Author's note: This marks the end of this arc. I learned quite a lot from this and will make sure that my next arc will have a main baddy, as well as a real climax :P. The Kolimpri arc is something I'm actually looking forward to to write! Enjoy!

Edited by: 1Jayds, Paradox

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The enrollment fights have come to an end. Of the more than ten thousand children that enrolled, only 385 members remained. It was quite the achievement to have passed all 5 fights but then again, Halram Academy only wants the best of the best.

In order to celebrate the ending of the fall-out period the staff had organized a little party. They had emptied one of the class rooms and decorated the white marble walls with colorful and festive riffraffs. Candles were shining in abundance throughout the room and small tables had been set up to contain snacks and drinks. There were even people playing instruments to the side, some of which the children had never seen before. Heck, most children in attendance had never been to something as big as this.

“Well, you can see where they spend all their money…” said Theo as he chomped onto a dried squid. The gang had claimed a table with lots of different types of food. They also made sure it was as far away from a certain someone’s table.

“Are things always like this in the Capital?” asked Ymil as he looked around the room with deadbeat eyes. He was severely drained from the night before, that night had been hell’s incarnate to him. Nevertheless, he was impressed by the size of the party. The parties they’d had back in Sophia Village were much different from this.

“Ay,” said Ariel. “I’ve heard that Nobility often hold parties like this to showcase their wealth. Although, if you compare this to an actual Noble’s party, you’d find this pale in comparison. Isn’t that so, Amalia?” He showed little signs of being tired but Ymil knew that he was dead on the inside too.

Amalia was silently staring at the woman playing harp on the side. She was nibbling on a stir fried chicken wing as she became one with the music.

“Yoohoo, Amaliaaaaa!” shouted Ragnar as he waved his hand his front of her face.

“Urgh, can’t you see I’m admiring the music here, simpleton?” She turned back to the table. “That woman is quite phenomenal, I wonder who her patron is….”

“Earth to Amalia,” continued Ragnar, “We were wondering how this part compares to what you’re used to.”

“I find that woman quite amazing as well,” added Rena. “Every stroke of her hand is as if she’s tugging at my heart strings.”

Everyone fell silent and listened to the woman’s harp. Only then did the boys realize the magic of her music. Every note was soothing to the heart, every chord would lift the spirit into a state of trance.

“Wow,” sighed Ragnar, “that is beautiful. I mean the music, not the woman!”

“Pshh, see if I care,” said Amalia. “Not like she’s got anything on me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” said Theo and made cupping movements in front of his chest. Upon seeing that Amalia’s face turned beet red, it matched her hair quite nicely.

Ragnar placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t you worry, I heard that they’ll grow bigger if someone massages them for you. I will, as your boyfriend, reluctantly accept this devious task and…”

*Slap*

“I saw that one coming from miles away….” Ariel laughed bitterly.

“Aw come on. I was just kidding.”

“Yes, you are so very funny, Ragnar Forgeron.” Amalia’s face looked as if she was boiling on the inside. ”Almost as funny as this chicken here. Do you know what I do to people that are as funny as this chicken, Ragnar Forgeron?”

“You cuddle them to death?” said Ragnar as he popped an innocent smile.

“No. I do this!” Amalia took the chicken to her mouth and took a violent bite. She chewed the meat loudly and then spat it out.

“Kinky,” said Theo as he reached for a piece of cheese-bread.

“Looks like she doesn’t swallow, Ragnar. Dump her while you can.” Ariel looked expectantly at the already furious Amalia but was surprised not to get a reaction from her. “What, too mature for you?”

“Erm, Ariel, I don’t think anyone understood that one…” said Rena softly.

“I did, but it’d be best you don’t know the details,” said Theo as he tried to stifle his laughter. “Hey Ragnar, how is this dating Amalia business going?”

“Quite fine,” said Ragnar without hesitation. “She almost agreed to hold hands!”

“That’s not what I said!” rebuked Amalia. “I said that I’d need to be a corpse for that to happen.”

“See? Progress!” Ragnar revealed a big grin on his face. “Before, she’d have told me to go die in a corner.” This mode everyone laugh, besides Amalia off course.

“Well, I guess you’re more tolerable than my ‘other’ suitor…,” sighed Amalia.

“You rang?” asked a cocky voice. Everyone turned around at the same time and found Alex Chrysos standing near their table. Naturally, they abruptly stopped talking.

“If it isn’t our favorite little swine,” answered Ragnar as he stood up. “I was wondering what that smell was but you just solved that mystery.”

“Oh really,”rebuked Alex, “are you sure you’re not smelling yourself, you piece of shit?”

Ragnar feigned horror. “Oh my, you really hit me where it hurts. What can we do for you, Lord Swineston?”

“Tssk, I didn’t come here for you. I came to ask Amalia if she’d be my dance partner later this evening.”

Amalia looked genuinely surprised. “Wait, they’re playing a Waltz tonight?”

“But off course, and I would really appreciate your lovely self to be my partner.”

“I might consider it,” she said, “if you get rid of your cocky attitude and got rid of that smell. Ragnar is right, you smell like a donkey’s excrement.”

Alex’s face started to twitch. “Are you sure, m’lady? It seems befitting of our statures that we would….”

“I don’t give about statures, my dad always told me to dance with the men I hold dear. You, m’lord, are nothing but a pompous pig.”

Alex’s face was getting entirely red, he was obviously angry. “Thank you, miss, I shall remember this.” He was barely able to contain his anger and stormed off to his side of the room again. He was greeted by a few members of Nobility and even the gang could hear them laughing.

“What was up with that?” asked Theo.

“Well, he’s her other suitor…,” answered Rena.

“That’s right, that Nobleman’s son thinks I am his destined partner as yellow and red are supposedly fated colors. What kind of bull is that?”

“His attempts at being romantic are quite… interesting….” said Rena as she knew all about Alex’s antics. She knew that his intentions weren’t bad, it’s just that his methods were just so despicable, so unimaginative, so lame.

“Then tell me,” asked Amalia, “what part of offering me a slave as dowry would you find attractive?”

“He offered you a slave?” asked Theo as he angrily put down the food in his hand. “You don’t do slaves, do you Amalia?”

“Off course not! My family’s not that barbaric.”

“Then you should have accepted and let the slave go.” Theo’s tone changed the entire mood of the conversation instantly.

“What’s with you, Theo? Why so serious all of a sudden? Why would I accept a gift from that poser?”

“Because this is a man’s life he’s toying with,” said Theo, “slaves are not tradeable goods.”

“We all agree with you, Theo,” said Rena softly, “but if she’d accepted she’d be forced to marry Alex. That’s the idea of a dowry present.”

Amalia quickly nodded to support Rena’s case. Everyone silently looked at Theo who had just gone from his usual carefree self to an entirely serious persona, something that happened very rarely. A few seconds passed and Theo’s face suddenly reverted to his gleeful self.

“But hey, if you ever get bored of Ragnar or Alex, I’ll always be available.”

Everyone understood he didn’t want to continue on the topic so they just dropped it.

“You know? If you were a bit more decent I might actually fall for you,” said Amalia as she pointed a chickendrum at Theo.

“Hey, no flirting with other people’s girls, man. Not cool!” Ragnar was mockingly staring at Theo.

“Haha, don’t worry. I wouldn’t dare flirt with her without your permission, oh great Lord Forgeron.” Theo made the best bow he could make from a seated position.

“Why you!” Ragnar slung the piece of sausage he was about to eat at Theo.

*hap*

It went right into Theo’s mouth.

“Fank you fery much!” said Theo and then he chewed on his newly obtained sausage. This prompted everyone at the table to laugh, even Ragnar forgot he was being mock-angry. They then went on to talk about other things such as the teachers that they have and the other students that they’ve fought. They were all enjoying themselves immensely.

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Later that evening, Ymil whispered something to Ragnar. “Pshh Ragnar. I think you should ask Amalia to dance with you.”

Why would I…” started Ragnar but then he noticed the change in music. The musicians had started to play a soft instrumental song that often accompanied an certain dance. Even though Ragnar and Ymil never learned the steps, they do recognize the type of music.

Ragnar promptly stood up and walked over towards Amalia’s chair. She looked up at him in surprise, a piece of crab still dangling from her mouth as she realized what the boy was about to do.

“Proper etiquette dictates that a dashingly handsome youngman has the right to ask such a wonderful lady as yourself for a dance. Would m’lady give me the honor?” Ragnar gave a curt bow and offered his hand.

Amalia put down the crab and cleaned her hands with a napkin. She then took Ragnar’s hand and stood up. “It would appear that you’re not that barbaric after all. Please lead the way.”

Ragnar took her by the hand and with a huge grin on his face he walked her to the largest open space available. He led her to his front and posed in a way he’d seen in picture books.

“You know,” he said as he took a good look at Amalia’s dress, “You look quite stunning tonight.”

“But off course.” She had picked that dress especially for that occasion. The dress she wore was a mix of both black and red silk that outlines the curves of her maturing body. She had developed quite well in several areas and this dress emphasized this growth. She wanted to leave a lasting impression on anyone that would see her that night, as she was a Noble after all.

She slid into Ragnar’s arms and held the posture that she had been taught. Unlike Ragnar, she had been trained in the arts of etiquette and dancing and was much more apt at dancing than the average girl.

And so they began. Ragnar listened to the beat of the music and tried to find a good rhythm. He then took a step forward with his left foot and he hit Amalia’s shin.

“Ouch! Who on earth starts a waltz with their left?”

Ragnar shrugged. “I never paid much attention to dance classes. I never thought them that useful.” That was a lie, off course, but he had to maintain the appearance of a Noble.

“Tsk, all you Noble boys are the same. Here, allow me to lead.” She slid out of Ragnar’s embrace and assumed the stance of a man. Her left arm was hooked and right extended, the position Ragnar had just mimicked.

“Wait, you want me to be the woman?!” exclaimed Ragnar.

“It’s either that or I’m going to dance with Theo.” A smug smile appeared on her face.

“Fiiiiine.” Ragnar had no choice but to give in.

“So first you take a step back with your left,” she whispered and she gently pushed Ragnar’s body backwards. “Then you take a step to the side and close….” She gently guided Ragnar through the basic steps of the English Waltz and soon she stopped talking altogether. Once Ragnar had figured out the steps he simply followed the instructions Amalia’s body gave. A push, a pull, a nudge, anything really, Amalia was leading brilliantly.

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The rest of the group was looking at the pair dancing with smug smiles on their faces. They couldn’t hear what they were saying but when they saw that Amalia took on the role of the man both Theo and Ariel had a laughing fit. Even Ymil had to work had to stifle his laughter, but he didn’t want to seem disrespectful to his friend.

But once the pair started to really dance, the guys couldn’t help but be envious of Ragnar. To hold a girl that closely for so long, it felt so intimate, so personal. Too bad that there was nobody that…

*prod*

Ymil turned around as someone was poking him on the shoulder. Behind him stood Rena and she was nervously staring at the ground. It was only then that Ymil realized that she was also wearing a high-quality dress that, although it didn’t stick to the body as Amalia’s did, it added a certain innocent charm to the wearer. She looked outright adorable.

“Erm…” she stammered as she shuffled her feet nervously. “W-would you like to dance w-with me?”

Theo and Ariel turned around instantly and looked at the two at the edge of the table. Their eyes were filled with envy and jealousy, but they also egged Ymil on. ‘Go for it!’ said their eyes.

“Why not,” he said as he stood up and took Rena by the hand. He then walked her next to where Ragnar and Amalia were dancing and placed Rena in front of him.

He gave her a curt bow and assumed the male position by extending his right arm. She accepted it and they both moved closer, arms entwining as they prepared to dance.

“Do keep in mind though,” whispered Ymil, “that I only know the theory. I might be a bit… stiff.”

Rena laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ve only learned the basics myself.”

And so they began. Forward, side, close. Backwards, side, close…. They went through the steps like a pair of stiff robots and eventually finished the figure eight that forms the basis of the dance. They then repeated the steps, much more fluidly this time, and again, and again, and at some point they completely forgot that they were supposed to be bad at this.

But unlike in the fairytales, Ymil did not get absorbed by the music, his thought did not go blank as they danced. As they were sliding across the dancefloor he couldn’t help himself from thinking about what this dance might imply, how others would perceive it and how different it felt from when he danced with Mia back in the village. He really wanted to enjoy the moment but his mind just wouldn’t shut up!

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“So Ariel,” said Theo to the last remaining member of their gang. “I feel kinda left out. Couldn’t you have been a girl?”

“Ha, and then I’d be yours by default? As if!”

“But it’d only be fair!”

“No way dude, why is it that everyone should be paired up like that? The world doesn’t work that way.”

Theo sighed. “But look at them! Don’t they look like they’re having fun?”

“It’s not too late yet, if you really want we can dance together.” Ariel winked provocatively as he said that.

“Eeeeew! No! I just want a magical moment like those guys are having! Dancing with a dude would totally destroy the moment.”

Upon seeing Theo’s reaction he couldn’t help but laugh. “Haha, I’m only kidding! But look at them, do you really think they’re having such magical times themselves?”

Theo looked but saw no problems. Ragnar and Amalia were waltzing over the dancefloor like a magnificent rose, their movement flowing together naturally and they were both smiling ceaselessly. Ymil and Rena’s dance was also quite beautiful but not quite as graceful. Rena was entirely entranced by the music, he couldn’t make out Ymil’s face though.

“I think I’d give the world to be in their position,” said Theo finally.

But Ariel sighed. “Funny, I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes for the world.”

And with those words the duo kept looking at the two dancing pairs on the dancefloor. A few other pairs took to the floor as well but most of them stayed as far away from the children with colored hair. Most pairs didn’t know how to actually dance the waltz though so their dances were not as mesmerizing as our main heroes.

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That had been a successful night for our heroes as they didn’t have to deal with unpleasantness at all. Most people didn’t dare to approach them and the other Nobles had kept their distance, probably at the behest of Alex Chrysos.

The rest of the year went by really quickly. Although it didn't go by as smoothly as a normal school year would, everything pales in comparison with what they had to face at the end of their first year. After training hard together and triumphing over most obstacles, our heroes found themselves in the Royal Finals. And guess who they are facing?