THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

After our discussion with Frank and Sophia, we leave the smithy and head to Frank's house. I would like to greet Claire's before going to the academy.

"Are you okay? You haven't said much since we left."

"I am okay, Lanuvel. But what about you? Aren't you tired? You should go back to the academy."

"Why? You don't like it when I am with you?"

"Sigh... you really are belligerent."

"S-sorry.. That girl put me on edge earlier."

"She was just teasing you. And I told you already, I am not that kind of man."

"I know, it's just…" Lanuvel's hands are trembling a bit. What is she afraid of?

"It's just?"

"I…I am afraid. I am afraid that all this will just be a dream. And I will wake up all alone again, abandoned and discarded."

The same happened to me, so trust me, I know how it feels.

"Even if it turns out it was a dream, you must always push forward. And eventually, it will turn into a reality."

"I don't think I can. I am not that strong. If you ever disappear, if mother disappears again, I think I will…"

I grab her shoulders and face her.

"You will survive. You will fight. Because you are the only one to decided your fate."

"You are speaking as if you are going to leave me one day."

"I may not leave you but there might come a day when I will have to…"

"To?"

"No, it's nothing." I will have to tell you the truth.

"Huh…okay."

"Anyway, we have arrived."

***

By the time we stopped walking the alley going to Claire's house. We go and knock on the door but nobody answers. I knock again but still nothing. Is there nobody at home?

"Is anyone here?! Claire, are you home?" I even call her out but still no answer. I suppose they have gone out to buy groceries.

"Is this how it is usually is?"

"No, normally, there is a maid who always comes and answers."

"Shouldn't we try to force it open?"

"No, let's go. Maybe they went grocery shopping."

We leave the place and I throw a last look at the house. There are no traces of fighting or anything like that so I guess nothing happened. I don't hear any heartbeat inside as well.

At the academy, we find giant billboards in front of every dorm with people agglomerated in front of them.

"The results are here, as punctual as always."

"Results?"

"Yeah, you took the exams. So, of course, you should know how good you did. And since you were a first-year, it is even more important for you because there is a test for your fighting class they will conduct after that."

"Fighting class?" The hell is that?

"Ah…You are so silly sometimes. Your fighting class is the class that will be mentioned on your diploma when you graduate from the academy. Depending on your class, there are doors that you won't ever open and doors that you wrench open like pieces of paper."

"In a simpler way, please."

"Okay, for example, my class is Angas knight. That means I am qualified at protecting people. Therefore, there is a high chance that nobles or merchants could employ me after I graduate to be their bodyguard."

"I see. But what is the point if you are a noble? Keltia wouldn't need something like this."

"Even as a noble, a fighting class is important, it reflects your status. My mother was a Defender and my father an Angas slayer. They were highly respected even by members of the military like Romas's father. Unlike my uncle, Borgas, who didn't go to any school."

"I don't think I understand better. Though, one thing I understood is that having a class is important, right?"

"Exactly. See, you are clever after all." Lanuvel pinches my cheek then leaves and goes to the billboard of the gamma class.

I go to the omega class's billboard, which is the only one empty of people.

"Hm…Ah, there it is. Kevin Dragonroad: 85/100."

There are other details after that concerning the different classes I took and the score I had in those classes but I don't think they are important since they are not highlighted like the first score. It must be the global one they mentioned there.

"I score quite well, if I do say so myself."

Excafol, can you see that? Your teachings weren't for nothing. I am a genius now thanks to you.

I enter the dorm after that only to find everybody in the hall. They are all talking happily, which is a bit surprising after what happened this morning, and there are two new faces as well. Two girls, to be more precise.

"So you guys are coming from WENDALHM. I never went there."

One of the girls is sitting with Cordel and the group while the other is sitting on her side, angry, with her legs crossed. She is wearing long boots and her green hair are delicately resting on her shoulders. Her chest is almost absent though. Perhaps she noticed I was looking at her because she becomes even angrier when looking at me.

She stands up and walks to me almost like the wind.

"What were you looking at?!!"

"Huh…Hello."

"Answer me!"

Thanks to her, everyone has stopped their conversation and I lost my chance to go upstairs without any comment on the incident of this morning.

"Hey, Judy, you should calm-"

"Shut your mouth until I allow you to speak."

Woah!! To think that I would witness the day somebody would answer like this to Cordel! Damn girl, you are good. But you are suicidal as well. Esteressa is so going to get you now…To my surprise, Esteressa doesn't move and just lowers her head with her fists clenched hard as a rock. Wait, seriously?!

"I can't believe it."

"Hey! Shithead! I am talking to you!"

"Yeah, yeah." I get past her and goes to Esteressa. "You are really going to let speak like that to him?"

"Tch! You fucking moron."

For Esteressa to calm me a moron. I am ashamed. Who is that girl for everybody to be so afraid?

"You are dead!"

From behind me, the girl screams, and I hear her jumping. When I turn around, I see a hammer the size of my head wielded by a girl who doesn't look strong enough to wield it. Even so, she is already about to hit me when I turn so I can only defend myself. I use physical aura and catch her hammer with my hand. Surprisingly, I don't have a hard time grabbing it.

Why were they so afraid? She isn't all that strong.

"No ,kev-"

Before Cordel can finish his sentence, I kick the girl hard enough to send her flying onto the couch at the other side of the hall. She lands brutally on it but thankfully, she hits her head on the couch and her feet on the wall instead of the other way around. I did give her a rotating kick.

"Argh!" She screams a bit but doesn't wake up after that.

"Princess!" The other girl who was behind me runs to her while screaming something that makes me understand the whole situation.

"Am I in deep shit?" I ask Cordel while looking at the hammer in my hand.

"Yup, definitively."

"That's why I said you were a fucking moron."

***

"The third princess of Wendhalm, just that?"

After I knocked the third princess of a kingdom which, from Cordel's explanations, has the strongest military force of Schamerin, Cordel has explained to me who she was actually and how big of a mistake I made Though I don't think it is that bad. 

"Just that?! Wait, do you even understand?! She is a princess! A freaking princess!!! At best, they would have asked for your head alone to not create a diplomatic incident if you were a commoner But you are a noble as well. Worse, you are a vassal of both the Koersombre and the royal family This won't end well!"

I never saw Cordel panicked before. But it is quite funny to see his face turning pale while walking around the hall. He almost looks like a headless chicken.

"Leave it Cordel. This guy is way too stupid and overconfident to understand what you are saying."

"Said the girl who barely had more than fifty." I took a glance at everyone's scores before leaving and it seems even Farner did better than Esteressa. Which I must admit, is a clear sign of her stupidity.

"What?!!"

"You know what I am talking about."

"Shut up!! I was feeling sick. It doesn't count!! And it proves nothing!"

"Yeah, right. Anyway, I-"

"ARGHHHH!!!" While we are talking, somebody shouts madly upstairs. It seems that girl woke up.

She gets down the stairs with such power and speed we hear the noises as if a gnoll is moving.

"Where is he?!!!" Finally, she appears in the hall with the red eyes of madness. Yep, she is ready to kill alright.