Overwhelming Firepower

Everyone's attention was now on Lucen and his group, who had arrived. This was the person who created a lot of toys, was rumored to have created a powerful weapon, wrote incredible plays, won in the underground arena, and had experienced the monster wave.

There were many stories circulating about Lucen Thornehart. Some were things everyone was sure happened, others were absurd rumors that none could believe.

Some said he could craft weapons that roared louder than dragons, others swore he could turn lead into silver through alchemy.

A few even believed he made deals with spirits from unknown sources to gain his strength. Whether true or not, the tales grew wilder each week, passed from soldier to merchant, from scholar to child.

To the people, Lucen was slowly becoming something more than human. He was becoming a symbol of a person capable of making the impossible possible.

Yet no matter the truth, Lucen Thornehart was the most talked-about person in the Kingdom as of now. His story was like a legend being written in real time.

From one who was called sickly to suddenly making his name known as a dragon slayer, to the current him who had faced the monster wave.

A few students who weren't there when he defeated Reginald Vermont had not seen any of his feats, were now staring at Lucen.

***

When Lucen first saw the Royal Academy, he was almost in tears. This was the place where most of the game used to take place.

He had seen this place many, many times through the screen. The school that looked like something from his world's 1900s, which was strange in this medieval setting of castles, swords, and magic.

Back in his past life, he dismissed it as a quirky design choice by the developers, maybe a hint at some lost civilization plotline that never got expanded upon.

Now that he knew this place was real, he started to wonder if there were other individuals who reincarnated in this world with memories of their previous lives.

'Maybe there were others, maybe they're still here now, but are reincarnators, or transmigrators? Did they come from this world as the one in my past life or a completely different one?'

Lucen caught himself drifting and shook his head, brushing the thoughts away. For now, he planned to enjoy the scenery of something he had only seen through the screen.

The Royal Academy of Norvaegard stood like a monument from another age. Tall brick buildings with arched windows, ivy climbing along stone walls, and iron lampposts that flickered softly with mana light.

Wide cobblestone paths divided the courtyards into neat squares, each bordered by trimmed hedges and trees that swayed gently in the breeze. Benches lined the walkway, near the trees.

Seeing that place made Lucen remember a few cutscenes and some romantic options that Alexander could choose from, which happened in that place.

Lucen could see classrooms through the tall windows, desks arranged in rows, blackboards covered in chalk.

Those classrooms that truly looked like a modern-day classroom were truly a sight to behold.

One of the first choices in the game happens in those classrooms, where the protagonists would sit. He can choose to sit in the back row near the window, the middle row between two beauties, or in the front row directly in front of the blackboard.

Depending on the choice made, a few routes became available, and others are blocked. There's also a choice that appears on the path to the true ending.

He then arrived at the center of the school, the courtyard. He remembered spending hours running across this courtyard in-game, talking to NPCs, grinding side quests, trying to trigger secret events that never came.

Even the uniforms were the same as he remembered, white shirts with dark vests, long coats with the Academy's insignia stitched on the shoulder. The noble students wore silver trim, while the commoner class wore plain blue.

'Who would have known back then that I would come to this world?' Lucen looked at the blue sky above, and a faint smile appeared on his face. 'Well, I guess it isn't too bad to reincarnate in the world I spent a long time looking through the screen at. I did have a lot of nice memories because of this game.'

He could hear the voices of Robert, Thrall, and Daniel in the background, but he ignored them as he was immersed in the feeling of the Royal Academy.

'Should I just have entered the Academy simply for the atmosphere. This place really does hold a place in my heart, despite only seeing it through a lousy screen.'

He was quite impressed by the way they built this school. It made him feel quite nostalgic about his own days as a student in his past life.

Despite the upcoming tournament, he could see quite a few students moving around with books in hand. He saw some practicing in a corner, others simply enjoying the fresh morning air.

He could see someone eating their lunch on the benches, smiling while talking to their friends.

There were even some students with unkept hair running around in panic as if they were late for something. Lucen exhaled, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

While still immersed in the atmosphere, his battle instinct skill started warning him. Lucen reacted before thought could catch up, instincts honed by countless battles taking over.

He dropped low, his coat brushing against the cobblestone as Crimson Lord flashed out in a blur of scarlet steel. The blade's faint hum cut through the air just as a cold edge sliced through where his neck had been an instant ago.

A sword appeared in the place where Lucen was standing before he ducked. Lucen's sword was now pointed at the neck of the one who surprised him. It was a girl with crimson hair like flames, Elyra Runescar.

"It would seem that you have improved greatly," Elyra said, her tone calm, almost too calm for someone with a blade at her neck. Her crimson hair shimmered in the light. She didn't even blink, as if the idea of danger itself was beneath her notice.

"Well, that was a rather surprising greeting," Lucen responded.

It was at that moment that he noticed what his companions were doing. Sir Thalos was blocking Thrall and Milos, who seemed ready to attack. Daniel was yawning, seemingly aware that Elyra meant no harm. Robert looked a little interested, then shifted his attention elsewhere, and Harlik simply shrugged his shoulders.

Gasps rippled through the watching students. The clash, brief as it was, had been too fast for most to see.

"What just happened?"

"Lady Elyra did a surprise attack, but that person simply ducked as if he could see in the back of his head."

"He moved before the attack was even made."

Lucen sighed, sliding his sword back into its sheath as if nothing had happened. "You really know how to attract attention, Elyra."

Elyra tilted her head to the side, looking a little confused. "Is that so?"

Before Lucen got to reply, he heard a familiar voice at his side. "It's been a long time since we last saw each other."

The voice was soft but carried a strange authority. A girl with flowing violet hair approached, her porcelain features almost doll-like, her every step graceful and deliberate. It was none other than Mireya Aeromont, the prodigy of the Aeromont House, known for her sharp wit and cold personality.

"Yes, it has," Lucen replied.

"I've been waiting for you to create a new board game, but instead you kept on making toys... Though I do like a few of them, when will you make a new board game?"

Lucen shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I guess when I feel like it."

"Fine, since it has been a while, how about a game of Territory War, while we wait?"

Lucen was about to reply, but similar to his conversation with Elyra, somebody interrupted him, and it was another familiar voice.

"Hey, it's been a while since I've seen you three."

Then came Evander Judicar, the oldest among the heirs, tall, broad-shouldered, his presence alone commanding silence. Unlike Elyra's flame or Mireya's frost, he had a presence that was bright like the sun.

The heirs of the four ducal households had gathered.

The Runescars, the swift and sharp sword of Norvaegard, one who would cut all enemies, its heir, Elyra Runescar.

The Aeromonts, keeper of secrets, and the recorder of history, one who wrote the story of Norvaegard itself, its heir, Mireya Aeromont.

The Judicars, the fair, and unbending scales of Norvaegard, the followers of the Goddess Justice and Judgment. Its heir, Evander Judicar.

Finally, the Thorneharts, the unbreakable shield of Norvaegard, the one who protects the kingdom and its people from all threats, its heir, Lucen Thornehart.

These four were the future pillars of Norvaegard, and one of these four would most likely be crowned champion.