74 Chapter 74 : Prince Charming

The troop entered the gates and saw students walking around in crowds. Here, inside the academy, there is no distinguishing between status. All of them are students of the Royal Mages Academy. Harm one of their classmates, feel the wrath of all.

Hazel and the rest made their way to the meeting room when they heard a distant shout, "President !! Wait for me."

Hazel turned around as he saw a cute guy running over to her. He stopped in front of her and touched his knees while catching his breath.

Hazel asked amusedly, "Harold, you didn't have to run. We were about to head to the meeting room."

Harold waved his hands as he inhaled air, " President, you need to see this before you head over to them."

Hazel furrowed her brows in confusion. He insisted, " Come on.. you need to see the mission board."

Hazel had a strange premonition as she followed the persistent guy. They arrived at the main hall and saw a crowd gather around the mission board. Noticing Hazel's arrival, everyone respectfully made way for her as they called out in unison, "Congrats, President."

Hazel knitted her brows as in confusion as she gazed at them. They smiled at her as they nudged at her to read. A gasp from her friends made her direct her gaze at the mission board.

Her eyes widened as she read the story of how she defeated the demon. Her lips twitched hard as her eyes went through the lines.

'Our beautiful president has been snatched away by her Prince Charming.'

The last line made all of her inner strength to avoid chasing after the editor of this news. She could hear her friends snicker as they tried to suppress their laughter. Suddenly, someone from the crowd shouted, " President, is it true that you found your Prince Charming?"

Hazel gritted her teeth as she glared in the direction of the voice. Jinha and Hak couldn't hold it in anymore as they held their abdomen and laughed out loud.

Hazel exhaled as she rubbed the spaced between her eyebrows. She glanced at the board before ripping it off and crushing it into a ball. She threw away the ball as she glared at the crowd making them disperse.

She glared at Harold who rubbed his head sheepishly. He stammered, " P-President, where are you going?" 

Hazel paused in her steps. She turned around and looked at him.

"Where else? Don't we have a meeting to attend?"

Harold sighed as he nodded and accompanied them as they headed towards the stairs to the topmost floor. They passed through the corridors where everyone whispered.

"Look its the Heroes Council."

"I'm so glad that the President is back. I have been having bad luck these days without having a glimpse of her beauty."

"Look...Look... she's going to the meeting room."

Heroes Council was a bunch of 10 people who were the strongest in the academy. The members are decided when they pass numerous tests thrown at them during the tournament which was conducted once a year. 

Everyone had the chance to compete in the tournament, from which only the top 100 is chosen. The top 100 would be required to compete again until the top 50 were selected. The top 50 were considered to be average in the academy. They are to compete again and 10 people would be determined who are to battle with the current top 10 council members.

The current members fight to safeguard their position while the competitors fight to topple their throne as the Heroes Council member. 

The tournament can extend from three up to a month depending on the tests thrown at the students. It varies every year making it hard for the students to prepare for a specific test. Sometimes, it can be fighting against the instructors or hunting for rare medicinal plants or defeating a high-level spirit beast.

The members of the Heroes Council are known as Heroes. They are people who are responsible for the security within the academy as well as punishing students who authorize unofficial battles without the consent of the council.

The students who wish to battle their enemy or someone who provokes them is required to go through a battle called Grand Tournament. It takes place when the challenger as well as the competitor come forth to the council to register. The sooner they register, the sooner the duel happens.

The loser of the competition would be expelled if he/she loses three matches in a row. This condition was made so that the students won't issue challenges recklessly.

Hazel and company approached the gigantic door which leads into a huge room with a table in the middle, shaped in O. The room had huge windows near the balcony. Once one step out on the balcony, they can see the entire academy grounds.

When Hazel entered the room, she noticed they were the last to arrive. The other three members looked up when they heard the door opening.

She smiled as she apologized, " Sorry to keep you waiting."

Everyone glanced at her for a minute before going back to what they were doing. Hazel approached her chair in the middle and sat down. She glanced at all the bored faces across the room with one reading some ancient book and two of them fighting with each other over food.

She couldn't help but sigh. Well, being strong did cut off their chances to attend classes unless they want to.

Hazel glanced at the guy sitting to her left, Loki who is ranked third after Jinha( rank 2 ). Loki was a man of few words who opened his mouth only necessary and ignores the rest. Right next to him sat Zeno who is placed in the eighth position. On her right, sat Jinha, and Liz sat next to him and is placed right after her, fifth. 

Hazel looked at the corner where the twins were bickering with each other over food - Ren, and Reyna. The twins were of small stature who were crazy over food. They had this strange rule that - No food No fuel. So they munch all the food available in this room, leaving empty plates for the rest. They were placed at rank 6 and 9 respectively. 

Opposite to her sat the cute guy, Harold who is ranked 10, and beside him sat Hak, in between Zeno and Harold, who is ranked 7. Even though Loki and Jinha were ranked above her (rank 4), everyone unanimously voted for her to be the President of this lazy bunch.

The academy was familiar with all the nine members except the first ranker. No one has seen or heard of the person who is ranked first every year. It was like that position was meant only for him.

They didn't dwell much on it as they believed their principal might have had some reasons to hide news about the top student.

Hazel cleared her throat and gestured to the twins, " Sit down now, and you can quarrel after we finish discussing."

Ren looked at her and pouted, "Hazel, is it true that you found your Prince Charming?"

The room fell in silence as everyone turned to look at her with some hiding their smirks. She was surprised to find Loki look at her too with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. 

She slapped her hands on the table fed up with hearing this question. Her brows twitched in annoyance as she sought, "That's the first thing you guys want to know?"

It was like they had done a silent agreement as they nodded their heads. Furiously she exhaled as her lips twitched hard at her friends who weren't explaining and was enjoying her reactions. 

They were waiting for her to make a fool of herself. Just great!

Reyna smacked her twin's head as she said, " See, didn't I say its all fake?"

Ren rubbed his head, pouting his lips. He hopped towards Hazel and grabbed her arm, " Princess, you won't cheat on me, right?"

'Cheat?!'

Hazel's lips twitched as she heard this silly boy's question. She watched as he hugged her arm tightly and said, " I won't allow anyone to snatch my princess. I will fight it out with whoever does so."

Hazel sighed as she glanced at him who was behaving like a cute kid. She had a soft corner for him as he quite resembled her brother. Before she could answer, she heard him ask again, " So you didn't meet any Prince Charming right?"

Sighing, she shook her head which made a smile blossom on his face. "I knew it... I knew it..my Princess wouldn't cheat on me."

Suddenly a familiar voice boomed from the door, " I don't know about the Prince Charming part but I did meet my Queen."

Ren frowned as he looked at the uninvited visitor by the door. As everyone turned to look at the door, they failed to notice Hazel's expression which had turned white.

'Why?'