Beginning

The next day, when Charles arrived at the dormitory, Ange was still asleep. Since the academy hadn't officially started and the training grounds weren't open yet, Ange had woken up early for meditation but had gone back to rest afterward. The sound of Charles opening the door woke Ange up. He was dressed in exquisite noble attire, his curly hair framing a youthful, freckled face, and he stood out amidst a group of servants.

Woken by the commotion from Charles and his servants, Ange, though still sleepy, didn't go back to sleep. He got up and started tidying his things, preparing for the new day. Seeing Ange awake, Charles greeted him warmly. Although Charles's servants initially mistook Ange for another student's servant, Charles had learned through his family's information channels that the person sharing his dormitory was actually a retired warrior from the front lines, a full ten years his senior.

Despite the significant age difference, Charles showed no arrogance. Instead, he treated Ange with curiosity and respect. While he didn't know Ange's exact strength, his experience on the battlefield led him to believe Ange was at least at the level of a Senior Squire. Charles felt a mix of admiration and anticipation towards his new roommate.

Ange responded warmly to Charles's greeting. Seeing the young man who was a decade younger than him, Ange felt a peculiar sense of contrast. The servants around them showed a flicker of surprise when they heard Ange was also a student at the academy, but they quickly regained their composure. Fortunately, they hadn't shown any disrespect or disdain towards Ange the previous day.

After the servants left, Charles formally introduced himself to Ange. He told Ange he was from Campasareta, a subordinate region of Tan'anster. His family held the title of Viscount, and his full name was Charles Remant. He also specifically mentioned that he was the youngest child in his family. To add credibility and showcase his family's honor, Charles took a small insignia from his pocket and showed it to Ange.

Ange looked at the small insignia, which bore a complex family crest and pattern. At first, he thought it was a badge representing a noble title. Charles explained that the insignia represented the bloodline and historical lineage of their Remant family, a symbol of their family's honor. Ange nodded in understanding. Although he was unfamiliar with noble etiquette and symbols, he could sense Charles's pride in his family.

The distance between them seemed to shrink in that moment. Ange realized that despite Charles's young age, he already displayed the confidence and politeness characteristic of noble scions.

Charles, being young, was secretly pleased when Ange complimented his knowledge. Especially since Ange was asking common sense questions, which made Charles explain everything without reservation. Charles began to describe the noble hierarchy of Tan'anster: "The highest nobles in Tan'anster are naturally the Grand Duke of Tan'anster, who rules the entire Duchy. Below the Grand Duke's family are three Marquis families, followed by nine Count families, and then numerous Viscount and Baron families."

Charles continued, "Our Remant family is an old noble lineage, with a history dating back to the era of Tan'anster I, when our family held the title of Count. However, our noble title was later demoted to Viscount because we didn't pay enough Black Magic Crystals. But even so, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse; our family's strength is still comparable to some lower-ranking Count families."

At this point, Charles unconsciously puffed out his chest, a hint of pride in his tone. Ange noticed his dry throat and thoughtfully poured him a glass of water. Charles gratefully accepted the glass and casually mentioned his family's business, focusing on the Remant family's warrior corps. He said with longing, "I dream of one day becoming the leader of the family's warrior corps."

Hearing this, Ange couldn't help but interject, "Then can't you inherit the Viscount title?" Charles glanced at him as if to say, How could you think that? Then he explained, "Although I come from a noble family, the title can only be passed down to the eldest son. Other children must earn a new noble title through military achievements or by becoming a Mage. Unfortunately, I don't have magical talent, so I can only strive on the path of a warrior."

Ange nodded silently. He wasn't very familiar with the inheritance rules of noble families, and hearing Charles explain it like this, he finally understood. This made him realize more clearly that even within noble families, the distribution of resources and power was not simple and could even be full of competition and pressure.

After Charles finished explaining his family background, he became curious about Ange's situation and asked about his experiences. Ange briefly recounted his story, telling Charles that he was just an ordinary commoner who had retired from the battlefield in the Maple Sugar Plane a few months prior. When Charles heard "Maple Sugar Plane," a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he eagerly asked, "Have you seen Foul Spirits?"

Ange nodded and said, "Yes, I have seen Foul Spirits." This made Charles even more excited. He had never seen a Foul Spirit with his own eyes and was full of curiosity about these mysterious and terrifying beings. So, he continued to inquire about their appearance and the battles.

Ange roughly described the Foul Spirits: "Foul Spirits are very ferocious creatures, with grotesque appearances and swift movements, often exuding a suffocating, chilling aura." He then recounted his experience fighting Foul Spirits on the Kwenhua Plain, describing the brutality of the battlefield and the power of the Foul Spirits. Charles listened intently, occasionally exclaiming in awe, feeling both impressed and envious that Ange had personally experienced such battles.

After Ange finished recounting his experiences, Charles couldn't help but ask, "Since you have so much combat experience in the army, why didn't you stay? Couldn't you have earned a noble title through military achievements?"

Ange shook his head with a wry smile and explained, "In the Allied Forces, I was seconded from the Logistics Regiment to the Infantry Regiment. According to regulations, I couldn't participate in the distribution of military achievements. So, even if I performed well on the battlefield, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to earn a noble title through merit."

Charles nodded thoughtfully, expressing understanding. Although he grasped Ange's situation, he still felt a sense of regret. Then he suddenly proposed, "Ange, if you have no other plans after graduation, you can consider joining our family's warrior corps. I believe with your strength, you would definitely be highly valued within the corps."

Ange thanked Charles for his kind offer but didn't immediately agree. He smiled and said, "Thank you for the invitation, but let's talk about it after graduation. I haven't decided on my future direction yet."

Charles nodded. Although he was a bit disappointed, he also understood that Ange needed time to consider his future. After their conversation, the atmosphere in the dormitory became more relaxed, and they began discussing the academy's courses and training schedules, preparing for their upcoming academic life.

Through his conversation with Charles, Ange learned much about the noble life he had never encountered before. Charles indeed had good talent. Before coming to the Warrior Academy, his family had specifically arranged coaches to train him and other noble children, ensuring they received elite education from a young age. This gave Ange a better understanding of Charles's capabilities and made him realize that the resources and training opportunities noble children received during their upbringing far exceeded the imagination of ordinary commoners.

In the afternoon, Charles suggested they go to a restaurant outside the academy to eat and, at the same time, introduce Ange to some details of noble life. Charles chose a restaurant exclusively frequented by nobles. Ange noticed a special symbol at the entrance, which reminded him of similar signs he had seen in Wolf and River Bay City. It turned out those marked establishments were restaurants and places specifically serving nobles. Today, Ange finally had the opportunity to experience it firsthand through Charles's invitation.

Upon entering the restaurant, Ange immediately felt a completely different atmosphere from ordinary eateries. The interior was luxuriously decorated, the waiters were incredibly attentive, and the tableware was exceptionally exquisite. Charles ordered several signature dishes for Ange, which primarily featured Magical Beast meat, and for drinks, they had Maple Sugar Wine with magical elements. It was Ange's first time tasting such high-end food. The melt-in-your-mouth Magical Beast meat and the faintly glowing Maple Sugar Wine made him marvel at the extravagance of the nobles.

During a lull in the meal, Charles explained, "This restaurant is an important place for our nobles to gather and socialize, so it's only open to them. The symbol you saw is to distinguish restaurants for commoners from establishments serving nobles."

Ange nodded in understanding but couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that a meal like this could potentially equal several years' income for an ordinary commoner family. This made him further appreciate the vast gap between nobles and commoners. However, since Charles had extended such a generous invitation, Ange didn't intend to refuse. So, he smiled and accepted the grand meal, fully enjoying this rare culinary experience.

After the meal, Ange and Charles discussed their future plans. Charles was full of confidence in his family's warrior corps, while Ange became more determined to study hard at the Warrior Academy. During this meal, they deepened their understanding of each other, and Ange gained a more profound insight into the noble world.