She then looked at me and Cady, who was sitting next to each other at the back of the class, expectantly, "Before I begin my lesson, I would like to advise you all that in case some of you are not aware yet, Ms. Cady and Mr. Arcelon scored the highest on theoretical and practical applications of political studies during the scholar examinations respectively. I and Sir Trajan checked the paper ourselves and we are thoroughly impressed.""Coming from a commoner background, that is impressive," Ester remarked in approval as my companion smiled shyly."You are giving me too much credit, really. I am instructed by my benefactor months before I was sent here for the scholar examinations," she then deflected the praise to me, "If there is someone who is impressive here, it's Arcelon. I actually have been meaning to ask this yesterday but never really got the chance to do so. Where did you learn about politics?"I brushed off her and gave the answer papa instructed me to deliver if they asked
I nodded and took a deep breath before speaking, "As you all might already know, Alcrima and Fang seceded from the empire together when it fractured a long time ago. The two different clans of metal and earth, due to their symbiotic relationship with each other decided to unite as one nation under the palatinate. But a few hundred years ago, the Monarchy of Fang heard the calls for a more democratic government by the Alcrimans, thus granting them independence. However, they also demanded to keep the special relationship between the nations. I guess Cady can carry on from here.""I will, Arcelon," she agreed and continued from where I left, "As he said, my people wanted more democracy but not to the point of existing on our own because we are so used to be with our Fangian brothers and sisters. So our forefathers and mothers adopted a viceroyal type of government to still be technically under the palatinate's sphere of influence while getting the democracy we wanted all along without c
"...the country is stagnant, our military is behind even the viceroyalty, and the madame palatine is still stockpiling government funds as if there's a coming catastrophe that we all cannot foresee but her...""More rice, Arcelon?"I looked up and saw a smiling woman looking down at me before raising the pot of white rice under her arm.I nodded and smiled, "Yes, mama, thank you.""Here you go. Eat as much as you want. Your sister really filled the food stores to the brim when she heard that you would come for a visit," she said earnestly before sitting next to me in front of the dining table, fully laden with my favorite foods and sipping from the glass of wine comfortably.I nodded and continued eating ravenously as the news reporter commented on the television ceaselessly while we listened silently."...tensions along the border with the castle, the empire demanding more industrial output from the palatinate, the archduke announcing a raise of tariffs from Fang's goods, and all the
"Why not just go to a finishing school here in the capital, Arcelon?"I stopped throwing things at my luggage and looked up to see a distraught woman walking toward me, followed by at least half a dozen cats of all colors and sizes that began playing with my things scattered on the floor and bed.She always said I looked like my father, but our messy and curly hair was a dead giveaway from what I got from her. Not to mention our noses, eyes, and, sadly, personalities.We are always at the other side of the spectrum all my life. If I stand up for something, you can expect that she firmly disagrees with me."I want to go out of Fang, mother," I said simply as I carefully removed her fat ginger cat, making himself comfortable on top of the clothes that I was about to put on my bag, "I'm already sixteen and legally mature enough to make an educated decision in my life.""Rules and law don't apply to us, my son..."I shook my head and held my ground, "I will go as an Alcriman then. Papa al
"So, where are you going?"I smiled as I hailed a coming bus on our side of the street, "Crysalia Military Academy. I will try my luck with the scholarship. How about you?""Funny you should ask," she simply replied as she proceeded to get on the bus before me, dragging her rugged backpack and duffel bag with her, "We are on the same boat.""Or bus," I said pointedly, making her chuckle as we settled down on our seats and the bus began speeding its way towards the central part of the city."My mentor warned me not to take the examinations lightly," she said in a whisper as we enjoyed the scenes of the holy city, "I am actually lucky that he used to work there and didn't have a family of his own, so he passed his privilege to elect a scholar enrollee to me.""My father also used to work there, so here I am," I answered before glancing at my new acquaintance worriedly, "Is it that difficult? The examinations, that is, Cady?"She nodded and massaged her temple, "That was what the old man
The moment we sat down, a bell rang, and as if on cue, a woman suddenly appeared in a blast of ice crystals on the stage in front of the room.She reminds me a lot of my mother.Definitely not the kind of woman you willingly want to cross and expect to get away unscathed.Wearing a silver and gold blazer and black pump shoes, she looks very imposing and probably younger than what her curt expression and tight bun of brown hair suggest.The woman looked around imperiously among the hundreds of boys and girls before her and raised her head proudly, "Vice Principal Metis of the Crysalian Military Academy. I will cut to the chase since this will be a very busy day for all of us. You are all here as either the very best your respective schools can produce or someone who has the privilege to be related to one of our current or previous colleagues in this school. Commoners who don't have the financial means to enroll using the normal means and have to rely on the scholarships or are hoping t
"You two, you also passed!"I glanced at my companion, and she just inclined her head in my direction nonchalantly, implying that there was no way the vice principal was talking to the two of us, and I wholeheartedly agreed wordlessly as we continued following the last stragglers like us who are hurrying back to the entrance with their bags.When we were about to go through the door, the potted bonsai plants along the way suddenly grew exponentially and blockaded our path, which shocked me."What the...""Unless you two are deaf, you will come here."We slowly turned around and saw Vice Principal Metis with the man who collected our test papers waiting for us on the stage.My companion and I walk in their direction with our luggage in tow."Cady Ravier and Arcelon Mcreinen?"We both nodded at the woman who glanced at the man next to her who spoke next."You two passed."I blinked and let out a hollow laugh, "That's impossible. If we did, we would've been called earlier among the twent
We all stood up together with everyone in the auditorium to offer our rapturous applause to the principal, who was joined by the school staff and teachers on the stage before dispersing quickly."Now, where do we go from here, Arcelon?""I am wondering that myself, Cady," I said as I looked down when the students around us realized that we were wearing uniforms utterly different from theirs, "Preferably away from the crowd."My companion nodded, and I followed her lead as we walked briskly towards the exit, only to be blockaded by a second year, judging by the ram emblem that is different from the lamb one of the first-year students."And here I thought I will get into trouble this early in the school year because I cannot, for the love of the elements, find you two earlier," she said in a relieved voice before beaming down on us, "Azalea Leilee, President of the Student Council, Second Year Noble."Cady and I bowed our heads as she let out a giggle."My, my, how cute you are. Actuall