The bell rang, its sharp tone jerking me awake as if I had been dunked into a freezing lake. I rubbed my eyes, trying to ignore the discomfort that came with it. It wasn't just me—everyone else in the dorms seemed just as disoriented by the early wake-up call.
Rael, my overly enthusiastic roommate, was already sitting up, stretching like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Morning, Aiden! Time to face the day!"
I grunted in response, dragging myself out of bed. The bath was next—something I wasn't particularly looking forward to. Communal baths were a thing at Blackstone Academy, and sharing one with Rael was... uncomfortable, to say the least.
We shuffled into the bath area. Rael, still cheerful despite the early hour, hummed to himself as he washed up. Meanwhile, I focused on getting through it as fast as possible, keeping my eyes anywhere but my roommate.
"This isn't so bad, is it?" Rael asked, completely unaware of my discomfort.
I shrugged, pretending not to care. "I've had worse." In truth, bathing with someone else felt awkward, but there was no escaping it here.
After that ordeal, we dressed quickly and made our way to breakfast. The dining hall was already buzzing with activity. I grabbed a simple plate of roasted meat and bread and sat down, while Rael chatted away like usual.
Once we finished eating, Rael led me through the winding hallways of the academy.
"Are you nervous?" he asked, clearly not picking up on my mood.
"No, just... adjusting," I said, keeping my answers short. Truth was, I wasn't nervous. I just didn't want to deal with the attention my title would bring.
When we finally arrived at the classroom, I stepped inside, and sure enough, all eyes turned to me. The chatter died down as soon as I entered, and I could feel the weight of their stares. I kept my expression neutral, walking toward the front of the class.
At the head of the room stood the teacher, a tall, striking woman with sharp features, bright red eyes, and jet-black hair tied into a neat bun. She was demon-kind, like me, though unlike me, she didn't have to worry about cutting off horns every so often.
She greeted the class with a nod before turning her attention to me. "Class, we have a new student joining us today," she said, her voice carrying a natural authority. "This is Aiden. Please make him feel welcome."
There was a ripple of murmurs, but most of the students remained wide-eyed, especially when they noticed my red eyes. Some girls blushed, others whispered excitedly.
Then, breaking the silence, Rael's voice rang out. "Aiden! You're in my class too? This is awesome!"
The room froze. Everyone stared at Rael in shock, clearly unprepared for someone to address me, a prince, with such informality.
The teacher raised an eyebrow but said nothing, though I could see the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. "Why don't you take your seat, Aiden?"
I nodded, trying to ignore the growing tension as I made my way to an empty seat near the center of the room. Rael, as oblivious as ever, plopped down beside me, still beaming.
A few moments passed, and some of the boys in the class stood up, clearly eager to make an impression. First came an elf with silver hair and sharp, angular features. "Prince Aiden," he said with a polite bow before extending his hand. "It's an honor."
I shook his hand, offering a polite smile.
Next was a demon, his crimson eyes gleaming. "Welcome to Blackstone, your highness," he said, extending his hand with a respectful nod.
I shook his hand as well.
Then came a burly orc, his thick muscles straining against his uniform. "Welcome, your highness," he rumbled, offering a hand.
I shook it without hesitation, keeping my expression neutral.
Finally, a goblin approached. He was small, barely reaching my waist, but his eyes were bright with excitement. "It's such an honor to meet you, Prince Aiden!" His voice was squeaky, and I felt a wave of discomfort rise in my chest.
I hesitated, my hand hovering in the air. My foresight flickered, and I foresaw it clearly. I saw him coming with my foresight but took too long to notice.
Grave mistake.
But it was too late. My hesitation had already been noticed.
In this world, not shaking someone's hand was akin to challenging them to a duel.
A loud gasp filled the room. The goblin's smile dropped, replaced by a look of shock and disbelief.
"You..." he sputtered. "You refuse my handshake?"
I cursed inwardly. Curses.Not acknowledging someone's gesture of respect was a direct challenge to their honor.
The entire class was now watching, wide-eyed, as the goblin's shock turned into a wide grin. "I accept your challenge!"
Great. Just great.
The demon teacher stood up from her desk, smirking slightly. "Well, it seems we have our first duel of the year. Aiden, you should know duels are permitted at any time here at Blackstone Academy. It's tradition."
I groaned inwardly. Of course it was.
"Let's head to the training grounds," she said, gesturing toward the door. "We'll settle this properly."
I followed her out, the entire class trailing behind like a herd of excited spectators. Rael walked beside me, still grinning. "Well, this is gonna be interesting!"
I sighed. So much for trying to keep a low profile.
...
..
.
The class buzzed with excitement as we made our way to the training grounds. Rael was practically bouncing beside me, a wide grin on his face. "Aiden, this is great! You'll crush him! Goblins aren't that strong."
Easy for you to say.
I gave him a sidelong glance. "You're way too excited about this."
"Hey, it's your first day, and you're already in a duel. That's gotta be some kind of record."
I shook my head, letting out another sigh as we reached the training grounds. The goblin was already there, looking way too eager. His small frame seemed almost ridiculous, standing alone in the middle of the vast grounds, but the rules were the rules.
The teacher, standing to the side with her arms crossed, looked mildly amused by the whole situation. "Remember," she said, "this is a formal duel. No killing or permanent injuries."
The goblin nodded enthusiastically, raising his fists in a mock fighting stance. "I'm ready when you are, Prince Aiden!"
I groaned inwardly. Of course, he was excited.
The teacher raised her hand. "Begin!"
I stayed where I was, not even bothering to move. The goblin charged forward, fists flailing wildly. I couldn't help but roll my eyes—this was going to be over before it even started.
Just as he reached me, I flicked my wrist, sending a small gust of wind his way. The force knocked him off his feet, and he tumbled backward with a surprised yelp, landing in a heap on the ground.
The class erupted into laughter, and even the teacher couldn't suppress a smile. Rael, standing at the edge of the field, was practically doubled over, laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.
The goblin, clearly embarrassed, scrambled to his feet. "I-I'm not done yet!"
I sighed, sending another gust of wind his way. He tumbled backward again, and this time, he didn't get up.
The duel was over.
The teacher clapped her hands. "Well, that was... quick. Aiden wins."