The Princess of Ender island

Alisa Akasha was a vampire. Or atleast, a half-vampire, as well as the student council vice president. You see, at Ender Island International Academy, demi-humans and humans lived together in relative harmony. Located within the special international zone, Ender Island, this was one of the few places in the world where demi-human teens could live a relatively human-like life.

Now Alisa was considered one of the most beautiful girls at the school, and I am inclined to agree. The red eyes and her long silky black hair, as well as the way her fangs flashed whenever she would laugh were all top of the list of my cute points. We were also in the same class, and sat next to each other, so we spoke often. Our routine was a simple one. She would enter the classroom, much to the dazzlement of our fellow classmates, wearing a friendly, but distant look on her face. Her red eyes would scan our classroom till she locked eyes with mine. A smirk would emerge on her face as she sauntered over.

“Good morning Ray,” she smiled.

“Morning, Alisa…” I yawned.

She stood there expectantly. With a sigh, I rose to my feet, taking her bag and pulling out her chair for her. For some reason, she had taken to using me as a servant. Well, I knew the reason, but that was a story for another time.

“Anything else, princess?” I asked.

“Hmm,” she put a finger to her lips. “Perhaps a back massage is in order. I've been feeling really sore lately.”

“Really? I wonder why…” My eyes drifted towards her chest.

“Hey! Where are you looking?” her face turned beat red as she wrapped her arms over her body.

“What?” I pretended I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“I’ve been staying up late studying! All those hours hunched over doesn’t help my back!” She offered a counter explanation.

“Oh, for college entrance exams right?” I shrugged.

“Exactly!” she pointed.

It was kinda cute how easily her princess vibe broke. Another one of her cute points. She was a normal girl pretending to be more haughty than she was. She doesn’t know I've seen her playing with street cats in her spare time or when she cried over a baby bird that fell from a tree.

“Speaking of entrance exams, have you been studying?” she asked, leaning forward.

“Nah,” I replied. “Too busy with gacha and anime.”

“Again with the anime…” she sighed. “I don’t get you, Ray. Your grades are decent and you’re a fairly athletic guy, but you don’t seem to care about anything other than otaku stuff. Why?”

“And serving you of course, princess,” I smiled, trying to change the subject.

“Geez,” she blushed, turning away from me. Looks like it worked.

After class, I helped carry her books and bag.

“There goes the princess and her knight again…” I would hear in the hallways. The jealous stares of the students was also a point of satisfaction to me.

“Ah, the princess!” Frena smirked as we walked into the student council room, her dog ears perking up in joy.

“Good afternoon Frena,” Alisa greeted.

“Yo,” I also greeted.

“Looking dumb and pathetic as ever, Ray. Typical human,” Frena laughed.

Frena was a werewolf. Where normally you would expect some kind of ferocious beast, the demi-human blood instead produced a dog girl. Just a dog girl. I’m sure if she wanted to tear me to shreds, she could do it easily, but I digress.

“Is the president out?” Alisa asked, taking a seat before turning to me.” Tea please!” She smiled.

“Yeah. Taking care of some human relations business,” Frena replied.

I sighed, getting up and heading over to the tea pot. A few minutes later, I placed the tea cup by her side, complete with several cubes of sugar. She liked it very sweet. Oh, I should point out that I was the student council secretary. Alisa had roped me in as part of the servant deal. Mostly, I helped her with paper work.

“I don’t envy his job,” I admitted, taking a seat next to Alisa. “That kinda stuff tends to get ugly and complicated.”

“That’s because you’re lazy.” The door swung open as the president entered. “And a bit short sighted.”

The president, Yor Nightgale, was an Ogre. He was also considered the most popular guy at the school. Tall, handsome, silver haired, with a lean muscular build and a serious attitude. He was the real deal.

“Politics,” I shrugged. “Not my style.”

“And yet you are in the student council.” Yor replied, walking over to his desk. I just grinned at him.

“So, how’d it go?” I asked.

“Not great,” Yor sighed, leaning back on his chair.

“It can’t be helped,” Alisa said, placing her tea cup down on the table. “Humans and Demi-humans have a long history of tragedy and grievances. Solving these issues is not something we can do overnight. My father’s reputation doesn’t help either.”

“Lord Akasha. The Bloody God,” I let out.

Lord Akasha was a thousand year old Royal Vampire. His reign of terror plunged the humans and demi-humans into a world war that lasted thirty years, only ending by a narrow ceasefire and the establishment of Ender island. Many humans still held deep grudges against demi-humans for the war, however. Racial discrimination and violence were still commonplace. Even at this school, there was tension.

“Anything I can help you with?” Alisa asked Yor, her eyes turned to me. She was going to put work on me.

“Ray, you do know that the Akasha Empire doesn’t have any actual authority on Ender island right? You don’t have to listen to her,” Yor pointed out.

“I’ll have you know that Ray volunteered to be my servant of his own free will. I am more than happy to oblige him,” Alisa answered.

“I guess I’m just into it. I like the princess play,” I grinned.

“Ray! Don’t make it weird!” Alisa turned beet red, nearly slapping me.

“There’s some council work i need you to do actually, Alisa,” Yor said, ignoring the situation unfolding in front of him.

“Ah, Of course.” Alisa walked over, grabbing a stack of papers from Yor’s desk.

“Also, I need you to be careful. The protests have been acting up. A lot of people don’t want you in this school, despite how popular you are. Watch your back.” Yor turned to me when he said that. I nodded in agreement.

“Please. I am a royal vampire. Unless your name is Vanderstark, no one would dare try anything on me,” she boasted.

“You’re still half human,” Frena pointed out, her ears twitching. “Other than Ray, you're more human than us two.”

“Wah, this is a lot,” Alisa flustered, scanning through the stack. Her eyes slanted in my direction.

“Guess, we’re staying late today,” I sighed. “Damn and I had plans too.”

“To watch more anime?” Alisa pointed out.

“Guilty,” I smirked.

The sun was beginning to set when we finished up for the day. Frena had left about an hour in, so it was only Yor, Alisa, and I.

“Sorry for putting this on you guys so suddenly,” Yor apologized.

“No worries, it’s our job,” Alisa said.

“Our? I did most of it!” I protested.

“Only the parts I didn’t want to bother with,” she pointed.

“Which was most of it!” I screamed.

“The school’s going to close down soon,” Yor interrupted. “Make sure Alisa gets home safe. If anything happens to her, it just might plunge the world into another World War.”

“That’s an extreme reaction!” I pointed out.

I knew he was right. Most rumors confirmed that a big reason the war ended was Lord Akasha falling in love with a human. Alisa was born of that love. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Alisa held the entire world on her shoulders. It was something I knew very well.

“Please. As if Ray could actually do anything to protect me,” she pointed out.

“I can sacrifice my body for you. In fact, my body is yours to use as you please.” I snapped my fingers.

“Stop misinterpreting our master-servant relationship!” She yelled.

“Well, she’s in your hands Ray,” Yor said, walking up to me and lightly punching my arm. “See you guys tomorrow.”

We waved him goodbye as we split in front of the school.

“He’s way too cool…” I said.

“Someone should take note,” Alisa shot back. “You don’t have to escort me.”

“What kind of knight doesn’t escort his princess?” I said. “I’ll walk you halfway at least.”

Most students, including myself, lived in the campus dormitories. Alisa, princess that she was, lived in a penthouse about ten minutes down the road. The walk was relatively safe and well lit, but with the recent protests, demihumans had to exercise extra precautions.

The sun painted the sky and sea orange. We walked along a sea side road, the salty breeze blowing from the west. Only the occasional car passed us as we moved in relative silence.

“You never did answer my question,” she said.

“To go out with you? Sorry I'm married to my gacha,” I snapped.

“No, you moron!” She turned, flustered. “And did you just turn down royalty?”

I stuck my tongue out. Yeah, this never gets old.

“Why aren’t you studying for the entrance exams?” She asked. “Don’t you have dreams or ambitions?”

“Isn’t serving you enough?” I answered.

“Ha!” She laughed, her fangs exposed. “As if my father would accept you in the court.”

“Ouch. So let me shoot you a counter question. What are you studying for? You’re royalty. You can kick back and just eat cake the rest of your life if you like. Why bother?”

She turned, facing the ocean. Her long black hair danced in the soft breeze.

“I don’t think that would be right,” she explained. “Ray, my dream is to create a world free from the shackles of the old war. A world where demi-humans and humans could live together in peace. I think the best way to do that is with study and philanthropy. International relations, and going and mending those scars myself.”

“Sounds like a lot of work. Especially for someone who pawns all their paperwork to someone like me,” I said.

“I’m serious,” she pouted.

“No, I believe you are. It’s a very noble goal. World peace and all that. Suits you.” I smiled.

She blushed again.

“Uhm…“ she fidgeted. “I want to ask you something.” She bit her lip, looking from side to side, unable to meet my gaze.

“Will you…”

“She Devil….” the hooded man stood a short distance away from. His eyes were glowing red as he glared at us. “Abomination!”

“Alisa!” I yelled as the man lunged at her at inhuman speed, clawed hands aimed for her throat.