Oakswood Academy (3)

He just disappeared!

Demian couldn't believe there was someone who had the audacity to hide in a bush just to spy on someone they didn't know. But what made the spy snort so loudly?

He wracked his brain but couldn't find anything that would have caused such a reaction. He'll admit that the scene with the girl earlier was probably strange and most likely comical in a sense but not to derive such a loud snort out of someone.

Demian mentally shook his head of such useless thoughts and made his way back to the parked carriage. The drive to his designated dorm was short and uneventful.

After the driver and his attendant helped him unload his luggage and unpack, the two of them left, leaving Demian all alone in the large room. He glanced at the time and decided it would be best to start heading towards the indoor auditorium if he wanted to find a good seat during the ceremony.

He found the auditorium after receiving instructions from one of the dorm's in-house maids. Half of the seats were taken and most of the ones that were left open were up front near the podium. He slid into an empty bench in the front row.

Not long after, two other students slid into the same bench. One sat down at the opposite end while the other sat near Demian. 

The rest of the seats soon filled up as the rest of the students started spilling in. Once everyone was seated, the headmaster took the stage where the podium was set up.

The Headmaster was the younger brother of Duke Arien of the Harlow Kingdom. He was a spry man in his thirties with long orange hair tied up into a high tail. His narrowed falcon eyes held a kind light in their golden depths.

"Welcome to Oakswood Academy, first years." The Headmaster's voice was amplified using wind magic. "This will mark the beginning of your two years here at the academy." He then began to drone on about what the academy represented and what students will hope to find here.

Demian felt a muscle twitch in his leg. He wanted to readjust his pose but also wanted to see if he has what it takes to make it through the ceremony without moving. His father wasn't kidding about how this was the most tedious part of the whole school year.

"Without further ado," the headmaster announced, "I welcome to the stage, Mr. Sato, the top scorer on the entrance exam this year." The headmaster moved out of the way to make room for a smirking teenager with fluffy brown hair falling across his forehead.

"Hello, my name is Remi Sato."

Demian felt himself twitch with a jerk at the familiar name. There was no way that kid was who Demian was thinking of. Remi Sato was a young boy of seventeen, there was no way that he was R.A. Sato, a famous researcher and ethnobotanist-or something like that. Demian may have read his studies and found them revolutionary but he didn't know much about the man behind the work or what he actually did nor the degrees that R.A. Sato held, or what was even included in his area of study.

The smirk on Remi's face grew. "From some of my fellow classmates' expressions, I can tell you read my past publications. Not the gray-haired old man you thought, huh?" He chuckled while winking one eye. "Enough of that. I would like to keep this short and I know all of you agree. I would first like to thank our Headmaster for that riveting speech." He turned toward the Headmaster and gave a small bow before turning back to face the rest of the students. 

Demian couldn't believe how posed and relaxed this Remi Sato was. He was making this look easy while making it funny for those listening but without being too undignified.

"The only thing I really want to say is this. We may be of different ranks and different genders hailing from different kingdoms but we are all in this together. To some, Oakswood Academy is a chance to shine brightly while preparing for the future, while others may think this is the beginning of the end and are panicking on the inside. No matter who you are or what this new journey entails for you, you are not alone. We are all in this together. Together, we will face this year through the boring times, the sad times, and the tough times. No matter what adventures blow our way, just remember that you are not alone, we are all in this together. We will make this journey a memorable and happy one. And I will leave my speech at that as to not put anyone to sleep."

A few chuckles escaped from the audience before the applause erupted. It wasn't a riveting and all inspiring speech but it was definitely something.

As soon as Remi's foot hit the floor, he was surrounded by students. Demian was surprised with how fast it had happened and was even more surprised when one of their fellow students materialized out of the thin air and acted as a bodyguard, keeping the throng of students away from Remi.

Demian wasn't surprised that Remi was instantly popular. R.A. Sato had revolutionized pheromone medication with his research on plants and made tremendous discoveries and findings about each gender that far exceeded the world's previous knowledge.

He wanted to speak with Remi and try to get a glimpse of his knowledge but Demian decided against it. It looked as if Remi would be busy for a while and Demian was courteous enough to not add to his troubles. Besides, Demian could always talk to Remi at a later time, preferably when he wasn't surrounded by a mass of wriggling bodies vying for his attention.

Demian wondered if this is how others felt or if this was what others saw when Demian was out in the capital back in his own kingdom.

When Demian turned around, he noticed the girl that had bumped into him earlier that morning. She was standing near the back row, closest to the door. Her small, heart-shaped face was turned in the direction of where Remi was standing, still surrounded by a throng of twenty or so students. The expression she wore was strange and Demian couldn't place the emotions he saw there.

Her aquamarine gaze flicked in his direction as if she could feel him staring at her. That emotional expression that she wore quickly morphed into an emotionless mask.

Demian removed his gaze and decided to retire back to his room, or maybe walk around campus to familiarize himself with his new surroundings.

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