"Let's walk down the mountain and enjoy the view. It's also a tradition of those before me to walk down this small mountain." Enfred spoke with a light of nostalgia in his eyes.
Daniel simply nodded.
As they slowly walked down the mountain, Daniel lost himself to the nature surrounding him. His mind entered that tranquil state once more.
Only this time, it felt like an embrace. The grass swayed in the soft wind, almost singing, with the breeze itself caressing his cheeks.
The sunlight was pure and gentle, while the trees provided fresh air. There was an air of intimacy he had never felt before.
Growing up on Earth, he had always lived near the city. The northwest had a lot of nature compared to other parts of the country in terms of abundance per city, but even then, he never felt such peace.
Enfred noticed Daniel's state of mind and was surprised.
'It seems there's more to that Nature's Perception Blessing than I assumed.' Adora and Daniel were ignorant of the gathering of elements near Daniel's head.
'Nature is so beautiful. It has a gentleness that makes you feel warm and fulfilled. But also an indifferent grandeur, and as it prevails, it nears its extremities.' Daniel's mind wondered as they continued walking down the mountain.
Each biome gave him different insights, almost as if nature were whispering its secrets to him. But since he had no cultivation, it became something more profound—a sort of baptism that would speed up his comprehension when near nature.
Like a hermit.
...
After reaching the summit, Daniel gradually came back to himself. He felt a little calmer, a bit more steady than before.
"Welcome back," Enfred smiled.
Daniel shrugged but, deep inside, was embarrassed for zoning out.
After walking a kilometer or so, the Academy came into view.
The entryway was white marble, with etched designs of black and silver. Two massive gates, almost five meters tall, were open. The walls were granite, with slabs of marble embedded here and there. Giving it a rustic but approachable vibe.
The landscaping was phenomenal. Each blade of grass was at a uniform height. What stood out the most was the black and blue-tinged vegetation. It was an exciting contrast to the wall and doors.
Daniel was awed at the thickness of both the doors and the walls. The doors were about two meters thick, while the walls were three meters thick.
The roads were made of black cobblestone, and yet there were only a few buildings.
One literal box made of smooth stone that was pretty big, a black vertical rectangle, and a white palace. Oh, and a giant tower off in the distance pierced the clouds.
"My father had the idea of creating this place. Many talented youngsters who were too poor to get a proper education were lost—buried within the sands of time.
So he decided to make this place; of course, his dream of helping every poor kid he could find didn't come to fruition, but at least those who could truly become something would be given a chance.
The path of cultivation is daunting and brutal but beautiful in a way. You either have the affinity, or you don't. That's why the evaluations are put in place." Enfred spoke softly, with a slight smile on his face.
"Although I am in charge of this academy, I've only had a few disciples over the years."
Daniel kept looking around out of curiosity but still attentively listened to his teacher explain the back story of the academy.
"That goal is theoretical and an ideal, right? Is that why it couldn't be done? The resources needed are immense, not to mention justifying such an expense. Did the higher-ups of the Sentinel Legion shoot down such a proposal?" Daniel looked back at his teacher.
Adora gazed a Daniel in admiration. Usually, Daniel still had the air of youth, but hidden under it was the aura of scholars. How such a young boy could have it, he didn't know.
Enfred felt the same.
"It's exactly as you described. You are a curious little thing, eh? Work hard. You'll surprise yourself, Daniel."
Daniel simply smiled in silence at the comment.
"This will be your home for a while at least, so don't be afraid to make friends or to build a home. For now, you'll be in a dorm with Adora. You'll have many peers, but the classes are made up of only ten students per class, with fifty students to a year."
Daniel nodded as well as Adora.
Adora was truly fascinated.
Growing up, he came from a commoner family with only a bit of land. That was about the time the Specter made his debut.
He thwarted two Night raids and even counterattacked at the last minute, earning him fame and prestige. The three kingdoms and the Sentinel Legion gave him The Crimson Heart Medal for his actions and courage.
Next, he got promoted both in cultivation and rank, so they gave him the Myriad Reserve. His father was also a Sentinel, but he had retired.
The next thing he knew, the Myriad Sentinel Academy was birthed. It specialized in raising talented youths from around the three kingdoms who were of poor origin, while occasionally taking in aristocratic children.
Heroes and Legends came out of those who graduated from the academy.
He never knew that he would get a chance to be a student here.
"I have many things to take care of now that I'm back, but I'll have one of the senior students give you a tour, alright?" Enfred gently smiled before turning away and looking around.
"Good, it seems my useless disciples haven't turned this place into a thing of the past! Haha." Enfred mumbled to himself.