A/N:...Welcome back. I don't have much else to say so I'm just going to respond and let you guys enjoy the chapter.

phillyitalian: Yes, Est will be here.

GoldStar77: Thank you. Yeah, a lot of ecchi scenes and disapproving Granny. And I'm fairly sure they're just unannounced POV changes, I hope.

drake202: Yup, poor Ethan. You'll soon find out how it goes.

That's it. I hope you guys enjoy the chapter.

"Let me go!"

"No."

"I'll scream." The young blonde says, whip around his neck as he stares at the passionate redhead currently dragging him through the courtyard of a beautiful place barely resembling any school he's seen, even some of the private schools he's seen can't compare. "And if that doesn't work I'll make it sound like an animal."

"I'll just tighten my whip's hold on you." She threatened as she continued 'guiding' Ethan through the Academy. "You should be honored to be my spirit, after all I am one of few in this world who can contract with spirits."

"Say that to my face, why don't ya." Ethan grumbles as Claire stops dragging him and does so, leaning forward with hands on her hips.

"You are my contracted spirit." She says as she leans forward and Ethan gains a mischievous smile. "So, you have to-mm!?"

Taking a page off of Buggs' book, Ethan grabs Claire by both cheeks one thumb idly rubbing her cheek as he smiles. "Then I hope you don't mind." He says as he leans forward.

Of course, he wasn't cruel enough to take a girl's first kiss by force, but he really, really, wanted to see her fluster up.

"Mmph!" So instead of kissing her on the lips, Ethan plants a kiss on her cheek, half of his lips on the edge of hers and the rest on her cheek.

Mwah!

He pulls back as Claire is frozen, her red eyes bereft of any thought as I lick my lips. Slowly, her face became the same color as her hair and eyes as Ethan removed the whip around his neck. It was almost like a volcano he made when he was younger, so before she realized what was happening, Ethan had to go.

By the time Claire finally came back to, steam practically spewing from her ears, "Wh-you, where?" She stutters as she looks around, glancing at her hands and the whip not connected to a blonde young man. "Ah, you escaped, you traitor! Pervert!"

She ran off, trying to look for Ethan. If she decided to stay there-

"Arghhh!" A masculine voice rings out in the bushes, and if anyone could hear through his eyes, they'd hear an uproarious laughter, "Granny!"

"Don't you 'Granny' me!" The old woman practically growls, holding the young man by his ears and tugging him around. "You think you can defile a young girl like that and think you'll get away!"

"Gutsy, doc." Buggs said, as if he hasn't done the same multiple times with various people. "Truly."

"Don't think you're free you rabbit." Granny whirled to Buggs, stopping the rabbit mid-bite out of his carrot. "It's your influence that did this."

While, Granny whaled on Buggs, Ethan cradles his ear as he groaned. "Damn it."

Still, her lips were pretty soft and so was her cheek. Ethan wouldn't mind doing the same.

Ethan quickly shook his head and turned as Granny whirled to him, Buggs in her grasp and his pupils blank. "Well, gotta go meet Greyworth."

Picking up his pack, he begins his trek to the location.

I'm lost. Already, not a very good thing to be, but I'm lost in a school, I look homeless, which I technically am, and I'm getting strange looks from the girls. I look back at the letter Greyworth gave me and frown. "I wish she gave me directions."

It's not like I'm going to go around asking strangers question. I don't even know anyone and half of these girls, half I have to emphasize, are giving me strange looks.

The others are looking at me in pity.

Some are just looking at me as if wishing I shriveled up and died.

In the end, I ignored them and listened to my intuition to look for a very large door.

Or read the plaques and look for something that resembles the word 'Headmistress'.

How different that is from 'Principal' is a mystery to me and will continue to be so for the ages.

I pass through the pristine marble, my ratty sneakers making no noise against the marble in comparison to the students who passed me by, their shoes or boots clicking against the floor audibly. The only real sound I made was the rustling of my backpack and what's inside as I brighten up.

The plaque reading 'Headmistress' Office' shines under the light as I go to open but stop as I hear voices inside.

"Unacceptable!" A rough but clearly feminine voice speaks as I blink at it. "Headmistress, I can't agree with this."

I lean forward, making sure I don't make too much noise as I try to listen in. "Why should we welcome the likes of a man to this sacred academy of princess maidens?"

Damn. Seems like a disagreement.

Clearly, not my problem.

The Toons also follow my example and listen in too.

"Because I said that we need him here." Greyworth responds and I can't help but frown at that. Why does she need me here? "Isn't that reason enough for you?"

The way she spoke was strong, it brokered no allowance for confusion nor did it allow anything else but an understanding of what was being said. It was a type of voice he's used to, of someone who conceals their intentions and decides to reveal only the barest of their intentions and nothing else.

Even the girl seems surprised, "Are you suggesting that we lack the strength?"

Turning, I can't help but double take, nearly sputtering as I see Daffy wearing armor and Buggs wearing a cape usually worn by the king, a crown over his head as he spoke and Daffy seemed a few seconds away from bringing out his sword.

He unsheathes his sword, revealing a balloon sword as Buggs seems outraged, the...Queen? King? With Buggs, who knows but Sam is wearing a dress and he's passed out. How that happened is a miracle but before I could think any further, Sylvester jumped from above, Tweety in his hands and wearing a mask.

I can't hear the dialogue but then before I can actually enjoy the show, I hear silence in the office.

Oh no.

I move back, stumbling as someone kicks the door from the inside. She was beautiful, with blue hair tied into a ponytail, her eyes narrowed with dignified features, a silver breastplate over her uniform and a sword tied to her hip while her slim leg was extended outwards in a kick. All of this gave the girl the image of a valiant knight.

Yes, even the black underwear visible from under her plated skirt and that I definitely didn't see. No sirree not at all, so granny, please stop glaring at me.

"You-!" She starts as I'm kicked before I can react, landing on my rear as she points her blade against my cheek, her brown eyes bearing down on me almost as sharply as her sword.

Straddling me, her eyes seem to widen, "Y-You're a man!?"

I can't help but groan as I pinch the blade and move it. "Don't point this at people, it's dangerous."

She blinks at me before Greyworth spoke up, amusement in her voice. "You're quite behind schedule, Ethan."

"Don't wear it off," I say as I sit up, the girl on top of me yelping as she's shifted from my stomach to my lap to her surprise, "it's the only one I have."

"So it seems." Greyworth says as she smiles, looking me over, "Barely a few minutes here and already the purity of two maidens are in danger. How despicable."

I can't help the way my brow twitches as my initial thoughts are proven correct. She's dangerous. "Whatever." I leave it, sighing as I turn to the girl on my lap. "As much as I enjoy this, please get off of me."

Her brown eyes blink in shock as she realizes the position she's in and practically jumps off me. "Th-Then, you're-."

"Yeah, I'm the guy who's going to be a student here." I interrupt as I get up, patting myself down. "Good to meetcha."

She blinks at that as she glares at me with a blush on her face. "You-."

"What?" I ask as she doesn't seem to like that as she glares at me. "You mad about the thigh comment or-."

"You indecent-I'll turn you into marinated salmon!" She yells as my eyes widen as I realize I must have gone a bit too far.

Stepping back, I see some forelocks fall from my hair as I realize she's willing to kill me. From the way she's glaring to the way she steps, she's not looking to kill me with a second stroke.

She thrusts and I swerve and she swipes after it, nearly cutting my stomach as I muffle a yelp and let my bag drop. Already feeling lighter, "Hey, calm dow-!"

Before I could answer, she slashes at me with a glare. "Shut up!"

I feel a warm liquid fall down my face as I palm it, a red liquid on my hand as I look at it in shock.

My blood.

She wants to kill me.

She tries again and all bets are off as she goes at me and I prepare to counter-attack.

"Sheath your blade, Ellis." Greyworth said as she looks at me and I glare back. The girl, Ellis it seems her name is, stumbles and whirls around. She didn't notice my hand going for the frying pan nor the fact that I was willing and ready to use one of the Toons to finish it quick. "Any personal struggle in the Academy is prohibited."

Despite her words being directed at Ellis, I could tell they were pointed at me. I had half a mind to leave just to not deal with all of this.

"H-Headmistress, I-I'm just-." Ellis stutters as Greyworth directs her gaze at her once more.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" She asks before adding, "Ellis Fahrengart?"

Sounds like a complicated name with all the pressure that comes with hearing your parents say your full name as Ellis gulps. "No, um, I apologize."

She glared at me while sheathing her sword and I narrowed my own eyes at her, scoffing as I turn to Greyworth. "So, you are at that age?" She says in amusement as I can't help the twitch of my brow. "I thought most people forego being mean to those you're attracted to when you're younger. Still, since this is Ellis with such a delicate body under her armor and such great expressions-."

"Headmistress!?" Ellis yelped as I made no effort to look her over, and I had to agree, Ellis was very attractive, physically anyway. I'm not sure about her personality since she did try to kill me when we first met, and such things are hard to look past.

"Where are you looking!?" Ellis demands, glaring at me with a flushed expression as I roll my eyes and return to Greyworth. "Hey!" She calls.

I had to agree with Greyworth, she does have nice expressions, but, once again, I hold my life fairly dearly and having someone try to take it for a fairly harmless comment isn't a very good expression. "My bad." I wave away as she doesn't let up her glare on me.

"If you weren't the Headmistress' guest, I'd have turned you into Pot-au-feu already!" She threatens while glaring and I raise a brow at that weirdly specific threats.

"Scary." I mutter, looking at her as I can't help the uptick of my lips. "It'd be scarier if I knew what Pot-au-feu is, but there was an effort."

Before she could retort, Greyworth sighed. "Ellis, you can go now. It's unpleasant to have people flirt in front of my eyes." She says and though my own face heated up slightly, I couldn't help but turn to Greyworth.

"What?" She yelps as she gives me a suspicious look. "I-I can't leave you alone in the same room with...this man." I have a name, than you very much, "If he impudently lusts towards the headmistress…"

"You'd think she'd have gotten a whiff of me when she was on top of me." I mutter as I grab my shirt and sniff at it.

Around me, the Toons, all wearing gas masks, nod in agreement.

The other two must have listened as they actually took a good look at me. "…Ellis," she spoke slowly, "do I take such statement as a display of your competence and observational skills," which would make Ellis seem incompetent for missing how I look and rude for insinuating that Greyworth would willingly let me score when I look like a bum, "or as an insult?"

Ellis freezes up. "Errr," She trails off, unwilling to look the headmistress in the eye as sweat trails down her face as she realizes how insulting that sounded, "I-I mean…"

I turn to see a vase and frown as I look away and slide closer, slowly hooking my heel on a leg and pulling, causing the small table to swing precariously as the vase slowly falls off as I move away beside the door, the sound of shattered porcelain interrupting the two as I hum. "That seems dangerous." I note as I open the door, pointedly looking at Ellis as I add, "Someone should get that cleaned up."

She seems to realize what I'm doing as she pipes up after a few moment of a complicated expression, "I'll go."

She beats a hasty retreat as I close the door, leaving me with Greyworth as she looks me over. "...You do know that vase, if put up for auction, would have been priceless?"

"Good thing too." I say, "No price means nothing to pay."

Sure, the language here is similar enough to my old world where I could understand the locals and the locals me, but I'm a commoner in their eyes, even if Greyworth seems to be able to see through me. Some words and their insinuation go over their heads since the commoners aren't as well-learned.

Also, I have no hope of generally paying it back. So why worry?

She seems to find it amusing. "Truly." She notes while leaning back, "How fortunate."

"Speaking of fortune." I interrupt as I walk forward, placing my hands on her desk. "I'm here. They're here." I say as the Toons materialize behind me. "So tell me more about this 'Blade Dance'."

"Can't." She quickly says, leaning forward as she languidly moves within her seat. "You're not a student."

I had to stop my outburst because of a few reason. I need a moment to think and this will probably the only one she'll give me as I organize my thoughts. Thankfully, the Toons had my back and were writing what was known and coming up with relevant information within a dust cloud.

Finally, they finish, Porky's hands on his knees as he wipes sweat away and I look at the information we've gathered.

For one, she put an emphasis on me being a student. A student in a school she was the headmistress of, a school where there were only females. Whether she can do it or not is another matter, but a few things can be inferred from it.

If there is a school of students wearing white uniforms instead of something darker or more common, then that means this isn't a secret. Not to mention the existence of the 'Blade Dance' means this is in official capacity so there has to be an organization that registers Elementalists. But unlike a school, they might be rougher with me, not to mention the fact that I'm a male, so I might be used for things other than fighting.

I could use that, but admittedly, between being in a private organization against a public, I'd choose private in a heartbeat. I don't have a good track record with public organizations.

Now, next thing, what the Blade Dance entails, clearly, considering many of the girls here look like nobles, it's an important event. Extremely so.

Now…

That's all.

I have everything to lose and everything to gain from accepting being a student here. Maybe if I had time I'd have been able to think something up…

I look at Greyworth as she seems amused at my silence, like she knows I'm trying to organize my thoughts but that it's futile.

It pisses me off, but I get the feeling she's used to getting her way, not because she's spoiled, but because she only makes offers like these when she knows she'll come out better for it in the end. And if it doesn't, she probably has the means to change the other person's mind.

Finally, I sigh. "Student…" I trail off as I look at the door, "Is the miss over there a student too?"

"She is the daughter of the ducal House of Fahrengart. An excellent knight but somewhat stubborn."

"Somewhat?" I grumble at the memory of her misspeaking with Greyworth, "What's the armor for?" I ask, I wanna get some myself after all.

"She's the leader of the Sylphid Knights," she says, smiling as she leans forward, probably spotting my resignation for what it was, "a party which manages any disturbances to the order of the Academy."

So, the police basically? Yeah, checks out that I'd get into an argument with a police then have to bail them out in one meeting. My mind returns to a red-headed firecracker as I seem to develop a new habit. Brow twitching, "They're doing a shoddy job."

She chuckles at that, "I'll keep that in mind. By the way," she starts looking me over, "you look shoddier than you did when we last met. Did you get attacked by a Forest Spirit?"

"Something tried to get me. Then a tomboyish Hell Cat wanted a bite of me, bit off more than it could chew, and got away before it could try again." I say as I look at my hand, the mark on the back of it pulsing for a second as I show it to her. "At least I got this for my trouble."

"…" She pauses, as if genuinely surprised, "How did that happen?"

"Hell if I know." I shrug, cringing as I forgot about the single thing that might have been able to turn the tides in my favor. "I was stabbed, said some words in a foreign language and here we are."

Though, I probably shouldn't mention the...'connection' is probably a good word, isn't very good, probably because I messed up the chant a bunch.

"Impressive." She notes, her eyes on mine as she continues, "So, have you made your decision?"

Slowly, I bite my lip while leaning forward. I'm not even stuck between a rock and a hard place, I'm stuck between a cliff and a hard place. I can either try to fight it or jump for a chance to come out better than I entered.

...Guess, I'll leave it up to fate.

"Can you even do that?" I ask, as she seems smugly satisfied. "There's nothing but girls here, there's no facilities for men at all."

"Don't worry." She says as she reaches for a file and brings out a set of papers as she sets them down on the table and pushes them to me as I grab them and read through them. "That won't be a problem."

Agreement Terms, and buried under all the paper are details of my background as I read through them. "...Yeah, I have no idea where any of this is."

"You can change a few things, if you'd like." She says as she continues, "But for all intents and purposes, an orphan with a penchant for fighting is the best cover you have. Multiple scraps happen in different cities and towns and not all of them are recorded, so this should be a good enough background. Not to mention your lack of last names." She adds and I nod along. "I suggest you find one, come to me when you do."

"Right." I say as I continue looking through it, coming to a certain area. "Ordesia Empire." I mutter as I read through it thoroughly.

So, as it turns out, I do have to register and I get perks for doing so, but it's then I realized something.

Lowering the papers, I glance at the witch as I realize I had no chance of getting out of this without becoming a student.

There's an entire section of what'd happen to those who don't, and as much as I rail on the police, they do their jobs on occasion. And if the Knights are anything like Ellis…

Yeah, I don't think I could have done much.

I don't know how to use the Spirit in my hand or my Toon friends, I can fight but not that well.

But what's more important is that she knows.

Escape or no, the secret would be out. I'd be a wanted man for multiple reasons.

…

I can't even be satisfied by how it happened. This isn't a loss or even a graceful win for her.

It's a foregone conclusion. I have three choices. Die, spend my life in captivity while being experimented or being used as a tool to make more Elementalists, or I could spend my time in captivity under a woman who doesn't seem like the type to do so.

Heavily, I sigh, praying as I continue, "And the female population? Or the family of the female population?"

I see her eyes twinkle in delight and amusement. "You're the only man I've seen who seems dissatisfied being the only man in an institution of literal princesses. It's like a marvelous luxury harem."

She better be joking, I swear to God.

"If you like," she adds to my ever mounting shame and interest, "you may take one student from the academy and do whatever you like to her. For example, Ellis Fahrengart from earlier." She looks around and leans forward, a perverted smile on her face better suiting an old man rather than a woman but considering what Foghorn said… "She's seriously stubborn, but she's also the type to be really obedient if well-trained." I'm gonna go to hell. "I am sure she will respond to whatever perverted radical play you have in mind."

I had nothing to say to that. "...She'd kill me before I could do anything."

"Is that what you think?" She says before shrugging. "Your loss. Though it's not like I have the power to do that, mind you."

"Then why suggest it in the first place?" I ask, exhausted as she smiles.

"What the students do outside of class is none of my business." She says as she hums. "Who knows, some of those family members might want that."

"Moving on." I quickly interrupted to her amusement as I tried to clear my mind.

Returning, I continue, "Blade Dance, why do you want me in it?" I ask. "And don't say it's because I'm a male. The Blade Dance seems really important if princesses are getting involved and you need to use your authority to get me in here."

She frowns, showing some semblance of seriousness as she looks out the window. "...Admittedly, you weren't my first choice in all of this. I had someone...more appropriate in mind." Turning to me, she continues, "But, he passed away. You're my only choice now. At the moment, compared to him, you're in a slightly better position than he was physically. Unlike him, you'll need to learn everything from square one."

She stands up, pacing towards the window as she looks outside. "Two months." She says as I gape at her. "That's when the next Blade Dance will take place in the Astral Zero. The country of the winner will be blessed by the Five Elemental Lords and assure prosperity for the country. And with it, a single wish."

Turning, she looks at me as I take in all this information, "...Anything?"

"Anything." She confirms. "From the finest women to the highest of status, anything can be attained through this wish."

"What about a path to an entirely different world." I ask, surprising her as I continue, "Not just the Astral Zero or anything like that, but entirely different."

She doesn't answer, she didn't need to. I'm not even sure it's possible myself, but…

"In two months," she continues, "you need to learn, train and improve so that you can beat not only all the teams," she starts before looking at me, "but the strongest Blade Dancer, Ren Ashbell."

Before I could say anything, she interrupts, "The name means nothing to you, and maybe it never will, that doesn't change what I want you to do."

What you're blackmailing me to do.

I'm not even the best choice for all of this. I'm the reserve! Damn whoever died to force me in this place!

Sighing, I look at the dotted line. The line that will practically damn me for life or until I get out of this place.

…

Lord have mercy on my soul-

"So, do I use blood or…"

-because this Witch sure as hell won't.

Thankfully for my future classmates, the first thing Greyworth did upon me joining her school-

"Go out, take a right and follow the signs, you smell and you need to clean up."

-was make me take a bath.

The Toons played around in the large area as I sighed, cleaning my hair as I frowned. "What's wrong?" I hear a voice behind me as I see Granny walk up, still clothed thankfully as she takes over washing my hair for me.

"Nothing, it's just…" I start, reeling as Granny drops some water on my head and washing away the bubbles, "Is this the right choice?"

"I wouldn't know." Granny says as she begins looking at his hair, "But long hair doesn't suit you. You should get a haircut."

"I don't think there are any barbers that specialize in male hair in the vicinity, Granny." I note as she just chuckles.

"Nonsense, I can do it right here with these." She says as she snips the pair of scissors in her hand."

"Then, I'll leave you to it." I say as I close my eyes and continue. "What do you mean you don't know if it's the right choice."

"Oh sonny," she says, "what is a right choice for you might not be the same for us. You want to go home but for us, we want you to be happy. If that means returning to a world where we won't be able to manifest then so be it."

Oh, right. They can't do...this in my old world. "...I forgot about that." I admit, shame bubbling up as Granny laughs.

"That's simply how it is." She says as she continues cutting away. "Time passes, things are forgotten, but the memories will always be there. The experiences."

"She's right Doc." Buggs says as I'm unable to open my eyes. "We're just a bunch of beings looking to make sure you're gonna live a good life."

"I'd rather be at home watching TV." Daffy grumbles before adding. "But being around you is a good enough substitute."

"Jackass." I grumble as the Toons laugh.

"Good, bad," Granny starts, "just live your best life. We're just here for the ride."

The two of us fall into silence as more snips ring out until Granny stops. "Done." She says with a nod as I open my eyes.

I can actually see, I can feel the wind on my scalp, a strange thing, not to mention, "Yeah, I look better like this." I mutter as I look at a mirror conjured up by Buggs."

"A real charmer Doc, we'll have to be careful or you'll have to start beating them off with a stick." Buggs says as I laugh.

"If you say so. Now, I want to get in the bath. It's been a while since I've been in one." I say as I excitedly enter it.

I spent the longest time in the bath and it was the best I've felt in a while.

They washed my stuff. I have no idea how they did it, but my old shirt no longer smelled like trash and dirt and smelled normally. Thankfully, they also gave me a new change of clothes. So, as I walked towards the Headmistress' office, I got some attention from the girls.

I lied, it's a lot, it's actually pretty worrying how much attention they're paying to me. It's like they can't keep their eyes off of me. I wave at someone with a smile and they seem to pass out, to my shock, as I have to stop myself from checking on them lest all this chaos get to me.

Stopping by a window, I look at myself at the reflection, frowning at the clothes. I had a black shirt under the jacket, foregoing the tie and button-up as I felt like it was way too much white. Not to mention my short blonde hair compared to the mane I had. I looked like an actual human, not some beast with the form of a human.

After giving myself a cursory glance, I nod. "This is fine." I mutter before continuing on my way to the Headmistress' Office.

Finding myself in front of the doors, slowly, I take a deep breath and place a hand on the door and push it open. "Excuse me."

Turning, Greyworth's eyes rise as she hums, "Hmmm, yes, this will work. I don't think I'll even need to use my influence to find you a partner."

My brow twitches at that, "...You know what, fuck you too ma'am." I say letting it go as she seems surprised before laughing.

"Hehehe, yeah, that's a common response." She says before continuing. "So, are you ready to sign your life away?"

"Lord knows I ain't." I answer as I grab the pen she gave me as I wrote down my signature. "But it's either something that might work or something that ain't. Whatever happens, happens."

Ethan

"You are officially a student of Areisha Spirit Academy. Please do come up with a last name as soon as possible, the paperwork will be more complicated if you don't." Greyworth says after I sign my life away.

Is this what it feels like to join the army?

Granted, the army isn't a bunch of fellow hormonal teenagers with powers, so...yeah.

I hope this goes well.