Two days went by in an instant given most of the students from the final year were given time to recover before they could restart taking classes. Those who didn't participate in the evaluation were attending classes as usual.
Edric has recovered quickly as well, thanks to his wolf transformation that allows him to regenerate three times better than an awakened one.
Currently, in the morning, they are having breakfast. Valarie and Alex were sitting on one side, and Amanda with Edric on the other.
They were not told to join the classes yet, and since there weren't many theoretical things they could learn when they had already been assigned a mentor, they didn't deem it necessary to go to the classes.
Edric was enjoying cereal with extra fat milk, a lot of fruits, nuts and honey over it. Along with it, the boy took sandwiches on the side to keep the taste balanced. His single meal had enough calories to feed a whole family of three for a day
Valarie also had taken a heavy breakfast containing a whole eighteen-inch boned fish along with brown rice and some vegetables.
In comparison to them, Amanda and Alex were taking it easy with just sandwiches and tea.
"Hey Alex....I have heard from people that those Steelhound men don't return home for days. Do you think you can manage long trips?" Edric asked casually.
Alex, who was reading a book with his free hand, didn't shake his eyes away from the book as he responded, "Yeah, I have funds and clothes to go on long trips. And since we all got the permission to skip school, there is no problem I see here."
Amanda suggested, "Just in case you should have a beacon installed in you. If you want I can help you buy one."
A beacon is a two-end device that allows both parties to know if the other one is in danger and also shares their location. It's a lifetime usable product unless the person forcibly detaches it or dies. That explains why the device is so costly.
"Yes, Alex, I will also add a few gold coins, so just buy it and give it to me," Edric suggested.
"I can also contribute...if only you don't mind," Valarie added.
Hearing their words made it clear that in this brief period, they had become good friends with Alex. To the point where even the redhead princess who only cares about Edric, also showed signs of being concerned about Alex.
Alex heaved a sigh, but before he could have said anything someone joined the table, "Good morning, everyone. The weather is quite pleasant today, no?"
Edric smiled and greeted back, "Morning, Cela. How is your injuries now?"
The blond Princess squeezed between Valarie and Alex so fluently that no one, except for Alex, realised the strangeness in her behaviour.
She nodded and said, "Yeah, I am good. Alex took care of me~"
Hearing that Edric excitedly asked, "He did?!"
Amanda also looked intrigued.
However, "I just gave her a pain-relieving gel...cuz she asked for it." With a weary sigh, Alex returned to read his book.
Edric and Amanda's vigour died down as they slumped back in their seat.
Looking at Alex, she smilingly asked, "Isn't the weather good today, Alex?"
Alex hummed as he continued to eat and read.
Celestria pouted at his unresponsiveness as she stabbed the fork into the pancake and began eating it silently.
While she was eating the Princess rummaged through ideas, then finally, she thought of something and asked Edric, "Ed, what is the best thing one could do in this pleasant weather?"
Edric, while chewing, thought for a moment before answering, "Training?"
Celestria scoffed before asking the redhead beside her, "And you, Val?"
Valarie shrugged, "Clean weapons and sharpen them?"
Celestria looked at the girl with an expression that said, 'That's why you are still single,'. Finally, turning towards her last hope, Celestria asked Amanda,
"And...you, Amy?"
Amanda rested her elbow on the table and with her chin planted on her fist, she smilingly said, "Go on a date?"
"Yes, date! The perfect weather for a date, right Alex?"
Alex heaved a sigh. The moment she chirped, 'The weather is quite pleasant' he knew what she wanted. However, he so wanted to finish reading about this specific monster found in Steelhound's territory that he played ignorant.
But...can he, now?
Getting up he said, "Fine. Let's go."
With a face full of smiles, Celestria fed the last bit of the pancake to Amanda and silently thanked the girl before springing to her feet.
While Alex slowly made his way out, the girl was hopping behind him joyfully
Looking at the duo, Edric couldn't help but say, "It seems I again played the wingman for them."
"...." (Amanda)
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[Capital]
Adolf had just finished a long meeting with the ministers regarding the upcoming summit and was returning to his room to rest.
The yearly summit happens between the three major human kingdoms to discuss things about border security, trade and innovations this year. This is the most important event from the perspective of a ruler of the year.
And this year, the meeting will be happening here in Grimland. As such, the responsibility of hospitality, security and other requirements which they might have, needs to be sorted out beforehand.
There were still two months for the summit, and until then, with Aborne, the security department would get arranged. And thanks to Hector's involvement, there won't be an incident like last year when a traitor penetrated the castle and attacked Adolf.
Just as he was about to enter his room, he heard hurried footsteps, making the man groan as he turned around and said, "What is it, Carl?" His assistant and adviser was the only people who could run in the corridor like this, and that's why Adolf knew it was him.
And as he thought, the short man with fat legs appeared before him while sweating profusely. But looking at his complexion, Adolf discerned that it wasn't exhaustion that was making him appear pale.
"What happened?" The supreme authority asked with a frown.
The man slowly extended a letter towards the King with a shaky hand as he informed the person who sent it,
"I-I-It from Y-Y-Your Holiness...s-sh-she will be c-coming for the summit...."
"----!!!" Adolf's eyes parted wide as he looked at the letter and read everything twice to be sure.
Stay tuned to empire
Once he was done, he commanded, "Gather the council. Now!"
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A/N: The next chapter will be devoted to their date. Look forward to it.