The massive cafeteria is almost at full capacity, I then think to myself.
"I forgot to change into my uniform, I'm going to stick out like sore thumb."
after getting our I.D scanned so we can get our free meal, we sit down at a lunch table near one of the corners of the cafeteria, and sit at opposite sides of the table, he then said while chowing down on a sandwich.
"so about my offer, about you joining the Lionheart family."
I think to myself.
"if I want to challenge myself and grow stronger, then he is someone that I must train with."
I ask.
"do you know of the Laconia family?"
he chuckles.
"of course I know, you'd have to live under a rock not knowing who they are."
he asks.
"so what of them?"
I answers.
"I was approached to serve the family."
he replies.
"forget about joining my family then and join them, you would be a fool to decline them."
I give him a serious look.
"I don't want to serve anyone."
he grins.
"I like you, I'm also the same, which is why we have been asking those we approach to join us, instead of offering to serve us."
even though I already made up my mind that I would join him, since he would be the one to accelerate my growing strengths and skills, but I ask trying to seem like I'm still considering my options.
"but what benefits would I get if join?"
he responds.
"your own room in the Lionheart mansion and get a chance to represent the Lionheart family house in sporting events and fighting tournaments, but that offer only stands as long as there is still empty rooms."
I then ask.
"how many of your family members do you have living there currently?"
he answers.
"my older brother Price Lionheart, he is sixth year he will be graduating from the academy this year,
my cousin Amy Lionheart she is a fourth year, my two second cousins Charlotte and Evelyn Lionheart they are twins who are third years."
he stops and points at himself.
"me, Octavius Lionheart and I'm currently a second year."
I then wait to hear for more names, but he doesn't say any, and so I ask.
"so any non family members?"
he replies.
"well there is my older brother Price's Fiancee Leslie West, and my cousin Amy's Fiance Thomas
Fielding."
I sigh.
"so there is currently seven under the Lionheart family house in the academy?"
he nods.
"we've been having a hard time, getting anyone to join ever since we became an official noble family, and we aren't a well known family."
I reply.
"I see, well you don't have to worry about that anymore since I decided that I'm going to join you."
he smiles.
"really?"
I nod.
"yeah, you had me with having my own room."
he chuckles.
"well finish eating up, and then I'll take you to Headmaster Lewis, so that you can be officially registered under the Lionheart family house."
as we finish eating, someone suddenly sits next to me, I look to the side and notice Halvine piercing with her Hazel-Green eyes, I sigh and ask.
"need something?"
she responds.
"I need an answer, I already took in your friend and is already on his way to our mansion to pick his room."
I look at Octavius Lionheart and reply to her.
"it seems like you are bit too late, since I have decided to join the Lionheart family."
she asks flabbergasted.
"why would you join a noble household that were once meer commoners?"
I turn to her and reply sternly.
"I'm nothing but a dark skinned commoner, that was abandoned in an orphanage, from parents who I will most likely not ever meet, and you've shown nothing but your contempt of me."
I pause and point at Octavius.
"while he has earnestly, asked to join and represent his family, instead of serving them."
she looks down and genuinely apologizes.
"I've done nothing but offend you, and for that I truly apologize for doing so."
she then stands up and said to me.
"this isn't over by a long shot."
I ask.
"what do you mean? I already decided that I'm joining the Lionheart family."
she walks towards the center of the cafeteria and makes an announcement using the voice projection spell and gets the attention of all the present students and academy faculty.
"I, Halvine Laconia of the Laconia family."
she stops and as she points at me, everyone quickly looks at me.
"Issue a one on one duel against you Darius Edwards!"
everyone goes in a complete frenzy after hearing her declare a duel against me, but I stand up and walk up to her, and reply.
"I accept your challenge Halvine."
she uses the voice projection spell again.
"he has accepted my challenge, and you can all catch our duel at the Halvine Arena this Saturday."
I think to myself.
"today is Monday, so I get around four days to prepare."
I then ask.
"so what are you getting out of this duel?"
she replies while the other students are chattering in excitement about the first duel of this year since someone from Laconia family issued the challenge on a nobody.
"my mother has been talking none stop about you since she first met you, and I want to see why for myself."
I ask.
"is that all?"
she shakes her head.
"no, if I beat you in the duel, you will drop thos silly notion of joining the Lionheart family and serve the Laconia family."
I sigh.
"fine, I'll accept those conditions if I lose."
she asks me.
"what are you conditions if I lose to you?"
I answer while thinking about Mistress Isabelle.
"Lady Halvine, you are not on the top of my list of concerns, so I don't really care what you do if you lose against me."
she sighs sounding disappointed.
"either you lack imagination or you don't have any confidence in your abilities."
I walk away.
"whatever, I guess I'll see you Saturday then."
I then said to Octavius.
"alright, we should get moving so I can meet everyone."
he stands up feeling unsure about the whole situation and having everyone's attention.
"are you sure it's wise to fight a Laconia, they are one powerful family and I don't mean just the influence that their name carries."
we leave the cafeteria with the attention still on us, he chuckles and makes a comment.
"you are just full of surprises huh?"
we arrive at the headmaster Lewis' office, and upon seeing me, he makes a disgusted face and asks.
"what do you want?"
Octavius answers.
"hello headmaster Lewis, I'm Octavius Lionheart and we are here to officially register Darius Edwards under my family and will be taking residency in our mansion."
he chuckles at me.
"you chose to join a pathetic excuse of a noble family?"
I see Octavius expression turn sour and he clenches both of his fists, showing he did not like the headmaster insulting his family, I respond hoping to calm down Octavius.
"pathetic or not, someone in your position has no right to insult any of the noble families."
Octavius grins.
"that's right headmaster, if you don't want to hear from my father, than you will apologize for insulting my family."
he grits his teeth.
"sorry, Sir Lionheart I'm a bit stressed out and took it out on you and your family, can you accept my apology?"
he nods.
"thank you sir."
he sighs.
"alright then let me just open up the academy roster book and put Darius Edwards under the Lionheart family."
he takes out a book and after making some edits in the book he took out, he said.
"there, now there shouldn't be any problems with Darius taking residency in your family mansion."
he shakes his hand.
"thank you Headmaster Lewis, I'll make sure father hears how you assisted me."
Headmaster Lewis looks at me like he is expecting me to say something, but I silently stare at him, thinking to myself.
"I don't care about getting along with him, he already made it clear that he detests me."
I clear my throat.
"alright Octavius, we should really get going, so that I can get acquainted with the Lionheart family."
we leave his office and make our way to my assigned dormitory, where I grab all of my belongings and start making our way towards the residency area where all the noble family mansions are located at, and as soon as we arrive
the area looks like it's own little neighborhood, Octavius notices me observing the neatly lined up mansions, and the multiple blocks.
"it's a great sight isn't it?"
I respond.
"it feels like it's own little community inside the academy."
he signals to follow him.
"come on, let me show you where your new home will be, so you can find your own way."
he points at the banners hanging on the sides of the massive mansions.
"even if you do get lost somehow, you can use the banners that have the family crests on them"
we walk and I spot many noble family crests, and other students wearing capes with their family crests, we come to a complete stop in front of a mansion that is smaller when comparing it to the others, he smiles and lets out a sigh of relief.
"welcome home Darius."
I follow him inside the mansion and as we stand at the entryway, he points at the bifurcated staircase.
"you will find some empty rooms on the second floor, since all the rooms on first floor are currently taken."
I ask.
"how many empty rooms are there?"
he answers.
"after you take one, there will be seven rooms left."
he then said.
"alright well, go ahead and pick one that you like, and then I'll have you meet everyone in the backyard."
as I climb upstairs with all of my belongings, I hear him holler.
"yo, I found us a new Lionheart."
I reach the top and walk through the right hallway and open the first door I find, I take a look inside and think to myself.
"it has a lot of space, but I should look at the other rooms before deciding."
I walk through the various rooms in the second floor, and find another interesting room that leads to a small balcony that overlooks the backyard of the mansion, I then think to myself smiling.
"I think I just found the room I want to stay in."
I leave my luggage on the floor and said to myself.
"I'll put my clothes away later, after I have met everyone in the Lionheart household."
I climb downstairs and make my way to the backyard where I'm met everyone shouting at the top of their lungs.
"welcome Lionheart cub!"
the first one to introduce himself is Price Lionheart, with muscles that are twice the size of my muscles, Silver slicked back hair, and silver eye, he shakes my hand.
"a pleasure to meet you Darius and welcome to the Lionheart family."
he then introduces a female with brown long hair and brown eyes.
"this is my Fiancee Leslie West."
she smiles.
"nice meeting you."
A female who looks little older than me, with Silve jaw length bob haircut, and silver eyes shake my hand.
"Amy Lionheart, it's good to have you here with us."
she introduces a male with black shaggy hair, and dark brown eyes.
"This is my Fiance Thomas Fielding."
he shakes my hand but doesn't say anything, and then up next two identical females with Silver punk hairstyles and silver eyes take turns introducing themselves.
"Charlotte Lionheart."
the other said.
"Evelyn Lionheart."
I look at everyone and said.
"I hope we can get along and thank you for letting me join and represent the Lionheart family."
Octavius smiles while Price said.
"hopefully you do us proud when you fight the Laconia brat on Saturday."
I reply with a confident grin
"that won't be issue."
he smiles and shakes my hand.
"alright cub I believe you, now go and get settled in, I want to see what your made of."