When the thought of home crossed her mind, tears welled up in her eyes, startling everyone present. Shoyo and Ayaka comforted her. With Rachel's sobbing, she began to narrate her past stories.
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When Rachel was too young to understand, her mother had already left home, leaving only her father and grandmother to take care of her. However, her mother's departure had a devastating impact on her father, who resorted to drinking and gambling all day, neglecting his responsibilities at home. He frequently vented his frustration on Rachel and even came close to killing her several times.
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Her grandmother had no choice but to move away with Rachel, and they lived a life of poverty. During that time, her grandmother revealed an important secret to her: Rachel was not her biological child, but rather someone she had taken in. This explained why her father treated her so poorly. Despite knowing that she had no blood relation to her grandmother, Rachel still appreciated her grandmother's care and remained filial towards her.
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When Rachel was seven years old, her grandmother, exhausted both mentally and physically, passed away. "My good granddaughter... Grandma won't be able to attend your school opening ceremony..." Her grandmother's last words were a request for Rachel to live a good life.
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Later on, Rachel took on household chores for the neighbors and completed six years of basic education. Although she was not lacking in material needs, she still felt a sense of homelessness.
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Now, the home she had always longed for appeared before her, and naturally, she was deeply moved.
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After dinner at Shoyo's house, they returned to the academy and went back to their respective rooms. This time, Cloude was not there. Instead of immediately going into the bathroom, Shoyo decided to exercise in the hallway to improve his physical fitness.
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As he approached completing 500 push-ups, the door to his room opened.
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"Oh, you're back?" Shoyo greeted Cloude happily.
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"Try not to sound so disgusted when you say that. Go to bed early; we still need to prepare for the celebration tomorrow," Cloude replied.
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After Cloude took off his equipment, he went to take a shower, leaving Shoyo to tidy up the bedding. Just as Shoyo was about to undress and join him, a roar came from the bathroom.
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"After I'm done, I'll organize my belongings. Don't touch my sword. And don't come in!"
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The next day, all the teachers and students gathered in the square early in the morning.
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"His Majesty will visit the academy during the parade and review the students. Remember to be fully prepared and not to lose face!" Headmaster always delivered such impactful speeches.
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The orderly and grand parade started from the palace, circled around Grandecy, and returned to the palace. Afterward, there would be an annual speech followed by a grand celebration. In the evening, there would be magnificent fireworks and a carnival party, and the whole city would be immersed in a festive atmosphere.
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The current king is Anwar, the second prince who was severely injured in an assassination attempt nine years ago. Due to the sudden passing of the king and the execution of the highly regarded eldest prince, Lucius, for usurpation, there was an immediate need for a successor. As the only heir to the Grandecy royal family, Anwar took on the responsibility in the face of danger.
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The change in monarchy did not lead to a decline in society. On the contrary, during Anwar's nine-year reign, the well-being of the people of Grandecy improved, trade with the other three cities flourished, and overall development was prosperous. Efforts were made to support the resource areas outside the village during the "Skullbreaker" war, resulting in reduced casualties. As a result, the people greatly supported the second prince.
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Some of the people had been waiting outside the palace in advance. As the gates opened, applause and cheers filled the air. In the middle, guarded by soldiers and escorts, was a majestic golden Shaclaw.
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Shaclaw is one of the rare beasts. It has strong and slender limbs with three sharp claws that can easily destroy wood and cut through flesh. Despite its fierce appearance, it has a gentle face that doesn't match its strength. Under normal circumstances, its claws are retracted, making it hard to imagine its extraordinary destructive power.
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Although Shaclaw is heavy in size, it has been extensively bred by humans due to its pleasing and entertaining appearance coupled with its powerful combat abilities, making it the best companion for transportation and mobility.
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While the fur of Shaclaw is generally silver-gray, the golden color is exclusively used by the royal family. Naturally, it is Anwar, the king, who rides on it.
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