"What is happening here?!" Anastasius yelled and picked his sister up, together with Athanasius who is worried sick about his sister.
Seraphim felt amused just by watching Anastasia who fell to her trap. She can help to smile wide.
"She is under a PO-" Cassian decided to tell the brothers the truth but he refused not to. Knowing Anastasius and his other brother, they will make a ruckus for sure and can ruin the banquet.
"I think the King is there, we should go inside." He said and held Anastasia's hand. The two brothers followed Cassian's hand and Anastasius threw a fireball towards Cassian, which he quickly dodged.
"What do you think you're doing to my adorable sister, huh?!" Anastasius shouted.
"Stop harassing my lover, brother Nate!"
"W-what?"
Anastasia clings onto him and sticks her tongue to her brothers, who she left dumbfounded. When they got out of the balcony, Cassian pushed Anastasia for clinging to him because it will make the rumors worse if anybody saw them being so close towards each other.
"King Oscar Castilla together with Prince Theodosius von Castilla is now in your presence!" The king's attendant said while the two royals are walking down.
Everyone greeted them and the room that is filled with music has stopped.
"I invited you all here to ask for a request.."
Sia's hand intertwined her fingers with Cassian, who immediately pulled his hand and scold her in a low voice. He plans to fix this once the banquet has finished, as he has a friend from the alchemy class that can help him remove the effect of a love potion.
"The war will be breaking faster than I expected and I need all of you to lend me your powers. Noble and Royals have the most mana power than commoners. Lend me your strength, everyone!" King Oscar said in a powerful voice.
Siu pulled away from his sister from Cassian but she pushed her brother and keeps clinging to Cassian and even hugged him, which some other nobles saw. Anastasius hugged the two, followed by Siu.
"Aww, they are so cute!"
"Indeed! Kids love each other hihi."
"How I wish my kids will be lovable like that. They always fight each other."
Anastasius sighs tiredly, they were just protecting their sister's name. She was known to be engaged with the crown prince and she's a kid, but will be caught doing some weird act towards another boy?
"I want to have a date with you, Cassian."
"Stop it, Sia," Anastasius uttered in annoyance and put his hands on Anastasia's shoulder.
"Yes, your majesty." Everyone bowed at him and they noticed that they're the only one who was standing.
"Get down!" Anastasius ordered the three and they quickly bowed to the King and Prince.
The Queen of Zeno, King Oscar's wife, died at the hands of the Lusitania Queen. The people want to avenge their late Queen and protect their kingdom against the neighboring kingdom.
"I will be a strong summoner and fight together with you, my Cassian." She said sweetly, still clinging to him. Siu held the shoulders of the two and separate them. Anastasius was the one who holds Cassian and Siu to Sia.
"Please stop this insolence, Anastasia!" Athanasius scolded her. His other brother is not in the mood and just wants to shout and bring the palace to ruins but he can't, his family might be in trouble if he does.
"Cassian, save me."
Before Cassian can respond, they noticed that the nobles are leaving the banquet hall one by one. Cassian's elder brother, the second son of Baron Yietz and Anastasia's nemesis grabbed Cassian and ran as fast as he could because of the prince's deadly stares.
"No, my Cass-!" Her brothers carried her to their mother and father. They can't tell them about Anastasia that's why they're going to let them under custody if they can, that is.
"Oh my, what happened to you, Sia?" Mielle worriedly asks.
"They took away my-"
"Ah, my friend, Cassian, took away Sia's pendant. It was my gift for her. Don't worry, he's just joking and I will be sure to get it back."
"Really? okay then. Let's go now, you kids have to show your mana and strength in front of the crown prince and the king."
"What? why?" Siu, who looked surprised asked. He was confused at the moment because of his sister, who became love-struck at Cassian.
They both knew that she was under a spell, she wouldn't act like this. Anastasius already has a plan and is waiting for a chance to end the banquet and go to the academy and get his sister fix.
"The King gave a chance to the sons and daughters of nobles to have them showcase their power in front of them. If the king approved, then they can enter the academy and train, of course, they will be joining the war." Owen said, who is worried about the safety of his kids. What if Siu and Sia entered the academy? He doesn't like his brother, the king's idea but he got no choice. Lusitania's forces and army are way stronger than they can imagine. Even kids who are the same age as Anastasia are already powerful. Lusitania is no simple kingdom, they push kids to fight and kill each other at a young age.
"I want you to do your best and just be you, okay?" Mielle uttered, she is worried for her two children. Those kids from Lusitania are murderers.
"Yes, mother," Sia said and hurriedly went outside to find Cassian.
When she saw Cassian, she quickly hugged him and smiled.
"Lady Anastasia, please stop." Students at the academy can not participate in the fight. They can only just stand by and watch the other kids fight.
The first one to fight was Seraphim versus the only daughter of Viscount Tina.
"I don't want to! Come and fight with me, Cassian." Anastasia hugged him but he quickly pushed her softly because of the people. Luckily, all of the nobles are focused on the fight.
"You look unseemly, Lady Anastasia." The Baron's fourth son, who gathered his courage to talk to Anastasia. Prince Theodosius is not in sight.
"Shut up, Gideon," Cassian said and walked away with him holding Anastasia's hand.
"I promise you, Lady Anastasia.." He said and kneeled in front of her. He can't take it anymore, some of the nobles caught their attention and if Anastasia didn't stop, they will all be in trouble.
"Oh my god, are you proposing your love for me, dear Cassian of mine?"
"I promise that once you fight and manage to join the academy, I will protect you and be with you at the war."
"Do you. mean that?"
"Yes, but just act normal and pretend that you don't love me. You are currently engaged at the crown prince, who knows what may happen if you keep doing that?"
"Yes!"
"J-just so you know, it's not like I like you, o-o-okay?"
Cassian doesn't have any choice but to trick her, when he saw Anastasius and his family, he stood up and kiss the back of her hand.
"know because my Cassian loves me! I will act normal and win this."
He nodded and smiled, but Anastasia held his hands tight.
"I will do it but also promise me that you will break my engagement with that crown prince."
His jaw dropped, what can he do against that man? he's a king and he's just a noble. But her family is getting closer and closer, he needs to leave!
"Y-yes! I will, I will. Just do what I told you." He said and hurriedly walked away from her.
"What did Cassian told you?" Siu said with a curled forehead.
"Nothing," Anastasia said and smiled while watching the battle.
Whether you succeed or lose doesn't matter, the most important is to showcase your strength and the King and Prince shall decide.
After moments have passed, it's time for Anastasia to fight.
"Lady Anastasia of house Castilla will be fighting against Young master Gideon of house Yietz."
Prince Theodosius smirked, he thinks that this is an opportunity for Anastasia to have her revenge. But he's worried that she will lose.
"Are you ready to lose?" The Baron's fourth son said and pointed his lightning dagger. He is a lightning user.
"There's no way in hell that would happen, Cassian will be waiting for me and after this war, we will be marrying each other."
All of the nobles are focused on them, this is the first time that they will see a summoner! Professor Hayden is at the back, looking proudly at his student.
"This will be exciting!" Nobles whispered to each other, who can't help but show their excitement.
"Here I go," Gideon said and a flash of lightning came as he attacked Anastasia.
"Barak!" the lightning spirit came out and blocked the attack. Barak's specialty is defense. She got no choice but to use a normal sword and use Barak as a shield.
"Is that a real spirit? it's my first time seeing one!"
Anastasia is having a hard time fighting with a sword especially with her small and frail body. The love potion still dwells inside of her and she can't control it.
"But I think she's gonna lose."
"Yeah, she may a genius or whatsoever but she's too young."
"I can't believe that a small body like that can save our kingdom."
"Indeed."
Athanasius is already picking a fight with someone and her mother is trying to stop him. While Cassian is just standing there calmly, knowing that she'll win.
"Do you think she'll win?" The prince asked his father, who is smiling while watching her.
"Who knows? but it's amazing, she summoned a spirit so fast! I expect great things from her."
Prince Theodosius didn't bother to smile, he looks with a straight face while watching the battle. Seraphim is just staring at the Prince's face, who can't wait to be the crown princess.
But really, can she be one?
"Young master Gideon of house Yietz won the match." The attendant of the King announced.
"WHAT?" Athanasius shouted and trying to run but his father glared at him, which he was scared of.
Anastasia is laying on the ground, who lost control of the spirit and is back to the spirit realm. She has lost mana. All summoners depend on mana because if their mana drains, a summoner is useless.
"Ha, I won! I guess the rumors about you are just a joke." Gideon triumphantly muttered and walked away.
"N-no.."
Anastasia slowly stood up and thrust the sword to the ground and put all of her weight there so that she can stand her foot back on the ground.
"It's not o-over yet, I w-will still fight." She said, "I s-still have.. a p-promise.."
Gideon frowned and ran towards her with his lightning dagger, he plans to kill her off. It was fast.. the only option she had was to summon Barak again but before she could, it was too late!
"DAMN YOU, ANASTASIA. THIS IS FOR THE OTHER DAY!"