Sheira placed her hands in a 'V' shape. She stepped up the elegant stairs of the academy and headed toward the headmaster's office. The princess clicked her tongue in frustration.
Of course, she understood her duties well, yet it was the folly of youth to wish to enjoy it.
Princess duties, just let me enjoy my time. Her steps quickened while she strode through the elaborate marble halls of the Onost Academy.
The staff rushed around her, their stride hastened, and their hands full of stacked parchment.
Various classrooms and staff rooms lined the halls, yet that did not matter to her.
She was here for one thing. Her hand slid into her dress and retrieved the three letters. Her hands gripped the important documents and stared at the office.
She shook her head and approached the ornate mahogany door of the headmaster's office.
I have to embrace my duties, especially if I want to become a patron of my nation. She chuckled. Until recently, she couldn't have imagined even casting a spell, and now she thought about becoming a protector goddess.
First, she had to become a responsible princess like her eldest sister and brother, and then she had to stop her childish behavior. Gonna be hard to hold back teasing that girl. Sheira's lips widened into a grin.
"Eh, it doesn't matter. I have all the time in the world. Though it would be very cool if I could impress everyone with my progress." She knocked on the door and took a step back.
She had tried her best to suppress her urge to attempt to impress everyone around her, yet it was difficult.
She had spent so many decades of her life being teased and made fun of for the lack of magic, and her mother had put her under a blanket of protection that was Azure and the former guard.
Now that she had some power, it was mortal folly to flaunt it. However, Aqua was right, power was not meant for it.
"Enter!" She heard the voice behind the closed door, and a small drop of sweat rolled down her forehead.
She inhaled sharply and cracked her fingers. Stop being nervous, you are a damn princess! You helped Mom and Aqua deal with Lira!
Sheira placed her hands on her chest and took a deep breath, then she pushed the door open.
In an instant, she met eyes to eyes with a man with a sightless left eye. His left ear was clipped, and he wore a large horizontal scar over his face.
Seems rumors of his injuries were true.
Her face contorted and her eyes squinted for but a moment, she quickly gathered her bearings and bowed.
"Good day, Headmaster Enlil."
His one good brown eye stared at her. "You seem familiar. Who are you?"
"Forgive me. My name is Sheira de Brightcrown. The princess of the Elven Kingdom."
"Are you sure?" He grunted, and his arms pushed him up.
Sheira smiled, her confidence unshaken.
"Giving a false name would get you expelled in an instant, young lady." He got closer, his eyes scanning her from top to bottom.
She grinned. This man had no clue who he was dealing with. This is the first time my identity got questioned, hehe.
"Of course, I brought proof." She took a small step back and put the three letters between her and Enlil.
He tilted his head and glanced at the letters. He accepted them into his hand and returned to his seat.
His eye trembled and his hands shook as his gaze fell on the official seal of the kingdom. "I was mistaken, forgive me."
"You are just doing your job." She took a seat opposite the man and crossed her legs.
"Do not expect any special privileges. We do not discriminate in this academy, be you a duke, princess, or even the king himself." His thumb broke the seal of the first letter.
"I understand, and I do not expect you to go easy on me or my companions."
"Companions?"
"Each letter is for one of us. I, Azure, and Aqua, who is my cousin, are attending."
"The champion has returned, too hmm… I suppose war had turned to our side then." He slowly pulled out three parchments from their envelopes and placed them on the table. His expression lightened.
She nodded.
The man before her had fought in the war against beasts and had sacrificed much to secure important victories without which the elven kingdom would have been strangled by their relentless assaults.
The veteran's lips stretched into a wide smile, "I see that the royals aren't as spoiled as most of the brats that are sent here. I had to spend hours dealing with some arrogant sons and daughters of nobility. Your sister had arrived a day before you, too, and she had been immensely helpful."
He slowly read through the first letter, his eyes widening as he went through. "I see… However, there is one request in here I cannot fulfill for you."
"What is it?"
"I won't allow bypassing the academic integrity of this institution. Despite your role and importance, you will have to pass the exams. At least Written, magical and physical can perhaps be negotiated…" He grumbled, his hand tightening, "However, I refuse to do so. Even if the champion executes me for it. I do not care about how dangerous your cousin is, either. You are here to learn and hone your skills, not to play."
The man stared at her with such a serious expression that she felt cold shivers run down her spine.
"That is not a problem, we never expected that request to be accommodated, it's just what Father asked as a precaution."
"Is that so… Rather respectable of you, despite such a young age. I hope you will prove it in two days." He relaxed and placed the documents on the table.
"Don't worry about it, so about other requests…"
"Everything else will be accommodated. As long as all three of you pass two out of three exams." He waved Sheira off and reclined on his chair.
Very serious man, I see. Sheira had secretly hoped that she would be able to avoid studying, yet it seemed to be unavoidable.
"Any way to know what will be on the written exam?"
"General History, Basic Alchemical knowledge, and Mathematics. You needn't worry, it's all subjects that every noble should know, even if they had the worst of tutors."
Sheira cupped her chin. "I see. Thank you, sir Enlil."
He stood up again and stretched his hand forward, "An honor meeting you, I hope you and your companions will pass. If you do, we will meet again."
Her eyes fluttered, confused in a moment of unfamiliar motion. He wants to shake hands?
Cautiously, she stretched her hand forward and gripped the man's rough fist. She squeezed gently.
"I see you didn't slack off on your physical training, your highness." The man chuckled. He shook her hand and let go.
"Thank you, sir." She took a deep bow and turned her back to the man before slowly walking out of the room.
The door clicked behind her, leaving her free to breathe a sigh of relief. He really cares about academic integrity, huh?
No matter what happened, she knew she, Aqua, and Azure would pass. Agh, I will have to put in even more effort than expected.
A sudden burst of drowsiness collapsed upon her, she felt her eyelids growing heavier.
I am becoming sleepy again. She quickly shook her head. If she were to fall asleep, it would have been preferred to happen in the bedroom. A yawn escaped her throat, and she wobbled slightly.
"No!" She forced herself out of the drowsy state and rushed down the hall.
Ugh, I shouldn't have played it cool with Aqua when she asked.
Sheira straightened her spine by sheer force of will and made her way out of the staff building. She looked around and sighed in relief.
Her back slid down the wall, and she pushed her leg up.
The air around her carried a refreshing aroma, which relaxed her, and she slowly closed her eyes. Soon after, a familiar sound reached her ears, making them twitch.
"I knew you would find me. I wanted to avoid the crowd."
"Did you have any issues?" The hero of the elves stepped forward, her blue eyes piercing through her.
Sheira quickly shook her head. "None at all, the headmaster told me that three of us will be roommates since this year has a lot more candidates, they cannot spare more rooms. However, we still need to do our best with the exam."
"Can I know what those letters said?" Azure tilted her head and crossed her arm, she stepped forward.
"Can't say~ It's confidential." Sheira crossed her arms behind her back and spun around. "Let us go to our room." Her hand slid into her dress and retrieved a small parchment.
"Female Section, 6-C." Sheira nodded. "So, building C, let's go."