Chapter Text
Alphen sighed as he walked into the new school, Elde Menancia High. A place of coexistence between Renans and Dahnans alike. That was the idea anyway, it had been roughly 100 years since Dahnan liberation politically, there were still very tense circumstances all around. Prejudices still sat just the same and crimes against 1 group to the other were extremely common. A lot of Dahnans still didn't have the best of circumstances, like Alphen himself, being originally from Calaglia but now living in Menancia with Zephyr, the man who took him in when he was younger and a victim of an underground Dahnan slavery ring. He could never repay that debt to Zephyr and is forever grateful. Zephyr and Alphen did a lot to help Dahnans, but Zephyr decided it was best for Alphen to finally be lended a normal life, things had relaxed to the point where he felt comfortable doing so. And Alphen earned it, Zephyr had earned enough money to get a small place in Viscint which was near the school. Not that he would be there too often himself, with being an icon of Dahnan freedom and perseverance he still had business in Calaglia and the other realms so he would be travelling a lot regardless. That didn't quite leave Alphen alone though.
Alongside him walked Law, Zephyr's son, who had been through the fair amount of trauma himself regarding everything. Despite this he was currently jumping up jovially. Because his excitement to join the school was next level, but not for reasons you'd think.
"Oh Alphen buddy, can you picture it? All the girls! Dahnans and Renans! No restrictions here, this is perfect!" Law said while punching Alphen in the arm.
Alphen pushed him away and smiled "C'mon kid give it a rest, we're here to learn and get a proper education which YOU desperately need".
Law threw a quick jab at Alphen's face but he dodged, "So you're telling me you aren't interested in any girls?".
"Not really no, I just never felt the need. Been busy trying to...y'know help stop the constant suffering of our people".
Law rolled his eyes "oh please you had plenty of free time, but you always elected to either make weapons or train".
"That was different, anyways though I'm just here to learn and help if I can in any way, girls aren't on my mind".
Law deflated for a second before a smirk formed on his face "How about a deal, if you find any girl at this school you are even slightly interested, you have to talk to her. At least a few times".
Alphen raised an eyebrow "If that's what you want fine, but I'm not gonna tell you if that happens".
"Oh you don't have to, I'll be able to tell".
Alphen just shrugged and kept walking, he had bigger things to worry about. Even with Menancia holding pretty peaceful relations with Renans and Dahnans, the current leaders thought it was a good idea to mix people from all over, not just Menancia into the school. So people from places like Mahag Saar would be here and relations there were most tense. He had a feeling it wouldn't be sunshine and rainbows, so he had to be ready to defend himself or anyone else who couldn't.
The school wasn't extremely large but big enough, they only had like 200 students since the younger kids were put into another building. After walking into the school Law jumped around in amusement.
"This is amazing Alphen, never seen architecture this nice anywhere"
"Yeah yeah..." Alphen just scoped the area, there weren't many people present as they were relatively early. Alphen identified a tall red haired man, he looked towards them and then approached.
The man carried himself in a way Alphen or Law didn't understand but could tell was very proper.
"Welcome to our new school, I do not recognize your faces I wager you're from outside Menancia".
Alphen and Law just nodded awkwardly .
The man cleared his throat "Where are my manners forgive me, I am Dohalim il Qaras, the principal of this institution. And you are?".
Alphen cleared his throat "I am Alphen, and next to me this is Law". Law just waved awkwardly.
Dohalim nodded "Ah you must be Dahnans, I understand your hesitation. Do not fret, as the principal here I will do everything in my power to ensure your experience is pleasurable, informative and safe. If you have any issues at all, feel free to visit me or my assistant Kelzalik. And for future interactions, feel free to simply call me Dohalim. I have no need for honorifics, whether Dahnan or Renan here, I just ask all the staff here are treated appropriately. "
Alphen found this man quite bizarre, but also trustworthy at the same time, he had no current qualms, so he simply spoke in the most proper voice he could.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, I hope to really...enjoy my time here" he stuttered out awkwardly.
Dohalim just smiled "It is my pleasure, I have business to tend to now. Feel free to make yourselves comfortable before your classes start. I trust you have your schedules already?".
Alphen nodded and Dohalim bid his farewells.
Law side-eyed Alphen "Damn man couldn't let me even get a word in."
"I couldn't allow you to embarrass the both of us in front of him, you're notorious for putting your foot in your mouth"
"Oh shut up!"
Alphen walked over and sat on lounging seat next to some plants with Law plopping next to him.
He already felt bored, he put his head on his hand and closed his eyes for a second while Law just babbled about some nonsense he didn't feel like hearing at the moment. This uniform wasn't the most comfortable, felt really constricting compared to the more combat-suited outfits he's used to. He already kinda hated this, but he couldn't take this opportunity for granted. His mind wandered to Doc, an elderly man who was stuck in the same place he was a long time ago. That man helped him through really rough times, and he visited him again before he came to Menancia. He told him not to waste this chance, that it could be the first step in a better life for him. To not waste it, and Alphen would at least do his best he could.
Alphen sighed again and lifted his head off his hand, opening his eyes he was greeted to a sight he would've never expected, a girl with long pink hair tied behind her sat primly on a bench alone with a bunch of food next to her. Alphen barely noted the food as he was too busy staring at her, she looked a little younger than he was, with amazing bright blue eyes that . He had never seen someone so...
His revelry was snapped when Law elbowed him in the gut laughing "Ahahaha you couldn't even last 10 minutes, welp you know the deal!"
Alphen panicked "No I wasn- I was ju-"
"Oh just shut up I saw you making googly eyes. Now are you gonna honor our deal or what?"
"I can't just walk up to her...look at her, how do I hold a candle to that?"
"Don't give me that crap, women fawn over you all the damn time and you always act oblivious."
Alphen sighed, he was never one to back down from a challenge and talking to a girl a few times can't be that hard right? People always tell him he has a way with words. And he needed to start meeting people here anyways.
After some more goading from Law he dragged himself to stand and march over to the pink haired girl. As he got closer she noticed him and raised her head to look at him. He was met with what was practically a death glare...maybe this would be harder than he thought.
"Um...hello, I uh, just noticed you had a lot of food with you! I was wondering where you got it from?"
The girl squinted at him "Is that your idea of an insult?"
Alphen panicked "no, no not at all. I just...am new around here, so I really don't know the layout at all"
Her glare slightly lightened "Take a right and walk down that hall, you'll find a food pantry, they should let you in",
"Thanks...uh I'm Alphen by the way, nice to meet you?" he said very hesitantly.
The girl sat there for a second before saying her name "...Just call me Shionne"
Alphen smiled "Nice to meet you Shionne".
Shionne was taken aback by his smile, with the sun behind him he looked almost angelic. She looked away quickly and mumbled something Alphen couldn't hear.
"Well I guess I'll be seeing you around."
Alphen turned to walk off, he shouldn't talk for too long she was trying to eat. As he did so though he tripped and in the process of catching his balance, spilled some of the food on Shionne's school uniform.
"You!" Shionne jumped up with such a glare that if looks could kill Alphen would already be 6 feet under.
Alphen panicked even harder now "Sorry I- didn't mean to-" but at this point Shionne already stormed off to deal with her clothes and sit elsewhere. Grabbing some of the food that was still fine on the way.
Behind him he could hear Law laughing up a storm and he shamefully started making his way towards the food pantry, he needed something spicy to take his mind off the absolute fool he just made himself in front of the prettiest girl he's ever seen.
While Law wiped the tears from his eyes at Alphen's failure, he saw a couple cute girls walking past. So he brushed back his hair, popped his jacket and prepared to go talk to them.
(He failed nearly as miserably as Alphen)
This new journey was off to a riveting start.