As both of them laughed, catching their breath after the duel, Elara said, "If you guys are done, let's head back home."
Lalanat watched them from the house, a small smile forming as she saw Alaric grinning happily after his win. She murmured to herself, "I knew you were good."
The morning before the academy.
Caelin finished his breakfast, about to leave. Alaric called out, "Caelin, what do you say we train after school?"
Caelin smiled. "Ahh, thanks for the invite, but in the evening I need to work on some arithmetic homework. How about after dinner?"
Alaric blinked. "Arith—what?… Whatever, okay, after dinner then."
Lalanat chimed in, "It's something we learned in class, remember?"
Alaric thought for a moment. "Oh, right… the stuff about numbers and managing coins."
"Yes, that's it," Lalanat nodded. "The teacher gave us problems to solve at home."
Alaric frowned. "Wait… what class is that?"
Lalanat blinked. "But we're in the same class, aren't we?"
They both paused.
"…Eh?"
Elara slammed her hand on the table. "Stop slacking off just because you're obsessed with swords and battles!"
Alaric shrugged. "I don't need that for a fight, though."
"Yeah, that's stupid and short-term thinking," Elara continued. "If your general told you to scout and you can't even count how many enemies there are, what's the point of going?"
Lalanat added, "Yeah, and even as a knight, you still need to handle coins. That's important too."
Alaric raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes," Lalanat replied firmly.
Elara then turned to Lalanat. "Oh, how about you? You're almost done with your script, right? I've been asking for it since it's for next month… Thought I wouldn't force you, but we're kinda in a hurry."
Lalanat took a deep breath. "I'll finish tonight. I'm almost done anyway."
Alaric asked, "Is there a title or something?"
Lalanat hesitated. "It's… ah… 'A Merchant Falls in Love with His Slave'."
Elara smirked. "Ohhh… does it have meaning?"
Lalanat blushed. "Ahh… no, no. It's just a fantasy type."
Alaric frowned. "But what do you mean, no meaning? Do we even have a chance of winning that way?"
Suddenly, Lalanat's mood sank. "Why me… will they even like my story? Maybe I shouldn't write at all…"
Elara barked, "Idiot! What are you doing? Apologize now!"
Alaric kept apologizing while Elara kept shouting, and the room filled with noise and laughter.
Alaric sat in the classroom, lost in thought, chin resting in his hand, staring out the window.
Uninvited past flashback…
A few years ago
A young boy, dressed as a knight and wielding a wooden sword, ran around the backyard of the house. There, he noticed an unfamiliar face—a little girl with brown hair, wearing a pink dress and an amulet around her neck. She sat near a garden pond, eyes glistening with tears, staring down at her knees.
Curious, Alaric approached her from behind, pointing his wooden sword playfully.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The girl jumped slightly, looking back at him with almost-crying eyes. "It hurts," she whispered, glancing at her knees again.
Alaric softened and knelt beside her to see her scraped knees. "What happened?" he asked gently.
"I was chasing a butterfly," she explained, "and I saw the water. I tried to stop myself… but I tripped and hurt my knees."
Alaric offered his back. "Come on. My dad used to carry my mom when she was tired," he said.
The little girl smiled faintly, wiping her tears, and climbed onto his back for a piggyback.
"What's your name?" Alaric asked.
"My mommy and papa call me Lara," she replied.
"I've never seen you around here," he said.
"Did your parents come to say goodbye to my father too, since he's retiring?"
"I don't know," Lara said. "My mom and papa said we were going to the neighboring kingdom, so I came along."
"You shouldn't wander around like this without an adult," Alaric said seriously.
"I won't do it again," she promised.
With Lara on his back, Alaric muttered, "Gees… adults are always so into liquor and parties, huh?"
Lara giggled. "Let's ask that maid for help."
"Ah, good thinking!" Alaric replied, and they ran to the maid, who cleaned and bandaged her knees.
Afterwards, Alaric asked, "Do you want to play? But your legs…"
"Yes," Lara said softly, blushing. "Maybe next time. Thank you."
"I should help," Alaric said, remembering his father's words. "That's what a man does."
He hurried back to the garden, wooden sword in hand, ready to play again. Lara watched him go, whispering his name with warmth, "Alaric… haa," a small smile on her face.
The sudden ringing of the school bell snapped Alaric back to the present. He muttered to himself, "Lara… her name sounds familiar. Whatever—time to eat."
Lalanat, Caelin, and Elara walked toward the dining hall, calling him back to reality.
As the last bell rang, Alaric got ready to leave. Elara followed closely behind.
Alaric glanced back. "Lala, you're not coming?" he asked.
Lalanat replied, "Oh, I actually finished the script and need to help the drama team with it, so I'll be staying. Please, you guys go ahead. Ah, and I might eat at a shop or something, so don't wait for me."
Caelin added, "Same here. I have a part in that drama, so you guys can leave."
Alaric smirked. "Ahaa, so you're the slave, huh?"
Elara smacked his head. "Idiot! Obviously the merchant," she scolded. "Let's go."
They left, arguing all the way home.
Prince Caelin and Lalanat watched them go. "Is this a good idea?" Lalanat asked.
Prince Caelin exhale "who knows".
On their way home, they spotted a lost child crying on the street.
Elara hurried over. "Oh dear, are you okay? What happened?"
The child, with a trembling voice, replied, "I… can't find my mom."
Elara gently wiped away her tears. "Okay, okay. Stop crying for now—we'll find her, alright?"
The child sniffled, trying to calm herself. "O… okay," she whispered.
Alaric crouched down and offered his back. "You must be tired. Come on," he said. The child smiled faintly and climbed on.
"Which way did you come from?" Alaric asked.
"I came from that side, but I couldn't find her," the girl answered.
Elara paused, staring at the ground, lost in thought. Alaric called her repeatedly, "Elara… Elara… you good? Oi!"
Snapping back, she shook her head. "Ah, sorry, I was thinking about something," she said, catching up to them. "Let's check that way, and if we can't find her, we'll go to the town guard."
As they walked, some villagers whispered, "Having a kid at that age…? What a cute family." Elara quickly hid her face to avoid being recognized.
When her stomach growled loudly, Alaric laughed. "Pffft."
Elara scowled and blushed. Alaric grinned. "Let's eat something, Sou."
"Okay," the child replied.
While they were eating, a worried-looking woman in her forties appeared. The child's face lit up. "Mommy! Mommy!" she cried, running into her arms.
The woman thanked Alaric and Elara before hurrying away with her daughter.
Alaric glanced at Elara. "Have you ever been lost like that?" he asked.
"So you can laugh at me?" she shot back, serious-faced.
Alaric looked away. "Ah, no… I'm just curious," he said.
"Yeah, once I was in the neighboring kingdom, Bane," Elara admitted.
Alaric froze mid-step. "Wait… you've been there? In our nation?"
Elara's cheeks flushed red. "Yeah. Once… I met a nice and strong man who saved me," she added.
Alaric chuckled as they walked on. "Ah, I see… that came out of nowhere."
Elara glared at him, a little sad. "Idiot."
On the other side, Lalanat and Prince Caelin walked home together.
To break the silence, Caelin asked, "Is your story based on someone?"
Lalanat stiffened. "Ah… kind of. But not really."
Caelin smiled. "That clears up absolutely nothing."
She exhaled. "It's more about the idea of love. That it doesn't have boundaries. Not a person… a feeling. Something that can reach anyone."
He glanced at her. "That's deeper than I expected. I thought it'd be a light drama."
She laughed softly. "Most people do."
They walked a little farther.
"You like Alaric," Caelin said casually.
Lalanat stopped gripping her bag so tightly it nearly wrinkled. "No. I mean—he's just… motivating." She searched for the words. "He works hard, says what he thinks, moves forward without fear. Being near him makes me want to do the same."
Caelin nodded. "That sounds dangerous."
"Why?"
"Because feelings don't stay still." He smiled. "Someday you'll want him to choose you."
Lalanat lowered her gaze. "Maybe. But I won't be selfish. I won't hold him back or make his life complicated."
Caelin looked at her sideways. "If love has no boundaries… are you sure you're strong enough to betray your feelings by choice alone?"
She hesitated. "I'm not the only one who sees him that way."
Caelin paused. "Ah."
"Girls notice these things," she said quietly.
He chuckled. "I thought they looked like siblings."
Her eyes widened. "You knew who I meant?"
"Men listen," he replied lightly.
She swallowed. "Can you keep this between us?"
"Of course," Caelin said, lowering his voice. "Especially when it comes to feelings."
They reached their path home. Caelin stopped and looked up at the moon.
"Hope you're paying attention," he thought.
The night before the day of the events.
They ate in near silence. The tension at the table was obvious. Everyone was nervous about tomorrow, but especially Princess Elara and Prince Caelin. For the royals, this wasn't just another academy event. Their parents and siblings had all passed through this school before them. To fall short now would mean failing more noticeably, and far more painfully.
With his mouth still half full, Alaric broke the silence.
"You guys so excited you forgot how to talk?" he teased, half joking.
Elara shot him a sharp glare.
"Finish your food."
She stood and left the kitchen without another word.
Alaric stared after her, guilt creeping in.
"Did I tease too much?"
Caelin smiled faintly.
"Not really. She just doesn't want pressure from someone she knows."
Alaric blinked.
"Someone she knows?"
Caelin nodded.
"You're both competing in individual events. If you do well and she doesn't, it'll weigh on her."
"Oh." Alaric scratched the back of his head. "I wouldn't tease her about that. I mean, at least she's trying."
Caelin raised an eyebrow, half impressed.
"I see."
Alaric continued, more thoughtful now.
"But it's kinda weird. I never see Elara practice. Is she that confident?"
Lalanat shook her head.
"She practices in the mornings, not at night like you. She says the air helps her focus."
Alaric nodded.
"Ah, that explains it. Then she'll be fine."
He paused, then added casually,
"Besides, this isn't something one person can win alone. It depends on all of us."
Caelin and Lalanat nodded.
"Yeah."
Alaric leaned back, clearly proud of his reasoning.
"Even if she wins dancing, if people like me mess up dueling or quizzes or archery, it won't matter."
Caelin smiled and cut in.
"Exactly."
Alaric frowned.
"Exactly what?"
Caelin's voice softened.
"She's not worried about herself. She's worried about everyone representing the class."
Alaric froze for a second, then nodded slowly.
"Ah… I get it now."
He clenched his fist lightly.
"Then I'll do my best. At least make it to the finals in sword dueling."
Lalanat and Caelin exchanged a glance and giggled.
The day of the event finally arrived.
Individual activities like sword fighting, archery, and dancing were worth three points, while team events such as quizzes and drama carried heavier weight. Quizzes awarded five points, and drama dominated with ten.
For individual events, first place earned three points, second got two, and third received one.
In team quizzes, the winner gained five points, the runner-up three, and third place two.
Drama was the biggest gamble: ten points for first, seven for second, and five for third.
This event was held only for first-year students. Its purpose was to determine which class would earn the title of "The Chosen Class"—a title they would carry throughout their time at Elysium Academic
Both years had their own Chosen Class, but only one class could hold the title.
The event lasted three days, followed by an after-party that stretched it into four.
Alaric's match wasn't until the afternoon, so he headed to the hall to watch Elara's dance.
As he stood waiting, someone lightly poked him from behind.
"Aren't you going in?" Lalanat whispered.
Alaric turned. "Oh, Lala. Let's watch together."
She nodded, and they entered the hall, finding seats among the crowd.
Dance after dance passed. Alaric yawned, his focus slipping, until Lalanat nudged him sharply.
"It's Elara's turn now," she whispered.
He straightened instantly, eyes locked on the stage. Lalanat noticed and smiled faintly.
The stage was still hidden behind a parda, the candles suddenly blown out, leaving the hall dim. Then the curtain opened.
Music began.
A circle of candles ignited, surrounding a bed of red and pink flowers. Barefoot, Elara stepped forward.
She moved as if she belonged to another world.
Every step felt deliberate. Her breathing was heavy, almost strained, as if she were sensing something unseen. The crowd murmured in awe.
"She's beautiful."
"That's intense."
"Those moves…"
Lalanat stiffened. "That's Chorós tou Thanátou."
Alaric glanced at her. "What kind of dance is that?"
"It's called the Dance of Death," she replied calmly. "There's a story behind it. No proof, just rumors."
Alaric frowned slightly. "Sounds more like a ritual than a dance. Still… not bad, if the story isn't real."
He smiled, but his thoughts wandered.
If what Lala said is true… why would Elara choose this dance out of all of them?
The music ended. Elara bowed and exited the stage.
The hall erupted.
The cheers were louder than for any dancer before her.
"The results will be announced on the school information board this afternoon, after today's individual events conclude," the announcer declared.
Back in the changing room, Elara replayed the performance in her mind. The crowd's reaction gave her hope. At least, she had done her part for the class.
Alaric stood. "I should head to the arena. It's almost time for my match."
"I'll wait for Elara and then come watch you," Lalanat said.
"Then make sure you cheer for me," he replied with a grin.
He left for the arena.