As soon as everyone was gathered within the Arena, Examiner Gareth slowly walked out from one of the walls of the colosseum, but he did not fly this time; he was casually walking.
Seeing all the students were looking at him, he chuckled, "Do you think I have nothing better to do than always fly around the sky?"
Many of the students' eyebrows twitched, but no one said anything. But the examiner now seemed much more approachable and relaxed. Gareth stated again,
"Since everyone is already here, let's get this over with."
A clapping sound was heard from somewhere; in the next moment, Axel found himself losing his consciousness, which he wasn't able to resist. Everyone seems to be falling to the ground. That was the last thing he saw as he tried to resist.
"Tsk, tsk, I knew you were a tough one. To think you can resist this skill for almost 2 seconds. The higher echelons this time are in for a good show," said Gareth.
Then he lost himself to the embrace of darkness. After an unknown amount of time, Axel slowly found himself regaining some semblance of reason. He abruptly opened his eyes. Remembering what had just happened, he immediately panicked.
His mind raced, thinking of all the worst possibilities that could have happened. But a familiar voice rang beside him to appease his worries, "Calm your horses, brat. You're fine, and this is not a kidnapping."
He looked beside him, and Examiner Gareth was sitting right beside him. There were more students with him, all of them sitting on a strange magic carriage. Axel could not see outside from within the carriage as they moved somewhere.
"I guess you didn't know, but the location of the Academy is a total secret. So, these stupid measures are necessary to keep it a secret," stated Gareth uncaringly.
The man did not even look at him while speaking, but only after hearing the examiner's statement did he remember the fact. But he could not help but ask.
"What about the heirs of the highest echelons?"
"Well, let's just say those families don't want their children being taken to the academy unconscious, especially the prince and princesses. Oh, you're asking if the highest echelons, including the royal family, know about the location of the academy? No, they don't," reassured Gareth.
"Only the three kings know, but they can't influence the academy in any way. That's the truth," added the examiner.
"So, how exactly are the heirs of the highest echelons taken?" asked Axel, bewildered.
"The way you are being taken, the only difference being they step on the carriage consciously. You are all taken through the same one-way teleportation gate while riding this special type of magic carriage. That's all," stated the Examiner with a sigh.
Then the Examiner turned his head, "But I must say, to be able to wake up so soon after getting hit by that skill is extraordinary. The heirs of the..." before he could finish.
"Highest echelons are in for a surprise?" Axel cut him off. "Yes, I know. I heard it already, before going unconscious."
Gareth looked at Axel, and he was speechless at that remark. Axel also looked at him like a fool, not knowing what else to say. Gareth coughed for a moment and said, "Well, what I'm trying to say is that you're pretty strong. But be careful of those from the higher echelons, physical strength does not always equate to battle prowess. Some are still quite stronger than you. You still have a long way to go."
"But just keep improving at your own pace," added Gareth after a slight pause.
Axel was surprised by the Examiner's apparent praise: "Aren't the personnel's belonging to the academy supposed to be impartial?"
"Heh, little brat! Do you think I am favoring you? Let me tell you I am not, and we are supposed to be politically impartial, not to favor those who have powerful backing, but rather, if the student manages to impress us. We can be impartial very slightly if we want to be," snickered Gareth.
"And you may call me Teacher Gareth from now on. And no more questions, you are not supposed to regain consciousness this early. Unless you want me to knock you unconscious again," stated Gareth.
Axel sighed and thanked him. After that, they remained quiet. Waiting for the journey to end. It was hard for Axel to understand how fast the carriage was moving, since there was almost no movement or shaking inside the vehicle, but after about an hour.
He felt the familiar sensation of being teleported. He felt dizzy, extremely dizzy for a moment, but that annoying sensation vanished moments afterward. After a while, the carriage stopped moving, teacher Gareth slowly walked out of it, and signaled Axel to do the same.
That similar clapping sound was heard again, and everyone in the carriages started waking up. Axel did not wait for them as he walked out. There was not just one magic carriage, but there were countless of them.
It was only moments later that he paid attention to the surroundings as a small smile crept up onto his face. They were standing in front of the main gate of the academy. He looked behind, but there was no teleportation gate there. It seems this gate was a special one that did not need gates on both sides. It only worked in one way.
He looked forward again, where the tall building at the front stands. It was a result of medieval architecture mixed with Elven magic; it stood tall and looked somewhat old, which only added a sense of ancient air that was hard to ignore.
The building was extremely wide, and there was a large, beautiful garden ornamented at the front, filled with luxurious and breathtaking flowers. But this was merely the front of the academy. All the facilities, along with countless other tall structures and buildings, were behind it.
On top of the building, there was a big sign with wild, bold letters,
"UNIFIED HUMAN ACADEMY."
a pride in the entirety of humanity, it is the greatest symbol and evidence of humanity in its practical form.
He looked around as more and more students emerged from the carriages. Before anyone could panic, they had all been notified that they had reached the gates of the academy. It was an extremely wide area, the place where the academy was situated.
If one were to go to the edges of the area, they would find themselves at the sea.
Yes, the academy is situated on a rural island on the eastern side of the continent, beyond the human lands, as everyone came out of the carriages. Gareth at the front said loudly, "Alright, everyone, let's go inside, the formal welcome awaits."
Axel also felt somewhat excited; this was the real beginning of the story, and this was where the main characters started within the academy. Even though Axel has to follow the path of a demon as he grows stronger using that, he hopes to be friends with the main characters, especially the Valkyrie and the 4th prince.
But only the future would tell how things would turn out as everyone entered through the main gate and passed beneath the main building. An extremely large, wide-field campus came into view, and 150 students from the highest echelon stood there.
All of them stood in one corner, looking slightly higher towards the sky, where the principal of the academy stood high in mid-air, his eyes closed. All the students who had just arrived hurried there and joined the rest, but kept some distance from them.
Male and female students stood separated. Female students were slightly fewer in number, but there wasn't a big gap, as far as he could tell.
All 1200 students designated for the academy had arrived, and the principal opened his eyes and smiled at that sight. The moment he smiled, the world itself seemed illuminated by a halo of soft yellow light, and a cold wind began to blow, calming everyone's hearts. He addressed everyone in a melodious voice.
"Hello, my dear students, thank you all for making it this far to reach the academy operated by this poor old man. Countless dreams, aspirations, conflicts, and stories have gathered here, as it shall be the beginning of the place where your adventures for reshaping the world begin."
"In here, it does not matter whether you were a commoner, a prince, a merchant, a noble, or which great kingdom or minor kingdom you come from. No matter who you are, you are all pillars of the future human society. In here, only strength matters as the absolute rule and nothing else."
"Remember, even this old man was once a slave who used to pick up trash from the streets. Yet, here I am. Except for the kings of the three great kingdoms, no one within the human lands can match this old one in an individual fight."
"Be proud, my students, of not what you have achieved, but what you are willing to do for your future self."
"I officially welcome you to the greatest institution that Human lands can offer to you as the hub of the greatest powerhouses of humanity," declared the principal in a profound tone.
He smiled one more time and turned into a spark of light.