Reincarnated as an Elf Prince

The next morning, Lindarion stood outside Thalorin's office again.

This was starting to become a habit. An annoying one.

He exhaled and knocked.

"Enter."

Pushing the door open, he stepped inside. The room was the same as before—mana humming faintly in the air, the weight of it pressing down like an unseen force.

Thalorin sat behind his desk, looking up as Lindarion approached.

"You're back earlier than expected." The old elf studied him. "Something on your mind?"

'Such pressure still..'

Lindarion didn't bother with pleasantries. "Can I bring people with me?"

Thalorin stroked his beard. "Your friends, I assume?"

"That's a strong word. They want to come," Lindarion said. "And I doubt I'd be able to stop them even if I said no."

Thalorin hummed, seemingly unsurprised. "I never said you had to go alone."

Lindarion's eye twitched. "You also never said I could."

Thalorin smirked. "You didn't ask."

Lindarion muttered something under his breath that definitely wasn't polite.

Thalorin's amusement didn't fade. "I assume you have a reason for bringing them?"

Lindarion crossed his arms. "Cassian and Luneth are capable. If this turns into something bigger, I'd rather not handle it alone..I mean I could. But it's better if I have a team."

It wasn't the only reason, but it was the one Thalorin would care about.

The old elf nodded. "Fair enough." He tapped a finger against the desk. "Fine. They can accompany you. But remember—House Valciel requested a mage from the Academy. You're the one they want. If they take issue with your companions, that's your problem to handle."

Lindarion exhaled. "Understood."

Thalorin leaned back. "Then you'd best prepare. You leave in two days."

Lindarion turned toward the door, already thinking about what he'd need to get done before then.

"Oh, and Lindarion."

He stopped. Looked back.

Thalorin's gaze was sharp. "Be careful."

Lindarion met his eyes.

Something about Thalorin's tone put him on edge.

'What exactly are you not telling me old man..?'

He didn't ask. He doubted he'd get an answer.

"…I will."

And with that, he left.

—

He found Cassian and Luneth exactly where he expected them—outside, near one of the Academy's training fields.

Cassian was lounging on a bench, tossing a crystal lazily in the air. Luneth stood nearby, arms crossed, watching a few students spar.

They both turned as he approached.

Cassian grinned. "So?"

Lindarion stopped in front of them. "You guys can come."

Cassian fist-pumped. "Nice."

Luneth tilted her head. "That was fast."

"I didn't give him much of a choice." Lindarion shrugged. "We leave in two days."

Cassian whistled. "That soon?"

Lindarion shot him a look. "You were the one who wanted to come."

Cassian held up his hands. "I'm not complaining. Just means we should start getting ready."

Luneth nodded slightly. "Agreed."

Lindarion ran a hand through his hair. "We don't even know what we're preparing for yet."

Cassian smirked. "That's what makes it fun."

Lindarion sighed.

This was going to be a long two days.

Two days seemed like a long time until you actually had to prepare for something. Then it vanished in an instant.

Lindarion realized this when he found himself standing in front of his bag, staring at its contents with mild irritation.

What was he even supposed to pack?

He had no idea what House Valciel wanted. It could be a formal request, or they could be sending him to wrestle an earth golem in a swamp. Either way, he needed to be prepared for everything.

With a sigh, he started sorting through his belongings.

Clothing? The standard Academy uniform would do, but he packed an extra set just in case. No formal attire—if they expected him to wear something ridiculous, they could provide it themselves.

Supplies? His sword, of course, though he doubted he'd need it. Some mana-infused parchment, an inkstone. Nothing heavy, just things he might regret not bringing later.

He was just finishing when someone knocked at his door.

"Lindarion, open up!" Cassian's voice.

Lindarion debated ignoring him.

"Luneth's here too," Cassian added, as if that somehow made it more convincing.

Lindarion sighed and pulled the door open.

Cassian and Luneth stood there, looking far too awake for this hour.

Cassian grinned. "We're packed."

Luneth nodded. "You?"

Lindarion stepped aside, letting them see the neatly packed bag.

Cassian looked mildly disappointed. "You're too organized."

Lindarion raised an eyebrow. "You aren't?"

Cassian crossed his arms. "I packed the essentials."

"…Which are?"

Cassian held up a pouch. "Some crystals, some rations, and a deck of cards."

Luneth sighed.

Lindarion pinched the bridge of his nose. "You do realize this is an official assignment, right?"

Cassian waved a hand. "Relax. Luneth overpacked, so we balance each other out."

Luneth shot him a look. "I packed normal supplies."

"Which is overpacking for you," Cassian said.

Lindarion exhaled slowly. "I'm traveling with an idiot."

Cassian grinned. "And yet, you let me come."

Lindarion ignored him and shut his bag. "Fine. We're ready. Now what?"

Luneth tilted her head. "We still have a day left."

Cassian tapped his chin. "We could find out more about House Valciel."

Lindarion frowned. "…That's actually a good idea."

Cassian gasped. "See? I do have them sometimes."

'Once in a blue moon.'

Lindarion shook his head as Luneth was already turning toward the door. "The library, then?"

Lindarion nodded. "Let's go to our classes first though."

And with that, they set off.

'One day left. Might as well use it wisely.'

—

The day passed slower than Lindarion would have liked.

Classes were a blur of lectures, practical demonstrations, and the occasional explosion from the training grounds.

He paid attention, of course—he always did—but his mind kept drifting back to the assignment.

House Valciel. Why had they requested someone from the Academy? And why him?

By the time their last class ended, he was more than ready to leave.

Cassian stretched as they exited the lecture hall. "Finally. I thought that would never end."

Luneth gave him a look. "You slept through half of it."

"Which is why it felt so long," Cassian said. "Time moves slower when you're barely awake."

'He's such a crybaby.'

Lindarion sighed. "Come on."

They made their way through the Academy corridors, weaving between groups of students.

The library was one of the oldest buildings on campus, a towering structure with arched windows and mana-infused lanterns that flickered even in daylight.

The moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.

The air was thick with the scent of parchment and ink, and a quiet hum of magic lingered between the shelves.

Rows upon rows of books stretched into the distance, sorted meticulously by subject, importance, and level of restriction.

Lindarion headed straight for the historical records. Nobility wasn't something he cared much about, but if Valciel was influential enough to request someone from the Academy, there had to be something on them.

Luneth followed without a word, already scanning the shelves. Cassian, on the other hand, got distracted almost immediately.

"Look at this," he whispered, pulling out a book titled Ancient Curses and How to Ruin Someone's Week.

Lindarion gave him a flat look. "Put that back."

Cassian pouted. "You never let me have fun."

Luneth ignored both of them and pulled out a different book. "This might be useful."

She set it on the nearest table. The cover was simple, embossed with the title Bloodlines of the Northern Nobility.

Lindarion took a seat and flipped it open.

House Valciel was listed among the older noble families, though they were noted for their seclusion. Unlike other houses that thrived on political maneuvering, they rarely attended major gatherings.

"Not much here," Lindarion muttered, turning the page. "It just says they prefer to operate in the background."

Luneth frowned. "That's unusual. Most noble families love attention."

Cassian leaned over his shoulder. "Anything about what they specialize in?"

Lindarion skimmed further. "…Alchemy."

Cassian blinked. "Huh."

Luneth tapped the page. "If they deal in alchemy, they might be researching something dangerous."

Lindarion frowned. That did make sense. If they were requesting an Academy mage, it could mean they needed expertise beyond their own.

Or they needed someone to clean up a mess they'd made.

Cassian hummed. "Well, at least it doesn't sound boring."

Lindarion shut the book. "We won't know for sure until we get there."

Luneth nodded. "Then we should prepare for anything."

Cassian stretched. "Great. More vague assignments."

'This is troublesome.'

Lindarion sighed. "Let's just finish up here. We leave tomorrow."

Tomorrow.

Whatever House Valciel wanted, they'd find out soon enough.

—

The next morning, Eldenholm was as busy as ever. The Academy's halls bustled with students hurrying to classes, instructors discussing research.

But for Lindarion, Luneth, and Cassian, today wasn't like every other day.

They were leaving.

Lindarion stood outside the dormitories, adjusting the straps of his pack. It wasn't much—just the essentials. He'd packed extra supplies out of caution, though he wasn't sure if he'd need them.

Across from him, Luneth was quietly adjusting the clasps of her coat. She looked as composed as ever, but there was a slight tension in the way her fingers moved.

Cassian, on the other hand, had somehow already lost track of his bag.

"Where—" He turned in circles, checking behind a barrel. "I just had it."

Luneth exhaled. "You left it in your room."

Cassian snapped his fingers. "Right. Be right back." He dashed off, leaving Lindarion and Luneth to exchange a glance.

Lindarion sighed. "This is going to be a long trip."

Luneth nodded. "Yes."

By the time Cassian returned—bag actually in hand—they made their way to the main gate.

Thalorin was already waiting.

The Headmaster stood with his usual unreadable expression, arms crossed over his long robes. His silver hair and beard made him stand out even in a crowd, and students passing by gave him a wide berth.

"Prepared?" Thalorin asked.

Lindarion nodded. "As much as we can be."