“So how’s the result of your training today?” a middle-aged man asked the youth infront of him. This youth is currently wiping his body that is fresh from the shower. He may not be that bulky as what most warriors seem to be but he’s got a lean body that couldn’t be described as skinny, rather he was a bit muscular. He has a stern look on his face as he gazed at the man who just came in to his room.

“It was alright…. I guess.” the youth shrugged and turned to his closet. The middle-aged man walked about the room occasionally touching and inspecting things.

“Well, I guess you’ve been eagerly preparing, the day for you to take over the throne is drawing near.” The youth just ignored what the man said because he’s right, he’s going to succeed his father to the throne soon. Razhiel Levereign, the only son of Emperor Yddrick Levereign, Ruler of the Nine Seas, Emperor of the Eastern Terra.

“Grandmaster Ivan, we both know how much responsibility this entails. I don’t know if I could take on this responsibility, much less be my father’s successor to the throne. Sometimes I do wish I could just have a normal life.” Razhiel sat down on his bed, finally dressed in a casual clothing, loose pants and a long-sleeved blue shirt, as he looked helplessly to Grandmaster Ivan.

“You’re getting scared too much.”

“Then how should I feel. Should I be excited? I feel like I’m still not enough.  I haven’t done enough to prove myself.” Razhiel slumped on his bed.

“Are you hearing yourself right now Razhiel? Cause I pretty much don’t agree with you and I know you understand what I mean.” Grandmaster Ivan gave Razhiel a meaningful look. “You are not the ‘Ice Emperor’ for nothing.” Then he walked to the door and left.

Razhiel stared at the ceiling of his own private room. Sighing, he got up and stood by the window. “Ice Emperor huh?”  he gave a light chuckle. “Do I really deserve that title? Not yet…. Not until I beat that person.”

~*~

It’s the first day of school at the Lotus Academy and everybody’s gathering at the Main Hall. It’s a pretty crowded morning since we’re talking about thousands of students gathering at one place, the good thing is that this Main Hall can accommodate all of them.

“I heard that the trainings would be pretty strict. I just hope I could pass the standards and become a genuine mage someday!”

“Me too. Though you know we could also hope to be a guardian someday not just an ordinary mage.”

“Woah! That would be great too. If only I could become like that in the future that would be really awesome!”

The students are chattering with each other while waiting for the opening ceremony to start. You could see the enthusiasm of the novices who just enrolled to the academy as they chatter with each other. While the other students from the juniors and seniors are getting pretty much bored.

At this time, a little girl entered the hall, she was about 5 feet in height and she appeared to be much younger than all the novices within the hall. She had a pair of purplish-black eyes and her red hair was tied up in an unkempt bun.

‘Uhm…. Where should I seat? It seems all the seats are taken.’ The little girl thought to herself.

At this time, a braided brown-haired girl saw her tip-toeing while trying to find a seat. She stood up and walked to her, “Hey! My name is Olivia, I believe you don’t have a seat yet, right?” she asked the little girl.

“Yeah. I still don’t have.” The little girl answered shyly. “M-My name is Leilian, a novice.”

“Ooh good thing I kept an empty seat beside me, come with me.” Olivia smiled and grabbed Leilian’s hand and made their way to their seats. “I originally kept it for my friend Alerie but unfortunately, she’ll be late and won’t be able to attend the opening ceremony.”

“Oh… Thank you.” Leilian smiled back at her.

“You’re welcome! You look so young Leilian, how old are you?” Olivia asked giving Leilian a very curious look.

“I am f-fifteen.... yes uhm I’m fifteen.” Leilian stuttered.

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“Oh, you’re just a year younger than me.” Then suddenly the bell rang indicating the start of the ceremony. A middle-aged man went up the stage wearing a very scholarly clothing and releasing a very dignified aura. It was none other than Grandmaster Ivan.

“A pleasant day my dear students. Today I’d like to welcome you all to Lotus Academy. I congratulate all of you for passing the screening test that was laid to test your potential abilities and skills. Rest assured, this academy will help you harness those abilities and help you become genuine practitioners in your own fields….”

“I heard that Grandmaster Ivan is very powerful. There was even a rumor that he could use more than one elemental magic!” Olivia exclaimed.

“Really? So powerful!” Leilian looked at grandmaster Ivan with amazement.

“Yeah! I wonder who is more powerful between him and the Emperor. They are both rumored to wield more than one element.” Olivia followed as she just stared at grandmaster Ivan on the staged filled with amazement.

“So now, I’ll be handing the stage to the current Students’ Organization President, Razhiel Levereign!” Grandmaster Ivan announced before he stepped down from the stage.

“Woah, the prince is really speaking today!”

“What a rare opportunity, I guess I’m blessed with luck today!”

“He’s so handsome! I wish I could marry him!”

Many exclaimed as Razhiel took the stage. There were too many different reactions but he didn’t seem to pay attention.

“I believe that all of you have different goals when you entered this academy. But I hope that we could make our goals inclined to the overall goals of this university and that is Excellence. As President of the Student Organization, I would like to reiterate that we are representing the Lotus Academy in all our actions and I hope that all of you would uphold the values and virtues of being part of this academy….”

The message wasn’t very long, it just included some announcements. After he spoke, several cheers could be heard. But just like when he went up the stage, he didn’t seem to bother about it and just made his way through the exit.

“What class are you in Leilian?” Olivia asked her.

“I’m in class 1-A, how about you?”

“Really? That’s great, we’re in the same class! Come on, let’s go together and you can sit beside me and then I’ll introduce you to Alerie.” Olivia was so excited.

“Sit beside you? How about Alerie?” Leilian asked, a little worried.

“Don’t worry she won’t mind, as long as she sits near me, that would be fine. But for you, I like to sit beside you since you look like a life-size doll! Oh, don’t get it the wrong way okay. It’s just that I feel like I have a little sister since I’m an only child and I kind of feel like dressing you up!” Olivia winked at her and gave a very sweet smile.

“Eh?!” Leilian was dumbstruck.

~*~

“I want you to meet my friend, Alerie. Alerie this is Leilian and she’ll be our little sister from now on.” Olivia exclaimed.

After the opening ceremony, they directly headed to their classroom. A few minutes after they arrived, Olivia’s friend also came. Leilian stared at the girl in front of her wearing eyeglasses, her long black hair flowing at her back with a smile on her beautiful face. She looked so mature and smart.

“Nice to meet you Leilian. Just bear with Olivia okay? Most of the time she can be impulsive and annoying.” Alerie winked at Leilian.

“I am not!” Olivia protested then pouted her lips. The two lightly chuckled.  “Hmp!” Olivia scowled at the two but they continued laughing only until Alerie spotted their instructor coming.

“You two should go back to your seats, or you might get scolded on your first day.” she told Olivia and Leilian which the two promptly complied.

The class started with introductions, some minor announcements and classroom rules. Apparently, Leilian is the youngest within the class. They were also asked to introduce the element that they wield. Olivia is a water element user while Alerie is a wind type. While Leilian is…

“You’re a fire element user?!” Olivia and Alerie where surprised to know about the element that she wields. Not only them but the whole class is. Fire element is the most dangerous element to wield. Weak control over such element could even consume the user to ashes or may cause massive destruction to its surroundings. And yet a young little girl is bestowed with such a powerful element.

“Y-Yes…” Leilian answered lightly.

The two looked at each other with awe in their eyes then turned again to Leilian as they remembered something. “How is your control over your element?”  The two are feeling a little scared now because if she has weak control over it, who knows what might happen in the future.

“Ahmm…” Leilian looked at the whole class who were now staring at her. “It’s ok, I can pretty much control it to not hurt anyone.” she lowered her head. The two sighed in relief along with the whole class.

“Well, I guess it’s safe. So let’s proceed.” Then the instructor went on with the rest of the introductions as the three settled in their seats. Most of their classes involves the basics for using their elements and the methods to be used for cultivation. After their classes that morning, a boy approached Leilian.

 “Hi! I think you’re pretty awesome fire wielder.” Smiling, he extended his hand “By the way I’m Rave.” Leilian accepted. “Nice to meet you.” Leilian motioned to Olivia and Alerie. “They are my friends Olivia and Alerie.” “Hello! Nice to meet you!” Alerie remained observant as he gazed at Rave.

Leilian noticed that Rave’s face turned red when he looked at Olivia. She secretly smiled.

“Well I guess, we’ll be classmates from now on.  Nice to meet you all!” Rave said as he walked to his seatmate and went out of the room. Alerie and Leilian began packing their thing when suddenly, Olivia exclaimed, “Leilian I think that Rave guy likes you!” Alerie and Leilian looked at each other, they understood each other’s gazes and began laughing.

“Hey! What’s so funny? You’ve been laughing at me this whole time! What’s wrong with the two of you?!” Olivia felt irritated. The two stopped laughing then looked at each other only to continue laughing again.

Olivia turned his head and started walking out of the room. “Hmp!”

The two hurried to her, “Olivia, wait for us!” but Olivia just walked straight out of the room without even bothering to look at them. “I hate the two of you!” Olivia kept on walking while pouting.