Chapter 1 Back-to-School Season

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"To the proudest Tanilia!" a gruff male voice overpowered the noisy hubbub.

"To the most honorable Vineta!" another part of the hall responded.

Cups clinked and drinks were exchanged; the banquet hall was lively and cheerful.

In a deserted corridor of the hall, Andreya Chelini slouched against a windowsill, spitting disdainfully onto the mirror-smooth marble floor tiles.

"I'm so fucking done with this," Andre drained half a cup of strong liquor down his throat: "The gutsy guys from Tanilia are either killed by us or are thinking about how to kill us. Has Debela's brain been soaked in donkey piss? Relying on these spineless lapdogs to guard the islands?"

After a year of struggling on the battlefield, Andre's speech had completely matched that of the crudest brawlers.