A storm

A DAY AND a half have passed since Hades and the others left the Novak Grand Duchy for the capital. By the enormous north gate of the tall and thick walls, that surrounded the Grimes Empire's capital, stood four watch guards. Two of the four inspected the carriages walking pass the gate, and the other two were currently talking among themselves.

"Have you heard?" The man, Jun, asked as he glanced to his co-worker.

"What? About that rumor going around lately? That one about the Bandits of Zeus?" The other, Deus, raised a brow and asked. And Jun nodded back at him with a grin plastered in his face. "Yes, yes. That."

"You seriously believed that?" Deus asked again, and the man shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, they haven't been causing any trouble for the past twenty-four hours. In fact, no one has sighted them, said the nobles coming to the capital yesterday. If that weren't the case, then at least one of them have seen the bandits." Jun blabbed, and Deus simply sighed.

"Maybe they're keeping low? Who knows what bandits are thinking?" He says again.

"Oh, that rumor is true." The two men flinched at the voice that butted in to the conversation. They both turned to that smiling young man who was in his late 20s. For some reason they were relieved and casually saluted at that young man in respect.

"Commander Phieleghard, welcome back." They both greeted the famous young commander of the squad knights that were tasked to guard and protect the princess of Novak Grand Duchy. Yes, it's Leo.

"What do you mean by that rumor is true? I've heard that even the Calvery Knights have trouble dealing with them. How would they possibly be wiped out in a single day?" Deus asked, completely doubtful.

Leo let out a loud laugh and beamed a cocky smile. "It didn't even last a day to wipe them out, not even an hour! Hah! It even only took one man to do that!" He bragged, and leaned closer to whisper at them.

"I was there, and I saw that man myself. His eyes were glowing deep green, they were filled with contempt staring down the bandits' corpses."

The men stared at the grinning Leo, completely doubting his story. Even Jun, who almost believed that rumor, has become skeptical. They don't know that Leo if is telling the truth, well, he is, but one third of what he said is a complete lie. That said green eyed man, Hades, did not look down on the corpse with contempt. He was completely expressionless the whole killing spree.

"He looks like he's having fun." Hades stated, staring at Leo from a distance. He insisted on walking this morning until they arrived by the north gate for a light exercise. And because he was wearing plain travel clothes and holding his personal bag, he was mistaken as a commoner and is now being inspected as well.

"Commander Phieleghard is a friendly knight that's known all around the Capital." The knight who is currently inspecting his bag mentioned with a small smile, which soon faded as he saw something in Hades' bag. "What is this?" Hades glanced back at the man and saw him holding a bottle of medicine pills. It was his medicine.

"Oh, please don't misunderstand, it's a medicine." Hades mentioned and takes it from the man's hand with a swift mood. He opens it and takes out one pill, then tossed it inside his mouth. He takes back his bag the next second to take out the bottle of water, then drank it to swallow the medicine. "Do I have a pass?" Hades asked, and the man sighs in surrender at the young man.

"Are you going to take the entrance examination for the academy?" After observing the peculiar white haired young man, he had a rough guess of why he was here. Most of the nobles and commoners were gathering here in the Capital because of the examination that will be happening five days from now. Hades nodded back at him in response.

"Hmmm, then good luck. I heard it'll get harder this year because the youngest Imperial Prince and Princess have come to age as well." The man mentioned making Hades pause for a second. Somehow, a burning emotion lit up inside of him. He was feeling excited that his smile reached his eyes.

"Really? If I'm lucky, I might catch a glimpse of them when I pass the entrance exam! They must be really skilled for the school to increase the test's difficulty, are they?" He asked, and the man nodded proudly.

"Why, of course! They are the youngest Imperial Prince and Princess! It's expected that they will be talented students at the academy. After all, the Imperial Grimes Family are a family of the noble and talented!" Hades laughed at the man in amusement. 'A family of the noble?' He thought to himself.

He felt rather unpleasant.

"Hades!" Pearl called the younger, she was just entering the carriage. Hades turned to her, and saw her waving a hand in goodbye. "We'll be going first. Leo said he wanted to show you around, so don't forget to visit my restaurant! Bye!" Hades simply waved his hand as Pearl jumped in the carriage without another word.

'Why would I visit her restaurant now? Did she bump her head or something? I'm supposed to be a commoner!' Hades thought, maintaining his smile. Thankfully, the knights waved their goodbyes without saying anything. It would be bad if one of them ignorantly calls him young master, only Pearl and Leo know of the plan and his real identity.

"You're acquainted with the princess and the commander?!" The knight who inspected him asked in surprise and Hades nodded with a small smile.

"I was travelling on my own when I met them on the way here. We kind of gotten acquainted along the way. They were really nice." The knight gazed at him in complete disbelief. 'Nice? Really? The princess of Novak is nice?! I heard she nearly beat the shit out a noble in her own restaurant a few weeks back! This brat is just lucky!' He thought to himself and couldn't utter a single word to the young man.

Watching the young man put his things back inside the bag, he only sighed. 'He looks like a young commoner… but he'll probably be devastated once he learn that it is nearly impossible for commoners to pass the entrance exam of the academy and this year it's difficulty is even raised at a higher bar!' He thought and started to pity the young man. 'Poor him, he's a really nice brat.'

"Hades! Let's go!" Leo came head-locking the young white haired man. "We have to celebrate your first visit here in the Capital and your first time going out to the world! HAHAHAHA!" He was like this proud older brother who's shamelessly bragging about his younger brother's finally becoming an adult and going out on his own!

But Hades didn't hide his embarrassment and annoyance towards the knight commander. He pushed the commander, but his efforts were all for naught.

"Are you seriously telling me to drink with a drunkard of a knight commander? I refuse! I need to find a nice inn to stay for the week!" Hades refused outright and shamelessly, but Leo simply laughed and ignored him before dragging the young man inside with him.

The knights and common folk who saw the two were either in disbelief or in the state of speechlessness. 'How could he refuse and even curse a knight commander?!' They don't know about how that same knight commander is always fighting the said young man in a duel, and would suffer a defeat. Only the Grand Duke Novak, who is also currently the greatest and strongest knight in history, can be on par with him.

Hades Novak, no. Dwayne Winchester was a storm that came to the Capital without a single person knowing.