"Oh really? I never knew they're tailoring skills were that good."
"They really are. If you want, I could send a request for a dress to you?"
"I would really appreciate that. These sweets are also exquisite. Where did you…"
The small talk of two young women talking resounded throughout the room.
But these weren't any two women…
They were children of the most powerful people in the nation.
Any normal person would be sweating just by standing in the room with them.
And so was I.
As it turns out, the horn that resounded earlier was meant for the Princess of Felora, Isabella Florentina Felora, second in line for the throne.
And apparently, she and Vera are good friends. Good enough for her to just show up unannounced at the Dawn Mansion.
Amy excused herself after bringing the tea and cakes, leaving me alone with these two.
It felt incredibly awkward.
Tink
The ringing of the porcelain teacup pulled my attention back to the conversation between the two ladies.
"Well, I suppose that's enough small talk for now. Let's get into the interesting topic," Isabella said with a controlled smile.
"You're right, I was getting a little bored talking about dresses and pastries." Vera agreed to the princess's sentiments.
"The Academy. It will be starting in a few weeks. I hope you are well prepared." Isabella asked Vera innocently but there was a hint of challenge mixed in.
"Haha, of course I am. Why would I not be?" Vera replied with a chuckle.
"Well, I'm sure you've heard what is being said about this year's applicants right?" The princess's tone suddenly got more serious.
"The Golden Generation," Vera said, her voice also getting serious. "There are going to be many powerful people in next year's students."
Isabella nodded her head. "2 Duke's children, a Royal, an Ancient Spirit Master and the child of the Rift Hunters' Commander. And that's without taking the overall students power increase."
"Ugh, that means he will be there as well." Vera's face twisted with annoyance.
"You really don't like him, huh? Are you still mad about what happened all those years ago? I thought you would have grown up by now." Isabella leaned forward, a playful glint in her eyes.
"At least I'm not a pretentious coward like you," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"If something here would be pretentious, it would be your fake smile."
"I take great pride in that."
The two women proceeded to pick up their teacups with neutral expressions, as if what they just said never happened.
'Are these two really…..friends? They've been hurling jabs at each other for a while now.'
I was merely forced to stand behind Vera like I was trained to do by Amy.
'Golden Generation….'
'It seems that the applicants for the next year of Sunrise Academy are all extremely talented. Even more than usual.'
On that note, there are going to be people on par with Vera. Maybe even stronger.
And judging from their conversation, the Princess seems quite confident in her ability too.
Clink!
Isabella finished drinking her tea and put down the cup.
"Moving on. I'm quite curious as to what type of entrance exam they are planning." With regal grace, the Princess shrugged off the previous conversation.
"Indeed. Their exams are usually completely confidential until the time comes. But what I do know is that…"
"...It will be something very special." Isabella completed her sentence.
"All the previous years, the entrance exam has been something completely unorthodox and unexpected."
'The Entrance exam….'
I've heard a little about the entrance exam of Sunrise through rumours from the staff.
Apparently, last year, all the participants were hunted by the teachers and had to not get caught in order to be accepted. Granted they were holding back.
But that at least conveys why the entrance exams are so special…..
They are incredibly difficult.
Out of all the awakened that apply to Sunrise, only a handful actually make it in. This also means that all the resources are utilized by only the best.
I stopped contemplating as I felt Isabella's eyes land upon me.
"Kaelith, correct? I don't think we have properly talked." She greeted me with a benevolent smile.
Earlier, I was so stunned by her presence that I couldn't respond to her greeting.
I put my hand on my chest and slightly bowed.
"I apologize for my earlier behavior. It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness." I rehearsed the greeting I learned from Amy.
"Oh it's fine, don't worry. It seems you actually have manners unlike your mistress." The Princess said towards Vera as she merely drank her tea in silence.
"You must be quite special, Kaelith. In all my years that I have known this woman, I have never seen her with a personal attendant or knight. I am quite curious." She redirected her attention back towards me.
"You flatter me, your Highness. It is merely due to my mistress' benevolence that I was able to become her knight." Even if I disliked Vera, I could not let it appear on the outside.
For the first time since our conversation, the Princess' mask cracked a little. Her practiced smile turned a little confused as she started looking between me and Vera.
"You know, if this woman is mistreating you, please be sure to tell me about it. I can make you work for me instead." She asked me with a teasing smile.
"Stealing someone's attendant now are we? I suppose you are way more bold than I gave you credit for." Vera seemed to have enough of Isabella's attitude.
"I hope you didn't come all the way over to our humble estate just to try and steal my belongings." Her fiery eyes locked onto the Princess'.
"Who knows, maybe I did." Isabella's bright green eyes stared back at the same intensity.
The temperature seemed to drop a little as the two powerful women stared each other down.
'Are they…..fighting over me?'
Being called Vera's 'belonging' stung but I pushed it aside.
I'm sure the princess was just joking but I still feel like Vera reacted quite strongly to her jokes. Or maybe being her personal knight is more special than I gave credit for.
They were still staring at each other, before Vera suddenly started smiling and calmly drinking her tea again. "Surely you jest, Your Highness. I'm sure you would have no need for my knight."
Isabella tilted her head with a smile. "Oh? And why is that?"
Vera took her time as she completely finished her cup of tea before putting it on the table.
"Hmm? Oh it's nothing special. I just heard some rumors."
"Rumors? About what I wonder." Isabella's tone was still curious but I noticed her eyes got a little sharper.
"I heard that someone in the Royal Castle has been using the Royal Family's Sword Art to good use. That's quite funny, you know why." Vera posed to Isabella.
"No, why is that?" Though she was still smiling, her voice got more curt.
Vera chuckled a little before speaking. "I think it's funny because the Queen, The Crown Prince and even you, Princess, are all mages. The King is a warrior but he has no reason to be fighting at this moment. So, 'Your Highness', who could possibly be using it?"
"..."
It remained quiet in the audience room.
Vera didn't seem in a rush to hear an answer and Isabella calmly took her time to answer.
After what felt like minutes of silence, Isabella answered.
"You are thinking about it too much. People just like to talk." With a shrug, Isabella regained her smile.
"People like to talk? I suppose they do."
The air went back to how it was before. Still tense, but way less sharp.
Shortly after that moment they proceeded to talk about small things again like dresses, accessories and pastries.
"I think I have overstayed my welcome. I initially came here to catch up with my good friend but I suppose it's time to leave again," said Isabella who got up from the couch.
"It was a pleasure seeing you again, Isabella." Like they were actually true friends, Vera said goodbye to Isabella.
"Likewise. I suppose I'll be seeing you at the academy." After saying this she turned towards me.
"I hope to see you again as well, Kaelith. Am I right to assume that you will be going to the academy too." Isabella asked me.
"Yes, that is correct, Your Highness." I responded.
"Oh please, feel free to call me Isabella." She said smiling.
'I'm definitely not doing that.'
"Well then, goodbye." After Isabella said goodbye, Vera rang a bell on the table and Amy escorted her out.
'That was quite the experience. I never thought I'd meet the princess. Especially so soon.'
Only me and Vera were left in the audience room. She was still seated on the couch, most likely thinking about the meeting with Isabella.
"..."
'This is awkward.'
Even after standing there for a few minutes, Vera kept sitting there, not moving a muscle.
"Lady Vera?" I quietly called out to her.
She still didn't move, as if she didn't hear me.
'Do I call her again?'
Before I could she stood up and turned to me. She quickly scanned me up and down.
"You broke through to Tier 2. That was quite fast." She had the same bell-like voice as usual.
'She noticed it that quickly?' I merely nodded my head.
She started stretching her body outward with a sigh. "Talking with that woman is always so exhausting. Her unexpected announcement really messed up my day."
"She comes here more often, right?" I asked.
"Correct. She often visits powerful families in order to keep up relations. Politics. Quite a tiresome job." She replied.
"Oh well, make sure to keep up your training. Since the academy will be starting soon. I will tell you more about it another time. For now, you are dismissed." After saying that, she walked out, presumably to her office, leaving me alone in the audience room.
***
The clops of the horses could be heard from outside the carriage. It was still afternoon so the sky outside was clearly visible.
Within that carriage sat a girl with brown braided hair and bright green eyes.
"Haah, meetings with Vera are never boring. I'd never expected her to know so much about the happenings in the Capital. Impressive as always." The princess thought back to the last few hours she had.
"And that knight. I would have never expected that arrogant she-wolf to actually get a personal knight. Is there something special about him, or am I reading into it too much." She contemplated about the black haired knight.
"Haha, that knight, Kaelith, he certainly reminds me of him. Even their attitudes. I wonder what would happen if they met each other. I suppose I will find out in a few weeks."
Suddenly the carriage rocked, throwing Isabella off balance for a moment.
A small window opened revealing the coachman who was maneuvering the carriage.
"Sorry for the discomfort, my lady. A small group of Rift beasts attacked. The knights are taking care of it." The calm but respectful voice of the coachman came out.
The Princess merely nodded her head and stepped out of the carriage.
Knights surrounded the carriage, all bearing marks of 2 crossed swords.
The Royal Guard.
There were many Rift Beast corpses all around. The scent of blood and steel was all around the road.
As she was looking around an escort knight wearing robust golden armor started kneeling in front of her.
"Your Highness, I apologize for the inconvenience. Most of the Rift beasts have been taken care of, there is nothing to worry about." The knight apologized without hesitation.
"It's fine, raise your head." The Princess waved off the prostration of the knight before looking toward the side of the road.
At the corner of the road, lay a massive grey wolf. Blood smeared its fur and there was a fresh cut over its eye. The knights had dealt it a great injury.
The wolf still had fight in it as it growled and got ready to pounce at the knights.
Isabella looked at the injured Rift beast before walking towards it.
A burly knight was about to move in for the kill when a calm voice resounded through the air.
Riptide
When those words were spoken, a massive blue magic circle with unintelligible markings in the center appeared in the air. The sigils within them started glowing before releasing a divine flood towards the unsuspecting beast.
Before the wolf could even move, the wave crashed into it, before breaking past 3 different trees. The wave carved through the ground with the might of the ocean behind it.
Slowly the wave of water disappeared, leaving the mangled body of the grey wolf leaning against a sturdy rock.
Its bones had been completely crushed by the wave and its organs ruptured by the pressure. It would have been considered dead if its body wasn't still shivering.
"Hmm, I was hoping to kill it in one shot." Isabella's disappointment echoed on the now quiet road.
"You shouldn't be discouraged, Your Highness. It might have been injured but it was still a Tier 3 Rift beast." The golden knight commented impressed.
"I know. But I hoped to be able to easily take out at least an injured Tier 3 before the academy started. I suppose I will just have to do some more training at home. Someone finish it off. I'm ready to go home now." Isabella fixed her slightly ruffled hair before moving back to the carriage.
"Yes, your Highness." The Knights quickly disposed of the half-dead wolf.
The Princess, with her dress soaked from the mist of her own spell, smiled to herself faintly.
"Sunrise Academy is going to be fun."