It's been a month but all that we have now was Delora; the princess of the kingdom named Krystal that suits her well as her power concentrates to crystalize and materialize a thing with crystals.
But except for her, we don't have any clue who the other princesses and princes are there. Even having the best out of the best when it comes to investigating and hunting, we can't seem to make some drastic progress on our work as classes hinder our movements and times to advance.
Delora, who grew something on me, that made me build trust on her... I somehow felt a lingering conscience in me that I didn't like. I have to use her to get information, news, and topics roaming around their kingdom. Even the slightest word that can be associated with our kingdom shouldn't be ignored.
And if I recall it correctly, their kingdom is already in good terms with us.
A kingdom once tried to colonize the unrestricted kingdom and mark the land as theirs however, we acted and silently defeated them in unknown forms and identities to hide the fact that there are still survivors from the massacre.
Not a single word was spread. The humiliation that the Kingdom will go through won't make things easy for them. The soldiers that their kingdom refined, ameliorate, and enhanced were beaten and killed by five unidentified and cryptic persons.
Because of the humility they'll face, the secrecy of the outcome of the colonization was concluded but they were continuing their hunt for us.
Because of the danger that we might face outside, I stumbled upon Gordon and negotiated in exchange for my presence in the institute.
That is why I am here; in a room with a number of eleven students with the teacher named Vernovela who wears her dress like it was the only thing in her closet. A dress with some hints and touches of the color that looked like gold.
Also, my annoying cousin is here now. Making my life here difficult and easy at the same time. Even though I didn't what the class to discover I am a daughter of a princess, it ended up being known,
Lilith and her unending babble. The last time I saw her before seeing her this year was years ago. Five years ago, to be exact.
I remember putting a large amount of spicy powder and sauce in her sandwich. Sadly, she was called over and gave the sandwich to the palace dog who suffered in her stead.
Of course, I wasn't caught but I still have a conscience. I apologized to Fluffy, the name of the palace dog, and gave him his favorite biscuits.
Good thing I already left before she could even talk about our relationship as well as my family. If I ever did, I would have slept for another three weeks after waking up just recently
Back to the royalties; Gordon can't tell me who the royalties are in his institution as he swore and vowed in front of the kings and queens to keep their children's status in secret as it might lead them into trouble.
Since he cannot help me, he said that he would not interfere in this task as long as we wouldn't do any things that would make the royalties lose their trust in the institute and worst, snap
and raise their weapons against this place.
But not all missions go accordingly as planned. These stupid classes started to piss me off when I realized how it greatly affected our task.
Ms. Vernovela looked at us after facing her back on the board. "Does anyone know how the nymph avenged Aravas from plotting revolutionaries during the 4th Lady's reign?" She asked and I couldn't help but to sigh secretly.
Okay... Breathe in... Breathe out. Block the thoughts. Block the memories. Focus and clear your mind. Remember that you wouldn't want to sleep again as well as collapse like a weak lady in this class.
You don't want to be bedridden again, right? Myself.
"Anyone?"
Oh duck.
I looked at Ms. Vernovela as she was starting to get upset since they didn't want to participate and answer the question that she just asked.
This class is full of brains yet they don't want to recite with their own will. I raised my hand, rescuing the class from being swept out and burned from the room before the teacher erupts.
"She poisoned her own pond where the revolutionaries made their camp. When the struggle started, the river ran red, bringing dead bodies to beasts."
I heard a sigh beside me. "Give the princess a round of applause." Neodelle said unsinciere. Now I had to calm down before I make him kiss the floor again.
Unfortunately, Ms. Vernovela needed to switch Lilith's seat since she kept on bugging me during the class, distracting not only me but the whole class as she continuously blabbers nonsense.
And the unfortunate thing here is she was switched with Neodelle. Making my life here unenjoyable as my peace started to turn into ashes.
The crumpled face of our teacher faded when I answered it right. She smiled at me.
Back to her good mood. "That's right, Violet." She said. "How about the meaning of Aravas?"
I secretly sighed in disbelief. "The righteous entity. Worthy."
"Great. What is behind the name of the Kingdom of Krystal?"
"It is the mixed named of the two successors of the king and queen of the said kingdom."
Ms. Vernovela smiled widely. "I'm impressed." She said even though it was nothing to be impressed of. "How about the Kingdom of Haco?"
"It means fire."
"Fire."
I looked at Neodelle and saw that he was looking at me too. Wait. No. He was glaring at me. "Give chance to others." He said in a bitter tone that made me grumpy.
"Then you should've said that first before the teacher asked more questions." I replied in an ill-tempered tone.
"I don't need to say it if you're considerate enough."
What? "I am being considerate enough to answer a question that you can't even answer. Do you want us to be standing outside the room again for the reason of not answering her questions again?"
"Even so. You could've stopped after answering her question."
"But she did ask another question. Didn't she?"
He looked at me, grimace was evident on his face. "You can just ignore her, you see?"
"Then-."
"Stop." Both of us came to halt from bickering with each other when Ms. Vernovela stood before us, looking serious as her face gets darker. "You're disturbing my class. Stand outside."
Dumbfounded, I found myself outside the room as it was my first time. I stand beside Neodelle and I can't get rid of Lilith's giggle in my head when she watched me go out of the room.
How I want to take her voice away from her. The mockery.
But why am I even standing here?! I answered her questions! I don't deserve this! What should be punished here is this animal beside me! The fire freak who I never remember doing something good even once.
Just Fire. Fire and setting me on fire literally.
"Nice one, freak. You got us out." He sarcastically said as he avoided looking at me.
I scoffed at him. How dare he. "If you didn't argue, I should have shut my mouth like you should at that moment."
He looked at me, pissed at what he heard. "If you want to shut my mouth, sew it close then!"
"Oh really?! Then what if I do that thing that you just suggested?"
"As if you can!"
"Oh yes, I can!"
"Then do it!"
"Hand me a nee-!"
"BOTH OF YOU!" The two of us flinched when someone shouted behind me who was Ms. Vernovela. Popping from the window of the room just to talk to the two of us. "IN THE FIELD! STAND THERE! YOU'RE DISTURBING MY CLASSES!"
I sighed heavily as I massaged my temple. Why am I receiving this kind of treatment? Even after I managed to answer her question and satisfy her, I still end up out of the room and with this bitter and grumpy Neodelle to add.
An update our situation; we ended up in the field as Ms. Vernovela told us to.
What a day.
I sat on the bench, completely ignoring what Ms. Vernovela told us as our punishment. We're far away already. She won't notice that we weren't standing.
I rested my chin on my palm as my elbow rested on my thigh while my legs were crossed. I still can't believe I'm outside with this dumb-.
-Wait. Isn't this a good thing?"
Not because I'm with Neodelle but because I managed to slip away from class which talks about history. Since my kingdom, Aravas, fell and became inhabitable, it was immediately put inside the history books all over the world or maybe just in Athrenue.
Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.
Yes. Maybe this is one but must I have to be with this jerk who sat far away from where I am now?
I looked in the direction of the building where most classes are being held. From here, I can see that they were paying attention to their class since no one was dazing out their window.
Well, since I saw someone, maybe I would add an exception.
I saw Ginger with her bored and tired face looking at the blue and clear sky. She must be really bored in her class to make such an ugly face.
I can almost laugh but seeing her like this makes me think if she's also like this during her work.
Now I remember that the four of them tend to take classes after a half day of training during their earlier days. Since they were chosen by the previous Lady who is known as the previous queen of the kingdom, they were unable to attend classes as normal ones can.
They were training as well as continuing their classes every day with only weekends as their day-offs.
The previous Ladies of Aravas had been always walking through some academy before just to pick some students that would be able to serve the kingdom where the next royalties would take charge of. In short, the previous lady chose them as my soldiers or guards for my coronation.
The previous Lady of Aravas chosen eight students before, as I remember...
My mood suddenly went dark and gloomy.
...How upsetting to think that only half of them managed to live and walk with me as I hunt that devil who killed them.
I shook my head and took a deep breath before distracting myself to avoid greeting bedridden again for three weeks.
I can manage to think this far but when they start popping out endlessly, that's where my long sleep is certain.
Come to think of it...
How would my life be when I rule my kingdom? Not to mention that I am alone and no one can help me in my duty unless I have a husband by my side.
I shivered in disgust at the thought of a husband. Must I have a husband to rule a kingdom? The previous Ladies do have their kings but maybe it's okay to rule by myself, right?
Hah... How confident am I to think about these things while the killer is freely roaming around this world with ease?
"Can you speak for a bit? You're creeping me out. Are you planning something for my death or something?"
And there's a devil who just spoke. I turned my head to him and if he can just see, I arched a brow at him.
"I should be the one asking that kind of question. Remember how you just set me on fire when we first met?" I scoffed. "Who in his normal mind would set a fire on a stranger? Of course, not you since you're not in your normal mind. Did it got snatched out of your skull?"
Aaaand his face made an irritated look. "Are you really picking a fight?"
"Just who start the fight first?"
"Isn't it you? I was just asking you to talk."
"I was referring to you earlier in the class."
"Well, I was talking about you right now."
I just shook my head and massaged it. This is unbelievable. Am I really arguing with this brainless being?
"See? You shut your irritating mouth just now. Do you accept the fact that you always pick a fight?" Ugh. Am I really stuck with him in this field? And to be clear, he's always the one who picks a fight.
"Neodelle. Can we just stop arguing? We're looking like some children arguing about what existed first between an egg and a chicken." I said. I want us to stop this mess.
He sighed and crossed his arms while leaning back. "Sure." Oh, thanks—. "But for me, chicken was created first."
Oh, fudge.
"And... Don't you think being in this field is boring?" He added as he looked around the empty field. The trimmed grass sways with the breeze while the sunlight beams with a good amount of light on us. "Say something... Or maybe tell a story about yourself."
He glanced at me.
I tilted my head. "A story about me?"
He nodded. "Yeah. You see, you don't often talk about yourself."
"It also goes the same with you and the rest."
He blinked. "Not really." He said and looked away. "You see, we were already stuck with each other for about seven years now. We almost know everything about each other and we're close like a family. We never really push someone to tell about themselves. We want them to open up by themselves but..."
He looked at me again.
I somehow got nervous at that kind of eyes looking at me. I was never been comfortable when a guy looks at me for a long time when I am focused on us and only us.
"You've entered our room revealing to everyone that you're a complete mystery. From your face to your story, all of them is a complete question mark to us." I looked away from him since he was already making me uncomfortable. "You see, we can't help but to wonder and take all opportunities to know you more like your cousin."
I sighed when he mentioned Lilith. Of course, she would talk about me.
"She said you have longer hair than you have now and a pair of brown orbs for your eyes but that's not enough to wonder, you see?"
"Why?" I asked as I faced him. "What do you want to know after knowing my fac—."
"Your story." He said as he still looks at my eyes like he can see it through my bandages. "And we became more curious when you had your long recovery just recently." He took a pause. "What really happened to you Violet?"
I did not say anything and after a minute, I think about how to answer his question. After a while, I stood up and stretched my arms. I might go for a run.
"You see, my memories is past bearing," I said and looked at him over my shoulders. If he just can see my face now, he would be shocked to see a forced smile coming from me. "I'm sorry. That's the only thing how I can describe my story."