizing their predicament. They had no idea where they were.
Which way was it to the Great Hall?
"Er, do you guys know where to go?" Rudy asked, looking left and right, scratching his head in thought.
But as his words echoed in the long halls, the ground beneath them began to glow a bright yellow. It swirled around each of their feet before shooting off to the left, lighting up a path along the ground.
"Looks like that’s the way to the Great Hall..." Michael announced, inwardly impressed by the mechanism. He wasn’t sure if this was something just done for the first-years or if the castle itself had this type of mechanism at all times.
Having researched rudimentary mana theory during his tutelage under Charles, he couldn’t help but appreciate usefulness of this mechanism and the skill it would have required to implement.
Of course he had no idea how it worked, nor could he—not yet at least.
"Let’s go." Melody was the first to set off, her footsteps echoing off the walls before the two boys began to follow.
They followed the path that was pulsed on the ground before them. Michael took a look behind him, realizing that the light would dim and disappear the moment they passed over it, bringing him an even deeper appreciation.
"Oh, you guys are here." A confident voice called from nearby.
The trio turned their heads, only to see Braydon Marbury and his lackey Randolph the curly-haired boy leading another group of first-years down a conjoining hall towards them.
"You look wonderful in the school uniform, Miss Melody." He stated, approaching her with a steady gait, "I’d love to accompany you to the feast—your grace would be wasted on such a dolt." He added, sending Michael a brief glare.
Michael watched the shameless guy approach Melody before offering his arm. He found it quite ironic that this guy was calling him a "dolt" when he had gotten better results in the entrance examination.
Otherwise, how was he given a violet emblem while Braydon only received a green?
The boy’s actions were clearly done to both humiliate him and try and win Melody over. Even though he knew that it would not work since he and Melody had an arrangement—the guys actions caused something to stir within him.
Was it jealousy? Anger?
Either way it was unpleasant.
"Michael," Melody called, her tone frosty, "your fiance is being bothered by this dolt. Could you please explain to him that I am not some frivolous woman who would abandon my betrothed?"
"Of course," he replied, wearing a stiff smile. Various spells and ways of torture flitted through his mind, but all would likely get him expelled from the academy in no time—especially with so many witnesses.
Not to mention he had no idea what mechanisms existed within the castle. There could be someone or something watching them at all times within the castle walls.
Visible anger crossed Braydon’s face, but he managed to keep his composure, straightening his posture and facing Michael with an arrogance befitting of a noble.
"You heard the lady, why don’t you give up while you still have some dignity." Michael said, approaching slowly. "Or did you need me to beat some sense into you?" he asked calmly.
Braydon scoffed, crossing his arms, looking almost like a thug. "You think that you could?" he asked, looking him up and down.
While Michael had some height on most kids his age, Braydon was not far off. But more importantly, he had wide shoulders and was physically bigger—at a glance, it was clear who was more equipped for fighting.
Yet instead of being intimidated, Michael gave a toothy grin in response.