As we walked outside of this huge Cafeteria.
We talked about how ridiculous the loud noise she made in that crowded place was.
And then, we wholeheartedly laughed at it.
As something just clicked in my mind in this laugh.
I realized something.
It was the first time in years- that I laughed with no difficulties and a mask that I had to keep to maintain my glorious reputation.
In this world, I'm just a nobody with some meager skills.
No one knew about the real me, The Heavenly Demon.
No one knows about my face that I had to maintain every time for the sake of my freaking reputation, the stern and strict mask of a false face that I usually used as a Sectmaster, the hidden feelings that I had to hide even when I noticed that ploy that turns out to be a plan to kill me.
No one knows the real me-
The real me.
As a person, not just the Heavenly Demon.
But certainly- in my glorious time, I realized that the strongest must deal with their biggest fight, which is loneliness.
It's the heavy weight that I had to bear.
With the Position of a Pinnacle.
As I reminisce about my time as The Heavenly Demon.
I suddenly heard someone talking about something.
And as I look at that someone, I realize that this otherworldly beauty is the one that I saved from that haunting situation with assassins.
Maybe it's a good thing that I came to this strange world.
As I looked at her smiling beautiful figure.
To start again my life.
She asked me about the subjects that I will take this starting class this afternoon.
This first week is sort of a free-form subject class wherein you can go to any class you want to find what's suitable for you when I asked her about this thing in the academy.
However, you can truly enter it if you only passed the final examination to attend this school year.
It's a system of the Empire to improve educational proficiency and learning.
If you like the subject that you entered, you can pass the assignments that are given after you pass the final examination to qualify for this year.
This pre-qualification and final qualification exam are the New Potential System added by the Dracus Empire to filter those people with low potential in commoners-nobles alike in this prestigious school from entering.
And to keep those people with high innate talent to receive a deserving high-quality education to grow and reach the peak of themselves.
Nevertheless, if you did not pass the assignment in that subject you took or you failed in the final qualification exam the next week.
It's a statement of the dropping of that subject.
As she said confidently.
"I will go to the types of swordsmanship class and mana theory and efficiency class.
What about you? Dale?"
But before I answer her question.
I asked her about something that I've been curious about this past week.
"I want to some answers to my question, Zuriel."
I asked first curiously.
"Ohhh...what it is Dale?" she said with a peculiarity written in her face.
"What's- the thing you called mana?" I asked in a careful tone.
To hide the fact that I'm not from this world.
"It's a type of energy that is dominant in this continent.
People, monsters, animals and all the things that we use contain mana. Even those things from the Valhalla Realm used this energy to perform the evolution process of themselves."
Hmm- so that's the name of energy that I always feel when I come up to this world.
The energy is so abundant that I felt its magnitude.
However, it's similar but also different from the qi energy I had before.
"I guess swordsmanship class is good for me, basic mana knowledge and language and history are also good as well."
I changed the topic.
"Wow...That's interesting but many students especially these incoming first years probably won't attend that boring subject.
Especially the Language and History class and basic mana knowledge, it's tackled in junior years."
Zuriel said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I guess it's just my boring preference." I said when I looked at her smiling.
But suddenly, a bright flash of light comes in from an unknown direction.
And Zuriel immediately goes in that direction leaving me alone near the Swordsmanship Building.
I guess she's hurrying because something important came up, probably connected to that bright flash.
Well, I just leave it to her.
Anyway, I'll go to my swordsmanship class alone and see what this prestigious academy has to offer.
I went to the room of my swordsmanship class and when I opened the door, there were some people already in there.
Some have serious expressions written on their face, some are just talking about something while others, they're just waiting for the teacher to come in.
I walked and went to sit down in the chair of the farthest place on the right side to avoid attention.
"Did you know that it is confirmed? -Princess Estelle will be entering this swordsmanship class right now? She's also a freshman student same as us"
A gossiping student seriously said.
"I wondered if she was that talented in swordsmanship as the same with magic.
As far as I know, she's one the most intelligent people in the Dracus Empire because of her contributions in the mana field but her talent in swordsmanship is not yet to be known in public."
"Of course, she's well-versed in that field too. She's my idol after all it's also rumored that the Royal Family of Dracus had the swordsmanship that can kill even dragons so it's a guarantee that the princess is also talented in swordsmanship."
Time passed by as I listened to these gossiping students.
Many students entered the room with their different appearances.
Some have a shining sword and a proud facade on their face, some have a serious expression and a commanding aura however, some are just relaxing and wanting to start the class while some are expecting to see the princess.
But before the class started, a gorgeous girl entered the room.
With a red blazing hair that flowed from her head to her shoulders, green eyes that mesmerized the people inside the class even me, and a perfect poise and stature that told us.
'We do not belong to her world'.
It's fascinating when I look at this world.
I've seen many beautiful ladies who are on par with the ladies of my Jiangshi Murim Realm.
The Princess said, with the perfect tone in her voice.
"I am Estelle Angelica Ze Dracus. Princess of the Dracus Empire and one of your classmates, it's a pleasure to meet you all and please, treat me well as one of your classmates."
The students suddenly jumped out of their seats and welcomed her.
She's famous after all, even the nobles who were angry at the Royal Decree still stood up to express their admiration for her.
Due to her outstanding charisma, kind personality and proud stature that she inherited from her father, the King.
"Welcome... Princess!"
"We love you, Princess!"
"We will treat you right...Princess!"
She listened to the voices of people surrounding her.
Giving praises that she deserves.
However, she looked around the room, she spotted a man with white hair casually staring at her.
He seemed to be mesmerized by her. She proudly thinks of it.
But after staring at her, he yawns, he fucking yawns as if she was freaking boring.
And her mood became dejected after that.
"Not all people are welcoming me...huh? I see..." As she saw the clothes he wore.
"He's a commoner so it's acceptable to have no manners."
And she quickly ignored him.
After the welcoming party of the students in the swordsmanship class.
The professor entered with long sleeves and glasses that gave him the impression of a smart person.
But before he started the discussion, he introduced himself.
"Hello Everyone, I am Mr. Jackson Alferenetti.
A swordsman user in the field of the one-handed sword. And an Elite Tier 3. It's a pleasure to meet you, guys."
After he introduced himself, the students answered.
"We're pleased to meet you too, Professor."
After the introduction, he first discussed about the history of swordsmanship and asked numerous questions.
"Who created the first swordsmanship in the First Apocalypse?"
A noble student looked at the teacher who was clearly a commoner and answered rudely.
"It's Kudos Ze Dracus. The ancestor and one of the legends in the 1st Apocalypse. He invented the the mana sword and mana armor which became a crucial technique to fight the Lord of the Dragons. The first swordsmanship he created was the Draconus Sword Technique which is a technique used by the Royal Family."
"Correct" He said calmly.
"The second question is how swordsmanship is formed?"
The Princess raised her hand and answered calmly.
"It's formed through the swordman's instincts, experience, intuition, practice, talent and fundamental basics that formed principles of the swordsmanship.
To protect, to kill someone. To take revenge. All kinds of ambitions are imbued to the sword leading to the creation of the swordmanship that's only for you."
"Good answer...Princess" Said the teacher.
And the highest technique that you can create with that same principles is The Way of the Sword.
As I continued to listen.
"The third question is, how has the Swordsmanship improved over time?"
A lavishly dressed man raised his hand and answered loudly.
"Through different research about the elements that make swordsmanship. Some variations of practice affect it such as emotions, the type of sword that is used and the difficulty of the sword.
That's why swordsmanship is formed for the nobles where we can learn it.
To commoners, on the other hand, you are really unlucky."
As he stared at the commoners in the class due to the shabby clothes and pants that they wore, he looked even at me with despise in her eyes.
That leads to an awkward situation in the swordsmanship room.
The awkwardness changed when the Princess talked.
"You should follow the rules and The Royal Family's Royal Decree, Mr. Oliver Scantus. A third son of a baron. You should be ashamed of yourself."
The man who talked fervently to class and showed prejudice to the commoners is scolded by the Princess.
He lowers his head in shame. But his hands are bleeding due to the hard grip that he used.
I see, this type of people is also existing here and not just...in my realm.
As I remembered a known story before, some noble boy who did not know...anything besides his...family name decides...to flaunt it and...mess with a girl in my school.
The ending was the boy being killed by the girl who's a disciple of a known cultivator. His family didn't take a revenge due to the threat of annihilation from that known cultivator.
"I think I know...what will happen to this man."
As I've seen his bleeding hand.
Anyway, back to the topic, the swordsman professor continued his lessons happily due to the satisfaction and happiness of being protected by Princess Zuriel.
However, before the swordsmanship professor closes his class.
He fervently said.
"This is your assignment for this week. Find a swordsmanship based on a historical person that you will perform one by one in the Training Hall.
This will be seen by your classmates.
Albeit, anything is acceptable and this will be graded. 10 are the highest and 1 is the lowest.
The judging is based on the flow, steadiness and mastery of the technique, Good luck everyone!"
As he left the swordsmanship classroom.