Finally today is the day, I will be joining the Academy. I took a long breath and calmed my anxious and excited heart.

I saw countless students walk-inside, filled with ambition and hopes, just like me. As I stepped in all the students were awestruck by my appearance. I heard a few of them whispering.

" Isn't that the princess of Takeda Dynasty? ", a fellow student said to a few of his friends.

" Yeah and she looks so beautiful in real life! ", another one answered.

" Should I try to date her? ", " I heard she's a brat. ", " Maybe we should just ignore her. ",

I ignored those whispering and walked to the Faction Hall where the new students are gathered to find their own faction. The Vice-president of the Miura Elemental Academy took the prime seat and began his speech,

" Welcome disciples of tomorrow's heroes. I am pleased to be honored with all of you. I believe that you all have the potential to reach the sky... ",

The speech continued for a few more minutes after which the students are allowed to select their faction. I have been introduced to the five factions:

1. Divine Eagle of Thunder

2. Mountain of Raven

3. Flames of the Phoenix

4. Crescent of Tiger and

5. Shadows of Ascension.

Out of these five, I was always interested to be a part of Flames of the Phoenix. My mother was a part of this faction as well and I always liked Phoenix as they are one of the strongest warriors and the qualities that I need to possess, I can learn from this faction only.

I joined it and quickly learned that I am not welcomed here by the disciples. Most of them look down at me. Maybe because I am a princess and they believe me to be fragile like a glass.

" Looks like the princess forgot that it's a place where only the toughest survive ", a lady approached me and said. The students joined and laughed at me.

I shrugged them.

" Hey! You better treat her like our own ",

I looked up at the voice and found two people. They were the twin siblings. Little did I know that this was the beginning of our friendship.

" Aoto it's not your place to talk to me like that. I am your captain ", 

" And you are forgetting that as a captain you need to welcome every student and encourage them ",  Aoto said.

They looked at each other fiercely.

" You-! "

She raised her fist to hit him. But the master arrived and she quickly controlled her anger. The master was an elderly lady who wore the High Robe of Council.

I was quite surprised. She was Miss Hina Tokomori, the great disciple who stopped a deadly dark Monk named ' TatsumakiAku no Kōrudo ' who ascended and possessed unmatched powers.

But Miss Hina restored peace by defeating and sealing him in the dark dimension of Hades.

" I see. You are still not treating them fairly. Your anger must be subsided Akira ", Master Hina said.

Before she can contemplate or react to; Master Hina used a powerful chi to make her calm down. Instantly, her demeanor turned gentle and calm.

I felt her aura mixed with Master Hina and the presence it radiated was impactful.

She turned to me, " You are Princess Yuina. Right? "

I noded at her.

" This faction demands discipline, respect, elegance and manners with a strong conviction to learn. I hope you will stand true to all of this. I am looking forward to your performance ", she turned and left the dormitory.

The students dispersed and everything settled peacefully. Aoto and his twin sister approached me.

" Hi I am Aoto Matsumoto! "

" Nice to meet you Aoto and thank you for helping me ", I thanked him.

" Oh it's okay. We are now friends! "

" Yeah "

" And I am Riko Matsumoto, Princess Yuina ",

She had a soft tone in her voice and at one glance I noticed that she is completely different from her brother who is bold and brave.

" Nice to know you, Riko ",

***

Later, they took me to my dorm room and informed me a lot about the academy's festivals, tests, ceremonies etc. And I enjoyed their company. The days passed by and I properly trained under Master Hina's guidance.

The rumors about me never ceased but as always I ignored and trained harder to master the martial arts and intellectual knowledge necessary to pass the upcoming test.

After training I arrived at the student resting hall. Aoto & Riko approached me.

" How's the training? " He asked me.

" Not bad. " , I replied " Did you finish yours? "

" Well yeah, I managed to perform the technique correctly but failed to show elegance and quick battle strategy "

" What about you Riko? "

She shyly said, " I did it perfectly like Aoto but my opponent did much better than me. "

" My test is tomorrow. I hope I can deliver the technique perfectly. "

" You will. I have seen how quickly you adapt to situations that are tricky for some. I hope the best for you. " Aoto said.

We started conversing more when suddenly all of the students started giggling and acting like a fanatic.

" Why all the students are being like that? " I asked.

" It's the annoying student from the Divine Eagle of Thunder. " , Aoto nonchalantly replied.

" No. He is not some annoying student, although he does have a cold gaze but he never mistreated anyone. " Riko defended the stranger.

" That's what everyone thinks but he is a person who has wrong attitude! " Aoto argued.

" No he's not like that! He is the best student and holds the No. 1 title. " Riko defended again.

" But who is that person? " I asked.

But before they could answer, the students stepped back to allow him inside the food Hall. Since it is closer to the resting hall, I caught his charming face and he turned to me. But he was glaring at me!

" His name is Prince Ichiro Asahara of the Asahara Dynasty. " Riko said.

But I did not understood why he was glaring at me with so much of anger? Did I do something wrong?

I questioned myself.

He walked towards me.

" I hope you succeed the test otherwise I will assume you don't have the strength to prove your worth. "

This infuriated me.

" Who are you to dare me? And I don't need to prove my worth to someone like you! ",

" I am not asking or pleading you. I want to have a sword duel with you in the upcoming Disciple of Heavenly Mountain test which will propel one to learn advanced training directly under their faction mentorship. "

" Do you have the courage to surpass and go against me? " , Ichiro asked.

" You will find out tomorrow. " , I replied.

" I will look forward to our duel challenge! ", he said and left from there.

I watched him go away.

" See I told you, didn't I? He is a brat! ", Aoto said.

" No he is not. ", Riko defended.

" No, Aoto is right! He is such a brat! Aoto you have right deduction of him. ",

Aoto looks pleased with my answer.

" Good. At least someone in the academy understood that he is a brat! I just wish for my sister to see that lunatic's true face. "

Riko started bickering with Aoto. But I was furious with Ichiro. I don't know who he is but from now on he is my rival!

***