Under this soothing bright hallway, quietness was the sole melody that played. No soul is deemed to stumble across this vast space except those two designated 'delinquents', Mina and that ginger boy, lined up before the wall of their house room.

"Mina never visualizes herself being punished on the second day of school... Mina's spirit is now crushed... Mina wants to go home..." said Mina with misery.

Beside her was the ginger boy. Despite their distance of only a lick, her response wasn't reacted but was treated with silence.

Mina wasn't thrilled with his aloof response as she attempted to capture his attention with another whine but louder,

"Mina feels like she was judged unfairly... She shouldn't even be punished in the first place... Mina clearly arrived on time..."

The silence was yet again his response.

This time, Mina was offended, feeling being intentionally scorned, scoffing,

"Chili hair..."

"Can you stop talking for just a minute?! Besides, how is my hair identical to a chili? It's not even similar in any way at all! It's cherry red, got it?! Cherry... red...! Not chili red!" Mina's petty criticism of his hair somehow charged him, who blustered in rage and annoyance, exploding at her over a little remark.

His infused reaction tickled Mina, who chuckled with her hand before her mouth, hiding her mockery.

"You know I can hear you snickering, you bastard!" the ginger was furious by her reaction, ranting at her with every word of anger in his throat.

***

***

***

Soon the heated quarrel was quelled, and the ginger boy casually added, kicking in the air, "What's up with you, princess..."

"What's up with Mina what?" Mina responded with a question, tilting her head subtly.

"I mean showing up late... But... I guess you were probably meddling with some political affairs and ended up late... Unlike me... What a silly question to ask..." said the boy while replying to himself, puzzling Mina over his strange assertion.

"Not really, Mina just overslept."

After hearing Mina's correction, the boy was silenced, surprised but tittered as he wasn't expecting that answer.

Mina then continued,

"Another thing... Mina doesn't understand what the chili boy is trying to say... What politika affar?" said Mina with a squint, wondering what he was trying to articulate.

"It's 'political affair' not politika affar, and also quit calling me that! Just call me Y! Not chili boy!"

"Mina doesn't fancy a nickname, chili boy. Mina wants the full name."

"If you don't fancy a nickname, then stop calling me that!" bellowed Y, fuming by Mina's obtuse nature.

He then took a deep breath, simmering his inner furies, and proceeded to verbalize in his casual tone,

"It's- It's... Wybertra 'Dazonnin'..."

The words ceased, and his head lowered, struggling to finalize his surname, gibbering.

Mina was baffled by his wordless demeanor, as everyone she met was eager to introduce themselves.

But Y was dissimilar, who fumbled on such meager cause, struggling to say his surname.

As Mina and her usual natural curiousness surged to her head, piquing her inquisitiveness to a greater extent, slowly closing their distance and quizzing in an excited tone,

"And...?"

"Why are you getting this close for?! You're making me uncomfortable!" Y retreated a little, pushing himself away from Mina for being uncomfortable with her unwelcoming self-invitation, ensuring their distance was in measure, wasn't too close nor too far.

But Mina's step didn't linger but insisted, provoking another bellow from Y, shouting at her dense manner,

"Princess, stop getting too close to me!"

"But Mina wants to know more about chili boy!" said Mina with her eyes sparkled, intrigued about his classified background.

"Do you know boundaries, princess?! You can't just keep on pressuring others over your own need!"

"At least let Mina know the chili boy's last name!"

Y sighed, powerlessly succumbing to his defeat in this battle, surrendering to this obnoxious nosy little princess, confessing,

"Fi- fi- fine... But with one condition!"

"Mina is listening!"

"Drop the chili boy, okay? Can you promise me that?!"

"Mina promised!"

He sighed again, doubting whether his surname disclosure was wise or wasn't, worrying about the prospect he may uphold.

Before he announced, he gulped, slowly lifted his chin and chest, reassured himself in thought, inhaled through his nose, well exhaled, and said,

"Wy- Wyber- Wybertra- Wybertra 'Dazonnin' Arsnaa!"

Soon he declared his name. He shielded himself with his arms, quivering in fear as he was about to be harmed.

However, his reaction did not comply, as he glanced through his hand, peeking over at Mina, who exercised no sudden move except for simply being clueless, tilting her head sideways, fathoming his reaction.

"Are- Aren- Aren't you going to do something to me or what?" he muttered as he slowly lowered his defense mechanism, his hands, bewildering by Mina's unfazed reaction.

"What is chili boy doing? Mina doesn't understand what the chili boy is doing. Why would chili boy think Mina will do something to him?"

He was fascinated by Mina's cluelessness, re-composing himself from his overreaction, turning away, and standing still before the wall.

Instead of explaining to Mina, he stayed muted, unwanting to elaborate.

His queer reaction undoubtedly heightened Mina's abnormal inquisitiveness, prying to know more, poking him with a series of questions,

"Chili boy still hasn't explained to Mina why he thinks Mina will do something to him. And what is so special about your name? Mina still doesn't understand why the chili boy doesn't want to share his last name in the first place. Can the chili boy elaborate?"

"It's better this way, princess. My name bore nothing but blemish and hatred by many. Your parents are probably not exceptional. My clan is none other than ruthless and rubbish. You should be appreciated for your naiveness toward my name. Otherwise, you're just gonna be like anyone else. Hating, skin-crawling, isolating."

He lowered his head, wavering, indicating his will to shed, but resisted, teeth gritted, wanting to vanish from the world, such a lamenting scene to Mina.

Mina hushed, plainly watching him, quivering in about sob. She then paced to him, asserting in her regular tone, saying,

"Whether it was name or title, Mina believes just because you bore a despicable name doesn't mean it symbolizes your character; just because your ancestor committed things that are unamendable doesn't mean you should shoulder those burdens.

It only matters whether you want to continue in their depraved footsteps or break this cursed chain to show everyone that your lineage is different and changed. Prove to everyone that you're no longer the tainted name they've set, showing them their judgment of sound and belief is false.

The same goes for Mina, Vuzgal or not, princess or not, royalty or not. Mina believes her punishment is sensical as long as Mina makes mistakes. If chili boy is a good heart Demonkin, then chili boy is a good guy. Not chili boy is a bad guy because of the name he bore. Mina knows if chili boy is willing to stay on the virtuous path, then there is nothing he should be scared of.

Because sooner or later, chili boy will make more friends than foes. Holding ones stay by his side because of him, not his name."

After those words escaped from Mina's mouth like an apple from an orange tree, a chuckle occurred, it was Y, who was both amazed by her statement and correspondingly ridiculed her for being innocent, saying in a funny tone,

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"I'm sorry for the chuckle, princess. Just because you laid out all those terms, it doesn't mean a thing. Whether I pursue to be on good terms with the world, the world will not change, and everyone will still be going to hate me for my lineage, for what my ancestor did." he then raised his head, gazing at the ceiling, smirking while continuing in a shivering tone,

"Reality is always cruel and disgusting, princess. No one will judge someone because of what they did but because of who they are. We, Demonkins, only see the weakness of others, see the uglies of others, so we can feel better when we do, feel superior, and feel we are more inclined to the norms." his then head subtly lowered, leveled his head with his shoulder, adding with laments,

"You will never know this sort of pain, princess. Your presence is on par with a higher being, with the ancestor no one than Azemos himself, the mightiest, most loved, and most powerful Demonkins ever lived. To me and you, we were like comparing a ratt to a god."

*Ratt is the rodent or rat in the under realm, which only contrasts with a tiny horn on its head, two tails adhered to its bottom, and red for its pupils.

Mina was speechless, mouth welded, unable to argue with him as she couldn't, and silence was her response to his statement.

"I'm sorry to break this to you, princess," said Y while sighing deeply and continuing,

"Sooner or later, your fantasy of perfection will shatter as you interact more with this world. Nothing will always follow your plan and often be disappointing. Just bear this in thought. You need it..."

After this austere conversation concluded, no sounds were construed, and quietness was its entire feature as both dived into their thought, ruminating about the words they just exchanged.

Then the first bell of the day rang, the tower bell, marking the end of the first period, as they both returned to their house room and seats, carrying on to their respective lives without a word of exchange as if nothing had happened.

Soon Mina was seated, Keena gently elbowed her and teased in a funny tone,

"Hi, Mina, welcome back! I bet the hall standing is fun!"

"Please, Keena... Mina is already beaten and crushed. At least Keena could say something encouraging rather than something snarky." Mina drawled while dropping her jaw to the table in a sluggish manner.

"By the way, is there nothing happened between you two? It doesn't sound like you a bit."

"Mina and chili boy got nothing fascinating going on around, so just let her be..."

"Chili, what now...? Anyway... I swore if it was anyone else, you're probably gonna make them self-conscious."

"Mina wasn't that bad..."

"Are you, though?"

Mina glumly sighed, words perished, and her jaw glued to the table, tight-lipped.

After the end of the first period, time was spared for students to revise what they had learned, except Mina and Y, clueless about a fabric that ensued, as their absence has partaken.

Keena then dived into the books, studying what's been instructed, revisiting what she had learned.

While on her side was Mina, one who spent her time leisurely, playing with her fingers while humming.

But her hum distracted Keena, pestering her concentration on the paper. She wasn't pleased and questioned with aggravation,

"Mina, shouldn't you join us in studying what Ms Tiandra taught?"

Mina was piqued, swiveling her head to Keena, replying with a plain face,

"But Mina didn't learn anything, though... She has zero clue what's happening during her hall-standing routine."

"Hall-standing routine...? Why do you make your punishment sound like a normal thing." Keena uttered in a funny tone.

"But anyway, I also realized something, Mina," she added,

"What is it?"

"Where are your textbooks, Mina? Aren't you supposed to receive them by today?"

Keena's utterance jolted Mina, shocking her to remember the absence of her textbooks, left in her room precisely.

She went haywire, frantically shuffling around her seat, attempting to find the books magically.

"Please, don't tell me you forgot to bring it..." said Keena with an unimpressed look.

"No! Mina knows she must have brought it! Ju- just she must've dropped somewhere else on the campus during her rush to her house!" Mina blatantly lied.

"That's a pretty grave issue if you ask me, Mina. I think it's wise if we report to the student council-"

"No need, Keena. Mina knows she's going to find it during Mina and Keena's lunch break!"

"I just want you to know this, if you confess that you forgot to bring your textbook, I'm totally fine with it. Just stop bending the truth, Mina." Keena squinted at Mina, doubting she was conveying the truth as she had already known Mina too well.

"Mi- Mi- Mina..." Mina muttered.

"Yeah, I can already tell in your tone that you are lying." Keena sighed, subtly sliding her book to Mina's desk, adding,

"I could borrow you if you need, as I already study long enough."

"Keena's benevolence had altered Mina's beliefs toward Keena to whom might be the incarnation of Karra."

"Well, I'm somewhat flattered...?" Keena appreciated but also questioned her praise, which sounded offbeat.

"Anyway, just study the first chapter. It will suffice enough." she articulated after reverting herself from that queer compliment.

"Okay!" Mina responded in a frivolous tone and proceeded to open the book and read.

But, only a minute had lasted, she turned to Keena with grief, stating in a quivering tone,

"Keena~ Mina doesn't understand a thing..."

"What does Mina mean? She doesn't understand a thing. It's a simple introduction to a few words. There are also pictures to support it."

"But Mina still doesn't know how to read most of it..."

"Wait... have you ever learned to read and write before joining Dragania?"

"Mi- Mi- Mina did! It just didn't go in Mina's favor and the instructor gave up halfway through the lessons."

"Huh... What? How?" Mina's admission to her past actually clouded Keena with anxiety, rooting the plausible cause of her instructor's defeat.

"Mina doesn't realize the cause herself either. It's a mystery to her too..."

"Could it be your skittish nature...?" Keena responded with a squint.

"Mina argues it is because of her skittish nature because Mina tends to be mild when it comes to studying." Mina denied.

"Not something I hear often, but I will let it slide."

Keena lowered her head and sighed again, struggling with her inner voice that sounded both ways, which was to devote her time to educating that irritant princess or not.

During her deliberation on the decision, she subtly raised her head, seeing a princess with her eyes beaming at her, flooded with emotions, implying Keena to tutor her.

Keena quickly shunned her look, grunting with her eyes closed, pondering.

Sooner or later, she finally made her decision, letting out one last deep sigh before stating,

"Fine... I will coach you through your studies with just two conditions. First, please restrain yourself from committing anything silly. Second, make sure that I don't regret my decision to teach you..."

"Keena is a saint! And Mina promises she will not level her faith!"

"From the way you sound it, I once again doubt whether it was a sane choice or not..." Keena murmured with a twitch on her left brow, hoping it wouldn't deduce to a wreck like the way they always ended up.

"Hmm...?" Mina hadn't clearly heard Keena's hush murmur, stirring her curiosity as to what may Keena stated, which was then denied by Keena,

"Nothing..."

"With that being said, we should probably swing into the action now!" Keena continued.

"What? Now...?" Mina responded with a drawl, reluctant to the idea of plunging into it right away.

"Yes, now. We don't have much time before the test."

"Test?! How come Mina never is informed of such a thing!" Mina panicked, plaguing her thoughts with self-consciousness, concerning she might have done atrocious with the paper.

"Well... Ms Tiandra briefed us during your 'Hall-Standing Routine'. She stated the test would be held after our lunch break."

"Mina is heading for disaster..."

"So, now that you are aware, are you motivated enough to study yet?"

"Motivate? Mina feels more like being blackmailed." Mina said with a doleful voice, collapsing on the desk again.

"Your sluggish attitude won't help you out in any way, Mina. Also, you promise you will ensure that I won't regret my decision. And your current attitude has already accomplished half of my disappointment."

Mina growled and moaned, only to be simmered after a constant whiny tune that replayed for minutes, now asserting with determination,

"Fine... Mina will do the study now! Bring it on, Keena!"

"Now that's the spirit, Mina! Here we go!"

***

***

***

Five minutes later...

"Mina has enough! Mina doesn't want to listen anymore!" Mina bellowed with capitulation, moaning.

"But Mina... we roughly began..." Keena was unimpressed, squinted at her with stark chagrin, twitching her left brow again.

"But Mina doesn't want to continue anymore! Words are hard!" Mina ruffled her head, uttering in a clamorous volume, gripping the attention of her housemates, including her handler, who was tarried at the front, supervising them while self-study was ongoing.

Mina realized her outburst created commotion around her, implicitly exposing her incompetency in literature, which then neatly lowered her head, concealing the truth regarding her inept in words.

"Is everything alright, young Mina?" Ms Tiandra hollered from her desk, unnerving Mina's sudden outburst.

"Yes, Ms Tiandra... Mina just got her toe stumped. Nothing worth noticing going around Mina..."

"Oh... I'm relieved to hear that but remember, young Mina, try to compose yourself. You might disarray the others who are committing their reading." said Ms Tiandra with a titter.

"Yes, Ms Tiandra. Mina will be careful next time."

After Mina diverted everyone's concentration back to their respective affairs, Mina crumbled again, drawling in a yielding state,

"Mina doesn't know what to do anymore..."

Keena sighed, watching the dejected remains of a princess as she dived into her thoughts, deliberating a much more effective plan to teach her.

She then said,

"How about this, Mina... We start with the basics, the moártta (alphabet)! Maybe Mina should master the basics before advancing to the higher grade, so she can grasp the meaning better from the book."

"Moártta? Mina believes she has already mastered such breezy things." Mina confidently responded, with her nose high, eyes closed, and arms crossed.

"If that is so, what happened to your name during your introduction?"

"Mi- Mi- Mina just testing as she said."

"Prove it! Write out your name without those lines of reasoning, like 'I wAnT yOu gUys to lEarN with me' kind of ruse."

"Mi- Mi- Mina never used any ruse! She was intended to do that!" Mina declined Keena's allegation, hissing at her with brashness.

"Alright then, do it! Write down your name on this paper!" Keena ripped a paper from her notebooks, smoothly passed it to Mina, and slammed her pen on top, indicating her wish to challenge Mina.

"Mi- Mi- Mina recently got he- her wrist injured! So, Mi- Mi- Mina couldn't write at the moment! What a shame..."

"Aww... really? Then at least, you can spell it out."

"Mi- Mi- Mina's throat is very dry right now, sh- she could barely speak..."

Keena thoroughly sighed, giving up on the debates that led to nowhere, as it seemed.

Keena lowered her head slightly, uttering in a displeased tone,

"If you insist that you've mastered the basics, then I believe you can continue your studies without my help."

Upon heeding Keena's pulling out, Mina began to anxious, stuttering,

"Mi- Mi- Mi-"

"What's wrong? Did someone snatch your mouth or something?" Keena interrupted with a solemn scoff.

"Fine... Mina apologizes for her cheeky attitude. She wishes Keena could be as benevolent as she believed and forgive her."

"And...?" Keena wasn't satisfied, urging Mina to accept her weakness before reviving her motivation to educate her.

"Mi- Mi- Mina is not as efficient as others, but Mina is still fluent in the moártta."

"Still denying, eh? Not good enough, Mina. Say it! Say you can't do moártta!" Keena was far from satisfied with Mina's beat around the bushes assertion and continued to press her.

"Mi- Mi- Mina wasn't as terrible as Keena presumed!" Mina declined her ineptitude, insisting she was fluent.

"You're yet to prove your aptness in the moártta to me, making me believe you're just a fraud who is trying to overstate yourself." Keena glared at her, saying in a distrustful tone.

"Mi- Mina wasn't a fraud sh- she ju- just-"

"Yes...?" Keena trailed her voice, intimating Mina to admit her incompetency as to who she indeed was.

She then expressed in an exasperated tone,

"Yes, Mina is not good at words! Mina admits she is hopeless in literature! Is this what Keena wanted to hear?!" she turned to the front, arm crossed, puffing her cheeks with her lids sealed.

"That's much better. Sometimes accepting your own weakness is a cue for your own improvement. So, I'm helping you, Mina. Don't try to deny your weakness because of indignation. Learn to accept it!" Keena was soothed, asserting with nods of satisfaction.

"Mina feels like Keena always acts like she knows everything..."

"Not really, it's more inclined to you don't know anything..."

"Mina despises Keena."

"And I say the same..."