"Either grab a weapon or get out!" were my grandfather's words.

Leanne and Lana couldn't retort to him, Estel could only give the two a wry smile.
But she simply puffed her cheeks while holstering her magical tool on her waist then said.

"Fine... then."

She picked up a long pike like Leanne from the rack and agreed with him.
Leanne couldn't help but feel sorry for her as she was about to experience the biggest struggle of this training. Which were to last as long as possible...

An hour passed by...
Lana and Estel this time were able to keep themselves from collapsing while Leanne and Fae were the first to fall. Constantly fighting the undead which her grandfather called forth,
They were able to recognize the pattern of attacks that it used to overwhelm them.

Of course, her grandfather noticed this and personally manipulated the undead to change its pattern of attack, to level up the training. Similar to a wild beast climbing the ceiling like some kind lizard as they crawled towards them while lunging directly at them. The two were both alerted by this as eventually they were eventually overwhelmed as her grandfather put the training to a halt.

He gave the two his praise as he left the room for them to recover.
But as he reached the door, he saw a strange scene.

Pile of collapsed students was in the front door, with Seid calmly sitting at the side of the door calmly sitting down. He then asked with one brow raised.

"Seid, what happened here?"

He then shrugged while his helmet shook with a reply.

"They were persistently trying to get inside, complaining about a girl named Fae.
Asking for her special ice cold drinks and icy sweets.

I had no choice but to put them down.
But since the princess doesn't like the thought of hurting these humans.
I kept the sheath on my weapon to avoid killing them."

Tyr gently smiled at him as he said. "Good work, though I have a favor to ask of you."

He then pulled out a letter inside his coat, as he said.
"Return to the castle and give them this letter,
Do not lose it, the letter possesses Estel's true nature as a dragon.
Her family must know and understand this immediately."

Seid could only swallow his saliva as he felt the seriousness on his eyes.
Tyr then followed as he gave him the Ornament her mother had given her.

"Aside from that, return this to the castle and replace it.
It appears Estel accidentally broke her mother's gift.

As expected of her race.
Her hands aren't fit holding unto magical items.
But she still isn't ready to abandon the color's of her own mother, just yet."

To which he then asked.

"What about the elves?"

"They are patient people the fact they came for us for help only means their situation have already grown dire, the infestation of monsters growing in their land seemed to be a work of a dangerous threat.

The demon-king is the only one who has a say on that matter.

The fact we are under siege from the inside while being requested for help is quite a troubling matter." His eyes then turned to him with a serious expression.

"Now, go!
Feel free to grab the horse I bought from the stable for a quicker journey."

Seid nods to him then walked away holding the letter as he melded into his surrounding like a phantom. Tyr then groaned a bit as he gazed at the many unconscious students in front of him, he then reminded himself to place a barrier on the door next time, as he merrily hummed while walking back towards his pet Ashes to feed it.

...

...

...

After a few moments, in their training room.
Estel and Lana were the first to recover.
Lana asked Estel out of curiosity.

"I've only noticed this now.
But was your grandfather controlling those things?"

But she could only shake her head as she said with an exhausted expression.

"I don't know, but the fact the undead never touched any of us.
Who collapsed only means they are following orders like some kind of machine."

After watching how the undead began to move more nimble than average the moment they were getting a hang of it. The two could only speculate what had happened. ________________________________________________________________________________

After the four of them recovered and left the practice room, with sour and aching bodies.
They soon encountered a number of unconscious students being tended by the staff of the academy.

Leanne then asked.
"What happened here?" to which the staff replied.

"It appeared as though, someone took them down with a blunt object.
This happens often in this place, but this is the first time I've seen so many.
It's like they just got taken down by someone extremely skilled."

Lana and Leanne swiftly turned to Estel while she shook her head in denial,
Which Leanne could only guess was the work of her guard.
Only a puzzling question left them while they swiftly scurry away.
It was while they were walking in the yards of the academy.
That she had a question in mind for her.

"Tell me, Estel.
What does the Shadow Knights, do exactly?" As three heard her, Estel shook her head while Fae then asked.

"Shadow Knights? aren't they the infamous soldiers that destroyed a nation?"
With a curious look to Leanne, she then turned to Estel who gave her a wry smile while looking away.

Lana could only smack her own face in Leanne's carelessness of exposing Estel's secret like that to an unknown party who is Fae herself. The four then went to a secluded area in the academy to explain it to her in private.

Fae face suddenly brightens while she hears from Estel regarding her current position.
She then grabbed Estel's hand with eager eyes as she said.

"That's amazing!" astonishment struck her.

Estel was baffled by her words, at most would flee or feel repulsed by such facts but after watching her deal with the undead Leanne and Lana could only show worry.

"You are aware, what that means?" She asked.

But Fae shook her head with questioning eyes.
"Does it matter?" were her words.
Leanne's brow twitched the moment she said those words,
She was about to retort but then Lana then spoke for her,

"You are aware that, her kingdom destroyed a nation.
Yet you're not even afraid of her? Why." was her question to her.

She then simply said.
"She placed an effort, to meet me in person.
Just to heal my eyes.

Usually, they would ask my brother for some sort of reward.
Whether it was for money or information.
But she asked for none of it.
Only for her to keep it a secret in return.

I do not believe such a person would be so terrifying, would it?" As she tilted her head.

Her answer was pure and reasonable but Lana's face to twitch a bit.
Leanne, on the other hand, was feeling a bit guilty for using Estel for her own gains.
Estel herself, however, was speechless and could only blush at her words, unaware of what was happening.

A strange cycle had occurred as she expressed herself towards them.
As she embraced Estel with her modest chest on her head, taking advantage of her height.

________________________________________________________________________________

// Shadow Knights. //

The four of them then decided while had a time to have a small picnic before their next class.
She then decided to explain to everyone regarding the knights.

"There are two kinds of monsters in this world.
The sentient ones who can speak and think, which were now known as the Demon race.

Then there are the instinctual ones, who could only hunt, pillage and kill for their own survival.
Creatures that are capable of being able to challenge dragons or lesser beings that are often called as pests due to their numerous presence.

The Demon kingdom lived in a place where abnormally strong monsters are born.
My teacher told me that it is due to the high-density mana in the area we are in, which our own race release. They terrorize the small villages and farmlands inside it, causing quite a large problem even in my own home.

The Shadow Knights were then created to deal with such threats.
Being recognized as one of the biggest honor in my country because it is both a symbol of strength and courage. however, because of the steep requirement to fulfill their quests, only a few of them are enstated with the title.

Often regaled as heroes and champion of my kingdom.
Though, it's kind of clear to see.
 
Why everyone would see them as terrifying people outside my nation.
Though...
That was what my teacher simply taught me, I myself aren't sure myself..." Estel said with a doubtful expression on her face.

Fae then asked while constantly snuggling her.
"Why aren't you sure?
Aren't they, your own people?"

"Well, I...
Never particularly left my own room inside that castle.
So I wasn't able to know anything about them aside from textbooks and history thrown at me."

But Leanne and Lana were silent as they shooked.
They recalled the moment her sister and grandfather fought the gigantic thing they called an Elder Lich. The things taught to her is a strong reality that the Shadow Knights are undoubtedly strong enough to call themselves heroes of their race.

If a single human were to fight such beings, the only thing to undoubtedly occur was their defeat.

They could garner a guess on, how dangerous the monsters plaguing their kingdom was.
But the fact that they did not ask for any help, only displayed how powerful their people have become.

Fae who continued to cuddled her had a soothing effect on Estel,
As she continued to bask in her embrace, she couldn't help but relax a bit.

Lana then asked with curiosity.
"I've only noticed it by now.
Your sister is a part of such a group despite being a princess?"

Estel could only shake her head.
"I could only guess she was trying to garner more of the council's interests to secure her seat as the queen. She and I wasn't the only candidate on the queen seat of the throne."

"What about the council?" Leanne asks.

"They are a group of different sentient races which serves my father.
Apparently, they work together to share their thoughts with him while also votes for the benefit of the kingdom.

Dryads, Beastmens, various kind of dragons and so on so forth that represent their race.

They usually are the people who send out requests to deal with natural disasters or urgent mission to the shadow knights of the kingdom should something threatening are to appear."

Leanne had a surprised look as she heard those words,
She then thought.
[I thought she was just an isolated and easy-going princess.
Yet she somehow knows so much about her kingdom.
But why on earth would they make her hate them so much?]

But then Estel said with a disappointed expression.
"The council were also the people who saw me as a threat to the throne.
They were the one who restricted me from learning magic, unlike my sister.
My father was pressured to follow their demands, for the sake of their will.

Though, I believe they were planning on exiling me if I stayed any longer."

"Uwah..." as the two gave her a pitiful expression.

Fae however then said.
"If that was the case, then I'll adopt you instead!?"

Leanne retorts as she competes,
"Hey!
I already got dibs on her!?
Stop hogging her for yourself!" As she grabbed her arm it turned into an odd tug of war for her.

While it was happening Lana then noticed something from a distance.
Their clothes and emblem as she winced to see it as she then slowly recognized it.
She then said.

"Hey... isn't that a servant of the Order?" As she said these words, the two swiftly lets go of Estel's hand to see. As they gazed at them at a distance the man then pointed at their direction as they began to approach where they stood.

Leanne then said.
"Uhh... this doesn't look good.
We should go-" as she turned around, to escape with Estel.

Her presence had already disappeared, ditching the three before they were able to run.
Leanne could only groan as the servants were now behind them.

________________________________________________________________________________

[Nope, Nope, Noooope.
Not gonna deal with these people.
After that whole stunt back in the palace, there is absolutely no way!
I would let myself be caught by them.]

As Estel ran in the opposite direction she could recognize the route, where they currently are now.
Making multiple turns and noticing the order of light around the area. She sneakily went through the bushes and straight to the backside of the building where the greenhouse was located.

She soon reached the door without anyone noticing, swiftly entering and barring the door, with relief on her face. A voice then spoke to her inside the room.

"What the heck, Are you doing?" As she turned her head to see who it was.
Jake face was in front of her, as she exhaled with relief with a troubled look on his face.

taesijr123

Sorry for the delay, I got distracted a bit =3=
This gives a bit more lore to Estel's people.

I ran out of idea for the chapter title!