All eyes were on them as Katarina and Maria entered the classroom after missing most of the lessons. The teacher approaches them as their fellow students comment on what they think the two of them were doing. Maria keeps her head low, trying to tune the gossipers out, and hopes this incident doesn't give her bullies more reasons to harass her.

"Why are you two so late?" The teacher asks, narrowing his brown eyes at Maria while the rest of the class stares at them. "My lecture is nearly over."

Maria shakes, knowing it is professor Saunders whose lesson she is late for. Out of all her teachers and professors, Maria has he is the one she likes the least. Like most noble's, professor Saunders doesn't think Maria belongs in the Magical Acadamy, but unlike most, he doesn't hide his disdain for Maria constantly picking on her to answer complex questions brating her whenever she gives the wrong answer. Maria nervously awaits for him to start lecturing her on her tardiness and give her the most harshest punishment he can think of. It won't be the first time he made her scrub the floors on her hands and knees or nearly choke herself when cleaning a mountain of easers.

"I'm sorry, sir," Katarina tells him, bowing her head.

Maria gasps as Katarina Claes, the firstborn daughter of one of the most influential families in the Kingdom, lowers her head. She never thought a noble as high ranking as Katarina would ever bow to anyone outside of the royal family. Maria lowers her head too and mutters an apology as well.

"I had a family emergency, and miss Campbell was assisting me," Katarina explains, raising her head. "I apologise. All this is my fault."

"Well, your wedding is coming up," The teacher mutters, and Maria is surprised to see what appears to be anger flash briefly in Katarina's eyes for a brief second. "I'll let it go for today, just don't make a habit of being late and find your seats."

"Yes, sir," Maria says.

"Yes, sir," Katarina replies as she heads towards her seat. Maria herself was about to walk towards, and an empty seat in the back but is stopped when Katarine grabs her wrist. "Sit next to me," Katarina orders. "Or have you already forgotten your new role?"

"No," Maria sighs, stepping in line behind Katarina. "I remember all too well."

"Good," Katarina smiles briefly. "I would hate to have to repeat myself so soon."

Katarina turns her head to the front of the class. The teacher has already begun to resume his lecture talking about the makeup of spell formulas. Still, even when Maria looks forward, she can't focus on the class. Instead, all Maria can think about is a straightforward question. "Why is she still holding onto my wrist?" Maria's answers range from being "Maybe she just forgot to let go," To "Maybe she is afraid I might try to escape." But try as she might, Maria can't figure out the answer to that question.

By the time the lesson ends, and the teacher dismisses everyone, Maria feels glad she has a friend she can borrow notes from in this class. She had no idea what the teacher was saying. Still, Maria is confident she has an answer to the question that has been plaguing her mind. "She just wants to keep me close by," Maria is sure that is why it is only now as Katarina stands up that Maria feels the noble girl release her wrist. "Close by to serve her like I am supposed to," Maria concludes as she stands and sees Katarina motion for her to follow.

"Follow me," Katarina's order is simple and straightforward.

Maria nods her head and follows the noble girl out of the door. "Do you think the commoner will be okay in Lady Claes's gasp?" Maria can hear her classmates as she walks by but comments about her isn't something new to her. Ever since she awoke her Light Magic, people have been talking about her, and her mother mostly giggles about hurtful comments behind their backs. "Who cares? It is about time the commoner learns her place."

"But Lady Claes has a reputation for…" Maria tunes them out and keeps her gaze locked on the floor, pretending like she has since she was only a little girl that the mean people who gossip hateful things about her don't exist. "Quiet, you don't want the prince to overhear you talking about that stuff," The voices try to hush each other, but they still continue. "I heard that Lady Sasaki was sent to become a nun after their parents found out."

Katarina leads Maria all the way back to the front desk. An elderly lady who Maria has found to be quite helpful over her time at the academy so far looks startled to see a noble as powerful as Katarina suddenly appear. The elderly lady quickly jumps to her feet and bows before Katarina promptly joined by the two other people behind the elderly lady. Katarina tries to tell them to relax, but Maria can see that it isn't working as all three of them still are shaking.

"Lady Claes… what can we do for you today?" The elderly lady stutters, struggling to maintain eye contact with Katarina.

"I need you to book some time off for myself and miss Campbell, please," Maria looks just as shocked as the elderly lady behind the desk hearing what Katarina is requesting,

"Of course… I will sigh you both out right away…" The elderly lady replies quickly, picking up the necessary form and then almost dropping it. "I just need the reason why you both need time off… and the amount of time you are requesting… for the record…"

"We only need the rest of the day off," Katarina tells her. "And the reason being is family matters relating to my engagement to the prince, and Miss Campbell will be assisting me."

"Right… of cause…" The Elderly lady quickly writes down what Katarina has told her before handing the form to her. "I just need you both to sign this." Both girls promptly sign their names at the bottom of the document where the elderly lady points to. "You are all set to leave… have a pleasant day…"

"Thank you," Lady Katarina replies before she leads Maria away.

"Um… where are we going?" Maria nervously asks as she realises they are heading towards the nobles part of the campus.

"To begin your training," Katarina tells her. "I decided I couldn't wait until after school, so we will begin now."