Chapter 24 AVALON ACADEMY
At the main entrance of the city, a long line of merchants and traders stood, awaiting inspection from the guards before proceeding.
Sylver exhaled as she jumped down from the carriage, followed by Billy, Lan and Bryon, they had just arrived at Avalon Kingdom.
Wilfred, Barron and Slade alighted their horses before facing them.
"Once we're inside the city, Wifred will lead you to the academy"
Barron said.
"Don't let your training go to waste. If you do, I'll waste you myself"
With that, he walked away.
Slade nodded at Slyver before following Barron
The guards eyes widen upon seeing Barron.
"Sir..sir.. Barron"
They saluted before clearing the way, pushing one of the merchant that was about to pass the gates.
Barron's gaze remained in different as the passed through and disappeared into the crowd.
Wifred shook his head with a smile.
"So kids, well you're all grown up now, but still.
Come on, I'm sure you're dying to see the city"
"Of course I am "
Lan beamed.
"Though I don't know about the others"
Bryon chuckled.
"Let's go in then"
Wifred led the way.
They followed.
As they walked past the long line, the people showed their disgust and complained. Some of them have been waiting for a long time.
The guards looked at Wifred with a scowl.
"Who do you think you are to Skip the line?"
One of them asked.
Wifred chuckled.
"I'm no one actually, compared to Barron"
He brought out a metal badge, it was golded and had the kingdom crest embedded in in.
The guards choked.
Wifred laughed.
"Come on kids "
He led the way
Lan rushed to the front and entered the city. He paused and with eyes widen, taking in the sight.
"WOW. So this a tier one city!"
He felt like a kid going outside for the first time.
They others also took in the sight, but maintained their cool.
"It's completely different from our village"
Bryon said.
"Yep"
Wifred nodded.
"You guys will be free to explore later, right now we need to hurry up to the academy "
He led the way.
They passed multiple shops, stores, plaza and building, the city bursting with life and energy.
Lan had to stop to gaze at, well, everything.
He wanted to get a piece of armor, but then he realized that he didn't have money on him.
Billy had to drag him on multiple occasions.
"Would you put yourself together "
He growled.
Wifred chuckled.
"Just relax Lan. When you join the academy, you'll get some certain privileges for sure, one of them being a map so you won't get lost"
"Sir Wifred, could you tell us about the people in the city?"
Bryon asked.
"Sure, of course you'll get some lessons when you enter the academy as first years"
He said.
"Avalon City is divided into three districts, there is the lower district where the average people lives, like the farmers, the hunters and the likes. Next is the Middle district, with taller buildings and flashy houses. It's meant for regular knights and Adventurers and most merchants. Of course people of the lower district can move to the middle of they can afford it."
They passed an alley and came out from another side of the city. A grand building appeared before them.
"That's the city Guild hall "
Wifred pointed at the cathedral some distance away.
Lan gasped widely.
"It's ten times bigger than the one back at our village "
"Anyway.."
Wifred continued
"Next is the Upper district, meant for the higher echelons and royal knights. And also the academy is based there. The upper district is mainly controlled by the big three, they are the biggest clans directly under the king. That's why it's not easy to move to the upper district."
"The big three, who are they"
Billy asked.
"They are the Clans that holds the most power other than the king himself. After spending three years in the academy, you'll have to choose where to serve. You'll either choose to work in the castle as a knight or for the clans. It will be your choice"
Billy nodded.
"And we're here"
Wifred paused.
In front of them, a massive castle stood like a fortress.
They had already covered a large distance without realizing it.
"When you get to the castle, you'll see others your age who are all waiting to be tested by knights "
Wifred turned to face them
"Any questions?"
"Well, well, well.... is that you Wifred?"
Wifred eyes widen
"Oh no"
They all turned to see a beautiful woman with long black hair, walking towards them. She wore a grey full body armor and a sword strapped to her waist. The armor was wonderfully crafted, fitting her figure like a second skin, it was a beast armor, crafted from beast crystals.
Walking behind her were two teens, a boy and a girl,each wearing beast armor of their own.
Lan whispered.
"Is that beautiful woman your wife Sir Wilfred"
Wifred choked and threw him a glare.
"Never! I can never marry a war beast like her"
"A war beast you say, that's the nicest thing I've heard you say about me"
Wifred held his breath, feeling her presence right behind him. She was taller than him.
He slowly turned to face the woman.
"Nice to see you too Sophia"
He smiled.
"How long has it been, five years"
Sophia laughed.
"Indeed. When I heard that you left to train new beast masters, I didn't think you were capable"
"Well I did"
Wifred frown
"And I'll have you know that I did a good job"
He faced the others
"Kids, meet my senior, Knight captain Sophia. We went to the academy together"
Sophia faced them with a smile.
"Hi there" Lan smiled with a wave "you look big and strong, what rank are you?"
"Dude!"
Bryon slapped his back head.
"Outch"
He wimped.
"It's rude to ask such questions out of the blue you know"
He said.
Sophia let of a laugh.
"Four Cubs, not bad. Let's see how they do in the trials. And of course I wasn't sitting around either "
She placed her arms on the shoulder of the teens she brought with her.
"These are my students, Carl and Sarah"
"Hey there "
The boy, Carl waved
Sarah's eyes were fixed on Slyver.
Slyver took notice, then looked at Sarah with indifference.
They both stared at each other for a while, until Sarah smiled and waved.
"Hi, I'm Sarah what yours "
She stretched her arms for a shake.
Sylver looked at her with arms folded. She said nothing.
"I'm Lan!"
Lan shooked her arms instead.
"Her name's Slyver, she doesn't talk much. That's Bryon, and the grumpy one is Billy"
Billy rolled his eyes.
"I hope we all get into the academy, I'm super excited "
Sarah said.
"Same here"
Lan replied
"We all are "
"Look at them getting together"
Sophia dropped her arms no Wifred's shoulder, hard.
He grimace.
"Reminds me of us when we first arrived"
She added.
"Yeah, the memories"
He forced himself to say
"Anyway kids , good luck, see you guys later, Wifred here and I have some catching up to do "
She pulled him away, against his will.
Lan turned to face the academy
"Well what are we waiting for, let's do this!"
"Yeah "
Sarah hung her arms around Sylver's neck and pulled her along.
Sylver's eyes widen
She was about to flip Sarah to the ground... then remembered that she hasn't seen any other girls in five years.
'I'll tolerate for now..
"Sylver just got a new friend"
Bryon chuckled.
They all made their way towards the grand Castle.
They passed the draw bridge and the main entrance and arrived at the court yard.
As usual, Lan beamed.
"I'm inside a castle"
He whispered.
"Chill dude "
Carl chuckled.
The castle courtyard lay at the heart of the fortress, a wide stone expanse enclosed by towering walls of weathered gray rock. The ground was paved with uneven cobblestones, worn smooth by years of footsteps, hooves, and the grinding wheels of carts.
At one end stood the great keep, its massive wooden doors reinforced with iron bands, looming like a silent guardian over the courtyard. Narrow arrow slits dotted its walls, dark and watchful. Opposite it, a row of stables carried the earthy scent of hay and horses.
Along the inner walls, banners fluttered in the wind, their colors bold and proud, each bearing the insignia of the King.
Guards in polished beast armor patrolled steadily, their boots echoing against the stone as they kept watch over the large numbers of young boys and girls gathered in the middle, awaiting the trials.
"Wow, check out the competition"
Bryon said
Billy smirked with confidence.
"No one will stand in my"
"Do you feel nervous, I kinda do"
Sarah said.
Sylver's eyes were cold as she scanned through the crowd, as if searching for something or someone.
The door to the castle keep suddenly opened up and a tall dark man walked, accompanied by two other royal knights.
The man was clad in black bulky beast armor with the King's insignia imprinted on the chest.His figure glowed with the aura of a Transcendant Beast Master.He was a royal knight, Sir Zach.
"Alright kids"
He said
"Attention!"
The court yard became silent.
The selection trials had begun.
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WRITTEN BY PRIDE CHRONICLES
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The yard was filled with teenages boys and girls, with few older ones. Thirty of them with dreams and ambition of becoming knights, or joining the big clans, but they had to survive three years in Avalon academy first.
But before the academy, they had to pass through the trials first.
Sir Zach scanned all of them, taking his time to access their spirit cores.
A beast master can gaze into the dantians of others to know their stages.
He sighed.
"Some of you are still in the Beast Cub stage. I'm sorry to say, but this year, were only selecting those of the Noble stage"
A number of them voice of their complaints, Sir Zach took non of it
"If you're not up to the standard, leave now and try again next year!"
He ordered.
"Damn, you I'm suddenly glad sir Barron made us go through all that harsh training"
Lan whispered.
"Same here"
Bryon said.
"Lucky for us, we just entered the Noble stage"
Carl breathed out in relief.
"Sarah nodded.
They were thirty people in the crowd, only ten of them left, leaving twenty.
"Now,"
Zach began
"The trial won't be difficult, you'll only be accessed based on your...."
"Sorry to interrupt you sir Zach!"
Everyone turned to the main entrance to see a knight walking in, with two boys behind him.
Sir Zach raised a brow.
"This two came in late"
The knight pointed at the two handsome boys behind him, one had purple long hair, and the other had red long hair...with a red squirrel on his shoulder.
Sylver's eyes widen.
"Roman..."
She whispered.
TBC...