Chapter 22: Isn’t It Right Ahead?

The carriage continued north.

The streets on both sides gradually became wider.

The crowded shops from before were slowly left behind, and the buildings lining the streets became more orderly.

Rows of gray-white stone buildings stood on either side of the road. Some roofs were even designed in a spire style, looking like an undulating forest of stone.

It was clearly much quieter than the streets they had just passed through.

There were no vendors hawking their wares, and one rarely saw merchants pushing carts.

The occasional passersby were mostly well-dressed pedestrians or young people wearing apprentice robes.

The shops on the sides of the street had also changed.

Some had bronze plates engraved with runes hanging at their doors, while others displayed strange signs composed of alchemy bottles and quills.

There was even one building that had a stone monument covered in ancient script standing by its entrance.

Harvey could not help but steal a few more glances.

“The difference between here and where we just were is huge.”

As the carriage passed through, it was even stopped by the city guards for a routine inspection. They only allowed them to pass after confirming the Duke’s Mansion Crest.

It seemed that ordinary people were not permitted to enter this district.

Evelyn said calmly, “Children of the nobility are the mages of the future, so naturally, various associations are established around the Academy.”

“That includes the Magic Association you asked about earlier, as well as the alchemists… even the Royal Library of Rune is located here.”

“Commoners are not allowed to enter or leave as they please.”

She had originally intended to introduce other associations, but after a second thought, she figured the library would be what interested him more.

After becoming an attendant companion at the Academy for Lavia, the two of them would occasionally have some private time to move around the Royal Capital.

Knowing more would be more convenient for him.

Harvey felt that the Head Maid seemed to have become a bit more patient with him, actually introducing things so seriously.

Although curious, he acted very happy.

He even leaned his face closer to the window.

Looking at the layered city architecture outside the window was like seeing humans attempting to use stone to pile their city up into the sky.

Harvey suddenly muttered in a low voice, “Outside the courtyard, it’s just like a forest.”

Evelyn glanced at him.

She did not refute him.

The Royal Capital was indeed somewhat like a forest.

However, the trunks were made of stone.

As for humans, they lived and multiplied among these stone branches and leaves, having triumphed over all other races.

At the edge of the distant sky, several even taller towers slowly emerged.

Those buildings were of a different style, engraved with patterns representing magic.

The slender, straight towers looked like they had been pulled directly from the ground toward the sky.

The tops of the towers had complex metal structures.

On top of one of the towers, a pale blue crystal was suspended.

The sunlight hit it, reflecting a shimmering halo, making it look like a blue star fixed in the sky.

Harvey asked with an amazed expression, “What is that place?”

Evelyn’s gaze also fell into the distance.

She explained patiently, “Those are the Magic Towers built by the Academy.”

“They are used to activate the Mana Elements within the area, making it easier to use magic.”

Harvey nodded in understanding.

The Head Maid’s explanation was even easier to understand than what Lord Hades had said.

She truly was an Ancient Fairy.

At that thought, he could not help but steal a glance at Evelyn’s ears before quickly looking away.

The books said that a fairy’s ears were very similar to an elf’s, with pointed upper tips.

But the Head Maid’s ears did not look like that.

They were as white and soft as milk.

Come to think of it, Lord Hades had also mentioned that she was a “Humanized Fairy.”

Humanized…

‘Does it mean the Head Maid’s appearance is closer to a human’s?’

Harvey did not dare ask this question out loud, so he could only suppress his doubts for the time being.

Evelyn also did not notice that her explanation regarding the Royal Capital and the Magic Academy was actually a bit too detailed for a maid of a Duke’s Mansion.

Neither of them paid any attention to this subtle oddity.

Following her words, Harvey continued to ask about the situation at the Academy.

“The Knight Department?”

Evelyn frowned. “You are interested in Knights?”

It was no wonder she showed a look of uncertainty. After all, Harvey did not look like someone who was enthusiastic about physical training.

Harvey nodded. “A little bit, I suppose.”

“Mainly, I’m curious about what courses the Academy has and what the Eldest Miss usually comes into contact with.”

Learning about it in advance would not hurt.

Since leaving the Duke’s Mansion until now, no one had seriously told him what he was actually supposed to do at the Academy.

Since the Head Maid was finally willing to speak today, he naturally wanted to ask a few more questions.

As for Knights…

Weren’t swords and magic the best combination?

Evelyn looked at him as if she had heard something strange.

“There is no Knight Department in the Royal Academy of Magic.”

Furthermore, the Eldest Miss of a Duke’s family could not possibly engage in martial arts training outside.

It would show a complete lack of noble upbringing.

Harvey was stunned for a moment.

“There isn’t one?”

“Of course not,” Evelyn said. “That is a magic academy; it was never a place to train Knights.”

“Only nobles with Magic Talent can enter the Academy.”

“If you are talking about students from Knight backgrounds, those do exist.”

“Some noble families practice both martial arts and magic simultaneously. Even if the heir of the house has received knight training since childhood, as long as they awaken their Magic Talent, they will still be sent to the Academy to study.”

“But what they learn there is still magic.”

So he had been thinking about it all wrong. It was only then that Harvey realized his mistake.

“But if that’s the case, won’t the knight training they did before be useless?”

Evelyn explained patiently, “A person with a strong body is better able to store Mana Elements, and their mental strength is more resilient than average. If they have also received systematic physical training and mastered *douqi*, they will naturally adapt to combat better than someone who simply researches Spell Formulas.”

“Especially when casting spells at close range or in situations that require quick reactions.”

“Such people are usually not weak.”

It was a statement full of combat experience.

Harvey nodded thoughtfully.

Although swords and magic were not two separate courses in the Academy, for some people, they could indeed be held in both hands at once.

However, he soon thought of something else.

“What about Holy Knights?”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, and the look she gave him carried a hint of surprise.

“You actually know about that.”

“I saw it in a book,” Harvey answered honestly.

Evelyn continued, “Holy Knights are different from ordinary Knights.”

“It is not a title that anyone can be called just because they have mastered martial arts and possess Magic Talent.”

“That is an honorary title bestowed by the Kingdom of Holy Radiance.”

“Knights who possess Light Magic talent and receive their investiture are granted the title of Holy Knight.”

“Essentially, they still belong to the knight system, but some of them can combine Light Magic with *douqi*.”

“In terms of status, they are far superior to ordinary Knights.”

At this point, a hint of mockery inadvertently flashed in Evelyn’s eyes.

“However, that is already a matter of another country.”

Harvey nodded.

Although it sounded very impressive, it was indeed too far away from him.

He had not even truly completed the most basic Mana Sensing yet.

Much less something like a Holy Knight.

Thinking of this, Harvey’s mood slowly sank a little again.

‘Despite me patiently answering his questions, why is his mood dropping again?’

Evelyn glanced at him and frowned with some dissatisfaction.

“What is wrong with you now?”

“Huh?”

Harvey was startled and gave an embarrassed smile.

“Nothing, it’s nothing. I just suddenly felt that the world of magic is so far away from me.”

The carriage swayed gently.

The sunlight from outside leaked through the gaps, falling onto the bag on his lap.

Evelyn did not speak immediately.

After a moment, she spoke indifferently.

“Is it?”

“Isn’t the gate to the Royal Academy of Magic right ahead?”