Evan was leaving the academy's central courtyard. On the bridge connecting it to the outer field, he saw a tall girl with dark brown hair tied in a ponytail. She was planted right in front of him, motionless, staring at him with a disturbing stillness. Evan stopped. Then she approached.
Unlike the classic school uniform, she wore no short cape or jacket—just a white shirt with embroidery and a skirt that showed her knees, perhaps on the edge of what was legal according to school regulations.
Evan decided to ignore the strange gawker. He'd already had too eventful a day and lived two hours from home. Better to hurry. If she spoke to him, he'd be curt. He continued on his way.
But as they passed each other, she grabbed him by the collar with the professionalism of someone versed in martial arts, and extended a leg to deliver a kick that whistled past Evan's ear. If it was meant as intimidation, it achieved a different effect by showing him her leg up close.
What did intimidate Evan wasn't that she was a head and a half taller, nor the force with which she held his collar.
Evan was very afraid his only uniform would get torn. And she was just a girl! Evan might be weak, but his brother had taught him to be a man.
"Let go of me, crazy witch. I'm not interested in anything you want with me," said Evan, bringing his hand to the girl's wrist and trying to push it away. He squeezed with all his strength without the slightest concern for hurting her. After all, today he had seen two people die in front of him and was somewhat desensitized.
He looked directly into this girl's eyes, light brown. Intimidating, yes, but a female intimidator nonetheless. They wouldn't make Evan feel true fear. He could at least try. Fight and maybe… win.
"I warn you, I have friends in the nobility. They'll give you trouble if I tell them about this. Or they might even cover for me if I decide to defend myself right now, with my own fists." Evan returned her gaze. Hers, intimidating; his, defiant and full of malice. He might be a commoner, but he knew a thing or two about facing people. Besides, he judged that this girl wasn't very important: she wore no makeup or perfume. A down-on-her-luck noble, surely.
Then, the tip of a dagger appeared in front of his face, and Evan paled. The girl remained silent. Evan wouldn't have time to draw his short sword before she decided to cut him.
"I'll only say this once, so listen carefully. I don't want you to go near the princess again. If I see a mere commoner like you approach her again, I will destroy your life."
After this, the girl released him. Evan adjusted his collar and watched the back of that detestable person walk away into the distance.
After recomposing himself, Evan resumed his journey. Princess? Did she mean…? No. There was no way that girl from the library, Diane, was the Princess of Ferraria. The Queen wouldn't even let her come here. Even though this was the Royal Iron Academy, this place was for nobles, not royalty itself.
Thus, Evan continued on his way, intrigued, until he reached the exit.
As Evan walked away, unaware, he was being watched from a distance by Riushi, who clenched his fists with determination.
The girl continued walking as if nothing had happened toward the academy's central courtyard. A group of boys was leaving to one side, emptying the place, but then…
"Ah, wait for me five minutes, guys. I have to go to the bathroom," said a tall, broad-shouldered, blond young man.
"Don't be long," replied a distant voice.
The boy who supposedly was going to the bathroom began to approach the girl like a shark moving to devour a sardine. When he was beside her, crossing her path, he spoke:
"Excuse me, I have something to discuss with you. Can you come with me?" Riusen said to her.
"What do you have to talk to me about?" she responded with clear reluctance, in a rough tone.
"It's about the safety of Princess Diane," said Riusen with a smile. "But I won't talk to you here, in plain sight of anyone."
Thus, the two headed to a corner of the academy grounds, on the grass that surrounded it. There, they stood facing each other, a few paces apart.
"Well? What do you have to tell me about the princess? Quickly!" said the girl rudely.
"Nothing," Riusen suddenly stated. "I just wanted to give you a warning, Rena, of the Royal Guard."
He said it with good humor in his voice. But then, after a few seconds, Riusen's good-natured face completely broke apart, reforming into an expression as cold as ice, as threatening as the gaze of a lion.
"Evan is a normal guy. I'm sure he's not conspiring against Princess Diane. So if you threaten him, touch him, or even hurt him again, you will answer to me." Riusen spoke with a voice charged with cold fury, sharper than steel.
But that wasn't the only thing that happened. Rena's eyes widened, not just because of Riusen's words—to her, he was just a bastard—but because of what was happening with him.
He was emanating an aura radiant like the sun, hot, so hot that Rena began to step back. But the premonition that something worse might happen if she did stopped her from running away. Her hands, legs, forehead, and other parts of her body began to sweat.
Rena had some experience with this type of person, those chosen by the gods. But this… this wasn't the granted power of a mere god. The adornments of the Sun Church that Riusen wore gave her a terrible idea of what this might all be about.
"It can't be… You…" Rena said without realizing.
Riusen's gaze was still killing her with its intensity.
Finally, Rena fell to a sitting position.
"Alright, alright. Just make sure he doesn't approach the princess again. The Crown will not allow a commoner near her, and the Church will have problems if it opposes our will," said Rena, nervous but maintaining her rough style.
"Fine. I'll let him know," said Riusen, extinguishing his aura. Now calmer, he looked at Rena with better eyes and stood before her, offering her his hand.