A deep groan broke out in the silence as the gate unbolted, occupying the ears of those seated, directing their eyes to be hinged at the entrance, watching the ones who were about to enter.
Upon Mina and others laid upon this polished wooden floor, a distinct echo replayed their creaks, accompanied by a thundering amazed sound from Mina, "WOAH~!" who was astonished by the sheer beauty and glamour of her house room.
The altitude of their house room was gigantic, approximately 45 feet to the ceiling, with three chandeliers orderly aligned.
Her house's spaciousness is also massive and could be crowded with at least a herd of cattle.
On the opposite wall of the entrance, it lined up with translucent tinted adorned windows, raying the airy room with tolerable brightness and cozy sentiment.
And the interior room floor is covered with bright red grandiloquent carpet, inserting a luxurious sensation to accommodate those high-status students.
The room's wall is also coated in mustard brown, depicting a sense of comfort and warmth, administering a pleasant surrounding for the student to settle in.
In the middle back, the room was built with platforms that elevated to a higher ascent, providing a well-defined view for those seated at the back.
Each platform was built with a row connecting far-reaching tables along the ascension and finishing with a matching-length bench behind and underneath the desk.
Overall there as five platforms and five rows of tables.
Staircases are also installed at the side of the platforms, cultivating paths for those ascending to the higher back end.
As for the front most, a long stubbier desk was situated, supposedly for the handler to use, and behind the desk is a large blackboard framed at the anterior wall.
As the small space above the windows also hung with portraits of historical and notorious figures, including Mina's father, King Elias.
After enjoying such intricate views, Mina was livelily barreled along in this vast room, which Laura also voluntarily joined.
Meanwhile, Keena railed against their uncivilized manner, "Mina and Laura, please stop roistering! You're disturbing the others!"
She worried glares from their housemates would be horrid, disgusted by their unruly behavior, and gossiped about them, but all was just her imagination.
Konnaugh then lightly patted her shoulder, saying,
"Loosen up a bit, Keena. Let them have their occasional fun. We're still young, after all. Delicacy wasn't something we should be rushing about."
He then turned, continued in his casual tone while departing,
"By the way, nice knowing you all. But I have to go now, I will catch up with guys later."
He waved farewell as he swiftly advanced to one of the seats in the back, with someone who seemed to be his familiar calling at him.
Keena then subtly waved back as she watched his departure.
Then, she also scanned the other students, attempting to grasp an idea of what everyone was doing.
She realized that everyone was simply minding their own businesses, chit-chatting, playing, reading, and drawing, totally disregarding those two menaces.
Completely opposed her first notion of everyone's reaction, including that obnoxious boy too, Dalius, who just stuck to his own book without care.
In the meantime, those two radically monstrous creatures still capered in the room, irking her tolerance.
"Would you two simmer down already? We should be seated before our handler arrives,"
"Come on, Kana!" Laura responded,
"It's Keena, by the way..."
"Loosen up your stiff shoulders already, and join us to have some fun!" Laura added with a grin.
"How is it fun when you two literally just circle around the walkway?" Keena stated while peering at them.
"Laura saves your tongue against Keena. Keena doesn't really know the true wellspring of fun. And this is why Keena always turns up grumpy." Mina casually added.
"You know I can hear you right, Mina..." Keena inserted while glaring at her.
Suddenly, a loud thud stormed in, with a wave of menacing aura passing through their neck, sensing something belligerent or someone as fierce as a lion. Thereupon, its voice demanded them with a shout,
"The three of you, stop blocking and frolicking around the walkway already! You are disrupting the Demonkins who wished to study! This is no playground nor a place for you to lark around! So, grasp the setting and cease your boisterous action at once! Proceed to your respective seats now!"
Keena then twisted her body and converted her sight backwards, speculating the sound to be their handler.
Instead, she received someone else, a girl taller than any of them, counting Konnaugh and Dalius, with dark hair that was not longer than her shoulder, precisely to be someone they met formerly at the orientation. Patria was it.
Once Keena and Patria's eyes were intertwined, a surge of intensity rose between them. The shift of the atmosphere between them was not pure hatred but hostility, implying the impending clash.
Mina noticed the unusual shift in Keena's aura as she swiftly paced to Keena and latched onto her, whispering, "Keena, let's go pick our seat!"
She proceeded to drag Keena away, shunning the disaster befallen.
Whereas Patria stilly posted on the spot, glaring at their departure with Laura, who was oblivious, faintly tilted her head sideways, watching them move away.
"What's with you, Mina? What's with the speedy change of heart?" Keena inquired without recognizing Mina's grasp of the situation. On the other hand, Mina just answered with an excuse,
"Mina just wants to seize the seat before others."
"But there are still plenty of seats vacant yet." Keena was skeptical about her answer, but Mina insisted and said in a jittery tone,
"Just let Mina do what she wants, okay!"
"Fine, whatever you say..."
They both then proceeded to the seat in the middle of the front, second row, sitting and waiting for their handlers to arrive.
After they settled down, Mina then murmured in Keena's ear,
"Mina senses something unsound between you and Patria. Did anything happen?" Mina was worried,
"Not really, besides the time she slighted me during the tour." Keena denied it.
"Mina feels like Keena is lying to her..."
"It's not something you should stick your nose into, Mina. It's something personal and should be kept at it."
"Mina understands that Zaran and Xorros often betide in conflicts, but Mina just doesn't understand why only you and her and not you and that potty-mouth boy."
Upon realizing her secret won't be able to hide from that princess, she deeply sighed and implicitly explained,
"Let's just simplify it with that under the Xorros circle family tree, there are sub-factions divided from the main, which each faction carries its distinct beliefs and cultures despite being linked to the core traditional, and is the reason why Dalius and I don't have any underlying grudges until you know..."
"Keena punches him?"
"*Sigh* Yes, but there's no need to state that openly..."
"But Keena haven't explain-"
During their carefree chatter, one of the two students who were seated behind keenly tapped on Mina's shoulder, interrupted their conversation, and inquired with an excited tone,
"You can't be Princess Mina, aren't you?"
"We might accidentally eavesdrop on your conversation just now and somehow learned your name through it." another one added,
Mina then spun her body, faced them in a nonchalant manner, and answered with her plain voice,
"Yes, Mina is Mina."
Upon heeding Mina's name, two of the students immediately fluttered in glee, stuttering as their tongue was stolen,
"Oh my goodness, Sasha! Did you hear what she said?! She is indeed the princess of Vuzgaria!"
"I know, right?! I can't believe it myself, either! What a chance and honor it is for us to meet her!"
While they were gushing over Mina's name, Mina returned her view to the front with an unimpressed demeanor, an expression that depicted nothing but sheer annoyance.
Keena then subtly tucked on Mina's elbow, whispering,
"I guess you're right to be upset. If it was me, it would get on my nerves too."
"Mina really despised her name... Mina feels like everyone always glorifies her presence, like she is a sage or something. But Mina is Mina, princess or not, Mina is still Mina!" Mina replied in an unhappy tone, cussing on her own name.
"I hate to break it to you, but it's a name that was given to your birthright, Mina. Not everyone was so fortunate to earn such a prestigious name. Like some Demonkins weren't as fortunate as you, they were born in poverty and couldn't live under roofs, nor even on plain streets, as they can only lurk in the dark alley, scavenging scraps to survive. Meanwhile, everyone here was able to fill up their tummy with three-course meals without the worries of being even a tiny bit of hunger, let alone cast to the street, fighting for scraps with pests. So, Mina, please don't mud your name over a few slight inconveniences. Instead, cherish it with your whole heart as it is a crest to make your abundance." said Keena in a tender and encouraging tone.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
However, Mina wasn't buying her words, as she stated in a doubtful tone,
"Mina couldn't grasp the issue Keena was trying to fuss about. What does Keena mean when she said the Demonkins lived in an alley and fought for scraps?"
Keena was at first confused but unsurprised by Mina's innocuous toward society, as she then decided to answer with the obvious,
"It means what it means, Mina. Some of us don't get the privilege of enjoying the lavish life, forcing us to live on the streets or alleys and must seek food from scraps. Or you can simply say being homeless."
"But isn't everyone in Vuzgaria own a house that just wasn't as big as Mina's?"
"It seems you're way too naive to understand the harshness beside your own, Mina."
"But Mina still doesn't understand-"
"All those questions tinkered up in your princessy brain should lead back to one simple question. Did Mina ever explore places beyond her castle? Primarily at the Midland. Not the Outland since it's a desolate place anyway."
Quick Introduction:
The Kingdom of Vuzgaria was segmented into three different divisions.
Highland is supposed to be the land forbidden only to nobles or distinguished figures, as any figures wished to stumble on this very land. They must be affordable in Highland housing, accommodating the higher portion of taxes or earning their prestigious title from outstanding commitment.
On the contrary, Midland is a land for average social class Demonkins, who lived an ordinary lifestyle without many luxurious bearings and prominent titles, just mostly merchants, farmers, and laborers, who are capable of owning relatively smaller houses in comparison to Highland, which mainly Mansions, and able to keep up the monthly taxes set by the authority.
Lastly, the Outland the land of pure poverty and shadiness. Demonkins who sunk their lives in such land will be refugees, criminals, addicts, or just beggars. For those who stayed in the Outland, it was entirely free from tax charges, but the housing wasn't as drooling as the Midland and Highland, as most were just tents or ruins.
Not ever catered Demonkins will wander through Outland unless it was compulsive. Even the residents from Outland wouldn't stay at the place for too long and likely went to the Midland to spend their day and earn their bread and coins, despite some using questionable approaches or some just seeking alms.
After deliberating on the issue mentioned by Keena, Mina casually replied,
"Not really... Mina was forbidden to step out of her castle unless there was company. Well... Mina was only allowed to wander behind the walls of her castle."
"You're really living in a small small world, Mina." Keena wasn't surprised,
"Anyway, all I want to say is that you should be grateful for the life you have right now and blame it less." Keena articulated.
Mina then dropped her jaw on the table, melting like an ice pop, and downcastly drawled,
"But Mina is way toooooo lazy to deal with others gushing over her name like this... Mina still believes everyone should be treated equally..."
"At first, I really bought that notion of yours to be noble and virtuous. Now I begin to think that you just declare it for your own leverage," said Keena in a disenchanted manner.
She then concernedly added while moving her head around,
"By the way, where's Laura? I've totally forgotten about her until now. She's like vanished or something."
"Mina just saw her walk to the back with that girl you have a personal affair with."
"Oh, with Patria? Really...? I bet she isn't going to enjoy it..." Keena responded as she swiveled her head backwards, scanning for them, just to realize they were at the far right of the third row and how Laura was just pummeling Patria with idle curiosity.
"What is your name!" Laura questioned in her boisterous tone.
"None of your business." Patria solemnly responded while stagnating her focus on the front.
"Where did you come from!" Laura again questioned, which was once again denied by Patria,
"None of your business."
"What do you do when you're bored!"
"I said none of your business!" Patria began to rile up because Laura circled her head like a fly, consistently pestering her peaceful day.
Meanwhile, Keena sighed out of relief, knowing she didn't have to deal with that atrocity, agonizing about how aggravating it could be when the two headless bulls, Mina and Laura, rammed at her.
They all then proceed to spend their leisure time during the period, waiting for the class to begin.
Not before long, the gate groaned again, flinging wide open, and this time, a miniature figure paced to the front desk, with its right arm holding a bulky book to its chest.
The figure halted before the front desk and placed its belongings above the desk, then hollered,
"Rise and shine, my fellow pupils. It's time for our session to begin! And for those wondering, who was I? Let me provide you with a brief introduction. I'm your handler, Tiandraora "Kiandrak" Dragarok," she then smoothly turned her body, summoned chalk from thin air, and jotted her name on the large blackboard with it while continuing her sentence,
"Ms. Tiandra will be sufficient, as I believe I introduced myself to attendees of the orientation. As for those who didn't, I believe your urge for my identity will now be relinquished."
Once her introduction was made, she laid the chalk on the desk and turned to the student with a bright look.
Suddenly, Laura topped her lung and greeted her handler with her high-pitched perky tone, "Good morning, Ms. Tiandra!"
"Good morning to...?" Tiandra stalled her return greet as she wasn't familiar with Laura and expected Laura to introduce herself so she could conclude her words.
"Laura!" Laura replied.
"...Laura! It's a delight to hear such a vibrant sound of yours in our house room today, and hopefully, the day onward will be moved on as vibrant as you!" Tiandra articulated with a grin.
Meanwhile, Mina also greeted her handler with a rousing tone,
"Hi, Ms. Tiandra!"
"Oh! Morning to you too, Princess Mina, and it's an honor for you to credit me with that noble tongue of yours." in contrast to the way Tiandra remarked on Laura's behalf, Tiandra repaid Mina's greet in a much more proper manner, appearing to be a totally different manner.
Mina, as usual, was nettled by it and ranted in Keena's ear, "Even Mina and Keena's handler behaved toward Mina in such a way... Mina is wasted..."
After Tiandra declared Mina's identity, most of her housemates began to huddle up, peeking over at Mina and whispering her name since many of them didn't recognize they were sharing a house with the princess herself and decided to pry on the matter.
While everyone was deliberating on Mina's presence, Tiandra quickly turned her back toward the students, clasping her hand on her chest, quivering and stuttering in her thought,
*Did- did- did I do it right? To discern one of my students to be the princess of Vuzgaria really swayed my composure if one of my minor incompetencies flaunted before her prestigious eyes..."
She then subtly revolved her head to Mina and skulked her vision against Mina, who was laid flat on the table with her jaw on first, apparently drained. While Keena was just at her side reassured her with pats on her shoulder and seemingly murmured something in her ear.
She then recouped her gaze to herself and continued in her thoughts from where she had left off,
*...I will be doomed! Who knows what worse will be befallen if she reports to her father that I- I-*
After an unhealthy amount of self-doubt, Tiandra finally ceased herself from another heap of negative assessments as she lifted her chest and deeply breathed, abruptly slapping herself in the face with both of her hands, murmuring encouraging words to herself,
*You know what? I must defy those pessimistic views of myself and muster confidence into the core of my heart! Demonstrate my merit and flawlessness before the princess, and then I will and shall ascend my mastery of academics! Instigate the acknowledgment of the king himself, and one day, who knows, I may earn one of the five seats of Engróntar! Which... totally sounds impractical... But still, I might have a chance to be promoted!*
She clenched her fist in the air as her face expressed nothing but sheer determination.
Before the story continues,
Engróntar is a council intricately structured for only five members that are the savviest, wisest, and wittiest Demonkins of the entire under realm, even bestowed the perk to assess and dethrone any mighty royal family themselves when they make a judgment that leads to a calamity of the entire realm or alleged to be corrupted.
However, Engróntar usually won't integrate themselves with politics. Instead, they spend most of their lifespan in the Havvier of Schoálar, or in the common tongue known as "The Scholar's Heaven," a place that is forbidden to entry by any possible beings, including all the royal family.
The Havvier of Schoálar is a place that is cursed with limitless knowledge, a place that provides erudition surpassed by the realm itself, and none have ever achieved grasping the entire erudition from the place except Azemos himself, who was responsible for creating this eternal zone with two others Omni beings in the first place.
Originally the place has functioned as the memory zone or the sector for Azemos with other two Omni beings to store, circulate and share their insight regarding their respective realms. But, the library's purpose was altered once the three beings' existence was evanesced.
So, such a ground was ordained to be sacred and secluded from the reach of the non-chosen Demonkins.
With sole access to the Havvier of Schoálar, one must become an Engróntar.
The process of being Engróntar is complex and near-impossible. For one to be, it must undergo the united agreement of three to five different underworld kingdoms or empires. Otherwise, it is voided. Therefore, Engróntar is now more fondly to a myth than a fact, as it was not something sensibly attainable.
Now transiting back to Mina's house room...
After a considerable time of Tiandra performing self-reflection while others were still gassing over Mina's name, she finally summoned her courage and regained control of the house room by asserting,
"*Ahem* Everyone quiet down!"
The hall immediately fell silent, as all their focus straightaway reverted to Tiandra, who later added,
"Since it's the first day of our semester, it is wise for us to elect the house representative, mainly to lead and monitor the members of our house. As well as offer assistance to those members in dire need. So, let us elect a house representative based on the favorability of his or her housemates, and without further ado, we shall nominate some of the candidates for the election. Do we have volunteers?"
Dalius was the first to raise his hand with a pompous look on his face as the handler then pointed at him, "You, young gentleman, please come forward," inviting him to the house room anterior.
The moment he skimmed through Mina, he put up a derisive smug on his face, mocking Mina with his arrogance, which undoubtedly irritated Mina to an extensive degree.
Mina then growled at him and said to Keena in an upset tone,
"That potty-mouth boy is really pushing Mina's button..."
"Hmm... now to think about it, he really did lean toward picking on you only, didn't he," said Keena.
"Mina has to stop that potty-mouth boy at all costs! Otherwise, if that potty-mouth boy succeeds in becoming the house representative, Mina's life will be utterly ruined!" Mina began to panic,
"Well... As long as we elect other candidates, I think we should be fine." Meanwhile, Keena just replied in a carefree voice, didn't care by bit about who was to be elected.
But Mina wasn't succumbing to it, as she then suggested,
"No! Mina believes the only way she can counter him is by..."
"Please don't tell me you're going to be one of the candidates..."
"...Mina becoming the house representative!" Right after Mina asserted, she slammed the desk and quickly stood up with her hand raised, stirring the attention of almost everyone, including her handler.
Everyone was astounded by Mina's determination and started to applaud.
Except for Keena and Konnaugh, who had a better picture of how that little critter truly can be, where one of them already implicitly grasped her true intention while another fully grasped her true intention.
Under this overwhelming scenario, Konnaugh was also inspired by others to applaud, except for Keena, who was hassling Mina about her imprudent decision and ranted,
"What are you doing, Mina?! Did your brain get flooded or something?! You know, being a representative bears many tasks and responsibilities! And one must always be dependable and principled, which none of the two you have!"
"Fret not, Keena. Mina is not going to become the house representative, but a torch to inspire others to join her as the candidates."
"You're not mending the situation here, Mina... YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE!"
"Keena, trust is the key to success. So, Mina wishes Keena could trust her again on this."
After hearing Mina blabbering, Keena was defeated by her nonsense and lay on the table in a speechless manner.
Mina then marched toward the anterior with a joyful hum in her voice then landed her final step beside Dalius, waiting for other candidates before the election began.
Meanwhile, Dalius glowered at Mina, transmitting an unsettling sensation to her, who quivered a little.
As time streamed, all the candidates eventually rallied at the front, or should be meant, Mina and Dalius rallied at the front.
At the time, the handler realized there were no further volunteers and settled with them two, starting her vocals by introducing them, "It seems that our candidates are relatively low, but it doesn't matter! Let's grant these two young and brave candidates a round of applause, shall we!"
Everyone applauded, including Keena, who clapped in a derisive manner.
"Ok, first, let me introduce to you all..."
While Tiandra was articulating, Mina realized she and Dalius were the only candidates and began to regret her decision, overwhelmed by tension and agitation.
Mina then gawked at Keena, signaling for help.
But Keena just silently mouthed, "You reap what you sow..." ridiculing Mina for her ignorance.
Mina was devastated as she knew she'd be bound to be elected or have her most hated figure elected.
Mina muttered in her thought, *Mina just doesn't understand how no one wished to join the candidates with Mina! Leaving her in such an unpleasant state... Now, Mina is absolutely done for!* demanded why she and Dalius were the sole candidates.
Mina lifted her head, staring at Keena once more, signaling for another help,
*Keena, please forgive Mina and help her already!*
But once again was slighted by Keena, crushing her soul to pieces, leaving her in a total wreck.
So, under this overdone circumstance, whether Mina or Dalius will prevail over this one-sided election...