The month followed, and Cifer prepared for the upcoming examination. There wasn't much he hadn't already known, and except for his terrible calligraphy, he should be able to pass whatever exams they present him. Other than that, he spends most of his time with Zexi.

Well, whenever his sister was nearby, the boy had about as much subtlety as a rampaging elephant in the middle of a chicken coop. His brain seemed to stop working, and he would freeze up like a mouse about to be a cat's plaything. Not that Cifer could blame him. From what he understood, his sister beat the boy black and blue in their first "practice" sparring.

Either Zexi's crush on his sister was a disability during the spars, or the boy really was that terrible. Or, perhaps, his sister was just that good. Cifer felt a rush of familial pride at the thought.

Still, the boy seemed to follow Fei around like a lost puppy whenever she was within the vicinity. Honestly, such an infatuation was dangerous if he decided to get possessive. Not that that would matter, considering Zexi was from a family of minor civil servants. Still, it's better to put the boy down gently, before things take a turn for worse.

Who knows? Maybe his sister might return Zexi's feelings, mused Cifer. If that were the case, he would give his full blessing. If not, a few days in the recovery ward of the hospital should deter any emotional feelings toward her.

It was, however, amusing watching Zexi flubber and fluster his way through a conversation with Fei. He had to keep hiding his smile behind a cuppa from transforming into a full-blown grin.

And then, finally, the day of the exams arrived. I dressed appropriately by wearing the student uniform. When the foreigners landed on the shores of the Jadian nation so many centuries ago, they also brought within them not only the technology, but also their culture. It became a beloved cultural assimilation into the Jadian society, and persisted to this very day, despite the harpings of the traditionalists within the government.

Also, they were much more economical than wearing robes most of the time. In other words, it costs less.

The uniform was a pristine white buttoned shirt, a black blazer, a grey vest, and black trousers. The shoes were ankle-high leather boots with leather uppers and black as midnight. From what Zexi told of it, these boots were made from the hide of a lesser drake, and the clothes themselves were made from the very same silk that belonged to the children of the Spider Queen herself, the Blackfire spiders. Strong, durable, and light as a feather. And so comfortable you could sleep in them.

It was finished off with a silk black tie tucked into the vest, close to his breast, and a custom pin clipped to it. The pin itself was an emblem carved into the likeness of a winged dragon of the foreigners. It was made of pure gold. The dragon itself represents the school's symbol. A point of pride for those alumni.

Fei, on the other hand, slightly deviated. The knee-high leather boots and black trousers, a flaring black coat, and the usual ensemble of a grey vest, white buttoned up shirt. The same gold emblemed pin pinned to the black thin tie.

Zexi couldn't stop staring at her, with his wide saucer eyes and pale features. Cifer smirked at his dumbfounded look. He sang a tune under his breath, as they both trodded up the path toward the castle gates. Zexi accompanied them for a while, before giving his farewell and wishing luck, before leaving to get some lunch.

The guards let them in, this time with much more welcoming arms.

"You guys ready for the exams?" Cifer turned to watch the captain, as he walked toward them in a slow, relaxed manner.

Cifer nodded with a smiled. "I hope so, captain. We've been ready for a while yet, and the waiting has been quite nerve-wracking,"

His sister grunted, staring with narrowed eyes at Hartmann. She didn't trust him, and more than likely was here to gain their trust. Still, whether or not he was a spy or not, doesn't change the fact that friends should be made everywhere, regardless of their motives.

"Well, I should hope to get some happy news when you walk out of these gates," Captain Hartmann ordered the guards to open the gates. "I would wish you two luck, but considering how smart you kids seem to be... well, I have no doubt you'll do well in your exams."

"I would be more than glad to have some of that luck, captain," Cifer thanked him, then gestured at Fei toward the paved path leading to the castle.

Just as the gates were closing, the captain called out with a yell. "Oh, by the way! If you see my daughter, tell her the curfew's at ten!"

Cifer, and even Fei was startled, but waved their goodbyes and left.

"Huh, I didn't expect his daughter to attend the same academy as us," Said Fei, with a puzzled expression. "She must be really good if she's living in the castle,"

"I don't expect anything less from the daughter of captain Hartmann," Cifer replied with a smile. "Besides that, are you ready for the exams?"

Fei snorted. "We'll pass easily enough. What I'm concerned about are the combat trials. If I held back, the examiners would notice. They'll know something's up."

"Keep your eyes peeled, then. Don't hold back," Cifer circulated the qi within his body, regulating his body with calming breaths. "The sage trials will be no different, I expect. Harder, if possible. They don't just let anyone just join the sages in their fields without considerable competency."

The gardens were expansive, as expected. The statues of past heroes, innovators, philosophers, generals and more lined their path. They were all once alumni of the Everlasting, achieving great things for the betterment of their society as a whole. The academy was proud of their achievements, and they had every right to be. Even Cifer was in a little awe of them.

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It took twenty minutes to reach their destination. A long way to go despite the enormous castle. The entrance doors was wide open, cleared and well paved. There were no guards of any sort. Just statues, as large and imposing as the likeness of the pair of war heroes standing by the entrance.

Except, of course, for a gilded and beautiful wheelhouse. It was so large, twenty horses were harnessed to the thing just to drag it.

Cifer and Fei were both surprised to find it. They didn't see anyone else go up the path toward the castle, so the mystery guest must have been here since morning.

Interesting.

Just as they were about to enter the castle, another came through.

He was tall, almost as tall as Cifer. Following the young man was an entourage of government officials like ducklings following their mother.

Cifer's puzzling question was, why was the young boy leading them looked foreign? The young man's skin was dark brown, and his hair was a messy rat's nest. His clothes, however, were luxurious of gold and white ropes and expensive jewelry. A ring adorned on his middle finger, with an emblem of a tridant. He had strong jaws and a perfectly symmetrical face.

His aides, however, were about as Jadian citizens as they come. Yet, they looked upon him with neither malice or fear. There was only obedience, and order.

Just who was this boy?

They stopped when they saw Cifer and Fei. Specifically, the boy's eyes seemed to be glued on to his sister.

Great, thought Cifer. Another admirer.

Before he could speak, and politely introduce themselves with a bow that may as well reach the bloody floor, his sister interrupted them with her usual subtlety. It's like watching a dumb animal herd of oxen running off the edge of a mountain. In slow motion. He could not possible look away from horror.

"Oh, well look at you! Dayum! You look fine, boy!" Fei grinned, with her fists on her hips. If possible, the hard looking, and the finely sculptured adonis' cheeks tinged with red. "You joining the academy, too? Or are you our senior? I'm taking the exams with my bro, see if we have the brains to join the academy, you know?"

The bristled and red-faced aides behind the boy looked ready to murder and hide the boy.

Honestly, Cifer was ready to blow up on her sister himself and grovel to the important looking man and hopefully, their life would be spared. Where the hells does she get her idioms and slangs from?! In fact, most of the things he picked up were from his sister. Even the songs! Gods above and below, Cifer had been infected!

Cifer could feel a headache coming on, but before he could bow and apologize to the young master, Fei continued.

She sometimes referred to herself as a motormouth. Whatever that meant. He liked the term applied to her, however, because that was exactly what she was doing.

"You're strong, though, right? I beat up this kid back in the dorms. A second year. Not bad, but his swordwork need some work, and the guy's way too hesitant to strike me," Fei's eyes seemed to narrow at the young man standing opposite of her, and grinned. She showed her teeth. "So, you got the balls to take me on, or are you gonna flop like a little bitch?"

"How dare you!" One of the aides exploded, spittle coming out. His eyes were red, and his cheeks were flushed with red. "You dare.... address your prince, the heir to the throne, like a common whore-"

"Enough." Ah. The prince Xun Delan was the only child and heir to his father, the Exalted Prince himself. We're fucked. Great, now Cifer was speaking like his sister. He wanted to cry, but he didn't think it was appropriate until the day of the execution. He had some pride not to blither and beg in front of an audience.

The prince's eyes didn't waver, and when he spoke next, his words were directed at his aides. He spoke softly, but the steel in his words was as sharp as a runic blade. "You will leave us,"

The aides looked about ready to protest, but they complied. His words may as well be law. Of course, the aides shot him, and his sister especially, with a withering glare so strong he thought they might have turned into a muddle of meat and unrecognizable flesh.

Fei whistled appreciatively. "Thanks bro! Those guys looked about as stuffy as a wet rag,"

The prince, if possible, looked puzzled. He got the meaning, however. A smart cookie, he was. Dammit! Cifer really needed to purge his thoughts of his inner Fei.

"Yes, they can be quite... overwhelming," The prince gave a slight nod. "You are here to take the exam?"

Fei responded with a grin. "Sure am. We're gonna do our exam, and kick some poor schmuck in the combat trials. And what about you? What are you here for?"

"I have had business to conduct with the dean," Deland, the prince, replied. "I was sent by my father to inspect a valuable artifact found by...," His eyes flickered, then seemed to change his mind. Cifer noticed, and had his sister. But she was damn good at playing dumb. He curiously asked, "You say you have bested another student of the academy, and yet you are just joining the academy?"

"Oh yeah, totally," Fei nodded. "He's good. Real good, but he's afraid I'm gonna get hurt," His sister's mouth was all teeth by this point. "So, you got the brass balls to spank me?"

Oh yeah, the prince was definitely blushing now. If the boy's face was any more inflamed, the walls might be glowing from a second sun.

"I will... attend the training, since my lady keeps insisting," The prince said, as cool as ice. "You may give my aide your place of residence, so that we may conduct our training. Tomorrow evening?"

"Oh oh! Since you're the prince, I'm sure you'll find out where we live without our little help," Fei chuckled, then walked past the prince. Cifer would have breathed out a sigh of relief, despite the breaking of decorum and tradition when dealing with the royalty. Not before, however, when Fei decided to do the one thing he really wished she hadn't done.

Ever.

Fei struck the prince. In the arse.

The sound of the smack in thr arse must have echoed throughout the entire castle.

Cifer's heart stopped.

"Peace out. I'll see your fine arse tomorrow. Get ready for a beating, bro!" Her voice echoed down the hall, and then she was gone.

Cifer froze.

He locked eyes with the prince' golden orbs.

An awkward moment of silence followed.

The prince coughed behind his fist, then left.

Cifer muttered, then followed after his sister. "I'm going to die one day, and it'll all be because of my sister."