Three years have passed since Akashi Hashimora has been confirmed dead. Nobody was found though and the funeral had been held at the Shinora's residence with no body to put in the casket. Only his mother and sister had attended the informal funeral, the others who attended were just commoners on the Shinora's land.
"It's a shame that he had to go..."
"He would have been alive if he hadn't made that reckless choice of going..."
"But I would have preferred him ruling over us than his older brother Luke..."
"I heard they caught the murders"
Conversations filled the air about Akashi's death. Ellie had been caught and jailed as she tried to sell the sword that Akashi possessed. The sword-smith recognized it immediately and reported her.
"He was the only brother... that I trusted..."
"It's going to be alright hon... as long as we satisfy your father and brother... we will be alright..."
"How will we be able to be fine if they abuse us like this?!"
"We will figure something... for now, we can't live on our own. If we do decide to leave, who knows if we may get attacked or even worse, trafficked."
"Your right... let's go back for now mother..."
The two went back to the mansion where Akashi used to be the buffering factor in who can hurt who.
***
The Adventurers Institution, where adult alliance members are taught new techniques, crafts, skills, and much more. Anybody can apply to this institution but it would cost them a large sum of money, and that money can be obtained easily by higher ranks taking on higher-ranked targets and selling the corpse for money. Each monster has their value in the material they hold. Lower-ranked commoner alliance members can only dream of attending this institution while royals and high rankers can attend this institution to hone and sharpen their skills. There was a group of five people this year that piqued the interest of many to apply to this institution. The "Ghost" guild. Comprising five of the most powerful people in the nation of Astrialite at the age of 19. They had already paid for four years to be in this institution. Other students were joining but that was ordinary. A black-haired nineteen-year-old male sat down in front of the institute, if his red eyes weren't frightening enough, the way his posture was would give a chilling feeling towards anyone. Until they saw his badge on his clothing. A bronze-colored badge with a sword.
"Damn he's intimidating... but just an E-rank? What a fool."
"Rich kids trying to play hero..."
"I know right? I don't know if-..."
People kept walking by and looking at him, giving either a sneer or a slight laugh.
"I guess it's time for me to get to class I guess."
He got up and walked towards where his class was, people were chatting in the halls, not paying much mind to the male. He got into his assigned classroom and permanent class until he quits the school. Seats were also permanent unless the instructor wants to change the seating. He was thirty minutes early but there were already people choosing their seats. He wondered why all the males got here and had chosen their seats already but no females were there yet. He sat in the middlemost seat in the back row. Most of the seats were taken up at the front so he felt uncomfortable sitting up front. The classroom had 4 rows of seats on separate staircases so that everybody can hear and see the instructor teach. There was a quill, ink well, and paper at each seat. As time passed, more and more students trickled in, and each took their seats on either the first, second, or third row. The black-haired male was the only one who was in the back row. Everybody except one student was running late but the instructor waited. There was somebody's sword and equipment at an empty table seat in the very front.
"I'm sorry I'm running late sir!"
"It's alright, You just five minutes late, no fuss."
A female walked in and everybody who wasn't in the room early gasped as the people who were early choosing their seats near this equipment seemed a bit too eager to start class now.
"She is getting way too much attention... I feel bad for her.", the male thought. He couldn't see her rank and class badge anywhere on her so he had no idea what rank or class she was.
At this point, all of the males were drooling out of their mouth and the female flinched as she saw all of the males that were around her. She liked the company, but this seemed a little too creepy for her. Then she saw it, a male with a black-colored institution robe on in the very back.
"Sir, can I change seats?"
"The seats are permanent once you choose them unless you have a valid reason."
"I feel like I won't be learning anything if all these guys are drooling around me..."
The instructor flinched as he just noticed that and nodded to the female started to take her sword and equipment. Some of the students started to have a face of disbelief while others started to speak up.
"But sir! This isn't fair to the rest of..."
"What he said! All seats are..."
"What about us and our education instructor?!"
"SILENCE!"
The room got silent as soon as the instructor yelled that one word. This instructor has a diamond badge on with a dagger on it. An S-ranked assassin.
"Is this seat available?"
The male snapped out of thought and saw the woman to his right. He nodded and the female sat down. All of the males in the class were cursing and making silent death threats to the male.
"I'm sorry that I have caused you trouble. I'll be sure to compensate you later..."
A unexpected deep voice came from the male as the female didn't think that this male would talk.
"There's no need. I do have a saying after all. It is, what it is."
The female nodded and the instructor gave his first direction, introducing each person to one another and giving their rank and class. There were plenty of B-ranks across a wide verities of classes. A couple of A ranks as well. It got to the female and she stood up.
"Hello, my name is Jin-Ae, an S-ranked assassin and part of the guild Ghost."
The student clapped and some even cheered. The male now knew why she was so popular in the beginning. The female was worried that the male might have newfound interest in her but what she saw surprised her. The male was composed and looking right into the instructors eyes, but the instructor smiled as he made eye contact with the male.
"Last one up please?"
The male stood up and spoke
"Hello, I am a E-ranked knight-"
somebody whispered on the side. "This ought to be good"
The male continued
"And I am the lunar prince. My name is Akashi Hashimora.