Cleru Neos
Two hours had passed since our class had dismissed, and now I found myself in the solitude of my dormitory room. With a heavy heart, I slumped onto my bed and pressed my lips against the softness of my pillow. Tuesday had arrived, and the finals of the Dragon Knights Tournament loomed only five days ahead. The weight of those five days bore down on me, as I struggled to devise a tactical plan to confront my next formidable opponent, rumored to be a heroic figure named Amphere Harrison. He was known for always having an ace up his sleeve, and his victory over the mighty obstacle, Mark Anthony Octavius, indicated he was more than just a General-level Dragon Knight.
Within the academy, all the influential figures – the archdukes, dukes, governors, and Pentagram Knights – seemed to be in Amphere Harrison's favor, while I stood on the exact opposite side of the spectrum. As a mere plebeian, despised by many, my presence in this prestigious royal tournament was met with disdain. The only solace came from the support I received from the princess herself.
"Shall we go?" Princess Seris extended her hand toward me.
As the afternoon sun cast a warm glow around us, I realized Seris must have once again slipped out in her white hooded disguise, leaving her temporary royal bodyguards in suits behind. The Emperor, her father, would undoubtedly be infuriated when we returned home.
"Go? Where?" I responded with a hint of apathy.
"To the Food Street, of course!" Her face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Remember, I promised to treat you to dinner."
Food Street was a bustling avenue lined with a myriad of street food stalls. It was no secret that Seris had an insatiable love for street foods. The occasion for the Food Street's existence was in celebration of the upcoming awarding ceremony for the next Princess's Guard, which would take place after the final battle. If I were to emerge victorious in my next fight, it would be a joyous celebration for both of us. However, with each passing moment, my hope dwindled, and a sense of hopelessness began to settle in. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I pondered the daunting challenge that lay ahead.
"Have you forsaken your bodyguards again just to treat me to dinner?" I asked incredulously.
"It's just a regular Tuesday for us! C'mon, let's go already!" The princess retorted, her determination evident as she forcibly pulled me out of my bed. Seris was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, even among royalty.
In a matter of five minutes' walk from the dormitory, we found ourselves in the bustling Food Street. Since it was a school day, the crowd was sparse, alleviating some of my worries about the princess's safety. Disguised under a shady white cloak, she blended in effortlessly with the rest of the townspeople. Occasionally, she would lift her hood to take in the surroundings and appreciate their beauty.
Above us, colorful banderitas adorned the skies, creating a lively atmosphere. As we moved further along, nearing the Central Square, the banderitas were replaced by magically floating umbrellas, offering protection from the scorching afternoon sun. I couldn't help but notice the magnificent Guardian's Haven, a floating continent resembling an eagle, in the far north. To the east, we could see Alterra's Castle, where Princess Seris resided.
Eagerly, Seris scanned the stalls for her favorite treats. She purchased an assortment of goodies, including four fish taiyakis, two strawberry crepes, a bucket of roasted crickets that supposedly tasted like black chocolate, and a peculiar delicacy called "balut," which consisted of unborn chicken offspring trapped in an egg. I couldn't help but question the princess's unusual tastes in food, but I couldn't complain about the snacks she bought – they were surprisingly delicious (except for the cricket ones). It was a rare sight to witness nobility indulging in such street delicacies.
As the night grew darker, the street lamps flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the area. We settled on a nearby bench to enjoy our treats.
"The food in the castle is really messed up. They don't know how to cook good food," Seris remarked between bites of her taiyaki. It was moments like these that she looked nothing like a princess, and the glimpse into her unguarded self during our secret outings was endearing.
"Don't worry," I reassured her with an innocent smile. "Next week, you won't have to sneak out of your room again. We can do this together every day once I become ordained as your knight."
"I would not be so sure."
The voice that interjected was neither the princess's nor mine. It belonged to an old man standing before us, adorned in a fedora and a gray suit. A white beard adorned his face, and his piercing green eyes revealed his authority. I racked my brain, trying to recall where I had seen him before. Suddenly, it clicked – this was Duke Dragunov, or rather, the former Duke Dragunov.
"D-Duke Dragunov!" I exclaimed, immediately on high alert.
"I'm no longer a duke," he laughed, the amusement evident in his tone. "I'm now the Freedom Commander Dragunov of Neo Arcadia."
My eyes shifted to the man standing behind him, with long blonde hair and fair skin, dressed in a tattered blue knight's uniform reminiscent of the Pentagram Knights. However, a gaping hole in his chest and lifeless eyes sent a shiver down my spine. It couldn't be true, could it? Was this another resurrected knight?
Pushing the princess gently behind me, I drew my scimitar, its blade emanating a mesmerizing rainbow glow – a clear sign that I was ready for battle. I couldn't believe what Dragunov had brought here.
"Why won't you stop playing with corpses?" I taunted the so-called Freedom Commander with a smug expression. "First, it was Alder's, and now you're using Estoff Wraith's corpse as a puppet."
"I'm not here for you. I am here to negotiate with the princess," Dragunov declared.
"W-What do you want!?" The princess's voice trembled with both fear and defiance, her hands clutching her chest.
"There are two things, actually," Dragunov stated, waving his v-signed hand before our faces. "First, you shall never support nor vote for the Corasell's Dragonoid Rights Bill. And the second one... is to make Amphere Harrison your Royal Knight."
"B-But I can't do that!" Seris protested, but before she could continue, I spoke up.
"I will become the Princess's Knight. Not even you, nor Amphere Harrison, can stop me!" I declared with unwavering determination.
Dragunov chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "You haven't finished me off yet. To do that, you'll have to wager both of your lives and futures."
Suddenly, a sharp dive from above caught our attention! Reacting quickly, I pushed the princess out of harm's way and used my blade to block the incoming attack. A small shockwave reverberated through the air as the object clashed with my scimitar. It was none other than the corpse of the Black Phantom, Alder Windstrafe. He had wielded his rapier in a meteor-fall attack aimed to harm the princess, but I wasn't about to let that happen under my watch!
Estoff Wraith's reanimated corpse moved with surprising speed, lunging at me with a devastating uppercut from his broadsword, ripping my once pristine white uniform. In a desperate attempt to avoid the attack, I managed to take a quick step back, narrowly escaping the zombie's strike.
As I prepared to counterattack and take on both adversaries, a piercing scream filled the air, freezing me in my tracks. "Cleru!" It was Princess Seris's voice!
Turning around, my heart sank as I saw a silver-haired woman dragonoid holding a razor-sharp ice shard against the princess's delicate neck. My grip tightened around my scimitar, ready to cast a spell or make a dash towards them, but the silver woman commanded, "Don't move!"
It was a cowardly tactic, to keep me occupied while they took the princess hostage. Realizing that any sudden move could endanger my childhood friend, I made a difficult decision without hesitation. I reluctantly dropped my sword and raised both hands in surrender. The safety of Princess Seris was my utmost priority, and I couldn't afford to put her in harm's way.
"Cleru Neos," Dragunov spoke once again, "I treated you as a son, just like how I cared for Alder and Zac. I know you're the rebellious type of kid, but when it concerns the princess's safety, you would do anything I ordered... right?"
My frustration reached its peak; I wanted nothing more than to punch this old man square in the jaw! Whatever he was planning, I knew it couldn't bode well for Princess Seris.
"So promise me," he insisted, moving his face closer to mine. "Lose the tournament. Let Amphere Harrison win."
"I... I will..." I muttered reluctantly, my heart heavy with the weight of my decision. "Just let Seris go."
"Good~" Dragunov grinned, pulling away and patting my head like a child.
True to their word, the silver dragonoid released her hold on Princess Seris, retracting her ice dagger. Then, they activated the Vesryn Pulse, and the silver woman transformed into an Ice Dragon, using it as their means of escape.
As I clenched my fists in anger, I watched them fly away into the dark skies. The bitterness of defeat and the pain of betraying my beliefs weighed heavily on my shoulders. I knew that this was only the beginning of a greater struggle, and the challenges ahead would be more daunting than ever before. But no matter what, I was determined to protect Princess Seris and fight for what I believed in, even if it meant standing against those I once admired.