It was a typical noble drama. The Academy seemed to be full of it, but it was supposedly far less prevalent than in the real political world of the nobility. Adrian shuddered just imagining what that was like. The former-Knight continued.
"However, I have to warn you not to let that excitement get to your head. Obey my orders at all times, and remember that this is an exercise meant to get you used to real dangers and combat. This is nothing like the fancy dueling many of you have learned during our classes— you can’t expect a Monster to retreat when you stab it, nor can you expect it to charge when you lure it in. And this holds not just true for Monsters, but if you decide to join the military, you’ll face people who behave that way as well."
Adrian frowned. The Holy Xan Empire’s last war was decades ago, during the Free War. Of course, there was the ‘conflict’ with the Dark Crusaders, but that was mostly, from what Adrian had learned, Inquisitors running across the continent of Vitae trying to pin down the organization. It was not a real war, and neither was it too high in the Holy Xan Empire’s priority list since it was a problem on the other side of the world.
Someone raised a hand, and Lucas turned to them. "Ms Onia, do you have a question?"
"Yes, Mr Lucas. May I speak please?" the pink haired girl asked politely.
The man nodded. "Go ahead.
She stood up, and did a slight curtsy. "Thank you, Sir," she said, smiling sweetly. "I was under the impression that this field trip would not be dangerous because we would have an escort. From what I hear, this year, our class will be getting a… Holy Knight?" Her eyes were twinkling, as she spoke the last part.
Immediately, a hushed murmur broke out through the class, before quickly being silenced by the teacher. "That is correct. I will, of course, be accompanying you during this trip. However, I am only one man, and I can’t manage you all. We will be getting a guest from outside of the Academy today— well, I say that, but he’s an alumni from this school. And he will be helping me ensure that no one dies on this trip."
Again, students turned to their neighbors and began whispering to one another, gossiping about who this mysterious guide could be. Adrian did not see the appeal to it— he had met a Saint and an Inquisitor. Holy Knights, while considered to be an elite force within the Church, were significantly more abundant than Inquisitors.
Lucas raised a hand, cutting off all the silent chatter. "However," he said, emphasizing the word. "That does not mean there is no danger to this trip. Our jobs will be to keep you alive, not safe. That means if you get hurt— break a bone, injure your leg, or get cut across the face— we will not rush in to help you, unless it’s a life threatening situation. So do not mess around, and treat this trip seriously. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir," the class chorused, almost as if their teacher’s warnings went completely over their head.
The teacher sighed. "I’ll bring him in now."
Adrian watched Lucas leave the room, and in that minute of reprieve, the class exploded into dozens of conversations.
"Who do you think it is? I hear he’s going to be someone important."
"My father told me he’s from a Ducal house."
"Could he be a Captain? Imagine meeting a Captain of the Holy Knights—"
"I hope he’s strong! Then I can ask him to show me some moves—"
"I just hope he’s handsome—"
Some of the comments were not like the others. Children, even if they were noble children, were always going to act like children. Under their prim and proper upbringing, there would be a layer of immaturity to them. Adrian saw that in himself back when he was in Villamcreek. He observed it in all the other children there too. In all but one.
The door opened once again, and in stepped their ‘guest of honor’— he was supposed to be a bodyguard, he might as well have been a guest of honor with the way the class was treating him even before he arrived. The man turned the corner, and everyone waited with bated breath.
At first, Adrian paid the man no mind. He came in fully armored, decorated with emblems and crests on the chest and shoulders of the plate. The class, of course, nearly exploded in excitement just from that. The man was quite clearly a high ranked individual, as evident from the way he was dressed.
And yet, the excitement did not stop there. The man slowly lifted his visor, and pulled of his helmet to introduce himself.
Adrian almost groaned as he watched all the girls in the class immediately ogle the man. Even Alice was staring at him, despite trying to do so in a not-so-obvious way.
The boys in the class were not too interested in that. Although they were shocked to see how young the man was. He had to have been in his mid to late 20’s at most. How did someone so young get to such a high rank! He had to have been incredibly skilled and gifted.
And Adrian? He thought he wouldn’t care, yet his eyes widened. Because the man had...
Black hair.
It was a rare pigment for Humans to have. It was not unusual to see an Elf with hair of that color, but the same was not true for Humans. And that man was a Human.
He introduced himself.
"I am Nero Ash Corinna. Captain of the 5th Battalion of Holy Knights, and second in line to be heir
