***Hyperion Empire***

***Imperial Academy***

After receiving their schedules, Max and Arthur left the auditorium. Arthur flipped his pamphlet over and looked at the information map. They would be living in a Gordon Hall, the freshman male dormitory on the eastern side of campus. Looking to the sky, Max determined it was almost sunset and time to eat.

The boy grew worried. If he was hungry, no doubt his griffin companion was also. Max glanced at his own map in search of the nearest dining hall. Pointing to the hall on the map so it could be seen by the two, he said, "If I know Adrios then he'd be hungry about now, my best guess is Kana went here to feed him."

Arthur nodded. "I'm am famished myself. It feels like we've been at the orientation for most of the day." The two then trekked down the cobblestone street. Students of all ages were roaming around, some in groups and others alone. They passed a group of older girls, who glanced in their direction and started quietly conversing with each other. Max identified them to be seniors based off their jackets. They were also taller and far more developed than the females in his class, so they easily drew his attention. The girls were giggling, and Max smiled and waved as they passed. Two of the girls squealed at his action, yelling "So cute!" and "How adorable!" to each other.

Max grimaced and instinctively looked down at his body. Perhaps he was smaller than them, but he was taller than Arthur and Kana. In his mind that had to count for something. He just needed a couple more years to grow. He also needed to start eating more.

Arthur's lips lifted in amusement. He knew Max would not be too pleased with the older girls words, but it was more entertaining to watch him wrestle with the issue himself. Max was prideful person who thrived on recognition, yet any scrutiny made by others would have him striving for improvement. Arthur supposed he could remind his cousin on how there was nothing he could do about his size, but that wasn't quite his style. Kana would have consoled him, but Arthur wasn't Max's fiancé. He preferred to just sit back and let Max figure out his problems himself. Unless he asked for help, Arthur wouldn't volunteer for extra work.

The boys eventually reached the dining hall. Most of the students seemed to be finishing their meals, but at least half of the rooms seats were filled. Incoherent chatter filled the hall, most students talking about their new class schedules and what to expect from the year. Everyone was divided into their own social groups, at least for what Max cared to notice. The boy was scanning the hall for Kana, hopefully she would feed his partner so he could just worry about himself.

Arthur spotted Kana first on the other side of the room towards the end of one the long tables. She was sitting next to the princess and Arshan girl, talking with each other between swallows. The boy also spotted both Adrios and Zecarth fighting for food on her plate. The two beasts only cared for the meat, and allowed Kana to eat her vegetables and fruits with no issue.

“Over there.” Arthur said, pointing towards the three girls. Max looked in the indicated direction and loudly exhaled. Adrios was helpless, Max couldn't wait till he the griffin could hunt on his own. The boys grabbed plates of food and approached the three eating. They were sitting side by side on the long table, so the duo decided they would sit across from them.

At the table next to the girls sat a bunch of other students, mostly commoners but with a few noble students mixed in. Max found it odd that the noble students were all from Ryzalon province. Though the most peculiar thing about the thirty plus group was the fact they were all humans. He was told the student population between humans and beastkin was relatively similar, with even a few elves and dwarves thrown into the mix.

The group of girls he passed earlier was a combination of both races. He remembered the students in the auditorium were also blend of the two. Yet here he was, observing a party of mostly commoner students comprised of all humans. Some in the party looked straight back at him, while others continued to talk to each other in hushed tones. The boy mentally shrugged and looked back at the trio.

Passing behind Kana, Max reached over and snatched the baby griffin from his meal. Adrios finished the meat in his mouth and yelped, clearly against the sudden action. Max held him with one hand and held his plate in the other. The two boys then gently placed their plates down across from the three.

The princess gave the two an unscrupulous stare. Her body was rigid against the seat and she ate without a word. Unlike the Granitas heir, the Arshan girl didn’t look either of the boys in the eye. She fumbled a small hello and then covered her face behind her raven hair. The students in the immediate vicinity observed the scene with interest as the boys stood in front of them.

Kana lightly pushed her seat back and stood up. “Juliet, Reann, these are the two I mentioned earlier. Heirs to Soltain and Satele Houses and also partners to Zecarth and Adrios.”

Both girls also got up and extended their hands in greeting. Max shook hands with the timid Arshan girl. Her hands were small, and Max noticed that she was a couple inches shorter than the other two females. The black spider on her shoulder peeked out behind her hair, giving the boy goosebumps. Though he smiled and shook hands without difficulty.

“It’s nice to meet you Lady Arshan, I’m Max.” He said, releasing her hand from his grip.

The girl’s hair covered half of her face, exposing a red eye peeking out behind the dark hair. She peered back at him then hurriedly looked down. “Reann, pl-please.” She stammered.

Although Juliet held her hand out for a handshake, Arthur made a more elegant introduction. Softly grabbing her hand and kissing it, the boy looked directly in her eyes. “It’s truly a pleasure to make your acquaintance princess. My name is Arthur Satele.”

Noises were heard throughout the hall as other young teens looked at Arthur with envy and hostility. The frigid looking girl was also clearly surprised. Her face reddened and her original visage faltered. Max had to give his cousin credit, he had stones to be kissing the princess in front of a crowd of male students.

Kana’s eyes were sparkling. Her friend was full of surprises. Maybe he really wouldn’t need her help to win the princess over. She then glanced at Juliet to observe her response.

The princesses cold countenance soon returned, remnants of her previous shock completely gone. “Arthur Satele, I will remember it. You may call me Juliet, I grow tired of being called princess.” Arthur smiled in response and continued to hold her hand. “Juliet, a truly beautiful name. One befitting a woman of your magnitude and poise. I can only count myself lucky to lay eyes on such a goddess.”

Max turned to the left to hide the smile tugging his lips. Arthur had plenty of intricately crafted phrases, total bullshit in his opinion. Max had no doubts that Uncle William had been instructing Arthur. He could still vividly remember his uncle talking his way out of getting in trouble when the man forgot to teach them for two days. The three took that time to explore the Satele castle, playing hide and go seek with each other. They were eventually apprehended by guards, tired and covered in dirt. His mother and aunt were not happy, yet William argued that he got distracted by a project to ensure the children's safety. He also strung along compliments to both women, slowly diffusing their temper. A truly impressive feat Max hoped Arthur would help teach him.

Max glanced at Kana, a similar smile plastered on her own face. If the two let Arthur continue, they would surely end up bursting out in laughter. Both Reann and Juliet were blushing, Arthur clearly had them taken aback. Max coughed into the inside of his elbow, breaking the two young girls out of their stupor.

“Right.” Max said, slapping Arthur’s hand away from Juliet. He then quickly grabbed it and shook. “I’m Max.” The boy then sat down and started eating. Adrios had been chewing from his food the whole time, and was well on his way to finishing the plate for his partner. Arthur nicely exchanged greetings with Reann and the four all sat back down.

Juliet did not stay for long. Max couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but she seemed to be confused. The group of five held light conversation while they ate. The princess then got up and dismissed herself, leaving the four behind. The four made pointless small talk until Max turned to the Arshan girl.

Looking at the spider on her shoulder, Max couldn’t help but ask about it. “So Reann... Is that spider you have your partner or something?”

The girl mumbled under her breath and Kana was forced to translate. Her sensitive ears could pick up Reann’s words even inside the noisy hall. “She said yes.” The fox girl answered.

“Is it going to get big like ours? Or will it be small forever because it's a spider?”

Reann’s head shot up at the boy’s question. Speaking the loudest she had since he met her, she corrected Max’s phrasing. “H-HE will grow to be ve-very big. I should even be able to ride him in a couple years. Just like the rest of my family.”

Max hurriedly apologized to the girl. “I didn’t mean to offend. I just didn’t think spiders had genders and all that. Maybe it’s because they look so creepy to me. My mistake. So... what’s his name?”

The girl instantly went back to her submissive self, looking down and muttering inaudibly. Max’s apology only seemed to have scared her. Both boys looked to Kana, who was staring at the Arshan girl in disbelief. “Really!? You’re joking.”

“What is it? What’s his name?” Max asked.

Reann continued to whisper incoherently, her words only detectable by the fox girl sitting beside herself. Kana was giggling and hugging Reann. The black haired girl sat like a statue while Kana started laughing into her shoulder. “Oh that is just so adorable! I can already picture a little you saying that!”

Max snapped his fingers. “Kana! Focus! What is the spider’s damn name?”

“Well you see, Reann received her partner when she was very young, much younger than you two. The young Reann also had the opportunity to name her partner whatever she wanted. So, she named him…” Kana paused for dramatic effect, which only furthered annoyed Max. “Lord Fuzzylegs! She named her lifelong spider companion Lord Fuzzylegs!”

Arthur choked on his drink. Max sat there gaping and Kana picked up the dark furry-legged spider propped on Reann’s shoulder. Lifting him up and holding him in front of both Zecarth and Adrios, she exclaimed, “Behold you plebeians! I am Lord Fuzzylegs! Those who hear my name shall tremble in fear and respect!”

The spider moved around in Kana’s hands in accordance to the girl's words. Adrios looked at the spider being held in the air and yelped. A few of the students walking by gave the group odd looks, and Reann only seemed to sink further in her chair in embarrassment.

Max gave a dry laugh and swallowed his saliva. “Thats... That’s a very unique name he has.”

Avoiding embarrassing her new friend any more, Kana changed the subject. Sticking her hand out, she said, “Let me see your schedules please.” Max finished the last scraps of food and they both complied. Kana took a moment to compare the three, and then nodded to herself. “We all have a few classes together except ‘Beginner’s Elements’, though Reann and Max have the exact same schedule.”

Max looked to said girl. “You have an air affinity?”

Reann silently nodded.

Kana glanced at Max. “Do you have a pen?” The boy reached into his jacket and pulled out his family inscribed ink pen. Kana took it and circled parts of the map not already marked. She circled the girls and boys dorms, the eastern dining hall, and a forest lining the northern part of campus.

“Warriors and weapons courses are part of the curriculum if students ask for it. But, students can't apply until their second year and each class is separated by weapon. So, not only would we not be able to continue training until next year, we would also be separated. We're already wasting our time learning about magic we’ve already been taught, so we might as well keep pushing real training in our own time. We’ll meet here...” She pointed to the edge of the circled forest. “...at the usual training time we had with Grandpa Max.”

Kana handed the schedules back and looked Max in the eyes. “That means dawn. Don’t be late.”

She then looked to Reann. “You are welcome to join us if you’d like. Have you received weapons training?”

The girl nodded again. “Daggers.”

Kana clapped her hands together. “That’s great! Arthur uses daggers also!”

Standing up, Kana beckoned the other girl to follow her. “We’ll it’s been a lovely evening boys but I am ready to go to bed. We have a big day tomorrow, I’ll see you two at dawn.” They left the hall, and Max slammed his head against the table. “Dawn! She wants to do training at dawn!”

Arthur chuckled. He was about to reply when four students sat in front of the boys. They were all fourth-years, and physically bigger than the two young heirs. They were also all wearing the insignia of Rinehart nobility.

Max sensed their presences and didn’t even bother looking up. His cousin just sighed. “Can we help you gentlemen?”

The teenager in the middle, a stocky kid with brown hair, spoke to Arthur. “You are quite bold to be touching the princess so brazenly. You are not worthy Satele, she will have better.” He then pulled out a dinner knife and stuck it into the wooden table. “Consider this a warning.”

Arthur snapped his fingers and activated his eyes. Rinehart and Ryzalon were not the only one’s with numerous noble students enrolled in the Academy. Students from all four classes got up from their seats around the room and moved to both sides of the boys. They were all either commoners or bearing the crests of House Satele and outnumbered the newcomers five to one. The four Rinehart students tensed, but kept a steadfast and threatening gaze towards Arthur.

Max pushed his arms out and leaned deeper own against them, lazily looking up at the Rinehart students. Arthur’s eyes bore into the speaker of the group, sending shivers up his spine. He then yawned. “I will pursue the princess because I can, but in the end it will be her decision. If the lion boy wants her, he will fight for her himself. Do not insult me by sending simpletons in an attempt to rattle me.” He then sent a mental image of himself picking up the knife and stabbing towards the stocky teen. The teen screamed and fell back on the floor in an attempt to escape the illusion.

Arthur relented from the minor mental attack and smirked. The three other Rinehart nobles were now panicking and quickly picked up the student in distress. Max pinched his nose and glanced at the teen’s trousers. “You pissed yourself? That’s just pathetic. Run back to the coward before we go to him.”

The four hastily gathered themselves and left the hall. Arthur thanked and waved off the multiple student’s previously backing him up. A few spectators of the events also got up and departed. The other students in the room were alerted and Academy guards soon arrived. Yet Arthur was able to convince them that the Rinehart teen slipped, and that was the end of it. The guards seemed to be rather indifferent in regards to fighting between children. The boys then sat in silence as students continued to filter through the dining hall. By the time Max spoke up, chandeliers and candles were the only thing illuminating the room.

“I didn’t know you had that many nobles in your province… well I suppose I never really cared to know.” Max said with exasperation.

“We don’t. We try to keep titles of real value in the family, but there are always opportunities to benefit.” Arthur replied.

“Such as?”

Arthur ran his fingers over his partner Zecarth. The basilisk let out a quiet hiss as it wrapped around his neck. “It was my mother's idea. She basically sells out noble titles to the highest bidder. As long as one owns land under the Satele provincial doctrine and is willing to pay annually, they can consider their family nobility. Though we try to limit the amount to the hundreds, and the price is far from cheap for most citizens living in the Empire. Yet, I find it rather ingenious. Children wishing to attend the Academy can apply through the trials, or if their family has money, buy their way in.”

Max took the knife out of the table and examined it. “That is brilliant. Aunt Joan didn’t become the Head of your House for nothing.” He then stood up and grabbed his drowsy griffin. Walking towards the exit, Arthur silently followed. The boys nodded to the guards at the door and moved east. They would be needing sleep, for the next day would be just as hectic.