The four warriors from the Warrior Department had dressed up for the occasion. Since it was a break, they didn’t wear their usual school uniforms. Instead, they were clad in new clothes, with their hair neatly combed and a touch of oil on their heads, appearing neat and tidy.

They sat down at a nearby table after getting their food.

“Good morning, Aresia,” they greeted.

The Warrior Department members were used to waking up early for morning exercises. They had a habit of running a lap before coming to the cafeteria at this time. At this hour, the people they would encounter in the cafeteria were mostly from the Warrior Department or the normal Department. It was rare to see anyone from the Magic Department.

Aresia, who had stayed up late working, changed the topic and asked them about the packing progress.

Vic and his two companions were returning to their homes, so they simply left some of their belongings in the dormitory. They only took what they needed and left the rest. Jorgus, on the other hand, decided to continue staying at the school and didn’t bother with packing.

After finishing their meal, Aresia returned to the dormitory to check if anything had been left behind. Once she confirmed that everything was in order, she regrouped with Jorgus and the others and headed towards the school gate.

The Duke’s carriage was waiting at the gate. They got in and the coachman drove them back to the Duke’s mansion.

The Duke’s mansion was located in the upper district of Holy Lotean City, which was close to the palace. It was a place where nobles resided, and the management was relatively strict. It was not a common place for ordinary people to visit, as they might be questioned by the patrolling soldiers.

For Jorgus and the others, it was their first time in this area. Jorgus commented that the city of Santala, where he lived, was not inferior to Holy Lotean City in terms of prosperity. As for Vic and Sade, they came from nearby towns surrounding the City. It was their first time seeing such magnificent architecture, and they were in awe. Along the way, they saw people going to court outside the palace and even encountered a patrol of cavalry, which made them envious of their mounts—because the cavalry was part of the Imperial Legion, their steeds were all high-level magical beasts.

Moreover, the cavalry of the Imperial Legion was equipped with one beast per unit. When they were on patrol, the uniformed magical beasts walked in perfect formation, which was quite impressive.

“I asked my father to find a suitable beast companion for me when I returned home. I can’t be too inferior,” Jorgus said.

“I can ask my father’s men to catch one!” Vic added.

In Holy Lotean City, the prices of magical beasts had skyrocketed to an astonishing level. The news was sealed within the city, and people from other districts might not be aware of the situation. For them, it was better to ask their parents for help. Who knows, they might be able to find a good and affordable beast companion. That’s why they returned early, not planning to participate in the auction. They just wanted to see the world a bit.

When they arrived at the Duke’s mansion, a servant opened the door, and there was a burst of exaggerated gasps.

Aresia understood their reaction to the mansion.

In Holy Lotean City, there were only a few buildings as luxurious and grand as the Duke’s mansion. It might not be as good as the palace in terms of scale and layout, but in general, it was not inferior. No wonder the Emperor was displeased with them. They seemed to have a way to deal with him.

Aresia returned to her mansion, where Karina had already arrived. Her mother was sitting in the living room, having tea and chatting. She seemed to be waiting for them.

Aresia first gave her mother a hug and a kiss before introducing her teammates.

Grysenna’s eyes drifted over each of the four boys, finally stopping on Jorgus.

The appearance of these boys matched the Duchess’s expectations. She seemed to like them. It was Jorgus who caught her attention.

These boys shared a similar appearance, which was in line with the Duchess’s preferences. But Jorgus, who had a reserved personality, didn’t give the impression of being dull. His sharp eyebrows revealed a hint of sharpness, and even though his eyes were dark brown, his temperament made him more appealing than the others.

The Duchess warmly invited them to sit down, saying, “You must be tired after the long carriage ride. Come and have a cup of tea to rest.”

She instructed the servants to bring tea and ordered the kitchen to prepare some additional dishes according to their preferences.

Her friendly and welcoming attitude surprised them. They had always thought that noble ladies were aloof and looked down on others. But the Duchess was completely different.

The Duchess then asked about their preferences, using small talk to quickly gather information about each of them.

Upon hearing that Jorgus was from Santala City, Grysenna was a little surprised. But before Jorgus could explain why he was in Holy Lotean City, Grysenna’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed, “Is your mother named Lily? Does she have a mole on the corner of her eye?”

She gestured to the exact location on the corner of her right eye.

Jorgus confirmed her question with a nod, “Yes, ma’am. Do you know my mother?”

Grysenna smiled, “Yes, we used to be friends!”

It turned out that Jorgus’s mother, Mrs. Lily, was a former classmate and close friend of the Duchess. Although they had kept in touch through letters, it seemed that Lily had moved away from Santala City and settled in a more distant place, gradually losing contact.

“If I had known, I would have had someone look for her in Santala City.”

Although Holy Lotean City and Santala City were far apart,

The distance between the Duke’s territory and Santala City was relatively close.

The Duchess would visit the Duke’s territory from time to time,

If she had known that Lily was in Santala City, she would have contacted her earlier.

Jorgus was surprised to learn about the connection between his mother and the Duchess, and it turned out that his mother was a graduate of the Magic Department at the Royal Academy.

This information made him understand why he had come to study in Holy Lotean City.

As Jorgus was the son of his mother’s close friend, Grysenna treated him even more warmly. Not only did she frequently add dishes for him during meals, but she also took them on a tour of the Duke’s mansion. They were particularly interested in the well-trained guards at the training grounds inside the mansion and were even given the opportunity to experience it themselves under the guidance of the guard captain.

Furthermore, Grysenna took the opportunity to write a letter to Lily, expressing her complaint about their lack of communication. After Lily had moved away from Santala City and after marrying Duke Rogest. The address of the Duke’s mansion was something that many people had always known.

Although she complained, Grysenna was not really angry. She understood that something must have happened that prevented Lily from contacting her. Grysenna had secretly sent people to investigate, but apart from knowing that she had moved, they couldn’t find any other clues. However, at least they knew that Lily was alive and even in good condition, which relieved her.

Jorgus and the others left after having dinner, and Grysenna insisted on seeing them off. The Duchess even canceled her own evening engagement.

After seeing them off, Aresia told her mother that she was going back to her room to rest.

She had been busy all night and had taken a bottle of energy potion in the morning to hide her fatigue. But now, as the effects of the potion began to wear off, she could feel the dark circles under her eyes. She didn’t want her mother to scold her.

Grysenna had wanted to have a private conversation with Aresia, but seeing that she seemed tired, she said, “There’s a gathering hosted by aunt Margaret tonight. Why don’t you go?”

Aresia immediately shook her head and said, “Mom, I think I’ll ask Father for advice. I don’t want to go.”

Grysenna gave her a disappointed look and said, “Sometimes, you need to rely on yourself, not your father.”

Aresia didn’t insist on avoiding the banquet and went back to her room to rest.

She had been up all night and had taken a hot bath to relax. She quickly fell asleep on the soft and comfortable bed.

The next morning, when the effects of the energy potion had completely worn off, Aresia felt even more exhausted. She slept until almost noon before waking up.

When she woke up, her mother was no longer in the room. Aresia greeted the servants, got on the carriage, and headed to the Gryphon Legion!