Chapter 9:

Sieg's friendships

"Nice to meet you! I'm Pax Jr." ehhh!?.

you…. WHAT?

Indeed, Pax Jr., a small, blue haired boy that is probably one of the smartest kids in the classroom, with his extensive political and mathematical knowledge is blowing away the expectations from everyone.

And…well, the day I went with Sieghart to the slums Pax approached Sariel, they spoke for a while, mainly waiting for Sieghart, as Pax actually wanted to talk with him, you know, both being outcasts and everything, that's my guess.

Due to me and Sieg actually not even minding going to the gardens and instead we went straight to the dorms.

I was exhausted so It took me a while to get up, Sariel already left, I probably had no time to get to classes, yet when I went to the tree, there they were.

"...h-hi…., Sara Jr. Whiteraven"

"i'm glad to finally speak properly to you"

Sieghart and Sariel are sitting under the tree, right now it was Pax who stood up and talked to me.

"it's a pleasure….and, well I need more context please"

"Oh sure, don't worry" He told me the rest basically.

After that encounter Pax started to be with us in his free time, he was the final stepping stone for Sieghart to properly do good in school.

Pax is smart, like, really really smart, he is learning most of the stuff at a high rate, now even knowing 3 languages, human tongue, demon tongue and sea land tongue.

"Pax…why are you so good at learning all this stuff?" Sieghart is saying this

"well, for when I have to manage my territory in the future, I will find those who do not understand human tongue on the land".

"but…if it is just that, isn't it better to hire a translator instead?" it was Sariel's words.

"But for the time to hire one, how would I know he is translating my words properly?".

"...well you got us there".

Pax has a plan, one that goes beyond just studies, and the only thing we know is that he wants to rule a land, not where, not how.

he just studies really hard to do so, and as such, he is by far the one above us in theoretical knowledge.

Now I have to acknowledge that this is halfway into our second year in the school, so we are not that quick to improve our grades, especially Sieghart.

Actually, talking about him, we once had a fencing class and by Sariel's request, she would go against Pax while I would go against Sieghart in a duel.

"go easy on me will you?" I'm not confident enough to believe I can actually win against Sieghart.

"no promises" he is just smiling, what's so funny?.

We get into our positions, around 5 feet apart from each other, our swords mere centimeters from touching.

And we start, he makes a quick touch to the tip of my sword, creating an opening, stepping ahead and closing the distance, throwing a low kick, in response I raise the leg he targets, and I make a quick jab as he tries to stab me.

I hit him in the face, stopping his advance, with my sword out of the way to protect me. I step back going into the defensive, I train my water god style from time to time, so I should be able to find more openings.

But this guy…, each opening is changing places, and the only way I can use clear openings is up close, where he is the most dangerous.

fuck this, let's go with my best

He attacks again, a more open swing, predictable enough for me to deflect his sword, and make a side kick with enough force to push him back around 10 feets, he almost falls, anyways, I then start running towards him and I throw my sword at him.

He parries it as I make a jump using his own sword, grab my own sword in the air and I send a tornado kick towards him.

parry this you filthy swordsman!

Yet, he grabs my feet with his free hand and throws me to the ground. It hurts, but I get on my feet quickly, and as I do that I send another spinning kick towards him, and he counters with his own kick, stopping us both in the clash of attacks.

And this guy just keeps smiling, what's so funny?.

"tch…."

"What's happening little ruby?".

"Don't call me that!" He's pissing me off.

I swing my sword toward him, fast but powerful, and he blocks, maybe way too powerful, both swords are stuck with each other's blade.

That means he has a side unprotected, with my rear leg I kick again, a low roundhouse, he tries to block with his other arm, my kick quickly changes into a head kick.

"You fool!" The kick hits with the whole strength of a hammer, as my kick sends him straight into the ground, said ground now has a small crater from the sheer impact.

And Sieghart is on the ground.

"Ah ... .ah…" god damn if this was a tough fight…and so short yet…

"Y-you ... .win…." Sieghart is trying to get up, one side of his face has my boot marked on it.

"Well yeah…pay attention next time…."he is still smiling, what now?.

"I will..I will, but….ouch, my head is a bit fuzzy…."

"Well you get what you deserve for being so strong…"

"Oh come on Sara… it was fun right?"

"..Well it was…yes…, i'm proud of myself though" I let out a little smile, of course i'm proud, after this i'm probably the strongest in the school if we ignore Sieghart.

"Don't get over your head that easily, I can still win the rematch" he just smiles, so I smile back, being fair, I'm not that mad being that half of his face is red now.

"Keep dreaming pretty boy, just make sure you have you guard high next time"

and he is laughing now, I punch him trying to stop him.

"ouch, what now Sara?" is not stopping him.

"You are making fun of me, aren't you?" I pout, I'm mad again, but he is just still smiling.

"no i'm not"

"liar!" I grab him by the neck and I try to throw him to the ground.

He defends himself and now we are wrestling on the ground.

this guy…still smiling, what the hell!?

Sariel

I'm regarded as one of the most beautiful girls in the kingdom, usually I'm compared to my mother, and it is a burden, I love her, and I love my position in the Royal family, but sometimes certain things are too much for me to handle.

Sieghart is one of them, he is Strong, a bit dorky yet from good nature, the son of the most powerful human alive, Rudeus Greyrat, the student of Aleksander Ryback and Bodhi, he is smart to a degree.

He is far beyond of what I can achieve, yet I had the task of becoming his wife, to make him fall in love with me and have a lasting relationship with him, and because we both have entirely different ways of going through life, our interests are being vastly different and as such, is just a handful of conversation that lets us talk properly.

Yet, somehow he goes along with Sara, someone whose background is incoherent to her way of being and things she likes, she is my friend, my best friend, but seeing her go along so well with Sieghart scares me.

Sieghart has feelings towards Sara, even if he doesn't know, this..wouldn't be much of a problem, I were able to make him feel the same for me, I wouldn't even mind if he wanted to have us both, as Sara is a really good friend, yet i'm the odd one out, and i'm afraid I would end up alone.

Luckily slowly I managed to find actual topics from where we could have back and forth conversations, but nothing to the level of sintony of Sara with him.

"..Sariel?... Are you hearing me?" I'm pulled away from my thoughts by Sieghart.

"Hum…wa?...yes, yes…." I nod by instinct, letting my mind go back to the current situation.

Sara is at the library, as Pax is helping her with her homework, it seems she forgot to do it.

"Well…back to what I was saying… What are your plans after you graduate?".

"My..plans?...hum…being honest I have none" besides marrying you….

"I'm…kind of surprised the royal princess doesn't have any plans for the future then…"

"Don't say it like that ... .I still have one year to make up my mind..after all Edward is the most capable of becoming the King of Asura…so I don't have real responsibilities."

"So I guess we are on the same page."

We both let out a sigh, the whole topic of what to do after graduation is awkward, and I'm doing my best to achieve my goal, but what after that?, what if I fail?, am I supposed to be something else than the pretty princess?, I don't like being just that, but..

"Maybe buy a house and take care of a small village?, that can work for both of us…"

"You are a princess, why would.."

"Because I'm not that important, I may have status and a pretty face but that's it, so my mother won't actually..give me any important role."

"...then she just doesn't see what you're actually worth…you are not just a pretty face…."

"...Sieg…" maybe his way of encouraging me

"..I'm serious, you are clever…, and you have proved it time and time again…you'll have it easier than I in having a path towards the future"

"I ... .really doubt it…but..hearing your words does bring a bit of peace to my mind…"

"I'm glad to be of help princess" he says while smiling.

"And i'm happy to have you helping me out Sieghart".

He nodded slightly, this is an advance, even with the odds against me, I still want to succeed, maybe that way I can find myself

Writer's notes: fuking love Sariel, also i'm happy how the fight ended up writen, next chapter is about a new character, hope you like it.