"The is our hotel for this stay kids, although it doesn't look as big and pretty as the other buildings it is older, have a longer history and better food too !"
Henry didn't need to hear more, "better food" was all he needed. He didn't wait and went inside with Thomas, although it didn't look big and wasn't made of flashy materials like the other buildings it possessed a different type of vibe. The whole building was made of wood and reminded him of a mountain cabin he had went to together with the kids from the orphanage in the past.
"Hey Henry, why do you think we were bought here ?"
Thomas asked while they were unpacking in the room they were assigned to, although Thomas wasn't originally in the same room as Henry he had swapped with another guy for a few bucks, it seemed like he was getting attached to Henry.
"I don't know, probably not to have vacations tho."
Henry answered without lifting his head from his bags.
"I heard a rumor, do you know the most famous college on planet Reso ?"
"I heard about it, the Academy ?"
"That's it, that's only a surname tho. The real name is Reso's academy ! The rumor I heard is about the academy, they say that they organized a tournament to scout out the most talented high schoolers from the galaxy."
"Why wouldn't the director tell us tho ?"
Henry looked curiously at Thomas.
"Who knows, maybe he didn't want us to be pressured ?"
"I don't think so, in fact it's better to get used to pressure rather than be sent out in a battlefield suddenly and I'd be really surprised if the director didn't know that."
"Hmm that's true. There must be a reason behind it, maybe it's a secret event and only those who were invited know about it ?"
"That's possible, why would our school be invited tho ? We're quite average compared to the rest of the galaxy."
"Who knows."
Thomas shrugged, they probably won't have the answer by thinking about it on their own. He was decided to ask the director if the rumor was true.
/
/
/
That night everybody had dinner together and as Thomas had guessed the director started talking about their reason to be there.
"Attention please ! We came all the way to Reso for a reason, you have probably all heard about the Academy. They have organized a tournament and the top three student of that tournament will be allowed to join them next year without going through the admission examinations. There must be a reason behind that but even I'm not aware, since all of you are leaving high school next year then joining the academy is a very good opportunity. Give your all during this tournament !"
"We can join the academy ?"
"THAT academy ?"
"This is like a dream coming true !"
While everybody was excited Thomas asked the question he and Henry had been thinking about since earlier.
"Director, why was an average high school like ours allowed to join such an event ? Wouldn't they call the best of the galaxy instead ?"
"That's right, you're going to compete with the elites of the galaxy even though our school is only average ! The reason behind that is because an old student of our school who now work as a teacher in the Academy threw in a good word to the people taking care of the recruitment. Since our school gave them one of their best students in the last decade and also a teacher they allowed us to join, you better not embarrass your alumni !"
With his last sentence the director looked at Henry.
"Seems like he was aiming that last sentence at you. Heheh"
Thomas whispered jokingly, obviously all the director's hope would be on Number one but that also meant all the pressure was on him.
"Hmm."
Henry was focused on eating the incredible food in front of him, he had never tried something like this and was falling in love.
He didn't care if the director's hope were on him anyway, since joining the academy would be beneficial to him he would do it anyway for his own good and not for anybody else.
After dinner everybody was given two hours of free time
"You can go visit the city, we're not out of our planet everyday after all. Be careful not to make a mess and come back before 10 PM !"
"Henry ! Let's go out !"
/
/
/
"So what do you think ?"
Thomas asked.
"Mhhhhhh this is good !"
Henry couldn't hold back a moan, they had went to eat more. Every single restaurant Thomas took him to was delicious !
"So..."
While eating Thomas started, he looked hesitant to keep going
"What is it ?"
"Well... how confident are you against the elites of the galaxy ?"
"I'll rank first."
Thomas looked at him with wide eyes
'Where does all this confidence come from ? Or should I say arrogance ?'
Thomas thought, before he could ask his question he was interrupted
"Hahahahah first ? Which planet are you from ?"
The voice came from their side, on another table were sitting 2 boys and 2 girls eating dinner, the one who talked was a wild looking boy with long disheveled hair falling on his face.
"Who are you ?"
Before Henry could answer Thomas had already taken the lead
"How arrogant Hahahah ! We're students from planet Trea, by hearing your conversation I guess we're here on Reso for the same reason."
"So you're the so called "elite" ? Heh"
Thomas scoffed, he didn't like being called arrogant even though that was what he was.
"I'm not as arrogant as you so I won't call myself an elite, the true elite are the guys from planets Escuri and the Capitole. These guys are the only ones who can claim they will take the first place in my opinion, so ? Are you from one of these planets ?"
"We're from planet Buton."
"Buton...? Have you guys heard about it ?"
The long haired guy asked his friends but they all shook their heads.
"How can you be so arrogant when you come from an unknown planet ? Hahahah you guys should..."
Before he could finish his sentence he realized Henry was coldly looking at him.
"What's that look ?"
The wild guy seemed to be angered by Henry's eyes and suddenly stood up, probably trying to pressure and probe his reaction.
"I'm trying to eat, eat and shut up or leave."
Henry said without any reaction.
"Hmph the smallest dogs bark the loudest as they say, I'll show you why you shouldn't be arrogant if we meet during the tournament."
In the end the wild guy and his friends did as Henry said and left the restaurant, he was finally able to enjoy his dinner in silence.
"I didn't think you'd be this type of guy Henry."
Thomas said with a knowing smile.
"What type of guy ?"
Henry asked curiously.
"Arrogant type."
"It's different, I'm not arrogant but I'm confident. The thing is I really don't believe I'll lose."
"Why ?"
"Because I'm strong and I don't plan to lose against people from the small Trish galaxy when the strongest are living elsewhere."
"That's true... you have a huge ambition, most people are satisfied by being considered strong in the "small" Trish galaxy."
Thomas's opinion of Henry had been changed after that conversation, until now he believes Henry was just a talented guy but now he actually upgraded him to ambitious talented guy in his mind.