EPISODE 17: FRIENDS… OR?
-Edryan Queendom. Year 7290, Season: New Beginning
In a flash, my first week at the Imperius Academy passed. While the start of the second week was underway. Karla and Simra no longer sat near me after the first day. Leaving me with Amaya and Madria. Ever since I revealed a piece of my grand plan to the young women, they’ve had a new look in their eyes.
Respect, excitement, and curiosity in Amaya’s case. Worship, reverence, and defiance in Madria’s gaze. Madria’s determination to be in my presence and become a friend to me was admirable. I’m still not going to church though!
“This week is the start of club recruitment and today is a free day in which students can explore the various clubs on academy grounds and meet your upperclassmen,” Wil Silverhand said. The first-period homeroom was almost over, and the students were looking forward to joining these clubs.
“Listen closely brats, everyone, and I mean everyone should join a club. I don’t care whether it is the Sword Association or the newly formed Crown Prince Fan Club,” Wil said with a smirk and wink in my direction.
“A club is a necessity in order for you to gain points outside of just class activities, duels, and building new things. A club is a place to form connections with some of this queendom's future powerhouses. Even if you brats are at the top of the school, that will not remain the same. Ten thousand pairs of eyes are on your spots. Waiting, hungry, and looking for a chance. Here at Imperius Academy, the higher you climb the best instruction and resources are available for you. That is not to say those at the bottom are bad. Even the lowest teacher here is someone with weight and reputation. It only means that the best of the best receives the best of the best.
Now get out of here, you brats, and find a club to join. Tomorrow, I expect to hear about either one or more that you’ve signed up for!”
I and the rest of the class rose to leave. As we did so my gaze locked onto one individual in the classroom. It was time to get my friend back.
----------------------------------------
Simra smiled at Karla’s antics. The pair made their way from Class 1 and toward Carina Hall where the different clubs were set up. Quickly making their way to the scenic root the pull of Final End faded fast and the fresh spring of New Beginning emerged. The soft sprouting flower buds and chirps of a new life filled the brick-red cobbled pathway with a sense of peace and prosperity.
“This is something I’ve been looking forward to since we’ve gotten accepted. Let’s meet up with Kal and Laura before we start looking! Oh, I’m definitely joining Rune Warriors. I heard there is a good chance the crown prince will join too…”
The two girls made their way to the hall with other class members traveling the same path. An arm softly grabbed Simra’s bicep causing her to halt. Simra frown internally as she hadn’t even sensed the person approaching. Simra turned and stared up in surprise at Lawruthian. Her blue eyes met his red-gold. The Crown Prince was around a head and a half taller than her and as she gazed into his eyes, she felt her heartbeat quicken.
“Hey…, Simra…,” he began. Still gently holding onto her arm as he spoke.
Simra watched the intense struggle within Lawruthian eyes and patiently waited, a slight frown on her face. The emotions from orientation resurfaced, bubbling to the surface. Her left hand subconsciously grabbed onto the hem of her skirt. She let those emotions show in her eyes and into Lawruthian’s own. She let him see how his actions affected her. The two grew lost to their surroundings.
Karla stood to the side a knowing smirk on her face. Her eyes were alight with excitement. “Oh this is going to be juicy,” she whispered to herself.
Law had always been an enigma to Simra. He was not like the stories of nobles or princes. Nor was he like anything she ever experienced. Her friendship with Karla, Kal, Laura, and all the other kids she grew up with could not compare to how she interacted with Law. Law brought her new experiences in life she may have never experienced without a noble connection. Throughout the years she had grown to consider him a close friend as they ran on adventures around Edri.
Law opened his mouth to speak again, and Simra waited anticipation building for his next words.
“Is everything ok?”
A voice suddenly asked interrupting the pair. The moment broke as their eyes disengaged.
Lorde Drumian approached the pair. Halting by them next to a glowering Ade as Lorde frowned upon the hand gripping Simra’s arm.
Lawruthian turned to face the pair, letting go of his gentle hold on Simra as he did.
“Everything is perfectly fine,” he replied. His tone was neutral and pleasant, but Simra had been around Lawruthian long enough to know the young man was annoyed.
Yet Lorde’s frown only grew, and his gaze locked onto Simra, waiting for the young woman to speak. Next to him, Ade’s glowering grew in intensity. His burning red eyes locked onto the Crown Prince.
Simra’s ears picked up the slight squeal of excitement from Karla behind her and the moment was completely returned to her. The girl quickly regained control of her emotions.
“Everything is perfectly fine,” she said with a nod to Lorde.
The two alongside Ade and Karla had grown to have an understanding with one another. Blows between their weapons able to say much more than words ever could. She heard a sigh from Lawruthian, and the crown prince turned to leave. Taking a few steps forward and away from them.
‘His back is broad… but lonely.’
“Law,” she called out gently before he was too far away.
Crown Prince Lawruthian turned and gazed into her eyes. The young man she saw on stage was in full display. There was a might and presence never felt before by Simra, held by the Crown Prince. She was not speaking to Law her childhood friend. This was Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani, Holy Son of the Edryani Queendom. Yet to her gaze, she could still see the friendship they held.
“Do you want to talk after dinner tonight?”
Lawruthians eyes lit up with emotion only seen to her.
“I would like that,” was all he responded before he turned away.
----------------------------------------
I turned and walked away. Immediately headed for Carina Hall to browse the clubs available to the students, yet my internals were in turmoil. My gaze and gait were steady and precise. The years of training made it impractical for me to walk any other way. I could not deny I was worried about tonight. I was also upset as I had practiced several times exactly what I was going to say when I talked to Simra. That all fell through the moment our gaze locked. Think twice then act. Sometimes no matter how you plan things just go out the window.
My steps made their way to Carina Hall. The loud noise from the students interacting with one another entered my ears as I approached. The only thing on my mind was my interaction with Simra. Would she forgive me? What would we talk about after dinner? Could she forgive me?
These and other questions ran a gauntlet through my mind. The loud noise of Carina Hall slowly drowned them out. Students with red bands around their arms patrolled the hall keeping order and peace. The student government disciplinary branch is out in full force. Plenty of their members were students who aspired to be a royal guard or more.
Bright colors and flags with different club insignias lit up the hall as I walked into it. There were different stands littered throughout the hall with all types of characters behind them. Calling the curious first-year students that filed in. Beckoning them over. Some such as the Rune-Smith Explorers, who specialized in building runic weapons and devices, showed off an assortment of glowing weapons. Others such as the Enchanting Chanters did the same with different glows aligned in various clothes and other gadgets. Or if they didn’t catch your interest the Elite Sword might. A group that specialized in training and practicing sword combat and skills.
It didn’t matter what profession you wanted to go into. It didn’t matter if you wanted to be a [Mage], [Knight], [Spell-Sword], [Enchanter], [Inscriber], [Runesmith], or any of the various crafting professions. Imperius Academy could accommodate them all. I made sure that such an environment would be cultivated and passed on. All of the people present in the clubs were second-year students who hoped to pass along their ideals and dreams to the new generation. A generation who was close to getting their classes and starting to walk their path in life. A wide smile was present on my face as I made my way through the hall. The atmosphere was infectious and to see all my hard work come to fertilization was… nice.
My steps halted in front of a lone table with only a few figures sitting behind the booth. You could tell the booth was hurriedly put together yet there was much thought and concept behind it. I looked up and read the club sign aloud.
“Golemancer’s Dominion.”
The booth was covered in CGB or Civilian Grade Batteries and a girl with a messy tank top-like shirt sat behind it fidgeting with the softball size battery. Her concentration was so intense she didn’t notice me standing there for several minutes. Which was completely fine as I watched her work with rising interest.
“If you want to increase the power output you need to use a more powerful battery. The CGB is only designed to hold and expel so much magical energy. Its materials are cheap and cost-effective.”
“Yaa, well not all of us can afford the IP to spend on higher grade materials to upgrade their golem battery. If you tweak the copper components in the right manner… just… like… this!” The girl said with a hard twist of her tools. There was a beep of excitement from her band.
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
“Then you can increase the power output by an estimation of 10%. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it is… an… increase…,” her words slowed as she finally looked up and her gaze landed upon me. Eyes widening in realization and confusion.
“You’re Crown Prince Lawruthian… what are you doing… here?” She asked in quite a confused tone. Gesturing around the haphazardly put-together booth. The two other members at the booth with her finally looked up after hearing our conversation. Their eyes widened in excitement and realization.
I stayed quiet for a moment or two surveying their club, members, and booth in its entirety. My gaze finished roaming and returned to the young lady a smile on my face.
“I’m here to join Golemancer’s Dominion.”
----------------------------------------
Madria and Amaya made their way inside Carina Hall. Animatedly discussing with one another as they walked.
“It still amazes me what Lawruthian intends to do with his academics. No wonder there was such a panic a few years ago in all the major orders of the county,” Amaya began. Talking in confidence knowing the active spell around them would mask their words within a certain vicinity around the girls. Halting any ease droppers from listening in just by being close. They would have to enter a certain range and by then the girls could easily confront them.
“The Holy Son is a wonder but how will the high noble houses react? I understand our six great families will stand with Her Highness and the Holy Son. Yet those others…, some with their scions here… how will they answer?” Amaya pondered a skip in her step as her gaze landed on booth after booth.
“It doesn’t matter, if this is the will of Goddess Madris then so it shall be done.”
Amaya rolled her eyes knowing her friend had much more thoughts than that. The two girls were too close for Amaya to not recognize the hint of challenge in Madria’s voice. “Be for real, Madria. I can sense the challenge within you. You don’t agree with what the Holy Son wants to do.
Why?”
Madria sighed and knowing the antics of Amaya the girl wouldn’t rest until Madria came clean. It wouldn’t matter how long it would take. Once when they were children Madria partially let some internal matters of the Gamal slip around Amaya. The girl pestered her for a year before Madria finally gave in. Her curiosity to know just everything was boundless.
“I don’t think Lawruthian will fully succeed in what he wants to do,” she began. Hesitating before deciding to continue. If there was anyone Madria could trust to not spread anything she told her it would be Amaya. Death would claim her friend before anyone could force her to talk.
“Lawruthian has a flaw that will not allow him to succeed. I… I believe in the words of Queen Titiana and our Magi Mother. But…,” a complicated expression appeared on Madria’s face as she spoke.
Amaya waited patiently giving the girl an encouraging nod as they navigated past booth after booth.
“Lawruthian lacks peers. Even I can see it. He is a genius like no other the Edryans have ever seen. Yet we, scions of the six families, are not in his eyes. The fight against Ade will show his capabilities. the capabilities of the Child Without Equal.
His idea to bring up the skill level of commoners to a greater height through his changing of our culture and society is noble. Yet he walks this path alone and without help.
So I will help him.”
As she said so her eyes landed on the lonesome figure of Lawruthian standing in front of a rundown booth. An aura held itself around the young man. Creating a pocket of 5-7 feet in which none entered. That is until Madria herself stepped through.
----------------------------------------
The young woman gaped at me as I stood in front of her booth. While her mates in the back did the same. Her mouth hung open in bewilderment and astonishment. She had shoulder-length blue-white hair, most was tied up in a ponytail. With loose strands falling everywhere. Her presence gave off an electric feel. While her eyebrows were shaped like lightning bolts and her eyes were a cold wintery blue. Her entire look would be called exotic back on Earth but here this was a norm, especially for noble houses.
“How do I sign up and what is your name,” I began asking. Only for a voice to interrupt us.
“You should conduct yourself better Lawryn Adel. That is no way for the daughter of the Adel House to look, act,” Madria said. Palpable hostility in her tone. She paused here and took a whiff of the area before wrinkling her nose. “Or smell,” she finished as she removed a handkerchief and covered her nose.
Next to her was Amaya who gaze at the batteries and other components on the booth with interest. Reaching her hand out to grab a few components and assemble one of the civilian batteries in front of us with simple movements and efficiency.
At the mention of her house Lawryn Adel’s posture and entire mannerisms changed. Or perhaps it was just the presence of Madria Gamal.
Lawryn Adel chatted a simple cleaning spell and her appearance changed in front of us. From an oil-stained tank top to a clean and cream-colored one as the dirt and grime fell in a circle around her. Her gaze harden as she stood up a head taller than Madria and myself. Anger in her eyes and sparks clashing between the girls.
“It seems another Gamal needs to be put down like the dogs they are. Your older sister cannot best me, so she sent her brat nose sister to act against me?”
While she was sitting behind the bench, I hadn’t noticed just how built the young woman was as she stood a bit over 183cm tall, but now it became well apparent.
I held up my hand right before Madria could burst a reply out. It seems the Gamal and Adel families were not on good terms. I should have had Eliana teach me the various house enmities instead of ignoring them.
I knew of the various factions in the Edryan queendom. There were the families who were the main support of the Old Power. Adel, Jarrah, Ursisus, and others. The two other factions excluding my mother's, were the neutral factions and the final faction was composed of high noble houses that wished to turn Edryan into an oligarchy type of state.
“Madria you will leave,” I said it without question. Turning to address Lawryn next.
“Sit. Down.”
Power rang out as I spoke to both women and the surroundings intensified.
Those two sentences seem to break the situation in its entirety as Madria turned to leave immediately. Dragging Amaya behind her. The twin puffed girl pulled at her eyelid and stuck her tongue out as she was dragged away. The black colored nail of her middle finger gave a clear indication of where she stood.
After they were a distance away, I turned back to Lawryn. Who took that opportunity to compose herself. She looked at me with clear wariness in her gaze. Her eyes flickered from what could only be a notification and then back to me.
“I do not care about the past. Only what we can learn from it in order to progress the future.”
The wariness in Lawryn’s gaze faded but it did not completely vanish. After my mother took the throne the supporters of the Old Powers suffered greatly. Their patriarchs and matriarchs were killed, and assets were seized diminishing their power. Still forcing them to recover to this day. Lawryn Adel had a right to be wary of me.
“Golemancer’s Dominion looks interesting to me. Are you under the [Golemancer] class?”
She studied my face for a moment before answering. “No, not specifically but my class is related. Golems in recent years have become fascinating! My class has more to do with these.”
Lawryn held up the Civilian Grade Battery as she said so. Yet afterward, she didn’t offer any more input. Class details were something that you kept close and only shared with family. Even then one should never give out the full details of their class unless necessary. After a class advancement, however, is a different story. Plus, Imperius Academy was required to know some of the details of your class. Such as the name and some requirements… otherwise don’t bother attending. This was guaranteed for students on scholarship. Those who paid their way in were a different matter.
“How did you manage to increase the energy output of the CGB? I believe we did everything we could to make it efficient,” I said. Interest in my eyes as I sparked up a conversation.
“It was actually quite difficult, and it cost me tons of points in purchasing multiple models,” she said gesturing around. Becoming more animated as she spoke.
“Yet if you take the copper components and braid them into a three-strand twist while also adding crushed and empty mana crystals between the wire strands. It generates a boost in effectiveness and helps create that 10% output I mentioned earlier. These mana batteries are an ingenious idea and they have so much more applications than just golems.”
Bingo! This is what I wanted. The batteries can be used with much more than just golems! I stared in surprise at Lawryn, a happy expression then appeared on my face. “You’re completely right! Have you developed any other applications to use the battery by?”
Lawryn hesitated before looking around. The noise and chatter of the students in Carina Hall filled the atmosphere with an upbeat and lively display. But eyes and ears were always watching. Here at Imperius Academy, each student was not only a peer but a competitor. Although the beep from her band let her know that her work was safe from being exploited. That didn’t mean any new ideas she discussed with me would.
“Ahhhh, forgive my rudeness. Perhaps if I became a member of Golemancer’s Dominion we could discuss this more at a later date?
“Golemancer’s Dominion would be honored to have you join us.”
The night sky shone with endless radiance as the infinite number of stars covered the inky blackness. Shining with radiance in defiance of the dark. Even the lights of the academy could not dim their radiance from being known to all. The Astral realm in which the Gods resided would not be denied. Tonight, two of the three moons showed their presence. One gold for the radiance of the gods endlessly shinnying on the continent. One blue for the pure magic that spread throughout the world. Giving life to all creatures under the sun. At least, that was what the tales told.
Simra studied Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani as he walked along the path next to her. Tens of minutes had passed, and the academy curfew would begin within the hour. The pair continued to walk in silence. Enjoying the faded chill and the freshness of early New Beginning. The chirping and clattering of different insects accompanied them as they moved. Creating a cacophony of noise.
“I’m sorry,” was the first words that came from Law when they finally stopped in a small clearing close to the girls’ dormitory.
Red-gold eyes turned to stare into hers. His brown skin held a luster that reflected the light of the stars. There was a seriousness in his eyes that was previously lacking in the morning. The nervousness and hesitation present before all but gone from Law’s demeanor.
“I lied to you for several reasons and in the end, I lost your friendship and trust because of it.”
“My trust but not my friendship, Law.
It’s just weird to know that the young noble boy I met all those years ago was one of the ideals I was striving for. I must have looked like a fool to you,” Simra said. The first emotion from orientation made its appearance as they spoke.
Anger.
“Not at all,” Law clapped his hands and a translucent barrier erupted around them. Limiting the sound around them. “I have many secrets and things that I cannot share. One thing I can say is that my friendship with you was genuine. Actually, you’re my only friend.”
Law sheepishly scratched the back of his head and Simra stared at him in confusion. “Are you not friends with Madria Gamal and Amaya Musa?”
“Not truly, although Madria is doing her best to make it so.”
“You shouldn’t lead her on then and make your intentions known. It's not right that she tries to accompany you only to be pushed away.”
Law sighed and looked away. Up at the brilliantly shining night sky. “I am seen as the Holy Son. The Chosen One. Child of Madris and whatever other fancy titles are made for me. There are expectations of me. You held expectations about me. Ideals and fantasies of what the Holy Son is like. I am the Child Without Rival,” Law mocked.
“You’ve seen the way some of the students worship me. To hold up three to their lips and praise me. To not look at me as magi human but divine walking amongst mortals.”
“I don’t want that.
But I promise I will do better to Madria.”
Law paused here giving Simra time to digest what he said. Her thoughts flashed over the past week and all the time students paused in prayer to Law. Worshiping the very ground he walked up. She tried to imagine what that would be like if she was in such a situation.
“You are strong,” she said. The realization of just how Law’s life must be growing up swept their way through her thoughts.
“I accept your apology.”
System Unlock:
410 Days
12 Hours
15 Minutes
9 Seconds