Adlof wandered around the perimeter of the place, eyes scanning the walls, the gates, and the unfamiliar faces. Something deep within him pulled him toward the large building at the center of the garden — a strange, inexplicable calling.
Finally, he reached the main gate and approached with steady steps. But the guard stopped him with a stern expression.
"Who are you?"Adlof answered simply, giving his name, trying to appear composed."A commoner? No name, no origin? Get lost. This place isn't for your kind."
Adlof clenched his jaw for a moment but said nothing. He turned away—yet he didn't leave.
"No... I have to get in."
He began circling the area again, eyes searching for a flaw in the design, a weakness in the defenses.
Then he saw it—a tall tree beside the outer wall. Its branches reached toward the wooden upper section of the structure.
He climbed swiftly, silently. Once on a sturdy branch, he unsheathed his sword and drove it into the wooden ledge with practiced precision.Leaping from the branch, he used the hilt as a foothold, springboarded over the wall, and dropped inside.
He landed quietly—just as he had been taught.
Raising his eyes, he found a strange sight: children.They were running, laughing, shouting, playing in a wide garden.In the distance stood a massive stone building with wooden columns and high windows.
A sudden bell rang. The children stopped playing and rushed toward the entrance.
"What is this place?"
Adlof crept behind them, relying on his muscle memory—stealth, movement, modern combat—all engraved into him through years of his mentor's training.
He slipped into the main hallway. The interior was clean, orderly. Doors lined only one side of the corridor. A strange design.
He advanced until he came upon an open room. Inside, an old man sat behind a desk, while children sat at rows of tables, focused on their slates.
Adlof froze. The sight confused him.
"A new student?"The whispered question made him turn.
A boy, close to his age, wearing the same uniform as the others, stood behind him.
Adlof grabbed the boy by the sleeve and pulled him aside."What's this place?"The boy blinked, confused. "What do you mean? It's a school… Don't you know what a school is?"
"School?" Adlof repeated.
"Yes. It's where children learn. Reading, writing, math… then sciences and more."
Adlof stood silent, letting the words sink in. A school… The concept was foreign, yet strangely familiar.
Without a word, he stepped into the classroom.
The old man glanced up. "You don't look like you're from here... What's your name?"
"Adlof."
"Are you of noble blood?"
Adlof remembered the guard's reaction and answered confidently, "No."
The old man raised an eyebrow. "Then how did you get in?"
"I snuck in," Adlof said plainly.
"You what?"
"I climbed a tree, drove my sword into the wooden edge, and used it to jump over the wall."
The old man blinked, then burst out laughing.
It was a deep, hearty laugh — the kind that echoed through the room.
Adlof stood still, unsure whether to feel offended or intrigued.