Chapter 45: The First (Disaster?) Date

Rewinding a few minutes back, when Ray had leapt from the window.

"Sister…," Elysia's voice trembled, her eyes wide with concern. "Did something happen?" As she asked, Niatina found herself wrestling with her own fears. "Don't worry, everything is fine," she reassured, though her heart was pounding with worry for Ray.

"Eli!" A familiar voice rang out from behind them. It was Hiro, who had rushed over to check on them. Seeing him, Elysia ran to him while Niatina let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," Hiro exhaled, pulling Elysia into a comforting hug. "Nothing happened to you, ah… Nino?" he asked, turning his gaze to Niatina. "What are you doing here? Where's Ray?"

As he asked, Niatina recounted the events that had transpired. From their meeting with Elysia, to the explosion, and Ray's decision to investigate.

"I see," Hiro murmured, deep in thought. After a moment, he decided to head to the training ground as well. Niatina and Elysia accompanied him. But when he saw the instructor attempting to interrogate Kai, he stepped forward.

Fast forwarding to the present, Hiro stood before the instructor, his eyes blazing with anger. From a distance, Elysia and Niatina watched the unfolding scene, their eyes wide with shock as they witnessed Hiro's anger for the first time.

"Your Grace!" The instructor, along with the other teachers, knelt before Hiro. "What brings you here today, your grace?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. Hiro's response was cold and firm. "My business has nothing to do with you. But, when I saw a teacher forcing a student, I can't just stand by now, can I?"

His voice echoed around them, demanding answers. The instructor took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Your grace, this student here seems unusual," he began, glancing at Kai. "After he used his casting, the ring didn't react to his mana. So, I thought something was wrong with him." At his words, Hiro fell silent, his face unreadable.

"Maybe it's because of the ring?" A sudden voice cut through the silence, drawing everyone's attention. "That voice…," Ray murmured to himself, as a man around Hiro's age suddenly descended from above. With black hair, blue eyes, dark skin, and a large black robe, he was an imposing figure. The instructor's eyes widened in recognition. "Principal!?"

Kai studied the newcomer, his mind racing. "So, this man is Justin William, age: 39. The principal of the Magic Academy. Also, the former master of the magic tower…"

"You didn't think of that, huh?" Justin asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. While Justin asked that, Kai continued to wonder to himself. "Based on what Eva told me, this man here is not someone anyone can mess with. Justin William, raised in a commoner family. But having talent in magic, he was brought to the higher society. He became the master of the magic tower at the age of 18, but soon resigned since he felt bored or something. Later, he became the principal of the magic academy."

Kai took a glance at him, "Also, there was a great role of him in the support for commoners to enroll in the academy."

The instructor looked up, confusion etched on his face. "What do you mean?" At his question, Justin smiled. "Well," he walked towards Kai, draping an arm around him. "This young man here, is the Archduke's son."

As he made the announcement, a gasp rippled through the crowd. "WHAT!?" Justin winced, covering his ears. "Didn't you read his name in the list?" At his question, the instructor recalled his earlier dismissal of Kai. He was speechless, realizing he had made a grave mistake.

The students started to whisper among themselves, their voices a low hum in the background. Kai sighed, feeling the weight of all the attention on him.

"Well, what else can you expect? He's the Archduke's, the Hero of the Empire's son. Of course, his mana can't be measured with just a toy ring now, can it be? Also-" Justin was about to continue, when a voice interrupted him.

"Okay, that's enough." 

Everyone looked behind, as Hiro said with a serious look. "Justin," he pointed, "you take care of things here." To this, Justin sighed, scratching his head. "Jeez… fine, I will do that." After that, Hiro looked over at Kai and Ray, "Let's go," he said with a calm voice. "You can tell me everything on the way." As they started to leave, Justin took a glance at Kai from his corner. He smirked, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Interesting…" a small whisper to himself.

After the scene, the three joined with Niatina and Elysia, as they started to walk away from the training ground. On their way, Ray explained everything that happened, from Kai's casting (technically?) his spell and using more power into it, causing the explosion to what happened with the instructor. Hearing so, a sense of pride swelled within him as he realized the magnitude of his son's mana.

They later rendezvoused with Sakura, who had been with Montina since the explosion. Hiro briefed her about the situation. Initially, she was furious at the instructor, but her anger soon gave way to pride for Kai's achievement. The day concluded amidst chaos as they bid farewell to the princesses. Ray also returned to the Palace with them.

When Kai finally reached the mansion, he collapsed onto his bed, not even bothering to change into his sleepwear. "What a chaotic day…," he mused, his eyelids growing heavy. "Tomorrow, I'm just going to sleep in." His eyes fluttered shut, "Surely, tomorrow can't be any worse." With that thought, he succumbed to sleep.

The next day morning, the sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the breakfast table. Everyone had gathered for the meal, their conversations filling the room with a pleasant hum. Kai, however, was unusually quiet. Today was not going to be an ordinary day.

After breakfast, Kai was whisked away by the maids. They fussed over him, adjusting his attire and ensuring he looked perfect for his first date with Montina. As he stood in front of the mirror, he couldn't help but think, "I was wrong… today is going to be a bizarre day."

Once the maids were done, Kai wheeled himself out of his room, dressed in his finest attire, a deep blue velvet suit that accentuated his strong features, together with his usual wig. Sakura was waiting for him, a knowing smile on her face. She beamed up as she saw him fully dressed. Slowly, she leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper, "Remember, the way to a girl's heart is through kindness and understanding." Kai rolled his eyes at her advice. "If I wanted, I could charm any girl," he thought to himself, letting out a resigned sigh.

As Kai stepped through the main door, his eyes were immediately drawn to Montina. She was waiting for him, seated elegantly in her carriage. Dressed in a gown of emerald silk, it flowed around her like a cascade of green water, shimmering subtly under the soft glow of the carriage lights. Her hair, released from its usual updo, fell in soft, lustrous waves over her shoulders. Each strand seemed to catch and play with the light, adding to her ethereal allure. Tiny pearls, delicately woven into her hair, glinted softly, their luster matching the necklace that graced her neck. Yet, despite her radiant appearance, her face betraying no interest in the upcoming date.

As he saw her, he just stared, his eyes wide with admiration. Her beauty, so ethereal and captivating, left him momentarily breathless. A wave of anticipation washed over him, mingling with a strange sense of excitement he hadn't felt in a long time.

Slowly, a small smile formed on his face. "Well, now I am surely interested in what she has for me today."

The date began with a visit to a famous sweet shop. The aroma of freshly baked pastries filled the air, but the atmosphere quickly soured. Montina, with a cruel smirk, began making remarks about Kai's disability. Kai, however, remained unfazed, countering her comments with grace and wit.

The situation escalated when Montina "accidentally" spilled her juice on Kai. He looked down at his stained clothes, then back at Montina, his expression unreadable. Without missing a beat, he asked a passing waiter for a napkin, cleaning himself up with a calm demeanor that belied the rudeness of the act.

Next, Montina deliberately moved Kai's wheelchair to the side, causing him to bump into the walls. Kai, however, skillfully maneuvered his wheelchair, avoiding any serious collisions. His adept handling of the situation drew admiring glances from the other patrons in the shop.

The final straw came when Montina added an excessive amount of salt to Kai's food when he wasn't looking. Kai, noticing the change in taste, simply ordered another dish, refusing to let Montina's antics ruin his meal.

Despite the disastrous events, Kai maintained his composure throughout the date. He countered each of Montina's plans with patience and resilience, proving that he wouldn't be easily defeated.

The date continued at a popular garden, known for its serene lake. Montina, in a new attempt to embarrass Kai, tried to push his wheelchair into the lake. However, Kai was quick to react. He grabbed onto a nearby tree branch, halting his wheelchair just in time. In a twist of irony, Montina, caught off balance, tumbled into the lake herself.

The sight of Montina, drenched and flustered, brought an unexpected end to their date. They returned home, each to their respective abodes. In the mansion, Sakura greeted Kai with a curious look, "How did the date go?" she asked. Meanwhile, at the palace, Celestina posed a similar question. Both Kai and Montina, however, brushed off the inquiries, claiming exhaustion and a need for rest.

As Kai collapsed onto his bed, a sigh escaped his lips. He thought about the day's events, the disaster of a date, and the prospect of enduring such dates for an entire month. "Well," he mused, "at least it can't get any worse than today." With that, he drifted off to sleep, ready to face whatever tomorrow would bring.