Zoltan Unredeemed

Chapter 6

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. Actually, better than the ones before you..."

I blinked at her when I heard what she said, "Ones before us?"

"Yes, yes. It was me who was doing all the bowing and all you see," she answered quickly before looking around us, "If I were you, I will head for the building located at the back of the main school premise. They are on their way there as we speak."

"Who's on their way there?"

Azalea looked at Cady and pinched her cheek playfully, "You will know soon enough. Now, go on before you two melt from the stares of other students. Nice meeting you two!"

And with that, she softly pushed us out of the auditorium and into the school grounds, where we headed for where she instructed us to go.

"I am actually piecing together educated guess as to why we are wearing this kind of uniform and not the ones for commoner and the more it makes sense, the more I dread about it..."

I chuckled at the girl beside me, ruminating deeply, and shook my head in disbelief.

She really is something.

To quickly come to a conclusion that is spot on from nothing but a mere observation to get her lead is impressive, to say the least.

She looked up at me inquiringly, "You know, you looked more afraid than clueless, Arcelon. Maybe you reached the same conclusion as I did?"

"In a manner of speaking, Cady. In a manner of speaking," I replied ominously as we finally see several students who are wearing the same color uniform as us standing in front of a rather odd-looking building and eyeing their surroundings with utmost curiosity, "Whether we like what we were thrown into, we will know any second now."

"Elements, there must be a mistake..."

"Good eye, little girl."

We quickly looked to our left, and to our surprise or not, the man who was supposed to be the adviser of the Eighth Class was walking beside us as if he had been there all along without us noticing.

"You are..."

He waved his scarred hand and pointed at the waiting teenagers who finally noticed our arrival, "Introductions will come soon enough, kid. For now, let's meet our highnesses, eh?"

We didn't bother replying because the three of us stopped directly in front of the group we were approaching, and the adviser let a fake cough get everyone's attention.

"A lowly mercenary like me has just taken a crash course in dealing with stuck up brats like yourselves yesterday so I do apologize if I came as rude," he said in an ironically sarcastic and unapologetic tone that made several of them raise their eyebrows because of his sheer audacity, "Anyways, if their highnesses would be ever so magnanimous as to introduce themselves formally to these two newly arrived classmates of yours, the sooner we can get on with things."

He then pointed at the familiar boy I had just seen on the television not too long ago.

I laughed internally when I remembered what mama and Lythena had said before.

That he reminds them of me.

Yeah, they are clearly pulling my leg.

The only thing similar to us is our height. I certainly don't have what probably is the most strikingly handsome face of this generation, nor his fiery hair and muscled build.

Clearly, he is not just cutting ribbons for exercise, that's for sure.

"Loki, Imperial Crown Prince of the Empire of Fenris," he introduced himself in an obviously bored voice.

Cady quickly curtsied, and I blinked at him before remembering to bow my head against my better judgment.

Calm down, Arcelon.

You are just like Kady in this school, so you better behave according to her social status.

The next boy presented himself in a friendlier manner as he shook mine and Cady's hands excitedly and somewhat childishly.

A bit smaller than me and lean with short brown hair looked up at me expectantly with one of the most innocent eyes I've ever seen and probably the most infectious smile I have set my eyes on that unconsciously made me return his smile.

"Archducal Crown Count Krios of the Archduchy of Zymea. I hope we can be fast friends!"

A beautiful regal girl stepped forward and spread her skirts gracefully, "Crown Princess Godiva of the Principality of Phiden. Charmed, I am sure."

I accepted her right hand and kissed the expensive ring on it as Cady curtsied beside me.

The crown princess then glanced on her right as a bespectacled and respectable girl fixed her glasses to better look at the two of us before introducing herself curtly, "Mistress Ester of the Castle of Brigansys. You looked familiar. Have I met you somewhere before?"

My companion glanced at me, and the castle's mistress nodded to my horror.

I scratched the back of my head and tried to play it cool, "I get that a lot, Your Highness. Perks of having a bland appearance, you see."

I knew those glasses weren't just for show. Though she was not wearing it the first and only time I met her before, that's sure.

Someone brutely tackled me into a hug, and all I saw was a flash of silver-blue hair that quickly let me go and shook Cady's hand using both of his hands, a little bit too giddy for someone of his position.

"Crown Earl Aquillo of the Viscounty of Ryse. Finally someone not as stuffy as the others, eh, Himiko?"

A petite blonde girl who was literally bouncing on her feet nodded quickly in agreement as she quickly pushed the crown count aside and shook our hands excitedly, "Right you are, Aquilo. I am Himiko, Baronettess of the Barony of Vosque. I hope I will have a pleasure of doing business with you soon!"

Lastly, a serene boy stepped forward, and he gave us a hopeful smile, "Prior Zeo of the Theocracy of Hyillia."

"Your Eminence..."

Cady and I respectfully took his welcoming hands and put them on our foreheads as a sign of reverence, "The elements bless you."

I was expecting the rest of the successor gang here but certainly not the presumptive head of the Crysalian Elemental Religion.

We then took a step back as I bowed my head lowly, and Cady curtsied deeply before introducing the two of us, "We are Cady Ravier and Arcelon Mcreinen of the Viceroyalty Alcrima. It is our utmost honor and privilege to have an audience with Your Highnesses and His Eminence."