"And that is the reason why you should have more bodyguards stationed alongside you, your highness!"
On the outskirts of the border of the Kushida and Stashin Kingdoms, the sight of three humans walking together could be seen. They argued about different topics here and there, from their respective lives to the upcoming school they were heading for.
One of these said topics was about Princess Ivory Stashin of the Stashin Kingdom, one of the three people who was walking along. They were trying to have her take on more than her current amount of bodyguards, to which she was refusing in those couple of moments despite her friends pestering.
The second person who was with her was Lucas Infite, a low-ranking noble of Stashin and one of Ivory's only two bodyguards. He also had a major crush on the girl, to which everyone was very aware.
The last of these three was a boy known as Leopold Stratus, her other body and the best friend of Lucas. He was generally described as very "upbeat" and usually played the third wheel role in the relationship.
"I can take care of myself with just you two alongside me!" Ivory protested. "I am a student of the fith ranked Hero Academy after all! Show me some respect before I slap you!"
The girl was clearly very frustrated. The two body had been pestering her about this for the past couple of days as she was annoyed by now. Still, they did not seem to back down despite the situation at hand.
Leopold looked at his friend and smiled. "What she means is she only needs you with her, Lucas. Oh how cute you two are together!" The body laughed as his joke while Ivory glared at him.
"S-Shut it already!" Ivory exclaimed, embarrassed at his comments. "Let's just get to the school already! You two should be thankful that as my bodyguards you even get to go to this school in the first place!" She crossed her arms, still pouting.
"Shame that only I will be in your class..." Lucas complained. Unfortunately, Leopold had been placed in one of the other classes than Ivory and Lucas thanks to his entrance exam scores. "Leopold, just how the hell did you get into 'Class D' anyway? Aren't they are supposed to be the worst of the worst when it comes to hero's? Was the exam really that bad?"
"It was..." Leopold proclaimed, defending his placement. He was pretty dumb comparatively to most nobles, so it actually wasn't all that surprising. "Besides, now both you and Miss Ivory can have some time alone! Just the two of you!" He nudged Lucas in the side as if this had been his plan from the start.
"Aww.! He really does care about us!" Lucas joked.
"Can you two knuckleheads just shut up for one second!" Ivory commanded. "We're almost there..." She pointed to the school that was coming into view just up ahead of the group.
"Remind me, but why did you choose the Fifth ranked Hero Academy and not the highest ranking like your older brother and sister?" Leopold asked.
Ivory shrugged. "I'm not as strong as my older siblings, let me remind you. Really though, I just didn't want the publicity is all" She thought about her current school and smiled. This school will be much easier for me to deal with..."
"I see... So, you're still shy around other people, eh?" Lucas observed. "Don't worry, Miss Ivory! I'm always here!" He jokingly bowed to her, holding out his hand.
"I wish you weren't... I suppose that execution could always help with that if I so desired." Ivory sighed, shaking her head.
"HURTFUL!"
As they arrived at the front gate to the school, Ivory looked back at Leopold who was still behind her with Lucas. "Okay then... Lucas and I are in Class 1-C, so we will see you later. Leopold, try to learn something for once, alright?"
"If you say so..." Leopold mumbled, not actually listening.
As he saw the two walking off a few moments later, the boy smiled. "Now... What should I do first?" Leopold thought about how the year could possibly turn out. He'd never been all that sociable and being in the class of the worst level students was not at all helping his case right now... "Guess I'll have to charm my way into the hearts of the other students here!"
"I am fairy good at that."
So, Leopold then proceeded to walk onto the school campus beyond the towering gates that surrounded it. Instantly, Leopold saw that he was starting to attract the faces of the large number of students around him. Multiple girls looked his way with dreamy eyes as Leopold walked by them.
"Who is that guy?"
"How is someone this hot in front of me?"
"The way his blond hair flows in the wind... And that smile..."
"You know, he's pretty hot when you think about it..."
Leopold smiled as he heard all of these comments. "Hard to resist me? I know that I'm hot, but this fast of an impression. Even Ivory hasn't taken a liking to me or Lucas, so this..." He shrugged, liking the change of pace if he was being honest.
One girl in particular was so bold that she even came over to Leopold, stopping him from walking further. She grabbed his right shoulder and looked into his eyes will a strange expression. "Sorry to bother you, sir, but you seemed take a lot of people here off there feet..." She looked desperate.
"I am so sorry, miss! I didn't mean to be a bother to you." Leopold apologized. The person in front of him seemed to be of high noble status as many fancy accessories were draped all over her. This meant that Leopold needed to be of an appropriate formality so as not to get to ahead of himself and trip over his words...
"I really do not need more lectures from the second princess."
"It is quite alright." she observed, kindly. The girl took a step back, putting her hand on her heart and bowing just slightly to Leopold as a sign of respect. "My name is Lilia Dragoness and I am this school's current student council president."
Leopold examined her and noticed some strange things... She had a dragons tail on her rear and horns on her head, yet was one of the most beautiful girls he'd ever met!
"Sorry for intruding, but are you perhaps one of the Dragonmen, Miss Lilia?" Leopold asked, wanting to know more about her strange features. It didn't seem likely, however that seemed like the only possible conclusion.
And, surprisingly, Lilia nodded. "Actually, I very much am." She grinned. "my younger brother and I are here at this school to build a once again peaceful relationship with the surface dwellers and the Dragonmen in hopes of us coming back to the surface." Lilia seemed to frown for a moment, but went back to a cheery attitude just a couple of moments later. "Enough about me... Would you mind if I asked a few questions about you perhaps, good sir..."
"Leopold." he breathed. "The name is Leopold Stratus."
"Sir Stratus." she echoed. "Would you perhaps answer a question for me about the society we now live in?"
Leopold tilted his head. The society they lived in? What kind of a statement was that supposed to be exactly? "I suppose that I could." Leopold exclaimed, really not having any another choice.
"Do you think that the people of the Forsaken Realm should be allowed to go to a "high ranking school" with us nobles? It seems a bit odd, wouldn't you agree?" she asked him, her eyes gleaming in wonder.
The question was honestly out nowhere for someone like Leopold. Should commoners be allowed to go to school with nobility? It was a strange question for someone to ask. In the last few thousand years of Vera's existence, nobles had always held more power than the lower class and life seemed to move smoothly with that system in place.
"I will admit though it would seem more fair for lower people to get a good education as well as the nobles. However, for the sake of Miss Ivory and her reputation as a princess, I have to answer in the favor of the majority of this world's population."
He cleared his throat and then answered her. "I don't see why they should. Life moves more smoothly when people of the same rank learn and live together. It just a good way of life and there isn't really a point in changing that. Immigrating the lower class into higher class matters seems to be just a bit... inefficient from my point of view."
Lilia smiled. "I'm glad you see it the way we all should! Would you mind if you made a speech out this just before class?" She clearly was not done dealing with him, a fact that annoyed Leopold just a bit.
"Crap! I really don't want to, but..."
"I guess I would be able to do that." Leopold finally agreed. "I do have one question though...Why pick someone like me? I'm only a low ranking noble myself, after all..."
She nodded as if she already knew that fact. "That may be true, but your beliefs could be helpful in spreading some good information to students here. Plus, you already have quite a bit influence at our school, Mister Stratus." Lilia urged, signaling to the many crowds of fan girls who were gathering. "Please... Help me out this once?"
Leopold sighed, unable to say no. "Alright. Just this once and that's it." He scratched the back of his head. "I'll help you spread word of your "ideals" and that's it. But remember, even if you are a beauty and good mannered, I can't help you every time you need it." Lilia nodded and the two headed off.
====================
Some time later...
"And that is why I think that the nobles and common people don't need to be pressured to accept one another and live together in today's society."
Leopold had been giving his speech about commoners and nobility as Lilia requested. As expected, many of the students were listening in on his speech and agreeing with that he was saying. "Why does nobility not want commoners in their society anyway. Even when I asked Ivory and her sister about this some time ago, they didn't really have an answer..."
Leopold just continued to talk as he knew that in twenty minutes classes would start and he could get out of this mess once and for all...
That was until...
====================
"Cinder, do we really have to go to this?" her assistant, Leviathan, asked. He followed his master hesitantly with the knowledge of what she was planning to do... ON THE FIRST FREAKING DAY?! She really was that of a ticking time bomb, huh.
"Yes, Levi." Cinder growled. "I heard that someone has been discriminating against the citizens of this kingdom and I am going to show them what's what." She gritted her teeth in anger.
"You're abusing your power again, Miss." Leviathan remarked.
"It is not abuse of power!" Cinder protested. "It is a simple keeping people from being to unfair toward the lower class of our world! As one of this nations future rulers, I have to make sure this discrimination is ceased!" That, and she really wanted to fight and defeat one of these noble bigots.
Leviathan sighed. "Yes, but you'll go overboard like you always do and turn this person into ashes or at least give them a few scars they will have to endure for the rest of their lives..." This wasn't her first time trying this, and he knew what she was like in times like these.
"It's a good lesson for them so that they won't do it again!" the girl protested. I don't see the problem here..."
"You do realize that half of the time your victims won't even be able move ever again anyway..."
"Not listening anymore!" Cinder ignored. "Hey! I think that's him!" A handsome man was standing on a large stage in the middle of the courtyard as he was speaking to other students about how higher class should be separated from lower class. Cinder clenched her fists. "Hey, buddy! What in the world are you talking about?!"
The boy who was speaking to the crowds instantly stopped when he heard the sound of Cinder's voice. He looked at Cinder and frowned. "Pardon? And just who are you?!" Many of the students started to whisper amongst themselves when they saw her.
"It's her! Princess Cinder Kushida of the Kushida Kingdom!" they exclaimed.
"Isn't she the really powerful one?"
Cinder smiled at their fear when they saw her. Whenever someone defied her will, a glance at her and they instantly stopped being a pesterance. "I could make an offer to you, sir. Stop all this nonsense and I won't burn you to a crisp!" Cinder smiled even brighter.
"There's no way he'd defy me now that he knows who I am and what I can do... Peer pressure can also help me in this scenario. This idiot is hopeless!" She narrowed her eyes, still grinning brightly. Besides, I am the most powerful being in the world at the moment!" At least, that's what she thought.
However, despite this, the boy just scratched his head in confusion. "Alright then... So, you're the Princess of Kushida and scary or something, right?" But... You're abusing your high-noble power like I suggest us nobles do? Sounds a bit hypocritical..."
THIS BASTARD SOUNDED LIKE LEVI!
Many of the people around laughed at his comment, which angered Cinder greatly. What the hell was going on here? Did he just..."Just who does this guy think he is?! He would dare to make fun of me?!" Cinder smiled as she knew what came next.
"Oh well... Guess I will have to deal with this personally then." Quickly, the girl unsheathed the sword that she had with her while smiling. "Just know that you had your chance."
In the matter of a few seconds, Cinder rushed at the body. She thought that she could hear the sound of Levi yelling at her as she dashed through the crowds and towards her target, but Cinder decided to ignore it in hopes of the sight of fear that may soon wash over her enemy's face.
Many people around screamed as blood flew from him and some ran from the scene as if they were next. "I told you not to make fun of me and this is the price you pay for your actions!" Yet, something was off. He couldn't have...
"Sorry, but you missed." Cinder turned around and saw the boy, unscathed, yet blood all over the floor of the stage. "Try a bit harder to cut me next time." He looked smug as he spoke, as if she had done nothing but tickle him.
"B-But how!" Cinder exclaimed. "I know I saw blood flying! A-And my sword is covered in it!" She pointed at all of the strange liquids covering his body and the slash through his white coat.
The boy shrugged, still as unfazed as ever." You cut the bottle of wine in my coat." He held up a broken glass bottle while looking at his drenched coat. He frowned. "That wine was expensive too... Ivory is going to be mad at me again!" He put his hand on his face and sighed, shaking his head.
Cinder gritted her teeth and started to fill her sword with fire magic. "You think you're hot stuff, huh? I'll make sure you never see the light of day again!" She again went for Leopold, sure to pierce his skin this time. Leviathan was still yelling from afar, but she didn't care now. He was dead!
Yet...
He didn't move! All while she went for him, he left himself open without even trying to defend himself. Then, as if in a matter of a blink, he had his hand on Cinder's head and her sword was flying in the air. "You need to defend yourself better if you ever hope to defeat anyone... Battle isn't all about raw strength you know..."