Chronicles of the Red Sovereign

After that little chat about our group’s fame, we all settled down and started eating our lunch. Kai then asked the question I knew everyone wanted to ask.

“Hey Luna, how did you and Senior Trent get close? Heck, how did you two even meet?”

I could hear a small growl from Senior Trent, obviously his Lyxi Clan guardian instincts were kicking in, but I already reminded him that the people in the table were my close friends and can treat me however they like. He even tried to make himself my self-appointed bodyguard but I managed to convince him not to do it.

That would be embarrassing.

To answer Kai’s and everyone’s curiosity, I decided to tell them the truth.

Okay maybe not all of it, but the truth nonetheless.

“We had a mock battle a few days ago in which I won.” I answered nonchalantly.

Cue the shocked expressions of my friends. Bernard even managed to spit out the juice he was drinking on Charles’ face.

“But- but… Senior Trent is like a famous for being strong in our department.” Thomas commented. “He’s a magus knight too, which means he can use magic, lightning magic to be exact.”

I eyed Senior Trent and he only shrugged his shoulders. The he said; “We had a mock battle, she won and now we’re friends.”

I just nodded at his words which was not a lie.

“There has to be more than that.” Andrea said.

I mentally clicked my tongue at Andrea’s observant behavior.

“I found out that we belong in the same clan.” I admitted. I could feel them stare at me but I did not bother with it and continued eating. I motioned to Senior Trent and he started explaining to the others.

We already discussed what he could say and what he could not say. He was only not allowed to say one thing about our relationship to each other; that I was the last monarch of the Lyxi Clan and that he was supposedly my guardian, or knight.

It was quite something though. So far the two of us were the only survivors of the Lyxi Clan, and we were from different tribes too. Both our tribes, and maybe our entire clan, were wiped out seven years ago. If the memory I saw months ago was any evidence, the death of the members of the Lyxi Clan was due to demons. The question though was why?

-Something’s telling me I will not like the answer I’m seeking.

***

An announcement was posted at the notice board inside the classroom of Class 1-S. It was the details of the final exams which was due in a week. There was a notice board in the hallway, bigger too, for the general student population but announcements posted inside the classroom was one of Class S’s privileges.

Apparently, the first years of the magic department would be holding a tag team competition and the pairs would be decided by the teachers. The pairings would be released in two days. I could hear a few groans from those of the same departments as me. In tag teams, I was aware they wanted to be paired up with either a strong partner or their friend, but we could not always have what we wanted.

There was also information about where the exams would be held. Final exams had always been a surprise to the student body, or so was I told, and the possibility of going off campus for it was high.

According to the notice, the first to fourth year students of the Magic Arts Department would be having their exams on an island called Mt. Tala Island.

I asked Bernard what that place was and he told me…

“Mt. Tala Island is a monster-infested island. Don’t worry though there’s mostly only F-Class to D-Class monsters inside the island. There are a few high class monsters but I’m sure the faculty already did something to make the area safe.”

“Anything else?” I asked again.

This time, it was Peter who answered my question when he and Kai made their way to my table. Well Kai sat in front of me so…

Anyway…

“My father’s fire dragon lives in Mt. Tala Island. She’s basically the boss there and monsters won’t just go run amok. The island’s dungeon has also been already conquered so there’s no danger to it.” Peter sighed. “I think the faculty put that in mind when they chose the island as the venue for the magic department’s exams.”

“So it’s a hunting ground?” I questioned.

My voice was probably a little too perky since they gave me strange looks.

“Luna,” Kai called. “Mt. Tala Island is probably not as challenging as the Celestine Territory but please don’t go hunting on a whim. Plus, Mt. Tala Island is the perfect place for newbies to train. Newbies at hunting, subduing and slaying monsters.”

I could feel him emphasize the word ‘newbies’.

“Oh.” was my smart response.

I was a little disappointed to be honest. It was a place where newbies could get experience in facing monsters. It was even under the imperial family’s direct care. I was hoping I would get to face stronger monsters but I guess the Celestine Territory was as extreme as anyone could get in the Central Continent.

-Oh well, there’s nothing I can do about it.

“I wonder what kind of exam you will be having though.” Bernard wondered.

“True.” I replied. “Hmm? How about you guys? What will the Engineering Department and Martial Arts Department having?”

“The Martial Arts Department will be forming parties with students from the higher years and will head to the Celestine Territory.” Peter said.

As if on instinct, I gasped in surprise at the news.

-They’ll be heading to the Celestine Territory? Why? Why not us? Unfair!

Okay, maybe I was acting like a brat but the monsters of the Celestine Territory were really a challenge.

“The Engineering Department will be having our exams in the various crafting guilds and blacksmithing workshops in Azte City.” answered Bernard. “There are no specifics what kind of exam it will be but I’m kind of excited!”

I’m pretty sure he was. I wasn’t sure if anyone would notice it but if no one was looking Bernard looked like he was working all night.

-I wonder what kind of training he’s doing.

Then there were the Alchemy Department and General Studies Department. I was informed that the Alchemy Department would be conducting their exams inside the school campus. Andrea was a bit bummed about it and I then hoped everything would be fine on her side.

As for the General Studies, it seemed like they would be staying in Azte City as well for their final exams.

Days passed and I couldn’t help but get more excited as the day of the final exams were getting closer. Of course, there was also the excitement of my partner for the tag team.

Unfortunately…

Luna Hysi – Freya von Berialis

That paring was what I read on the notice board and I felt like things were about to go downhill.