Chapter 38

The whole ride to the academy was the most anxiety-ridden and stress-inducing ride ever. The princess who realised she wouldn't get a reply looked forlorn, Alastair looked uncomfortable and kept glancing at Alexis for help, and Alexis was staring out the window wearing her emotions on her sleeve.

Confusion. Worry. And something else, something painful. Like needles stabbing her chest.

Not knowing the feeling she just shook it off. Pondering if maybe she should get her heart checked for any irregularities.

'Hector might have some experience in the field...'

"Your majesty, we have arrived at the Royal Constantine Magic Academy" a knight spoke as he knocked on the door, again the voice wasn't shaking nervously or swallowing spit. Due to her excitement Alexis didn't pay attention.

She rushed to open the door, but in her haste Alastair stopped her by grasping her arm. She sent him an inquisitive glance which he just smirked at.

"Did you forget that you were too short to get up on the carriage?" He spoke, a laugh bubbling in his throat as Alexis' face burned with shame.

Getting in the carriage had been hard for her. She had to climb over while Alastair and the princess had condescendingly laughed at her.

'Why am I so short!'

Alastair opened the door and stepped out with ease and then held out his arms to Alexis who stare at his warm arms with wonder.

"Jump", and Alexis, for a reason she couldn't explain, jumped. Alastair swiftly caught her and as if time had been stopped, he stared at her sheepish face with a smirk.

"Thanks Alastair, but, can you put me down?" She glanced down at the gap between her feet and the ground, complying, Alastair placed her down.

Princess Felicia was just a bite away from chewing off her lip as she stared at the scene, she secretly cursed her height for a second as she stepped down elegantly.

A crowd of student surrounded them and behind them loomed a large black building, completely black except for its crystal windows. It was the academy.

Alexis looked at the crowd that stared at them and leaned to Alastair.

"Smile and wave, this is your chance. The young are impressionable", she did the same, the cape gave away her identity and she noticed this by how a student gasped as she passed by, shouting.

"The fairy, it's the fairy!"

She felt an embarrassed blush on her face.

'This is embarrassing...'

Alastair followed her lead, throwing a polite smile on as well. The students gasped at him. Nobody could really blame them.

Then she felt something that made her stiffen, Alastair hands brushed against her, reaching for her finger tips.

They were shaking.

Alexis realised he needed support and grasped his hand softly, enough to comfort and not be noticed by the public. His fingers interlocked with hers.

A shiver ran down her spine as the act came off as so intimate to her, but somehow she enjoyed it and tightened her grip. He tightened his as well for a mere second and then released it.

Soon they came to the door of the large building, where a long haired man stood, Alexis expected a rip off version of Dumbledoor, but the man was young and handsome. He wore a great quality tuxedo as well as a movie star smile.

'Imagine having a teacher that good looking... how would you get any work done?'

"Your highness", he politely spoke, he gently bent his head.

"Bentley. You seem to be keeping this place in top shape", Alastair complimented.

'Bentley? Of all names...' Alexis internally snorted.

"Of course, your highness. Please allow me to give you a tour of the place. I've been awaiting your visit since your coronation", he smiled, then noticing the princess and Alexis, "Princess Felicia of Arkala, I'm honoured to receive you".

"No, it's my pleasure", replied Felicia, elegantly holding her head up high.

"And you must be the infamous Royal Mage", he spoke to Alexis informally. As if he was disgusted by her being, "if it weren't for your washed down blood you would make a fine Mage".

Alexis was stunned at his rude behaviour.

"What do you mean washed down?" Alexis asked, her temper barely kept at bay.

"Do I need to say? A slave has no right to stand beside such royal blood", his words somehow affected Alexis, even though she wasn't really a slave.

"I'm not"- she started but a booming voice cut her off.

"How dare you disrespect my Mage". Alastair's voice was so cold Alexis' heart stopped beating, his eyes looked murderous as they glared at Bentley. He, in turn, was trembling like a leaf in the wind.

He seemed to quickly regret his words.

"Y-your majesty! Forgive me!"

"Apologise".

"I-I'm Sorry!" He shouted at Alastair in despair.

"To my Mage".

A look of shock passed Bentleys face, "b-but she's a"- he realised Alastair's face became even more thunderous and rushed to Alexis.

"I'm sorry, Miss Royal Mage! Please forgive me!"

Alexis, who seemed to just get caught up in the mess she was in quickly, nodded.

"I-It's okay. I forgive you", she awkwardly said, wishing for the situation to disperse already.

"Give us another guide. I don't want to see your face any longer Bentley". Alastair demanded and poor, trembling Bentley left and appointed them a guide. Who seemed just as shaky and nervous as anyone who came into contact with Alastair.

The magic Academy was basically a university campus. It was huge, and confusing. They took one turn and there would be tens of rooms on a single floor.

"The first floor consists of general studies, these vary from languages, maths, physics, the study of other creatures, complex sciences and philosophy", Alexis felt a groan travel up her throat at the sound of what was akin to hell.

She spotted a head a bright neon hair in one of the classrooms and turned at the oddly familiar sight.

'Ah... who was he again?' The man also noticed her with a look of surprise and then approached her with a smile.

"Miss Alexis, it's been a while", he held out his hand which Alexis took while trying to remember his name.

"It's been so long!" She exclaimed hoping she could figure out who he was. She searched him for a name tag, but nothing was on his gray shirt.

"I have to thank you, thanks to you I managed to get a job at the academy. Thank you so much!" She smiled back sheepishly and recalled him as she realised his strange behaviour.

'Oh yeah, He was that rude guy, his personality aged like fine wine though'.

"Oh, there's no need to thank me. Thanks to your help I could get my work done." She said, and noticed how he didn't react to her words and just stared behind her as his face drained of blood.

Behind her, Alastair glared sharply at the man who talked at such a close distance to Alexis.