The servants ushered them through the halls to their assigned rooms. It was divided into three parts: Princes, Nobles and Commanders. Valt held into Shu's hand tightly as the pair followed the rest of the Princes to a long bright hallway. It wasn't fancy as their own castles, it was rather plain looking, without any artistic pictures hanging from the walls and crystal lamps hanging from the roof just like back at their homes. Oil lamps with iron holders could be seen on either side with a fair amount of distance between each one. Since the daylight was still hanging around the lamps were not lighted up. Shu felt a tug on his hand, he looked up to see a massive room with beds. Each one had a curtain surrounding it to respect their own privacy. The room was fancier than the hallway, the beds were made with the finest woods in the kingdom. The bed sheets and the pillowcases were soft and silky while their blankets were made with pure white fur, the pillows were stuffed with soft feathers which helped anyone to fall asleep in the instant their heads touched them. 

Their room was filled with Princes at the same age, Valt, Free, Zac, Xander and unfortunately Lui was the only ones Shu knew and the rest of the Princes were from different part of the world and Shu had quite obviously not met before. One of the servants led him to his bed. Shu followed her but stop dead when he saw Lui sitting on the one right next to his and to his right was Free, the prince of Doerin kingdom. He sighed looking at the ice prince who glared daggers at him. "I knew my luck is terrible" Shu silently thought. "But I didn't know that it would be completely jinxed"

Lui pointed a finger at him accusingly. "If you snored at night, I'll choke you to death" He declared making everyone else go silent. 

Valt smiled from the other side of the room. "Shu is the most quiet person you will ever meet Lui" 

Lui turned around shooting a icy glare at the cheerful boy who shut up in an instant. Shu gave a thankful smile to him, well at least he tried. Shu looked at the empty bed for his right, Prince Free had just disappeared from the room. He was sure that Free was just right there a second ago and now he's not as if he disappeared into thin air. A sigh escaped his lips as he brought one of his hands to his temple. "The outside world is weird", he concluded. Way more weird than he ever thought it would be and he's surrounded with weird people and his life is going to take a massive turn which can make it an endless nightmare. 

Soon, the hurry was over and the maids were out of the rooms. Only the low murmurs of the prince's surrounded the room. Lui let himself fall into the comfy bed. The journey from Hyoketsu to the Akarui kingdom was a long one, but Lui had much stamina left inside his body. Sure, the other weakling princes would need rest but he just wanted to go and train. Training was not something he did for only become powerful. It was something he loved and when he's training he felt like he was born to be a warrior. "Well well" Zac cheered twirling around dramatically as he observed the crest fallen face of the ice prince. "Let me guess, you want to train"

Lui sat down on his bed. "Yeah, that's what I want to do. Not to be stuck with idiots like you all"

Zac just grinned at him. "Try to become more social Lui, there are lot of people that would interest you. And they are excellent fighters"

"Ew people" Lui muttered getting up as he grabbed one end of the silk curtains and uncovered it drawing it around his bed but before he completely cut off the rest of the world he looked at Shu with a pointed look. "You, stay away from me" He closed the curtains to his face making Shu take a step back. 

"What did I do?" Shu silently asked from himself as the others started to chat among themselves again. It seemed like everyone was close with each other. And of course they might've met before in ceremonies among kingdoms. A small smile graced the red eyed blader as he spotted his friend fast asleep on his bed. He must be exhausted, Shu silently thought as he walked out of the room. He did want to get to know the others but it felt awkward. The rest of the princes gave him weird and pitying looks, as if they were pitying him because he's such a weak person. Shu scowled at the thought. True, he might not be strong as the others but still he had potential to become a warrior and he wanted to prove that. 

Shu wandered along the endless corridors of the school. Almost all of them looked the same, there was no way to find out where to go. Shu sighed leaning against one of the windowsills. The sun was setting by now and soon it will be dark, the oil lamps in the hallways would be lighten up. He just wanted to find the way to the library. The place he was attached to the most and that one place which he felt safe. Breaking the eerie silence in the corridor someone yawned. Shu jumped looking around to see Prince Free looking at him, his face passive as always and his head tilted to the side. Shu stared at the prince. As the rumours said Prince Free was the only one who could challenge Lui and have a chance in the battle. As he heard both of them were head to head. 

"What are you doing here?" He asked with a monotone voice. 

Shu clasped his hands behind his back. "Uhm, I'm kinda lost. I just wanted to find the library but I have no idea how to" Shu confessed with a teeny tiny hope inside his mind that Free would help him. 

Free blinked. "Well, I'm on my way to there, I can lead you if you want"

"Thank you" Shu stated with a sigh of relief. Free walked passed him beckoning him to follow. The whole way the pair was silent, it was rather awkward for Shu. He knew that if Valt was here he would've made the atmosphere more livelier but Shu just didn't know how to start a conversation and he did not want to make the situation more awkward, but thankfully for him Free started the conversation. 

"You like books?" He asked slowing his pace that the pair walked side by side. 

"Yeah" Shu simply answered. "Do you?"

Free shrugged. "I like to read, but I use the library for something else"

"Something else?" Shu almost instantly asked, curiosity taking the better of him. 

Free nodded. "The library is quiet and calm, the ideal place for sleep"

Shu did a double take, he heard that Prince Free liked to sleep, but someone going to the library just for that was something knew for him. He let out an amused huff unable to refrain the laughter. "Sorry" Shu said covering his mouth. "The idea that someone going to the library just to sleep is hilarious"

Free looked at him and smiled slightly. "I guess"

The rest of the walk they just talked casually, Shu felt comfortable talking with him. And as he figured Free was someone who liked to have small conversation but at the most times liked to keep quiet. Soon, Shu figured out that they were much alike than he thought. "Here we are" Free said stopping in front of a large wooden door. Shu watched as Free walked to the door and opened it, without much effort the door hissed open. As they guessed no one was inside. Almost everyone was inside there rooms resting and talking with each other. Shu stepped in, a soft gasp escaping his lips as his eyes wandered around the humongous bookshelves. It was another world, and the library was the biggest he had ever seen, even bigger than the one in the castle. 

"It's amazing" Shu said running his fingers through the hardcovers of books. "It's bigger than the one in the castle"

Free smiled looking at the mesmerized ruby eyes, "Of course it should be, books from every kingdom is here"

Shu turned to him. "Every kingdom?"

Free nodded walking toward a comfortable arm chair placed in the corner of the room, near the window. He made himself comfortable as he spoke. "Yep, every kingdom"

"Even from yours? And Hyoketsu?"

"Don't you believe me?" Free asked placing his hands behind his head.

Shu shook his head. "It's just I'm overwhelmed I guess"

Free hummed in response, he stared at the albino going through the books for a while. He seemed to be lost inside his own little world. Free felt curious, curious about his thoughts. What he felt about the outside world he might've been craving to see. "Can you do me a favour?" Free asked as the other whirled around on his heel to face him. 

"I owe you one for bringing me here, so sure"

"When you're done reading, don't bother waking me up. Tell Zac that I'll spend my night here in this library, and make sure to close the door but don't lock it from the outside" Free said. 

Shu made a confused face. "But you have your own bed inside our rooms"

"I prefer some peace and quiet, you remember the way to go back right?" He asked closing his eyes. 

"Yeah, I'll do it. Good night for you then" Shu said with a smile looking at the boy in front of him. As he heard the power of the Doerin royal family was draining. Shu thought Free was weird, he didn't pity him like most of the others did. And he seemed to be a mysterious person who kept everything to himself. Shu clasped his hands slightly walking to one of the bookshelves. He really wanted to see the fighting skills of the person who was considered to be strong as Lui. 

Time, something Shu always forgot when he was reading. He sat down on the bare floor as he was used to, a book on his lap as his eyes were trained on the words covering the page. The images danced inside his mind as he went through words. His mind was jumbled with many images, Shu always believed that writing is magic. The images that the writers paint inside the readers mind was magic. It was amazing how much some simple words can paint thousands of pictures. He was jerked away from his world to reality by the clock which echoed through the halls signaling that it's the tenth hour in the night. Shu got up quietly not wanting to disturb the sleeping prince near the window. He placed the book on the shelf and tiptoed toward the door with the candle which he used to read. 

Quietly closing the door behind him, he walked through the hallway which was lighted up by oil lamps. The ghostly lights made shadows which dances across the walls. The calm and quietness slowly faded away as he reached his room, the chatters indicated that none of them had still gone to sleep, even thought it was late night. Shu opened the door as quietly as he could and slipped in and faced the front to meet with eyes gaping holes at him. Shu blinked. uneasy by the sudden attention. 

"Shu" Valt yelled as he reached his bed. A grumpy looking Lui sitting down in a crossed leg position. His curtains were drawn back and he didn't seem to be happy about that. "Where were you? we were worried sick"

Shu smiled looking at his friend. "I was at the library"

"Nerd" Lui grumbled shooting a glare, Shu chose to ignore him. 

"Only Free is missing now" Zac said placing his hands on his hips. 

Shu sat down on his bed. "He won't be coming. Free is inside the library and said that he will be staying the night there."

"That lazy idiot is getting more weird with each passing day" Lui said crossing his arms as he leaned against the headboard. 

"Man" Valt said stretching his arms. "I slept for few hours but I'm still tired, and I should've thought that you might go and find the library as soon as you can." He yawned, his eyelids drooping.

"Why read so much? You're going to die early anyways" Lui suddenly said turning his head to the albino. The whole room fell into a stunning silence. Everyone turning to Lui and then to Shu. Zac was the one who broke the silence. 

"Lui you-"  Shu cut him off, "What's your problem? I'm not using your eyes to read, now do I? Just mind your own business" His voice was low as always. 

"Did I touch a nerve?" Lui smirked. "Aw you need  me to pity you and help you to live in the rest of the days you've got?"

Shu gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing at the male sitting on the next bed. "Just shut your trap, my life doesn't matter to you"

Lui got down from the bed and took a step toward Shu. His violet eyes reflected nothing but anger. "You does not belong here, don't try to act like you don't know that"

"Guys-" Zac said trying to break the heated argument between the two. Shu felt fire licking along his fingertips trying to break down into a huge flame. 

"That doesn't matter you, as I said just mind your own business. I don't want morons like you advising me to live my life the way they want"

Lui glared at him, his eyes trained on the ruby ones which glared right back at him. And without a warning his attacked the albino, pushing him toward the bed and pinning his arms above his head. The room was dead silent. None of them wanted to interfere knowing that the outcome wont be pretty if they did. Lui's face was frighteningly close, his icy cold breath tickled his face as the violet eyes boy pressured his wrist, his other hand wrapped around his throat, but he wasn't choking him, just trapping him into the bed. 

"Let me tell you this, you are just a piece of trash. You don't belong here and never will be"

His voice echoed inside his head. Shu gathered all his strength and attacked Lui kicking him in the shin. Lui released Shu and staggered few steps backward. His eyes glowing with utmost anger. Shu pushed himself up. "Didn't your so called father taught you the first lesson of a war, never underestimate your opponents" 

Lui laughed. "I don't underestimate my opponents. I value each and everyone of here for their talents. But except you. Can we even count you as an opponent? I don't think so. You should've just stayed in that palace of yours till you die" Lui clenched his fists, ice creeping from his hands wanting to attack the person right in front of him. 

"You don't know about me, so stop acting like you know me." Shu grumbled trying to resists the urge to attack him using his fire. Lui's eyes went to his finger tips, small flames sparking out them. 

"Such a power, just wasted on you"

Shu closed his eyes, "Such a good power wasted on an air head like you" Shu shot back. Finally, Lui snapped, his fist was covered with clear see through crystals as he drew he fist against the prince in front of him. But this time Xander stopped him, he held Lui back. 

"That's enough you two, stop making a scene" 

Zac looked at the other princes staring at the two with expressions filled with fear and curiosity. "Well, the show is over. Go to sleep everyone" Then he turned two the two princes still glaring daggers at each other. "And the two of you, cut that out. It's almost midnight"

Lui slapped Xander's hands away as he drew the curtains around his bed. Shu stepped into his bed doing the same. Both of them, closed each other out. Valt sighed, he walked to Shu's bed but didn't went inside. He just stayed at the other side of the curtain as he spoke. "Shu are you okay?"

"Yeah" came the answer from the other side of the curtain. "I'm just tired, see you tomorrow"

Valt hummed walking to his bed. He knew that in times like this his best friend needed a time for himself. Shu liked to think about his own problems in a  calm and quiet place, alone. And Valt knew that the best medicine for Shu is a good night sleep. Zac didn't talk to Lui. He knew that even if he did talk an answer would not come or else he would just curse him out using some not - so - beautiful words. 

Inside the curtains, Shu drew his knees to his chest wrapping his arms around them. He sighed quietly. The thought of being friends with everyone fading away from his mind. He hated him, he hated Lui Shirosagi from all his heart. Shu swore that he would prove Lui that he's a worthy opponent. But never ever in his life he'll be friends with him. 

Lui had same kind of thoughts running inside his mind. He swore to himself that he would end Shu. He would crush that pride off his veins and destroy his soul and burn his determination to ashes. Lui despised the red eyed boy, and he only wanted to bring doom to his whole life.

Hewo! Here's another chapter, hope you guys like it. And yeah everything is getting a bit more heated between the main pair. You all know what that means, DRAMA XD. Anyways enjoy the story! See ya all