"Go get em girl.” Brock said, crouching infront of Lisa like a huge mountain of muscle. A wide smile spread across his scarred face.

”I'll do my best Brock, guys.” Lisa replied, looking around at the adventurers. She stood at the gate to the inner city, and couldn't wait to see what lay beyond the mystical white walls. In her hand she held a large pouch with coins and an introduction letter to the academy. She was wearing the washed and minted up outfit from back when she met Shu.

On the way, Caia had bought her a few changes of clothing, but they were plain in comparison to this. She found she liked the way the long socks hugged her shins and thighs. It made her comfortable in a way that bare legs just didn't, not to mention rough linen pants rubbing against her, or god forbid, that itchy woolen stuff Brock had suggested for winter wear.

But the most salient reason why Lisa preferred the black dress, long white socks and shiny black-lacquered shoes, was because that person had given them to her.

She felt a pang in her heart every time she thought about him, but Caia had helped her get over it to an extent. It was no good to get hung up on someone like that, she had said. Lisa agreed.

She had depended on Shu way too much, and likewise with the Adventurers. She had nothing against them, they were good people after all, but... she had to be strong by herself, so strong nobody could bully her.

That was why she was here. She would attend the Royal Academy and become a powerful mage like Caia.

The pack strapped to her back was loaded with food and a few nicknacks that were gifts from Ouroboros 7. Trevor was surprisingly skilled at woodcarving, and had carved her a unique piece. At first, she had been embarrassed, but she had come to like the statue. It was uncanny how much it resembled that person... but it was different in subtle ways too... Like, it didn't quite catch the way he smiled, the way his eyes drifted about seemingly at random as they walked, or his calming scent... No good. Lisa shook her head.

”Mmhmm, I'll go. No turning back now.” Lisa said, steeling herself and taking the first step towards the gate. Two strong looking guards were watching the little au revoire ceremony with fond smiles on their faces.

”Wait until you see my hag of a mother before you say that!” Caia called. Tap, tap tap, the hard soles of Lisa's shoes struck the white marble as she approached the gates.

Nodding at the guards, she fished around in the pouch for a moment before she brought out the Adventurers guild identification card that Branch Master Noran had procured for her. The man had been exeedingly polite towards her the second time they met.

With a nod from the guards, Lisa bounced through the open gates and into the inner city, the Academy city of the Azure kingdom. The place where Royalty and nobles from the entire alliance came to study. It was enemy territory for her, but that didn't really matter anymore.

Walking down the main avenue for a time, Lisa browsed the shops with curiosity. Since it was early in the day and the students were probably all in class right now, the streets were surprisingly empty.

There were only a few middle-aged people and old geezers out and about.

On her way towards the sprawling, towering structure dominating the inner city like the vast, pure white castle of a God, Lisa passed many different shops. Most of them seemed to be primarily engaged with fulfilling the students needs. You could buy high quality pens, clothes and robes, weapons and armor, paper, books, potions and strange toys that Lisa had never seen before.

”Oi there little missy.” A gangly young man called, waving at her from the opening of a seedy looking shop. She couldn't tell by looking at the sign out front what kind of shop it was, and there were no wares on display either, so she hadn't even thought about entering it.

”New are ya? Why don't ye come over and ave a look at our humble shop? I promise ye wont be disappointed.” The man said, plastering on a practiced smile.

Turning to the man, Lisa took a deep breath. ”Sorry, no.” She replied.

”No?” The gangly fellow said, scratching his well-kept mess of hair. ”Well ain't that a bummer. Told dad ta fix up da sign, but would he listen to little me? Oh no.” Now that she looked at him a second time, he was actually kind of handsome.

He had a boyish looking face and a tangled mess of curly brown hair. His thin lips had a natural curve that looked oddly inviting, and the hint of chest hair peeking out from his beige tunic spoke of a teenager coming into his own as a young man.

”Ho-how old are you?” she asked all of a sudden, curious now after observing him for awhile. She could usually place people rather well, but this guy had a strange look about him.

”Tanner,” the boy said, stepping forward all of a sudden and reaching out a hand.

Lisa only hesitated a moment before she forced herself to take his hand. Good manners, seem confident. Pretend. She had to remember the lessons from Caia.

”I'm Athelisa.” she said timidly. His hand was huge, yet thin and delicate. She was thankful that he did not crush her hand like Brock sometimes did.

”That be an interesting name, my Lady. It's unusual for one such as yourself to travel on your own but... well normal rules don't apply to the inner city, so I suppose alls well that ends well.” Tanner said, still smiling.

”Uh, te answer your question I am... uhm, I be 21 come summer. Why are ye asking such a thing? Could it be that the little miss has fallen for me?” Tanner said, cocking his head to one side and scratching at his non-existent beard.

”Ah woe is me, for our ages seem to differ greatly. Also, I'm afraid that this one has too many friends pining after him already.” Tanner smiled and leaned forward conspiratorially. ”Why do you think I'm hiding out here at me dads? Out of choice?” He waved a hand infront of his face as if to show that the very idea was ridiculous to him.

”But enough about me.” He said. ”You're a curious one, are you perhaps here for the entrance exams?” Lisa nodded. ”Uhuh. I'm going to attend the Royal Academy, I was on my way there when you called out for me.”

Tanner shifted his gaze towards the enormous white castle and the walls that surrounded the grounds. ”Best be off then. You're already way, way late. They might've closed the gates for the day already, but...”

Oh shit, nobody had said anything about an entrance exam. Was she supposed to know this? It hadn't seemed like Caia knew, otherwise she would've told her, right? Her heart suddenly aflutter with panic, Lisa turned to rush off when Tanner gently grabbed the sleeve of her dress. She almost threw a fireball at him, but managed to fight down the reflex. Caia's training had been too effective...

”Hold on. Uhm, you are rather late but if you tell the gatekeeper that it was Tanners fault, he'll understand. Maybe he'll take pity on you and let you in.” Smiling mysteriously, the strange Tanner turned and disappeared back from whence he came.

Lisa thought she heard a faint chuckle, but maybe she imagined it. Wait, no. Now was not the time to get distracted. She gritted her teeth and sprinted for the Academy.

Lisa arrived in time to see a robed man grabbing the iron gate and pulling it shut. ”Hold up!” She yelled, and slowly, ever so slowly, the robed figure turned towards her.

His very presence exuded disapproval, and his thin voice sneered. ”Kids these days, always slacking off. Back in my day we'd get beaten half to death for behaving the way young ungs do nowadays. Oh yes. Should close the gate on ya I should!” He grumbled, once again grabbing the gate to close it.

Out of breath, Lisa barely managed to call ”Tanner's fault,” as she gasped for air. The robed man stiffened at once, which bought Lisa enough time to make it past the sour gate guard.

As Lisa shambled past him with a severe case of the stitches trying to catch her breath, the old man shrouded within the hood mumbled, ”Can't be. She's way too young. Ah, Tanner that scoundrel, at it again. Ought to clout him a good one next time I see him.” The man said, shaking his fist in the air.

Shrugging the mans comment off as hot air from a grumpy old gate guard, Lisa hurried towards where the noise was coming from.

Stretched across a large portion of the grassy area between the wall and the enormous white castle school, there was a large collection of colorful tents set up.

The tents themselves were flanked by wooden barricades that looked more at home on a fortress than in this beautiful garden.

Beyond the wooden walls, Lisa could hear many voices and noises all melding into one continuous buzz. It had to be there.

Please don't be late, please don't be late. She repeated in her mind. This was already a disastrous start to her life as a student. Why couldn't things just happen normally for once?

She always thought back to the first day she met Shu. The image of him walking through the forest, enjoying every step, a lazy smile on his lips. That was the embodiment of how things should be done, she thought. Normally, in a relaxed manner. No pretenses, no rushing about.

Nothing seemed able to ruffle his composure... well nothing but her, apparently. Biting her lip and forcing the memory from her mind, Lisa tried to sneak into the mass of people lined up at the entrance without being noticed.

”Oh my, you're late too?” A voice called from the back of the queue, making Lisa jump.

The girl to whom the voice belonged seemed the epitomy of human nobility to Lisa, and her very presence exuded elegance beyond anything she could hope to match, despite the fact that she was an actual princess of the forest.

It was a young girl, perhaps no more than 13. tall for her age and quite well developed, with pale skin and long, braided blonde hair like many a human noble. She wondered briefly why they were all light skinned and blonde haired despite its southern location. All the kingdoms neighbours save the Empire to the north, were ruled by the indigenous, usually darker people.

Even the elves... She shook her head. Lisa told herself that it was time. Time to act, time to do. Time to change herself. The girl that had called out to Lisa, stepped forward and smiled in Lisa's direction, waving Lisa over to her little group. Next to the elegant girl stood a short, dark skinned girl with long black hair. She looked very much like an islander.

The two of them together created an odd sort of contrast.

”I'm Isabel, and this one is Yatiana. She came running a moment ago just like you.” Next to Isabel, the short, black haired beauty bowed her head. ”Pleased to meet you. It seems we're all in the same boat back here.” Yatiana said in greeting.

”I-I'm Athelisa.” She said, exchanging formal greetings with the little group. This wasn't such a bad start, she thought. Isabel puffed out her bosom proudly, gazing down at Lisa with a smile.

”Since we're in the last group, aptly named the stragglers, we have a higher chance of encountering the sour old goat and his minions.” Isabel said, speaking with confidence.

When Lisa raised an eyebrow in question, the girl continued. ”My big sister's enrolled here aswell. She told me all about it. Apparently, the stragglers get sent to the worst teachers. Sis told me to make sure I got here early, but... I kinda, sorta overslept. A little.” Isabel said.

”Uhm, I wasn't even aware that there was an entrance exam until a few moments ago.” Lisa confessed to the two other girls.

This wasn't as hard as she had first thought. Perhaps she could do this, after all. ”Huh? If not through an exam, how'd you expect to... oh...” Isabel said. She was a chatty one, but Lisa very much appreciated that.

”Oh, what?” Lisa prompted. By the look of things, it seemed that she had a lot of catching up to do. ”You got a letter of introduction or something like that, right?” Isabel asked.

When Lisa nodded, the girl continued. ”You shouldn't be back here with us then. We are nobodies. I'm just the second daughter of a minor duchess, and Yatiana is... huh? You never told me did you. What about you Athelisa? Your family must be high standing if you have a letter. Wait, do you have a letter?” Isabel said.

”Just call me Lisa for short. And... I do but... well, I don't really...” When Lisa trailed off, it seemed Isabel understood something.

”Ah so it's like that. You must be of higher standing than I originally thought then. See that guy over there?” Isabel said, pointing to a tall and handsome boy who looked like he was 14. His hair was a tangled mess of blonde curls and his eyes were a clear blue while his face had a square yet handsome shape, though his eyes were a bit sunken.

He looked... solid. Like a knight. At the thought of knights, Lisa shivered.

Oh gosh... there would be knights here, right?

”What? You know him?” Isabel said. Lisa shook her head. ”Ah, well. He is hiding out like you, but in truth he's a member of the royal family!Those that do know keep their gaffers shut lest they offend him.”

”But I'm not...” Lisa said, biting her lower lip.

”No, no its fine.” Isabel said. ”Yatiana is also incognito. This is cool, right? We're like spies from another kingdom or something, hiding out back here. Although my identity is genuinly rather boring, you two...” Isabel continued. Just as Lisa tensed, she saw Yatiana do the same and let fly a tentative smile. Uncertainly, the girl returned it.

”We... we're just aspiring students, nothing more. Definitely not spies! Haha.” Yatiana said, shifting nervously.

”Next! From here, to there. Proceed.” A sharp male voice bellowed. Lisa looked ahead to see a man in a billowing blue robe waving his arms at the queue as if he was directing music.

A group of about a dozen split off from the queue and followed the man, and that was when Lisa saw them.

It turns out that those guys were the last in queue before Lisa's batch... and what stood before her now was a small squad of men in shining armor, an all too familiar banner plastered across their intimidating, meticulously polished plate armor. Unconsciously, Lisa took a step back.

”Hey you!” One of the soldiers shouted, making Lisa jump and retreat further. She tried to ignore him, but the man looked her way. ”Yeah you! Step forth.” Biting her lip, Lisa took a step forward hoping that Caias disguise was successful.

Caia had braided her hair in such a way that it covered the horns, but if they got real close then maybe they would be able to see... Shu wasn't here this time... Shu... Her heart fluttered with panic, and Lisa startled when a pale white hand landed on her quivering shoulder.

”Take it easy Lisa, breathe.” Isabel whispered, her voice gentle and soothing. ”It's just a bunch of brutish knights, no worries for someone of your standing, right? After all, only super rich folk can wear clothes enchanted as strongly as those you have on right now. Perhaps only royalty...”

By what method did these people determine that her clothes were enchanted? Lisa didn't feel much different when wearing them, and she wasn't able to tell if someone else's clothing or armor was enchanted either. Perhaps it was an acquired skill, in which case she would have to learn it soon.

Nodding to Isabel to indicate that she could do this, Lisa stepped toward the knights. Alone, she faced them, a wall of tall men in plate armor. ”You seem a little young to enter the Academy, if you don't mind me saying so... I mean, some girls are just small, but you..” The lead knight said, stepping forward and removing his helmet.

Why the knights had been wearing helmets in this heat was beyond Lisa, but she thought it might have something to do with protocol and being on duty. A lined, yet kind face smiled down at her. He looked average, brown skin, brown eyes and a matte mop of black hair adorning an unremarkable face.

”See? We're not as dangerous as we look girlie, and the name's Lazlow Woodally, not evil demon king.” He said, laughing amiably and showing her what she thought was supposed to be a comforting smile.

To Lisa though, the smile looked anything but. After all, she knew what these men were capable of. ”I-I'm of age.” Lisa said.

Lazlow the knight did not look convinced, so she continued. ”If you need further proof, I can show you my letter of introduction.” The man nodded. ”That would be good, young lady.”

Lisa fidgeted with her dress for a moment, unsure. ”But... it's addressed to someone named Elanalue Doralei Thewenys, so I'm not sure I should just give it to you, since it was addressed directly to her.”

As soon as Lisa had finished saying the name, the mans face paled and he sputtered. ”Huh, ah ha, you should've said so earlier or we wouldn't have held your highness up back here with the stragglers bunch.” He gulped audibly. ”You, uh, your highness should go right ahead. In fact, let me escort you personally. Riley!”

”Yes, sir!” One of the other knights said, throwing a quick salute by smashing a fist into his chestplate with a clang. ”Take over for me here while I escort the highness to the headmistress.”

The knights voice wavered slightly as he spoke, and Lisa wondered why this man had suddenly become so nervous. Between him, and Caia calling her mother a hag... Lisa suddenly wasn't so sure she wanted to meet the woman. Still, if it was what she had to do to learn then so be it. Besides, she couldn't just judge someone on hearsay and rumours alone, and Caia's namedrop had been affectionate in nature.

Departing the stragglers bunch by following behind Lazlow, Lisa glanced back and saw a wide-eyed Isabel staring after her. The girls glossy lips hung open in an O of surprise.

Beside her, Yatiana studied Lisa thoughtfully. Again, Lisa tried a smile and gave them a little wave. Yatiana waved back, smiling, but Isabel was as a statue frozen in place. Yatiana bumped the gaping girl, and then Isabel started jumping up and down, waving frantically in an oddly familiar manner. Where had she seen that weird behaviour before?

The display itself made Lisa smile and she had to stifle a giggle lest Lazlow revise his opinion of her as a lady of high society. She hadn't actually given much thought to how she would present herself, but so far it had been smooth sailing due to Caia's letter. Again she had been saved by someone else.

When exactly would she have the power to do things herself? Clenching her fists, she followed behind Lazlow, who shouted ”Make way, Make way!” parting the crowd of students and teachers before him.

On either side, Lisa spotted many booths like the ones you might see at a carnival. These booths however, seemed to sell a variety of magical implements useful for students, aswell as a variety of high class snacks. She even spotted candy-apples and sugarpearls.

If Lazlow hadn't marched ahead so stoically, she might've asked the man to wait a moment so she could buy some sugarpearls. Just how long had it been? Her lips quivered slightly at the thought of her home in the woods.

The last time she had eaten sugarpearls was with her younger brother sitting next to her, and mom affectionally rubbing their bellies saying don't eat so much or you'll get a fat, fat belly like papa.

They were all dead now... Everyone except her.

Lisa saw many eyes turning toward her as she passed. Some gazed at her with admiration, others studied her with more of a predators gaze. Mostly however, the crowd of people just shrugged, thinking her another privileged noble.

There were enough of those here already, so what was one more pompously parading brat to them? Lisa didn't really want that sort of image associated with her, but what couldn't be helped, couldn't be helped. Atleast she had Isabel and Yatiana as friends. Probably. Could she make friends? Yeah. Of course. Of course she could make friends, she told herself.

Lazlow escorted her up to a large purple tent. Outside of the tent stood two robed figures. One was a white-robed woman of middling years with a sharp gaze. The other was a kindly looking gentleman with a comb-like thing holding his considerably long hair together in a strange arrangement she had never encountered before.

As Lisa looked at him, a shiver ran down her spine.

Although the man looked kind and handsome, Lisa was sure this person was extremely strong and dangerous.

Just what kind of person was this Elana woman to have such high level guards at her beck and call? They motioned her inside, and she entered, brushing aside a layer of purple fabric as she entered.

The inside of the large tent was sparsely decorated, but Lisa was surprised at the number of people crammed into the tent.

”Hey! Another one joins us, it seems.” A young man said jovially. He looked to be the same age as most of the other students, around 13 or 14 and clearly of noble origin. He had blazing red hair and blue eyes and reminded her a bit of Fiona. Lisa smiled at the redheaded boy and moved towards the gathered group.

”Sonuvabitch, you didn't arrange this did you Aran? I was sure 7 would be the number this year.” A girl said. She was short, flat-chested and her extremely elegant face was scrunched up in a permanently pissed off expression. Her cold eyes were partially hidden by curly blonde locks.

Smiling, the boy called Aran strutted up to Lisa and bowed slightly. ”So pleased to see you, my lady. It's good of you to join us.” He said, gently taking her hand as he bowed and just lightly brushing his lips across the top of her hand before letting go and straightening back up.

Lisa forced herself to smile and greet Aran. ”Glad that I could make it. I was almost late, you know?” Aran laughed amiably. It was a nice laugh. ”Oh but your timing is impeccable, miss...”

”Ah right, I am Athelisa.” She said. The awkward pause after her first name revealed to the other nobles that she did not wish to tell them of her house.

Aran nodded his understanding, and the bitch-faced girl from before studied Lisa closely, her scrutinizing gaze making Lisa feel a bit uncomfortable.

”So uhm, all of you guys have letters of introduction then?” Lisa asked.

”Aye.” A short and stocky boy replied. Actually he was a bit too stocky. A dwarf? Here? Now she'd seen it all.

”We all be the next in line for our respective thrones, with the exception of Aran here and little miss Yseralin over there.” The dwarf said, nodding over to the girl that had called Aran a son of a bitch so casually.

”I be kemlin, son of Roln and it be unusual even for us dwarves to curse thusly in such company.” Kemlin said, smiling.

Yseralin looked very pissed off and opened her mouth to snap back at the dwarf, but before she could speak, the entrance veil was drawn aside with magic and a tall elf stepped through. The very air around her seemed to contort and give way, and Lisa thought she heard a faint noise, but shook her head.

”Ah, you are all here I see. Huh?” The woman looked at Lisa and raised an eyebrow. ”I haven't seen you before. Who might you be?”

”Athelisa... ”

”Pleased to meet you Athelisa.” The elf replied. Lisa thought she looked vaguely like Caia and almost started.

”I am Elanalue Doralei Thewenys, headmistress of this royal Academy and I welcome all of you to this facility.” She smiled warmly at the group, meeting each of the noble childrens eyes and nodding firmly.

”I will personally oversee your trials, and they will be done in private as usual. Even if one of you fail the trials, you'll still be able to enter given your status.” Again, Elana's gaze flicked to Lisa.

”Present yourself to me in the order of arrival, let me see your letter, and then we'll go to the trial grounds. No need to waste much time on formalities now, when we can get those troublesome things sorted out later.”

Lisa lined up with the others, and one by one they stepped forward and bowed to the elf.

”Varek O'dum Lashiki, Crown Prince of Sathai.” A tall but thin boy with hollowed out eyes and a long narrow face, his skin as Black as the night, stepped forward and lowered the cowl of his cloak, revealing a bald head. To Lisa, he looked a bit scary and menacing, the kind of person who would pull legs off of small animals when he was a child.

”Aran Blaziur Aokaze. Third in line for the throne of the Azure Kingdom.” Yseralin sneered as the redhaired boy stepped forward and presented himself. ”Concubine bastard, stupid backup.” Yseralin sneered, just loud enough for Lisa to hear.

Nobody else seemed to hear it though, with the exception of Elana who raised an eyebrow in their direction. Aran bowed deftly, performing to the standard expected of royalty and comporting himself with a grace that made Lisa envious. She felt so... base, looking at such an elegant display of grace and nobility. She had no right to call herself a princess of the forest.

”Kemlin, son of Roln under the mountain.” The dwarf said. It was odd to see such a short and stocky person without a huge beard, but Kemlin was not yet of age to grow one. Lisa knew that according to dwarven tradition, they were only ever allowed to wield beards if they came of age, and among dwarves a beard could indicate status aswell as disgrace.

Special beads were woven into a dwarfs beard if he had performed some significant deed. With the female dwarves, it was their hair.

A strange folk from lands far away. Lisa hadn't thought to see any here, since the dwarves were part of the northern alliance and the conglomerate.

Next, a few other princes and princesses stepped forward to present themselves. At last, the bitch-faced girl stepped forward. It seemed she had arrived just before Lisa...

”Yseralin Silverswallow.” The small and arrogant girl said, bowing with a flourish of her long, wide sleeves.

”Apprentice to Seivious of Abbadon.” She added belatedly, a smirk on her face. Elana nodded, but a few of the noble lords including the scary looking Varek, looked over at Yseralin with googly wide eyes and an expression of pure shock on their faces. Lisa wondered just who this Seivious of Abaddon was, and why being apprenticed to him was such a big deal.

Elana cleared her throat, and Lisa jumped realizing that it was now her turn. Swallowing audibly she stepped forward, presenting her letter to Elana.

”I am Athelisa.” She said nervously, looking up at Elana. She ignored the hushed whisperings from the others for the moment. Elana took the letter and opened it. Lisa was still tense, because she did not precisely know the contents of the letter, only that it was from Caia. She was still unsure whether or not she needed to present herself as a princess and give her full name.

She felt uncomfortable because of Aran's presence, since he was of the royal bloodline that had exterminated her people.

Elana's eyes widened a little as she read ever downwards, and she began nodding to herself and saying, ”I see, I see. My little cat's finally found someone eh. And how unusual she is. Huh? What's this? The description my daughter gave of that person matches...”

Elana's gaze fell on Lisa and she asked: ”This letter mentions someone called Shu. You know him?”

Lisa nodded tentatively. She had no idea what the letter said about Shu, but she hoped he wasn't in trouble. ”Good. Would you mind telling me about him later? After the trials of course.”

Lisa was a bit taken aback by this turn of events, but she nodded again.

Elana's gaze was distant as she seemed to turn the letter over in her mind, then she snapped her attention to the group and clapped.

”Right, then let us be off to the trial grounds. Follow me.” Elana turned to leave, but before the woman had even taken a single step, the light and high-pitched voice of Yseralin rang out. ”But she hasn't finished her naming yet! Just who-”

”She is Athelisa and that is that.” Elana snapped, glaring back sharply and silencing any future complaints.