1 The Hero's Daughter and the King's Nephew

"It's finally time! It's finally time!" Persephone Odius cheerfully cried out amongst the crowd. Despite her loud outburst the onlookers simply returned to whatever business they were previously handling. She was the daughter of the famous war-hero so they thought it would be only natural that his daughter would be somewhat boorish despite supposedly being a noble lady.

"I thought you would have gotten bored of acting that way by now but once again I was proven wrong"

Persephone turned to face the voice that just commented on her excitement. He was a somewhat short boy with a neat, tidy appearance. He didn't look too beautiful but he didn't have any ugly features either, as if his face was that of a bland mass-produced doll.

"Oh come on Maximillian, I should be saying that you would have gotten bored of getting proven wrong over and over!"

The boy put on a wry smile, "I'm just saying, if you carry on like that into your adulthood, people are gonna think you have sawdust for brains but yet again-"

"You don't think I'm gonna care?" Persephone interrupted mid sentence, "Besides today is the final examination before we get admitted to the academy! How can I not be more excited than normal? More importantly we will have our traits officially revealed!"

"When you make a point like that I lose confidence in my intelligence"

"Oh come Maxxy don't be like that! Besides I wonder what our traits will be revealed as! Is mine gonna be "strength" like my father? Or "kindness" like my mother?"

"What about "clinically insane"? It suits you well." Maximillian remarked, continuing to have a mocking smile on his face.

Persephone felt her face redden at that remark. Not only did he completely turn her conversation inside out but he even disregarded the importance of people's traits! Your magical "trait" defines your abilities and personalities as a human being!

For example those with the "determination" trait will gain strength from holding on to that determination no matter the situation and those with the "authority" trait have natural leadership qualities and are adept at law. That's not something that can be quickly glossed over and ignored. It's not because Maximillian made fun of her personality... no definitely not.

"He-hey! Don't make fun of me- no of traits like that! You say that in front of the church and they'll charge you with blasphemy!"

Maximillian lightly shrugged, while emanating a tranquil aural, he then looked outwards.

"Heh, you do have a point, my scummy old uncle, the king would probably be glad to see me hauled and executed by those idiotic false prophets."

His face remained unmoved that one may think that he really didn't mean what he said, but Persephone knew better. She could see, deep in his eyes, a flaming sea of scorn and content for the corruption of royalty and the church.

"Didn't I just tell you not to say such things that would get you executed? I thought you were supposed to be intelligent" Persephone sighed exaggeratedly, looking downwards while clutching her forehead with her left hand. Normally Maximillian would be the one baby sitting her but when he gets like this, the roles end up becoming reversed.

"I'm intelligent enough to realise that everyone else in this crowd is too busy with their own affairs to mind what I say." The mockery in his voice seemed less reserved and more intimidating. "In fact, I'd say that thanks to a certain red-head noble lady's outburst of insanity, the crowd is trying their best to not mind us."

Persephone felt her face redden again and looked upwards to see a boy with a bland doll face that was wearing a smug smile.

...

Persephone and Maximillian soon found themselves in the grand hall of the magic academy surrounded by other students who passed the preliminary exams. The one presenting at the podium was an elderly bald man, dressed in thick robes.

"I thought boring presentations by teachers were only supposed to be a stereotype made by those with attention spawns smaller than goldfish."

Maximillian spoke in an annoyed town while sitting back with his arms crossed and his eyes closed, almost as if he's listening to the speech while also contemplating on a devilish scheme in the back of his mind at the same time.

"If that's how you feel, imagine how I feel?" If Maximillian the child genius was getting bored what would that mean for the outgoing and sprightly Persephone? "I just want to discover my trait and cultivate my magic power! I didn't sign up to sit for an hour long speech!"

"By enrolling in this school you technically did" Despite the horrendous circumstances Maximiliian still kept his sarcastic attitude. Though his form remained unchanged, the edges of his mouth curved up into a slight smile.

Persephone unintentionally pouted, "you're no fair when you're like this."

His smile seemed to grow slightly larger. "That's because you make this way too easy for me."

Persephone felt her face redden again but before she can rebuke him...

"We will now call out all examinees in order to read and reveal your trait! Come up immediately when your name is called!"

And thus the moment Peresphone was waiting for has finally arrived.