The Imperial Academy had been built just over five hundred years ago. Looking for a suitable environment, the place designated for its construction was the slope of a small and solid rocky mountain which was called Notoria.

Given the enormous effort required to build the academy, hundreds of merchants settled near the construction area to make money from the construction workers and soldiers guarding the site. It was in this way that a small city established itself on the slopes of that sturdy mountain.

As time passed, that small city grew and by the day of the official opening of the academy, that small city must also have been recognized and received a name, Almadel, as the name of the altars formerly used to invoke divine beings. 'May this place become an altar to invoke the talent and bravery that our empire needs to confront the Calamities', these were the emperor's words when appointing a name for the city.

Since that day, Almadel has seen countless Knights and Maidens walk through its streets and those who are chosen by the Holy Swords, the Holy Knights, and the Holy Maidens.

And with the start of a new scholar cycle for a new generation of students, the streets of Almadel were buzzing with activity.

The new students were to be present for the initiation ceremony came from all corners of the empire and even from the kingdom of Oisfer, the staunch ally of the Kyelris empire.

In this way, with the light of the new day reaching the high walls of Almadel, a luxurious white carriage entered the city and made its way towards the side of the mountain, towards the academy.

The city of Almadel was distributed around the skirts of the small mountain, most of the buildings of the academy were in the middle of the mountain, and on the summit of the same an imposing tower of several tens of meters of height, the so-called Goetia Tower, the place where the sacred swords in possession of the empire rested, or at least those that had not yet found a suitable bearer.

Given the importance of the academy, ordinary people were prohibited from climbing the mountain, and likewise, unselected students were prohibited from going to the top of Notoria.

The white carriage followed the cobbled path that led to the academy, but it was not the only one, other carriages were also heading towards the same place and even a few people did it on their own feet.

Although most of the students of the imperial academy came from noble families, if someone of common origin had the talent, a useful skill, that person could be admitted to the academy, and thanks to it they could completely change their destiny. Becoming a Knight or a Maiden with women would give a complete turn to the life of any common person and their family, something like obtaining a noble title was not beyond the reach of these people.

Among the few people who climbed the slope of the Notoria on their own feet, was a young woman with misaligned reddish hair tied above her head, and according to its origin, the young woman whose beautiful face was stained by some freckles wore a simple outfit, beige pants and a leather vest over a white shirt.

The young woman's gaze was full of determination, her eyes reflected the harshness of a life different from that of those spoiled children who traveled in their luxurious carriages to the academy.

"Father, brothers, things will change" —the young woman murmured this to herself as she tightened her grip on the simple leather bag that hung from her shoulder. Originally she had also brought an old iron spear that she had received as a gift from her father in the past. However, the guards guarding the access to the path that leads to the academy prevented her from bringing that treasure with her.

What most outraged the young woman was that she could see that the many horsemen guarding the carriages that were climbing towards the academy carried their spears and swords. She had been prevented from carrying her spear because she did not have the backing of a noble family.

"Those spoiled ones, I will take a sacred sword and show they are not a big deal" —the girl showed a mocking smile when imagining such a scenario.

Nadyia Maynor was the name of that young woman, someone who despite having a humble background had been born carrying a useful skill enough to be recognized and invited to become a student at the academy.

While Nadyia fantasized about that convenient setting, a luxurious white carriage passed by her and this ended up taking her out of her fantasies. What was striking about that carriage was that it differed from all those that Nadyia had seen until now was that, who guarded that carriage, were entirely women, female soldiers?

As someone who yearned to become a Holy Maiden, Nadyia admired any woman who was brave enough to take a sword into her hands without being of noble origin. Therefore, seeing that group of female soldiers filled her chest with emotion, however, soon that emotion turned into outrage when her imagination flew once again.

What came to Nadyia's mind about that group of female soldiers was that all of them were mere accessories, little less than lovers that some nobleman enjoyed showing and assaulted every night.

"Those damn nobles" —motivated by the irritation caused by imagining that, Nadyia not only quickened her pace, but she ran.

Nadyia wanted to see with her own eyes the petty noble who dared to taint her admiration by disguising simple women as soldiers to satisfy some strange fetish.

Nadyia's legs were long and firm, she used to run daily among the forests near her village and because of this, her physical condition was good and she was fast, although, to her chagrin, her childhood friend used to tell her that the reason she was so good at running was that she didn't have to deal with any kind of extra weight on her chest.

"Size is not important!" —remembering the words of her childhood friend, Nadyia got more irritation and her speed exploded.

The carriages were not going up the cobblestone road in too much of a hurry, so Nadyia could easily catch up with and later leave that luxurious white carriage behind.

Nadyia soon saw how the road led to a huge and extensive iron fence, a fence that seemed to have no end, and that perhaps bordered the entire mountain.

In front of the great door on the iron grating, there was a wide square, and although it was not yet possible to see the buildings of the academy, this was the furthest point to which the companions of the students could arrive, the carriages were stopping in the wide square, and after their occupants had descended, the carriages were returning towards the city.

Nadyia slowed down and stopped near the door of the academy, many armed guards guarding access and only letting in those with a pass. Nadyia of course had a pass, but before entering, she wanted to see the occupant of that carriage guarded by female soldiers.

Watching those who arrived did not seem out of place. Several people stood near the door, and even on the other side of the gate people wearing the white academy uniform. It was probable that someone important was about to arrive at the academy since some students had even gathered on the other side of the gate to observe.

A slight commotion attracted Nadyia's attention. A beautiful pearl-colored carriage stopped in front of the gate and several students from the academy spoke.

"Isn't that the coat of arms of the royal family of the Oisfer kingdom?" —one of those future students who had waited to enter the academy made that observation.

"I heard rumors that this year the kingdom would send a princess to the academy, so it's true" —another person revealed this information, and Nadyia inevitably showed interest.

The soldiers who guarded that carriage dismounted, it was easy to notice that they were not just guards, on their silver armor it was possible to observe an embedded gem, and the same thing happened with the swords on their waists, on the handles of those swords was embedded a gem. Magic armor and swords, something that only true Knights and Maidens could carry.

Those who were Knights and Maidens of the kingdom of Oisfer formed two lines in front of that carriage.

One of the Maiden who inevitably drew Nadyia's admiration approached the carriage and opened the carriage door.

With the help of that Maiden, a beautiful young woman with golden hair and green eyes got out of the carriage. She tied her long golden hair in two pigtails with a pair of brooches in the shape of an angel's wings.

"It's Princess Neris of Oisfer!" —someone in the small crowd exclaimed that in amazement.

The reason everyone reacted in amazement and disbelief upon seeing Princess Neris was that she should not need to go to the academy, and this was not because she was the princess of another nation. The reason it was inconceivable that Neris Oisferen became a student was that she was rumored to have been selected by one of the holy swords in possession of the Oisfer kingdom.

With a warm smile on her lips and a look full of pride, Neris approached the door of the academy to enter. However, hearing a loud commotion in the crowd, she stopped and turned to find the cause.

A beautiful golden carriage stopped near to Neris's carriage, on the sides of that carriage was the coat of arms of the imperial family.

That carriage was guarded by imperial knights, who dismounted and did the same as the royal knights did before, formed two lines in front of the carriage and one of them approached it to open the door.

"Is the fifth prince, His Highness Nathan Kyelren!" —seeing a handsome young man with black hair and brown eyes descend, someone in the crowd recognized him immediately.

It was enough to see the faces of the students of the academy on the other side of the gate to understanding that seeing Prince Nathan was the reason they were here.

With a bold smile on his lips and a look full of pride, Nathan walked until he met Neris.

"Princess Neris, I hope that your trip had no problems"

Under the watchful eye of all present, Nathan and Neris engaged in a simple protocol talk, which was interrupted when a third carriage arrived.

What was striking about this new carriage was that all the guards who guarded it were women?

"A sword wrapped in white roses... isn't that the coat of arms of Kristin-sama's family, the Marquis House Lyndell?" —on the other side of the fence, one student pointed to that and all agreed, that coat of arms belonged to the Lyndell family.

Nadyia narrowed her eyes as she looked at that carriage, knowing the occupant of that carriage was the reason she had waiting.

The female soldiers dismounted and in the same way that the Imperial and Royal Knights did before, they formed two lines in front of the carriage. However, all could easily appreciate a great difference.

While the Imperial and Royal Knights had shown expressions of great respect and pride, the expressions of those female soldiers were different, all of them nervously watching the carriage door, as if they had an insane desire to see the person they had guarded. Could it be that the person had become ill on the way to Almadel and that was why the female soldiers seemed anxious? This was the thought of many among the small crowd.

Given the strange behavior of those female soldiers, Nathan and Neris couldn't help but lead their attention to that carriage.

The carriage door opened from within and a beautiful young woman with blue hair descended. She was wearing maid clothes, so it was not who those female soldiers were waiting for.

To the surprise of the observers, when seeing that maid, the female soldiers showed sour expressions. There was no hatred in their eyes, but what seemed to be envy.

The behavior of the female soldiers caused even more intrigue among the watchers, Nathan couldn't help but frown slightly as he kept his expectant gaze on the carriage.

The maid reached out for the carriage door, and a small, pale, delicate hand emerged from inside.

With the help of the maid, a beautiful silver-haired young woman got out of the carriage and the small crowd heard how the female soldiers let out a slight sigh, however, no one could pay much attention to the feverish faces of the female soldiers.

A deep silence took place, everyone's gaze was fixed on that young woman. Not even Nadyia had room to let her imagination run wild.

Long silver hair down to the middle of her back, a slim, small figure that looked charmingly fragile. A face that defied logic by placing itself between the line of beauty and adorable. Eyes of a different color that endowed her with ephemeral beauty, this young woman who seemed barely meet the minimum age necessary to attend the academy was fascinating, adorable, beautiful, and bewitching.

"A fairy... no, a nymph?" —someone in the small crowd broke the silence as he reached that absurd conclusion.

Fairies and nymphs like many other races had been wiped out by the Calamities centuries ago. All that was left about those fantastic creatures were fascinating paintings and anecdotes that described their beauty.