At the president´s office, inside Nicholas´head.It was faint, but I can swear I saw it.At that moment, in the arena, when he rose his fist.The future. A glimpse of it.One where he ruled with many people at his side. And there was an army, an invincible army that would be the bastion against everything that could harm this kingdom.There would be irregulars and nobles fighting together as one. People would gather around them to congratulate them on their victories. And I would be at my home, with a beautiful wife and children with smiles on their faces. Living peacefully.And he would be there, on the throne, with his forces ready to strike down the enemies before him.History will talk about us from this moment onwards. I must make sure that the tales are worth listening to.That´s why you have to ascend, Dominique. Even higher than me.You will be the weapon I use to force my father into submitting the throne. I will show him your power. Your bravery and greed.And once you mar
With heavy steps and a sad face. Isabella was walking through the halls as tears ran down her cheeks.There was a pain in her chest that was too embarrassing to show. It was because the only source of this nasty feeling was no one but her.She didn´t want to accept it. Not like this. Not with that woman.Luck was not on her side since the day she was born as a commoner with irregular magic. There were struggles in every corner of her life. Money, friends, love. All those things that people enjoy so much are things that seem just like distant dreams for her.Joining this academy was because her mother had begged her to try it. She had done so much for her, so refusing was not an option.With little hope to face any changes, Isabella accepted and signed up to be a student in the academy. But what was the first thing that they told her?That she was different. A threat. A mistake.So much to even be marked as a demon by the academy itself.Isabella wanted to curl up and scream. Throw a p
With our little meeting finished, Jasmine and Isabella accompanied me to our classroom. We had lost the first lesson since Nicholas called us, but the teachers noticed so there shouldn´t be problems with our late arrival.I would have liked to speak more with Véronica, but she was busy with the council´s work and her own classes. We agreed to meet during lunch break anyways, so all I need to do now is be patient.As we walked through the hallways I noticed that most students around us were whispering and looking at our direction with curious eyes. It was time to change classrooms so it wasn´t strange for them to be walking around school.Both girls also noticed this and showed triumphant smiles.What with these two?I could understand the good feeling that comes with victory, but they seem more like the owner of a dog whose proud of its performance.Am I the dog?...I ditched the thought as I saw the classroom´s door. Students were still entering so there was no need to knock an anno
"Dominique! Let´s get some lunch!""That was the plan, wasn´t it?"The class was over in a couple of hours, and the teacher in charge had arrived late because he got lost on his way to the classroom.Nobody cared much since it was day one. And honestly, in a classroom filled with young adults, it´s kind of hard to find someone eager to get lectured by an old man."Should I get your lunch, master?"Jasmine came from the back and placed her face dangerously close to mine while saying that. Isabella whore a tired face when she saw us."Let´s get to the green zones first, I don´t want to waste anyone´s time" I responded with an awkward smile as I got up from my seat."As you wish"Isabella also abandoned her seat and grabbed Jasmine´s hand to pull her away from me."Aren´t you a bit close, maid?""Not at all, that distance is normal between us. Not only that, we usually are even closer~"Jasmine winked gracefully as a sly grin appeared on her lips. Isabella´s cheeks became redder with fru
We finally arrived at the cafeteria. Normally, one would think that getting from the main building to the green lands of wind would take a long time, but the academy had plenty of transportation methods that the students could use to get from one point to another rather quickly.The zone looked like a city plaza. It was filled with a good variety of food posts that the students could visit to pay for a well-made meal.There were also several tables, benches, and sofas to sit and eat with friends. This is truly a school for the wealthy...I had a good amount of money thanks to my work with Herion, so I was able to pay for anything I wanted for a time. Still, that was not an excuse to just buy anything with a price mark on it."Let´s get our food, I already have a table, so we´ll go there once we are done picking up our meals""You already have a table, mister Dominique? How? When?"The guy from the group asked me with skepticism all over his face. I showed him a little smile and said:
"Oh, there they are. Over here!"As soon as we were getting near a white kiosk surrounded by a ring of flowers, the people sitting in there greeted us with a wave of their hand."My, my. What a surprise is to see you surrounded by new friends""It was a nice chance to meet new people, so we just took it, right?"Isabella nodded with a smile on her face and I sat in one of the chairs. My place got me right across Véronica, so I had a nice view of her beauty.Naturally, Isabella took her seat beside me.This was premeditated, because now, Nicholas was in front of her. Both stared at each other for a couple of seconds before greeting each other."Thank you for allowing us to eat with you, Prince Nicholas""Please, you don´t have to use such a formal treat with me. We are all students of the same academy, and you will be part of Dominique´s disciplinary committee, so it´s better if you talk to me more informally""... I think I´ll restrain from that for the moment. I don´t want to cause u
The sun was high, and the smell of a variety of foods was flooding the air along with the sounds of people chatting and laughing. We had a nice atmosphere that made the food taste even better."I can´t believe the prince is eating with those demons...""Who are those lowly nobles? How dare they eat with the council?""They must have tricked the prince! Surely they used a cursed artifact or their vile magic!"Or at least that was the case when you weren´t focused on the surroundings.People were gossiping about us in some indiscreet manner. Some of them even stared at us without mercy. I was able to feel their jealousy and disgust as their grim faces showed me their thoughts.Well, I was already expecting that... And I´m sure Nicholas and the others are aware too...Eating with the prince and the council was not just a thing I wanted to do as friends, but also as a message to the whole academy.We can stay close to the prince when you can´t.That´s what Isabella and I were telling the
Classes ended without many interesting things to do. Isabella and I left the classroom with Jasmine and our new group of friends. We stayed together until we reached the stables. Once there, each of us separated and went their way. "Is someone going to pick you up, Isabella?""I´ll take the public carts, my family can´t afford a personal drake for me""I see. Do you want me to give you a ride?"She smiled and tilted her head."Thank you, but I´m fine. I just have to walk a little""Well all right, I´ll be seeing you tomorrow then"I jumped onto Twilight´s back and helped Jasmine to get behind me."See you tomorrow, Miss Isabella"Jasmine pressed her chest closer to my back and enveloped my hips with her arms."... See you tomorrow, Jasmine"Isabella was smiling, but I wasn´t able to feel any good emotion from her.Without further ado, Jasmine and I waved goodbye to Isabella as Twilight got us to the exit of the academy. Since this was the time when all the students were l
"I never expected you'd pick a quest right after being given the permission""We are the hunting club, that's what we do""Couldn't you wait until the rest of the members knew the good news?""Don't get stuck on the little details, let's just enjoy the hunt!""... Right..."The moment I was given my new guild card Jason registered our team for a nest extermination. Right now we were riding our beasts in the middle of the forest. Like before, Isabella was riding Twilight with me while Jason was with his wolf. "So, what are we hunting?""They are called razor monkeys. Their sharp fur hardens at the sight of danger making them living blades. They are not too big, but they hunt in packs and they are pretty resistant to magic and sharp weapons""If they are resistant to our blades and magic are we supposed to shoot them all down? Is that the reason you're carrying those bags?"Isabella pointed at the pair of green leather bags that Jason had hanging on the sides of his wolf. "The fact th
Isabella and Jason walked at my side while we followed the receptionist to the second floor of the building. After reaching the end of a hallway a pair of gates with the shield of guild stood before us. The sword to defend against the wild, the book and pen to register your discoveries to the world, and the star to guide you in your path through darkness. Even if adventurers were considered failed knights, there was still honor in their roots.The receptionist opened the gates and offered us to step in. When we did, a man in casual clothing was putting his seal on the documents resting on the desks in front of him. He had long black hair that rested on his left shoulder. The precision and swiftness of his hands were clear proof of his mastery of the sword. He was not a hulking mass of muscle, but rather, a refined piece of war that had the exact amount of flesh to do the job. "Dominique Foe Yatra. Also known as 'Black Panther' for the nobles and those willing to bring pain to the irr
We were riding through the city on our beasts. Isabella and I were on Twilight while Jason was riding a monstrous wolf. When I asked him why he chose a wolf instead of a drake he told me that even when drakes were commonly stronger beasts, wolves are more practical beasts for hunting since you can train them better. He also said that his grey companion was more loyal than any other human he had met. With this, my image of him being a man obsessed with hunting just got reinforced once more.The trip was quiet for most of the ride, I was having some inner issues with Isabella being attached to my back like some kind of baby monkey; probably a consequence of my recent self-awareness in our relationship. Part of me knew that I should put some more distance between us, but I couldn't get my voice to work when I saw her face.This was the first time she had joined me to ride Twilight, so her shifting expression of fear and excitement kept me on edge from acting.This is painful..."Oi, love
Today is the day when the clubs begin their activities. Isabella and I were summoned by the club's president to attend the first meeting. As expected of a club with a bad reputation, there were barely enough members that allow this gathering to be considered a club.There were a total of 7, including the members of the third year. The president was a man with scars all over his face. His long and messy hair was giving off the air of a wild animal, he also had a penetrating stare, his red eyes were like sharp knives that seemed to dissect you the longer he looked at you. If anything, I'd say he was what a true hunter must look like.We were inside a classroom located on the fire grounds. The walls were covered in maps and weapons, there were also piles of books and documents with information about plants and monsters living in the forest, caves, and sea. The skull of a large bear was decorating the door by which we entered the classroom. The yells from the chivalry club could be heard
I had my back resting on the couch. Verónica was on top of me, still embracing me with her whole body. We were both mentally exhausted. I could still feel my eyes stinging from all the crying, and looking at my girlfriend, I knew she was feeling something similar.Funnily enough, I was at peace. As if a great storm had ended and now there was nothing but the tranquility of a clear sky. Just as I thinking of that, Verónica moved her head. She was now looking at me in the eyes. I soon felt her fingertips on my face. She was warm and... If it was not my imagination... The whole room was getting hotter... Or was it our bodies...?I couldn't give it much thought because I was being hypnotized by her eyes. There was something behind her gaze that made my heart beat faster. Before I could even wonder what was it I felt her lips touching my neck."Gh... Ah..."Pathetic sounds escaped from my mouth as her hands explored and caressed my skin with erotic gentleness. The sensation of her lips wa
When I was returning to my seat with the members of the council and my friends I dispersed the crowd that had watched the fight. I also bid farewell to Einar and promised to meet again sometime. On my way back Carin and her cronies were walking alongside me."You did a good job, little brother. Now, after many years, the Yatra household will have a higher title of nobility. This is a great achievement to add to your list. Feel proud about yourself"Carin playfully punched my arm and flashed me a smile. I received her gesture with a smile of my own."If that can help everyone in the Yatra household, then I´m happy I could be of help. You can count on me any time, sister"The face of my sister blushed and quickly turned to the other side."What a cheeky little brother you are..."""Cheeky brother!"" Said both of her cronies while giggling at me."By the way, sister, who are these ladies?"Carin suddenly realized that she had forgotten to introduce her followers. She stopped in her track
If there was something worth mentioning about my opponent, then that would be his speed. In the blink of an eye, the axe of Einar was mere inches of my face. I turned my body to the side and counter-attacked with a swing of my sword, but he blocked the edge with the long pole he used to swing his weapon.He´s strong... Still in this position, I pointed the barrel of my gun to his chest. He quickly jumped back and avoided the gum bullets of my pacifier."I´m impressed you dodged my thunder strike" He said as his stance prepared for another dash.I replied while preparing my response to his next attack. "I´m proud of my reflexes" "Then let us see how you dodge this..."Instead of dashing forward like before, Einar swept the ground with his axe, creating a cloud of dust that obstructed my vision. This forced me to rely on my other senses, and thankfully for me, Dominique had some high specs in that area. I focused on my hearing and heard a current of electricity running wildly from th
The lesson ended and we went to submit our club applications. The teacher gave us a weird look when he looked at the papers but said nothing. We returned to our seats and spent the rest of the day without anything worth mentioning.Once it was time for lunch we went to our usual place with the council. People were still giving us some bothersome stares, but we had grown accustomed to them by now.Like always, the people making most of the conversation were Isabella, the twins, and Miss Worer. The rest of us were listening and adding some comments here and there. It looked like the day would be somehow easy."Dominique, I need to talk to you for a minute"Until an unexpected guest arrived."... Yes, big sister"Who had come to our table was none other than my sister. Carin Vea Yatra. She was followed by a couple of women seniors as she made a slight bow to the prince and started to walk away.It was a bit sad that I had to leave Veronica and the rest like this, but family has priority.
When we arrived at class we greeted our friends and took our seats. It was already time for a lesson but the teacher was nowhere to be seen. At this point, nobody really cared since we all knew the reason for this behavior. "Hiyopi! Donipu~, Isapi~, and Ladapi~. Are you ready for today´s lesson?""G-Good morning. Miss Isabella. Mister Dominique""Good morning!""Morning..."The group that started a conversation with us was none other than the twins and their knight followed close by the accountant. Each of them gave us a greeting, and we responded to them in the same way."Good morning, Miss Anna. Miss Emma. You too, Emile and Dorio""Donipu?""Ladapi?"Isabella returned the greeting with complete naturality, however, both myself and Lada repeated the strange names that the older twin had given us."Those sound cute, don´t they?" Said the girl with a shy smile."P-Please forgive my sister, she didn´t do it out of bad intentions"The younger twin didn´t waste time apologizing on behal