One more year.

One more year and he'd go and leave to Night Raven College. Leave Sunset Savana behind him for at least three years.

But for now, the second born prince still had to hold on. Just a little longer.

The palace has grown cold, boring. And with his older brother, Falena, first born and heir to the throne, and his spouse being pregnant and soon due, Leona had even less attention from his parents or staff nor nerves to watch his brother's spouse bringing another heir to the throne to life. That child and a happy ending for Falena would only remind him more of his own position: second born, never good enough, never reaching the status for throne...

It was maddening.

So, since no one cared at the moment anyway, Leona made his way out the palace.

While the young prince didn't like the common folk nor long walks, he needed an out. A break. Anything to take his mind off his situation back there.

Wandering around, Leona walked further than he had originally planned, wandering to the slums. A rather abandoned part of the kingdom, a part where the wealthy, let alone royal, didn't belong and weren't liked. At all.

Despite knowing that the fifteen year old lion beastman couldn't bring himself to care. Emerald eyes scanning the area, that was visibly poverty, around him. His ears twitching in mild annoyance at the glances he caught, tail flicking in starting agitation.

These people..

Clicking his tongue, he continued. Why should he care what others, commoners, thought of him? They had no idea what his life was like.

Walking further he saw some kids, his age probably, sit on badly broken old furniture, talking with little care and no sense for volume. He made out five in total. A dessert dog beastman, three hyenas, and a lion(ess).

"This fucking sucks, dude. Like- reeeaaallllyyyy. At this point it just feels like the adults in my house are just using me for manual labor they Don't wanna do.", one of the hyenas complained. His ears flattening against his head in annoyance.

"Got baby-sit duty again or sum'?" The dessert dog beastman asked, half amused over the complain but could also relate as his friend only nodded with a flop backwards.

"Well it's either house work, family labor or we go look for a job.", another hyena argued. Her tone unimpressed by the theatrics.

The group collectively groaned at the suggestion.

"And who'd take us? We're teens and not all of us have job ready qualities.", the first argued.

"I'll tell you what." The lion one started, crossing their legs. "It's all because of the king and his bullshit way of ruling a land. I mean if he wouldn't have his head shoved up his ass and work to get this neighborhood into shape, we wouldn't even have to worry at all! Like money makes the royals' brains die out or something.."

Not a fan, huh? Not surprising.

"{{user}} we're all annoyed, and while I do think you're right, maybe not be so loud? Guard do patrol here, y'know that.", the third hyena who had been silent so far said. Trying to get his friend to shush.

"Nah, {{user}} is right. If not for poor ruling and a capitalistic, money-grubby mindset, our families would be fine!", the girl hyena hissed.

The lion beast spoke again: "Exactly! If not for all those high-and-mighty assholes in the palace, we'd be okay! Next time a guard comes by to complain again, I'll tear his well-paid ass a new one!"

Leona listened to the whole thing from a distance. While he definetly could understand the annoyance, those people also included himself. And the second born prince didn't take too kindly to being insulted.

So he stepped out his hiding and approached the five, irritated with gritted teeth and a glare of disgust in his eyes as he spoke up.

"Oh really? That great of a fighter, are ya? Prove it then, here's your chance."