Chapter Two
785 Words
No way! No freaking way!
Laevatein was the soul weapon of the crown prince of Asphalta, His Highness Richard Blaize!
But that means he is the one who saved me. This can't be real!
"Hey, are you okay?"
I wasn't exactly fine, but the reason I couldn't answer him was because I was dumbstruck. Why is a prince talking to me? Does he know who my father is? But that's impossible!
"Hey girl! Can you hear me?"
Now he sounded genuinely concerned and worried. I really have to say something.
"Yes I can your highness."
I tried to push myself up but lost my balance in the process. But he caught me before I fell again. He helped me stand straight and draped his cloak around my shoulders with a hint of a blush on his cheeks. That's when I realised... Damn! My chest was half exposed after those men tore my clothes!
I suddenly pulled the cloak tightly around myself.
"So? What's your name?"
"My name is Amelia your Highness" I said bowing as low as I could with my pounding head.
"Hey come on. You look really close to my age. Drop the honorifics. Just call me Richard."
"But your highness... I am a castout. I couldn't really do that even if I wanted to."
"I didn't ask for you class. Did I?"
"No. You didn't your highness."
"That's because I don't care about any of that social hierarchy bullshit. Now just do as your told. Will you?"
Whoa! He raised his voice! He really doesn't seem to care about any of that. And moreover he looks a little.... lonely? Maybe I should just see him as a normal boy as long as no one's around. But that's easier said than done.
"ANSWER ME!"
"Yes your high- I mean Ri-Richard"
"Yes. Now that's better. Now lets get you some clothes. Follow me."
"I couldn't..."
"Please come with me?"
Whoa!... He didn't just...Did he just? No no no no. Don't give me those puppy dog eyes!
"Okay okay. I'll come. Geez! You really didn't have to look at me like that."
"Great!"
All of that cuteness just disappeared and the indifferent expression returned when he started walking. Did I imagine all that? Who knows? For now I'm just going to follow him. I don't know why but I trust him.
We walked in silence for a few minutes before he broke it.
"So what were you doing in that manless street after sundown? Were you out looking for trouble?"
"Actually, I was at the White High library. I'm planning to take The Entrance this year. Hopefully I'll get in."
"Didn't you tell me that you were a castout? How do you know how to read and write?"
"Honestly.... I really don't know how"
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I mean I don't remember who taught me. Its like there is a block in my memories. Some things in my life until last year is just missing. I don't know why or how. But I don't dwell on it too much now. Now my only aim is to get into White High."
"Okaaay. I'm not prying anymore but you do know that none other than nobles or royals have passed The Entrance right?"
"I do. But that doesn't mean they can't have a first right?"
I'm pretty confident in my skills in studies. I'm definitely going to make it!
"Umm..Don't you also know that one of the practical exams is sword skill? Do you happen to have any knowledge in that?"
"Of course not! How would a castout know that? I'm just gonna depend on the other exams to overpower it with the overall weightage."
"Sorry to say but.. They changed the marking criteria this year. You need to pass separately on each subject. So if you don't know to wield the sword, you don't even stand a chance"
"What?!!"
NOOOO! No no no no! This isn't happening! There isn't even one week left! What am I gonna do?! Before I knew it my face felt wet. Was I crying?
"Hey. Don't cry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry. Okay?"
"No. It wasn't you. I just... I don't know what I'm gonna do."
He didn't say anything else until we reached the shopping district. Honestly I was a bit thankful to him for that. I needed some time to calm down alone. I would've just freaked out if he tried to comfort me. Sometime along the road my tears had stopped. I was just admiring the elegant way he walked without making any kind of noise. Almost like a cat, alert and graceful.
- Writer
