Chapter 26: I CAN'T SEE!

"Hey! Old Man..."

"W-who is it?!"

"Do you just have to pull this scene every time I contact you, Old Man?"

"My name is Tor'Elkast...

This stupid Brat who always disturbs my slumber...

What do you want this time?"

"I thought I should have informed you that I met the current Human Sage."

"Why should I care?"

"I thought you'd be interested in her, as they call her the Storm Witch."

"H-her?..."

"Yes? What about that?"

"I-is she... fine?"

"She's in her fifties, I guess... A little hard to tell her age because she has hardly any signs of aging and is a charming mature woman."

"Oh... That is interesting.

But we shall not forget the last time a woman became a Sage... "

"It was millennia ago, and she was an Elf by the way..."

"Uh-um... so what do you want?"

"I also met the Princess of the Human Empire."

"Is she fine?"

"Old man, would you stop asking these questions?!

She still a child... She's like 16 years old."

"My name is Tor'Elkast...

I see..."

"Gosh… I need to go now.

The aforementioned Princess is coming this way..."

"Wait Brat! Remember the promise..."

The telepathic connection was cut off by Jorael. It was noon, on his first day as an undercover student at Nefertalis Magic Academy. He was just relaxing sitting on a bench in the courtyard during a break, but Vanessa Fasted was coming as mentioned to his Teacher.

"Hey, what are you doing here all alone!

I could swear you were also talking to yourself..." the Princess exclaimed as she approached the Traveler.

"Oops... you found out that I was practicing my Magic formulas..." Jorael replied while throwing his hands to the sky joking as if he had given up.

"It wouldn't surprise me, judging your Magical abilities..." Vanessa whispered as she sat down next to the new student.

"Ah-ah... As I said it was beginner's luck..." the Traveler laughed.

"Eh... I wonder..." the Princess commented doubtfully. Then, she started chatting:

"Your... friend is doing well, I guess."

Jorael looked up at Cyn'Thia, as she stood in the midst of a crowd of her fellow students, nervously answering all the questions that were thrown at her.

"Er... I guess you're right." Jorael said a little anxiously for her slave to him. Then he kept talking:

"It seems I have to apologize for our behavior earlier in class. We are guilty of not recognizing you and sitting next to you.

So, we will change seats according to the unwritten rules, rest assured, your Highness..."

"Sigh... that stupid rule was invented in our class. It was the nobles of House Vizier and the like who came up with that rule: first row for the princess, middle row for the nobles, last row for common people.

I've always rejected this idea, but they never listened to me. I fear that if anyone disobeys the rule, the nobles will make them pay for it.

It's funny that you and your... friend sat next to me, then put on a good show in the practical lesson, and for now, no one dares to threaten you.

Oh... and anyway, I don't accept your apology, because there was nothing to be sorry about to begin with." Vanessa explained accurately and in detail.

"Well, that explains everything...

Hey, you sure talk a lot, Princess... "Jorael said, teasing her a little.

"N-no, that's not it...

It's just that...

Nobody talks...

With Me." The heir to the throne whispered shyly as her face turned red with embarrassment.

"Oh... Sorry again..." said the Traveler.

"Stop!" Vanessa cried as she stood on her feet in front of him.

"What is it, your Highness?" Jorael asked confused.

"Y-you changed your behavior towards me now that you understand who I am...

That's what I hate the most.

And stop apologizing!" The Princess cried out in agitation.

"Woah... then you won't mind having a new desk mate." said the Traveler.

"I... I think you are toying with me at this point...

But...

Thank you." Vanessa shyly whispered as Cyn'Thia was approaching them from behind.

"Master, are you harassing the princess?!

I heard her scream!" Shouted the Elf as she scolded Jorael.

"N-no, he's not.

Are you letting your... friend talk to you like that?

You are both so strange..." the Princess commented perplexed.

"You should know that I constantly tell her to stop calling me her master.

To date, I have not yet been successful." Jorael explained discouraged.

"Master! It's because I respect you, that's why!" the Elf yelled confidently.

As the Traveler sighed in frustration, Vanessa laughed and happily said:

"You two are so funny...

I'm so glad you signed up for our class!"

Amid the Princess's laughter, a familiar female voice was suddenly heard, which made the group of students jump:

"Will you look at that my dears, your Highness smiling?

It's something you really don't see every day ... "

"Gasp! H-headmaster?!

You scared me a little…" Vanessa exclaimed, taken by surprise.

"She's so stealthy..." Jorael whispered.

"Oh sorry...

Princess, may I ask you to leave me alone with the new students?" Monica asked politely.

"Yes of course ...

See you later in class then! "Said the blonde girl smiling as she walked away.

"I guess she's really enjoying the company of new students..." said the Storm Witch while she made sure Vanessa left completely.

"The Princess seems like a good person... This raises a question.

Why didn't you tell us earlier that the Emperor's daughter was in the class we enrolled in?" Asked Jorael.

"Oh, my dear, would it really matter if you knew in advance?" the headmaster asked.

"In the end ... no." the Traveler answered.

"Then we are on the same road.

So, I know it's been a short time, but have you found anything interesting in these first few hours?" Monica asked.

"Aside from the fact that there is an unwritten rule among students for having their own seats in the classroom, I feel like the Princess is lonely." Jorael explained.

"Yes, that stupid rule invented by some Houses.

So, nothing else?" The principal asked again.

"If I can intervene, I talked a little with the others...

Well, it's more like they interrogated me... eh-eh..."Cyn'Thia said exhausted.

"Speak, Elf." the old woman ordered.

"So... almost all the female students accepted me, while for the male I don't know if they were too angry or too afraid to talk to me..." she was explaining before being interrupted by Monica:

"You are an Elf of at least a century, I don't know what sense it makes to say all this...

Go straight to the point."

"Ugh... yes, I may be old by your standards, but I'm still young actually...

Anyway, the girls advised me not to talk to the Princess, and that it will be better if we change seats." Cyn'Thia finished explaining.

"I don't know why I let you speak, Elf.

So, still, no clue or anything, as I imagined it's been a short time; but I came here to meet you mainly not to ask about your mission dear ones..." the headmaster said, arousing curiosity in the adventurers.

"So, what did you come here for?" Jorael asked puzzled.

"You, my dear. Where have you been hiding so far?

Why did you join the Guild and not my Academy?" Monica asked with interest.

"Um... did you see the sword I left in your office?

It is a reminder of an adventurer from a long time ago.

I thought I would continue on his way..." the Traveler lied.

"Tch... Such wasted talent my dear.

The spell you cast earlier was superb.

I don't know who taught you Magic, but it was almost a perfect Firebolt spell, something that could be almost on par with that of a Sage." Monica explained unsatisfied.

"I guess my Mother was a good mentor then..." Jorael recalled.

"Sigh... after Veronica Blois and Richard Graville graduated, we desperately need students of your caliber..." the principal whispered.

The two adventurers looked into each other's eyes, then both exclaimed in surprise:

"Veronica?!"

"Do you know her?" Monica asked.

"Well, yes, you can say we collaborated on the last mission we had." Jorael explained.

"How small the Empire is, after all.

That's a little weird of her... If I may ask, what did you do on your last mission?" The Headmaster asked curiously.

"We saved a kidnapped child." Jorael replied.

"Oh... then it is not strange anymore.

Anyway, it's getting late and you should run straight to class because the next lesson should start now..." Monica said just before the school bell rang, signaling the lessons to continue.

"Thanks, I guess..." the Traveler said before leaving the courtyard with Cyn'Thia.

...

A little later, in the fifth-year classroom.

It was time for geography class, and Professor Trevor was explaining the conformation of the central region of the Demon Kingdom:

"...and as soon as you step out of the Dark Forest, you'll find an arid wasteland, home to clans like that of the green-skinned Goblins that live in..."

As all but one of the students were diligently following the teacher's lesson, the scion of House Vizier seemed enraged and was muttering something to his classmates:

"That peasant... may be strong, but he has no right to sit next to Her!

Also... that slave. How can he have such a hot Elf servant...

…and he dared to bring her here?!

Did he bribe the principal or something!?

Who the fuck does he think he is?!

That commoner must be put in his place..."

As the Vizier boy whined, his friends barely held back their laughter to not interrupt the lecture, but they did not know that the new student was there in silence listening to their whispers.

"Interesting." Jorael said.

"Master, what is it?!

Is the scorching desert interesting?!" Cyn'Thia whispered in confusion.

"Yes, but not really, I'll tell you later." the Traveler said, while the Princess beside him wondered what had happened.

"...and therefore, now you should know everything about the middle land of the Demon Kingdom.

Make sure you study, as I'll be questioning someone tomorrow. Randomly. Farewell..." the professor finished the lesson and greeted his students before leaving the classroom, as almost everyone sighed.

"Master! We have to study!" Cyn'Thia shouted excitedly.

"Er... no. First, we'll have to deal with..."

"JORAEL THE COMMONER!" suddenly someone shouted from the middle row, attracting everyone's attention.

"I, Wilhelm of House Vizier of Northum, hereby challenge you to a magical duel!"

The class exploded in screams of excitement and surprise, but Vanessa was not satisfied with this development and she whispered:

"Sigh... here he goes again..."

"You cannot sit next to Her, because your blood is not worthy. This will make things clear.

If you are a man you should accept and lose under the weight of my dynasty.

What do you have to say?" Asked the Vizier boy.

"Why should I accept such a stupid thing?" Jorael said as Cyn'Thia looked at him worriedly.

"Tch... Then you are afraid of the power of my noble blood..." Wilhelm said with contempt, while all his friends were booing at the new student.

"Sigh... Do we really have to do this?" the Traveler asked.

"H-how dare you to ask this to your superior ...

Obviously, you have to do that, then lose and go straight to the last row to sit where your species is." Wilhelm said irritably.

"Oh... only If I lose. But if I win? Want to bet?" Jorael asked.

"How absurd... but rewarding.

Then when I win, you will go sit with your kind and your slave will be mine." Wilhelm arrogantly said, fully confident in his skills.

"W-what?!" Cyn'Thia yelled shocked.

"Deal.

But if I win, the unwritten rule will be abolished and everyone will sit where they want." Jorael said accepting the duel and the bet.

"Master!!!" shouted the Elf, while the rest of the students began to scream with excitement, inciting a duel.

"Umpf ... such a stupid wish.

Let's go to the courtyard right away and we'll see how a peasant loses." Said the noble boy as he headed towards the courtyard with the whole class following him.

The hustle and bustle that began in the fifth-year class began to overwhelm most of the school, where many students of all years began to congregate in the courtyard.

There was a designated point for these duels, where two stone circles on the ground marked the starting point for the participants. The first duelist approached his circle and then shouted:

"Nefertalis Magic Academy!

Are you ready to see how a peasant loses to the refined magical arts of a noble?"

Half of the crowd that gathered around applauded for House Vizier, while the remaining half stood silently.

"Master please... win, but also keep a low profile..." Cyn'Thia begged as she watched Jorael approach his position.

"So, what do you do now?" the Traveler asked as he stood on the circle.

"Dear ones, now I will supervise this duel..." said the headmaster, coming out of nowhere in the middle of the battle stations.

"Woah, again, she's so stealthy..." Jorael whispered in admiration for the Storm Witch.

"On my right!

Wilhelm of House Vizier, be ready.

On my left!

Jorael the new student, be ready.

I will start counting and then you will be free to cast spells as you please.

Under the guidance of Kalipso, who will win?

3...2 ...1... "

As soon as she had finished counting and disappeared into the crowd of students, Wilhelm took an attacking stance, pointing his arm to his enemy, enchanting:

"For the glory of Her who created everything, I enchant Blind!"

As a Red Magic heptagram was formed, a base Magic spell was cast. A little dark cloud came out from the seven-pointed star, and it was rapidly launched at Jorael, who purposely got hit by decreasing his magical resistance.

"ARGH! FOR KALIPSO'S MERCY I CAN'T SEE!" cried the Traveler as he walked strangely while the crowd of students burst out laughing, making fun of him.

"There you go, peasant.

Now the finishing blow...

For the glory of Her who created everything, I enchant Firebolt!" shouted Wilhelm.

Another spell was cast, a small ball of fire was formed, which was thrown in the rival direction. As the flaming sphere was approaching Jorael, he fell to the ground tripping over himself but evading the magical attack, as he was blind and could not see. This was what everyone thought:

"AHAHAH! He fell to the ground!"

"Eheheh! What luck on his part!"

"Ouch! What kind of witchcraft was it that made me fall?!" the Traveler asked as he complained in pain.

"That peasant is so lucky..." Wilhelm whispered.

Jorael tried to get up, took an attacking stance, and shouted:

"Now's my turn!

For the glory of Her who creat..."

"Master! On the other side!" Cyn'Thia interrupted him correcting him, while everyone laughed out loud as he was facing the opposite direction.

"Oh... thank you. Then to the other side...

For the glory of Her who created everything, I enchant Aero!" the Traveler cast.

"What do you want to do with that useless spell..." the boy from House Vizier commented as the beginner Magic spell was activated.

Suddenly, to Wilhelm's surprise, a strong gust of wind emerged from the bright red heptagram of his enemy. The more time passed, the stronger the wind became, sweeping away everything on its way.

"What is this?!

I've never seen such wind from that useless spell!

W-wait, I can't stand... Am I flying?!

Wahhhh!" The noble screamed in fear as Jorael Magic pushed him back, to the point that he flew a few mels away and knocked his head to the ground becoming unconscious.

The crowd watching the show suddenly became silent, wildly confused by what happened until the judge for the match yelled:

"The duel is over. Victory goes to Jorael."

Many students began to celebrate the victory warmly, while the rest of the noble students remained there in silence. Monica Tramonte approached Jorael and said:

"I hope you didn't crack his head, or it will be a hassle to cure him.

Now stay still, I will remove Blind.

Esna!"

The headmaster instantly cast a beginner's magic spell to remove the malevolent state such as his blindness.

"I can see again!

Wait, was that Sage's instant casting spell?! "the Traveler asked feigning ignorance.

"Sure, my dear. Now I'm going to check out that fool. See you later." The headmaster said as she left to cure Wilhelm.

"Master!" Cyn'Thia shouted as she ran to him, hugging his arm.

"What is it, Thia?"

"You did well!" exclaimed the Elf smiling.

"Beginner's luck, uh?" a female voice said as she approached them.

It was Princess Vanessa, who had come to congratulate the winner.

"So now everyone can sit in the front row with me?" she asked.

"I think so, eh-eh ..." Jorael said while scratching his head.

"You're too strong Jorael ..." Vanessa finally whispered with dull green eyes.

...

In the evening, in the dormitory wing of the school.

The adventurers separated, as the dormitory sections were divided by gender, so Cyn'Thia got a room in the women's section, while Jorael got a men's one.

"I hope she's okay, after all, we've never parted since we met..." the Traveler thought as he approached his room, only to find the door ajar.

He slowly opened the door and quietly entered the room. It was dark, but through the darkness, with his sense, he felt an ominous presence.

Suddenly, a candle lit on the bedside table and he could barely see a female figure lying on the bed.

"Thia?! That's not her…

Who are you?" The Traveler asked.

A few seconds of silence passed, and as he was getting used to the dim light of the room trying to find out who she was, she finally spoke in an authoritative tone:

"I am Vanessa Fasted, the only heir and princess of the Human Empire...

...and I order you to undress."