Chapter Text
Prologue
On the very rare occasions when a Royal Sword Academy student showed up on the Night Raven College campus, he was greeted with the most hostility one could ever imagine from the black-uniformed students, but on this occasion that hostility was accompanied by looks of confusion, contempt and even disappointment.
Tieran Fairel was known for being the youngest of three brothers, all of whom were descended from well-known fairy godmothers who helped various heroes throughout history, so everyone knew who he was without having to introduce him. Another reason he was quite well known was because he was the ‘spoiled child’ of Prince Beaunty Sleepy, the future ruler of the kingdom on the other side of the Scarlet Tooth Mountain Range, which separated it from the Valley of Thorns.
The young fairy walked calmly, completely enraptured by the boy beside him, whose arm he hugged affectionately as they strolled down the main street of the academy with a fixed destination.
Students in black uniforms couldn't help but glance at them as they passed, as the contrast of the black uniform with gold accents against the white with blue accents was too striking to overlook.
Soon the peculiar duo arrived at their destination: the hall of mirrors that led to the different dormitories of the academy. The place was located inside a stone dome, although the interior was illuminated by torches, it also had narrow stained glass windows of light colors, which drew colorful shapes on the floor of the place.
Tieran, filled with awe at the detailed architecture of the place, took a few steps forward, turning around to admire the place from all angles, but as he tried to repeat the turn, he tripped over his own foot. Before he fell face first to the ground, a hand landed on his hip, preventing him from finishing his fall and drawing him into a protective embrace.
The young fairy felt his cheeks redden at the touch and held his breath in nervousness, but immediately his body relaxed and he released the air he had been holding, resting his cheek on his companion's chest.
"Thank you..." Tieran murmured shyly.
"Don't worry," replied the young man in the black uniform, still hugging his companion.
A few seconds later, the embrace dissolved naturally, becoming two hands intertwined with affection and trust.
The couple looked ahead again, the Night Raven College student observed with a critical eye each one of the mirrors, but they stopped at the last mirror of the semicircle.
***
The Diasomnia common room was absolutely silent, save for the distant sound of thunder. Malleus Draconia, seated on his throne in the small watchtower that separated him from the hall, watched the situation before him in disbelief, glancing sideways at his mentor, but he could tell at once that his mentor seemed to be in the same state of confusion as he was. Both the prince and his mentor turned their gazes to the third person in the watchtower, probably the one most affected by the situation.
"I wish to tender my voluntary resignation from the Diasomnia dormitory," the student's firm voice said before them, squeezing Tieran's hand lightly, "as well as my consented and voluntary dismissal as personal escort to the crown prince of the Valley of Thorns."
A joint gasp echoed through the silent common room, followed by a loud and resounding bolt of lightning not far away. Tieran was startled by the loud sound, clinging to his companion as he hugged him protectively, pointing his magical quill at the prince of the Valley of Thorns.
"Are you sure of your words, Sebek Zigbolt?" Malleus asked seriously.
"Yes" answered the young half-faerie, looking into the prince's eyes with a gaze as empty as a moonless, starless night, with no trace of the admiration and enthusiasm that once shone in his gaze.