Chapter 6 - Education

"..." It has been two months since the academy started. Compared to the first, this one was more eventful and more studious.

Ashter gained a private tutor at Cale's request, the second child and daughter of the King of Castalix. Since then, Ashter has become a scholar and has learned a lot from his experiences.

"So... This is my name..." Writing his name was a start. He stared at the paper, surprised by how simple it looked.

"Indeed, Master Ashter." Spoke a man, his tutor.

'... I never thought my name would be a rhyme.' Thinking to himself,

"Excuse me, Mr. Leon?"

"Hm?" The man, last name Leon, awaited his question.

"... Never mind." Brushing it to the side, the tutor then said,

"If there's nothing else, let us continue with your lessons. Lady Cale expects great things from you. She'll be coming by soon after her daily ordeals in the 2nd Circle with a change of... Clothing." Looking at Ashter, he wore a linen shirt, the low-quality fabric was ready to give out any moment. He wears brown pants too, with some boots.

"What's wrong with my clothing?" Ashter is confused.

"While it is improper to be around here with such low-quality fabrics, it's also another thing for you to show your body in such a manner." The man said,

"?" Ashter cocked a eyebrow,

"But I always preferred it like this." His chest was a bit open-

Never mind, it was almost completely shown.

"Exactly why it shouldn't be like it." Leon soon walked to him, closing the shirt up,

"!?!" Offended, Ashter explained,

"I am fine, Mr. Leon." But not denying it is a bit revealing, the buttons were fastened once more.

"Let us continue, Master Ashter." Soon they continued. History of the kingdom, stories of the god, Calaban, etc. Then there are writing lessons, math problems, everything someone needs to be a noble at this rate.

***

"Hm..." Cale is seen in a store... Confused about what to buy.

"Is something the matter, Lady Cale?" A woman wondered, a warrior, it seems, her height was beyond 6 feet, her stance was that of a seasoned fighter, as flying by her side, a Silver Rank Dragon.

"Nothing... It's just... What do men with no refined taste like!?! If he's going to be associated with my father, it's better to give him at least a PRESENTABLE outfit! He couldn't even afford the uniform for Calan's sake!" Cale was in a knot on this, as the woman cleared her through,

"Why don't you just ask him along?"

"Hng!" A bit ticked, Cale said,

"R-Ridiculous! We don't even know each other well enough for me to ask such... Questions! Besides... I am due to marry soon! After all, I am 17!" Cale said, as in this world, 18 is the legal age to marry in terms of nobility like her. In other scenarios, it's 14 or 16 due to the magic affecting an old body more than an untrained body. But despite Dragon Riders having that resistance, it's still a custom to marry young.

"Good point, Lady Cale. Sorry for stepping out of line."

"It's fine, Gina," Cale responds, as she soon asks...

"Excuse me. How would you say a peasant man's taste would be like?" Cale asked the man behind a counter,

"Hm? A man, you say?" The older man is curious,

"Yes! Exactly! I need to know how a peasant man's taste would be if he had all the money in the world!" Cale explained, as the man looked at the warrior beside her,

"Eh hem... If it doesn't bother or offend you, Lady Cale... A man of his status wouldn't have taste. Practicality and use are what he'll prefer. Whether it's rags or dirty water, as long as it works, it works. Things like this... Hehe... That's for someone with money." The man explained, as disheartened, Cale is just...

"... Well, then what about some new clothing for him. Simple yet presentable." She soon said, as moments later... A more comfortable outfit is seen. With a "v" neck shirt of light brown with sleeves to the forearm cuffed by a darker brown cloth. Then there's black pants, simple, yet effective.

"I think I picked out something nice!" Cale brightened, as she BOUGHT something with a goal in mind for once!

"Indeed, it is, Lady Cale. I am sure no matter the circumstance, he wouldn't dare refuse such gifts from someone such as you." Gina explained, as she lifted her hand,

"Cottonbun!" Cale called for... Cottonbun? The dragon's form is seen, as it roared, as jumping on her back...

"Let's get back home, Cottonbun," Cale said, as the dragon named COTTONBUN of all things flaps their wings, soaring into the skies.

But upon landing...

"Well, well, well. If it isn't little sis Cale!" Spoke...

"Cane," Cale responds, as a man around Ashter's age lands, a large orange dragon roared, as Cottonbun greets their sibling.

"How's it going these days? Got any drama in the 2nd Circle?" Cane wondered,

"No. No, nothing at all." Cale said, as Cane noticed the clothing,

"What's with the weird clothing?" He asked,

"HNG!" Cale hides it quickly,

"I-It's none of your business, mind your business! Shouldn't you be charming those noblegirls or something?"

"What!?! I am OFFENDED! I am the firstborn son, I have the right to come back here, am I not?" Cane was dramatically offended, and a sarcastic tone washed over him.

"Hmph!" Soon, Cale walked. And Cane followed.

"W-What the!?! I told you to mind your own-"

"Pops is in the Royal Archives of all places?" Cane soon walked in, the door moved on its own,

"HEY! WAIT A MINUTE!"

"?" Ashter soon looked up, hearing the familiar voice.

"Come on, it's not like I won't judge the old man!" Cane said,

"Who..."

"Master Cane." The tutor soon walked to greet...

"!" A man with light brown hair and silver eyes, similar to Cale's.

"Master Cane?"

"Eh? Who's this guy?" Cane is confused, unsure if he's seeing right.

"Cane... This is father's special guest, remember?"

"..." Cane isn't sure if she's-

"!" He noticed...

"Woah, he has his hair stick-"

"YOU IDIOT, BECAUSE HE'S OUR SPECIAL GUEST!"

"!" Cane recognized and connected the dots.

"OOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Oh." Cane's expectations were thrown to the dump.

"This... This thing is our father's special guest? Doesn't seem that special-"

"Krrr..." Bismuth growls,

"!!!" Cane felt it instantly... A developing mana...

"!" He noticed it was...

"No damn way..." Cane is...

"This... Thing... Is the 6th-"

"OF COURSE HE IS, YOU IDIOT! GOD DAMN IT, CANE!!!" Frustrated, Cale was OUT of it, almost going to tussle with the man,

"Hello, Mr. Cane. Uh... I am Ashter Lake." Ashter puts his hand out,

"Pleasure... Is ours." Cane responds, never touching his hand, much to the annoyance of...

'WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ARROGANT FUCKER THINK HE IS!?! Oh wait.' Ashter blinked a bit,

'He's the king's son... Right...'

"Right...!" Ashter awkwardly moves back a bit,

"Krooo..." Bismuth soon steps onto the table,

"So... This snowball is the 6th Platinum Rank Dragon under father's control?" Denying Ashter even exists...

"Actually, he's MY dragon. His name is Bismuth, if you didn't bother asking that is." Ashter said, as Cale sighed,

"I bought your clothes. Come on, you're not exactly going to make a better impression than... This." Cale noticed...

'H-He covered it up!?! But that's... AUGH!' Cale blushed a bit on the inside.

"C-Come on, let me show you to the bathing area," Cale ordered, as Cane is left behind.

"So, teach. Please tell me I am not mistaken... He is the 6th...?"

"Indeed, he is, Master Cane. Your father took a liking to him and wishes to establish a possible arrangement of bloodlines to ensure the powers of the Platinum Rank Dragons are all under the Castalix name." Mr. Leon tells the plan, as Cane groans,

"Can't we just kill him and steal the dragon? It's young after all..." Cane's expression darkened, as Leon knew it... Cane takes a lot after his father.

"Your father wishes to try and settle this more passively. Meaning one of two of your sisters will be given to him for marriage when he comes of age." Leon said, as Cane groans,

"I have to be related to peasant filth!?! You sure father wasn't drunk when he made such decisions?"

"That I know isn't the case. Your father made these decisions without the use of any alcohol." Leon explained as Cane looked at the items on the table.

"Pssh." He soon leaves the area, as soon...

The scene shifts to Ashter removing the old clothing, as slightly toned muscles are seen in slightly dark brown, he was standing there staring at the clothing.

"Seems too small." Ashter looked at them as he put them on.

"Eh..." They were tight. Only slightly, but still.

'Crap...!' He was a bit embarrassed, it tightened on him and showed EVERYTHING.

"Come on out! I wanna see how the outfit looks!" Cale soon asked, as Ashter groans in embarrassment.

"..." He soon steps out of the room, as Cale looks...

"Hm... It looks better." She noted, but...

"Hm... Eh... EH???" She soon realized...

"HOW THE HELL DO YOU CALL YOURSELF A PEASANT WHEN... WHEN-!" Cale calls him out on the BS,

"HUH??? YOU NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY FIT FOR FARMING!" Ashter shouts back, as the two step from each other, the slam of a door separating them,

'THIS IS WHY I HAVE SPACE!' He complained,

'Oh no, he's hot!!!' Cale covered her cheeks, as soon...

"..." Ashter soon comes back out, as he folds the clothing back up.

"Sorry if it... Doesn't meet your expectations." Saying sorry to her, the girl sighed,

"It's alright, Ashter..." Cale apologized, as she soon explained,

"If you wish, we can... Go shopping together." Cale said, as Ashter blinked,

"S-Sure. Uh, when are you available?" He wondered...

***

The weekend soon came about, as Ashter is soon seen stepping out of the dorm-

"Took you long enough."

"HOLY CRAP-!" Almost falling over, 

"H-How did you find my dorm!?!" Confused, he asked HOW she figured out where he lived.

"I just asked? Anyways, hurry up. This is my break, so I want to get this done and over with." Saying to him, Cottonbun lifts her on her palm, as she rests her master on her back.

"Grooo..." But Cottonbun wished to not take part-

"Cottonbun...! He's our special guest, treat him with respect-"

"It's alright," Ashter said, as...

"Fly!" Ashter said, as he grabbed his master's front, the wings on his back flapped,

"Kroo!!!" Bismuth was strong for his age, likely because of his developing physical growth.

"Woah..." Cale is surprised, as despite not using the Stage 2 Bond Skill, he's flying as if using it!

"Hm..." She could learn a thing or two... Functionality... Hm.

"Where to, Ms. Cale?" Ashter asked,

"R-Right, follow me." Soon they took off, as the 2nd Circle was as pristine and clean as before. No issues in the insanely large area, as Castalix spanned MILES and miles at a time.

"Hup!" Soon, Ashter lands, as Bismuth is pat, soon given a small treat.

"Fwoosh." Cottonbun formed a necklace around her, a form of Bond Skill that makes Cottonbun almost invisible to the outside.

"Cling!" Soon, a bell is heard,

"Ah... Lady Cale. It's a pleasure to see you back." Soon, the man is seen bowing,

"Thanks, here's the guy I was trying to buy the clothes for." She said,

"Hm." Looking at him...

"Yeah, Cale... You do realize-"

"I KNOW THIS ALREADY, JUST HELP ME GET HIM A PROPER FITTING OUTFIT!" Cale shouts, as Ashter's measurements are taken, and soon...

He comes out with a brown vest that is held together near the stomach, revealing a light brown shirt with sleeves to the forearm. Around his neck is a loose fitting scarf and brown pants with black boots.

"Hm... I don't hate it." Ashter looked at himself in a mirror, as Cale smiled,

"Good to kn,w," Cale said, as the man looked at the clothing she bought before.

"... These are meant for children, Cale." Saying this, Cale sighed,

"Thought so..." She sulked,

***

Flying around, Ashter then questioned,

"Hey, you don't mind if we visit the 5th Circle, right?" Ashter wondered, as Cale questioned,

"What business do you have there?" She wondered, as Ashter shrugged,

"I am capable of seeing my mother, but haven't in the two months since I met her." He said, as Cale then thinks...

'Maybe then I'll see what my idiot brother does if it requires women to become some consort for some noble.' She thinks,

"I'll accompany you, then," Cale said, as Ashter smirked,

"May this be an educational experience for you, Ms. Cale." Ashter comments,

"Please... Just call me Cale."

End of chapter 6.