บท 16: He's Different
If the welcome party was boring without Elijah for Damian, then it was an exhausting party for Sofia. Since before the party started, Sofia had been ordered to dress up as beautifully as possible to 'get to know' the important people at the party. Sofia is forced to listen to these people talk about various things. Then, in the end, she is asked to be good friends with their children.
Sofia is not a girl who likes to talk. Rather than dressing up and talking about unimportant things like other princesses, Sofia would train or help protect her kingdom at the border. However, Sofia is still forced to obey all the chatting orders. Sofia did everything for the good of the kingdom she loved so much.
"Sofia, didn't the youngest prince of the elven race enter the academy in the same year as you? Why don't I see you with him at this party?"
Standing next to Sofia was her uncle, the human king who succeeded to the throne after his brother died in an accident a few years ago. The man looked at his niece with a small smile. But more than anything, Sofia knew there was only hatred for her behind that fake smile.
Sofia knew her uncle planned to set her up with Damian to remove her from the human kingdom once and for all. Damian is the last prince of the elven kingdom, who has no political power whatsoever. Even if her marriage could bring some benefits to the humans, Sofia would not have any power anymore if she married Damian.
"Prince Damian is entering the warriors class while I'm entering the mages class, Uncle. The warriors' and mages' class buildings are quite far apart. The girls' and boys' dormitories are also separated, so we didn't have much chance to meet until recently."
The reason Sofia gave was so reasonable that King Ardiaz, Sofia's uncle, could do nothing to refute it.
"But this party is a golden opportunity for you to get to know him, isn't it? I saw Prince Damian going outside a moment ago. If you're fast enough, you might be able to catch up with him."
Sofia silently clenched her fists but no longer gave any reason to refuse her uncle's request. "I shall obey your command, Uncle," she said as she walked away.
Sofia walked outside as her uncle wished, then let out a long sigh when no one could see her. Sofia is not a cheerful princess who can immediately make friends with people she just met. She also doesn't enjoy approaching others with a specific intention. However, duty is duty. The king's order is a royal order in which all subjects are obliged to fulfill the request.
"Ah, you're Princess Sofia, aren't you? Someone who is in the same class as Elijah in the special class of mages?"
Just when Sofia felt she couldn't find Damian, the elf she was looking for was found, and even come to greet her first. Damian is indeed different from other elves, who are reluctant to interfere in human affairs. His cheerful demeanor reminded Sofia of Lovisa, the Elven Queen who loved to tease her at every interracial meeting.
"I am, Your Highness. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"We're at school, so just call me Damian. And, yes. While we're meeting here, there are some things I really want to ask you about Elijah."
Sofia remembers Elijah as the kid Damian has been sticking with since their first day of school. Sofia nodded in agreement. She too, was a little curious about Damian's relationship with the mysterious teenager.
"Has Elijah been acting weird in class lately? I mean, I know he's not a cheerful human being, to begin with. But if you've noticed any other strange behavior from Elijah lately, can you tell me any of it?"
Sofia tried to remember Elijah but could only recall that Elijah was a quiet teenager who wouldn't open his mouth for anything insignificant. Apart from being with Damian, Sofia had never seen him with anyone else. Elijah always had a deep look in his eyes, as if he always carried a heavy burden on his shoulder.
"...If there's anything different about him, I think it was his eyes that look sadder than usual these past days."
"I knew it!"
Sofia glanced at Damian while Damian immediately explained what his words meant.
"It must be because I mentioned something about his family. Something terrible must have happened to his family. And since only Elijah has survived until now, he must have gone through a lot to reach this point, right?"
Sofia thought about Damian's words and nodded honestly. Sofia also took a long time to let go of her parents. But she still had people who loved her in the royal palace. Meanwhile, who was now watching Elijah?
Sofia hears that Elijah came alone to apply to the academy, on foot and not carrying many belongings. His origins are also mysterious, so many speculate that Elijah was born in an unknown suburb.
Going all this way by himself. Sofia could not imagine what Elijah had gone through just to arrive at this point.
"Alright. Thank you for telling me about his situation, Sofia. In that case, I'll go first to look for him! I can't let Elijah spend this pleasant day alone after all."
"Please let me come with you."
Rather than Damian, Sofia probably looked more like an elf because of her cold demeanor. Sofia was also not the type of girl who liked to meddle in other people's affairs. But just for once, she wanted to know more about her classmate, who was labeled as a rude person almost by everyone.
"Alright. Let's go together then."
Meanwhile, Damian was quite content with just seeing someone wanting to get to know Elijah just like him. They became familiar quickly. Then halfway through, Sofia finally opened up the conversation again between them.
"How is Elijah with you?"
"Elijah? He's my idol. However, he never wants to acknowledge me as his fan. He's cold but the hardest working person I've ever met."
"He's always practicing whenever he has free time. I don't know how he does it. But he always looks so tired every time he finishes his practice. He was already strong. I still don't understand why he has to train so hard everyday."
Listening to Damian's words brought Sofia to a new understanding of Elijah. Both of them knew a different side of Elijah from their conversation. Two people who had never even talked to each other miraculously got along quickly because of the talk about Elijah.
"Ah, he's really there!"
Damian led Sofia to the garden behind the academy dormitory. And in that place, they actually found Elijah, who was busy swinging his sword by himself.
Compared to the other students who were happily enjoying the welcome party, Elijah looked so lonely as he spent all his time swinging his sword. Sweat was pouring down Elijah's forehead, a sign that he had been in that place for a long time.
"Who's there?!"
Elijah's senses were stronger than anything else, especially when he was used to fighting these days. He could feel someone watching him and immediately readied his sword to deal with whoever had ill intentions toward him.
"Geez, what a coincidence that I see you here, Elijah!"
Sofia didn't understand why Damian would lie that they met by accident. But in front of Elijah, Sofia decided not to say anything. Sofia watched Elijah's reaction from beginning to end. Even if Damian said that Elijah was angry with him, all Sofia could see in Elijah's eyes was gloom and emptiness that no one could explain.
"Really?"
Elijah raised his eyebrows. And more than anyone, Damian knew it was a sign that Elijah didn't believe his lame lies.
"Elijah... actually I...."
"It's okay. I just avoided the party because I didn't want to miss my training. There's no need to feel bad. It's not your fault for not knowing anything about me."
Before Damian could say what he wanted to say with difficulty, Elijah had spoken calmly. A week was hardly enough time for Elijah to think things over. Damian and the others knew nothing about him cause Elijah himself had never said anything about him. Therefore, it was only natural that they did not know that family was a forbidden word for Elijah.
"Even so...."
"Take this."
Elijah threw a sword, and it was quickly caught by Damian. At first, Damian didn't understand why Elijah would suddenly give him a sword. But when Elijah raised another sword, the elf finally understood something and immediately raised the sword Elijah had given him.
"Hoho, it seems that you are not afraid to challenge students of the warriors special class, Elijah."
Elijah nodded. "Practice with me," he said before starting to attack Damian with the skills he knew.
Damian was an expert in physical skills. So, this time, he couldn't be defeated easily. However, Elijah was equally brilliant at physical attacks even though he was a mage. Sofia watched their battle closely, then understood why Elijah had been put into the special class, even though he could only use two low-level magics.
"I won!"
Damian cheered happily, seemingly having completely forgotten his guilt toward Elijah. The victory was expected since the beginning. Although Elijah was quite good for being able to keep up with Damian in the battle, with a special skill like a light step for noble elves, Elijah still had difficulty keeping up with Damian's speed even if he used body enchantments on his own body.
Sofia watched the two quickly become close again due to Elijah's decision and began to think that Elijah might be different than the person she knew all along.
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