A/N: okay, so a minor detail. originally there were to be two academies: one for nobles and one for commoners. I nixed that and have one academy with two different curriculums. Also pocket spaces are now known as dimensional spaces. There might be a few minor changes in the future but that's all for now. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Well, it seems that we have to get to our class," Axel spoke.
I smiled, curtsying the way Karen had drilled into me last night. "It was nice to meet you, Prince Axel."
Axel smiled, making him look younger. "Call me Axel. You have my respect being able to keep up with these guys."
I chuckled. Although he and his group were powerful, they didn't have any fae shifters which were known to be difficult to be around sometimes. "Thank you."
"Ah, Rozovyy (Pink)," Raven smiled, "If you are hungry, come to me. I have fruit."
North growled. "She won't."
Raven laughed as that group walked away. North was grumbling next to me, muttering in a language I didn't understand.
"They seem nice," I said as we parted from them. I smirked at North. "Especially Raven."
North scowled as he scrubbed his cheek with his hand as if to wipe away the phantom feelilg of Raven kissing him. "Damn that gnat for kissing me. He should just fly back south."
I smirked in humor. "Gnat? He's a wyvern."
Luke appeared beside me. "Ignore North, but I agree. They are really nice. They don't treat us differently since we're commoners."
I frowned. "Do the nobles think that way?"
Kota pushed his sliding glasses up his nose. "Most do. They think that we are dirtying Gabe's image. Since we have 'common' blood, we are not worthy enough to be around the 'noblest' of blood." He tilted his head to look at me with a small smile on his face. "But Gabe doesn't see us like that. He's not the type of person who'd look at our blood but our capabilities and behavior."
I looked at Gabriel. Despite being surrounded by nobles and their thoughts, I wondered how he was able to think like this. "Gabriel, may I ask how you are able to think so differently than most nobles?"
Gabriel glanced at me before looking ahead. "Most of it is because of these guys. The nobles who were supposed to be my aides tried to control me, while their kids tried to outdo each other. When I was around the so-called commoners, they showed me how to care for someone else without having conditions. They showed me that not everyone was selfish and snobbish but caring and optimistic."
"How did all of you guys meet?"
Nathan spoke. "Kota, Victor, and my parents worked in the castle. Since there weren't many children in the castle, Gabriel would find his way towards us." He chuckled. "We didn't even know that he was the prince until later."
I looked at Sean and Mr. Blackbourne. "What about you guys?"
Sean skipped next to me. "Owen and I have been best friends ever since I can remember. Our parents were friends. When I was thirteen, I had completed my doctor's degree. Owen decided to create a clinic. When we were sixteen, we had just opened for the day when there on the doorstep were these four boys. They had sneaked out of the castle and had become injured. Since then, they've stuck to us."
I looked at the last trio of the group. Surprisingly, it was Silas who spoke. "I lived with my family near the border. When I was seven, my father discovered two badly injured children in our barn. My family and I took care of them. We didn't care what their past was, only caring about the present. When I was eleven, hunters attacked our village. Luke and North revealed that they were fae to save us. After the massacre, a man appeared, claiming to be their uncle. He had been separated from them when the hunters attacked and had been searching for them for years. Luke and North were going to leave with them, and I knew that I wanted to go with them. My father protested against my wish, but my mom let me go. When we were fourteen, we were traveling when we came across Gabriel and his team being attacked. We helped, and ever since then, the nine of us have been a team."
As he finished speaking, we came to the room our first class was in. When we entered, all conversation stopped, and the people inside stood up and bowed to Gabriel. Whispers began as eyes noticed my presence and my pink ribbon. The ten of us climbed towards the back of the room. The room was made of long desks that would seat four people. Mr. Blackbourne, Sean, and Kota sat in the row behind us. I sat next to Gabriel in the middle row with North next to Gabriel and Luke next to me. I smiled as Silas, Victor, and Nathan sat down in the row before us. I was especially happy when Silas sat in front of me. Although the rows descended, Silas' height made it possible for me to see yet still be hidden. A perfect place to take a nap.
I turned around towards the two older members of the team. "So I have always wondered, why are you guys attending the Academy despite being in your mid-twenties?"
Sean smiled. "There are always threats against Gabriel. We can't be near him if we are not students. With that requirement, we made ourselves into students so we can protect Gabe."
I glanced at Gabriel. "Do you not get tired of them?"
"Hey!" Several of them shouted.
Gabriel laughed. "Sometimes but I know that I'm safer and better with them around."
More students filled inside the classroom, but none of them dared to sit too close to us. When the bell rang, a familiar figure walked into the room. Murmurs grew as the person stood before us. "Good morning, I am Professor Roberts. Some may know me as the Headmaster of this school, but to you, I will be your professor for this semester. Before we start, I want to welcome a new student who has surpassed many boundaries."
I didn't show my nervousness or surprise at what Headmaster Roberts was doing. Why was he calling me out in front of the whole class?
"She helped the Crown Prince Gabriel and his knights with the lycanthrope situation. When they brought her to the palace, they invited her to join the Prince's Guard. Despite not accepting the invitation, they encouraged her to stay and tested her level. Needless to say, she gave them quite a shock with her Pink rank. She may be a commoner but she is a level that is viewed as legendary. Ms. Armani, please, introduce yourself."
I didn't even try to put a smile on my face. With this introduction, I don't need to coddle up to any of these nobles because I surpassed them in terms of power. I made my way down the steps towards the front and turned towards the class. The guys weren't showing any expressions except Gabriel who had a big smirk on his face. And Luke who appeared to be asleep already.
"My name is Sang Armani. I am a bat shifter but have the mana level of a pink rank. Although my form might be small, my power is not," I warned them with a cheerful smile on my face.
It was silent in the room until a person scoffed. Looking to my right, I saw a guy looking at me in disbelief. He had lanky and greasy brown hair and beady brown eyes. He had deep pitted scars across his face and a goatee. One of my eyebrows went up at his silver tie around his neck. "I don't believe that you're a pink. I'm just gonna say it. You are faking it, and the only reason why you have a pink ribbon is because you're fucking them, aren't you?" He licked his lips and smiled, showing his dark yellow teeth. he didn't believe in personal hygiene, did he?
"When they get tired of you, I have something that could fill you up." He said as he patted his groin. He ignored the change of temperature of the room that became chilly due to a certain devil.
Amara growled inside me. Can I eat him?
I chuckled. No, I don't want his disgusting person inside us.
"What the fuck you chuckling about?" The guy grew angry.
"What's your name?"
He smirked. "Greg."
My lips spread, showing him a toothy smile. "Well, Greg, you are deluding yourself. Face it, you aren't even big enough to make me feel anything." I started to walk towards him. Every step forward, I released a portion of my power, making those closest to me flinch and sweat in fear. When I was in front of him, I smiled as absolute terror shined in his eyes. He shivered yet tried to remain untouched by my power. "My power is making you tremble. If I'm not a Pink rank, what am I?"
I bent forward, whispering so only he and his lackeys could hear "You better not speak about Gabriel and the others like that ever again. If I hear something like that from you or your lackey's lips, I'll tear them and your cock off and feed your microscopic dicks to the lycanthropes." I leaned back and smiled. "Got it?"
I could see the question in the others' eyes at what I said to them, but i didn't care if they knew or not. Greg and his lackey's nodded, not even daring to say another word.
I suddenly pulled my power back, and the other students let out a sigh. "Thank you, Professor Roberts."
Headmaster Roberts smiled and nodded. "Ah, you're welcome. Oh, and Greg, come to my office after class."
The class went by without any more interruptions. When the bell rang, signaling the end of the first period, students clamored out of the room, probably to tell their friends about me. As we exited the room, Luke threw an arm around my shoulder. "That was interesting to watch."
I smiled. "I thought you were asleep."
He shrugged. "I knew you could take care of it yourself."
As we walked towards our next class, a shriek drew our attention. The feminine voice seemed to scratch in our ears. "WHAT??!! It can't be."
As we rounded a corner, I froze. Silas bumped into me, almost knocking me onto the floor. "Agelle mou, what's wrong?" He looked up. "Do you know her?"