Author's note: Hey guys. First thing's first, I owe you all an apology. I said that I would try to release a chapter every week and I didn't come through. The truth is, this past month or so has been crazy with RL issues and I just haven't gotten around to doing much writing. Even so, I should have given you guys some kind of notice, and for that I'm sorry. From now on I'll try to release chapters more quickly, but I can't make any guaranties. In any case, here's chapter sixteen. Enjoy!
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“Honestly Sophia, all I asked was for you to keep a low profile! We haven’t even gotten to the academy yet and you’re already making trouble!”
Marcus could feel another headache coming on. Sophia just didn’t seem to have any filter. When something pissed her off, she took action without even the slightest consideration for the potential consequences.
In truth, Marcus was amazed that it took her this long to explode. He could feel her anger smoldering the entire time that they were with the mayor’s guards, but back then she restrained herself as a favor to Marcus and because there wasn’t really much that she could do against a pair of Mortal Soul Practitioners. However, alone and against some self-entitled brat from her own generation, Sophia didn’t hesitate for a second.
“Sorry Marcus, but I can’t just do nothing when I see someone being bullied and abused right in front of me. That’s my bottom line.”
Marcus could only sigh. In the end he couldn’t really fault her for doing what she felt was right. “I just wish that you had handled the situation more delicately. There were plenty of ways to stop that guy without beating him up and embarrassing him in front of everybody.”
“Ha-ha! Relax man, relax!” Unlike Marcus, Connor seemed to find the situation hysterical. “That prick wasn’t anyone important, otherwise he’d be over there with the rest of the silver spoon gang.” Connor pointed to the area where the children of Albion’s upper crust had sequestered themselves away from the unwashed masses.
“Er…” Sophia almost pointed out that Connor’s own origins weren’t exactly what one might call humble, but in the end she decided not to say anything.
Marcus sighed again, and Gregory silently chuckled from his hiding place. Your highness, you’ve grown far too accustomed to lowering your eyes and suppressing your anger. Sometimes you just need to let go and do what your heart tells you.
…
Sophia made the introductions between Marcus and Connor and the two siblings. At first Olivia couldn’t believe that she was actually friends with two high-ranking nobles, but Connor’s casual attitude and Marcus’ natural charm quickly put her at ease. Then, Sophia pulled Evangeline, who had been hiding in the background, forward to meet her new friends.
“Wait, let me see if I understand this,” Eliot scoffed. “You aren’t a noble, but you’re friends with nobles and you have a servant?” Eliot didn’t even mention the fact that Evangeline was a demon. After all, demons weren’t the ones who left his family to rot away in the slums. It was the nobles and their taxes that did that.
“Hmph! You dare to impugn Lady Sophia’s character?!” Surprisingly, Evangeline immediately grew enraged and shouted at Eliot. It made a sharp contrast with her earlier timid small animal vibe. “How ungrateful! Miss Sophia went out of her way to help you, and you repay her with insults!”
“Ha! I never asked for help! Especially not from some stuck up elitist-
“Eliot!” Olivia interrupted him before he could finish his no doubt derogatory statement. She couldn’t understand why her brother was acting this way. Sure, he generally despised nobles on principal, but he was usually smart enough not to be so blatant about it.
Sophia exchanged a glance with Marcus and Connor who shrugged and shook their heads helplessly. Eliot’s hatred of nobles ran deep, so they understood that it might take a while for him to trust them.
Olivia was about to chastise her brother when she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. “What’s that?” she asked.
Everyone followed her gaze and noticed a strange dot on the horizon.
Sophia squinted, trying to make out what it was. “I think – I think it’s a person!”
Sure enough, as the dot came closer and closer to the harbor it gradually assumed a human shape. It was a woman, and a beautiful one at that. Long black hair, pale silky-smooth skin, and a chilling expression that seemed to pierce into your soul. She was practically the textbook definition of a ‘cool beauty.’
Eventually, others began to notice the woman as well.
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“Wow, she’s beautiful!”
“How is she able to fly without using a magic tool?!”
“Idiot! She’s an Earthly Soul Master! They can command the elements to fly even without using a magic item or technique!”
“What?! What’s an Earthly Soul Master doing here?!”
Aside from a few of the more prominent young masters, most of the youths present had never even seen an Earthly Soul Master before. For them, flight was something that was only possible with the assistance of a powerful magic tool, such as an airship, or an ancient mystic art.
“Greetings, new students. I am Isabelle, a senior instructor from South Sea Academy.” Everyone’s speculation was suddenly cut short by the voice of the mysterious flying woman. It wasn’t particularly loud, but everyone could hear it clearly, as if she were speaking right next to them. “I’ve come to escort you to the academy grounds so please board the vessel in an orderly manner. Anyone caught pushing and shoving will have their enrolment status revoked.”
Vessel? What vessel? Sophia wasn’t the only one confused. There were plenty of ships in the harbor, but the South Sea Academy freshmen had been sent to one of the few docks that happened to be empty. So what vessel was she talking about?
Isabelle seemed to find their confusion amusing. With a wave of her hand, she produced a miniature crystal statue of a boat, and after a short incantation, the statue expanded into a massive ship, one easily big enough to hold the hundreds of new students.
The students gasped. To use such a valuable magic item just to ferry a group of new students… This was clearly South Sea Academy showing off!
“Come on! All aboard!” Isabelle shouted.
One by one the children made their way to the enormous crystal ship. Sophia was about to join them when Marcus stopped her.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
Marcus grimaced and glanced over at Evangeline for a moment before saying. “Sorry Sophia, I forgot to mention that South Sea Academy has a special rule regarding first-year students. Basically, during the first year no one’s allowed to bring any servants with them.”
“Ah…” Perhaps this was the academy’s way of trying to break down the boundaries between social classes. An admirable, if futile, attempt. However, this also unfortunately meant that Sophia wouldn’t be able to bring Eva with her. “Damn…”
Marcus smiled apologetically. “Don’t worry. I’ll have Gregory bring her back to East Dragon with him. He’ll see to it that she’s well taken care of.”
Suddenly a handsome middle-aged looking man seemed to materialize behind Marcus. Sophia’s friends nearly jumped out of their skin, but she barely bat an eye. So this is Marcus’ secret protector. She thought to herself.
Sophia bit her lip. She trusted Marcus, but Eva was just so vulnerable. She was a demon with the power to seduce men whether she wanted to or not in a continent where demons didn’t even have basic rights. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much of a choice. South Sea Academy’s rules were very clear, and they weren’t about to bend for her.
“My lady, it’s ok.” Surprisingly it was Evangeline herself who settled the issue.
“But Eva…”
Evangeline shook her head. “It’s only for a year after all. After that I’ll be able to join you at the academy. So please, don’t worry.”
Sophia sighed. “Well… alright. I’ll leave her in your capable hands Mr. Gregory.” Gregory was most definitely an Earthly Soul Master so Sophia didn’t have to be concerned regarding Evangeline’s safety with him around.
“Don’t fret Miss Sophia,” Gregory said with an elaborate bow. “I can assure you that within East Dragon Kingdom, no one will be able to so much as lay a finger on her.”
“Common guys! You’d better hurry up!” Suddenly Connor shouted a warning. When Marcus and Sophia looked over they noticed that most of the children had already boarded the ship.
“Oh crap! Let’s go Marcus!” The last thing they needed was to be late before school had even started. “BYE EVA! BYE GREGORY!” Sophia only had time for a quick farewell before she was rushed onto the crystal ship.