Chapter 197 189: Temp Lodge

"O-our orb…"

"The years of research!"

The two researchers crawled over to the shards of the broken orb, tears welling up in their eyes. Vienna started cackling out loud while slapping my back, and the rest were just too confused to say anything.

"Good job, brother."

"Naturally, sister."

"Ahh… all that money!!"

"Our hard-earned funds!"

"So?" I stepped ahead, my grin too fierce to be stopped my by willpower. "What's the verdict, huh? Do I pass?"

The researchers sniffled in perfect sync and looked at me. Then, with tears still dripping out of their eyes, both of their neck muscles twitched in a wide smile.

"What does black color mean anyway?"

"Is it an all aptitude? No, wasn't that purple? Isn't purple just a lighter shade of black though?"

Ah, researchers. Even while crying they were both deeply intrigued by me.

"Guys."

"Right, yes. Well, it's a pass no doubt."

"But… the orb…"

I shrugged. "Told you."

So what if they were sad? Their fault, I even warned them.

The researchers bit their lips and smacked the floor.

"Evil bastard!"

"Black is for evil, right?"

Damn were these guys in sync.

"Well, I don't care. Do your thing. Didn't you say there were three more?"

"There are… but the funds…"

I smiled at them again.

"D-don't care?" They asked.

I nodded.

"Gahh!!"

"The professors are going to kill us!"

I waved my hand and turned to the lady that had accompanied us from the reception.

"A-ah… well, I'll mark you in. T-the entrance test will take place in four days, till then you can stay in the applicants' lodge over on Island 17."

"Got it," I nodded and turned away. At the same time, the others followed behind me too.

Lily tried to pat my head while Sophia mentioned how cool it was. Keith and Dawn complained saying they could have done it too.

Well, your fault, don't be physically old next time.

On my way out, a thought came into my mind. I stopped and slightly turned my gaze back at the two researchers.

"If you must," I said. "And I mean if you absolutely must. You can take some money… from the third princess of Schwarz."

And then, I left.

***

"This is the place," Vienna said.

Facing us was a wide array of buildings just like the ones all over the city. Billy held a couple of keys in his hands and tossed them over.

"There's one on the second floor," he said, pointing at the two stores building that led up with a set of stairs from the side, the white building was covered with flowers.

"One right below," he tossed that key to Lily. And the last one went to Lady Sophia.

"Oh, we're all neighbors," Sophia muttered with a smile.

"It's a temporary lodging. You'll have to change places anyway after the entrance test."

Keith and I went to the room on the second floor and opened the doors. Even at this small distance, it wasn't tough to hear everyone. A breeze of cold air flushed at us, the stone building keeping the place at the best temperature.

We all started to move in when Vienna spoke out loud.

"Billy and I will be heading to our rooms now. Our classes start next week, so we best prepare too."

"Oh?" I stepped out of the room and leaned on the handrail, looking down at her. "Well, then, take care. Let me know if you need any help."

"Yeah, we should be saying that," Vienna sighed. "I'll return tomorrow and tell you about the test. Feel free to look around, but don't wander far enough that you lose your way."

I nodded.

"Ah, Vienna."

A certain someone was a second year in this academy.

"If you see her… Don't tell her anything."

"Lady Acacia?" She asked. Then, she smirked. "Look at you, are you planning to surprise her?"

"Of course."

"Fine. I won't say a word."

"Me either," Billy added. "Though I doubt she's already here."

With that, the two of them left.

We all helped each other settle into the three different rooms. In the midst of it, I asked Dawn if she had to report back to the princess, but apparently, the princess was still two days away as well. It seemed we had arrived a few days too early.

In the end, Dawn decided to rest with Sophia in her room since Sophia's aide, Alec, was still out with Sir Buhini and the carriages. Maria and Lily took the one below mine and Keith and I slept in the one above.

Two twin beds were arranged neatly in the room with three windows, on each of them different pots with many flowers were glistening in the sunlight.

Keith shut the door behind himself and jumped on one bed. He rolled around and yawned.

"No preferential treatment for you yet, young master."

I ignored him and plopped down on the other bed next to the window.

"It's not like I need any."

A loud yawn escaped Keith as he pulled up his blanket and crouched into himself. "I am going to sleep till the time for your test."

"Why wake up at all?"

"Don't push your suicidal tendencies on others, young master."

Saying that Keith turned away and knocked himself out. In almost no time, he fell asleep.

An hour passed.

And then another.

Soon, the many colored hues of the sky started to disappear and night followed.

Keith started snoring, what an asshole.

"Can't sleep?" Titania asked.

"Nope."

"What are you thinking about?" She said as she settled herself next to my face on the pillow, as if sleeping next to me.

"I want to work up a sweat."

"Pfft, then go out for a run or something?"

I sat up.

I could look around the place, so I should do that.

I quickly put on my boots while Titania settled herself on my head. Then, without making any noise, the two of us sneaked out of the room.

A chilly breeze took me by, the islands up in the sky were naturally much colder than the ones below.

The seventeenth Island was large, just like most residence islands in this floating archipelago in the name of a district.

With each breath I took, a small cloud would spill out. The scent of flowers and stones merged as I made my way through the streets that were sandwiched in between the many buildings.

And then, my eyes fell on a signboard.

"Is that a gym?"

"It does say 'gym'"

How interesting.

I shrugged and walked inside the building that was like another. As I pushed the door open, the sight of the gym spread in front of me. Much larger than it seemed from the outside, the room was well equipped with racks of weights, a magically made treadmill and cycle, many different benches and equipment that resembled modern weight training.

Deeper into the room were multiple punching bags and training dummies before it all led to a wide open area with soft mats on the ground.

"Hah," I smirked and walked over to the weights. And my smirk disappeared and turned into a frown right as I looked at them.

"Damn it. Why the fuck are these in pounds?"

"Pounds? What in the world is this measurement?" Titania seemed shocked too.

"It's trash. Absolute trash. Tsk."

I could feel annoyance boiling up within me. How much should I go with? Why couldn't they have made it in Kilos?

"Five hundred? Six hundred?!"

In the end, I heaved a sigh and started stacking a bunch of them up. After gathering about six hundred and fifty pounds, I laid down on the floor. Then, I placed them all on my back and got ready to perform some pushups.

When the door to the Gym opened up.