Caspian sat in the left-most seat on the top tier, near the window farthest from the teacher. He was leaning forward, with his left elbow resting on the desk, and his chin sitting on the butt of his left hand.

Down below, the other students sat, listening to the instructor. Some jotted down notes. Others simply looked bored, much like him. Everyone sat as far from Caspian as they could--except for Christo, who sat right next to him. This, too, was within his expectations. Christo was the only person dumb enough to sit by the person who'd been ostracized by the entire academy.

"Terraria has five kingdoms. Each of kingdom possesses their own unique culture, customs, laws, and infrastructure. However, all of these kingdoms have one similarity, and that is that each kingdom is ruled by a group of sorceresses..."

He listened with half an ear as the instructor, an old man who went by the name of Jameson Von Herst, lectured them on the five kingdoms of Terraria.

"These Kingdoms are Helheim, Takama no Hara, Moksha, Elysium, and Arcadia..."

One month had passed since Headmaster Stratello's announcement. Caspian had turned 18 years old two weeks ago, making him eligible to participate in the Sorceress's Knight Tournament, if he so desired.

"Now, together, each of these kingdom's comprises what is officially known as the Terrain Alliance, which is the name of the intergovernmental organization whose job is to promote international cooperation. While each kingdom has several Terrain Alliance headquarters stationed in all major cities, the Arcadian capitol, Casadina, is where the main headquarters is stationed..."

Caspian thought about the tournament, and what it could mean for him personally. Of course, there was no way of knowing whether or not Elincia would even be the sorceress chosen to receive a Knight yet. Chances were, the sorceress whose partnership everyone would be competing for wouldn't be know for another week, when the leading five members of the Sorceress Council came to participate in the Sorceress Parade.

"Now, then, can anyone tell me what the Terrain Alliance's main job is? Anyone?"

This waiting is going to kill me.

He wished time would speed up so that he could find out which sorceress would be partaking in the tournament. There was simply no point in competing if that sorceress wasn't Elincia.

"Sol!" Instructor Jameson barked. "Since you're not paying attention, you must already know the answer to this question."

As the class snickered, Caspian almost sighed. Just like he'd suspected, a mere month after returning to Arcadia's Knight Academy, the status quo had returned. People pretended to ignore him as he passed them in the hallway, they spoke ill of him whenever he was within hearing distance, and they generally made his life an unpleasant hell. This included the teachers, of course, who were also nobles and believed that a peasant such as him had no place among them.

"The Terrain Alliance's main job is to keep the peace between nations. They have a small task force of around ten-thousand strong, known as the Peacekeepers, specifically for this task. Furthermore, the Terrain Alliance hosts many international events that have become popular among both peasants and nobles, including jousting tournaments, competitions, festivals, and plays. This is all done for the sake of international cooperation and to raise morale." Caspian gave the man standing behind the podium a vindictive smile. "Have I answered your question in a manner that is satisfactory?"

"Um, well, y-yes, I suppose you have," Jameson coughed into his hand, shamefaced. "Moving on..."

Before they could actually move on, a young man sitting near the front stood up and slammed his hands on the table. "Instructor, would you mind if I requested that you no longer call upon that inbred rapscallion again? There is no need to ask a fool like that questions when he's never going to amount to anything."

The noble who spoke was Julius, a beefy young man whose muscular build made Caspian question his noble lineage. His arms were thicker than Caspian's head, and his barrel-like chest strained against the buttons of his shirt. Because of how large he was, his head looked positively tiny in comparison. Long blond locks that appeared softer than silk and glistened in the light trailed down his head like a shimmering waterfall.

"Careful not to learn too many big words, Julius," Caspian warned. "Your head might explode if you fit too much knowledge into that miniscule brain of yours."

Julius whirled on Caspian, presenting him with a fierce glare. Caspian would have been more nervous if the other boy's head had been the proper size to match his body.

"I'd suggest you watch that foul tongue of yours, Sol. People of low social standing such as yourself have no place among the nobility." Julius's eyes gleamed with the light of acrimonious resentment. "I'd suggest you remember that, otherwise you may find yourself drowning in a river."

Caspian felt his breath leave him. He didn't often think about what happened to him during his first year attending school. It wasn't something that he enjoyed remembering, as it reminded him of how naive, foolish, and weak he'd been.

Back then, he'd wrongly assumed that he could earn the acceptance of others by being kind and helpful. Even now, he still recalled how he'd bent over backwards to appease the people around him. He'd tried to help out the servants with the chores, but they'd tell him that someone like him didn't belong with them. He'd also attempted to help nobles who were struggling in their studies. Needless to say, they hadn't appreciated it.

Those who hadn't been outright resentful had spoken ill of him behind his back. Indifference became jealousy. Jealousy turned into hatred. Hatred became hostility. Caspian's life, the happy and joyful life that he'd lived before then, had transformed into his own personal hell.

It was during this time, his first year at the academy, that someone had reached out to him, had offered him their hand and support. At the time, Caspian had been so grateful to discover someone who didn't look down on him for not being a noble, that he hadn't considered that the person might've had ill-intentions—not until it was too late.

The noble who'd befriended him had drugged his food, bound him in rope, smashed his kneecaps in with a blacksmith's hammer, then dumped him into the river. He'd almost drowned, but at the very last second, the blood flowing through his veins had given him the means to his own salvation. He'd survived thanks to what he was, but he could've easily died that night.

The entire incident had been swept under the rug. The young noble who'd tried to kill him had been expelled, and Sylvia de Floresca had made sure their entire family suffered. No one spoke of what happened afterward. Caspian had assumed that the situation would never see the light of day. And yet...

Could he know about what happened?

Julius hadn't been in any of his classes back then, so he didn't believe that to be the case. The other teen must have just been trying to rile him up. He'd heard that great minds thought alike, so the inverse must have also been true.

Idiots all get the same ideas into their heads.

"Drown me in a river? I might be hearing things, but it appears your insults are even more barbaric than usual. Are you sure I'm the plebeian among us? The complete lack of originality in your slanderous words is awfully pedestrian."

Lesson number one when insulting nobles: Always compare them to peasants. They didn't like it.

Julius's face became an ugly shade of puce. Several veins throbbed on his head, appearing ready to explode. Caspian wondered if he could goad this fool into attacking him. He'd like nothing more than to have this idiotic piece of inbred noble filth expelled.

It was too bad someone decided to intervene before Julius blew up in a vengeful rage.

"Hey, now, let's all just calm down."

Christopheles Siene el Ancor, a young man with spiky white hair and vivid blue eyes, stood up from his own chair. He raised his arms in a gesture that all but begged them to remain calm. His face, filled with an amiable smile, seemed almost capable of diffusing any situation.

"There's no need for violence now, is there?"

A short yet tense standoff took place. Caspian glared at Julius, who glared right back, while Christo had a nervous grin plastered on his face.

"Che." Julius sat back down. "You're not worth my time, Sol."

"Says the inbred monkey," Caspian fired back, though he also sat back down.

The rest of class passed uneventfully. Caspian spent most of the time staring off into space. He didn't pay attention to how his fellow students spoke poorly of him, nor did he listen as the teacher lectured them on the differences between the five kingdoms' infrastructure, economic, and financial situations. When class ended, he grabbed his bookbag, threw it over his shoulder, and hurried for the door. He was nearly halfway down the hall when Christo caught up to him.

"You don't waste time, do you, Caspian? Class just barely let out and you're already bolting for the door. What's the rush?"

The rush is that I don't want to spend any time speaking with idiots like you and Julius.

Caspian didn't say anything out loud. Much as he didn't like it, Christo was the only person who would give him the time of day. While Caspian didn't trust Christo—he was noble, and they couldn't be trusted—he'd begun to at least tolerate the young man. He blamed it on the time he'd spent as Erica Demonica de Angelo's knight.

"There's no rush. I just want to be alone."

Caspian grunted when Christo slung an arm around his shoulder. He'd been prepared for this, however, and steadied himself before he could stumble.

"Why would you want to be alone when you've got this incredible friend right here?" Christo asked, pointing at himself.

"I simply can't imagine," Caspian muttered sarcastically.

Christo gave him a cheery, close-eyed grin. "Anyway, since I got you before you could run off, I was wondering if you'd like to come into town this weekend? What do you think? I hear they've finally started preparing for the festival, so it should be interesting."

Opening his mouth, Caspian prepared to give Christo an emphatic no—when he paused.

Maybe I should take him up in his offer?

He really did need to face the facts. No matter how many times Caspian turned Christo down, the annoying young man kept asking him to hang out. He'd honestly lost count of the number of times his roommate had asked him to go into town and be his wingman while he floated with the local girls. It must have been in the triple digits by now.

Perhaps if I accepted his offer, he'll leave me alone...

The thought had crossed his mind before, but he'd never let it stay there long. His initial thoughts were that if he gave Christo a centimeter, his roommate would take a kilometer. However, in light of what happened with the Heathcliffs, Caspian wondered if maybe he should try to make nice with the other boy.

What was that old saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?

If nothing else, accepting Christo's proposal would allow Caspian to keep an eye on the noble. This also meant it would be difficult for Christo to try anything duplicitous toward him.

"Sure," Caspian said, "why not?"

"You're such a killjoy, Caspian," Christo moaned in complaint. "Why do you always have to be like—wait." He paused. "Did you just say you'll go?"

"I did."

"R-really?"

"What's with that look?" Caspian asked in response to Christo's wide-eyed expression. "Do you not want me to go? If so, let me know and I'll retract my words."

"Ah! No, no! It's fine. You just surprised me is all." Chuckling sheepishly, Christo rubbed the back of his head. "I kind of expected you to decline."

"Don't expect me to do this all the time," Caspian grumbled. "I simply want a change of pace. Nothing more."

"I gotcha." Pumping a fist into the air, Christo cheered. "All right! It's time for us to hit the town!"

"You mean it's time for our next class," Caspian said as the bell rang. He couldn't believe he'd just wasted his fifteen minute break with this idiot.

"Right." Christo nodded. "Class, then town."

"Um, no, it's Friday. We're not allowed into town until tomorrow."

"Class, dinner, town."

"Enough! We're going to be late!"

"Class, dinner, sleep—"

"Oh, for the love of—shut up, Christo!"

Caspian and Christo rushed to their next class, hoping they'd make it before the second bell rang.

He was already beginning to regret accepting Christo's offer

***

Elincia wore the brightest smile as she stepped off of the train.

There were many people at the station, which sat on the outskirts of Axium—the city in which Arcadia's Knight Academy resided. It wasn't the largest station ever. Indeed, the one in Casadina was nearly five times as big, but the outdoor station had a bustling feel to it, yet it retained a rural charm that she appreciated.

So, this is where Caspian has been living for the past eight years? What a nice place.

Elincia resisted the desire to skip, and instead she walked calmly across a concrete walkway, then down a flight of metal stairs. Her cloak rustled as she moved, and she saw several people try to peek at her face. She reached up and tugged at the hood that she'd thrown over her head, further hiding her visage from view.

She'd learned early on that people had a really bad tendency to stare at her. It started when she'd turned fourteen, but it had been happening with increasing frequency as the years went on. She didn't really understand why, but nonetheless, being stared at with such intensity always made her more than a little uncomfortable. She often wondered if that was why Lady Sylvia refused to let her outside of the mansion.

However, today she wouldn't allow her discomfort to get to her. She'd gone outside, left the sanctity of her home, for a reason. She was going to see her friend. Nothing on this earth was going to stop her—not even Lady Sylvia.

This is it...

Elincia took a deep breath, as if preparing to dive underwater. One. Two. Three. She counted down—then she plunged into the crowd of pedestrians.

Caspian, I hope to see you soon.

***

Saturday came and Caspian discovered himself doing something that he'd never done before; traveling into the city with Christo.

Axium was a modestly large city that surrounded Arcadia's Knight Academy, which was located in the very heart of the city. It was the only city located within the rural Ruudon province, and it had been built for the sole purpose of housing the academy.

Cobblestone streets were filled with people as he and Christo wandered the town. Vendors and stall owners shouted by their stands, proclaiming the "great deals" that they had on all manner of items. Shops stood behind the vendors. They were square buildings composed of tan bricks and flat roofs. While they didn't look like much, many people could be seen entering and exiting the various shops at any given time.

Banners hung from buildings, and spirit crystals had been strung above the road, connected from building to building in crisscrossing patterns. Christo was right. These people were definitely preparing for the Sorceress Festival. The very atmosphere seemed charged with excitement.

"Check it out, Caspian! They're having a demo of the latest MagiTech."

MagiTech was the abbreviated nickname given to magical technology, which were appliances that relied on spirit crystal to power them. It was a recent invention, having only been created in the last 15 years. Ever since the first piece of MagiTech had come out, there'd been a boom in new magical devices. Everything from clothing washers to transportation vehicles were being invented with astonishing speed.

"This beauty is called the Dragonfly! Through the use of this controller, one can easily make the dragonfly soar through the air as if it was the real thing!"

A handsome man with blond hair held up a strange device in his hands. His thumbs pressed down on it, and a tiny golden dragonfly about the size of Caspian's fist flew into the air, its wings beating too quickly for human eyes to see. The man then used the controller to control the dragonfly. He sent it zooming around the crowd of onlookers.

The crowd was suitably awed.

"Daddy, daddy! Can we get one? Can we? Please?"

"Um, ask your mother when we get home, son."

"That's so cool! I want one!"

"How much do they cost?"

The man flashed them a salesman's grin. "You're all in luck. Harmonix is currently selling these at a discount. Until the end of the festival, the remote dragonfly will only cost a low one-hundred drachma."

As several people groaned at the exorbitant price, Caspian and Christo continued on.

"This is all so cool!" Christo squealed like a kid who'd seen their favorite sorceress. "There's so much stuff! I've never seen so many people or lights or displays! Isn't this cool, Caspian?"

"Not really," Caspian lied. There was absolutely no way he was going to tell Christo that he actually was impressed. He'd rather invoke the wrath of Odin than do that.

"Aw!" Turning around, Christo walked backwards, hands behind his head. His face expressed disappointment at Caspian's words. "Don't be like that! Can you not sense the festive atmosphere? Surely, even someone like you, who always acts like a sour puss, can tell how much effort is being put into making this next festival a big success."

"Not really."

"Ha!" Christo barked with laughter as he pointed at Caspian. "You can't fool me! I, Christopheles Siene el Ancor, your best friend and most loyal comrade, can see right through you! Just so you know, I am—"

Caspian didn't hear what Christo was about to say. All of his attention suddenly focused on the cloaked figure that Christo was about to run into. He couldn't see anything that might have determined who they were, except for their figure. Judging from the hair peeking out of their hood, this person was clearly female.

Having already had several issues with cloaked individuals over two months ago, Caspian felt a heightened sense of alertness as this one appeared.

"H-hey! Caspian, where are you going?!"

Caspian wove through the crowd, moving around people like a swift breeze. He used his innate agility and grace, quickly closing the distance between him and the cloaked figure. He wouldn't be able to do anything violent, not in such a populated place, but he needed to make sure this person didn't intend to harm anyone.

"Caspian!" Christo shouted, hurrying to catch up. "Wait up! Wait for meeeee!"

Unfortunately, because of Christo's loud shouting, the person that he was swiftly closing the distance with noticed him. He didn't even get within one meter of them before they bolted.

With his eyes narrowed and a fierce expression crossing his face, Caspian darted after the cloaked figure. He noticed, with some surprise, that the person he was pursuing was quite graceful. They moved around passers bys with ease, flowing through the crowd like water.

That's definitely an elf.

Only elves possessed that kind of supernatural grace. Sorceresses did, too, but no sorceress would ever wear a cloak in public. There was no need.

I have to catch her before she harms someone, or even worse, before something happens to her.

He needed to stop her before she did something regrettable. He didn't want anyone dying; not this elf, not the people enjoying the festivities, no one. If he could just catch her, then he could knock her unconscious and smuggle her out of the city. After that, he would let her go free and warn her not to go near any human cities again.

It didn't take long for him to catch up. Whoever this person was, she didn't know the city very well. Even though Caspian didn't spend much time in Axium, he'd traversed through it enough times on missions that he knew the city better than most people. Before long, he'd cornered her in an alley.

"I don't know who you are, or what you want, but I'd like you to come with me before something happens that we both regret," Caspian said.

The cloak figure, her back against the wall, shook her head. "I can't do that. Not until I see him."

Him?

"Look, this city is no place for you. If you stay here, you'll be in jeopardy. Please, don't make this any harder than it needs to be."

"I refuse. I... I'm sorry, but I won't be stopped now!"

There was no killing intent, but the air suddenly became much thicker. A tremulous hum caused the atmosphere to vibrate. Caspian felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

The feeling of this mana! The flow is similar to Spiritual Evocation, but the mana is clearly that of an elf!

Caspian felt like he'd swallowed a rock. There was a lump in his throat as he stared at the cowled figure. There was only one elf that he knew who could use Spiritual Evocation.

"Ele?"

The figure paused. The mana surrounding them dispersed, leaving behind an unusual feeling of emptiness. Slowly, she raised her hands, reaching up for her hood. Delicate fingers grasped the fabric as she pulled it back.

Caspian could've sworn his heart had stopped.

"Caspian?" Elincia said, her expression a mirror image of his shock.