As Bryson made his way to the dining hall of the ship he stopped as he looked at a poster on the wall that advertised the Academy. Not sure why this is here considering that I'm already headed that way. Bryson thought to himself as he looked at the ad. It was a picture of the school itself with plenty of flowery words written on it to advertise the place.

"Isn't this place amazing?" A voice from next to Bryson said.

"Hmm?" Bryson said looking over and saw another person around his age already fully donned in The Academy's school uniform.

Evidently this student had hot pink shoulder-length hair tied into a braided ponytail and sparkling blue eyes. Her complexion held a playful demeanour on her fair face. Bryson noted how he was just slightly taller than this stranger.

"What's more amazing is that for the past few generations this is the same airship that's picked up and flown students from all around the world to The Academy. The title of captain of the airship has been passed down throughout the years even. You could say that the Cuirassiers have a bit of a family business when it comes to flying." She prattled on before realizing that Bryson was staring at her.

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, it's just I haven't been able to talk to anyone new yet." She apologized as she practically shook with joy.

"It's fine." Bryson said before he paused for a moment studying her, "You were part of the group that just boarded right?"

"Yeah, I'm from the Isles of Centuria, I've been roaming around the place for the last hour." She said nodding her head before she seemed to realize something, "Oh where are my manners! I'm Penny, Penny Pridetree. Believe it or not, I'm part of the first-year student council." She said looking almost embarrassed for adding the last part.

"Oh, so I'll be looking for you for guidance then."

"Oh no, oh please don't." Penny said looking sheepish, "I don't know if any noble would or should be listening to me."

"How do you know I'm a noble?"

"You're still in your normal attire." She said pointing at him before quickly pulling her finger back looking panicked, "Sorry! I shouldn't be pointing." She apologized while bowing.

"It's fine, we're both Academy students now, we're the same, in fact, I should probably act more respectfully towards you considering that you are my year representative." Bryson pointed out.

"I mean, we aren't even at school yet."

"But you still need to be able to talk to people as their equal, noble or not."

"You're right, it's just a bit nerve-racking having this type of responsibility. I don't think I have the talent to be part of the council."

"I'm sure you can do it." Bryson said.

"Thanks, uh, I actually don't know what your name is."

"Bryson."

"Any last name to that sir Bryson? Or is it Lord?" Penny said pondering for a second.

"Baron Coldwater officially, but it will just be Bryson at The Academy."

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"Coldwater." Penny said blinking once.

"Yes."

"As in the Coldwaters of the north?" She asked her voice shaking slightly as she looked a bit pale.

"Is something the matter?" Bryson asked eyes narrowing at her.

"I'm very sorry." Penny said suddenly going to her knees and kowtowing to him, "I meant no disrespect Lord Coldwater."

"Oh come on." Bryson said exasperated, "This can't be my image to the greater public." Bryson looked down to the still bowing Penny, "Get up." He barked.

"Please don't ruin me." Penny pathetically whimpered.

"Seriously, get up. Why would I spend all this time talking to you if I were as cruel as whatever the rumors say?"

"I don't know, they said that you love to manipulate people into committing their own dooms." Penny said from the floor.

"What does that even mean?"

"They said you once had an aspiring adventurer fight one of your knights and then you ruthlessly threw him off a ledge." She said practically becoming one with the floor at this point.

"That, oh wait I remember." Bryson recalled the incident where Kristel fought that one adventurer. Bodger was his name? Bryson tried to recall before addressing Penny, "That's stretching the actual truth. Look even if I wanted to do something I can in the school can I?"

"So you do want to." Penny said sounding even more frightened.

"For the love of- just get up, I swear on my name that I mean no ill to you." Bryson said rolling his eyes.

"That's not the most reassuring as one of the Coldwaters." Penny said though she did at least raise her head up from the ground.

"What do you want me to do?" Bryson said folding his arms at her.

"No, no. I'm in the wrong." Penny said shaking her head quickly, "You uh, you're really alright with me?"

"Are you really going to ask me again?"

"Sorry." She apologized as she picked herself up, "It's just that I've had some bad experiences with nobles back where I came from."

"Hmm, come to think of it, we stopped at a large island right? The area was some type of archipelago?" Bryson recalled.

"Yeah, most of the commoners tend to be neglected, even the wealthier households. If they don't have noble blood they tend to be shunned by the established nobles in the area." She said with a small nod, "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend." She said quickly.

"I'm not offended."

"Thank you." She said with a small smile, "Sorry about causing the scene." She said seemingly to have only now realized how embarrassing she was acting.

"You aren't the only person who gave a similar reaction, still I would rather it doesn't happen again." Bryson said with a grunt.

"Right, I'll do my best." She said with an awkward cough.

"You better, I don't think other nobles will find you very authoritative if you keep acting like the way you are."

"Yeah, I know." She groaned.

"Don't forget as a member of the student council you represent everyone this year."

"Oooh." Penny wailed as she clutched her head, "Please don't remind me."

"Penny." Another voice called over to them.

Bryson turned around to see another girl his age standing in the hallway. She had long green hair that reached down to nearly her ankles with green eyes to match. She had darker skin and stood far shorter than both Penny and himself. Though what was most striking about her was the straight face she had that reminded Bryson of a certain annoying medical girl.

"Oh Eva! Did you finish up already?" Penny said perking up.

"Yes. I have finished setting everything." The girl, Eva, replied.

"Oh right this is Eva, she's also part of the student council, we grew up together." Penny explained motioning towards her, "I still can't believe that we both got admitted to The Academy."

"Both of you are part of the student council? That's pretty impressive." Bryson said genuinely impressed. It seemed that confidence aside these two had some real talent.

"Thank you, that is kind of you to say sir." Eva said giving a polite bow.

"I'm just stating the facts." Bryson said with a shrug.

"Still, your kindness great for us to hear." Penny said.

"Penny, do you want to check to make sure everything is in place?" Eva asked her.

"Oh right, I got so excited that I sort of roamed around without thinking." Penny said with a chuckle, "Sorry, but uh, I need to go check on my stuff."

"I'm not stopping you." Bryson said with a shrug.

"Thanks again, it was a pleasure to meet you again!" Penny said with a wave as she and Eva parted ways with Bryson.

"Hmm." Bryson said with a grunt as he walked off.

"Who was he? A noble?" Eva asked as they were walking off.

"Believe it or not that was Bryson Coldwater." Penny said with a giggle.

"Bryson Coldwater?" Eva said giving an ever-so-slight look of surprise, "He's different than expected."

"I know right?" Penny said smiling.

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