The morning air, vibrant with the promise of autumn, shimmered around Hans as he stood before the grand, wrought-iron gates of the Lithuway Combat Academy. Today was it. His first day. Lyra had seen him off from their small house, her usual quiet demeanour tinged with a rare, gentle smile. He was dressed in the crisp, new Academy uniform: a dark, well-tailored tunic, sturdy trousers, and highly polished leather boots, all emblazoned with the Academy’s silver crest a stylized sword crossed with a lightning bolt. The rich fabric and sharp lines suited his now-lean physique, highlighting the strength and grace he had honed over the years. His auburn hair, neatly trimmed, caught the morning light, and his green eyes, usually so serious, held a spark of nervous excitement.

As he approached the vast archway, already bustling with other new recruits, a figure stepped out from the flow of students. She was a girl, roughly his age, with hair the colour of a sunrise a vibrant, shocking pink that stood out against the muted tones of the Academy. Her uniform, identical to his, seemed to shimmer around her, and she carried herself with an undeniable air of confidence, almost a subtle authority. Her eyes, a striking violet, were bright and curious as they fixed on him.

"Excuse me," she said, her voice clear and melodious, with an aristocratic lilt. "You're Hans, aren't you? The one who scored top marks in the entrance exams?"

Hans, accustomed to the rough camaraderie of the Guild but not to such direct, formal addresses from strangers, felt a slight flush rise to his cheeks. "Yes, that's me," he replied, a little surprised she knew his name.

"Truly remarkable," she continued, circling him with an appraising, though not unkind, gaze. "My family reviews the top scores each year. It’s rare for anyone to excel so thoroughly across all three disciplines. Especially the Arcanum Assessment that's often where even the brightest struggle." Her violet eyes narrowed slightly. "And if you don't mind me asking, which noble house do you hail from? I confess, your name isn't familiar to me among the prominent families."

Hans hesitated. The question of his family had always been a sensitive one, a reminder of his mother’s disappearance and the void it left. He usually deflected it with a shrug or a quick change of subject. But this girl, with her striking hair and air of quiet expectation, seemed different. "I... I don't have a last name," he admitted, his voice a little softer than he intended. "And I don't come from a prominent family. I was raised by adventurers. Lyra, Gareth, Elara... and Borin." He felt a pang of sadness at the mention of Borin.

The girl's eyes widened, her confident smile faltering for a split second. A gasp, soft but audible, escaped her lips. "By adventurers?" she repeated, a note of genuine astonishment in her voice. "But... to achieve such scores, with no formal family lineage or prior Academy training?" She seemed genuinely taken aback, a flicker of something akin to awe, or perhaps even disbelief, crossing her features. For the noble houses, lineage and early specialized tutoring were everything.

"They taught me everything I know," Hans said simply, a hint of pride in his voice.

She stared at him for another moment, her expression unreadable, before a faint blush dusted her own cheeks. "Forgive me," she said, her tone suddenly more subdued. "That is... quite extraordinary. I wish you the best for your time here." With a quick, almost regal nod, she turned and melted into the stream of students, leaving Hans feeling a mix of confusion and a faint prickle of something he couldn't quite name.

He made his way through the bustling corridors, following the flow of students towards the Grand Hall for the induction ceremony. The hall was vast, filled with tiered benches, and a massive stage at the front dominated by a lectern adorned with the Academy crest. Hans found an empty seat near a window, observing the diverse faces of his fellow new recruits earnest, ambitious, some nervous, some arrogant. He wondered if he would ever truly fit in here, among these children of noble houses and established mages, or if he would always remain the wild boy from the forest, an outsider.

The hall slowly filled, and the murmuring subsided as the Academy Master, the stern-faced Theron Hans had met before, strode onto the stage. He delivered a welcoming speech, emphasizing discipline, honor, and the Academy's role in shaping the kingdom's future protectors. Then, he paused, a slight smile gracing his lips.

"And now," Theron announced, his voice carrying clearly across the hall, "it is my distinct honor to introduce the one who will inspire us all. A true leader, a scholar, and a beacon of our kingdom's future. Please welcome Her Royal Highness, Princess Aeris of Lithuway, who will formally address this year's new intake!"

Hans watched, along with every other student, as the Academy Master gestured towards the side of the stage. And then, his eyes widened. Stepping gracefully to the lectern, her pink hair shimmering under the hall's enchanted lights, was the girl he had just spoken to outside the gates. Princess Aeris. The vibrant, confident girl who had asked him about his family, and who had been so astonished by his answer.

A quiet gasp escaped Hans's lips. The Princess. He had just told the Princess of Lithuway that he was a no-name orphan raised by adventurers. A strange, almost amused, tremor ran through him. This Academy, it seemed, was going to be even more interesting than he had imagined. Princess Aeris smiled, a genuine, warm smile that radiated across the hall, and began her address. Hans listened, suddenly aware that his new life had begun with a most unexpected, and potentially significant, encounter.