**Chapter 6: Aiming for Admission to the Academy**
Two years had passed since then. Rest had turned fourteen, but his treatment remained unchanged. He slept in the stable and was fed once a day, forced to eat like a dog. Though his nutrition was lacking, some sympathetic servants would share discarded bread and vegetables with him, allowing him to avoid starvation. Occasionally, he was used as a test subject for magical experiments, which enabled him to learn new spells. Despite the mental toll, he was growing steadily, enduring the hardships of his circumstances.
(Next year, I’ll be fifteen. The age of adulthood…)
It was the afternoon. After finishing his chores, which included caring for the horses, Rest sat atop a pile of firewood beside the stable, reminiscing about the days that had passed.
(Four years since my mother passed away and I was taken in by this mansion. It has been a humiliating existence. But… that will soon come to an end.)
Once he turned fifteen, he would be able to secure a proper job. He could leave this mansion and live freely. The days of humiliation would be over.
(But… if possible, I want to aim for something higher than just freedom.)
Thanks to his half-brother, Rest had learned to wield intermediate-level magic in this world. Even now, he wouldn’t struggle to find work once he stepped into society. However, merely not struggling was a different matter from being able to rise to a higher status.
(If I’m going to aim for something, I want to surpass my father… to achieve the rank of Court Magician or higher.)
He wanted to rise above those who had looked down on him and trampled on his dignity. Rest believed that this was the most fitting way to avenge the humiliation he had endured for four years.
(For that, I want to attend the “Academy.” Is there any way to make that happen?)
The “Academy” referred to the highest educational institution in the country—the Aiwood Royal Academy. “Aiwood” was the name of the country and the royal family. Located in the western part of the continent, it was a moderately sized kingdom—not powerful enough to be considered a great nation, but not so small as to be insignificant.
(At Aiwood Academy, commoners can also enroll. Graduating from there opens doors to high-ranking positions, whether as civil or military officials.)
Conversely, it was difficult to obtain a government position without graduating from the Academy. The same applied to roles like Court Magician. His father had graduated from the Academy, and Cedric was also studying for the entrance exam, aiming for admission. It was certain that the stress from his studies had led to an increase in the punishments directed at Rest.
(You can’t enter the Academy until you turn fifteen. Nobles can take the exam with just parental permission, but commoners need a letter of recommendation.)
The Royal Academy had separate entrance exams for “nobles” and “commoners.” To take the exam as a noble, one simply needed to receive a guarantee of status from the head of the household and obtain permission. However, for commoners, it was necessary to have a letter of recommendation from someone of noble or equivalent social standing. Although Rest was technically listed as a noble, he doubted that his father would grant him permission.
(If I can’t take the exam as a noble, I’ll have to take it as a commoner. I need to find someone else of noble status or someone of equivalent standing to help me. Is there anyone suitable?)
Since his mother had passed away, Rest had been confined to the mansion. Although he occasionally snuck out at night, he had no connections with other nobles and lacked a network. He needed to find a way to meet someone of social standing.
(I need to find a way… is there any method available…?)
“…Huh?”
Lost in thought, Rest suddenly heard voices nearby. They were unfamiliar voices, the chatter of several children.
(One of them is Cedric. There are a few others… Should I eavesdrop?)
Driven by curiosity, Rest activated the spell known as Wind Control. This magic allowed him to manipulate the wind to carry objects or attack enemies, but it could also be applied to bring distant sounds closer. The voices were coming from the mansion’s garden.
“Alright, let’s go on an adventure!”
“Yeah, let’s hunt some monsters. There’s a perfect forest near the mansion. We can practice our magic there!”
“I’ve learned a new spell! I’ve been itching to try it out!”
“But… isn’t it dangerous for us to hunt monsters alone? Shouldn’t we take an adult with us…?”
“I think so too. Monsters are dangerous and scary…”
“What’s this? You’re all so cowardly!”
(…It sounds like there are five of them. Are they Cedric’s friends?)
From the voices, it seemed to be Cedric along with two boys and two girls. Now that he thought about it, Cedric had mentioned at breakfast that his friends were coming over to play.
(But still… hunting monsters in the forest?)
The forest they were talking about was likely the same one Rest used for his magical training. Thanks to regular thinning, there were few monsters in that forest. However, that didn’t mean there were none, and recently, a powerful monster had taken residence deep within. This creature was intelligent and wary of Rest, so he generally left it alone.
“What’s this? I knew girls were cowardly!”
“Next year, we’ll be entering the Academy. In the magic and knight courses, there will be combat training, so we need to practice fighting monsters, right?”
“If you’re scared, why not just wait? We’ll go without you!”
“Wha… We’re not cowardly!”
“Hey, sis, calm down…”
“Then we’re going, right? Don’t worry, I’ll be there to protect you!”
The conversation continued, and it seemed they were about to decide to head into the forest together. The two girls, who were not very enthusiastic, would likely end up going as well.
(Hmm… Cedric will be an adult next year, so he should be fine, but…)
Rest crossed his arms, deep in thought. If it were just Cedric going into the forest, he would have let him be. Even if he were to be attacked by a monster and lose his life, Rest would just laugh at his foolishness. However, he couldn’t bear to abandon the four friends of Cedric, especially the two girls. It would weigh heavily on his conscience to ignore the danger they might face.
(I guess I have no choice. I’ll follow them secretly…)
His work for the day was already done. This wasn’t for Cedric; it was to keep an eye on the two girls. Rest stood up from the firewood and decided to follow the five children, including Cedric, into the forest.