Chapter 23
Contrary to his earlier words about being busy, Fonn explained the academy in detail the whole way.
Watching Rune’s bright eyes darting about as she took in everything, he couldn’t help but feel pride well up inside him toward Refium Academy, and this fresh, green newcomer.
“This building is the library. Behind it are the dormitories used by the general students.”
In front of the library stretched a wide plaza. On the neatly trimmed grass, groups of students who had already formed friendships were gathered, chatting animatedly.
‘Just like the capital, it really feels like another world.’
Unlike the marquisate, where there was constant threat from monsters, Refium looked far too peaceful.
The fountain sprayed refreshing streams of water into the air. Rune’s gaze landed on the statue at its center, and Fonn adjusted his glasses with a proud smile.
“That is the statue of Leonard I. It was cast when the academy itself was founded.”
Leonard I, the first emperor of the Leonal Empire, who ended the Hundred Years’ War of the Cartago continent and established the empire.
Wearing an imperial crown and bearing a long sword at his waist, the founding emperor’s figure was majestic. At his feet rested a massive lion, its luxurious mane sculpted as though swaying in the wind.
“The entire academy is arranged around this plaza. It may sound like a joke, but if you ever lose your way, just come back here.”
As they left the plaza, more buildings appeared in rows.
“It’s larger than I expected.”
“Well, every student here boards on campus. The cadet corps buildings are on the opposite side.”
The cadet school was livelier than the general campus they had seen earlier. In front of the buildings, a small drill ground was already occupied by new cadets training their bodies.
“As you probably know, the cadet school has a completely different atmosphere and set of rules. It’s practically the military. After commissioning as NCOs, they even take on real missions.”
“How many cadets are there?”
“Each grade is organized as a company of three platoons. With about twenty cadets per platoon, that’s roughly sixty per year.”
Fonn scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
“Please just take it as an approximate number. Rarely, there are cases like this year where someone is held back, or resigns for personal reasons.”
“So if all years are gathered, that’s a fair number.”
“Yes, a little over two hundred—about the size of a full battalion. Not that the entire corps would ever mobilize unless war broke out.”
He led them toward three dormitories lined up from the entrance, guiding them to the innermost one. The further back they went, the more worn and shabby the buildings became.
“Each platoon has its own dormitory. As I mentioned earlier, assignments are done in rotation, so you’ll be in the 3rd Platoon.”
The 3rd Platoon’s dormitory was made of wood. It looked aged on the outside, and inside it gave off an even more gloomy atmosphere.
“As you’ll see, each floor is divided by year. Moving each year before the semester begins is quite the commotion. First-years are always given the top floor. Follow me.”
The three climbed the creaking wooden stairs. The railings, twisted with age, were rough to the touch.
‘Top floor of an old wooden dormitory… no wonder they warned me it might not be ideal if I drew a later rotation.’
The dorm hallway was lined with rooms facing each other across a long corridor.
“Cadets share rooms, two per room.”
Rune frowned slightly, clicking her tongue inwardly.
‘Damn… I didn’t even think about having a roommate.’
No matter the condition of the building, this was truly troublesome. She had to hide the fact that she was a woman, and depending on her roommate’s temperament, she could face endless complications.
‘Surely… it won’t be him, right?’
She glanced nervously at Ellen, who was walking silently ahead, just as Fonn stopped at the end of the 4th floor hallway.
“Here we are.”
He pointed at two rooms facing each other. At least Rune wouldn’t be rooming with Ellen.
Fonn pulled out a ring of keys and opened one of the doors.
“I should apologize. We had to prepare the space in a hurry, so the options were limited.”
Unlike the other rooms they had passed, this one was noticeably smaller and more worn. As he said, it looked like a room converted from some other purpose.
“It’s a single. Not too cramped for one person. And this room here…”
He pointed at the opposite door, fumbling for another key with a troubled look.
“This is the room of the cadet who was held back.”
The lock clattered as he found the key. His voice sounded reluctant as he opened the door.
“Since he repeated a year, his dorm assignment didn’t change. So… it’s practically like he has the place to himself.”
Before he could finish—
Thunk. Something rolled off the shelf inside, tumbling to Fonn’s feet. A rotten apple. The blackened bite mark shriveled and dried from age.
Thwack! Fonn hastily kicked the apple aside.
“…Haha, this cadet rarely stays in his dorm, so… the environment isn’t exactly pleasant.”
He tried to excuse it, but Rune’s face stiffened.
‘Didn’t he say every cadet boards here? If he doesn’t stay in his room… where does he even sleep?’
Peering inside, she saw blankets and clothes scattered messily on the floor. The stale atmosphere was so foul it wouldn’t have been surprising if a corpse had turned up.
‘Definitely not someone living a normal life. What now?’
She glanced toward Ellen, thinking his opinion might matter.
‘What the—how long has he been staring at me like that?’
Ellen was once again gazing at her intently with that strange look.
“You… No, never mind.”
He frowned, sighed, and rubbed his face tiredly. Before Rune could ask what he meant, he had already chosen a key.
“I’ll take this one.”
The two-person room of the held-back cadet. Ellen walked straight in with a weary expression.
“Wait, hold on…!”
Thud. The door shut firmly before Rune could protest.
Still stunned, she accepted the remaining key Fonn held out with an awkward smile.
“You’ll have the single, then.”
He clasped Rune’s hand tightly around the key with both of his own.
“If by chance—by any chance—you’re uncomfortable, don’t go through him. Come to me directly.”
“Him?”
Rune pulled her hand free and looked at him in puzzlement. Fonn scratched his messy hair with a sheepish grin.
“Lord Kaelion Heraith, of course! If possible, I’ll try to resolve matters without involving him… ah—!”
“N-no, it’s fine. You’ve helped enough. Thank you.”
Fearing someone might overhear that name, Rune hastily pushed Fonn toward the end of the corridor. Clearly, her sponsor’s name weighed heavily on him.
“Contact me anytime!”
Only after repeating his reminder several times did Fonn finally leave looking relieved.
As expected—her patron’s name was indeed a heavy one.
“Hah… I’m exhausted already.”
Rune leaned against the closed door, letting out a laugh.
It was a small room.
Against one wall stood a solid wooden desk and wardrobe, and opposite them was a neatly made bed with white bedding.
Such a simple, empty room—yet it filled her with excitement.
Pressing down on the bubbling joy in her chest, she took a deep breath.
“I’m really at the academy.”
Through the narrow window spread the academy’s green campus, all at once in her view.
‘I wonder where Lord Kaelion is right now.’
Her bag contained quite a lot of things to put away. Stuffed full, it seemed to reflect Marlene’s thorough personality.
“No wonder it was so heavy. I’m surprised it didn’t burst.”
Unexpected items like a nail knife kept popping up, making her chuckle.
When she finally finished unpacking, she opened the narrow window. The academy’s gray buildings glowed red in the setting sun.
Living alone was nice. Despite its size and shabbiness, the room was more than livable. The dust could be cleaned, and when it felt stifling, she could just open the window.
There was only one major flaw.
“Of all things… no bathroom.”
So that’s why Fonn had looked so nervous earlier. Normally, every dorm room came with its own bathroom, but since this was a converted space, there wasn’t one.
Warm evening air drifted in, and she loosened two buttons of her shirt with a sigh.
“It’s definitely hotter than the northwest. I hate summer…”
Soon, Hagia would arrive—the day of the year when the sun rose highest. Under the blessing of the sun god Cloud, Refium Academy welcomed its new students.
Three days remained until the entrance ceremony.
The once-crowded academy was quiet. After registering, nearly all the students had gone into the city outside.
“Once the semester starts, we won’t be able to leave so freely. Now’s their only chance.”
Strict control over student movement meant outsiders also had to undergo complicated procedures to enter.
Rune herself wanted to see the capital, but as Kaelion had warned, there was always the risk of running into pursuers from the marquisate.
“At least inside Refium, nothing troublesome should happen.”
Until the official ceremony, it was safer to remain quietly inside the academy.
“Guess I’ll go wash up.”
Though it was still early evening, the drill grounds were empty, and no one would likely be using the washroom. After some thought, Rune grabbed soap and a towel.
The public washroom was right beside the drill ground.
Crossing the grounds, Rune spotted Ellen sitting under a tree.
