Chapter 351 - Academy Life

The sounds of swords hitting each other echoed in the courtyard, along with that there were flashes of blue light, Yel, one of Mars' wives that had white feathered wings which sprouted from her hips was currently exchanging sword blows with Jey, as she did a smile formed on her face before she stopped and muttered

"I knew it…"

Jey that was breathing a little heavily took a moment to compose herself as she sheathed her sword before she asked

"Knew what?"

Yel showed a soft smile before she spoke in praise

"You have talent, a talent that far outweighs anyone else in your group"

Jey showed a smile, it was clear that she didn't quite believe Yel as she spoke

"I am but a blind escort that was taken pity on by her Lady"

Yel sighed before she shook her head and spoke

"You are anything but… How long have you been able to see?"

Jey's body trembled slightly, after a bit she decided to come clean as she sighed before she reached up and covered the blue gem embedded in her armor, then she opened her eyes, there were no pupils instead it was just a sea of white, still, Yel showed a smile, then Jey explained

"I can't see as well as before my eyes were injured but…"

The world was reflected in the blind eyes of Jey, there was no color, still, she was able to see, somewhat, Jey closed her eyes again and uncovered the blue gem embedded in her armor, then Yel nodded and spoke

"You are keeping it as a trump card, right?"

Jey showed a smile and explained

"If it helps me defeat the enemies of my Lady, then I would happily seal my on sight for the rest of my life"

Yel nodded before she pulled out her sword again

"Then let us hone that trump card of yours"

'How long has passed since I last saw dad now..?'

Max wondered this quite often, though thanks to his dotting grandparents he didn't feel lonely at all, or that's what he told himself, anyway Max had already celebrated his coming of age ceremony, he had turned 15 years old and had grown into a young man and he was attending the most prestigious magic academy in the entire country of Juliantia, ever since the war with Cana ended a few years back the feeling of peace had fallen over the country that now stood more stable than before, or that was the narrative anyway

'My mind wandered again…'

Max breathed a deep sigh before he focused on what was going on in front of him, he was sitting in a classroom where a teacher was teaching not magic but etiquette, this was after all a noble academy, Max barely managed to stay focused doing the class, when the teacher ended the class he stood up at once, he had already gathered his things into his back and so he walked out of the classroom as one of the firsts and quickly made his way towards the cafeteria, his steps were light as he looked forwards to getting something to eat, he soon arrived and picked up a tray before he got some food, then as he was looking around for a place to sit down a person called out to him

"Max! Over here!"

Max showed a smile as he turned around and looked at the person that had called out to him, though the smile on his face lessened somewhat when he noticed that she had brought her brother along, Max sighed before he walked over and greeted the two siblings

"Hello, Annabel… Magnus"

The two people Max was greeting were of the demon race and both had grey skin and red eyes, along with that they had a pair of horns on the forehead, Annabel had long black hair and her older brother Magnus had short black hair, there was a sharp contrast between their expressions, Annabel had a bright smile on her face and her red eyes sparkled with affection for Max while Magnus's face was cold and even showed a little hostility towards Max, Annabel pulled Max over as she spoke

"Come Max you have to sit with us"

"S-Sure"

Annabel was bold as always as she half hugged Max's arm as she pulled him along, when he sat down she sat down next to him, as always a little too close for Max to keep calm, still he kept calm that was because Magnus was glaring at him from the other side of the table, as the three of them ate Annabel talked nearly constantly to Max wanting his input on a couple of things as well as his insight on some classes she had taken, Max answered her questions and talked with her quite happily this caused Magus' face to turn a little colder before he eventually sighed and spoke

"Max, do you happen to have some time later?"

Max looked at Magnus in surprise, it was rare of him to strike up a conversation so Max wondered what he wanted and nodded, then Magnus showed a slight smile as he spoke

"Then let's meet up after school… Annabel the break is almost over"

Annabel nodded before she quickly ate the rest of her food and said her goodbye to Max before she left along with her brother, Max sighed before he also quickly finished his food and went on to the next class…

After classes were over Max stood near the gate of the academy and waited for the two siblings to show up, as he stood near the gates he attracted attention, after all he was famous in the academy for being mysterious, despite having no last name and not benign a noble he had managed to get into the academy that was the best in the nation and then there were his mysterious eyes, his hair was no longer the long overgrown mess that it was when he was younger but cut short and looked rather neat which meant that his eyes no logner were covered, his pupils were shaped like penegrams, of course some of the teachers and a few of the students knew what these pattnes meant so they avoided him like the plague, but for others it was simply weird and mysterious, Annabel seemd to be in that camp for a bit before she started to approach Max last year afterwhich the two of them gradually became friends, Max stood and reminicened about the only real friend he had in the academy when she arrived and spotted him at the gates

"Max!"

Annabel's smile was dazzling as she waved at Max before quickly running over, Max found her to be slightly cute, like a puppy that had found someone to play with, though cold water was quickly purred over him as he saw Magus' face as he also walked over, the two of them looked each other in the eyes for a few moments before Magnus spoke

"Let's change locations, we need to have a talk"

Annabel nodded to, she looked oddly serious too, though at that moment a butler approached the three of them and spoke to Max

"Young master Max, your grandmother has summoned you"

Max looked conflicted for a moment, then the butler showed a smile and looked over Annabel and Magnus before he asked

"Are these your friends?"

Max thought for a moment before he nodded and spoke

"Yeah, that they are"

The butler showed a bright smile

"That's excellent, if I may be so bold to suggest, why don't you bring your friends with to meet your grandmother? She has been worried about whether you were making friends, I believe meeting these two will definitely put her at ease"

Max nodded, he knew his grandmother and grandfather had been worried about his academy life and he wasn't exactly keeping the fact that they were the king and queen secret, he just had not mentioned it so he quickly agreed with the butler

"Sure, do the two of you mind?"

Annabel blushed a little as she muttered

"Meeting Max's family…"

Magnus looked at his sister's lovestruck expression which the person on the receiving end of the affection wasn't understanding and sighed before he spoke to the butler

"No, we don't mind"

The butler showed a smile and gestured for the three of them to follow after him over to an emblem less carriage, the three of them climbed inside it and sat down, Magnus commented

"This sure is a comfortable carriage… your grandmother must be rich"

Max showed a smile but kept silent as the carriage began moving Annabel seemed to have received from the fact that she was going to meet Max's family and began chatting with Max again, though both Max and Magnuszx could tell that she was a little nervous, though only Magnus realized why.

The carriage passed through the streets of the capital city and soon it arrived and passed through the gates of the noble district before it swiftly made its way down main street and soon passed through the gates of the castle, at that moment the two demon siblings seemed to realize as Annabel laughed nervously before she spoke

"Ahahaha… If this is a joke it isn't funny Max…"

Max showed a smile, that's when Magnus asked in a slightly nervous voice

"Hey, Max… Your grandmother couldn't be… The queen, right?"

Max's smile widened slightly before he nodded

"That's right"