Chương 18: "A Ruff Morning (4)"

The speaker had elaborate blonde curls styled into perfect drills that framed her face, bouncing with every exaggerated movement of her head. Her dress was an ostentatious confection of pink silk and white lace, clearly designed to draw attention.

'Who in the world is this?' Celestia raised a single eyebrow. The girl clearly expected some kind of reaction, her blue eyes gleaming with anticipation. When Celestia simply stared at her with indifference, annoyance crossed the girl's face.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" The drill-haired girl's voice took on a more pointed edge.

"Or has our mistress Celestia finally had her claws ripped out by His Imperial Highness himself?" The insult was delivered with the kind of theatrical flair that reminded Celestia of bad acting in a cheap play. The girl raised her hand to her mouth and let out an exaggerated laugh.

"Ohohohoho!" Her entourage immediately joined in, their laughter echoed across the plaza. Celestia's expression remained utterly blank.

'Is this girl serious?' The laugh, the pose, the entire performance, it was like watching someone act out every villainess cliché she'd ever read in webnovels. This... this was just embarrassing.

'Did she practice this in front of a mirror?' Without a word, Celestia simply turned away from the drill-haired girl and continued walking toward the main plaza. The laughter cut off abruptly. Silence fell across the immediate area. Students who had been watching the confrontation exchanged bewildered glances. Even the drill-haired girl's entourage seemed unsure how to react, their forced smiles faltering.

The blonde girl's face flushed a deep red, and her carefully cultivated expression of superiority crumbled, slowly being replaced by raw embarrassment and fury.

"You—!" she sputtered, her voice rising shrilly. But before she could complete whatever scathing retort she'd been about to unleash, a commotion near the main academy building drew everyone's attention. Four men had emerged from within the building in the plaza, all dressed in the distinctive white uniform that marked them as academy staff. One of the men raised his hands in a gesture for attention.

"Students of Summit Academy!" His voice carried across the plaza.

"If I could have your attention, please. The tour will begin shortly." The gathered students immediately began walking toward the academy staff, conversations dying down as everyone focused on the announcement. The drill-haired girl stood frozen, her mouth still open mid-protest, her face now an interesting shade of purple that clashed terribly with her pink dress. She looked like she'd swallowed something particularly bitter. The four staff members waited patiently as the students assembled before them.

When the crowd had mostly settled, the lead speaker continued, "Welcome to Summit Academy."

"As you can see," the staff member continued, "we have quite a large number of students this year. To ensure everyone receives a proper tour of our facilities, we will be dividing into two groups to make this process as smooth as possible and to avoid any potential conflicts," his eyes sweeping across the mixed crowd of nobles and commoners. The division was immediate.

Noble students began drifting toward two of the staff members without being told, while commoner students clustered together near the other two staff members. Celestia remained exactly where she stood, making no move toward either group. The drill-haired girl, who had been making her way toward the noble group with her entourage, paused mid-step. She turned back, and her eyes widened when she noticed where Celestia was. Several other nobles also stopped, confusion evident on their faces.

The commoner students nearest to Celestia shuffled nervously, clearly unsure whether to move away or stay put. The unspoken question hung in the air: Why was Celestia Von Reingarde, daughter of one of the empire's most powerful ducal families, standing with the commoners? The lead staff member cleared his throat, his expression professionally neutral despite the obvious irregularity.

"If all students could please move to their respective groups, we can begin the tour." Celestia didn't budge. A moment of awkward silence stretched across the plaza. Even Anna, who had been following close behind, looked uncertain, her eyes darting between Celestia and the noble group. Finally, one of the younger staff, a man with sandy brown hair and a nervous expression, stepped forward. He kept his eyes downcast as he addressed Celestia.

"E-excuse me...? Lady Celestia?"

"What?" Celestia's tone was sharp.

"Might I ask why you didn't go with the other group?" His voice trembled slightly, as though he expected to be struck down for his impertinence. Celestia's crimson eyes fixed on him.

"You can do the tour the same, can you not? What difference does it make?" The young man opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again without producing any sound. He looked like a fish gasping for air.

"..." The commoner students glanced at each other with wide eyes. Others stared at the ground, clearly wanting to be anywhere else. Even the two academy staff seemed momentarily at a loss. Anna hadn't moved from her position slightly behind and to the left of Celestia. Her face was pale, her hands clutching the sides of her dress tightly. She kept her gaze fixed firmly on the cobblestones beneath her feet, as if by not looking up, she could somehow make herself invisible.

Normally, Celestia wouldn't have cared one way or another about which group she toured with. Nobles, commoners, it made little difference to her. But there were matters she needed to think of.

"Shall we begin?" Celestia directed the question to one of the staff members guiding the commoner group, her tone making it clear she considered the matter settled. The man blinked in surprise. He glanced at his coworker, who had a look on that seemed to say that he couldn't care less. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Of... of course, Lady Celestia," The man looked back at Celestia.

"If you're really certain..."

"I am." With that settled, the commoner group finally began their tour. The noble students had already departed earlier, heading toward a different direction on the campus. Many cast backward glances at Celestia, confusion and speculation still in their expressions. The drill-haired girl looked particularly conflicted, her face cycling through various expressions, probably debating whether to say something or was confused at what was happening.

In the end, she followed her group, though not before shooting one last venomous glare in Celestia's direction. The taller staff, the one with a tired face, gestured for the commoner group to follow.

"This way. We'll start with the main academic buildings and then move to the training facilities." The tour started in earnest, and the tension gradually began to dissipate as students became absorbed in their surroundings. The younger staff member, who was a nervous-wreck just a few minutes ago, actually proved to be an engaging speaker.

"Summit Academy," he began introducing as they walked along a wide pathway, "is perhaps a misnomer. While we maintain the structure and discipline of a traditional academy, our philosophy is more aligned with that of a university focused on practical application and self-directed study." Celestia listened with half her attention, the rest devoted to observing her surroundings and the other students. The campus was indeed impressive.

Unlike traditional academies that focused primarily on theoretical education and social grooming, Summit Academy had been designed with the Tower and self-growth in mind.

"Our students range from late adolescence to young adulthood," the taller staff member added, yawning.

"We recognize that the Tower does not discriminate based on age or noble birth. What matters is skill, preparation, and determination." They passed through an intersection that opened into a fountain surrounded by various buildings. The younger staff member pointed to each in turn.

"The central library houses our collection of maps, monster bestiaries, and expedition reports. Access is free to all students, though some books require special permission to view." He indicated a grand building with tall windows and a dome roof.

"That building houses our lecture halls where mandatory classes are held."

"How many mandatory classes?" a commoner student asked nervously.

"Only one per week," the taller staff member assured him.

"Beyond that, students are free to pursue their interests through our various clubs, specialized training programs, and elective courses." They moved on to the training facilities, and Celestia had to admit she was impressed despite herself. The academy boasted multiple dueling zones with various terrain types, from flat arenas to simulated forest environments, making full-use of the mountain. There were archery ranges, magical practice yards with reinforced barriers, and even a massive indoor facility.

"We pride ourselves on having some of the finest personal trainers in the empire," the young staff member said with evident pride.

"Many are former adventurers who have personally climbed the Tower." One of the commoner girls whose hair was tied in a braid raised her hand.

"What about the clubs you mentioned?"

"Excellent question!" The taller staff member's face lit up.

"Summit Academy encourages students to explore their interests through our club system. We have everything from the Alchemy Club to the Cartography Society, from the Dueling Club to the Monster Research Group. Some clubs focus on scholarly pursuits, others on practical skills. There's even a Cooking and Provisions Club dedicated to developing better rations for Tower expeditions." Murmurs of interest rippled through the group. Even Celestia found herself paying closer attention.

The club system was more extensive than she'd expected. The novel had only really highlighted the one club that Arthur was in.

"This is Summit Academy's second year of operation," the younger staff member continued as they walked past a large building still clearly under construction.

"As such, we're still lacking in some areas."

"Like the female dormitory staff shortage?" someone called out. The younger staff member coughed.

"Yes, well. That particular incident is being addressed. The female dormitories will have full staffing by the end of the week. You see," he continued explaining, "Summit Academy was founded with a specific purpose in mind. When the Tower appeared five years ago, it created unprecedented opportunities and dangers. Many attempted to climb it immediately, driven by dreams of wealth and glory."

"And most failed," the taller staff member added somberly. They had reached a viewing platform that had an open view of the Tower, which held its magnificence, its pillar piercing the clouds.

"Summit Academy was founded by three archmages," the younger staff member said, "Archmage Valen Weaver, Archmage Marcus Brightmoon, and Archmage Elena Heart. They are heroes from the Great Demon War, veterans who have helped in the battle to save the world. And when the Tower appeared, they were one of the first who ventured inside. But not long after, they decided to turn back, realizing that the Tower represented both opportunity and threat on a scale that required more than individual strength to address."

"Rather than continue climbing themselves, they chose to nurture the next generation," the taller staff member yawned again.

"They founded Summit Academy to provide proper training, to share their knowledge and experience, and to study the Tower in a systemic manner." The explanation painted a picture very different from the typical academy founded on tradition and social hierarchy. Summit Academy was a pragmatic response to an unprecedented situation, designed from the ground up with a specific purpose.

'Interesting,' Celestia thought.

'The novel never went into this much detail about the academy's founding. It just presented it as a convenient gathering place for the main characters.' The tour continued through various facilities. They saw the medical wing, staffed by healers and doctors. They visited the equipment hall where students could purchase or rent gear at discounted rates. They even stopped by the massive commissary that served as both cafeteria and social hub. Throughout it all, the commoner students gradually relaxed.

The two staff members were patient with questions, explaining things in clear terms. The atmosphere, while still somewhat tense due to Celestia's presence, became less oppressive. Anna remained silent through the entire tour, staying close to Celestia but never speaking unless directly addressed. The other students gave them both a wide space, creating an invisible bubble that moved with them through the campus.

They had been walking for nearly an hour when they reached one of the larger training areas, an open-air complex with multiple zones for different types of combat practice. The younger staff member was in the middle of explaining the different training zones when Celestia noticed something odd. The students ahead of them had stopped walking. They stood frozen, staring at something Celestia couldn't yet see from her position in the middle of the group. Then someone screamed. The sound was piercing, raw with terror.

It cut through the pleasant tour, sending birds scattering from nearby trees. More screams followed as the students scattered in panic, nearly all running back the way they'd come. Celestia pushed forward through the chaos, her crimson eyes narrowing as she sought the source of the disturbance. When she finally had a clear line of sight, her breath stopped. The taller staff member lay on the ground, his body crumpled on the ground.

Where his head should have been, there was only a ragged stump, blood pooling rapidly across the ground. His head had been severed cleanly, blood trailing the path it rolled several feet away. Students who had been at the front of the group were backing away in horror, some retching, others simply standing in shocked silence. Celestia's mind immediately went into analytical mode, even as her heart raced.

'An attack here? In broad daylight? In the middle of the academy?' Her eyes quickly surveyed the area, looking for the attacker, for any sign of movement or threat. But she saw nothing beyond the panicked students and the scene before them. The younger staff member had gone pale, his hands shaking as he raised them in a gesture for calm.

"Everyone! Please, stay calm! Move back slowly, don't run—" But before he could say anything else, a blade emerged from his chest. This time, the remaining students were fleeing in all directions, their panic contagious. Anna had frozen completely, her face drained of all color. She swayed on her feet as if about to faint. Celestia grabbed the girl's arm, steadying her.

"Don't look," she ordered.

"Keep your eyes on me." Anna's terrified gaze locked onto Celestia's face, and she nodded mutely.

'What's happening here?' This didn't happen in the novel! Celestia's mind raced through possibilities even as she maintained her outward composure. [Warning! Story Relevance: 19/100.] A soft ding blazed through her consciousness, causing her to tense.

'Nineteen? It jumped from 13 to 19?' Celestia's eyes narrowed dangerously as understanding dawned.

'The demon attack? Here?!'