Chapter 96: Pandemonium

"Verde, that’s where you’re wrong. Khaldun has already asked me on multiple occasions to be his exclusive guide. I’m the one who prefers to wait until we both graduate to commit to such a huge decision. See, I want to be on equal footing with Khaldun. I want to be fighting by his side and I don’t want him to be constantly worried about my safety. Khaldun would feel assured that I can protect myself. I would risk my life to protect Khaldun. Right now, I’m learning everything this academy has to offer so that I can join the same elite ranks of his legion and not be allowed in due to special consideration."

Even though the legion could make an exception for him to enter if he was Khaldun’s exclusive guide, Sly wanted to be accepted off his own merit and hard working efforts.

It seems that all Verde’s attempts to cast suspicion on Khaldun and put him in a negative light for Sly had all been in vain.

Verde frowned and responded, "I understand."

They had finally reached the auditorium, it was time for them to separate Verde was a third year while Sly was a first year, they would both sit in their assigned sections with their classmates.

Verde said, "I’ll head to my section now. We’ll resume our early morning training sessions next Monday, please use the time to give your body adequate rest. As your hall rep and mentor, if you need help with anything at the academy, feel free to send me a message at any time of the day or night."

Sly Foxx simply nodded, "thanks Verde for everything, see you next week."

The atmosphere in the auditorium for the anniversary ceremony could be considered noisy, festive and lively.

According to tradition Paradise Military Academy held an anniversary ceremony every twenty-five years.

Each time the academy held the anniversary ceremony they went all out and this year was no exception.

They had the usual speeches from the Commandant, the sponsors, the presidents of both the guide and sentinel learning centers and representatives from the student council.

Everyone felt that the Commandant had outdone his predecessors in this ceremony with whom he managed to secure as the guest speaker.

Prince Auroron of the Ephedra Empire, next in line to the throne.

Pretty much single and in demand everywhere he went, had the reputation of being the youngest mecha fighter in the military.

He was an advocate for the use of mecha in fighting the wars against alien enemies, his platform was to encourage all who had an aptitude for mecha to join the military.

For the first in a long time all the auditorium seats were filled at maximum capacity.

There was limited standing room; both guides and sentinels had gotten out of their beds early to secure a seat for themselves and friends.

Discussions filled the air as both guides and sentinels eagerly awaited the young prince’s arrival.

"I still can’t believe Prince Auroron is coming today!"

"Belive it! He’s my idol and I promised my five younger siblings I’d get an autograph for each of them."

"Bah... I just don’t see what all the hype around this Prince is."

"Facts, all he does is waste tax dollars on his frivolous spending on exorbitant mecha. I heard he never uses the same mecha twice."

"I heard he became a mecha fighter at the age of twelve, he’s awesome!"

"Doesn’t hurt that he’s a stunner in the looks department, I wonder if we can get him and Khaldun to stand side by side so we can vote for who is more handsome."

"His spirit beast is a dragon, I really want to see it!"

These were a few of the comments that reached Sly’s ears while he made his way towards the location where his classmates were seated.

He ended up sitting beside Cassian who filled Sly up with all the latest news and gossip flying around the academy.

It was even rumored that since Prince was also their age he would be spending some time at the academy for undisclosed reasons.

The Prince did not disappoint his fans; he descended from the air on the back of his spirit beast, a magnificent black dragon with scary dark purple eyes.

It was a S-tier spirit beast just like Khaldun’s and the Prince was in control and in perfect harmony with his spirit beast unlike Khaldun and his feral wolf.

Just then Sly was pressed uncomfortably next to the lass by some overzealous fans of the prince.

The dragon that had appeared docile and bored its purple eyes suddenly zoomed in on Sly and they made eye contact.

Intrigued to see a fellow S tier potential amongst the unfamiliar faces, the dragon snorted a few times releasing purple smoke.

Prince Auroron sensing the disturbance in his spirit landscape from his sensitive dragon sent out a message to his spirit beast.

"What’s the matter?"

"It’s nothing master, I thought I saw a tasty morsel that could make me evolve to the next level but it was probably just a fluke."

"I know we are in a bottleneck right now, that’s why father suggested we spend some time at Paradise Military Academy to find a solution to our problem. Don’t worry it will all work out."

Silence.

Prince Auroron couldn’t shake the feeling that his dragon was hiding something from him but it was time for him to enter the auditorium and give his speech.

He would deal with this matter later.

Everyone inside the auditorium crowded around the large glass windows hoping to catch a glimpse of the Prince and his spirit beast.

It was literally pandemonium for a few seconds as students shoved and pushed each other out of the way to reach the glass.

The instructors and student council had their hands full with maintaining discipline and calming down the rowdier students.

Mimosa mused, what a sharp eyed spirit beast, worthy of being with another S-tier Royal Alpha, looks like Khaldun is in for some serious competition around campus.

Sly shrank away from the mirror and returned to his seat the last thing he wanted was to attract another S-tier Royal Alpha, he already had his hands full with Khaldun.