Mysa Akita Agustine

For the umpteenth time, I mulled over my new name. It was almost funny how just the addition of one word had changed my identity. With just that, I went from being the abandoned child of the tenth-ranked Akita family to becoming one of the direct descendants of the sixth-ranked Agustine Family.

On paper, that was some impressive leap. But I had learned that the world wasn't so easy a place. Even tougher times were ahead. The uncertain tomorrow has often had nasty surprises in store for me. I couldn't help but fear it. For that reason, I had imagined myself getting worried at this stage. Strangely, however, my mind has never felt clearer. I had an inkling as to what the reason for that could be.

The reason was pretty simple. It was simply that, For the first time in my life, I had found a purpose.

Just then we reached the end of the hall and I got pulled out from my inner thoughts as the servant who had been leading me around ushered me into a grand room. With steady strides and my chin held high, just like I had learned, I entered the room and was immediately hit by a wave of lavender and mint scent. It was relaxing and lavish but a bit too overpowering for my liking.

"Thanks for the trouble, Headmaster Law." Came a voice from the chair seated squarely in front of the room.

"It wasn't any trouble, sir." The servant, no no no, the headmaster of Sectarian High, who had accompanied me on my first visit to his school, smiled and then hurried away, shutting the door behind him.

"Please take a seat." The man gestured me towards the empty chair facing him, I complied and as soon as I took the seat he started speaking again.

"As an external Elder of the Agustine Clan, it is my honor to be able to debrief a candidate about the new rules implemented by the Royal court for the choosing of the next generation Head. All the other candidates were debriefed about it a year ago in the Royal Hall, by the King himself. It's a shame you weren't able to attend due to your circumstances at the time."

Although he spoke eloquently enough, I could feel the ugly arrogance coming off from him. And there was a time when I felt that was justified. After all, why would anyone prominent need to cater to the feelings of an illegitimate child? So what if he didn't greet me, or even bother introducing himself to me, or initiate a proper conversation? Wouldn't anyone do the same, if they believed they were talking to someone inferior?

But as I was now, I couldn't afford to look anything but confident. So I just sat there non-pulsed, looking him straight in the eye. The man's lips twitched for a second before he put on a smile and began with an explanation that he was obligated to share.

"*Cough*So as you might know, the esteemed King of the Agustine Family got married three years ago. But a year after the marriage it was found out that, unfortunately, our clan head's wife was incapable of producing any offspring. In light of such conditions, the Clan was, understandably, thrown into a panic regarding the next successor. After some discussion, our clan leader displayed the magnanimity of his heart. Still accepting his wife, showing the devotion and love he held towards her. Moreover, our clan head, the king, resolutely refused to marry another woman or even keep a concubine!"

The man said as he briefly talked about the juiciest gossip in the streets of the Empire,.even till this day. The matter when it had first gotten exposed to the general public was enough to warrant a commotion, even a 14-year-old like me at that time had heard excessively about unholy rumors regarding the mistress of the Agustine Family. The declaration of the Agustine Family King that soon followed after that news, generated even more reaction.

Personally, as someone who has recently started taking a deeper interest in love, I can now somewhat understand the few who looked favorably upon this show of 'deep love' by the King of Agustine Family. But as an illegitimate child of the said king, I can only laugh bitterly at this joke of a show.

"But fortunately, as it turns out, the Clan Head had quite a few relationships in his youth, the product of which were many offsprings which were scattered throughout the Empire. Through the use of the Mana Arts, we were finally able to locate these children. They were blessed enough to be accepted into our clan as part of the main branch. They were even officially recognized as the descendent of our clan head. After all, no matter what they do have the blood of the Agustine family in them, just like you. So now I would like to congratulate you, Mysa Agustine, because from now on you are also one such candidate. "

Although the man said this with a smile, I could easily tell that he was definitely not even a tiny bit happy as he spoke those words. That didn't matter to me though, in fact, I was expecting worse treatment, but just the fact that he was even bothering with putting up a font showed that he had been strictly instructed on how to handle this matter.

"Of course selecting only among such candidates like you isn't necessary. Our clan head's siblings have sired many talented individuals who can lead our Agustine Family well enough by serving as the next king."

The sons and daughters of the same siblings that the current head had beaten in the past for the position of the King. The political situation in the Agustine Family was extremely tense. There would be an upheaval if those, who were once disregarded, came into power again. Doubtlessly it was for that selfish reason that the current King had decided to throw in his illegitimate children in the fray of the Royal affairs. Just for him to consolidate his power. To not let the rug be snatched from under him by his siblings who were now eyeing the position for the next King.

I had learned about the inner working of the clans since I was a child and could more or less understand the true reason behind this 'glorious opportunity'. After all, I was, in many ways, different from all the other candidates.

The man seated in front of me continued speaking,

"That is the general gist of the situation. The important thing for you to know from here on is that our clan head has taken the peculiarity of this situation into account and decided to change the mannerism of the choosing of the successor. To make it more fare newer rules.."

I didn't really need to hear all that again. I had already heard about it a million times from other people. Right now, whatever the man was spouting out was nothing new for me. I almost even zoned out on his explanation.

I felt more interested in finding out about this school that I was going to be attending. The Sectarian High. The first and only institution that was open to even the general public. It wasn't made by any of the Ten Royal Family. Or even the middle-class or smaller clans, but rather by the sects that held little power here in the Empire. It was a peculiar place, plus it sat smack down in the Central Region of the Empire, so it did at least have good facilities.

The man asked me if I was following along with what he was saying and I absent-mindedly nodded as I let my thoughts fall back into the Sectarian High, or more specifically about the 'Opening Ceremony' that it has for the first day of the school. I thought about it because I knew I had to focus, first and foremost, on this school for the time if I ever wanted to fulfill my purpose in the future.