Nathan and Tina had already made themselves comfortable on seats pushed up against the wall, by the time Rachel was returning from her conversation with George and James. They both looked up at her with expecting eyes.

“So, did you figure out why there was a crowd around them?” Nathan asked while returning his focus on the various people moving about the eatery.

“No, I had something else I needed to talk to them about,” Rachel replied forcing herself to hide the emotion trying to escape her throat. “I’m sure the crowd formed around them because they are more famous now.”

“I think people saw the crowd and tried to see what was happening like we did and that was how the crowd got so big,” Tina said.

“Yeah, it probably isn’t much fun to be in their position. I mean do they even get privacy?” Nathan wondered aloud.

“Maybe the academy should set some boundaries? Do you think that would work?” Rachel asked.

“It could work, but honestly don’t you think they should figure out how to manage it themselves? When they leave the academy, they will still have to deal with crowds,” Nathan tried explaining.

“Yeah, I guess it’s up to them,” Rachel acknowledged.

“Well, are you all ready to get food? The eatery is starting to clear up now,” Tina asked?

“Yes, I’m ready to eat!” Nathan replied.

“Sure,” Rachel said.

Rachel followed behind Nathan and Tina to the buffet styled eatery. She was still nervous with worry over whether George and James would still be her friends. James didn’t seem to care either way, but in all honesty, he could probably be coaxed with food. George on the other hand might have felt betrayed and it probably had to do with what Rachel had overheard when she was officiating the tournament. Just as soon as the memory of George telling James that he liked her was being recalled Rachel forced it back down. Knowing this information was already painful because she had invaded her friend’s privacy. She chose to focus on the food she wanted to eat, she grabbed bread and meat stew.

“Rachel, why do you seem to be eating more food than usual?” Tina asked.

“I don’t know, maybe walking around the academy a lot has invigorated my metabolism?” Rachel replied.

“Well, what did you do before the academy?” Nathan asked, trying to earnestly learn more about his friend.

“I was confined to my family’s home. So, I didn’t move around much. Do you know how I wore those weird clothes before I bought ones from this region? I didn’t know what kind of clothes were popular, so I asked for comfortable clothing in plain colors and that’s what I ended up wearing. It wasn’t until I saw someone from one of the windows wearing a bright red dress, that I realized that there was something so beautiful that could be worn,” Rachel explained.

Again, Nathan and Tina were perplexed by this girl in front of them. How could someone who was extremely sheltered growing up, be outgoing, and have the strength to interact with someone like Reginald? They knew the answer to their question. Escaping her sheltered life was the reason Rachel could be social, but it didn’t quite explain her relationship with Reginald. Not wanting to pry any further Nathan decided to focus on his food and Tina followed. For a brief moment, Rachel just stared into her stew. Her mind kept trying to predict what was going to happen with the duke, the academy, George, James, Nathan, and Tina when the secret is out. But when she couldn’t come to a conclusion she relented and decided to eat her food before it became cold.

George and James couldn’t find Reginald in his office, in the couple of minutes they had before sparring practice. Reginald was going to have to come out from wherever he was hiding to initiate the practice. So, they waited in the hallway for him to appear. He popped his head out of the room closest to the locker room. Upon passing the rooms earlier, George had noticed that was the one with the curtains pulled closed. They could have opened every door of all the rooms looking for the duke or Reginald, but that would both draw attention and would be rude. Reginald turned his head and saw George and James. He knew that meant Rachel was able to talk to them. He was glad she didn’t delay this matter because he didn’t want to keep the duke waiting. There was also a lot of plans to set up that he had already discussed with the duke, that needed to be completed for Rachel to work as a fairy, both safely and successfully.

Reginald made eye contact with George and nodded at him. He beckoned him towards the door he had just opened.

“Your father is in here.”

George nodded and followed behind Reginald. James followed behind George. The duke was a stern man and very hard to please on the outside. On the inside, he was a very concerned and doting father, who was extremely grateful to Rachel for bringing him to the academy to see his son.

“George and James. Did Rachel talk to you?” Duke Langston asked.

“Yes, Father she did. She revealed to us that she is a fairy,” George replied.

“Well, I have a lot to talk to you and Rachel regarding this matter, but it would be best to discuss it later after your classes are finished. Please bring Rachel with you and James to dinner at our small residence we have here,” Duke Langston replied calmly.

“Yes, father. I’ll see you then.”

George bowed to his father and left; James did the same. He wasn’t upset with his father; he couldn’t be because he hasn’t done anything wrong. But George the usually calm boy who rationalized everything was feeling defeated and that was making his emotions stir.

Sparring practice felt different. Everyone who had seen how George almost obliterated the first two he was put up against were now afraid to face him. His uptick in emotion made him use more energy than was required to take down his peers and this was why he had done many mental exercises over the years to lockdown on his emotions. He knew that while they were an asset that could produce strength almost out of thin air when misused they would ultimately be your downfall.

After George had defeated three more peers, he calmed down a bit but having been intrigued by his increase in strength he wanted to see if he had enough energy to keep going and so he thought about how all the things that made him upset, the crowds, Rachel being a fairy, and his father. He let loose all of this baggage on all of his peers, including James. But James who normally couldn’t see any of George’s weaknesses when they fought found them all. George unconsciously learned to rely on his strength rather than his technique towards the last of the peers.

James was able to land multiple hits on George, to George’s surprise. Before James’ next hit he quickly stopped thinking about the things that upset him and calmed down. He was tired but was able to block James’ sword with his shield. Surprised by his change in demeanor James’ took one step back before being knocked onto the ground by George and his shield. The slight hope James had to defeat George was all gone. What a demon George was to be able to strengthen himself with emotion, but not get lost in it, James thought.

Duke Langston saw George fight the other students for the first time. He was thoroughly impressed that not one student could defeat his son. It wouldn’t be but a few more years before he grew to his full height and would be sent to war. Despite letting George decide what he wanted to do Duke Langston was always surprised that his son kept choosing the hardest path to follow. The path towards peace and prosperity for Gerais. It was no doubt that Rachel was responding to his sincerity and was the only person who could help George survive his path.