Gabriel pointed at a crystal that floated around the air, a bright hexagon shimmering through. "Woah, what's that father?"
"Let's take a closer look shall we," the Emperor grinned as he adjusted his flight path.
They got close to it but suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong father?" Gabriel asked
"It's a ruin, something that started emerging from gates," the Emperor said, his voice tinted with care, "we can admire its beauty from a distance, but it's better to be safe than sorry."
"A ruin," Gabriel fell into deep thought as he muttered the words, "can we go somewhere, father?"
"Where is it?"
"Citrina City."
_________________________
"I suppose I am," Jack proudly presented himself."I do have grandfather's good looks, right?"
"Yes," Nichole replied, not the reaction she was expecting. "Professor also behaves like him."
"I guess we really are of the same blood," Jack chuckled, "aren't you alone here, come with me."
"Huh, I shouldn't," Nichole rejected the offer politely.
"It's alright I won't bite, I'm not as bad as the rumors make me out to be."
Nichole couldn't reject after the man before her asked her earnestly, "I will... I'll come," she said, sliding off the table and walking towards him.
They exited the classroom together, the girl was tall, yet when she stood near Jack she could only reach his shoulder.
"So, how did you meet my grandfather?"
"He found me after the fall of my family."
"Fall? Are you a fallen noble?"
"Fallen, well I'm the last of my blood."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," Jack apologized.
"It's alright," Nichole said, "it reminds me of what my life has been."
"Hey that's what I think too," Jack replied, trying to lighten the mood, "whenever I hear something bad about my past, I look back, and today's been a blast."
"The rumors?" Nichole asked in a low hum.
"I wish they could at least whisper. I can hear them whenever I pass by."
"They think they're whispering but their voices get especially loud when you get near them."
Big Nichole and Jack let out a small chuckle.
"Have you made any friends yet?"
"I met one boy, he was pretty nice to me."
"That's how boys always are, and once you get close to them they will break your heart and you will have to end up stabbing them to death, I heard it from a nun."
Nichole stared at Jack, wide eyed, "A nun?"
"Yes, she was a nun, I met her during her pilgrimage, her stories were all great."
"Great?" Nichole replied flatly. "What kind did she live to have gone through that sort of experience?"
"Not an ordinary one," Jack laughed.
CLACK CLACK
A distant footstep could be heard, but Jack and Nichole were too immersed in their conversation to notice it.
A glove flew into Jack's face, "I challenge you to a duel."
"Huh," Jack looked at the perpetrator, "Why should I?" he replied, his voice turning serious.
The woman in front showed off her orange hair, her red eyes burning with life, "I want to see how strong you are, new guy."
"I reject, I don't have any need to accept it."
"Aww, that's cute," the woman flung her hair, "but that's not how duels work dear, accept it."
"I'm just some weak old guy, I'm sure you'll defeat me."
"That's not what Miss Shia was telling me."
Nichole took a few steps back sensing the pressure between the two adults.
"I'm not changing my mind."
"You should, I'm eager to see how strong you are."
"I'm not very strong, in fact I won't even be able to withstand one of your attacks."
"It is a virtue when you are humble, however if you are way too humble it is arrogance," the woman said.
"Maybe I have grown complacent," Jack kneeled down picking up the glove, "but I still think it's for the best, I don't want to fight," he said, extending out his hand holding the glove.
"Hmm, you're quite the strange one,"the woman walked off, "The offer is still on the table," she walked off after collecting her glove from Jack.
CLACK CLACK
"What was that?" Nichole broke the silence.
"I don't even want to know, is the academy full of crazy people," Jack finally let out a breath tugging at his collar.
"Why did you reject her?"
"Like I said, no reason for me to accept."
"But I wanted to see how strong my professor was, I was expecting something interesting on the first day."
"Really?" Jack asked, puzzled.
"Who wouldn't want to see the battle between professors?"
"Me."
"And complacent? Couldn't find the right choice of words?"
"Hehe," Jack let out an awkward smile, "I had to keep up the tough act."
_________________________
"You're all free to leave," Professor Rurin announced, "return to armory at noon for the weapon selection process."
Finally, I was starting to grow roots, but weapons... Finn stood up, stretching. He noticed the multitude of eyes that befell him. Are they all going to bully me?
"Hey, you look lonely, what's your name?" one of the boys came to Finn, his black hair tousled with few red strands, his blue eyes checking him out.
"You don't know my name? That's an interesting way of starting a conversation." It's him, What's his intention?
"I don't think it's too going around assuming everyone knows you," the boy said with a sigh, "name's Donatello Caliente."
"Finn Tenebrion," he noticed the gazes all leaving one by one after the strange boy came to him.
"Got any plans?"
"Not yet, what about you?"
"Me neither, wanna do something?"
"Show me something," Finn asked excitedly because he knew the boy in front of him.
"But I'm just a wee little boy, I don't know anything," Donatello replied, feigning ignorance.
"The aura you're giving off is telling me else, isn't that right, Son of the Sword Duke?"
"Oh, you knew of me?"
"Oh please, you're way too popular, red streaked hair on top of black, only you meet these." Actually I remember him from my past life, I've never heard any rumors of him in this life, but I'll keep it that way.
"Before that, up for a game of roshambo?"
"Now?"
"Yes."
"What are the conditions?"
"If I win, you will become my lackey for a week, but if you win I'll be your lackey for a week, how about it?"
"What's up with the odd stuff?"
"It raises the stakes."
Alright let's go in three... two... one!"
"Paper," Finn exclaimed.
"Rock," Donatello groaned throwing his head back in mock defeat.
"That was too fast, let's try it again," Finn requested.
"You sure? You already won."
"That was not fun enough."
"Oh, I like your style."
"Well then, three... two... one!"
Finn threw his hands, "Scissors"
"Rock, hah," Donatello paused. "Three..."
"Wait? Again?"
"Two..." Donatello let the moment build up, "one!"
"Rock," Donatello exclaimed.
"Paper," Finn jumped up in victory.
"Guess I'm your slave for a week, hope you treat this slave with kindness."
"Ew, what's with the foreplay?"
"I was just kidding, but show me something."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Donatello sighed in defeat, "I meant something like your cultivation, your the special admission, you must have something special."
"Because I'm the special admission?"
"Come on, show me something interesting."
"Aren't you the son of the sword duke, why don't you show me something?"
"What do you want to see Boss?"
"Boss?"
"Just play along, I'm your slave for a week after all."
"Well, thanks."
"For what?"
"You saw them eyeing me, and decided to help me, so thanks."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the boy replied with a grin.
"So what weapon are you getting?"
"Most likely a long sword, it suits me."
"Your family's swordsmanship?"
"Dad hasn't taught it to me yet, he told me it's not good to rely on powerful techniques from the start."
"That's good advice, that's what I thought would be my case, but someone gave me this awesome Martial tome."
"What weapon are you choosing?"
"A sword maybe, I'm having second thoughts..."
"It is said that you will feel which weapon you need to choose after seeing it, and I've always felt it like that with the sword."
_________________________
Duke Archibald, well not the duke yet, but the protagonist of the story Duke's Liebling, I knew I would meet him but never expected it to be today.
"Why are you staring at the hot senior?" Houdin popped in.
"That senior? He's not my type," Daniela waved her off.
The boy stood out with his short white hair, his face framed by the perfect jawline and the sharp chin, making him incredibly handsome.
"The way you're staring at him says otherwise."
"Aren't you here to join the club, why don't you fill out the forms?"
"Yeah, see you later Dani," Houdin waved her goodbye, walking into the class.
"Now what will I do?
'Maybe I can look around in the training ground. I'm not that sure about anything because the story only began from a much later point.'
"Princess," a voice came from behind her, she turned to see a middle-aged man with a muscular frame and silver hair. It was General Thomas.
"Hey General, what is it?"
"The Lord, has he left?"
"I think. He was with Gabriel."
"Might have left, anyways thank you for your time princess."
"Alright, Professor Radagar."
"One more thing, how did you know of him?"
"Him?" Daniela teased, her lips curling up into a grin, "I know a lot of him, Sir Radagar."
Thomas sighed, "Mr Raosa, him."
He even changed his name, I guess I'm having a good influence.
"Oh," Daniela replied dramatically "him, let's just say I don't believe everything I'm fed, and you saw him, he's a nice guy."
"He is," Thomas nodded, "I'd like to meet him."
"Ooh, caught your interest?"
"Sure did, besides I'm just guest faculty here."
"Why did you come here today, sir?"
"The Lord asked me to take part, he even gave me a day off."
"He's been getting better recently," Daniela looked up, "hope he can keep it up."
"He will, I'm sure of it."
_________________________