When the night came, they set up camp near the forest of Avira, a little away from the main road. They readied the campfire with a chant and hung a pot above the fire. A woman named Aadya poured water into the pot and waited for it to boil. Then the meat came then the salt, pepper, paprika, onions, and she closed the lid.
Chang Xiuying approached Aadya and asked, "Where did you learn how to cook?"
"Ah! Pardon me! Well… I learned from my mother."
"Hmm… I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious. I'm looking forward to eating your cooking."
Aadya beamed and nodded fervently. "You can count on me!"
Chang Xiuying smiled, left and retrieved a book when she was near the campfire. She read the book quietly while ignoring the stares of the party.
"Good evening, Ying," Gaius said.
"Good evening," she greeted back.
"What are you reading?"
"The history of Lasirion."
"Why are you reading it?"
"Knowledge."
"We can show you the way when we get there though."
"It's better to have little knowledge before we arrive there."
"Then! I will tell you!"
Chang Xiuying teared her eyes from the book then looked at Gaius.
"I'll tell you!"
She sighed and closed the book. "Alright. Go on."
And they talked about when the city was first built, and a few elementals were born and a school was soon built. It was known as Lasirion Academy for knights and elementals. Since it became the royal capital of Lasirion Kingdom, the admission fee became steeper.
Basically, it favors nobles rather than commoners. They didn't even have a school for commoners.
When they finished, Aadya called them over to eat dinner. "Time to eat, your highness and Madame Ying."
"Please drop the madame, Aadya."
"But!"
"Do you know that I'm a commoner?"
"Eh... what?"
"I'm a commoner."
"I… I thought you are a noble since your conduct and manners are so refined… but be careful though… if the others knew, they'll treat you like a commoner."
"Define how they treat commoners."
"Um… like a slave?"
"I see now. I'll be careful about it."
"Please do."
Then they started eating. They were given an equal amount of food in their bowls. When it was time to sleep, and the others were in their tents, fast asleep, Chang Xiuying went out to hunt edible monsters. After all, she was still hungry. Besides, she was on night watch.
Because of her growing body, she had to continuously supply nutrition to herself. She didn't want to impede her growth.
When she hunted enough food---meat, she started cooking it by the campfire.
Her time to night watch was done and the next one would be Rendel, a man in his twenties. He took over and Chang Xiuying immediately fell asleep in her tent.
She woke up at around 4 A.M., and it was Aadya who was stationed by the campfire. There weren't any bodies of monsters at all, so it must be a very peaceful watch.
"Good morning, Ying!"
"Good morning."
"I'm sorry if breakfast is still not yet prepared. I will get into it once the others wake up."
"Don't worry about it. However, can I cook my own portion?"
"Of course. You have to supply your own though."
"No problem," then Chang Xiuying retrieved a bear carcass from her storage. Moreover, it was still fresh.
"Eh? An item box?!" Aadya scrambled her way towards Chang Xiuying and looked at her ring.
"Yes."
She pointed at the ring and said, "Is this the item box?"
"Yes."
"Amazing! I've never seen an item box before. Though it's always mentioned in the books in our library. Moreover, it was a very expensive item. Where did you buy it? Are you really a commoner?"
"Calm down. I just happened to have it from a friend. And yes, I am a commoner."
"A friend that will give you an item box?! Introduce me to that person!"
"Sorry, he was back in Avarice."
"Ah… such a waste… I wish I knew sooner..."
"Don't worry, I have a similar one with me. Do you want it?"
"An item similar to your item box?! Let me see!"
Chang Xiuying chuckled as she shook her head in disbelief. "Alright. Alright. Here you go," then she gave Aadya a small pouch.
"This is?"
"You can call it a spatial pouch. And it's yours now."
"Really?! Thank you very much!"
Suddenly, Chang Xiuying's stomach grumbled. Aadya laughed and then gestured at the younger, "You can use the campfire."
"Thanks," then she started cooking a heavy breakfast for herself. It consisted of rice, spinach, egg, cheese, and lots of spices. Aadya smelled the luring aroma and drooled. When Chang Xiuying finished cooking and was on the verge of eating, she noticed Aadya drooling beside her.
"Can---can I take a bite?"
"… sure..."
"Mmmm!!! Delicious! This is better than my cooking! No, in the whole world!"
"Ahaha… you're kidding..."
"Ah! Good morning, your highness!" Aadya suddenly blurted as she stood up straight.
"Good morning, Aadya, Ying."
"Morning. Would you also want to have some?" Chang Xiuying offered Gaius a bowl and he ceremoniously accepted it.
Once Gaius ate a spoonful, his eyes went wide. "This is amazing! Who cooked this?"
"It's Ying, your highness."
"Hmmm… now that you mentioned it, she does own a restaurant in Avarice."
"Eh? How old are you, Ying?"
Uh-oh. Based on her height, she would be around seventeen years old. If she told them the truth that she was only seven, their eyes would be gawking in surprise. Moreover, they might never believe her and would just think of it as a jest.
"I'm fourteen," she finally said.
"And you have a business?! That's so amazing! Isn't she, your highness?"
"I agree," Gaius smiled at Aadya and the woman became baffled.
"How about some almond milk?" Chang Xiuying suggested.
"Yes, please!" Gaius and Aadya said in unison.
Then they finished their breakfast before the other woke up. After their sumptuous breakfast, they started journeying to the closest town to spend the night there.
After they resided in Aqueta, they came to Fermanagh and finally, Lasirion.
They entered the royal capital and they were met by a more bustling atmosphere than the outside. However, when they saw the royal carriage pass by, they immediately made way.
Gaius peeked out of the window of the carriage and called Chang Xiuying.
"What is it?"
The
"We have to go back to the castle to report to Royal Father. Take this introduction letter and go to Hugh's Inn. You can ask people where it is," then he handed her an envelope with a royal crest on the wax. "I'll meet you in front of Lasirion Academy at 6 A.M. tomorrow."
"Got it. Take care, okay?"
Gaius blushed when Chang Xiuying finished speaking. However, the female never saw this and separated herself from the party. She perfectly mingled with the crowd until she got into an alleyway.
She asked people about Hugh's Inn and arrived in front of a luxurious building. The inside was also extravagant as paintings decorated the wall. The female receptionist smiled at her and then asked, "Good afternoon, my lady. Would you like to stay for the night or do you want to stay for a longer time?"
"I got this letter of introduction," she said as she retrieved a small envelope in her storage.
"Oh my… let me give it to the master. Please wait here for a while."
"Mhm." And the receptionist was gone.
Chang Xiuying looked around and settled herself on a fluffy sofa in the lobby. After a while, the same female receptionist came back with a bigger smile and led her to a luxurious room.
"Oh wow..." she said in wonder. There was a library, dining room, kitchen and a separate room for the bedroom. Since she had nothing to do until tomorrow, she decided to read.
When she noticed the time, it was already 10 P.M.
She slept on the fluffy bed, relishing the soft feeling.
4 A.M
Chang Xiuying woke up then freshened herself up. She dressed herself formally, ate, and then left the room. She walked around as she asked people where the academy was. When she passed by the market, some new food was being sold, though they were only starting to sell it. She bought a few and decided to shop for supplies.
Then she arrived in front of Lasirion Academy at around 5:50 A.M.
"Ying!"
Chang Xiuying glanced inside the academy and saw Gaius waving at her as he ran. She also waved back that made Gaius smile widely.
"Good morning," he greeted.
"Morning."
"By the way, I already did all the paperwork for your stay here. Your uniforms are in my room, so you have to get it there before classes start at 8 A.M."
"That's comforting."
"For now, I will be your guide. Let's go and change!"
"You're awfully enthusiastic about this..."
"After all! You're in here! To study with me!" He cheered then skipped towards the dorm.
Chang Xiuying whispered, "Is he really a prince?"
"I heard that!"
"Sorry~"
* * *
"At the center of our school is the cathedral. We usually pray here to receive blessings from the priests. Of course, since you're a temporary student, you would be asked to participate in our morning prayers."
"At the east, there are the training grounds. We have separate training grounds for the students of knighthood and elementals. Oh right, you would be tested for your aptitude in the cathedral before the classes begin. We have to be there at 7:30. You can see the clock tower at the back of the cathedral."
"Then the library, your favorite place. You are only allowed in the library for four hours. But you can borrow books that you can take, though you have to return it before you go home. Normally, the students here have unlimited time in the library to study."
"Since you will be commuting from the inn to the academy, you have to be as early as 7 A.M. Also, regarding the schedules, you will always be at my side. So, my schedule is your schedule. Are there any questions?"
Gaius smiled as they stopped in front of the fountain just in front of their rendezvous point earlier.
"None."
"Since it's already 7:29, let's go to the cathedral. You remember the way, right?"
"Of course."
Both of them entered the school grounds and then the cathedral. They could see a few curious students sitting on the benches and a few priests waiting for them at the very front. Chang Xiuying saw a crystal ball with the priests.
"This is where I can only take you."
"Thank you."
"No problem. Now, go."
When Chang Xiuying appeared in front of the crystal ball, she was given permission to touch the ball.
However, students were shocked and then laughed as they saw Chang Xiuying's aptitude.
Knight and Elemental. An elemental knight who could control all elements. Basically, a jack of all trades and a master of none. It was regarded as a useless aptitude in Lasirion Academy.