The closer we got, the more details I noticed.

Long bridges connected sections of the palace high above the ground. Marble statues stood along the outer walls, depicting warriors, kings, queens, and figures I assumed were gods. Water streamed from fountains built directly into the architecture itself, flowing down carved channels into ponds below.

And the gardens...

The gardens alone were probably larger than the entire dormitory district.

Rows of trees lined stone pathways that curved through patches of flowers in every color imaginable. White roses. Blue lilies. Tall crimson flowers I didn’t even recognize. Carefully trimmed hedges formed elegant shapes around the paths, and small lantern posts stood between them despite it still being daytime.

Servants moved calmly along the pathways carrying baskets, watering plants, trimming branches.

Meanwhile guards patrolled everywhere.

Not regular guards either.

These guys looked terrifying.

Dark silver armor. Long spears. Thick capes hanging behind them. Every single one stood straight as a statue, eyes constantly moving.

The coachman beside me chuckled quietly after seeing my face.

"We’re here," he said while pulling slightly on the reins. "Oi! Open the gates! The guest has arrived!"

The guards stationed outside immediately reacted.

Two of them stepped forward at once, grabbing the massive gate handles. The metal groaned loudly as the enormous black gates slowly pulled inward. Chains rattled somewhere overhead while the entrance opened wide enough for the carriage to pass through.

The horses continued forward at a slower pace now. Crossing through the gates felt weirdly intimidating. Like stepping into another world.

The sounds of the city faded almost immediately behind us. Inside the estate, everything felt calmer. Cleaner. Controlled.

The carriage rolled along a smooth stone road that curved through the gardens toward the palace entrance. Maids carrying folded sheets quickly stepped aside as we passed, bowing their heads slightly. Guards patrolling the pathways moved with disciplined precision, barely even glancing at us.

I noticed some servants whispering quietly among themselves while looking toward the carriage.

Probably because some random academy student was being brought straight to the palace.

Yeah.

I’d stare too.

The coachman guided the horses toward the right side of the palace courtyard, where several larger carriages were already parked beneath a long stone shelter. It looked like the only part of the grounds designed to hold vehicles this size. Everywhere else was occupied by gardens, fountains, statues, and winding walkways.

The carriage finally came to a stop.

"Well," the coachman grunted while climbing down slightly, "off you go, kid."

I swallowed once and stepped down from the carriage carefully. The moment my boots touched the stone road, the palace doors opened.

A man walked out almost immediately. And... he looked strange. Not ugly. Just strange.

He was tall and extremely thin, dressed in dark luxurious clothing covered with silver embroidery. A long coat hung from his shoulders nearly down to his boots, the fabric smooth enough to probably cost more than my entire existence.

Small circular glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, giving his sharp eyes an even more unsettling look. His dark hair was slicked perfectly backward without a single strand out of place.

Even the way he walked looked expensive. Calm. Measured. Controlled.

His hands were folded neatly behind his back as he descended the palace steps and approached me directly.

Then he stopped right in front of me and adjusted his tiny glasses slightly.

"So," he said smoothly, examining me from head to toe. "You are Ace Walker."

"Yes..."

"What..." He grimaced openly, adjusting the small glasses resting on his nose. "What are those clothes, gods above? Didn’t you have anything better, boy?"

I glanced down at myself. Worn tunic. Mud-stained shoes. Slight tear near the sleeve. Yeah. Fair enough.

"No," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "I’m kinda tight on money, Sir. Sorry."

The man pinched the bridge of his nose like I had personally offended him.

"Follow me," he said with a sigh. "I cannot allow you to stand before Her Majesty dressed like a wandering stablehand."

"Yeah..."

Before moving, I looked back toward the gates behind us.

From this higher part of the city, the view stretched surprisingly far. The palace sat atop a raised district separated from the rest of the capital by another set of inner walls. Beyond them, the city spread outward in layers.

The closer buildings near the palace were massive estates and noble homes, each surrounded by private gardens, fountains, and decorated courtyards. Wide stone roads curved neatly between them, clean enough that I couldn’t even spot mud on the streets.

Further beyond that luxurious district, the city slowly became denser. Taller apartment buildings, merchant streets, taverns, markets, and finally the distant outer walls surrounding everything.

Even from here, I could see the academy towers in the distance.

"What are you gawking at?" the man snapped. "Move."

I quickly followed after him.

The stone pathway curved deeper into the gardens, and the closer I got to the palace itself, the more ridiculous the place became. Crystal-clear water flowed through narrow decorative streams beside the walkway. Birds perched calmly among the trees without fear of people. Flowerbeds lined nearly every corner, their scents mixing together in the warm air.

Servants passed us constantly. Maids carrying folded linens. Gardeners trimming hedges. Guards patrolling in pairs.

And nearly every single one looked at me. Or more specifically... my glove.

"That’s him?"

"The Ambly-blessed?"

"He looks normal..."

"I heard he’s from F-Class."

"No way."

The whispers followed me the entire walk.

Fantastic.

The strange man either didn’t notice or simply didn’t care. He continued walking briskly toward the palace entrance, expecting me to keep up.

The massive doors opened before we even reached them.

Inside, the ground floor looked even more absurd than the exterior. The entrance hall alone was bigger than the boys’ dormitory.

Smooth marble floors reflected the sunlight pouring through towering windows overhead. Long red carpets stretched across the room toward multiple staircases leading upward. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each one packed with dozens of glowing crystals instead of candles.

Statues stood along the walls between enormous pillars.

Paintings covered nearly every empty space.

Kings. Queens. Wars. Battles.

Some paintings were so massive they took up entire walls by themselves.

Even the air smelled expensive somehow.

The man turned left without slowing down, his polished shoes clicking sharply against the marble floor. I followed him past servants carrying trays and guards standing motionless beside hallways.

Eventually, he stopped in front of a smaller wooden door tucked between two large decorative pillars.

He opened it immediately and stepped inside.

The room beyond was surprisingly cramped compared to the rest of the palace.

Dust floated visibly through the air beneath the sunlight coming from a single narrow window near the back wall. Wooden shelves lined nearly every side of the room, stacked with folded clothes, coats, gloves, boots, belts, and fabrics of every color imaginable.

It smelled faintly of old cloth and perfume.

"This should work..." the man muttered while rummaging through one of the shelves.

He tossed aside a few shirts, frowned at a coat, then finally grabbed a neatly folded set of dark clothing.

He turned and shoved it into my arms. "Wear this," he ordered. "I’ll wait outside. Hurry."

Before I could answer, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.