Darell and his friends had always heard whispers of the legendary Academy, its reputation spreading like wildfire throughout the kingdom. Tales of its grandeur and exclusivity had intrigued them for years, but until now, they had never dared to venture within its hallowed halls. As they roamed around the institution, they couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over them. The Academy's lofty reputation was not unfounded - every inch of the building oozed sophistication and luxury. Despite the crowds of people bustling around them, Darell and his friends felt a sense of exclusivity, knowing that only a select few could truly experience the wonders of this prestigious institution.

As Darell and his friends continued their exploration of the Academy, Eric's cousin Abel Falter suddenly appeared before them, his sneering gaze fixed on Darell.

"Who let filthy peasants in this prestigious academy?", Abel spat, his tone laced with derision.

Eric rolled his eyes at his cousin's insolence, muttering under his breath, "How did this idiot get here?"

Darell simply shrugged, knowing all too well the type of person Abel was.

Abel was the son of a viscount, just like Eric's father. But unlike Eric, he was a bitter and envious young man who looked down on anyone he deemed unworthy of his status. He had long harbored a secret infatuation with Ariel, Eric's sweetheart, but was enraged when he learned that Eric was planning to propose to her.

Abel had even contemplated kidnapping Ariel, but he quickly abandoned the idea when he realized that she was close friends with the daughter of the Duke of Zukvar - a powerful noble that Abel could ill afford to anger.

Despite his lack of magical ability, Abel wielded great influence among the children of lower nobility, using his connections to belittle those he deemed inferior. And as a member of the privileged elite, he believed that only those of the highest noble families were entitled to speak and act with pride.

But Darell and his companions were not so easily cowed by Abel's entitled braggadocio. They knew him for the spiteful, small-minded bully that he was, and refused to be intimidated by his empty threats and insults. 

With a subtle roll of his eyes, Darell signaled to his companions that they should move on to another training hall, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere created by Abel's haughty attitude.

As they made their way down the hallway, however, they were interrupted again by the sound of Abel's angry voice echoing through the corridors.

"How dare you ignore me! I order you to stop!" he bellowed, his voice laced with an arrogant sense of entitlement.

Abel was convinced that his social status as a higher noble meant that Darell would obey his every command without question. But to his great dismay, he completely ignored him, moving on with a determined stride.

Abel was seething with anger when he saw Darell and his friends ignore him and walk away. He couldn't believe that someone as lowly as Darell would dare to ignore his orders. Abel was used to getting whatever he wanted, and he couldn't understand why these peasants were treating him like this.

Suddenly, Abel felt a chill run down his spine as Darell disappeared and reappeared right in front of him. Abel couldn't believe his eyes as Darell stared at him with a look of pure disdain.

"You have no right to order us around," Darell said coldly. "This is not your house, and you will not behave as if you own it."

Abel struggled to keep his composure as he faced Darell's anger. He clenched his fists and sneered, "What can you do when I tell my senior brothers about you and order them to kill you?"

Darell laughed in his face. "You think I'm scared of you or your senior brothers? You are nothing but a dog, Abel, and you will always be one. You can try to threaten us, but we are not afraid of you."

Abel's smirk faltered as Darell walked away, leaving him standing there alone. He couldn't believe that Darell had humiliated him like this in front of his subordinates. He clenched his fists and muttered to himself, "I'll get you back, Darell. Just wait and see."

As the night drew on, Darell and his companions gathered in the Academy's dining hall to relax after their long day of exploring. The atmosphere was lively as they chatted and joked around, but Darell's attention was suddenly captured by a girl across the room.

Her long silver hair flowed down her back in silky waves, and her sea-green eyes seemed to hold a deep concern as she gazed out at the bustling room. Her unblemished skin was a stark contrast to the warm glow of the candlelight, and her expression was cold and aloof, yet there was a hint of something else there - a hidden concern perhaps. Darell couldn't help but stare at her, fascinated by her beauty and mysterious aura. Everyone at the table noticed Darell's fixation on the girl.

Suddenly, Emma's scowl interrupted Darell's trance as she kicked him hard under the table.

"Ouch!", Darell snapped back to reality as he massaged his leg and looked at Emma with an awkward smile.

Emma's wicked smile replaced her scowl as she teased, "You're so shameless, staring at a girl when I'm sitting right in front of you. I should expect this behavior after marriage too, right?"

The atmosphere grew tense as everyone stopped eating and stared at Darell. He sighed and tried to explain, "I'm sorry, but I wasn't lusting after her. I was intrigued that such a beautiful girl is in our kingdom, and yet no one seems to approach her."

As Darell spoke, everyone nodded in agreement when they glanced at her. Indeed, a girl as stunning as she should have suitors and friends flocking to her, yet she sat alone.

Darell asked Emma, "Do you know anything about the mysterious beauty over there? Perhaps, she is a newcomer to the kingdom?"

Emma shook her head in response, "No, I haven't seen her before."

As the girl noticed the stares, her expression turned to a frown, and she walked towards another table to eat her food in peace. The group realized that their gaze had made her uncomfortable and they shifted their attention back to their meal.

The group resumed their conversations about trivial matters, but Darell's mind was still preoccupied with the mysterious girl. He couldn't shake off the strange feeling he had when he gazed into her sea-green eyes. It was as if there was something familiar behind her cold, aloof demeanor. He wanted to know more about it, but he didn't want to pry into her secrets without her consent.

So, he pushed the thoughts out of his mind and focused on his food and his companions. They talked about trivial matters, and Darell participated in the conversation.

When they finished their meal, Instructor Walter entered the hall, smiling warmly. He gestured for the students to quiet down, then cleared his throat to begin his speech.

"Congratulations to every one of you for passing the admission test and gaining entry to the most prestigious academy in the kingdom," he said, his voice echoing throughout the hall. "Tomorrow, your classes will commence. Magic classes will be held in the morning and afternoon, followed by combat classes in the evening. I implore you to work hard and train rigorously, as your efforts may yield unexpected benefits."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the students. "But remember, the rules set forth by the authorities must be obeyed at all times. Now, I wish you all a wonderful time here at the academy. Good luck!"

Instructor Walter then turned to Darell and motioned for him to follow. Once outside the hall, he spoke with an apologetic tone.

"I am sorry, Darell, but we have no instructors or individuals with your unique ability in the kingdom. You will have to train and learn spells on your own. However, we will provide you with access to our library's information on the subject."

Darell sighed but remained grateful for the early notice. "Thank you, sir!" he replied.

With that, Instructor Walter departed, leaving Darell to rejoin his group and retire to the dorms. They eagerly awaited the start of their new journey, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.