Free Web NovelChapter 102: Chapter 102
The night of the Sports Ball approached quickly, the excitement making the rest of the week run a little fast.
Alpha Academy would provide carriages to transport its students through the Capital to Omega Institute so the event would be kickstarted off with a brief road trip.
They wouldn’t need to begin their journey until late in the afternoon as the two colleges weren’t far from each other. So the students were free to do as they wished in the early parts of the Saturday designated for the Sports Ball. ƒreewebɳovel.com
Henri took the chance to sleep in longer than weekdays would allow, only getting up to clean up and get dressed in time for breakfast. He still held onto his small army of balloon animals that had been dumped on him at the end of the Inter-school sports competition, the balloons had mostly deflated now.
It wasn’t like he had willingly kept the eyesore around but that he hadn’t had the time to clean up as schoolwork took up most of his time.
Now that it was the weekend, he could finally get rid of the balloons and maybe go on a peaceful horse ride to unwind from his stressful week.
He could already feel the subtle build-up to another test. The only thing distracting everyone from how harried test periods got was the upcoming ball but as soon as it was done with, they would have to get serious with their studies once more. But for today, they could take a much-needed break.
By late afternoon, when the sun started to turn a golden red, professors guided the students in an orderly fashion to board the carriages.
An embroidered, velvet overcoat was a part of the students’ uniforms and was only worn to important functions like balls and graduation dinners. It was longer than the standard overcoat that they wore daily, and a little on the heavy side.
The students were arranged into carriages by class, so it meant that Henri, Louis, and Dio got to share a carriage as they were all in the same class, the others getting put into separate carriages.
Each class required at least three carriages which comfortably held ten students. This meant that there were quite a number of carriages trailing behind one another as they made their way to Omega Institute.
The crest of the academy was boldly carved into the side of the carriages although it was a little redundant as everyone in the country knew that there were only two colleges in the whole country that could afford to be that lavish. And the direction they were headed told which one of the two colleges it was.
Omega Institute was also a sprawling magnificent cluster of buildings. Their fountains were made of delicate statues and their gardens looked a bit wild in the best way.
While Alpha Academy’s gardens were tended to by hired gardeners, the students of Omega Institute had a club that did just that. This meant that they were given free rein to do as they wished and they took advantage of this. Planting and caring for exotic breeds and mostly just letting their plants bloom freely.
The sun had already begun to set by the time the carriages from Alpha Academy rolled into its sister college grounds. They weren’t given the freedom to wander around like the visiting Omegas were at the Inter-school sports competition. Instead, the carriages continued down the road path to a large building where the ball would be hosted.
The trip was decent, Henri got the chance to sit by the window and Dio sat beside him so there was little conversation to be had. Louis ended up being seated a little far away from them which meant that they couldn’t speak much to each other.
Henri had just spent the entire trip sightseeing, feeling a little stuffy in his fancy overcoat. By the time they were guided down from the carriage, the sun had completely set, and the night got cooler. And perhaps it was just because he was in a new environment but Henri could almost swear that he could smell the rain in the air.
"How was your trip?" Louis asked when they were together again, walking by Henri’s side as they walked through the building’s double doors.
Dio was silent as usual, looking around to take the sights in.
"Peaceful." Henri muttered in a grumpy voice.
Louis gave him a strained smile. "Why do I feel attacked by that?"
Their conversation fell off when they got inside the building, the first thing they saw was a grand foyer that led up a wide staircase. As the carriages were arranged class by class, it meant that Henri’s class had gotten to the hall first.
A professor was in the lead, guiding them on how to get to the ballroom, it was none other than Sir Hoskins. This time, his class didn’t prove to be nuisances, calmly following behind him as he went up the stairs.
They were to take the left hallway which took them even deeper into the building. Another left turn later and they were at the ballroom.
The students of Omega Institute were already at the ballroom, waiting patiently for their arrival for the ball to begin properly.
The ballroom was grand, with high gilded ceilings and smooth marble floors which both reflected the golden lights from the elaborate chandeliers, casting the spell of a dream.
The interior of the ballroom looked timeless, it was neither night nor day, merely sublimely lit like all the stars in the sky had been taken and hung up on its high ceilings.
The rest of the classes also headed for the ballroom in the event building, and after a short while, the ballroom was filled with elegantly dressed students who milled around, meeting up with friends and siblings.
By the time Henri ran into Audie and Valentin, they had both already found Dodie and Fleur. They met up with Nael and Errol later, it was a little surprising that he had found Errol faster than Henri’s group or the other pair, considering that he was in Class 1-B and Errol was in Class 2-C.
