Chapter 320 - 6th of December

'Long has it been since my last entry. After winning the Inter-magical Tournament, not to mention that I was nearly killed on said day, life grew hectic. The class resumed, today's the 6th of December. The year went by in a blink, I've no idea when or how it happened. Things in the capital seem to be all the better considering Sharon was returned safely. Kreston did grow to be on edge, their borders were shut per her Queen's orders. Out here in Claireville town, les va et vient1 of the general town folks is tame. Many are speculating that war is to break out between the two kingdoms. A repeat of a seventeen or eighteen years ago, the crusade that destroyed what little remained of Dorchester. Not many speak of those events; raised on the battlefield, I knew full well the truth. That war was nothing but a testing ground for companies to try weapons. Preceding that, mages grew less common as a result. Personally, I feel as if having a war now would undermine everything that the Queen has endeavored to do. Time will tell if belligerent leaders would wish to clash arms or allow room for negotiations. What else… oh, yes; today's the day class 2A is to head to Arda. We'll be learning how to fight monsters and maybe dabble a little into alchemy. Most of the class wish to study the magical arts. I wonder what father will do upon our arrival. Can't wait to see Lizzie again, her rosy cheeks and always clenched fist makes my heart warm,' shut and kept inside a drawer, the room lit with curtains being pulled sharply. 

"Do mind yourself," voiced Eira with fatigued expression.

"Leave me alone," sighed Ysmay who's pajamas were on the verge of exposing her chastity. 

"Today's the day," locked, the key to her diary was concealed. 

"We're headed to Arda, the land of the unknown, the land of mystery," gathering laundry, she made strides in cleaning the room. 

"Don't forget these," another pair of undies flew across the room with a flutter. 

"Hard to believe that you're the first princess of Arda," returned a sarcastic remark as she folded the garments into a blue-basket of which had its sides cut in a flowery shape. 

"I'm surprised that your overprotective father allowed such a venture."

"Honestly," hands on her h.i.p.s, Ysmay took a second to breathe, "-I thought I'd ask to see his response. The moment I spoke about the exchange program's hosting, his expression changed to one friendly. It was very weird, remembering that face is as if calling upon a cringy memory, ugh," she shook her head in dismissal. 

Struck at 07:00, the bell rang. Empty with the breeze gently caressing the stone-path, the time came to head out. Stood with arms behind their back, Sophie and Josiah held stern faces. Unable to have a peek, the students walked with heads on the floor. Risen behind the duo, the sun made it hard to have a glimpse. 

"Good morning students," said in a short interval, the pressure of each syllable had them cowering for said tone was when one had to be punished. "I see that you all have made necessary preparations for the trip to Arda," paced to and fro, Josiah examined each student carefully. 

"As you know," in stepped Sophie who sensed the unrest, "-Class 2A, compromised of exemplary students were given chance to partake in an exchange program. Unlike the other classes, you were allowed to choose which guild to attend. Unanimously, Kniq was chosen. I shan't retell what thee know," paused, she glared, "-you're going to represent Hidros. Best be courteous and respectful," eyeing the commoners, "-especially you, Tony, you're a bit of a troublemaker." Called by name, the boy blushed for the others stared with smirks. Continued in the same manner, the Instructor and Director spoke for fifteen minutes. 

"I'll be accompanying till Rosespire," voiced Sophie. Opposed to traveling by car or van, the academy had made arrangements for the express-train. Damaged, it took a few months to repair the mysteriously broken railway. Claireville to Rosespire, thereon, taking another train, they'd ride to Rotherham. 

Opened, the students walked into the train followed by chatter. Rare was it for people to travel by the express line; the price was a luxury not many could pay. 2 Gold pieces per passenger.

"Oh man," voiced Simone who had curly brown hair and a big nose, "-this is going to be epic," sat near the window, his comrades joined one by one.

"Say that again," jumped onto the seat, Fletcher laughed, a bald-cut as he belonged to a monastery of the church of Syhton. Father a priest and mother killed by goblins, he vowed to become strong to protect his village. 

"You guys have no manners," shaking his head in dismissal, Timothy sat with one foot on the other.

"Don't be such a party-pooper," fired Harold in a soft voice, "-it's a first for us commoners," medium long hair that resembled seaweed. Bearing a darker skin complexion, he hailed from a fishing village far to the south-west. 

"Always readied for adventure, aren't you boys," older than the bunch, Tony was over six-feet and a well-built body. Something not many young a.d.u.l.ts could have, considering that where he hailed was one of the burnt villages of Dorchester. Escaped to Kreston, he had run far and wide in company of mercenaries till being picked by a rather wealthy merchant. Red hair, pierced ears, and a tattoo on his chest, many referred to him as Dash. 

Followed behind, the girls of which all were nobles. Most were antisocial and preferred to keep quiet. Reading a book, studying, Eira, and Ysmay were the only two who spoke to one another. Anastasia during the weeks leading up to the expedition was overflowed with shameless remarks and sarcastic jests. Many of her supposed humor was in showing how big a gap stood before the commoners and nobles. Single-handedly, she turned Kim, who bore black short hair and glasses, against Simone, Christina, with the figure of a well-matured woman, had light brown hair and lighter eye color. Always holding a smile for she was the supposed big-sister of the group. Lastly came Mille, big eyes and small nose and ears closer to elven than human. Not much was known of her past for it was never brought in conversations. Clumsy and always zoning out – aged 13, a girl with superior brainpower. Hand in hand with Kim, who was also another prodigy, they solved countless complicated questions on the subject of Magic. 

Seamlessly, the door shut and the train advanced. Sophie did as she told and remained as overwatch. Between the chatter, and loudness of the boys, Eira used headphones to have a moment of peace. Following her example, the other girls took out their gadgets. Two hours later, the train arrived at the main station outside Rosespire. Taking a stairway down, "-wait here a moment," asked Sophie who scurried to a lady in short dress. Down to the lower platform, the concrete floor was dirtied with a mixture of dust and dirt. Rare was it for people to have cleaned the area meant for commoners. People in rags and sometimes a single piece of clothes walked on and off. Opposed to them, said people were most injured. Some blind, others with no arms, and some even with fresh scars. Held together by a single unit of guards, they gave smiles to the students who stood in shock.

"Cat got your mouth?" asked Tony with a smug tone, "-this is the state of how many live in this continent. Those injuries weren't from war, no, it came from monsters," to which Fletcher nodded in agreement.

"Whatever," rolling her eyes, Anastasia dismissed what she saw. It seemed as if a frivolous attempt at refusing to acknowledge the truth, a life of obliviousness. The lesser one knew the more one would be joyful – a guess at what went on inside her mind. 

A few minutes past and Sophie gestured. Hidden by a pillar, the lady to whomst she spoke came into light. Not alone, guards in black suits with white gloves and no visible weaponry glared. Taller and more muscular than Tony, the latter held his breath. 

"These are the students I presume?" lowering her sunglasses, the lady walked with glamor towards the bunch, "-introductions are in order," fully removing her glasses, "-I'm Cake," paused, "-and yes, that is my real name, from Phantom." Nodded, the students exchanged glances to one another, 'who is Phantom?' many wondered. 

"Let me explain," interjected Sophie, "-Phantom is an arm's trading company. Owned by Lord Haggard, King of Arda. They shall be the one to escort thee to the airfield." 

"Lady Eira," voiced Cake as the girl hid behind the crowd, "-why art thou bashful?" she asked with a smile.

"Morning Cake," reluctantly, she walked to the front of the line. "My lady," bowed the guards with fists on their chest. 

"Tsk," clicked Anastasia, "- loathsome, if I'd known that this would have been the case, I'd have never participated." 

"Don't," whispered Christina.

"Excuse me?" taken aback, Cake stood closer to she who had spoken, "-would you kindly rephrase what was said into something more audible," cold gaze, her aura was fierce.

"I said that I would not have come if Eira's father would provide everything, f.u.c.k.i.n.g boastful royalty." 

*Click,* three guns pointed at her head instantly, shuddered, the girls yelped with the boys unable to move. "-CAKE!" yelled Eira.

"Don't you use that tone with me," fired back Cake, "-thou might be Staxius's progeny, I've been ordered to treat thee all as equal. None will be given favors," ghosted, she stared Anastasia. "You have the option of turning back. If being in the good graces of a king hurts thine pride that much, why not let me make you an offer. Call up your family and we'll negotiate a deal for the expenses. Don't worry, it will be yours alone, the rest will be handled by us," unfolding in public, many stopped to watch the drama. Ashamed, her gaze befell the floor.

"Good," turned to the rest, "-don't think for a second that being Eira's friends or her classmate will affect the exchange program. I'm here as an escort; what awaits will be far harsher than this." 

Unable to speak, the second train departed to Rotherham in company of Cake. 

"Eira," whispered Tony, "-who is your father?" 

"The king of Arda," said monotonously, "-I thought you knew about it."

"Yes, but is he only a king?" asked Fletcher, "-I've seen those guns before. Back at my village, a man dressed in a similar style suit came to confess. What he told us of an organization not known. The underground of the world, they ooze the same feeling."

"I agree," interjected Mille, "-they are super scary." United by fear, the class conversed with one another. 

Screeched to a stop, vans awaited. Onboard, the drive took a few minutes till a massive compound came in view. "Where are we headed?" asked Timothy.

"Phantom's Airfield," replied Cake, "-a plane for Arda awaits." 

"Why is it that we had to come here, surely any old plane would have work?" asked Simone.

"Quite chatty for students who were held at gunpoint a few hours ago. Nevertheless, Arda's landscape doesn't allow for normal planes to land. It will become clearer soon," steadfast towards the gate, they soon arrived. 

Opened to a whole new world, guards did rounds, some fired guns in the shooting area to the right. Guard towers crawled with snipers of which had glared the van and its passengers. Driven past the office, a group awaited with a lady dressed in grey at the center. 

"Off you get," said Cake. Last, to leave, the van drove off without stopping. The vastness of the compound had even the nobles in awe.

"How rich is your dad," asked behind nervous laughter, the students grouped to not be picked out.

"No idea, let's just say that he sends me around 200 Gold each week. We never seem to run out." 

"Holy shit, that's my monthly allowance," interjected Timothy. 

"Considering that she owns one of the Xerxes series cars, I don't think we should be that impressed," voiced Tony who seemed to be enchanted. 

"There you are," long white hair flowed. A sword at her hip, Courtney stood strong with Yves and Elliot behind.  Translation: Back and forth