Chapter 4: Politicking Even in a Place of Learning!

What revealed beyond the gate was an expansive forest that spanned several miles up the slope, with an asphalt road in the middle as the path leading to a towering structure.

Even from the gate one can read the name of the academy written in beautiful calligraphy with another dragon's head a multitude time bigger than the previous, in the middle of the words.

All of it appeared to be made of gold and possibly other expensive materials due to the repressive aura it was releasing. Possibly something powerful.

Displaying the sheer renown, the school has and those who run it.

The car reached a roundabout after a few minutes of driving through the forest, with four other cars waiting in line to drop off their passengers.

Despite taking a roundabout path, the two was still the one of the earliest to arrive.

"Look Young Mater others have arrived before you. You don't think that they have the same troubles at home, do you?" Asked Lilith with a mischievous tone.

"It was still a close to a half an hour to go before school starts, I'm surprised they arrived early." Replied Edil ignoring her question.

"While it is important to be punctual especially as nobles, to be this early shows another motivation for being here at this time.") Thought Edil.

("Though it is none of my concern.")

While ignoring his maid and her antics, Edil decided to admire the scenery to past the time and looked around.

Other than being awed by the majestic sight of the building that was constructed with the utmost care and expenses. What caught the eye the most however was the fountain placed upon the roundabout.

A design in the road meant for the noble children to be dropped off for the day and for their chauffeur to depart back down the slope.

In the middle of the pool filled with an unknown liquid was a sculpture of 20 feet made from marble. Presenting a history of how the city and the rise of power began. With the founder of the city placing down the flag of a family crest not of Rosalind and the followers behind the almighty man that aided in the foundation.

"I'm surprised father hasn't come over himself and demolished it yet, this clearly undermines our authority even if true." Said Edil feeling a complex welling inside. While he wasn't prideful of his family's power and history, it still stirred something within him for seeing a clear act of disrespect in person.

("Hell, I'm surprised that my older siblings didn't destroy it themselves, hopefully the one's coming today don't start anything. I'm sure that they were warned but the twins can be quite impulsive and quick to anger.")

"You should be aware of how intricate our political power is Young Master. While house Rosalind is externally powerful with the treaty that was agreed upon in, internally we still strife for power against the 4 other founder families. We only hold the advantage because of our title as duke and the achievements your father and your ancestors achieved. And the fact that the families themselves don't align." Explained Lilith to remind the child how dire the situation can be if one acts impulsively.

"Yeah, I know though to have a statue about it out in the open in front of all the children of influence irks me. That goes to show the pettiness of the self-proclaim true rulers of the city, house Jasper." He said with disdain.

*sigh*

"What an annoying system for all. Even my father having a harem is just to facilitate it. Though I can't complain as I was born."

"I am also forever grateful for that occurrence Young Master. Though they are clearly a set of fools wanting the cake and eating it too. Ignoring what house Rosalind did in order to reign on and rule over Dragonswine." Lilith followed suit and threw mud at the rest of the families.

"It is what it is, though starting this year the feud will only continue to escalate. Pretty much all the heirs of the family are out and about, either here in the academy or frolicking about in the royal capital." He speculated the troubles that are up ahead and what it is in store for him.

. . . .

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, professors, and most importantly our students. I stand before you today to announce a most joyful occasion, as new bloods are joining our most prestigious academy, I can't not hope to be happy about it. We are gathered here to celebrate this year's opening Blah, Blah, Blah." An overweight middle-aged man wearing a suit and tie, clearly wearing a toupee to hide his baldness presented himself as the principal of the academy.

*Hhhaaaa* Edil yawned, quite sleepy already having recently woken up from his nap and barely arriving on time to orientation if his maid hadn't woken him.

The irony he thought, if he did arrive late most likely he'll have to fend off his stepmothers criticisms, something he trying to avoid.

And now he had to face this dreadful speech, he honestly wouldn't know whether which one to face.

He was being put to sleep by the principal's whatever his name was lengthy, boring, and frankly, tedious speech.

In order to stay awake, he started to observe his surroundings.

Within the auditorium that appeared empty compared to its size due to how spacious it was.

It would easily fill a concert hall of 10,000.

It was filled with not only students but servants, professors, staff and select family members of the children attending.

4000 people in total were of attendance, with only 500 of them being students.

Each of them of noble blood with various peerages hailing from the Dragonswine region. The majority of noble descendants in the region.

Edil recognized a few students, and parents of theirs, however they are mainly from when they visited the home, or they have met during an event.

They were acquaintances at best, and at worse political enemies. He is the poster child of an individual not having friends.

Edil quickly shook his head to get rid of the intrusive thoughts that would have made him depress.

He quickly switched his focus to how each student was wearing the uniform of the academy.

Through what he learned from the household; the color of the uniform represented the year they enrolled into the academy.

Black for freshman

Red for sophomores

Yellow for juniors

And blue for seniors.

Edil himself wearing black, as he is freshmen.

"Attention please, attention please we will now hear from the new vice principal Neptune Jasper, I repeat we will now hear from Neptune Jasper, the vice principal of this institution." The announcement spread across the auditorium, loud enough to bring his attention back to stage.

What he heard made him regret not just skipping! and taking the punishment at home for it.