VANELLOPE AMETHYST CLADMERE made a backflip and cut the lyrfum's neck from the back—a creature a size of an adult elephant, has four long legs like that of a spider, three horns, two takes the shape of a spiral and the remaining a straight, long one, has very sharp teeth and an unbelievable strength. Blood oozes from its wounded neck. It made an unusual roar deafening the people around it, before retreating to the forest. She made her weapon disappear before going back to the path that she was taking. If it wasn't for the lyrfum, by this time around, she might have arrived at her destination.
The people stared at her, curious at what they have witnessed, a fight between a lyrfum and a student from the most famous magic school, Sky High Academy. She leaves them breathless and continues her journey. She passed two villages before reaching the town where she can take the ride to reach her destination, her very school, Sky High Academy.
Sky High Academy was located at one of the famous floating islands of slayers, Slearth. It was built on the island, "Mars".
Vanellope gets inside a what seemed-like a horse carriage and a train, just that the horses have a pair of bird-like wings that have the same color as their body and that the carriages are connected. The horses flap their wings and Vanellope feels a rush of wind before finding herself hoisted up in the air.
After a few minutes, the horses land onto solid ground and one by one, the passengers step out of the carriages. Upon stepping out, Vanellope was greeted by the familiar scenery of her school. There students wearing white uniforms with white and gold linings, some holding their weapon, while others talking with one another. She walked through the crowd of students and reached the gleaming silver gate with the name "Sky High Academy", and below it, "School for the Strongest Slayers".
She entered, and was greeted by a flock of fairies saying in unison, "Welcome, you have entered the premises of Sky High Academy!"
"Vanellope Amethyst Cladmere from class 7-A," Vanellope stated. The fairies nodded, "An ice-slayer and A-class student. All cleared." they said and flew to another student.
Vanellope walked through the busy corridors of Sky High Academy and reached her classroom. When she was about to enter, a girl passed her and entered the classroom, knocking her hand off the doorknob. The girl turned her head to Vanellope's direction and muttered an apology.
She nodded and entered the classroom. There are already students inside the classroom. Some are talking to one another and others practicing magic and summoning their pets.
She walked to a vacant sit by the window and sat. A few minutes later, the teacher arrived. He was a man on his forties, wearing a white polo with a dark blue necktie, black pants, and shoes, and was also wearing black robes.
Upon reaching the teacher's desk, the man said, "Good morning, everyone. I am Professor Augury Carpatian, an A-class tamer and a licensed slayer. From today onwards, I will be your class adviser but I think some of you would be transferring schools."
Murmurs filled the air.
"As you have known, PSYCHE University is opening this year to hold the grandest game of all time, Slayers: The Ranking Quest. And as the headmaster foretold, some of our students were invited to join and have received letters from PSYCHE University. Everyone who received the letters, please stand." Professor Augury told the class.
Vanellope and another four students stood.
"I see, so we have five participants here. Your names were..."
"Danica Rook, Professor Augury." A girl with a brown straight hair answered.
"Warren Flisc, Professor." A boy with a dark messy hair answered.
"Arlo Ishper, Professor." A tall, green-haired boy answered.
"Angel Aubrey Crimson, Professor Augury." A girl with straight black hair and was also the one who knocked Vanellope's hand earlier, answered.
"Vanellope Amethyst Cladmere, Professor," Vanellope answered.
"The five of you, I would strongly suggest that you accept the invitation. You may sit." Professor Augury said and started the class.
Vanellope was only half listening and was deciding whether she would accept the invitation or not.
The class ended in three hours and Vanellope decided to accept. After all, she might find something interesting at PSYCHE University and might encounter another huntress. Although she didn't get her hopes high, she knows that her clan was annihilated and that she was probably the last one remaining.
***
When afternoon came, Vanellope decided to go to the mail sender's office inside the school. The Mail Sender's Department takes care of every student's and every teacher's mail. They send letters to all parts of the Slearth floating islands.
Vanellope wanted her confirmation letter to be delivered as soon as possible. Well, at least before Venus finds out that she's sent hers.
Venus would probably think that she's trying to get herself killed just because of her almost extinct clan. Even though she doesn't think of it that way, she knows that's what Venus would think.
"Sending a mail?" a very low-stature creature asked Vanellope. It had a long nose, silky skin, and height only reaching Vanellope's hips. It was a common type of goblin usually seen managing common stores like mail ones and libraries. It's wearing formal attire partnered with a dark green necktie. It also has a white beard and white hair and was wearing a pair of eyeglasses.
Vanellope's attention was caught by the goblin and she had to lower her gaze to see it.
"Yes," Vanellope answered shortly. "Then, if you may follow me." the goblin said to her.
The goblin leads the way with Vanellope on its trails. They passed other students and a few teachers, some of them carrying a letter on their hand and was following a goblin of their own. The others seemed to be reading their letters, some talking to their friends telling them the contents of their letter.
After reaching a wide path, the goblin took her to a narrow one with doors on both sides. Some doors were decorated with gems and other colorful things others have had holiday decorations and were colored in different paints, while the rest were plain-looking but rather seemed mysterious to Vanellope's eyes.
She'd been in the Mail Sender's Department before but just a few times and they were all emergencies.
The goblin stopped in front of a plain-looking door, made of woods and has a few twigs attached to it.
"Inside, please." the goblin said and using its forefinger, drew a hexagon star on the door's surface and the door opens. The goblin was the first to enter before Vanellope.
"You may sit." the goblin said and motioned her the wooden chair on the front of a table. Vanellope sat on the wooden chair and murmured her "thanks". Must always show respect to a goblin or received their wrath for rumors said that goblins hate human-race.
The goblin sat on the cushioned chair across Vanellope and starts fixing the scattered papers on the table. The goblin put the papers on a single pile before shoving them off into the far end of the table. It fixated its eyeglasses before looking Vanellope straight to the eye.
"I'm Druwnne. I shall assist you with your mail. Now if you would be too kind to state your name and your business, we shall start at once." the goblin named Druwnne said and grabbed a parchment and dips his quill to the ink.
Vanellope nodded. "Goblin Druwnne, my name is Vanellope Amethyst Cladmere," Druwnne starts writing on the parchment, "I want to send a confirmation letter to PSYCHE University to the invitation letter they had sent to me," Vanellope said.
"And?" Druwnne asked still his gaze on the parchment his writing to.
"And, I want them to know that I accept their invitation and want to continue my admission to their school. Also, tell them that I have read their warning and was well aware of it." Vanellope continued.
Druwnne stops writing a few seconds after Vanellope stopped talking. He fixes his gaze to Vanellope and asked, "Is that all, Ms. Cladmere?"
Vanellope nodded and answered, "Yes, that's all, goblin Druwnne."
Druwnne folded the parchment and sealed it in an envelope by drawing another hexagon star on it using his forefinger. The letter glowed once and moments after, the school's emblem was etched on the back of the letter and there was a hexagon star sealing the opening.
"The letter will be delivered tomorrow to PSYCHE University at dawn," Druwnne told her. He rose to his chair and shook hands with Vanellope. "Nice having business with you, Ms. Cladmere," Druwnne said.
"Thank you for your assistance, goblin Druwnne," Vanellope said back to him.
***
On her way home, Vanellope took the long way path to her home. Instead of riding a carriage, she chose to walk instead. She was planning to take a peek at PSYCHE University. She knows a spot wherein PSYCHE University can be seen. Unfortunately, carriages don't go to that place.
She stopped at Magic and Charms Store and entered. There are a few costumes inside. She went directly to the counter and was greeted by the cashier.
"Good afternoon, dear customer. How can I help you?" the woman on the counter asked. Her nameplate states, 'Lerinn May' and after a few seconds, the words changed to 'B-class Enchanter, cashier'.
"I'd like a teleporter, what types do you have?" she told her.
"We have four-leaf clovers, pearls, and keys. Four-leaf clover teleporters are used to teleport from two saved locations, from where you disappeared and to where you appeared. It can only be used thrice. Pearl teleporters are used to travel to long-distance places and can only be used once. Keys are highly valuated for you can use them until they break and there is only one save location per key. You can use them to any doors to teleport to the saved location. So, what will you have, ma'am?" Lerinn explains.
"I'll have a pearl teleporter," Vanellope answered. Lerinn waved her hand and a green small-sized box was summoned in front of her. She opens it and aqua-green colored pearls can be seen inside it. She took one and asks Vanellope, "To where would you like to appear?"
***
Vanellope appears on the edge of a cliff. Behind her were 20-meter tall trees and birds were passing on the sky above her. She walked towards the forest and stopped when she reached a tree.
She bent down and put her hand on the ground.
"Wind, heed my call. Collect the waters, used cold air. Turn them into very hard ice. Then lift me to the air, until I reached the topmost height." Vanellope chanted and the ground under her was covered with ice formed in a circle and quickly thickens. After a few moments, the ice became solid enough to lift her.
She reached the highest branch in a few minutes. She stepped on the branched and holds the tree trunk to gain her balance. The ice disappeared and all Vanellope can see was the shade of red and orange.
The sun was starting to set and flock of birds that seemed like moving shadows were crossing the sky and filling an area with the shade of black.
To her left, Vanellope can see the silhouette of the towering-castle sitting on the floating island, Jupiter. It was located at the very center of Slearth floating islands and was the most important place for slayers. That is where the ruler, the council, the generals, the soldiers, and the defenders live.
The wind blows and there could never be another longer second than this moment for Vanellope. She caught a glimpse of it. PSYCHE University —the school that owns the whole floating island of Neptune.
That is where she would spend the whole year trying to survive.
The mysterious PSYCHE University, despite being named after the most beloved wife of the God of Love, Eros, it shows the total opposite of what its name tells.
You can lose your life and you can take someone's life if ordered...
"I guess the adventure is just about to start..." Vanellope muttered and grabbed the other pearl she bought earlier. "No. 018 Dragoon St., Snow Mountain Village, Mars." She whispered to the pearl and vanished to thin air.
***
Vanellope pushed opened the door of her house. Instantly, the whole house was illuminated with lights. Inside was a big chandelier with burning candles on it. Everything inside was made of wood except for the walls, floors, stairs, and some kitchen tables.
Vanellope gets inside and goes straight to Venus's study room. The door was made of wood but was decorated with gold lining on the edges and glowing crystals. She knocked twice before entering the room.
"Venus, are you in here?" she called, but no one answered back.
The room is filled with books ranging in sizes and the bookshelves were reaching the ceiling. There was a large circular window made of fine gold placed at the back. In front of it was a rectangular table at the far side of the room with a bright green-colored sofa chair adorned with silver dust. But, the woman who always sits there was missing.
Vanellope walked to the table and found a green letter addressed to her. She grabbed and opened it. There was no mistake, it was definitely for her. The letter goes on like this:
To My Dearest Vanellope,
Sorry to leave without telling you first. There was an urgent summon from the royal palace and I must leave immediately. I may not be home for a while so be extra careful. As the news has reached me, a thief was stealing valuable magical objects from all around the Slearth. There was no one hurt during his crime but it is said that the thief is somewhat invincible. We're having a meeting about it this afternoon and I think we'll have to investigate it ourselves so I'll be gone for about a week or two.
About the letter from PSYCHE University, it's about time to think about it. I'll respect your decision but if you accept it, kindly inform me as soon as you can.
P.S. Always stay alert for any possible harm and don't forget what you really are.
Love From,
Venus
"Fine, just be careful," Vanellope muttered and starts writing a reply for Venus's letter.