Students come from around the world to attend four specialized and prestigious schools - The Kings' Alliance Royal Academies. They are the future of royalty, defense, magic, and the arts.
But everything is not as it seems. Rumours circulate about e...
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Monsieur Andrae Moreau of Languedoc-Roussillon of The French Republic Royal Academy, year two - 16 ✧❈✧
You don't get any bigger, or more colourful, than a circus train.
Andrae was well aware of this as he rode one into a city in southern France - his so-called hometown. Now if he could just slip away quietly, he'd find his friends and they'd drive down to Andorra.
The train slowly screeched to a stop next to a large open field. He could see the station a ways ahead, and he hoped that his suitcases wouldn't get too dirty getting there. Although, with his time on trapeze he knew he was plenty strong enough to carry them both.
He climbed down onto one of the narrow platforms between cars and slipped inside. His grandfather was asleep, and he didn't want to wake him as he grabbed his bags. But a minute later, someone opened the sliding door.
"Hey, there he is!" the strongman grinned. "Thought you could run away from the circus without saying goodbye?"
Andrae sighed and shook his head. "I should have known better." He was jerked down to the ground and suddenly found himself being crushed. "Oof..."
"Found him! No sneaking off now, Andrae," his grandfather said, suddenly waking up.
Two acrobats joined the hug, and then the sword swallower.
"I'm going to miss you all too. Can I please breathe now?" He was finally released and stepped away to see his family coming forward.
"There you are. I was worried you had left, mijo," his mother said, coming to hug him.
His father joined them and patted her shoulder. "He wouldn't go without saying goodbye to us, oui Carlita?"
"'Course he wouldn't," his 'cousin' said. As the hug broke up, he playfully punched Andrae's shoulder. "Now don't go getting too fancy on us at that royal school of yours."
"Royal academy," their grandfather corrected, slowly getting down from the train car. "I'd say our boy will be the epitome of sophistication by next summer."
"And we'll be anxiously awaiting your return," the ring master said with a smile. "Good luck this year, Andrae. I'm sure it will be just as good for you as the last. Now, if you'll pardon us, we have a circus to construct." He donned his red silk hat and turned on his heel to direct everyone as they loaded boxes off the train.
Turning back to his family, he put a hand on his parents' shoulders. "I should be thanking you for letting me go in the first place."
His father smiled and nodded towards the train station. "You should be going."
"Si mijo. Go and make your familia proud."
Andrae smiled at them and picked up his bags. As he started walking, everyone started calling out who hadn't gotten a chance to say goodbye yet. He lifted a bag in a half wave and they cheered. He wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed or grateful as he could hear them all the way to the station.
Waiting for him on the platform were two of his friends.
"Took you long enough," Taji called out.
"I didn't think they were going to let you leave," Sahir snickered as he got closer.
"Neither did I. Now come on, let's go!" The driver took his bags, and he glanced back at the colourful cars. Already he could see the giant red and white pieces of fabric being unloaded.
As he got into the limo with Prince Sahir's food and drinks waiting, he'd already crossed into a very different life.
