"Hey! Get off him or I'll go tell the staff right now."Sok was staring at them intently wondering if they would try something after what he said.
"I think we should teach them a lesson they need to learn!"
"Taraja now is not the time for that I may not know you but I believe you're mature enough to know your rights from your wrongs."
"They're hurting my friend and you want me to calmly ask from help from teachers who are already not doing anything!"
She wasn't wrong staff had been watching and passing by the kids way before they got there. Some were still watching intently from a safe distance away in case anything happened. Well in case they needed to hide from higher staff that cared about the poor or less fortunate students. Even though the head person in charge believed in equality among the students, it didn't mean most of her staff did. Most of the time they relied on hiding their emotions in front of teachers that were on the headmasters side. Although once they weren't in sight they would plainly give more benefits to those that could give them benefits.
"Shadow as the prince of this country what would you do?"
Shadow looked at Sok quietly yet he was happy it just wasn't him. Was it wrong to be thankful that someone else would take the beating for him. He would definitely want someone's help if he were in this predicament. Even then wouldn't this just attract attention to me. This is isn't worth doing, especially since I only just met them. I'll just leave and let them deal with it on their on. He was thinking that entire time but before he could even say do nothing a kid shouted "it's that weakling prince!"
A few of the kids who were standing around the students recognized shadow. One of the kids smirked seeing this. "Looks like we have someone else to have fun with."
As Shadow heard what he said he decided I'd he at least acted like his intentions were to fight he would have back up from Sok at least. "Fine lets fight."
"My father wouldn't be to happy about hearing the prince be bullied." Lily looked at the group without blinking an eye.
"Ohhhhh and who would your father be?" The person in the front addressed her with a mischievous smile attached.
"You may know him as General Sono."
In the group their were a couple of gasps and a few even already started to sneak away.
"Do you really expect us to believe that bullshit!"
"Hold on my father works in the queens guard and he said Sono brought back a beautiful girl. From what he said she fits the description let's just take a step back from now we can mess with him later."
The person who stood in the front looked at shadow and the kid that was now kneeled over on the floor in pain.
"Fine."
The group walked away quietly.
Thanks Prince.
The scrawny kid kneeled to Shadow.
"I thought I was gonn...Taraja? What are you doing here I thought you were gonna go to a merchant school."
"My father gave me a choice to come here so I came here."
"Not meaning to interrupt but I didn't save you I have no power here let alone at home. It was Lily who saved us. We both owe our thanks to her."
"That's what friends are for anyway."
Shadow looked at Sok who had just spoken.
"I don't remember you do anything Sok."
"Oh look the prince can actually make a joke, but by the way how do you know this kid Taraja." He looked towards the kid noticing his poor clothing alone with his sandy blonde hair, his thin scrawny arms and legs and sort of a mischievous face.
"He doesn't seem to be either a son of a noble or merchant?"
"Well..."
"It's ok you can tell them I don't mind."
"His family was actually one of the bigger merchants who helped my father get to the status he's at now. Sadly his father did something that the queen made sure to tear down his business but no one, even my father doesn't know why. It was before we weee born but after my father still visits his father and usually loans them money whenever his father lets him."
"What's your name?"
"Tobias but my friends at home just call me tobi."
After the incident they continued to look around and got their class listing a few hours after with more time to walk and talk.
'It seems you've let down your walls little by little by talking in the group.'
"I know but I can't afford to trust them if anything I can use Lily as a wall of protection I don't mind being friends but if it comes to it and they are watching me for the queen I'll just fit it in and take my leave at another time.
If I can survive long enough for masters plan to work then I'll be ok."
'And if his plan doesn't work what will you do?'
I'll find a way myself even if I have to leave and come back. I'm stronger now...no I'm getting stronger everyday the more I train I'll conceal anything that would make her jump at the opportunity to contain me. Yet still be good enough that she keeps me here to train."
"Shadow are you gonna answer?" Lily looked at shadow for a second before he realized.
"Uh sorry I zoned out."
"We were talking bout the monthly battles. It seems that even though it's monthly not all the teams fight and it's usually only a couple teams per month. Since it's five people in a group we thought we should all just register now. Even thought they usually give you the full month to select your teammates. It just makes sense since we'll have two martial artists and two mages while you also practice both it would be extremely balanced."
The group looked at shadow waiting for his answer quietly but yet their eyes spoke volumes as if to say "Say yes already."
"Sure why not." from what he could tell Taraja was strong and even Sok if anything just Lily being in the group gave him a small protection so it seems to be a win for him. Even if Tobi was weak all he needed to do was show his success in the solo tournament to his mother, and he would succeed even if he lost the team battles.