(Hydra Star System- Planet Eleron)

(Elite Student Housing Complex- Mansion 456Y)

"Yes, that is correct," Cleo spoke calmly as she leaned against her chair and watched the holographic projection in front of her.

On the other side of the screen was a middle-aged woman with long greying hair wearing the ceremonial white robe of the Imperial Family's upper rank servants.

"I will renounce my claim to the throne under the treaty of Northedron. Therefore, I will not be forced to participate in the succession ritual" Cleo continued to speak in a firm tone.

The female servant opened her mouth and replied with a hint of disbelief in her voice,

"Princess is there a reason why? Many of your siblings around your age will be taking part and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"There is no need for you to understand my reason. Simply record my declaration and we will not see each other again," Cleo responded coldly.

Her piercing green eyes stared directly at the servant who felt a cold chill run down her spine.

She nodded politely at the princess and then the holographic screen was cut off.

Cleo let out a heavy sigh as she rubbed her temples absentmindedly. Did she regret not participating in the succession ritual?

Maybe a little bit.

Anyone who claimed that they had no interest in becoming the ruler of the human side of the Federation was a liar or a fool.

To gain all that power... was an intoxicating possibility.

Many would be willing to risk their lives or the lives of others in order to achieve that goal at whatever the cost.

And it was precisely for that reason why Cleo chose not to participate.

She did not want to drag Sophie and her father into the internal conflicts of the royal family and most importantly...

She lacked the strength.

Cleo was an individual who was very aware of both her strengths and her weaknesses. She may be powerful compared to her peers as a mech controller but...

It would not be enough.

The top candidates for the throne were at either the void stage or the god stage.

If she faced one of those high-level cultivators during the ritual, then she would be lucky to escape with her life.

Cleo got up from her chair and stretched out her arms lazily. She picked up her wrist communicator that was on the table and placed it back on her arm.

What was the time?

The princess glanced at her metalloid device and saw that it was now around nine o' clock in the morning.

She had barely gotten any sleep last night after finally being able to contact her girlfriend after several weeks.

Sophie...

Cleo missed her terribly and felt a mixture of anger and worry in her heart because she knew that this experience would be repeated in the future.

That so-called 'hunter goddess' sent out missions to her lover that would always put her in harms way.

Cleo wanted to stop Sophie from being forced to go but didn't know how. However, she did know where to start...

Unbeknownst to Sophie she had been investigating private books and information sites on the Virtual Net about any information related to vessels.

Maybe hidden somewhere would be a method to sever the connection between a vessel and their otherworldly patron.

Still her research had been slow with little results.

The princess yawned sleepily and covered her mouth. Below her piercing green eyes were heavy bags that made her look quite tired.

Her hair was now a barely combed mess and her overall appearance really left much to be desired.

Cleo headed for the shower to freshen up. She splashed some water against her face and took out a comb from her storage bag.

It took around fifteen minutes but eventually she glanced at her reflection in the mirror and decided that it was good enough.

"Moon I'm heading out now!" Cleo yelled as she walked towards the front door.

She heard the sounds of wings flapping and then a large object landed on her shoulder.

Cleo stumbled slightly as the massive frostwing bat nuzzled against the side of her cheek for a moment.

Squeak! Squeak!

Moon screamed happily and then hopped off Cleo's shoulder before flying towards the master bedroom.

The princess' lips gently curved upwards as she watched the departing figure of the mischievous frostwing bat.

The mansion felt quite lonely when Sophie was away so Moon's antics did a lot to brighten up the mood.

Cleo opened the front door and stepped outside. She felt the cool morning breeze brush against her face.

There were a handful of other students walking around the housing complex and Cleo politely waved to the ones that greeted her.

Okay... so her first class was...

Cleo checked her schedule and saw that it was a Mech- Modification course. This was a unique course being offered at the university this semester.

The name of the professor teaching it had not been revealed yet since the first day of the class was today.

Yes... the late start was a bit peculiar but that only lent further intrigue to the mystery.

Actually, the modification of mechs by private individuals was a bit... grey in terms of legality so Cleo was surprised to see this course offered.

There was a trace of anticipation in her heart as she walked out of the housing complex towards the northern part of the campus.

It took around twenty minutes before she finally arrived at a massive three-story mechanical hangar that was sealed shut.

Two large, reinforced steel doors blocked the entrance to the hangar and each door was around the size of a medium-sized mech.

Cleo estimated that the doors had to be at least eighteen metres tall, so they were quite huge.

She was apparently the first to arrive since there was no one else here.

The princess waited around for a couple more minutes since the lecture was not due to start for another fifteen minutes.

"Cleo!" a cheerful voice rang out.

Cleo turned in the direction of the sound and saw a Mendolesa girl waving at her with a wide grin on her wolfish face.

Next to her with a skinny boy with androgynous facial features that were both masculine and feminine in charm.

"Good morning, Elenora... good morning, Drew... how are you all?" Cleo asked politely as she smiled at her classmates.

"Oh man! I'm pretty excited! Did you managed to find out who our professor is?" Elenora spoke enthusiastically and her tail wagged furiously from side to side.

"Not yet... it's quite the mystery... I even checked the database of the active professors on campus, and I still have no idea," Cleo truthfully admitted.

"Probably a criminal..." Drew muttered under his breath as he looked at the hangar with a small frown on his face.

His words instantly made the atmosphere a bit awkward, but Elenora laughed and filled the silence with some small talk.

Cleo engaged in some light conversation with the Mendolesa girl but Drew simply stood to the side and stared off into the distance.

His attitude had changed quite a bit since the mech controller exam last semester.

To be fair anyone who went through an intense life and death situation would find their personality slightly changed.

This was a rumor of course.... but Cleo had heard that the Quafes boy had actually submitted a letter to quit the university but had been persuaded to stay.

"Move out of the way," a hoarse voice interrupted Elenora's ongoing conversation about her pets back home.

A man wearing a long black cloak strode past the students and pressed his hand against a scanner on the wall.

He looked to be in his early thirties and had small beady eyes, an unshaven beard and a physique that could only be described as... frail.

He was not a handsome man as his nose was sharp and curved almost like a hawk's and several of his teeth were dark and rotted.

His entire body stank of day-old alcohol and the unpleasant scent brought tears to Cleo's eyes as she blinked furiously.

Was this man their instructor?