Chapter 371: Arrival!
The carriage finally rolled to a stop after hours of travel.
The steady rhythm of wheels on cobblestone ceased, replaced by the ambient noise of a busy city.
Alaric stepped out first.
And offered his hand to Callista out of ingrained habit, then remembered where he was and started to pull it back.
But she took it anyway.
And then smiled slightly.
"Chivalry isn’t dead everywhere, I suppose."
They stood in Greyford proper now. The capital city of Thiaman Kingdom.
It was... massive.
Ashfeld had been substantial. But Greyford dwarfed it completely. Buildings rose four and five stories high. Streets wide enough for multiple carriages to pass simultaneously. Everywhere Alaric looked, were people. Thousands of them. Moving with purpose through a city that never seemed to stop.
And that same gender disparity he’d noticed in Ashfeld was even more pronounced here. Women dominated every visible position of authority. Guards. Merchants. Officials.
The heart of the matriarchy. Where the system is most entrenched.
"This way," Callista said, already moving. "The teleportation gates are in the administrative district. About a fifteen-minute walk."
She led him through crowded streets with practiced ease. Navigating foot traffic like someone who’d done this journey many times. Alaric followed, keeping his awareness sharp despite the sensory overload.
The administrative district was marked by more official architecture. Government buildings with Thiaman Kingdom’s crest, a crowned lion holding scales, displayed prominently. Guards in formal armor stationed at regular intervals.
And at the district’s center, the teleportation gates.
A massive plaza paved in white stone.
Seven circular platforms arranged in geometric pattern, each one carved with intricate essence formations that pulsed with barely-contained power. Crowds gathered around each platform, people waiting for transport, arrivals materializing in flashes of light, officials managing the flow.
"Stay close," Callista instructed. "And don’t speak unless spoken to directly. Teleportation gate guards are... particular about protocol."
She approached the nearest checkpoint. Two guards stood at attention, both women in heavy plate armor marked with gate authority insignia.
"Destination?" the first guard asked without preamble.
"Royal Academy," Callista replied. She pulled two tokens from her pocket, bronze discs with academy seal stamped on them. "Two students."
The guard inspected the tokens carefully. Then her eyes moved to Alaric. Tracked over him with professional assessment that became slightly more interested.
"Fare is ten silver per person."
Callista produced a small purse. Counted out twenty silver pieces, far more than Alaric had expected for what was essentially magical fast travel.
It’s very expensive.
The guard accepted payment. Gestured toward the nearest active platform.
"Platform Three. Next departure in five minutes. Don’t miss it or you’ll wait another hour."
They moved to the indicated platform. Joined the small crowd already gathering, mostly young people in academy uniforms similar to theirs. Students returning from break or arriving for new term.
Several gave Callista friendly nods. Recognized her from previous years.
A few looked at Alaric with varying degrees of curiosity or contempt.
He ignored them all.
just focused instead on the platform itself, studying the essence formations, trying to understand the mechanism.
Then the air above the platform began to shimmer. Reality distorting as the formations activated. Power building in visible waves that made Alaric’s essence channels resonate uncomfortably.
"Step on," Callista instructed. "And don’t move once it starts. Teleportation sickness is unpleasant if you’re not stationary."
"I know."
They stepped onto the platform together. The other students crowded in around them, maybe fifteen people total, all pressed close in the limited space.
The shimmer intensified. Reality bent.
Everything went white.
---
Sensation returned in rush that made Alaric’s stomach lurch.
Solid ground beneath his feet. Air that smelled different, cleaner, with hints of grass and flowers rather than city smoke.
Sounds changed, fewer people, more open space.
Then his vision cleared.
They stood in another plaza. Smaller than the capital’s teleportation hub but no less impressive.
Beautifully maintained gardens surrounded the arrival area. Buildings visible in the distance, academy structures built from pale stone that caught afternoon sunlight.
And directly ahead, were massive gates bearing the academy crest.
Royal Academy.
Students poured off the platform around them. Most heading immediately toward the gates with comfortable familiarity. Returning students who knew exactly where they were going.
"Come on," Callista said. "I’ll show you to the dormitories first. You’ll need to check in and get your room assignment before the opening ceremony tonight."
She led him through the gates. Past guards who barely glanced at their academy badges. Into the academy grounds proper.
The campus was... beautiful.
Manicured lawns. Ancient trees providing shade over walking paths. Buildings that managed to be both imposing and elegant simultaneously. Students everywhere, sitting on benches, walking in groups, practicing combat techniques in open training areas.
As they walked, several girls spotted Callista. Waved. Called out greetings.
"Callista! You’re back!"
"Cal! Over here!"
Three young women broke away from a larger group and approached.
All wearing the same burgundy uniform marking them as second-years. All moving with confidence that suggested they owned this space.
"Ladies," Callista greeted with genuine warmth. "Good break?"
"Boring," one said, a dark-haired girl with sharp features.
"My mother tried to set me up with ANOTHER merchant’s son. Like I don’t have enough of those trailing after me already."
The others laughed.
Then their attention shifted. Locked onto Alaric with interest that made his skin crawl.
"Well, well," the dark-haired girl purred. "Who’s this?"
She elbowed Callista playfully. Smirked. "You finally got yourself a stud, huh? And here I thought you weren’t interested in collecting."
Callista’s expression didn’t change. "This is Azra. An exchange student. Sponsored by House Valcieri."
"Exchange student," another girl repeated, blonde with calculating eyes. "So he’s available?"
"He’s under House Valcieri’s protection," Callista said firmly. "Which means hands off unless you want to deal with Lady Vanessia’s wrath."
The girls exchanged glances. Some backing off immediately at the name. Others looking even more interested.
"Valcieri sponsorship," the dark-haired girl mused. "That’s... significant. Must be talented."
Her eyes traveled over Alaric in ways that made him want to punch something. "What’s your specialty, Azra? Combat? Magic? Or are you more... domestic?"
The innuendo was blatant. Shameless.
Alaric’s jaw clenched. But he said nothing. Just stared back with cold crimson eyes that promised violence if she continued this line of questioning.
You little!
Callista stepped slightly between them. "We need to get to the dormitories. Opening ceremony is in a few hours."
"Right, right." The blonde waved dismissively. "We’ll catch up later, Cal. And you..." She pointed at Alaric. "Welcome to the Royal Academy. Try not to get lost."
She winked. The group walked away laughing.
Callista sighed.
"Sorry about them. They’re... enthusiastic."
"That’s one word for it," Alaric muttered.
Then they continued walking. Toward the dormitory buildings visible in the distance.
And Alaric tried very hard not to think about how the next weeks were going to be.
Do I need to kill them before I leave?