Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

1007 AF Seedmonth

01 Seedmonth 1007 After Fall

By Seedmonth First Day, the Academy was buzzing with the excited chatter of new students.

Having arrived early, Arial and his friends had spent the last twenty-three days exploring the Academy grounds, and had grown closer.

They had been warned to avoid the Gray Forest, but had gone hunting within it anyway, followed by Helia who had scolded them the entire time.

They were almost caught by Nosy Chuck, the errand boy of the Knight Master.

Arial had decided to teach Helia the swordplay techniques he had taught Kyle and Lisa, since she seemed to have attached herself quite firmly to their group.

Though the technique he teaches her is a technique that is more suitable for a girl her built and strength.

Arial also teach her some tips about internal energy concepts and basics, hoping that she would have an enlightenment of her style by herself.

Arial had watched the new students arrive; some had walked through the gates wearing chainmail, much to the amusement of the guards.

Some were escorted by their parents, some dragged along, crying. There are also some kids who brought a sword twice his size and that got a big laughter.

Some of them just accepts their new home without complaints.

Some come alone either by riding horses or riding carriages, willingly coming here to enter the Academy.

Arial had spotted some prestigious noble sons sitting in carriages, with banners emblazoned with their individual coats of arms.

He noticed the Houses of Palais and Alan were both represented.

The Academy does not allow attendants, servants or slaves to enter the ground to follow their master. It is a place of learning.

Other than the Priest and the Church, the Knights of Alan is one the most enlightened man in this period for they have access to numerous books and secrets.

They like the people of the Church is men of letters, fill with knowledge and wisdom

And Arial knew very well the importance of knowledge.

Knowledge is power. And with power comes influence. Influence that he needed gravely to reach his goal

"I suppose this means we have to move out of our rooms, right?" said Kyle.

"I guess," Arial replied, not taking his eyes off the new recruits.

The following morning at breakfast they discovered that their rooms were indeed only temporary, and would be assigned permanent rooms after the Choosing.

The Choosing is a much-anticipated ceremony at the start of each new school year.

The recruits were sent to the Seer one by one, who would decide which of the five houses they were best suited for.

The division will be like their family in the Academy.

They will have classes with the rest of their division, sleep in their division dormitory, and spend free time in the division common room.

That is the way of the Knights of Old.

"Where do you think I'll be placed?" Kyle asked as he munched his way through a third slice of bread.

"Purple Faery," Helia laughed, nudging him playfully. Imagining this manly youth to be Chosen to a house associated with gentleness and politeness, crack her up

"It suits you, brother," Lisa said, grinning. She winked towards Helia which elicited another giggling from Helia.

Kyle snorted and rebuke by saying

"Well, if it's based on personalities, you're going to be in Black Raven for sure," Kyle retorted, his face flushed.

"Where do you think you'll be going, Arial?" Helia asked loudly, mostly to break up the siblings' argument.

They shut up. Arial smiles a bit and then look at Helia. Helia had known the dynamic of this group the moment she joined them

Arial was their pillars and their leaders, the troublemaker in chief. They obey his words almost religiously.

The control he has over them is overwhelming. The two siblings not only respected him but also love him.

"I'm going to choose Fierce Dragon," said Arial.

There is a reason why he chooses to enter Fierce Dragon.

Other than the reason that he finds the banner powerful and invokes awe, there are of course more meaningful reason than that.

The banner of the house is a dragon, how majestic, how imperious and the people in the House tends to be very courageous and powerful.

The training inside the Division shapes its recruit into becoming that. To become courageous and unyielding and prideful without ostentation.

It is also the division that perish first when the dark lands come attacking. Which means they are the first to lay down their lives for humanity.

Arial respect these men, and warrior and admire their bravery so much so, he wanted to join the House.

He wanted to challenge himself, put pressure in his heart so he could improve himself faster.

"Arial, you can't choose, they will choose for you," Helia said gently as she smiles at Arial.

"Who decides that? I say you can choose. You just have to want it truly, sincerely" Arial said, no doubt in his tone.

Helia chuckles and Lisa nodded.

"Who's there!" A yell startled the group of friends.

"Oh, shit. Nosy Chuck" Kyle said his feet already started running. They started running to the towers while Nosy Chuck tries to catch them.

The drove of the new students doesn't stop until the evening. The feast began.

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First part of the chapter. All will be released today five minutes apart