Back in the Royal Institution, school activities had been going on as it normally would, although most of the attraction was being directed into Mr. 200% Affinity for Divinity.
In almost every class, a teacher would bring it up, or soone would ask him about it. Eyes were always at his direction, and a good percentage of the day's conversation were solely about him.
When it was ti for recess, the place to be was to the training facility of the Royal Institution.
Compared to the Castle of Starlight's Training Expanse, it was a good enough space. It had architectural precision and magical engineering.
Mainly, it was a sprawling, enclosed arena surrounded by shimring silver looking walls that had Divinity scanners embedded into every part of it.
There were so parts of the walls made of stone and they bore the marks of countless battles, each scar etched into it showed that there were warriors who were trained and built here.
The central square, a vast open space, was flanked by rows of seating and magical equipnt that shone under the artificial daylight conjured by Divinity chandeliers above.
There was anticipation thick in the air and gathered inside the chamber were a few Daughters gathered, all having quiet conversations.
No one was training today. In fact people hardly ever trained in the Institution any more since the Castles were now upgraded with personal training facilities of their own.
Which was why the training room had been chosen as the best place to have the eting.
In the room, presently, were six of Eros's beautiful Daughters: Faeryn of Elysium, Phoebe of Elysium, Celestia of Dawn, Nyx of Twilight, Nyssa of Twilight, and lina of Moonlight.
Faeryn was sharpening her blade with a blade sharpening device, on her own and silent. Celestia was standing beside Phoebe, but she barely listened to a word the Elysium Princess was prattling.
Occasionally but constantly, she would turn to her left, her radiant yellow hair shifting as she glanced toward lina, who lingered near the edge of the square.
Her eyes kept drifting to the Crest of Obedience emblazoned on lina's chest, its faint glow reminding her that lina was bound to Aeric. She kept on asking herself why lina bound herself to him again.
Why did she wear the Crest? And why would Aeric entertain it?
lina, for her part, seed lost in her own thoughts, on her own, resting her back on one of the equipnt. Not particularly having soone to talk to like the rest.
However, the Twilight twins, Nyx and Nyssa, approached her. Nyx had a sly smirk, Nyssa only appeared curious.
"So," Nyx said, looking down at the Crest about lina's cleavage. "You like bonding with Aeric now, do you?"
lina turned her cool gaze to the twins, her eyebrows narrowed as she frowned. "You're both here?" she asked. "Since when did you two beco friends with Aeric?"
Nyx chuckled, a low, conspiratorial sound. "Friends? We're not particularly friends with Aeric. Though it would be wise to be on his good side after the power he just displayed."
When lina seed not to understand what she was getting at, she explained. "Aeric and I made a deal. I just dragged Nyssa along."
Nyssa sighed, rolling her eyes. "Cause we do everything together."
Ignoring her twin sister, Nyx leaned closer, her voice dropping. "You know the deal. Don't go telling your sister about this, alright? It's important she doesn't know."
lina hesitated for a mont, then nodded. "Yeah, I won't."
Before the conversation could continue, the clear chi of bells echoed through the training facility, followed by the amplified voice of an announcer, their words reverberating through the school's enchanted trumpet-like speakers.
"Attention, all Daughters and staff. By the decree of Headmistress Lysandra, a new honored title has been created; the Head Boy. This title has been bestowed upon Son Aeric of Starlight, who has achieved the highest recorded Affinity for Divinity in our history. His inauguration will take place tomorrow."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the entire school. Teachers in their classrooms, Daughters passing the halls, all paused to rectify what they just heard.
A Head Boy? The first ever?
As the girls in the training room were still trying to recover from that surprising announcent, the doors of the training room swung open, drawing everyone's gaze.
Aeric walked into the training room with confidence, his cloak flowing behind him, the sound of his boots against the stone floor echoing in the stillness.
The Daughters' eyes followed him, and Aeric could feel the gazes they had now. It was the sa type of gaze he'd been receiving from everyone ever since the Declaration.
Where once there had been disdain or indifference, now there was a mixture of fear, respect, and curiosity.
His presence amongst them was completely different, it demanded attention, and it was clear to everyone that he was no longer just another student.
Aeric reached the center of the square, his dark attire and regal deanor contrasting sharply with the color codes of the Daughters around him. He looked around at the gathered faces, and smiled.
"Welco, everyone. So, I suppose by now you already know why you're here—"
"Aeric of Starlight!"
A sharp voice cut through the room, and Aeric, with everyone else, turned their heads toward the doorway to see what it was.
Luna of Moonlight stord into the training facility, her short silver hair bouncing behind her like a banner of war. Her eyes burned with anger and determination, locking onto him as though he were her mortal enemy.
Aeric raised an eyebrow, irritated by her continuous intrusion. 'What does she want now?'
Luna stopped just a few paces away from him, her posture rigid, her fists clenched. Without a word, she summoned her Divine Weapon, a gleaming silver scythe that seed to shimr with the light of the moon. She leveled it at him, the blade catching the glow of the chandeliers above.
"For the honor of my Region," she declared, her voice ringing out for all to hear, "and the imdiate release of the Crest you have bound my sister to, I, Daughter Luna of Moonlight, challenge you to a duel!"
The room fell deathly silent.
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