***Hyperion Empire***

***Imperial Academy***

After getting something to eat to both settle Max’s nerves and all of their stomachs, the group split up.

Arthur reminded his friends that he had a meeting with the Strategic Board Games League and planned to faceoff against Juliet, so after shoveling his food down his throat he took off. Kana, Kathryn, and Max sat watching Adrios as he cleared off the rest of the plates in an attempt to eat as much as possible.

“Max, I can recognize what you were doing, but I don’t appreciate you involving me back there.” Kathryn stated plainly.

Said Soltain grabbed his griffin and began scratching his belly. Adrios then abandoned all focus on finishing scraps and laid in bliss as his partner rubbed him. Max rarely pet him, but when he did it felt as good as when Kana gave him all of her attention. The griffin’s front legs moved through the air as he spurred on Max, desiring he continued with his ministrations.

“Involving you?” Max asked.

“Yes. You didn’t need to introduce me, I don’t care that James didn’t show me proper respect in my title, and I know you don’t either. In fact, I am sure if it was anyone else, titles would be a meaningless annoyance. I know you don’t like him, but that doesn’t mean I want to be involved with whatever comes of this. You were prioritizing Kana and I because you knew he wouldn’t acknowledge us, so you could have an excuse to get riled up. And once you get riled up…” She placed her hands on her lap and looked right into his eyes. “People get hurt.”

Kana stood up from her seat and approached the young Soltain from behind. Wrapping her small arms around him and leaning against his back, she was showing off a rare display of public affection in the hall. Some of the student passerby were giving them curious looks, and more than one of the nosy teenage girls throughout the hall started whispering while sneaking glances at the pair. Kathryn raised a white eyebrow at their closeness but chose to address that for another time, she had to make sure Max understood what he did wrong.

“Kathryn, excuse my rudeness but I have peeked at your notebook from time to time. And I think it's pretty smart to make notes on the people you meet. I guess that you write about everyones strengths and weaknesses. Could you tell me what you wrote for my own weakness?” Kana asked softly, looking at Kathryn’s blue eyes while pressing her uniform against Max’s.

Kathryn quickly blushed and looked anywhere but at Kana. “I’m sorry! I’m not trying to be rude it's just how I-”

Kana smiled at the girls frazzled reaction and her tail moved a little quicker. “No, no it's okay. Again I think it's really smart of you. So... what did you write?”

Kathryn didn’t even need to look at her notebook to answer but she acted like she did anyway. Anywhere but at Kana’s dazzling eyes would do for the elf girl. Even though Max and Kana were her friends, she hardly knew Kana as well as the boys. Kathryn was a person most comfortable working behind others, never in the spotlight but always knowledgeable of the situation. Max and Arthur were perfect friends to balance the more shadowy side of her personality. You didn’t get much more noticeable than two House heirs, they practically absorbed all attention thus leaving Kathryn largely ignored and overlooked. It was just how she liked it.

But it was different with Kana. Kana had a quality in her that made the entire group feel involved and noticed. She often also set the mood for the group, and operated as if she owned it. Kathryn had no doubts that Kana would rule in the social arena, just as well as she did in the Academy, if not better. She had all the markings Kathryn would expect of a Queen trapped inside the body of young girl.

She was friends with some of the normal students, noble students, House heirs, and the princess herself. Then there was this closeness she had with Max that Kathryn had not recognized before. What was that about?

Kathryn could work with Kana in a normal setting alongside the boys but there were times where she felt overwhelmed by the fox girl. Like right now. Right now, she felt as if everything she did was also being recorded, except not on pen and paper but in the mind under the girl’s crimson hair. Maybe she was drastically over thinking things. Yet Kana’s golden gaze had Kathryn feeling like she was the center of attention, the exact opposite of where she wanted to be.

The boys never seem to have felt the same, but there were a multitude of reasons why that might be the case.

“Well… I guessed that you were a bit too naive, but I have no idea if that’s true.”

Kana grinned. “Maybe?”

“The only weakness I’ve really concluded on is that you lack patience.” Kathryn answered.

Kana nodded and covered Max’s mouth with her finger. “What about Max?”

“Oh that’s easy.” Kathryn replied, ignoring the boy’s scrunched up expression at her quick reply. “I used to guess he was arrogant.”

Kana giggled yet Max remained silent as the fox girl’s soft finger was touching his lips. His thoughts were currently divided between focusing on Kana’s position or defending himself. Then said girl’s silky red hair brushed over his face. He supposed he could wait a little longer and hear Kathryn out.

The young Kumio’s grin remained. “You should have seen him when we were younger. He was so arrogant his mom threatened to send him out into the city in the nude. In broad daylight too. He’s definitely toned down.”

Kathryn’s lips rose at the image in her mind. That would certainly be amusing to see. She peeked at Max who held an unreadable expression yet remained mute.

The fox girl scanned the room as students continued to chat at their own tables and then looked back at Kathryn. “What weaknesses have you concluded on though?”

“Pride and a lack of patience.” Kathryn replied.

Kana started clapping and laughed. “Exactly! It took me years to sort through both of my best friends strengths and weaknesses, yet you did it in such a short amount of time.”

The elf girl rolled her blue eyes and mumbled a response. “I am sure you were much younger.”

Kana waved off her comment and moved her mouth right next to Max’s ear. Kathryn almost thought she was going to kiss it.

“You and I are more alike than we thought. Both my parents and the elders of my clan constantly remind me of how I lack patience. We both need to work on that. We won’t always have Arthur around to make sure we don’t get into trouble. You should have thought of Kathryn’s feelings before you involved her with James. You know that right?”

“Yes.” The unusually quiet Max instantly responded, his thoughts focused on somehow maneuvering the fox girl closer. He didn’t like admitting to his faults, but both of the girls were right. So, instead of dwelling on his mistakes, he elected move his full attention elsewhere. Max scooted his seat back and deftly released Kana’s arms. Twirling her around much like she had done to him previously, he grabbed her waist and sat her right on top of his lap.

“Ah, much better.” He then faced the shocked elf girl. “I’m sorry for not considering your feelings earlier Kathryn. Sometimes I just get so caught up in my thoughts I forget about others. I’ll try to work at that.” The entire action was so sudden that Kana only had the chance to release a soft gasp as her waist was enclosed by Max’s arms and he sat was behind her. Heat instantly crawled up the faces of both girls and Adrios yelped at the loss of attention. The action also did not go unrecognized by the multitude of pubescent students, especially the females.

Face still red, Kathryn scanned the room and observed the increase in chatter of students. She was dismayed. Max obviously did not get the point! Almost all of the students in the cafeteria were looking at them!

Kana for her part had trouble calming herself and her tail was showing that. She enjoyed the feeling of hugging and touching the young Soltain, but had lost control of the situation. She went overboard in being so openly affectionate with Max even though it felt so natural. He was now holding her possessively, and she had no issue admitting in her mind that she liked it. She held her breath and puffed up her cheeks. This was supposed to be a teaching moment!

The elven girl glanced back at the pair and gaped as Max leaned back against the seat and pulled Kana closer so she was resting on his chest. He then even dropped his legs on the table surface, as if he owned it. Adrios hopped on top of Kana’s own lap and settled himself between her legs. Kana allowed Max to shift around like he had a right to be holding her so closely. She had not said a word! Just what was going on!?

Both Max and Kana received a variety of looks for their affection, and Kathryn considered the idea of just leaving the duo. But she was just as curious as to their relationship. Both heirs were unwed nobility, and to display such closeness to each other in public, even at this age, would surely cause some semblance of rumors and gossip. This was scandalous anyway she looked at it.

“Umm... what’s this?” Kathryn asked with hesitation.

“This?” Max asked as one of his hands trailed the fox girl’s tail. It was peculiar that Kana was now the one keeping her mouth shut. Her face was rosy, and she had a more wistful expression than anything else. It was like the tables had completely turned with the two.

The Baron’s daughter was exasperated. Was it not obvious? “Kana is literally laying on top of you. In the middle of the dining hall.”

Said girl breathed another gasp as the young Soltain’s hand moved on up her tail. Max then nodded. “She is.”

Oh. My. Gods. Kathryn thought to herself. “Why Max? You are an unwed House heir touching another unwed House heir in the middle of the Academy. This could ruin both of your reputations!”

Max shrugged. “She is going to be my wife. If we want to hug each other then we will. Give me the names of those who say otherwise.”

“W-we don’t know that for certain.” Kana stated, her breath almost catching as Max continued to pet her tail. He was one of the few people who knew just where she liked to be rubbed best, save the female members of his family.

A knowing grin spread across the young Soltain’s face as his hand moved to the tip of her tail. “We don’t? Do you have someone else in mind?”

Before she could reply his fingers dexterously circled around the white of her crimson tail. Kathryn didn’t catch the entirety of the movement, but whatever he did seemed to have Kana feeling very good. The girl had a sharp intake of breath and she quickly shook her head. “What about my dream to become the Kumio House Head?” She asked breathily.

“You will become House Head. I am simply explaining to Kathryn that you will be my wife. We can worry about the details when we're older.” Max answered as his mouth moved closer to the ears poking out of Kana’s crimson hair. “What do you think?”

The rosy faced girl nodded, refusing to turn and meet Max’s eyes. “O-okay.”

Kathryn couldn’t believe it. What was wrong with these two!? They had just agreed to marriage as if it were the same to agreeing on sharing a sandwich. “Wait, wait, wait. What about your families? Surely they need to know about you two planning on marriage.”

“They already do.” Max replied. “We’ve been engaged for most of our lives.”

The elven girl’s eyes widened. “House Kumio agreed to a public marriage outside of their clan? That’s completely unprecedented. This could change the power balance throughout the Empire and you two are acting like it's hardly important. How? When?”

Max shrugged again. Kathryn was acting a little dramatic, though he could see where she was coming from. “I just told you. We’ve been engaged for a long time.”

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Kathryn eventually dragged both heirs out of public view in the dining hall. She had no doubts that the two had just gathered plenty of unnecessary attention, but neither seemed to care. If anything, they both looked happier than normal based on the visual cues. Kana’s face was still a shade darker, and her tail was moving ecstatically. While Max on the other hand, had a grin plastered on his face.

Turning the corner around the white building and moving under the shade of one of the large trees, she released both of their arms and looked at them with a stern expression.

Placing her hands on her hips, she pointed at them with a slim finger. “You should have told me! You should have told everyone! No, your parents should have told everyone!” She then moved her hair behind one of her distinctly elven heirs and huffed. “In a formal marriage arrangement both parties usually announce the agreement to any and all concerned houses. If it's true you two have been engaged for a long time then why didn’t my father know about it? In fact, who does know about it? Does the Imperial Family even know?”

Max scratched the back of his head while Adrios chuffed around looking for a spot to settle in. Kana skipped around and hugged the elven girls side. “You don’t need to worry Kathryn I’m sure our parents have a plan. Believe it or not we didn’t know we were engaged until right before we left for the Academy. It's not like it was a secret…” She then blinked a couple times. “I think.”

“You think?” The elven girl tried to frown.

Kana looked hard-pressed to respond when bell chimes rang throughout the Academy fields. “Oh my its getting late!” She then released Kathryn and skipped to Max, using her toes to elevate herself, she kissed the young Soltain on the cheek and ran off. Waving goodbye to the pair she yelled. “I need to get going to the Alchemy Club! See you later!”

“Wait! I’m not finished!” Kathryn stomped her foot into the ground and softly shrieked into her hands. “You three are impossible!” She peeked through her fingers to the observe the taller boy absentmindedly touching his cheek and completely ignoring her plight. Kana had left on purpose, there was no way she was going to get any answers out of Max. He was in his own world.

Kathryn trotted towards Max and tugged on his ear. “Why are you like this?”

Max turned to her with visible confusion. “Like what?”

The Baron’s daughter wanted to throttle him. Though she quickly buried that thought, she was supposed to act with dignity and grace at all times. These three had a way of bringing out of her more uncivilized emotions and it was only getting worse. She needed to focus her mind on something else. Now. “You know what, forget it. Let’s leave this for another day.”

The boy could only nod as he watched the retreating form of the fox girl.

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Max and Kathryn approached the busy Third Club Building with more rational mental stability than earlier. Max had almost forgotten that he wanted to examine the research already made by the club’s previous members, but was now back on track.

While most clubs had larger, more auditorial, shaped club rooms, the Draconian Research League only had a small room no bigger than his own dorm. The room was also all the way on the fourth floor and at the far end of the corridor. Both students had to walk through the building for almost fifteen minutes to reach their destination. It was ridiculous.

When the two arrived to a room marked by a sign reading Draconian Research League, they were incredulous. The room looked like it hadn’t been used in ages, and there was dust gathering along the doorway. Max grabbed the door handle and was surprised to see it wouldn’t even open. Bringing his hand to his face, he could see the particles of dust sticking to his palm. He frowned. “Locked.” He then glanced at Kathryn and joked. “You wouldn’t happen to have any lockpicks, would you?”

Kathryn’s blue eyes gave him a quizzical look and she tilted her head. “You know how to lockpick?”

The young Soltain placed Adrios on the wooden floor so he could roam. “It depends. Kana’s family taught me how to pick most locks when I was younger.” He then scratched his chin and blinked. “...though it has been a while, and she and Arthur are much better than myself.”

Kathryn nodded and dug into her satchel bag. After a few seconds, she pulled her own lockpick kit complete with two different metal instruments. She got on her knees, inserted both metal pieces into the keyhole, and got to work. “So you were taught by the Kumio’s growing up?”

The taller boy sat against the wall beside the door and ran a hand through his hair. “The Kumios and the Sateles. We grew up learning from each other’s families. How do you know how to lockpick?”

The elven girl peeked at the boy beside her as she continued to test the tensile strength of the interior lock. “In Thanatos, people can become nobles through the Arena. Apparently it's based off the coliseums in Aarus, but I wasn’t really old enough to remember. My parents were adventurers before they were given titles and a Barony, and my mom is really good with this kind of stuff.” As soon as she finished speaking, the two heard a click originate from the doorknob and Kathryn quickly stood up.

Brushing the dust off of her knees, she channeled mana into her hand and a ball of water condensed around her palm. She grabbed the door handle and let the dust fall off with the water she originally formed out of the mana in her body. Opening the door, she allowed the smaller Adrios rush inside and explore the previously locked room.

“Is it true elves have an affinity to all five of the nature magics?” Max asked, looking up at her standing form.

“I know I do.” Kathryn replied as she moved inside. “Though I’m not as good with my chantless spells.”

“You just did chantless magic.” The boy said as he stood up and brushed the butt-end of his white pants.

The elven girl moved towards the one window of the room and pulled aside the curtains. “All I did was create a water ball Max. I can do some bigger spells without incantations, but not many.”

“Oh. Well if you want help with your air magic I don’t mind.” The young Soltain stated as he moved inside and stood over the only table in the room. As beams of light shot inside through the window, Max got a better look of the room, and the one thing he concluded was that there were a lot of books and bookshelves. An astounding number of books. Books weren’t exactly cheap in the Hyperion Empire, but Max never had an issue finding the books he needed considering his family's status and wealth. Though he had to admit, reading all of these books could keep him busy for months.

“I may take you up on that.” She then picked up one of the books on the and blew the dust off the cover. Yet before Kathryn could even speak Adrios yelped from under the table and both students turned towards the doorway at the sound of footsteps barreling in their direction.

“Hey you shouldn’t be in- oh it's you two.” Trisha completely changed her loud tone as she recognized both Kathryn and Max as the ones who entered the previously locked room. “How’d you get in here?”

“The door was open.” Max replied first. Before Trisha could investigate on his lie he changed the subject. “Why is it so dusty in here?”

Trisha fell for the young Soltain’s ploy. “I haven’t been in here in over a year. Most of the members were expelled last year and the entire club was placed on suspension.”

Kathryn’s eyes widened. “Expelled!? Why!?”

Trisha sheepishly smiled. “Did I not mention that? Oops.”

Even Max was curious. If an entire club got expelled then they must have done something pretty bad. “Why were they expelled?”

The eldest girl started playing with the braid resting over her shoulder. “It’s sort of a long story. Or at least I think it is. All I know is they found and did something they weren’t supposed too. The Headmistress herself was the one who closed down our club. I don’t really know what happened... I left for a couple weeks to visit my sick grandfather and when I returned I was summoned by the Headmistress and told that the club was suspended and all of my friends in the club were gone.”

“You never talked to any of them since?” Kathryn asked, assuming the worse.

Trisha shook her head and raised her hands to calm the elf girl. “I still exchange letters with two of them today. They just never mention what happened, not even when I ask.”

Max’s eyes gleamed. This sounded interesting. What could they have done for the Headmistress to not only expel them but silence them from talking about it as well?

Kathryn knew Max well enough to shake her head. “No Max. We are not going to go look for trouble, again.”

The boy just grinned and scanned the open books on the table. The previous members of the Draconian Research League had obviously found something, and the naturally inquisitive side of himself wouldn’t rest until he found out what. “Kathryn, considering your feelings, I think it might be a good idea for you to leave now. You're in the Literature Club too, right?”