Chapter 42 (1/2)

“Presenting our royal highness, Randel the Second,” a man wearing a suit said as he lowered his head and lifted one arm into the air. He stood on a stage in front of an audience composed of children and teenagers who were dressed in pristine clothes with no wrinkles. The boys wore bow ties and the girls wore dresses. They stood in rows and columns, each child the same distance away from the others.

Thumps were heard as the king walked onto the stage from an entrance hidden behind a curtain. The children lowered their heads while kneeling and saluted with their right hands across their chests.

“We greet his majesty,” they all said at once.

Randel nodded. “You may rise,” he said. The children stood up and stared at the king. A few fidgeted. Rudolph stood in the back corner.

Randel cleared his throat. “You’re all here today as the promising hopes for our future. The students at our most prestigious school with the noblest backgrounds. Today, I’m offering you a chance to become even greater. Prestige, power, benefits. Everyone wants them.”

The king swept his eyes across the room of children. “As some of you may already know, we have officially signed a peace treaty with the demons and undead.” A few children frowned and others clenched their fists.

“I understand many of you have lost parents, siblings, friends,” the king said as he stared into the eyes of the children, “to the demons during our conflicts.”

“This treaty does not mean we’re disregarding their lives or disgracing our ancestors and their sacrifices,” the king said, “but rather, we’re biding our time. Wars can’t be won with pure offence. There are times when you need to pull back to cut your losses or rebuild your strength.

“As part of the peace treaty, the demons have offered to open their mana source to us. Of course, not everyone can go to the mana source,” the king said, “they’re allowing us to send three parties of six for the time being. Not only that, but, as part of our treaty, we will be establishing a school in Flusia that will be attended by both humans and demons alike. Those of you who’d like to grow stronger at their mana source will be required to attend this new school. After a year of attendance, the top seventeen students will be selected as candidates.”

“Times are changing, and those who are able to understand demons will definitely be more valuable in the royal court than those who can’t,” the king said. “Discuss this with your parents. You have two weeks to let your principal know your decision.” The king walked off the stage and the children started to murmur. They split into groups and discussed amongst themselves as the principal sat in a corner and watched them.

Michelle and four other teens, two boys and two girls, approached Rudolph. The boys wore similar white clothes and black pants, one had red hair and the other had black hair. The girls wore dresses of different colors.

“I’m guessing the eighteenth spot is reserved for you?” Michelle asked Rudolph. Rudolph nodded. His skin was tan and he had a scar that cut diagonally across his eyebrow. His hands were calloused and he was taller than Michelle by a few inches. Michelle opened her mouth.

“I should go back with my dad,” Rudolph said and brushed past her. Michelle bit her lip, but didn’t say anything as the group watched him leave.

The girl with blonde hair turned to her. “Aren’t you supposed to be childhood friends with him?” she asked. “You didn’t even introduce us and he already left.”

The black haired boy laughed. “Seems like he doesn’t like you,” he said. “You break his heart?”

Michelle shrugged. “He’s probably really busy,” she said, “doing prince stuff.”

The boy snorted. “Right,” he said, “prince stuff.”

The girls giggled. “Are you guys planning on going to the new school?” the blonde haired girl asked.

The other girl, who had black hair, shook her head. “No way,” she said, “I’m just going to find a rich and handsome guy.” She turned towards Michelle. “The prince was pretty cute.”

“Hey, rich and handsome guy right here,” the black haired boy said as he pointed towards his face with both hands.

The girl rolled her eyes. “Which part of that is handsome?” she asked.

The blonde haired girl turned to Michelle. “What about you?” she asked and smiled. “Pope’s daughter and all that, you should convert some demons right?”

“Hmm. I don’t know,” Michelle said. “I do want to get away from home though. Ugh.”

The red haired boy snickered. “I would too with a father like yours,” he said. “How many prayers do you say a day? Ten? Twenty?”

Michelle sighed and shook her head. “Too many,” she said. “It’s like he wants me to get possessed by a sacred spirit.”

“Yeah, right,” the boy said, “like anyone’d want to possess you. They’d be too freaked out by your… preferences.”

Michelle glared at him. He smiled and pat her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’s our secret,” he said and winked.

Michelle knocked his hand off her shoulder. “You disgust me,” she said and walked away.

“C’mon, Roy,” the blonde haired girl said. “You shouldn’t tease her like that.”

Roy shrugged. “Whatever.” He grinned at Michelle’s back as she walked up to another group of people.

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“We’re going with them?” Bella asked Yella. “Why would we do that?”

“They’re going to free our queen,” Yella said as she tugged on Bella and Rella’s arms.

“Why would they do that?” Rella asked. “I certainly wouldn’t help her save anybody.”

The trio arrived in front of Tafel and Vur. Yella sat on Vur’s head while Bella and Rella clung onto Tafel’s horns.

“You’re really going to save our queen?” Bella asked as she leaned over Tafel’s forehead to look her in the eye.

“I said I would, so I will,” Tafel said. “And if I can’t, then Vur can do it. Vur can do anything.”

“Maybe you’re not too bad of a person,” Bella said. “I still hate you though.”