Coy took off the cloak in its short form and sat down. The main reason he came to seek out Aelfryn was to ask about the four factions. Which one to be careful of and who to join.
His previous relaxed demeanour disappeared as it was replaced by one of seriousness. Aelfryn noticed and thought that Coy was up to something.
"Can you tell more about the factions in the academy? As you know, our previous talk about it has been disturbed." He said.
He still remembered that crafty fox-kin kid. That was the first time he had been pickpocketed since he was born in Mundus.
Aelfryn chuckled as he recalled what occurred this morning. He thought it was a funny event. "That's normal in Bellamy. There are quite a few groups filled with countless people of different skills roaming around the streets, specifically in the commoner's district where security is lax."
Coy put his hand on his chin and said, "I see. That's good to know. I will be careful next time."
"Mhm, you should." Aelfryn nodded in agreement.
"Regarding your question about the factions, they do not have that much authority within school grounds. However, the influence they have outside the academy varies. The Royalties being the strongest, and the United the weakest."
As though enlightened, Coy stated, "I assume the students themselves are not the ones going around in circles outside the academy, right?"
Aelfryn bobbed his head. "Exactly. There are nobles who want to reach out their hands towards the academy. Greedy nobles."
"It's no surprise. People of high status are often known to want more." Concluded Coy. A prime example would be himself when he was young back on earth.
What an ambitious vampire he was.
"You sound as if you have experienced it. Interesting..." Aelfryn spoke with narrowed eyes.
Coy replied with one word. "Books."
Aelfryn shrugged and continued, "The Leaders of the Royalties are composed of our King's third son, the second son of the king in Biskar, and one of the duke's daughters in Bellamy. The former two have more authority than the latter. The rest of the members are a bunch of nobles below the duke's rank.
"As for the high beings, who are second in power, they don't have leaders but a council of sorts. They are filled with nobles from all over the globe, except for humans. A group of supremacists, in my opinion."
Coy laughed softly and concurred with that statement. "Same for me. Haa, the more I hear about the academy, the more the image of it I have in my mind is crumbling. I just hope there isn't any inconvenience while I study there."
"Uhh, that would be impossible then, haha. Anyway, we have the Pacifists... If you take their pacifism out of the equation, this faction is the strongest. It's also the one I'm in."
Coy's eyes widened in surprise. "Interesting… To be honest, I thought you were not in any factions. If we consider your status."
"Well, circumstances happened," Aelfryn said as he caressed his elongated ear.
'Probably due to being the headmistress's disciple.' Coy thought. What would be a better way to deter problems for someone close to you than by not letting them join a strong group?
It would be a lie to say that Coy was not interested in the Pacifists. They were like a tiger that didn't want to cause trouble unless provoked. And no sane person would try to evoke the anger of a tiger. A perfect deterrent.
He wasn't enrolling in the academy to have childish quarrels with kids. What he wanted was knowledge and how to use it.
There was also Chóros and his mystery, which he hasn't unfolded yet.
Coy fixed his attention back on Aelfryn. "Lastly, the United. Although weak, they have the advantage in numbers. The nobles in this faction are few, with a few of them having low ranks. But they do have a duke's son from Biskar. I once had a chat with him, and he is a pretty entertaining guy. He disapproves with the current state of the academy and want to return it to its former glory."
"Well, I hope he is successful." Coy said.
He asked, "How can I join the Pacifists?"
If he were to be given a choice among the four, the Pacifists would be the one he would take.
He had experienced what there is to experience about power struggles and their ugliness. If he were to describe it in one word, that would be 'Filthy.'
Aelfryn nodded in understanding. "Although our faction has a dozen or so members, each one is from a highly influential family. Of course, you're also an influential person. You're a duke's son, and your household is a prominent one. Your father and mother were also respectable students at the academy. I will ask master."
"Thank you." Coy said with a genuine smile.
Aelfryn shook his head. "It's a given to help a friend."
Coy chuckled as his crimson eyes fixed on Aelfryn. "You consider a seven-year-old your friend?"
"You don't act like your age." Aelfryn replied. He added. "Also, who said that you can't be friends with seven-year-olds?"
"I guess you're right."
***
The rays of the sun shone past the curtain in Coy's room, and on cue, the door was opened and a maid entered. She walked to the window and fully opened it, letting the room brighten up.
She then headed towards Coy's bed before she heard the bathroom's door being opened. As she glanced at it, she saw a boy with wet black hair and crimson eyes. He wore a towel around his waist.
She bowed and said, "Apologies, young master. The head butler asked me to wake you up."
Coy nodded at her before walking to his wardrobe. "It's alright. Tell Fram that I will head down soon."
As he picked up his attire to wear for his first day at the academy, he noticed the maid still standing there. He asked in puzzlement, "Is there anything else?"
"Would you like me to help you dress up?" She asked.
Coy shook his head and looked at her face carefully. "Are you perhaps a new maid?" He asked. He didn't saw her face during his stay here.
The maid slightly opened her mouth in surprise and said, "Yes, young master. I was in training before the head butler noticed me and recruited me."
Coy nodded in understanding as he picked out black pants from the wardrobe. "I see. Well, it's alright to not wake me up from now on. I can also dress up on my own."
"Understood." She said as she bowed deeply and headed for the door. Her long blonde hair trailing behind her.
***
Fram yawned slightly. He woke up earlier than usual today as he was going to escort the second young master to the academy. Even though he was a class 5 Enlightened Knight, getting a good night's sleep was still as important as ever... Or maybe he was just not a morning person.
As he sipped on the cup of coffee in his hand, the new maid he had recruited recently approached him.
"Head butler, the young master was awake before I went to his room. He said he will come down soon."
Fram blinked and said, "The young master sure is an early bird. Anyway, thank you, Anne."
Anne bowed in response and left Fram to himself.
As he looked at her receding figure, Fram exhaled. "I'm not suited to being a butler."
He would have served best among the three knight orders with his galiant sword if not for Miss Caesy. Well, it's not like he disliked being the young master's butler.
Things have also become more lively now that a new addition has come to the manor.
***
Coy entered the dining room. He wore black shoes, black pants, a grey shirt under a double-breasted suit, and the cerulean cloak of the academy, which was in its short form. Dangling from the suit's top button was a silver chain that seeped into the right pocket.
He bought a new pocket watch yesterday after having lunch with Aelfryn.
As he took in his surroundings, he saw Fram, who sat on one of the chairs on the long table, drinking coffee while writing in a notebook.
Seemingly noticing Coy's arrival, Fram cast his eyes from the notebook and looked at Coy with a smile. "Good morning, young master."
"Good morning, Fram. How was your night?" Coy said as he headed for his chair, which had in front of it a steaming bowl of soup, a loaf of bread, two boiled eggs with some kind of meat on the side, and a jar filled with blood.
As Coy saw blood prepared for him as a drink, he wondered how the maids, or chef, perceived it. Do they ever have the thought of him suddenly lashing at them and sucking their necks dry? Coy chuckled as he dismissed such thoughts.
Fram smiled and said, "Pleasant."
"Good to hear that. Where's Aelfryn?" Coy asked as he poured himself a drink. He took a sip and put it down. Then he picked up the loaf of bread and dipped it into the soup before eating it.
"The young master has already left for the academy. Although he looks like that, he is the head of foreign affairs. As such, he is tasked with welcoming prominent figures enrolling from abroad." Fram explained as he closed his notebook.
"I see. So it's only me and you?"
Fram nodded in agreement as he stood up and said, "Yes. If you will excuse me now, I will go and prepare for us our ride."
He headed for the door, then turned around and said, "You look refined in your uniform, young master."
Coy replied in return, "Thank you."
Fram bowed slightly and left the dining room, leaving Coy to his breakfast.