"Exactly. Because the academy’s training methods, equipment, instructors, and limited seats all come at a price.
You tell me, why would someone take that risk and waste months trying to earn a free entry when they could simply pay ten thousand gold coins and secure a place immediately?"
Alucard took another bite before continuing.
"And if their child performs well and passes all the tests, they can compete for the academy’s prizes."
"Prizes?" Daniel asked, his interest piqued.
"Yes." Alucard smiled. "The first prize is one hundred thousand gold coins."
Daniel’s eyes widened slightly. "One hundred thousand...? You’re joking, right?"
"Do I look like I’m joking with you?" Alucard replied, taking another bite of his flatbread.
Daniel gave him a skeptical look before turning his attention back to the parchment. "But it doesn’t say that here. It only mentions ten thousand gold coins for third prize."
"It used to be five thousand. This year, they increased the prize to ten. The parchment you’re reading is a Transfer Decree, not a prize announcement, so I don’t know why they included that line. Must have been a mistake," he said with a casual shrug. "I’ll be right back."
With that, Alucard walked over to the horse, reached into its saddlebag, and returned a moment later with another parchment.
"Here are the prize details," Alucard said, handing it to Daniel.
He unfolded the parchment.
The first prize is one hundred thousand gold coins. The second is fifty thousand, and the third is ten thousand.
The prize details were handwritten in broad, elegant lettering, with a red Royal Academy insignia stamped at the bottom left. Beneath the prize list, an intricate eagle emblem had been drawn alongside several other official details.
’That’s a lot of money,’ Daniel thought as he read through the details, eyes scanning every line.
"Eat it. The food’s going to get cold," Alucard said.
But Daniel didn’t respond. Only after finishing the entire parchment did he finally tear off another piece of flatbread and dip it into the curry.
*Nom. Nom. Nom*
...
Forty-five minutes later, they reached the kingdom’s main gate.
It towered above them, its massive wooden doors reinforced with dark iron. Purple banners bearing the emblem of an eagle with a black beak hung from the stone walls, fluttering in the morning breeze.
A smaller door had been built into the center of the enormous gate, allowing travelers to enter without opening the entire structure.
Several guards stood stationed around the entrance, armed with spears, swords, and crossbows. Above them, watchtowers overlooked the road, where marksmen stood with bows drawn and arrows ready.
When the guards spotted the white horse and the man wearing a purple robe with golden sleeves, they exchanged knowing glances.
One of them gave Alucard a respectful nod before stepping forward to stop them.
Every traveler entering the kingdom was subject to inspection. If anything suspicious was discovered — or a person’s name appeared on the kingdom’s wanted list — they could be detained or, in extreme cases, executed on the spot.
"Alucard, who’s this kid?" one of the guards asked, his voice was deep and gravelly, carrying the weight of a man well past fifty.
"I brought a transfer student," Alucard replied casually.
The guard glanced at Daniel before turning his attention back to Alucard.
"Open the gate," he ordered.
Then, just as they were about to pass through, the guard added, "Well, you’re not the first transfer student to come through today."
...
*Clip-Clop. Clip-Clop*
Inside the densely packed houses lining the streets, a bustling crowd stretched as far as Daniel could see.
The streets were packed with people working, trading, and moving from one place to another. Merchants called out to passersby, selling everything from colorful clothes to glittering jewelry, while carts and handcarts rolled through the crowded streets.
’So this is the Eagle kingdom,’ Daniel whispered under his breath.
They were currently in the Lower City, where nobles, merchants, business owners, workers, and common folk lived and worked.
The streets were packed with people, creating a constant hum of voices and activity.
Despite the crowd, a separate lane had been built for wagons and horse riders, allowing them to pass through without having to weave between pedestrians.
"Look, they are fighting, but why?" Daniel asked, turning his head toward two men brawling in the middle of the street.
One of them had knocked over a milk container, spilling milk across the ground as the other shoved him back.
A nearby guard hurried over and moved between the two men, attempting to separate them.
"Enough!" the guard barked.
"Just ignore them," Alucard said, urging his horse forward.
A few minutes later, they climbed up toward the Mid-Citadel, where another massive gate stood before them, guarded by several soldiers armed with swords and axes.
A white eagle insignia was carved into the center of the gate.
Alucard dismounted from the horse and pulled out a palm-sized badge bearing an eagle insignia, holding it up for the guards to see.
Daniel watched carefully.
One of the guards took the badge and examined it thoroughly before returning it to Alucard.
"Alucard Equardo, where have you been?" a guard carrying an axe slung behind his back called out.
"Just doing my job, that’s all," Alucard replied, his tone casual.
"So, that must be a transfer student?" another guard asked, his sword hanging from the left side of his waist.
"Indeed," Alucard said.
"Open the gates."
The gates slowly swung open, revealing the Mid-Citadel beyond them.
From there, they continued on foot, while another guard led the horse away toward the stables.
Beyond this point, horses weren’t permitted without authorization.
"Woah..." Daniel murmured to himself.
They walked along a smooth stone path made from a mixture of basalt, slate, and granite. As the path stretched deeper into the Mid-Citadel, the bustling voices and commotion of the Lower City gradually faded behind them.
Within minutes, the noisy streets had given way to an atmosphere of quiet and peace.
In the distance, flashes of lightning erupted, one after another, as students hurled bolts of lightning into the sky, their crackling arcs illuminating the air above the grand hall-like structure.
"Is that lightning?" Daniel asked, staring at the spectacle in disbelief.
"The Royal Academy’s training has started. Let’s go," Alucard said, his tone steady and assured.
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