Dragon queen and her mage

A New title: The kings Hounds

Tianna's eyes flutter open, her vision hazy at first, but she quickly rubs them to focus on the timepiece beside her. "Oh no! I'm gonna be late!" she exclaims, leaping out of bed and scrambling to get ready for the academy. In a matter of minutes, she dashes out the door, sprinting towards the academy and straight into her classroom. To her relief, her best friends have saved her a seat, as they always do. She apologizes to the teacher, who simply gestures for her to sit down. "Lost in dreamland again, huh?" her friend Cleric teases with a mischievous grin. Cleric, the Bard class, always believes battles need a catchy tune and an adventurous theme song. "Oh, hush it, Cleric," she pouts at her friend before her other best friend chimes in. "You really need to start coming on time, Tianna. One of these days, you'll miss something important!" scolds Rhea, the Rogue of their trio. Everyone stumbles over their words and can't help but smile at Rhea's captivating presence.

As the normal work continues, three guards abruptly enter the classroom, apologizing for the interruption. "We require the presence of Tianna Medlock, Cleric Denshorn, and Rhea Thorne. The king has summoned you. Don't worry about the rest of the classes. This is of utmost importance," they announce, unsure of whom they're addressing until the Trio stands up. Tianna and Cleric rise nervously, while Rhea stands with her characteristic confidence and unwavering pride. The class exchanges curious glances as they watch the trio of friends and the guards. Murmurs and whispers fill the room as everyone wonders what could be happening. The air is thick with anticipation and speculation. The teacher's voice cuts through the murmurs, commanding the class's attention back to the lesson. Meanwhile, the trio walks alongside the guards in silence, the tension palpable. The only sound that fills the air is the echoing of their footsteps as they make their way through the hallways. After what feels like an eternity, they finally reach the grand castle gates. The guards inform the trio that the king is on the 5th floor and that there will be two guards waiting on the first floor to escort them. After expressing their gratitude to the guards, the trio hurries off towards the king, maintaining a brisk pace. As they reach the first floor, they are greeted by the waiting guards. One of them directs them with a monotone voice, "This way." In the midst of their journey, Tianna catches a fleeting glimpse of a stunning girl with blond hair, green eyes, and fair skin, radiating a warm smile. "Who was that?" Tianna wonders silently, her thoughts quickly returning to the task at hand.

After what feels like an eternity, the trio finally reaches the doors of the king's chamber. The guards escort them inside, and the king, engrossed in paperwork, looks up as the door closes. "The three students, as you requested, King Reginal," the guard announces, standing by the door. The king's voice calms their nerves, assuring them that they are not in trouble. "Don't worry, you three. Come, have a seat. I have an offer for you." As an hour passes by, filled with discussions and negotiations between the king and the trio, the door suddenly opens, capturing the attention of everyone in the room. To their surprise, it's the same girl that Tianna caught a glimpse of earlier, now revealed as the king's daughter, Seraphina. The king's face lights up with a warm smile as he welcomes his kin, "Ah, my beautiful daughter, Seraphina." With a gentle voice, she requests a simple change to the king's plan. Rhea stands up and respectfully bows before asking, "And what would need changing?" She looks at the princess, intrigued by her suggestion. Seraphina smiles and explains that if the students are going to undertake high-level quests, they shouldn't have to pay for revival by the Giving Tree of Life. Instead of getting the quest payment, they should receive a monthly payment instead. The king sighs and agrees. Another hour passes, and finally, an agreement is reached. As everyone stands, the king addresses them, saying, "Don't worry about your classes. You will be known as the King's Hounds, which means you won't face any consequences when you miss class for quests. But remember, don't misuse the title I'm granting you." His words carry a mix of warmth and a hint of intimidation. The trio nods and agrees before hurrying back to class as the king demanded.

As they get back to the academy, people are already flooding out from the classrooms for lunch. "how long did we take?" Cleric asks until suddenly his stomach growls. "Don't worry, Cleric, we didn't miss too much. Besides, we have a cool title now and a chance to make a difference. Let's go grab some food and recharge!" Rhea playfully scolds Cleric while Tianna can't help but giggle at their banter. As they head to the lunch hall, Tianna thinks to herself, "Today is definitely going to shake things up!"