As the new students rode in carriages toward the Great Hall, they passed through a succession of grand and ancient buildings. The stone walls bore the marks of countless years, ivy climbing along their edges as though the structures themselves were alive.
"Are these the places where we'll have our classes?" someone asked in reverent awe.
"So this is where we'll be living from now on?" another voice followed. "This is unbelievable."
Because each carriage could carry only four passengers, Eden found himself sharing theirs with Willie, Merry, and a young woman with golden hair. She was calm and composed, radiating a grace far beyond what one would expect of someone her age. Gazing out of the window, she spoke softly, as though murmuring to the passing scenery itself.
"Eden… Eden," Willie whispered, leaning closer and lowering his voice. "Do you know her?"
Eden glanced at the young woman and replied just as quietly, "In this entire university, I only know you and Merry. If you want to meet her, why don't you speak to her yourself?"
Willie looked unconvinced. Eden could only sigh and cast him a helpless glance.
Just as the two of them continued whispering to one another, Merry spoke—almost as if she had known all along what they were talking about.
"If you want to get to know her, at least be straightforward about it," she said evenly. "Staring at her like that only makes you look suspicious."
Then she turned her head slightly and added, "Did you hear that, Willie?"
Eden gave Willie yet another look of resignation.
After the brief disturbance among the three of them, the golden-haired woman finally drew her gaze away from the rushing scenery and looked directly at Eden. Her eyes rested on him for a moment before she spoke, her tone calm and certain.
"You must be Eden Herris," she said.
The hint of amusement on Eden's face vanished at once, replaced by shock. Willie and Merry turned toward the young woman as well, their expressions equally filled with confusion.
"My surname is indeed Herris," Eden said cautiously, "but who are you? And how do you know my name?"
All three of them were now focused entirely on her.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the young woman said. "My name is Naomi Westfin. I come from Norfolk."
No sooner had she finished than Merry reacted, as she so often did, more quickly than anyone else.
"Westfin?" she asked sharply. "As in the fallen royal family?"
Naomi neither denied it nor responded directly to Merry's question. Instead, she continued in the same measured, deliberate tone.
"The reason I chose to share this carriage with you," she said, meeting Eden's eyes steadily, "was to warn you. Do not place your trust too easily in this school—or in anyone from Hadder."
"Not trust the school or Hadder?" Eden echoed, staring at her as his confusion deepened. "What do you mean by that?"
"You will understand in time," Naomi replied.
With that, she turned her gaze back to the flowing landscape beyond the window and said no more. The carriage rolled on in silence, and the words she had left behind settled like a heavy stone upon the uneasy hearts of the remaining three.
After a few minutes, the carriage slowly passed through a long colonnade, and the Great Hall came into view before all the new students.
The moment they stepped down from the carriage, Willie's face lit up with sheer disbelief as he turned to Eden and exclaimed, "Eden, look at that—is that really the Great Hall? It's even bigger than our farm back home!"
"There aren't many buildings in London that are larger than this," Eden agreed at once. "It's truly magnificent."
Amid the rising chorus of gasps and astonished murmurs from the surrounding freshmen, a student wearing robes—clearly several years older than the newcomers—emerged from the Great Hall and called out in a clear voice, "All first-year students, please follow me into the hall and take your seats. The Headmaster and the Heads of House will soon explain the matters regarding your enrollment."
At his words, the crowd began to move, and one by one, the new students stepped into the Great Hall.
As Eden and the other first-year students entered the Great Hall, the first thing that caught their eyes was the arrangement of the tables: eight long rows set in two columns, and at the front of the hall hung four large banners. From left to right, each bore a single letter—R, S, H, and C.
After taking their seats, the newcomers began to look around curiously. Overhead hung chandeliers that perfectly matched the grandeur of the Great Hall, their light casting a warm glow across the room. Along the walls were portraits that appeared to depict headmasters from past generations, their painted gazes seeming to follow the students' movements.
Following a brief wave of hushed discussion among the freshmen, the student who had earlier been standing at the entrance walked to the front and announced loudly, "All first-year students, please stand!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a side door at the front of the hall opened, and nine professors entered, each dressed in attire that reflected a distinct and individual style.
"Welcome, all of you, to Lillemins," an elderly man spoke first, his voice calm yet authoritative. "I am Professor Hafley January, your Headmaster. Next, I will invite our Deputy Headmistress, Professor Ashley, to introduce the campus environment and the four great Houses to which each of you will one day belong."
As Professor Ashley stepped forward toward the center of the hall, Merry leaned slightly toward Eden and spoke in a low voice, seizing the moment. "Eden, do you know Professor Hafley? I've heard he's one of the founders of Hadder."
But Eden and Willie seemed not to hear her at all. Their attention had already drifted elsewhere—back to Naomi.
"Eden," Willie whispered, barely containing a grin, "don't you think Naomi might like you? Otherwise, why would she bother looking into you?"
He snickered quietly as he spoke.
"Stop imagining things," Eden replied flatly. "I've never seen her before in London. I don't know her at all."
After saying this, Eden turned to Merry and added, "Merry, what were you saying just now about Professor Hafley?"
Merry's expression darkened slightly. "It's nothing," she said coolly. "Anyway, you two only care about Naomi."
With that, she turned her gaze back toward Professor Ashley, no longer speaking.
A professor dressed in deep emerald robes stepped to the center of the podium. Her attire was richly adorned with patterns of winding vines and blooming flowers, as though living plants had been woven into the fabric itself.
"Good morning, new students," she began. "I am Ashley Zenobia, Vice Headmistress of Lillemins University and Professor of Botany. I will now introduce some of the basic information about our school."
"Lillemins University differs from ordinary universities in the United Kingdom. It is a five-year institution, and all incoming students will be assigned to one of four Houses."
She gestured lightly as she spoke, her voice steady and precise.
"The four Houses are: Razer House, which represents Creation; Sealcen House, which represents Leadership; Herlone House, which represents Guardianship; and Cavlo House, which represents Fearlessness."
"In your first through fourth years, you will undertake eight compulsory subjects: Botany, Mysticism, Defenseology, Magic Manipulation, Elixirology, Magical Martial Arts, Eidolonology, and Monsterology."
A faint murmur rippled through the hall as the list continued.
"In addition, each House offers its own specialized courses, as well as shared electives open to students from all four Houses."
She paused briefly before concluding.
"In your final year, you may choose to intern at our partner company, Hadder, or travel to the magical world of Engeles to participate in training and missions conducted by the Magic and Potions Control Bureau, through which you will earn your graduation credits."
"Eden, did you hear that?" Merry turned toward him, seeming to have completely set aside her earlier annoyance. "From what Professor Ashley said, that so-called potential must be the threshold for using magic."
"But if that's true," Eden replied, frowning, "then Lillemins shouldn't have invited me at all. We already know—back on the train—that I don't have that potential. So how am I supposed to use magic?"
After hearing Merry's words, Eden stopped joking around with Willie and began to think seriously. The question weighed heavily on his mind.
"Let's wait until the professors begin the sorting," Merry said gently. "Maybe your potential is simply something my bracelet can't detect."
Just as Eden and Merry were discussing this, Willie suddenly spoke up.
"What if your potential is hidden?"
The moment the words left his mouth, both Eden and Merry stared at him in surprise.
"How did I not think of that possibility…?" Merry murmured, turning her head slightly.
Eden, meanwhile, nodded repeatedly at Willie, clearly agreeing.
As the three of them continued their hushed discussion, Professor Ashley wheeled a full-length mirror onto the stage. She then addressed the new students once more.
"Next, I will explain how you will learn which House you belong to," she announced. "After the explanation, all new students are to come onto the stage in order to be sorted."
Professor Ashley drew back the aged cloth covering the mirror, and an ornate frame was revealed beneath it. Gems were set into each corner, each bearing the initial of one of the four Houses, their colors distinct and unmistakable.
"This mirror is called the Appear Mirror," she explained. "Since the founding of the University, it has determined the future of every incoming student."
She paused, allowing her words to settle.
"In a moment, each of you will step forward in order and stand before the Appear Mirror. Using the index finger of your right hand, rotate it once counterclockwise, then point at the mirror and speak the words, 'The truth.'"
"At that moment, the surface of the mirror will reveal the color of the House to which you belong."
She gestured toward the corners of the frame.
"Violet represents Razer House. Deep green represents Sealcen House. Burgundy represents Herlone House. And navy blue represents Cavlo House."
With the explanation complete, Professor Ashley invited the first new student onto the stage.
"The truth!"
The first student followed Professor Ashley's instructions and spoke the phrase aloud. At once, a color bloomed across the surface of the mirror—dark green, the mark of Sealcen House. The moment it appeared, gasps rose from the rows of new students, many of them struggling to accept that magic truly existed in the world.
"Thank you for the demonstration, Mr. Anderson," Professor Ashley said. "You have been assigned to Sealcen House. Once you have confirmed your House, please take a seat at the second long table where your Head of House is seated. After all students have been sorted, the Heads will lead you to your respective House common rooms, where further instructions will be given."
With that, the remaining students stepped forward one by one to undergo the sorting ritual.
"Eden, Merry—it's almost our turn," Willie said nervously. "Do you think we'll end up in the same House?"
"You and Merry definitely will," Eden replied quietly. "But I might not even be sorted at all. Even if my potential is hidden, there's also the chance that I simply don't have any. Maybe the school made a mistake—maybe I was accidentally identified as someone with potential, and that's why I received the letter."
Merry spoke up immediately. "That's impossible. The school wouldn't make a mistake like that. You'll be sorted into the same House as us—just wait and see."
After the three of them finished speaking, it was Willie's turn to step onto the stage.
"Mr. Wardell, you will be assigned to Cavlo House," Professor Zenobia announced.
After stepping down from the stage, Willie clasped his hands together and prayed silently.
Please… let Merry and Eden end up in Cavlo House too.
"Miss Evans, you will be assigned to Cavlo House," Professor Zenobia declared next.
The moment the words left her mouth, Willie and Merry exclaimed at the same time, unable to hide their excitement.
"That's great! Now all that's left is Eden!"
Just as Eden was about to step forward and stand before the Appear Mirror to undergo his sorting, Headmaster January suddenly approached him.
"My child," Professor January said gently, "come with me. You do not need to be sorted."
Eden froze, confusion washing over his face.
"Professor January… may I ask what's going on?" he said hesitantly. "Is it because I truly have no potential?"
At once, Professor January shook his head.
"No, my child. That is not the case," he said firmly. "You are not without potential. Come with me to the back, and I will explain everything to you."
With that, Eden followed Professor January toward a room behind the stage. From below, Willie and Merry could only watch as Eden departed the hall together with the Headmaster—and Professor Enliszdo—leaving the Appear Mirror behind.
"Eden, I will first explain to you how the Appear Mirror performs its sorting," Professor January said slowly, after motioning for Eden to sit down. "Then I will tell you why I did not allow you to undergo the process."
"The Appear Mirror determines a student's House by forming a connection with their potential. Through that connection, it reflects the color of the House most aligned with the individual standing before it."
He continued calmly.
"Potential is passed down through bloodlines in a random and uncertain manner. Because of this, those who possess it are exceedingly rare. Moreover, individuals who inherit potential are unable to perceive it before arriving at Lillemins."
"This is due to the laws of the magical world," Professor January explained. "Anyone without potential—or anyone who possesses potential but has not received formal education at a magical institution—will have their memories of magic erased by the Magic and Potions Control Bureau should they come to learn its secrets."
After a brief pause, his gaze sharpened.
"But you, Eden… the potential within your family line has indeed been passed on to you."
Eden's breath caught.
"However," Professor January continued, "when your grandfather was young, his potential was sealed by a wizard through a powerful spell. Although the potential successfully carried on to you and is no longer sealed, it can no longer be detected by magical instruments governed by the laws of the magical world."
"That is why," he concluded, "although you were able to come to Lillemins, it was not the Appear Mirror that found you. Someone within the magical world discovered your existence."
Upon hearing this, Eden fell into deep thought. Professor January's words weighed heavily on him, and for the moment, he found himself unable to fully comprehend their meaning.
"Eden," Professor Enliszdo said suddenly, breaking the silence, "given your grandfather's abilities, I believe he must have found some way to pass his memories on to you. Am I correct?"
Just as Eden was about to mention the dream he had on the ship, Naomi's words surfaced in his mind. At once, he chose to withhold the truth.
"No," Eden replied. "My impression of my grandfather is simply that of a scholar who was often away from home."
"Is that so," Professor Enliszdo said.
After casting Eden a brief, searching glance, he turned and left the room, returning to the podium in the Great Hall.
Then Professor January spoke again.
"Eden, which House do you wish to join?"
"I can choose for myself?" Eden asked, looking at him in surprise.
"You are still a student of Lillemins," Professor January replied calmly. "Since the Appear Mirror cannot sense what lies within you, you will choose your House according to your own heart."
With that, Professor January fell silent, his expression gentle as he waited patiently for Eden's decision.
As Eden considered his answer, the faces of Merry and Willie came to mind—both of them already assigned to Cavlo House. His hesitation vanished.
"I want to go to Cavlo House," Eden said firmly.
Professor January nodded in satisfaction.
"Very well," he said. "Then go and take your seat at your Head of House's table, my child."