Velder Academy High: Chung and Ara

The Beginning

Ara is reluctant about her uniform, confused on how it can be so much more different than her traditional robes from her home. But nonetheless she'd gladly follow her father if it means he would be happy. She just hopes being a foreigner in a new school wouldn't attract too much attention.

"Ara!" A voice calls out to her.

"Are you, ready Ara?" Her father calls her. She quickly grabs her bag and packs her small pet fox in it, knowing she cannot leave it at home or else her parents might find out or worse. At first it struggles, refusing to go into such small space.

"Eun, you need to come with me" she softly says, trying her best to cram Eun into her bag.

"Eun!" She declares slightly louder. Same response from the fox.

"I'm coming, father!" She calls back. Finally, gaining victory as she crams Eun inside her bag. She rushes out of her messy room filled with boxes that are yet to be unpacked. And as she heads outside, a box catches her foot, causing her to trip and tumble. Eun growls in her bag, as Ara regains her footing, silencing the fox inside her bag.

She quickly heads down the stairs and is met by her father, his hands behind his back.

"Good morning, Father" she politely says. As she tries her best to hide the face of panic and worry.

"Ara, I heard the crash, you tripped again" He scolds, though the slight upturn of his lips barely conceal his smile.

"I'm sorry, father" She replies. And after a brief pause they both burst out in laughter.

"Ara, I know you're in a new school. So I wanted to give you this just as a little present for being so kind to your new mother" He says.

Ara turns red. It's her first time getting something from her father for such an ordinary day. She isn't prepared.

"T-thank you, father! I'm speechless" she stammers.

From his back pocket he extracts a bright orange pin with the family insignia on it. Ara looks on in wonder as she takes the pin gently from her father, ties her hair and places the pin in it. Her father smiles with pride.

She looks into the mirror and she is astonished with how different she looks just by changing her hair.

"You look beautiful" Her father speaks and Ara turns around to hug him.

"Thanks a lot!" she says softly, burying her face in his father's belly.

"You should go now!" Her father exclaims. "You don't want to be late now"

Ara lets him go as she smiles "You're right. I'll be back first thing after school!" She says running towards the door.

Ara breathes the fresh air as she opens the zipper of the bag so Eun, her pet fox can poke her head out to breathe.

"Smell that, Eun?" She asks her. Eun just snarls "It's a brand new day"

Meanwhile across the town, Chung sits in the table. Food on his plate delivered by his butler, Alfred.

"Tables are a bit empty today, isn't it Alfred?" Chung says.

"Such is the life of a lonely prince from overseas, master. Far from your father's banquets at home" Alfred replies.

"Ah, yes" He continues. "The warm welcoming home of your father is something to be remembered. The guests were there every day, meals were always warm and ready to be eaten. And this house is as big but the company is lacking everyday."