Princess Calantha stared at Prince Dominalis silently. She was neither nervous nor intimidated by him. Instead, there was an air of calmness surrounding her, which calmed down the room's atmosphere. Her eyes were sharp and alert, studying him carefully, taking every detail into account.
Her hair was tied neatly into a braided bun. Her bangs hung loosely on either side of her face, falling slightly below her chin. Her complexion was pale and delicate, contrasting beautifully against her bright pink dress. It was a simple outfit; a white blouse with ruffles, lace trim sleeves. She wore no accessories except for the flower crown in her hair.
"Nice to meet you, Prince Dominalis." she said politely.
"Likewise," Prince Dominalis responded coldly. He stared at her intensely, his gaze burning with hatred and disgust. He clearly didn't approve of her attire.
Professor Mayrose cleared her throat and continued "Alright, that's enough for now. Next person please."
The rest of the class went by smoothly. Everyone introduced themselves and shared their interests with the rest of the class. There were no more interruptions or arguments.
"All right, good job everyone. Now, let's move onto the important part of today's lessons. Listen carefully, because I won't repeat myself."
Professor Mayrose clapped twice, commanding everyone's attention immediately.
"The single most important part of the first year is finding the right partner. By partner, I mean a floralith that can support your mana flow and can grow in compatibility with you, and a human that can support your emotional state. The pair should work together closely, creating synergy and strengthening each other. The bond between human and floralith will allow you both to advance in the flower realm. Finding a partner is fundamental, and is why the first year is so important."
"Rosevale Academy has its own flora-binding techniques and flora-severing. So if you and your partner aren't compatible you can break the bond. It's a complicated procedure but it's relatively safe"
"Your initial bond with your chosen partner will not be perfect. However, if you're patient and willing to learn and adapt, you should be able to find a way to strengthen the bond. Patience and persistence are key here."
"There'll be various events to aid you in forming a bond with others, but that isn't a guarantee of success. The academy will not interfere unless the relationship becomes a violent one."
"Everyone needs to have a partner before the end of the month. Otherwise, you'll fail the semester. We can't afford to let one of you get left behind. Now then, does anyone have any questions?"
Hands shot up quickly, desperate to ask questions. Professor Mayrose scanned the crowd, looking for students who appeared curious. She quickly picked one and called his name.
"How do we know if we're compatible?" The boy asked.
Professor Mayrose smiled and tapped the blackboard with her pointer stick.
"Good question. If a floralith allows you to touch her and you don't immediately faint. It means you're compatible. Note, that a floralith could be poisonous to some and extremely lethal to others. It's rare, but it happens."
Several hands shot up immediately.
"Ah, yes, what is it?" Professor Mayrose called out, pointing toward a different student this time.
"What about those who aren't interested in romance, or are unable to love?" asked the student timidly.
"Love is not necessary to achieve a strong bond," replied Professor Mayrose.
"However, it is essential that you care deeply about your partner. You must value and respect them, and treat them as equals. Your emotions and feelings towards them are important. This is especially true when you're in the higher realms."
"Lastly it's best to know what kind of person you are and what kind of person your partner is. If you prefer to act impulsively there's a good chance you're more compatible with herbs and shrubs."
"It's not an exact science, but I can say with confidence that you're not compatible with creepers or climbers. Oh and if you like to plan and stay calm. Climbers and Creepers are best for you."
As more students started to raise their hands. Hajime caught two orbs staring intently at him. The green eyes belonged to a girl with purple hair and an earring in the shape of a crescent moon. Her glasses failed to cover her piercing gaze, which constantly studied him and observed his every movement. Her facial expression gave nothing away.
'Who is she?'
[Aveline Lichtenia,
Title: Princess of Fleurdelis Empire,
Soul Age: 18
Species: Floralith (Saxifraga Oppositifolia),
Flower Realm: Orchida (Lower),
Root Realm: Colorless Root (Upper)
Threat Level: None
Status: Analyzing the host's behavior]
'What do you mean by analyzing? Does she have a system?'
[Nope nothing out of the ordinary has been detected]
'Then why is she looking at me like I'm some sort of puzzle?'
[Beats me if the host wants to know he can use points]
'Mmm she's not a threat so I don't really need to know. Besides, I have my own problems.'
'As for the other one...'
A pair of bright, amber-colored eyes looked at Hajime intently. The young man has white hair with blue edges. He had a smile on his face. It made Hajime uncomfortable, he was not used to seeing dudes smile at him.
'Why is this dude staring at me?'
[That's not a dude]
[This person is a cross-dressing floralith]
[The host has hit the jackpot with this one]
[Velor(ia) Radiante,
Title: Crown Prince(ss) of Radiant Grove Empire, The Crossdressing Prince
Soul Age: 19
Species: Floralith (Peristeria elata)
Flower Realm: Orchida (Lower)
Root Realm: Colorless Root (Upper)
Lineage: Holy Ghost Orchid,
Threat Level: None seems to find the host fascinating]
[Warning the host has a very high chance of getting killed by the Velor's father should the Host deflower her]
'Yeah, no shit, he's a fucking emperor.'
'So if I'm understanding this correctly, the Crown prince is actually a princess. That still doesn't answer why they're here.'
[The host is focusing on minor details. Veloria's Lineage is capable of creating miracles and revival. If the host gets her to fall in love with him the host will get a 'second' life]
'Wait does that mean she can revive the dead?'
[Not quite, she can only revive people she has a deep connection to. And even then, the revival process could cause irreversible memory loss. But with the system that side effect can be mitigated. Not to mention the items that'll be in the store.]
'Why is she the only princess with a lineage though?'
[Lineages are awakened, she must've experienced something that made her want to revive someone]