Tale of Vanguard

The classroom door swung open, revealing a man in a neatly pressed black suit. The man had brown, short trimmed hair, with a presence that commanded immediate attention. The black suit that he wore is tailored to perfection, it accentuated his tall, lean frame. He scanned the classroom with an air of authority, making it clear that he was not one to tolerate idle chatter. 

The whole class immediately fell silent as he walked to the front. Once he reached the center, he turned to face the students with a cold, but not unkind gaze.

"Good morning, students. My name is Professor Gray Caldwell, and i will be your instructor for this course. However, there will be no studying today, considering this is your first day after all."

Few of the students exchanged surprised glances, but no one dared to speak due to his tone of voice that left no room for questioning, its as if he expected nothing less than full compliance.

"Instead, i am here to inform you of an upcoming event. The Grand Inter-Kingdom Duel. The competition will be held between our academy and those from other kingdoms. This competition, which is usually planned well in advance, is set to take place next week, right here in our kingdom. The purpose of this event is to showcase young seekers talent and to fosters alliances with other kingdoms."

Murmurs of excitement flowed through the whole class, but professor Gray stern look quickly silenced them.

"It is not often that events like this occur on such short notice, but due to certain circumstances, this year will be an exception. For those of you who are interested in participating, I will be accepting participation forms. As one of the committee members overseeing this event, it will be my responsibility to ensure that only the most capable students represent our academy."

His gaze swept across the room, lingering on each student as if assessing their potential.

"You have until tomorrow to submit your forms to me. Consider this carefully—it is not an opportunity to be taken lightly."

Kaelen glanced sideways to Serephira who is seated beside him. Her usually calm demeanor has turned into a look of fierce determination with her brows slightly furrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line. He could almost see the gears turning in her mind after the professor's announcement.

'The Grand Inter-Kingdom Duel, huh..'

It was clear to him that Serephira saw this as more than just a tournament; it was an opportunity—a chance to prove herself, not just to her peers, but to her father and siblings. With the Ascension drawing near, she would need to demonstrate her strength, her mastery over her powers, and her worthiness to claim the throne.

Kaelen's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, he knew that Serephira was not one to shy away from a challenge, especially one that could define her future. This tournament might just be the stage she needed to showcase her abilities, to carve her name into the annals of her kingdom's history.

'She's going to give it everything she has huh..'

As the professor continued to speak, Kaelen found himself contemplating his own role in the upcoming tournament.

***

Its break time, Kaelen is heading to the academy's field. He needed a moment to clear his thoughts, so he chose a bench under the shade of a large tree. He could see Serephira in the distance, surrounded by a small crowd of students. They were likely trying to befriend her or perhaps hoping to gain her favor. After all, it wasn't every day that one had the chance to interact with a princess.

Kaelen leaned back, he can see her calm and composed face, but there was a certain distance in her eyes, as if her mind was elsewhere—probably on the upcoming tournament.

Lost in his thoughts, Kaelen was briefly startled when a voice cut through the ambient noise of the field.

"Hi there."

Kaelen quickly turned his head to see a boy standing beside the bench. He had striking red hair tied back in a simple ponytail, which contrasted sharply with his black uniform. The boy's eyes held a friendly gleam, though Kaelen noticed a hint of curiosity as well.

"Uh, hey"

The boy didn't waste any time getting to the point

"Hey, what's up with you and the princess?"

He had probably noticed the brief exchange between Kaelen and Serephira during class.

Kaelen hesitated for a moment, he didn't want to reveal his true role as Serephira's vanguard, at least not yet, as there were reasons for keeping that detail under wraps. 

He forced a casual smile to the boy.

"Oh, that, i was just asking her about the academy's environment. I mean, it's not every day you get the chance to talk to a princess of the kingdom, right?"

The boy tilted his head slightly, but then he simply shrugged

"Huh... i see. Well, i'm Thane Victor"

He offered his hand to Kaelen.

"Kaelen, nice to meet you"

He accepted Thane's handshake

'Great, a first acquaintance and i already lied to him...'

Kaelen and Thane's conversation was interrupted by a commotion near Serephira. They turned their attention to the scene unfolding in the field. A boy with striking gold hair was standing close to Serephira with an arrogant posture and taunting expression. 

The boy's voice carried over to them, mocking Serephira with a smirk.

"Oh, Princess Serephira, are you really planning to compete in this tournament? Do you think you'll be able to measure up against the best from other kingdoms? It's not exactly something you're known for."

Serephira's face remained calm, She didn't seem to be taking the bait that were meant to provoke her.

Kaelen's eyes widened in surprise and concern.

"Who the hell is that guy talking like that to a princess?"

Thane glanced at the argument.

"That's Aiden Valemont. He's the son of a duke who is related to the king's first wife. He's one of the more privileged students here, and he likes to use his connections to his advantage. His father's connection to the king makes him part of the extended royal circle, though he's not directly in line for the throne. Still, his position gives him some influence and makes him think he can speak to others however he pleases."

As they watched the exchange, Thane continued to talk:

"I guess it's true about the rumor that the royal family doesn't get along well with each other."

Kaelen's eyes remained fixed on the confrontation. It was clear that the dynamics within the royal family were more complicated than he had anticipated, and the underlying tension was already becoming apparent in the academy.

Seraphina response with a calm tone:

 "Don't worry, I have no intention of backing off from the tournament. Well, if you'll excuse me."

With that, she turned her back on Aiden, causing his face to flushed with anger, and Kaelen could see that he was about to do something rash.

'Please don't do anything stupid...'

Aiden then control himself and muttered under his breath.

"Fuck!"

He turned on his heel and stormed off in the opposite direction.

Thane, observing the whole situation, shook his head with a mix of sympathy and exasperation.

"Well, that's Aiden for you. Always looking for a fight, especially when he thinks he can get under someone's skin."

"Is this kind of behavior common around here?"

Thane shrugged in response to Kaelen's question.

"Sadly, yes. The academy has its share of political drama, especially with students connected to the royal family. It can get pretty messy."

Kaelen then looked at Serephira's figure as she walked away. Despite the confrontation, she had handled herself with grace and strength. He respected her even more for it and knew he needed to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead, both within the academy and outside of it.