A woman sitting at her desk hummed softly as she broke the seal of a tattered envelope.
“Ah, George... It has been a long time since your last letter about my nephew,” she whispered, sliding the parchment free.
The contents of the letter:
“Dear Alice,
I hope you have been doing well. I have written this message as soon as I could. My son, Arthur, has already received the letter of invitation to your school. I just wanted to thank you for keeping your promise. For keeping Alicia’s dying wish.
I will be entrusting him to you. Please keep him safe.
With my deepest gratitude,
George”
Alice sighed, her eyes softening as she traced the ink. “George... I hope you and your son are safe. I will be waiting for his arrival.”
Two years later...
Arthur burst through a thick wall of bushes, tumbling into a small clearing. He stood, brushing off a prestigious-looking uniform that was now thoroughly caked in loose leaves and broken twigs.
“Okay, I didn't think just getting to school would take this much effort,” he muttered.
He scanned his surroundings, a deadpan expression crossing his face. “More trees. More leaves. More nature... Great. First day, and I am completely, utterly lost… and clueless.”
Shaking his head, he continued to wander through the dense foliage until a faint murmur broke the silence of the woods. He paused, tilting his head. Lively chatter was echoing from somewhere in the distance.
“Hm?”
Arthur pivoted toward the noise. With each step he took through the undergrowth, the voices grew louder, sharper, and distinctly closer.
The moment Arthur parted the final bush, stepping out into the place he was supposed to have reached hours ago, a sudden, blinding light greeted him. As his eyes adjusted, a vibrant, bustling environment opened up before him.
The buildings were crafted from what looked like expensive, imported bricks, all centered around a grand circular fountain. In its middle stood the statue of a flaming bird, steadily spewing water through its beak. Meticulously cut hedge fences lined the paths, bordering lush green school grounds dotted with trees that boasted a rich variety of fruits.
Occupying the campus lawns were groups of female students, happily chattering and gossiping in navy blue blazers, fuchsia pink skirts, black thigh-high socks, and polished ebony shoes. Nearby, the male students—dressed in the same navy blazers and grey trousers as Arthur—occupied outdoor tables, bickering over schoolwork and exchanging lively ideas.
The moment Arthur stepped through the tall, metal school gates, the lively chatter and bickering abruptly died. Every eye on the campus turned toward him. He was greeted by a wave of intense stares—a mix of sheer shock, curiosity, and outright disgust. To everyone else, it looked as though he had literally spent his morning rolling around in the dirt.
Unfazed and completely unbothered by the sudden silence and brewing gossip, Arthur walked straight toward the main building. He headed into the nearest restroom, quickly brushing away the leaves and loose branches before straightening out his ruffled uniform.
Once he looked presentable, he stepped out and made his way down the main hallway. He didn't get far before his path was blocked by a massive, rowdy crowd. They were completely surrounding a female student with vibrant pink hair and striking blue eyes. She was visibly overwhelmed, shrinking back from the suffocating wall of attention.
“Princess Elaine! Will you go to the welcome dance with me?” one boy shouted, pushing forward.
“Why on earth would the princess dance with an idiot like you?” another interjected, sneering. “She clearly prefers tall, blond men. Isn’t that right, milady?”
“I didn’t know she hired her own personal secretary,” the first boy snapped back.
As the relentless bickering and shouting escalated, Arthur didn't hesitate. Seizing the distraction, he smoothly slinked through the dense crowd, grabbed Elaine by the wrist, and snagged her right out from under their noses. Before anyone even realized she was gone, he dragged her down the hall and ducked into an empty storage room, letting the heavy door click shut.
It took a few moments for Elaine to catch her breath and ground herself. She looked up at Arthur, a sheepish smile on her face. “T-Thank you... My family happens to sit on the throne, so we tend to be recognized everywhere. Honestly, it just brings me nothing but trouble.”
She paused to straighten her fuchsia skirt and smooth down her blazer. “You can just call me Elaine. What’s yours?”
“You can call me Arthur,” he replied, leaning back against a storage shelf. “I assume this isn’t the first time you've been mobbed like that?”
“No, it isn’t,” Elaine said, letting out a heavy sigh. “It happens way too often. I’m getting so tired of it, but there isn't much I can do. I just have to endure it.”
She looked up at Arthur appreciatively, her voice softening. “Thank you again for saving me back there.”
“It’s no big deal. You looked troubled, so I helped. That’s all,” Arthur replied casually. He glanced toward the heavy wooden door, listening to the muffled noise of the hallway. “So, do you have a class to get to? I can walk you there.”
“No! No!” Elaine waved her hands frantically, her cheeks flushing a light pink. “I-I’ve already troubled you enough.”
“It’s really no trouble. You can tell me,” Arthur said reassuringly.
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“Are you sure...?” Elaine hesitated, twisting her fingers together. “Really, I can handle it from here. I don’t want to be a bother to you.”
“I insist. It doesn't make much sense to help you escape only to leave you to get cornered again,” he replied.
Elaine looked at him, her eyes shining with genuine gratitude. “T-Thank you again, truly. I’m in Class 1-A.”
“Oh? I think we’re neighbors,” Arthur replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled piece of paper, scanning the text. “It says here I'm in Class 1-D. I guess we can walk together after all.”
Arthur slowly cracked the door open, peering out to check if the crowd was still there before gesturing for Elaine to follow him.
“Let’s avoid the hallways. We might get ambushed along the way,” Arthur whispered, gesturing toward the garden maze just outside the window. “We can cut through there instead.”
He led her out of the storage room, slipping briefly through the corridor before their shoes sank into the lush grass of the school grounds. However, as they ventured deeper into the hedges, the paths began to blend together, repeatedly leading them in circles right back to where they started.
“Sorry… but I think we’re lost,” Arthur said, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle.
Elaine giggled, her eyes crinkling. “It’s okay. I can use magic to point us in the right direction.”
She raised her hand and opened her palm, summoning a floating sphere of soft light. After whispering a quiet command, the orb drifted forward, charting a clear path through the labyrinth.
“Oh, wow. You can do that?” Arthur asked, genuinely impressed.
Elaine smiled softly and nodded. “Yes. When I was young, my mother taught me various utility spells—mostly domestic ones for cooking, cleaning, or navigation. I used to get lost in the castle all the time, so she taught me this one.” Her smile turned sheepish. “Hehe… before that, I usually ended up wandering down into the dungeons whenever I sneaked out to gaze at the stars.”
As they continued down the path, the vibrant green hedges and grass gradually grew darker with every step they took, casting eerie shadows despite the bright sun overhead.
Suddenly, a sinister presence washed over them. A thick, suffocating black smoke erupted right in front of their path. Arthur instinctively lunged forward, shielding Elaine with his body.
“W-Wait, what’s happening?” Elaine asked, her voice trembling with worry.
“I don’t know, but stay behind me,” Arthur ordered.
His mind raced as he stared at the roiling fog. Are the demons back already? But why now? Did they use this maze as cover, waiting for me to walk right into their trap? If so, why didn't they ambush me when I was lost in the forest earlier?
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Before he could find an answer, the smoke dissipated, revealing a pack of slavering lesser demons.
The monsters snarled, and Arthur's eyes snapped into sharp focus. Instantly, his fists erupted into roaring torrents of bright golden flames. He thrust his hand forward, unleashing a wave of apocalyptic heat that disintegrated the charging vanguard into ash before they could even lunge.
Elaine stared at him with wide, incredulous eyes, her breath catching. “Arthur…”
He glanced back over his shoulder. “Are you hurt, Elaine?”
Elaine shook her head frantically. “N-No, I’m okay!”
Suddenly, the ground trembled. More demons materialized from the shadows, trapping them from both the front and the back. They were completely flanked.
Arthur gritted his teeth, scanning the narrow paths. This space is too tight for a proper fight, and I’m not alone. Getting Elaine to safety is my top priority, he thought. Without a second thought, he scooped her up into his arms.
Elaine yelped in surprise. “Ah!”
“Sorry for not asking first, but we’re out of time. Hold on!” Arthur shouted.
He kicked off the ground, launching them high into the air. As they cleared the hedge walls, Arthur rapidly cast a sequence of glowing magic circles in mid-air, using them as solid stepping stones. With Elaine's arms wrapped tightly around his neck, he leaped from circle to circle, soaring high above the demon-infested labyrinth.
As they soared through the sky, the entire campus opened up beneath them. Despite the chaos they had just escaped, both Arthur and Elaine found themselves mesmerized by the view.
“So, this is what the school looks like from above... It’s beautiful,” Elaine whispered, her voice carrying in the wind.
Arthur chuckled softly. “Yeah. The view isn't bad.” He scanned the layout of the sprawling campus. “Can you spot our classrooms from up here?”
Elaine pointed toward the west wing of the main building. “Over there.”
Arthur nodded, angling his descent toward the balcony she indicated. Just before hitting the ground, he summoned one final magic circle beneath his shoes to break their momentum, landing with a flawless, effortless thud.
The moment his feet touched the solid stone, however, they were instantly surrounded by a swarm of curious students.
A split second later, a tall male student with neatly styled brown hair and piercing green eyes pushed his way through the gathering crowd, his face twisted in annoyance.
“Hands off my betrothed, peasant!” he snarled, glaring at Arthur.
Arthur merely blinked, looking at the boy with utter confusion as whispers immediately erupted like wildfire around them.
“What on earth is the princess doing with that guy?” someone muttered.
“Isn’t he the one who looked like he spent his morning rolling in the dirt?” another whispered loudly.
“He has absolutely no right to be touching Her Highness,” a third interjected, sneering.
“I honestly wonder how someone like him even passed the entrance exams,” a fourth added.
Completely unfazed by the brewing storm, Arthur gently set Elaine down on her feet. He adjusted his collar and casually asked, “Do you know him, Elaine?”
A sharp, collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a heavier wave of furious gossip.
“Did he... did he just address the princess by her first name? Without a title?!”
“The absolute audacity!”
Elaine looked down at the floor, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and dread. She slowly looked back up at Arthur, her eyes apologetic. “He’s my fiancé, Arthur…”
Arthur glanced at the arrogant noble before deadpanning, “Really? Because your personalities are a polar opposite.”
“How dare you!” the prince snarled. He puffed out his chest, glaring down his nose at Arthur. “I, Prince James Blackwood III, am the rightful fiancé of Princess Elaine Sinclair!”
With a smug smirk, James pulled a rolled piece of parchment from his expensive blazer and unfurled it, flaunting it for the entire crowd to see.
“What’s that?” Arthur asked, completely unimpressed.
“I’m glad you asked, peasant. This is the official peace treaty between my kingdom and her—” James began, but he was abruptly cut short.
“Is that your only copy?” Arthur interjected.
James stamped his foot in irritation. “How dare you interrupt me?! Yes, this is the only copy! Wh—”
He froze.
From the bottom up, the priceless, irreplaceable parchment suddenly erupted into bright golden flames. Within a single second, the entire peace treaty turned into a handful of drifting black soot.
“WHAT THE—” James stared at his empty, ash-stained hands in absolute shock and confusion.
He whipped his head up, locking his eyes onto Arthur. The commoner was standing there with a smug smirk, blowing imaginary smoke away from the tip of his index finger, which was shaped like a finger gun.
“Whoops,” Arthur said casually.
Before anyone could even process what had just happened, Arthur grabbed Elaine’s hand and smoothly led her away from the stunned crowd.
“You little…” James shook with pure rage, the veins on his forehead popping violently as his face turned a deep, furious crimson. He was right on the brink of an absolute explosion.
“You really didn’t have to do that, Arthur…” Elaine said, looking up at him as they hurried down the corridor.
“Hm? Did what?” Arthur asked, playing completely dumb and innocent.
Elaine chuckled, shaking her head at his sheer audacity.
“HEY!” James yelled from behind them.
Suddenly, a heavy leather glove sailed through the air, smacking Arthur square in the back before dropping to the floor.
Unfazed, Arthur stopped and turned around, looking down at the glove and then back up at the prince without saying a word.
James marched toward Arthur and Elaine, his chest heaving with pure fury. He stopped just inches away, pointed a trembling finger at Arthur's face, and barked, “I challenge you to a duel, peasant!”
To Be Continued...