It was almost noon, and the second class of the day was about to begin. She decided to come a bit earlier to avoid being late.

After enduring through the class, as soon as the bell rang, Aresia couldn’t wait and left without waiting for the teacher to dismiss the class.

Even though there was a half-hour break between classes, the distance from the teaching building to the laboratory building, combined with the time needed for registration and continued experimentation, meant that returning late after the break was a possibility. Aresia quickly informed the teacher of the next class about her departure, and given her status as a first-year chief, the teacher didn’t make it difficult for her.

At the entrance of the laboratory building, there was a staff responsible for monitoring the entrance. The main concern was safety, as the laboratory building housed magical experiments, and unauthorized entry was strictly prohibited. The staff on duty had the authority to punish or detain anyone breaking the rules.

Aresia showed the certificate from Headmaster Albert to the staff and obtained permission to enter the laboratory building. There were rental fees for different laboratories, and Aresia, being responsible for the cost, had already prepared the necessary equipment and materials, as the school didn’t provide them.

The laboratories were categorized into potion laboratories, alchemy laboratories, and integrated laboratories that accommodated both. The larger the space and the more advanced the equipment, the higher the price.

“Make sure all equipment is handled with care. Any damage will require compensation at the original price.”

The staff led them through the dimly lit hallways. Aresia chose the integrated laboratory, which was among the few available.

While walking to one of the laboratories, they encountered a group of students from another class. Aresia recognized Osweid, the sixth prince, among them. Trying not to attract attention, Aresia lowered her head.

As they passed each other, Aresia overheard some discussions about why they were in the laboratory building at this time.

The staff in charge brought her attention back and said, “There are several integrated laboratories here. This floor and upper floor is commonly used by teaching staff. It’s somewhat isolated from other mages’ laboratories. If you’re renting a lab, this is a good choice.”

Aresia understood the teacher’s consideration. Mages, especially those who enjoyed research, often had peculiar temperaments. They usually had a deep understanding of their field and disliked being disturbed by others. Renting a lab on this floor would reduce the chances of encountering other mages and potentially disrupting their work.

Choosing this floor would also lessen the likelihood of other magic teachers interfering with Aresia’s research, indicating that the responsible teacher was mindful of maintaining a peaceful research environment.

Aresia preferred not to be disturbed while conducting her research. The labs on this floor were often used for teaching and experimentation, making them ideal for those who needed to rent a lab. The teacher ensured minimal interference for those renting labs on this floor.

Having heard the teacher’s words, Aresia assumed that the labs on the fifth floor met her standards. She chose a lab on the fifth floor, which was more accessible than the sixth floor. The top floor was mostly reserved for the private use of magic teachers. Although there were labs already in use on the sixth floor, Aresia found a suitable one on the fifth floor.

The fifth-floor labs were less occupied, with only two or three teachers renting them. The staff mentioned that some teachers on this floor were there to supervise, occasionally resulting in a quiet atmosphere. The labs on this floor were located at the end of the corridor, making them less susceptible to disturbances from adjacent labs. Despite occasional disruptions on other floors, the labs on the fifth floor were relatively undisturbed, meeting Aresia’s preference for a quiet environment.

After finalizing the lab choice, the next steps involved completing the paperwork and paying the rental fee. Unlike magic teachers who could use labs for free as a job benefit, Aresia, as a student, had to pay a monthly rental fee of 1,000 gold coins. However, being a chief provided her with a discount of 20%, reducing the fee to 800 gold coins.

Even though the equipment in the school’s labs was quite comprehensive, it mostly consisted of basic tools. Higher-end equipment suitable for advanced research was available to teachers, but at an additional cost. Aresia had no intention of renting the school’s high-end equipment. She preferred to procure her own set of sophisticated tools, meticulously crafted to her specifications, possibly even customized at the alchemy workshop.

Choosing equipment wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Aresia was already considering seeking permission from Alvin for a brief leave from classes to handle this matter.

As they approached the laboratory building, Karina, who had been subdued in the presence of the serious-faced professors, regained her lively demeanor. She curiously asked Aresia, “Aresia, aren’t you afraid of the professors here?”

The magic department students at the Royal Academy was scarce in numbers, and the proud nature of professionals made interactions challenging. Mages were known for their eccentric temperaments, making students like Karina somewhat fearful of them. Alvin, being an amiable young teacher, made things more manageable, but Aresia wasn’t intimidated by them to begin with.

“I’m not afraid. Dealing with them is no different than dealing with anyone else,” Aresia replied confidently.

“Really impressive. I find them quite scary,” mumbled Karina.

“How much is your rented laboratory?” Karina asked Aresia out of curiosity.

“9,600 gold coins.”

“What? So Expensive?” Karina can’t help but to be shock. Despite being a count’s daughter, Karina had a limited monthly allowance of ten gold coins. Comparatively, Aresia had just spent 9,600 gold coins, a sum that Karina could hardly fathom. While she admired Aresia, she couldn’t help feeling a mix of envy and astonishment at how Aresia effortlessly managed her finances.

Despite her occasional envy, Karina wasn’t resentful. She maintained an optimistic and understanding attitude. Rather than harboring negative emotions, she admired Aresia and considered her a true friend. Aresia appreciated this about Karina. Though their friendship occasionally exhibited unusual patterns, Aresia couldn’t quite put her finger on what made it peculiar.

“Renting for a longer period means I won’t need to change labs frequently. I prefer stability and dislike unnecessary disruptions. Besides, it’s a hassle to change labs,” Aresia explained. She wasn’t keen on frequent changes, and since she intended to rent a lab until graduation, she aimed for a stable and continuous research environment.

Karina nodded, “That’s true. Have you already decided what to research in the lab?”

Aresia shook her head, “I have a general direction, but the specifics are still in progress. I’ll figure it out as I go.” Glancing at Karina beside her, Aresia sensed she had more questions.

“Is there anything inconvenient about campus life?” Karina asked.

“Inconvenient? Well,” Aresia paused, allowing Karina to voice her concerns.

“Getting around is a bit troublesome. The campus is vast, and walking from the dorms to the classrooms takes a while. Unfortunately, there’s no carriage service within the campus. Initially, I got tired because I wore new lamb leather shoes, simple in design but uncomfortable. After a few wears and adjustments, they fit better and stopped causing blisters,” Karina explained.

She went on, “And climbing the stairs every day is exhausting. Our dormitory is on the lower floors, but our classrooms are on the sixth floor. Climbing several times a day is like scaling a multi-story building. My legs have definitely bulked up.”

Aresia contemplated Karina’s words. Asking for others’ opinions and experiences might indeed guide her towards making the right decisions.

When they arrived at the laboratory building, it was already beyond the usual break time. Upon returning to their classroom, the teacher had already started the lesson. Thanks to Aresia’s prior leave approval, the teacher allowed them to enter without much fuss.

The subject for this class was magical beasts and magical plants, a crucial topic for students in the magic department. It was directly related to the dangers they might encounter during adventures. The academy placed significant importance on this subject and had invited a specialist to teach. Despite the high fees at the royal academy, the quality of the faculty was one of its justifications. Although not all the teachers were experts in their fields, the curriculum emphasized a broad spectrum of magical knowledge.

Aresia, having already learned the content in her previous life, found herself well-prepared for this class. While the living standards between the two worlds differed significantly, the overall environment and conditions were similar, saving her the need for extensive review.