Crimxson Academy

"We need to leave this place." The Coachman's voice was serious.

"Why? Her body is still weak and she's not out of danger yet. How do we know you are to be trusted?" Hailen was panicking. Just when she had hopes of getting a daughter, this strange man appeared out of nowhere to dash her dreams.

"I apologise madam, but I wasn't asking for your permission. Protecting her is my responsibility." The Coachman said, his face changed from jovial to stren. There was a vibe around the Coachman that showed he was not a mere carriage driver.

He was going to get Velexa out of the town at all costs before they find her. There were rumors that the royal guards were looking for a young girl of ten, with black hair and very potent wind magic that could rival that of trained wind weilders.

It wouldn't be long before they discovered Velexa, so before it happened, he was going to get Velexa out of the kingdom.

Velexa turned to Hailen and gave her a curt bow. "Thank you for saving me and taking care of me. I will not forget your kindness and I hope you find happiness."

"Do you have some money with you?" Velexa asked the Coachman and he nodded. She extended her small hands and he gave her a pouch full of gold.

Velexa picked out five pieces and placed it in Hailen's hands. Hailen realized Velexa had heard everything. How long has she been awake?

"Wait here." Hailen rushed in and brought out Velexa's drenched clothes. "I didn't realise you would leave this soon. I wasn't able to wash them properly and dry them, sorry about that."

'Velexa, always remember to thank people who are kind to you genuinely.'

Velexa heard a feminine voice in her head. She was confused but still obeyed.

"Thank you for your kindness Ms Hailen. Make sure you pay the debt as soon as you can. After that, leave this town, it's not safe for you or your husband."

Velexa took her clothes and with a wave of her hand, the air that emanated from her hand instantly dried her clothes.

Velexa glanced at Semona and gave her a curt bow as a thank you. She had an uneasy feeling about the healer.

She left with the Coachman and they continued their journey to the Braxen Wastelands.

"Your Highness, are you okay? I'm sorry for my incompetence, I was not able to protect you." The Coachman said from the horse to Velexa who was inside a carriage.

"Your Highness...? I'm royalty?" Velexa was puzzled. She racked her brain but all she could see was white.

"You don't remember who you are?" There was something hidden in his voice.

"Who am I?"

"You are... I think it's best if you remember it by yourself. And until you do, for your safety, please don't return to the palace. But for now, it's enough to know you are royalty and you are the future of the Beautamix Kingdom. And I shall protect you with my life." The Coachman said with all seriousness and devotion.

"Really? But you're just a Coachman, what can you do?" Velexa asked teasingly, her childish side was on the surface now.

"You'll be surprised Princess." The Coachman smiled.

"Ah! So I'm a princess? And of Beautamix Kingdom? That means the people I saw earlier are my subjects?" Velexa asked excitedly, sticking her head out from the front of the carriage at the coachman.

"You didn't hear it from me."

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"That's enough, sit properly or you'll fall off." He warned.

"I'm not scared of falling!" She smiled at a passing butterfly. She was back to her cheery nature, a stark contrast to her serious demeanor just a moment ago.

"Mr Coachman, what's your name?" Velexa asked in a chippy tone.

"Knie is my name Princess."

"I love your name Coachman Knie! My name is Velexa."

"I already know your name Princess."

"Since you know my name, why do you keep calling me Princess? I wouldn't call you Coachman if I knew your name."

"It's a way of showing you respect princess." He chuckled lightly.

"It's just two of us now. No one would know and I don't mind, so call me by my name!"

"I'll think about it Princess." And Velexa pouted in annoyance but she was quickly distracted by a bird gliding in the wind and tried to mimic it's movements inside the coach."

The Coachman observed Velexa from the corner of his eye. There was definitely something off with the princess. She also commanded a sense of respect from him, one only the King has ever commanded.

He didn't know what exactly happened in the castle that night but he knew there was a huge fight and there was a power shift.

Currently, he didn't know who the current ruler of the kingdom of the kingdom was. All he knew was that the Council of Elim entrusted Velexa to him, along a written decree, some money and some items which were carefully hidden.

It wasn't his place to ask question. He was now the Princess' guard and he would protect her at all costs.

Some moments after Velexa left with the Coachman, Mathias returned with his goonies and some men from the royal guards, stationed in Lihte, the town Velexa just left.

Mathias pointed at Freman's house, trembling, "she's inside that house. A young girl that matches your description and has powerful wind magic stays right here! She sent us flying into the ocean some moments ago!"

On the order of the royal guards, the house was searched but they didn't find Velexa, or any young girl. And despite the threats from the guards, Hailen never for once spilled Velexa's whereabouts or what transpired that morning. It was her word against that of Mathias. Semona slipped away unnoticed, leaving Hailen to her fate.

The royal guards were not unreasonable, they did not harm Hailen but they were suspicious. Hailen used to opportunity of the chaos to pay off Mathias with the gold Velexa gave her. Eventually, Mathias and the royal guards left and they awaited further instructions.

When night fell, under the cover of the night Hailen and Freman ran away from Lihte town.

...

Velexa's coach arrived Crimxson Academy by midnight. The medieval style, dungeon-like castle cast an especially menacing presence in the thick of the night.

Velexa was fast asleep so Knie carried her in to the academy. It turned out the academy was accepting new students so their presence wasn't out of place.

What was out of place was Knie carrying a 10yr old into a academy with a reputation that could rival the best dungeons any of the five kingdoms has ever known.

With the decree the Council of Elim wrote for Velexa, the first stage of her registration went smoothly and she was given a room befitting royalty to continue her beauty sleep.

Knie was registered as her bodyguard so he was assigned a room in the academy as well.

While the night sky still hung outside, Velexa suddenly woke up with a start.

Her powers that seemed to be under control during the day was no longer under control. The medicine Semona gave Velexa had already worn off and Knie didn't give her another medicine because she was fast asleep.

Velexa walked down the winding stairs mindlessly as though being lured by a spell. Something was leading her back to Beautamix Kingdom, back to the castle, back to her parents and she was following the pull.

In her listless state, she passed by a man sitting under a willow tree in the spacious back courtyard of the academy. The man didn't stop her.

As she was nearing the gate leading out of the academy, a young boy who looked three years older than her, stood in her way. It was the same boy who saved her on the cliff from the assassination attempt.