5 - Can I Cry Now?
5
After calling Ibi, the staff member handed the documents to another staff member who was waiting and asked them to provide guidance.
"Hello? Nice to meet you. I'm Melody. Please take care of me."
Melody smiled brightly and extended her hand.
Her impression was energetic, and her gaze towards Ibi showed no hesitation.
Feeling good, Ibi carefully took her hand.
Then, Melody shook the grasped hand vigorously.
The cheerful shaking made Ibi laugh involuntarily. Seeing that, Melody slowly began the tour.
"I saw your documents. You came from Elam. Was it difficult to get here?"
"No. I actually enjoyed it. It was my first time coming this far, especially to the capital."
"Yeah, the capital is amazing. It must have been even more enjoyable since it was your first time seeing it. Well, I'll slowly introduce the Academy for the Gifted while we go to the dormitory."
Melody took out a book from her briefcase and handed it to Ibi.
"If you turn the cover, you'll see a map of the Academy for the Gifted. There are so many buildings, and each class is in a different building, so it might take some time to memorize at first. But there will be people to help you everywhere, so feel free to ask if you don't know anything."
"Yes."
Ibi answered and looked for the map.
The map showed the names of dozens of large and small buildings, along with the classrooms and classes held in each.
Melody smiled at Ibi, who was diligently looking at the map.
She was about to tell her that she could memorize it slowly.
"I've memorized it all. Thank you for showing me."
Ibi carefully closed the book and returned it to Melody.
"You've memorized it all?"
Melody's voice grew louder in surprise. Then, she chuckled and muttered.
"I forgot. Well, you are from the Academy for the Gifted. It's been so long since I've met one."
The Academy for the Gifted is where all the smartest children in the Empire are gathered.
Naturally, there were children with exceptionally outstanding memorization skills among them.
'Even so, that was incredibly fast.'
The map contained not only the names of the buildings and classrooms, and the classes held there, but also the offices and names of the professors in charge of each subject, so it was practically a manual.
And she memorized all of that.
Swallowing her surprise, Melody handed the book back to Ibi.
"You don't have to return that. It's the Academy for the Gifted's guidebook that's given to all incoming students. It contains not only the map but also the Academy's rules and basic explanations about life in the Imperial Palace."
Ibi's eyes widened at the words that it was a book given to everyone.
"Then is this mine?"
"Of course. See the space for writing your name inside the cover? Write your name when you get to your dormitory later. This book is only given once, so be careful not to lose it."
"Yes!"
At Melody's answer, Ibi caressed the book in her hands with a happy expression.
'I don't have to return it.'
When she was in the Poorhouse, books were always borrowed from the upper school's library.
So, for Ibi, books were always something to be returned.
But this was her own book.
There were not many books in the Poorhouse, and even those were almost in a state of disrepair after being passed around and read by many people.
Moreover, they were all picture books with short and simple sentences, so they were books for children younger than Ibi.
Even then, they fought over who would read them, so the Headmaster didn't give them out without setting a time.
Ibi looked at the book more closely.
The cover of the book was covered with luxurious leather.
The title, "Academy for the Gifted Guidebook," was gilded and sparkling, and the corners of the book were reinforced with solid metal.
Ibi hugged the book tightly.
She felt sorry for the Headmaster, who had seen her off with worried eyes, but Ibi already liked this place so much.
As Ibi couldn't hide her smile, Melody smiled along and said.
"If you're this happy with just one book, it's going to be a problem. There's a lot more to receive in the future."
"Yes? Is there more to receive?"
"Of course. You should have received a brief guide about life in the Academy for the Gifted before coming here, did you read it? Do you remember what the first sentence was?"
She couldn't possibly not know.
Wasn't it because of that sentence that she thought she had to go to the Academy for the Gifted?
"During your time at the Academy for the Gifted, all necessities of life are..."
"Provided by the Academy for the Gifted."
Melody completed the sentence, following Ibi's words, and said energetically.
"Now, let's go get your textbooks, stationery, and uniform!"
At Melody's words, Ibi smiled even more happily and answered loudly.
"Yes!"
\ \ *
"We're here. This is the Academy for the Gifted's dormitory."
With large bags in both hands, Melody pointed to the building in front of them.
"This is... the dormitory?"
Ibi couldn't close her mouth as she looked at the building.
The only dormitory Ibi had ever seen was the dormitory of the upper school in Elam City.
In fact, it was just a building that was in better condition than the Poorhouse she had lived in, but it was angular and had no special features, built to accommodate as many people as possible.
So, she secretly thought that the Academy for the Gifted's dormitory would be a similar type of building.
But the building in front of Ibi now was as beautiful as any Academy for the Gifted building.
Staring blankly, Ibi hurried to follow Melody inside.
"Let's see, it's around here..."
Even while following Melody, Ibi was too busy looking around.
'The space between the doors is incredibly wide!'
Not only that.
The red carpet laid in the hallway she was walking on was softer and fluffier than the blanket she always slept under.
Ibi's steps were light, as if she were walking on clouds.
"Ah, here it is. Room 305."
Ibi couldn't help but be surprised once again in front of the door where Melody stopped.
'It's big. And incredibly fancy.'
Could this really be the door to a dormitory room?
She had seen it all the way here, but now that it was said to be the door to the room she would be staying in, its splendor felt even more real.
"I'm sorry, but can you open the door? I have too many things."
At Melody's words, Ibi pressed down on her pounding heart and grabbed the doorknob.
Click.
With a small sound, the doorknob turned smoothly.
The heavy door opened easily with Ibi's weak strength.
The door opened completely, and warm air brushed against Ibi's cheeks.
"Wow...!"
She had prepared herself to some extent, but an exclamation burst out.
"This is my room..."
Ibi thought of the picture book she had seen in the Poorhouse.
The princess's room drawn in the picture book.
That room wasn't as fancy as this.
The high ceiling, which she had to tilt her head back to see, was filled with beautiful paintings.
The walls were covered with soft wallpaper with elegant patterns, and thick curtains that looked as soft as the carpet hung on the large window overlooking the garden.
Ibi entered as if she were possessed.
She had guessed it since the space between the doors was wide, but the inside wasn't just one room.
When you opened the door, there was a wide space that served as an entrance, with another door on each side.
Ibi looked at Melody as if asking if she could open them, and Melody, who had followed her in, nodded.
"There are two rooms each. The principle is that two people share one room. Since we came first, you can choose either one. Which room do you want to use?"
"Either one is fine."
"Then shall we use the right room? This side has a better view of the fountain in the center of the garden."
Ibi was just amazed by Melody's words.
You could choose a room for that reason.
In the Poorhouse, the younger children used the small rooms, and the older children used the large rooms.
They never paid attention to the scenery outside the window, and they couldn't choose their own room.
But to be able to choose such a wonderful place because it had a better view of the fountain.
Ibi opened the right door that Melody had mentioned.
Along with the warm air, she felt a sweet floral scent.
Beyond the door, there was a large bed and a desk made of dark-colored wood next to it.
Ibi stood still and took in the sight of the room.
Compared to the splendor of the entrance, the room was plain. But that made Ibi like it even more.
The entrance was a place she couldn't even dream of, but this place was the most wonderful room she had imagined countless times.
A warm, fragrant place with her own bed and her own desk.
Ibi clenched her fists tightly.
She sincerely wanted to stay here for a very long time.
