"Well, now that you are all introduced, let me tell you who I am in case your snootiness has forgotten already," our adviser sarcastically said before bowing with no hint of respect on it, "Lycus Lycourgos, a vagabond mercenary from the Empire of Fenris' Imperial Garm Dominion and sadly, both for you and me, the Eighth Class' homeroom adviser and field instructor. A pleasure."
Loki, the imperial crown prince, didn't even bother hiding his annoyance, "First they got all the heirs and heiresses to the thrones of Crysalia in one class and now hiring a mercenary from the boondocks to lead it. My father's council might be right. This school is going downhill."
"While I don't have any qualms with having you as my adviser, I have a few questions about the academy's, how can I say, prudence, into putting all future leaders in one section," Godiva piped in, and Ester followed suit.
"Given the close proximity of Alcrima with Brigansys, our cultures are not that different, I am sure I can have a formal relationship with them at the very least," the mistress said slowly before throwing an exasperated look at the grinning crown count, "I am not terribly sure it is a good idea to mingle with those from far away nations."
The prior and crown earl remained quiet while the count seemed to have an idea that was different from his peers, "Maybe they put us together specifically because they want us to get along together?"
"And here I thought you are more brawn than brains, but hey, that's Trajan's liege for you!" the adviser remarked in amusement before nodding at all of us, "The Rysian got it right, though he don't win anything from a flat broke sorry state of a man like me."
"You don't like you have anything of monetary value to offer, though," Himiko whispered loudly, making our adviser laugh.
"Bingo, little girl. I kinda like Vosquers, if I might be honest. I can certainly relate to a country where its people are motivated by currency. But she is right, I don't have anything to offer other than my expertise."
Cady seemed to be in agreement, "Scions of monarchs have all the education and theoretical tutors they can give to their children but I am sure even the baronettess can agree than you can't buy experience."
Himiko gave my companion a money hand sign in approval, "Exactly, but as it stands, I also don't see any gains to be made studying here under you when my father can hire someone that is close to your levels if he thinks I need to gain what a mercenary experience is, for all its worth, or not."
"I will not stand for this. I demand to be transferred to the classes where nobles from my country are this instant," Loki ordered, but to his surprise, Sir Lycus just waved his hand like shooing an irritating fly.
"As if you didn't expect the principal haven't forseen your attitude when the two of us are from the same country," he replied dismissively before looking at each and every one of us, "Aside from His Eminence here, I am sure you are all now forgetting that once you agreed to study in this school, you forfeit your right to disobey."
The protege of the High Priest nodded slowly, "Yes. Once you entered this academy as a student, you will all have to do as the principal requires you to do."
"Now hold on a second, I am definitely not informed about this!" Godiva exclaimed in defiance.
"Now, now, settle down, children, settle down," Sir Lycus said mockingly as if he is talking to mere toddlers throwing a tantrum which, in my opinion, is not that far from reality, judging by the sour expression of the most of us here, "The principal also has foreseen your, how should I put this? Your "objections," so to speak. He gladly made an exception."
He pointed at the building in front of the training field suspiciously as he grinned in delight, "Inside is an entrance to the catacombs that served as training grounds for the second years that they have to go through if they want to graduate from the academy. Get to the other side before sunset and we will gladly disband this special class for you. No skin off my nose since I will be free from this gig if you all did. If I know that this is what they meant when they said that all I have to do is look after some moneyed kids for a year, I wouldn't sign that damn piece of contract Metis shoved under my nose."
Sir Lycus then snapped his finger, and the old door opened ominously.
"You will find your weapons inside. I don't care how you do it, as long as you make it out there, alive that is..."
Krios' eyes widened when he heard, "Wait, is it dangerous inside?"
"Well, I was told that there are monsters of all sorts from all corners of Crysalia shoved inside by your seniors as per the principal's orders. Getting lost is the least of your worries."
Ester raised an eyebrow, "And our parents know about this? Death is not a matter of chance at this point for us."
"If you could survive the trip, then I am sure your parents will be inclined to agree with you all that you don't need any more practical experience from yours truly," our adviser said matter-of-factly without a care in the world, "Besides, if you get killed by a random monster, you are of no use to your country either way. Don't you agree?"
Loki started walking towards the building as an answer, with Ester, Krios, and Godiva following him.
"Wow! A real dungeon! I am so psyched up for this!" Aquilo exclaimed excitedly as he rushed towards the doors right before the imperial crown prince reached them.
"What if there's a treasure trove of artifacts underground? Father said that this academy is probably even older than the empire itself and thus, have so much goodies that can fetch a high price. If I can get out of this class and get my grubby hands on some Crys at the same time then everything will sort it out in the end!"
Cady and I watched in amazement as the heir to the Vosquer throne skipped her way inside after singlehandedly convincing and motivating herself.
"While I am hoping for everyone to stay in the class that His Holiness has approved of, we should also respect the wills of the many. I will go inside and offer my assistance if they ever need it," the prior declared kindly as he began walking behind our supposedly new classmates who bailed out even before we got to our classroom.
Sir Lycus looked at Cady and me apologetically, "Right after the introductions, your classmates gave up on the idea of studying together. But I guess no love loss?""None. I'd rather stay with the commoners than them if I can help it," I said curtly before thinking and only realized that I might have implied something and hurriedly followed it up to hopefully cover my blunder, "Because that's where we belong, right, Cady?"
My companion nodded slowly as if taken aback because I had just said, "Right. I would have greater chances of finishing my time here successfully if I stayed with students from the same social status as I am. I can say that much. Let's go."
"See you two on the other side then," Sir Lycus said as he waved us off before disappearing in a flash of flames.
"Military-grade revolver?"I grinned at Cady when she saw me pull out my weapon from its case taken from me before we rode the car on our way here, "Outdated, but I heard it is still viable for self-defense, at the very least.""And a palatinate-quality at that. Where did you get this?""A memento from my granduncle. It is his most prized possession, or so I am told," I replied as I put them on my leg holsters, "Where's your weapon, Cady?"She smiled at me dangerously and showed her empty hand, "I have mine right here."Oh, right.Alcriman hand-to-hand combat style at its finest.Viceroyals are known for their expertise with their hands. It is said that they can kill monsters in a hundred ways using their hands alone."So, they are all downstairs, right?"She pointed at the open trapdoor at the center of the empty entrance hall with stairs leading further below."Well, nowhere to put catacombs but the underground, Cady," I answered simply as we began to walk towards it, "I wonder what
Cady shrugged her shoulders as she stood up, and we continued walking onwards, "Maybe Himiko is right all along. The academy, no, the theocracy may be hiding treasures here. After all, if you want something of utmost value, there's no better place than a maze of a labyrinth to throw off would-be robbers.""True. But the question is, what is it and why here?"Before she can open her mouth to answer, the place is suddenly rocked by a massive shockwave that pushes us to the ground and shakes the entire catacombs that I fear will cave in on the two of us for a second."What the?! An earthquake?!""No! Something gigantic slammed the ground not far from here," Cady answered as she hurried to regain her footing before me, "We should go to the direction where it came from. It's due west here, come on, Arcelon!"I quickly shook my head in fear, "Shouldn't we be running the other way?! If there's danger, the most logical thing to do is to get as far from it as possible, not head to it!""What a
In a flash of fire, Sir Lycus appeared in front of us as I struggled to stand up with the help of Cady and Zeo.He is grinning from ear to ear as he looks at each and every one of us with a bemused expression on his face, "I will have you transferred to your respective noble classes together with your countrymates posthaste. You go to the viceroyal regular lot for our two commoners.""Wait, you said we have to leave the catacombs before sundown to earn the right to be transferred to our respective regular classes," Ester said before glancing at the twilight skies, "If we are going to follow the Hyilian time, we failed to do that.""Well, we have also taken into account that for some odd reason you decided to pick a fight with the Brigansys Drac and survived, that you will also be allowed to do as you pleased," the adviser then looked at where the giant tree that Krios summoned earlier to hold the monster in place before grinning at the green pool of toxic sludge that I managed to defe
The imperial crown prince nodded pensively and spoke respectfully, "What he said is correct, Cady. Regardless of the commoner blood and status that you have, the fact that you bear a herald makes you no different in the eyes of Fenris, the successor to the ancient nation that puts a lot of respect towards all herald users.""Thank you, Your Imperial Highness, Sir Lycus. But even if I didn't bear a heraldry, I will still opt to stay. No one from my social standing has the chance to ever study with the future world leaders. I will be a complete and utter idiot to pass up this once in a millenia chance.""A very reasonable answer, Cady. Not to mention I am informed by Metis that your examination results earlier stated that you know far more than even the second years close to graduation right now. You don't have anything more to learn academically speaking if you are given what is in store for the regular classes. By staying here, you will gain more knowledge and experience that you are
"I think it is actually better now that I have to tour you after sundown here in Valeria, the sub-urban town well within the Crysalian Military Academy," Caileane said excitedly as she toured us around the busy streets full of students buying things for their dorm rooms, "You will find stores that cater to both commoners and nobles alike. Branded and general goods are overflowing. Here is my favorite shop for just about everything I need inside my dorm room."Our group stopped in front of a rather quaint and cheap local store full of students from the lower classes, literally taking everything off the shelves because of the new school year sale."I thought you are from the House of Azalea, one of the most prominent noble families of the empire?" Godiva asked, and Loki nodded quietly as he looked at the student council president with a bit of curiosity in his eyes, "Why are you buying in a general goods store?"Our guide just laughed off the question, "Yes, I am from a well-known noble
"You're not going to freeload on us, are you?"I looked in Loki's direction and raised an eyebrow, "I will not ask for money, especially from the likes of someone who don't even know its value."Aquilo laughed aloud as Cady smiled despite herself while the rest of the scions looked offended by what I had just said.All of them, except Himiko, giggled loudly, "If I am an heiress of another nation, I will take your words as offending and discriminatory. But, alas, that's the truth. Most of those born from the monarchies or the top of the nobility food chain are ignorant of how important currency is.""And you are not?" Ester asked pointedly as the baronetess winked at her meaningfully."Of course, I am not. A scion like you I may be, I am from Vosque. The land of commerce where crys is the real ruler and we members of the ruling family are merely there to make sure the cash flowing for everyone else. I definitely understand where our commoner classmate is getting from and his reaction a
"...very excited for you being there, brother.""Yes, I was still surprised about it, to be honest.""Surprised? What, are you saying you are not expecting to not pass at all?""Well, yes...""Seriously, I will honestly be more surprised if you didn't.""Still expecting too much from me, Lythena.""Because you can't, that's why. Anyways, I bet mama and papa will be very pleased when I relayed the news.""You think?""I don't think, I know. This is just too much for me to take in. I am literally hyperventilating.""Really, you are overreacting, sister.""Me, overreacting? Please, if it's just some random school in Fang or Alcrima, then yes. But this is Crysalian Military Academy we are talking about which only accepts the best of the best of the cream of the cream of the crops! Only heirs and heiresses have free pass to study at that school. Celebrities are a no-go!""Speaking of that, I am put into a class together with them as well.""No way! Did they...""It is highly unlikely, sist
Aquilo blinked and inclined his head in my direction pensively, "Now that you said it, I never have given that much thought.""About what, Aquilo?" Zeo asked curiously."About our privilege and what it looks like from outside looking inside."Ester took a deep breath and sighed, "Well, the reality is we are born high above the social pyramid. Father said that we exist technically on a different plane of reality from the rest.""My own father said the same thing," Himiko followed and smiled a little, "Try as hard as we might, we are just different from other people.""You really do," Cady agreed as she glanced at me quietly before continuing, "Honestly speaking, when I first met you all earlier, it's like I am in front of someone so near yet so far. Like there's this huge invisible wall that separates you all from the real world."Loki grunted loudly as if she was woefully ignorant of a fact, "That's because that's what it should be. We, monarchs, are separated from the common folks by