"Tell him to hurry up. I'll direct everybody toward the middle of the campus… Findir, I'm gonna get going. You should also come otherwise you'll miss one of the best speeches of your life," Nell winked once while disappearing into thin air.
It wasn't long ago that we became like this. At first our relationship was rocky at best and over time we bonded over our contrasting identities. I told her stories about the overworld and she told me stories about hell.
Of course, everything wasn't so easy. We were living together the entire time, both of us not only training but also having to take care of ourselves. You could almost call us a couple that was forced to meet. And even though we disliked each other, our bond continued to develop closer and closer and closer until… she took the first move.
It wasn't anything special. It wasn't anything fast. It wasn't even very romantic… it just happened. And do I like her? Definitely, but my main priority is still getting stronger. I made that very clear when she made the first move and well…
"I guess I should get going now."
We were all gathered at a circular town square. It was insanely massive as it connected almost every single branch on the southern side of the large canopy. Easily, all three hundred students fit and as we turned towards the center of the wooden circle where a small podium was placed, a dark elf with a long gray beard appeared out of thin air.
"Welcome to the Royal Academy! I'm sure most of you are aware of what happens here at this academy, but for the newcomers… let me introduce myself. I am the headmaster of this academy and my name is Fiegger Vundo from the prestigious Vundo family. We specialize in forest and dark magic and have been leading and supervising this school for over a thousand years now. I am the head of such a family, but enough of me! Let's begin the school ranking!"
Without any further explanation, the headmaster stepped off of the podium, somehow allowing it to sink into the wooden circle below us. Everybody was funneled to the very edge of the wooden platform which slowly began to expand and grow under the control of a few dark elves specializing in [Nature Magic] or more specifically [Forest Magic].
Everything Mammon told me was true. The main security of this school and the main governance was by the prestigious Vundo family. They're very open about their activity and how they're the main connection between every other kingdom and empire in hell, but what they sell is very vague. Apparently, it's herbs but nobody has been able to figure out whether they're good or bad. Now, there might be ones who have discovered such a thing, but… I doubt they'll say anything.
"EVERYONE TO THE EDGE! IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING JUST FOLLOW THE CROWD!"
Finally, we were moving to the introduction and mostly just hazing for new students. It's meant to put the weak in their place while letting the really talented and skillful ones shine. Of course, it's all meant to display the newbies like products so each clan could bid or scoop up one of them for their own ideals.
"EVERYONE LISTEN UP! I WILL ONLY EXPLAIN THE RULES ONCE AND ONLY ONCE!" Nell suddenly took to the stage, causing everybody to shut up. Only a few stragglers who probably weren't aware of who she was continued talking, causing the remaining students around them to shush them quickly. "ANYONE MAY STEP UP AND ANYONE MAY DECLINE AN OFFER TO DUEL! BUT IF SUCH A DUEL DOES COMMENCE THE DUEL WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CENTER OF THIS RING! IF ONE STEPS OUT, THEY LOSE! IF ONE FALLS UNCONSCIOUS, THEY LOSE! BUT! BESIDES THESE SPECIFIC RULES, THERE WILL BE NO STOPPAGE UNTIL ONE CAN ADMIT DEFEAT!"
It was beautiful. What beautifully crafted hazing. Once an upperclassman calls you up, you obviously have the chance to decline, yet… the surrounding watching eyes of all the nobles and your noble or possibly royal reputation are put on display. Once you get called up, you cannot decline and can only admit defeat… how intricate and amazing this is.
…
(Unknown POV)
"That asshole really thinks he can talk with the queen's campus so casually. Did he even feel the hateful glares of my fellow upset peers?" I muttered under my breath, biting my nail hatefully as a few of my underlings looked up at me with nervous expressions. "He doesn't know his place. Loci, make sure he cannot admit defeat and make sure he suffers as much as possible…"
"Yes sir," My favored dark elf announced. His sharpened wooden sword heaved over his shoulder resonating a loud sound throughout the group of students.
Everybody looked towards him as the royal assassin disappeared from her place in the center of the ring. It was free and up for the taking, but as always, there was a bit of hesitancy. Some would rather not take the risk while the more powerful ones can't even bother… but I enjoy this way too much. Seeing their humiliated and defeated expressions pleases me to no end.
The echoes of my servant resonated through the crowd and with a large joyous smile, that sadistic bastard pointed toward that arrogant brat. With jagged white tattoos and mystical white eyes, he was sure to be a hotshot… so we might as well take him down now.
"You. Come up."
"Drerno! What are you doing!" A hand clapped against my back and as I turned around, I saw the campus queen right before my very eyes. Her disturbed and nervous expression was exhilarating to witness as the boy she had been previously caring for was about to get eradicated.
"Sorry, sorry… it's just to teach him how this place works. We can't have your little boy toy running around with no restriction… it's best to keep him on a leash so we can rope him in later, right?" I asked Celidri who nervously chomped down on her fingernail. "Right~?"
