The students hardly missed Alora's classes, thus everyone took seats. The ones who were free, also filled the empty seats, brimming the class completely. The five members entered the room with Alora leading them and the class fell into complete silence.
Alora went to the table that was facing everyone and the five took seats. Alora's lips parted to speak and knocking on the door grabbed everyone's attention.
Suddenly the room buzzed, 'He is the Second Prince from Crisal.'
'Prince Agost.'
'Ahh… He is so handsome.'
'Why will the prince look at us when Princess Freya is right there?'
'I bet he will fall for Sister Alora.'
'Then return with broken bones.' A group burst into laughter
Meanwhile, Alora looked at Agost who just stood there, watching her. The curiosity was replaced with complexity but when their eyes met, his face softened and a tempting smirk graced his face.
Cyrus, who was next to Agost, looked at his master and Alora repeatedly. He interjected, "Your Highness, Princess Freya will misunderstand you… Your Highness…"
Alora pointed to the corner where there were empty spots. Then the prince faintly nodded his head and went to the corner. However, he grabbed the chair, went in front of Alora, and sat down.
A hush fell over in the room. Everyone shifted their gaze from Agost to Freya. The latter flicked her fingers casting an entrapment spell.
Wayn was like lightning to appear next to Alora and placed her hand on his shoulder when the room shook but him. "Sister Alora, what is the count?"
Alora asked in confusion, "Is he courting me!?"
Wayn: "..."
Everyone tried to give her something like flowers, fruits, and books or give her hints. But the prince didn't do anything as such. "Hence he was excessively courteous." Then she promptly responded, "130."
A man cried out. "Your Highness… Your Highness…" Cyrus was running around when a thick brown vine wrapped around the chair and Agost as it pulled him to the corner and fasted to the wall.
Cyrus roared looking at the students, "Who did this to Prince Agost? I dare you to come out."
Everyone pointed at Freya except the five. Cyrus became a puppy as he awkwardly laughed, "Your highness, Princess Freya…"
Alora took a breath and calmed the class, "The duels will be arranged after this class. So stop fighting in the class."
Agost watched Freya for a few seconds before noticing Alora and her reactions. He easily got rid of the vines and that surprised nobody.
'Zander Linwood, Freya Linwood Roosevelt…' Agost thoughts paused when Alora started her class.
"We have learned about the Battle of Asgard. Today, we look into the destruction of Gotham."
Her calm voice wasn't loud. Everyone's ears and attention were on her. The pin-drop silence in the room seemed like nobody was even breathing.
Cyrus lowered and updated Agost in a low voice, "Your Highness, Gotham is the place where witches and Anka mages battled. It has been uninhabited for centuries."
Cyrus heard the silence and lifted his head to realize everyone was looking at him. Agost didn't bother to help the man and pretended like he didn't know Cyrus.
Alora sighed in resignation and started, "There was a time when humans, humans with special powers called mages and witches were living together.
History says the land was so prosperous that it was making immortal jealous.
There was always a fine line of separation between them. That is humans married the humans, Mages were choosing the mages and the witches were mating with the witches.
However, once…"
"Freya!!!" The soothing voice halted and the curiosity in the air was suddenly disrupted. Everyone turned to the door where Zander stood with a hurriedness.
A man next to Zander called out many names while watching the students, "Brax, Wayn, Edwin, Mirela… Beathen, Franc…"
Alora noticed her father in a cloak and a hint of tension on his face. "Father!?" She went towards the door when Zander also approached her.
'Father!?' Agost and Cyrus's attention shifted to the father and daughter. 'Elder daughter of Linwood?'
"A princess?" Cyrus muttered to himself and it fell on Agost's ear.
Zander's fingers brushed Alora's hair as he updated her, "The protection spell is broken at the border. It is closer to us than the military. We will be back soon. Eugenie is coming to get you." He sounded as if he was going out on a stroll.
Alora obediently nodded as it wasn't her first time to hear such things. However, she was also aware her father won't tell her about the complications.
Before saying something to him, she heard a name being called out so she cut in, "Lord Braithwaite isn't suitable for battle. His recovery will take two more weeks." A young man sat back without objection.
"Then take care of yourself and Freya." Alora turned to her sister, who hugged her, "Don't be a mischief, until I am back." Alora jutted her lips and their father laughed.
Agost understood the protectiveness of the princess and principal. Unlike the two, Alora looked too naive, yet she was sharp, intelligent, and highly focused.
Agost stood up and announced, "Principal Linwood, I would like to participate."
Zander's expression hardened, "No. You are a prince from Crisal. I won't allow you to put yourself in danger." If something happens to Agost, it will become a conflict between 2 powerful nations.
Agost's face darkened and everyone ignored him.
Alora watched a large team quickly leave. The rest of the students were instructed to train on their skills. She was going into her room when her eyes fell on Agost and Cyrus who were watching the departing group.
She could read Agost was annoyed but what her father said was in the best interest of both of the nations.
Her eyes fell on a lady who had sparkling silver hair, her beautiful face was petite but grim, and her slender physique was donning a long coat that had a high slit, showing her slender legs in trousers. Every piece of cloth was embellished with gems, and stones and embroidered in silk threads.
Alora went downstairs and skipped to her mother. "Alora, behave like a lady." But she wasn't admonishing Alora. The latter was aware of every etiquette but she will just be herself, running, jumping, dancing, smiling.
Alora giggled and hugged her mother who couldn't help but smile. "Shall we have some fun?"
Alora nodded vigorously, "Mother, I want to go to the mountain. I will probably find the Hollow Hellborne this year. Father's relapsing headache could be cured by it." She wasn't allowed to go alone.
"Silly child." The two departed while hearing the students bow and greet Eugenie.
Agost and Cyrus watched the two ladies leave. One looked aloof while another one was confused.
"I never heard of Principal Linwood having any other wives. If Redhead is his daughter, then she is Crown Princess Eugenie's daughter. Shouldn't the Redhead have silver hair?..." He had numerous questions without anyone to respond to.
…..
Eugenie who always heard Alora's talks or saw her running around checking the flowers and fruits, noticed her strange silence after some distance on the forest trail.
"Alora!? What's wrong?"
Alora looked around and stopped at her mother, "Mother, I am feeling a pair of obsidian eyes looking at us. Somebody… is following us." It made her feel like something crawling under her skin. Hence she just walked by her mother.
Eugenie's expression changed briefly. Worry, shock, fear flashed on her face at once. However, she masked with a chuckle, "What and all are you thinking? Did your father scare you with something or did you read those terrifying books?"
Eugenie secretly waved her fingers casting a disillusionment spell. A shield like a transparent bubble formed around them making them blend into the surrounding, disappearing from those evil eyes. She hated to mislead her daughter but she had no choice.
Alora whined hearing her mother making fun of her, "Mother…" She does read those horror books because nobody tells her anything about terrifying things.
Suddenly she stopped feeling those eyes so she couldn't defend herself and continued to hear her mother laugh at her.