"today is you first day isn't it?" The king looked down at her.
"yes your majesty" one knee planted on the ground, the other below her elbow. Her fist in her chest. Layla stood her ground. ' do anything to win king's favor'
"I want you to go undercover"
"Undercover?"Layla looked up confused.
"who would like a prodigy female to get trained in the best of universities?"
Layla looked down at the royal red carpet again. She should have expected it.
"So you shouldn't reveal your true identity. So, I prepared an identity for yourself. Take a look" The king descended down the stairs. When it was an audience with her, everyone except the king remained in his throne room. Layla had impulses to kill the king right then and there but her fear held her back.
Layla got up and locked eyes with the king when he stood in front of her. She pulled the paper from the king's hand.
She raised an eyebrow at him, "A boy?"
"yes, you shall cover your gender as well. That way it would be less chaotic. Now off you go. As I said, Perfection!" The king turned his back at her and ascended to the throne.
Layla stared disbelieving at his back. She looked again at the biodata of her fake identity.
"Eren? Not a bad name" Layla smiled. Remembering the attack on titan anime she used to watch in her previous life.
___________
"Welcome to the lumos university of training! I must say I am deeply impressed by your dedication to protect the county of yours. It takes a lot of courage to fight for your country. And with that said, I wish you good luck to you. Thank you!" An old stout man bowed to the roaring crowd. The crowd was filled with people of different age and culture.
Layla expected this. Before she started she read all about this university. The lumos kingdom is known for its magic and training. It's the best university out there that trains many warriors and send them out in war. It trains warrior not only for their kingdom but others too.
'why would the kingdom train them when they are just going to send them back to their kingdom? Isn't that a disadvantage?' she thought when she read about them. Her long black hair was long gone. Instead it was replaced with a short hair that went up to her ears.
"I feel better. I would be sweating if I had that long hair" Layla ran her fingers over her hair.
The crowd dispersed in different direction. Layla looked at the sheet she was given. It was printed with her photo and her fake identity
"Team 154?"Layla looked around. Since, people from different culture and country train here. They were assigned in teams and provided them opportunity to get to know one another.
"5 years of hell I guess!!" Layla looked up at the sun, that was scorching hot. 'Training at summer! Tiring!'
She followed the directions in her given sheet to reach her respected team. She stopped in front of a room, identical to all the room she crossed except it was engraved with the number 154.
She knocked and let herself in when she heard a faint come in.
"I am Eren from the lumos kingdom. Is this team 154?"She looked at the middle aged man who was smoking. He lightly puffed and side eyed Layla.
"Yes. This is team 154. Welcome. If I may, are you really a boy?" He asked.
Layla breath hitched. It was hard to convince them she was a boy with her girlish looks though. "I understand, sir. Even my neighbors mistake me for my sister. We look a lot alike" Layla chuckled.
Eren was an orphan who lost his parents in war and only has a sister to take care of. The lumos kingdom offered him chance to join the military because of their parents sacrifice.
"OH Eren Lockwood?? Your father was a great friend of mine. Actually we were in the same team!" He laughed.
"May I know your name sir?"
"OH sorry. I am Chris. Chris Evans" He introduced crushing his cigarette. She scanned him. Chris Evans, a man in his near 30s. A warrior who fought in the front line. People call him beast but she knows how much he loves his family. After all, the diary of Eren's father did come in handy.
"it's an honor to know you, sir" Layla bowed. She realised if she had to survive, she need to talk less. Better not talk at all.
"Great. Let's wait till all the members of our team assemble. Take a seat" He pointed at the seat opposite to him. She nodded and took the seat.
"Tea?" He offered.
She politely shook her head. Sometimes, it's really hard to act like a 10 year old when you are in your 20s.
________
Minutes passed by, but no one came. Layla felt suffocated to sit in the room with an old man who was blabbering about his old times. Things got boring.
Layla was exhausted with covering her frustration. It really is tiring to act two faced. Her facials muscles ached with her fake laughter that filled the room.
"you should have seen your father. He was such a weirdo. He would stand in one leg and dance when he was drunk!" He laughed. Layla chuckled with him. But something was useful. She get to know her fake identity's father.
She wondered what was the real Eren doing?. Is he even alive? How would he feel if he knew she took his identity? Will anyone search for her after the training?
"What happened? You were spacing out!" He asked her.
"I am sorry! I just miss home!" Layla smiled painfully.
The truth is, she didnt . Not an ounce.