As Axel and Adeline noticed the sudden change from the desert to a tropical jungle, they knew they reached the nation of Manslin. This is where they will call home from now on from their past enviornment in the plains outside of a forest.
"I never would have guessed that a nation would use a camouflage for their boarder," Axel said to Adeline. "Its used to confuse groups and armies that would invade them," Adeline said. Clove soared as it scanned the area for any posible threat.
There was a clearing up ahead where Clove could land. In the clearing, there was stone placed to make a landing pad shaped in a circle with a path that lead into the jungle. Clove landed in the middle of the circle and laid down so Axel and Adeline could dismount it.
Axel removed his helmet and looked around as he investigated the area for any threats. Once he was sure it was safe, he called Clove back to his rune and picked up the bag that Wilson gave him before their escape. "We need to find an enchanted bag or ring to easily store items that we get. I'm sure there is a way to get one at the academy that Wilson mentioned," Adeline said as she observed how full the bag looked.
"Hmmm. You're not wrong, but we need to save what little coin we have for getting a place to stay at the academy and pay the cost to start our education," said Axel as he weighed their options. The pair started to walk along the stone road ahead of them. The trees by the road gave constant shade, making a tunnel with vines hanging from the branches.
As they walked further, Adeline noticed a sweet scent that steadily got stronger as they walked. Axel soon started to notice the scent as well. Adeline paid no mind to the area around them because she knew Axel was always alert. All she was focusing on was the scent.
Axel noticed a large door fixed to a wall of wood and stone ahead with variouse flowers growing through the cracks. Adeline smiled as she ran to examine the flowers by the door. Axel looked in the surrounding area again to scan for threats and felt something on the otherside of the door.
Axel quickly drew his sword and held a blue flame in his left hand. Adeline jumped at Axel's movements before donning her gloves and summoning Kindred. She opened the door as Axel charged his spell. A tall hooded figure stood, resting its hands on a greatsword with the tip on the ground. The figure raised its head.
A deep voice that sounded like it could cause earthquakes came from the figure, "Hmmm. Two children armed with a familiar. No doubt you are battle mages seeking the Academy." Axel and Adeline nodded, not letting their guard down. The figure removed its hood, showing the features of a golem. "Y-you're a familiar. But familiars can only talk to their masters through telepathy," Adeline said in wonder.
The golem replied, "You are not wrong but I am no familiar. Yes, I was summoned but, I come from one of the variouse runes that have been placed along the boarder to guard the area from any threats. And you, little boy, feel like a threat." The golem picked up its greatsword and held it in Axel's direction.
Axel took a step back as he felt how dangerous the golem's aura was becoming. The golem charged at Axel as it swung its sword over its head. Axel took no hesitation and fired the charged spell in his hand. It had no effect on the golem as it coninued it's charge.
"Stop!" A thunderous voice sounded from behind the golem before it could follow through it's advancement. A woman in her thirties walked up in robes of silk that showed a strange insignia. She had brown hair and light blue eyes and looked no taller than five feet and six inches. She held a staff with a stange crystal at the end. "Guardian, why are you attacking children? You should know by now that mere ten year olds can hardly defend themselves. Go back to your rune." The golem disappeared before the woman looked at Axel and Adeline.
"Put your weapons away along with your familiar and come with me." Axel and Adeline did as they were told and followed the woman closely. The door shut on its own behind them. "You two have a lot of nerve showing up with no notice. Now I have to figure out who you two are and get in contact with your parents," the woman said sternly without looking back as she lead them to a small building.
Axel feeling frustrated with the woman, let out his aura before stating, "We came here by the command of our master, Wilson. He is a combat mage at the kingdom located in the nation of Urr." Adeline softly added, "Master Wilson also said he would contact the academy after we departed." She glanced at Axel as he nodded to her.
"So let me guess, I have a couple of young mages with no instructor or parents with them, who sent a message as you departed? I will contact your master. Just give me your names. Your full names." Axel quickly replied, "I am Izaak Elderon and this is my best friend and training partner, Kate Clover." Adeline nodded and smiled at the quick alias Axel made for her.
"I'll be back momentarily after I have a word with your master for his rude absence. And if you two are to check out, I will need to put you through some tests to see where you two stand as mages. And if you pass, We will welcome you to the academy. And little boy, Izaak, visit the barber for a more suitable haircut."
Axel knew his hair seemed strange but the haircut will help him hide in plain sight better. After the woman left, Axel turned to Adeline who seemed a bit scared. "What a nag. I was hoping for a warmer welcome." Axel said as Adeline fixed her hair to avoid a similar comment from the woman. "We did arrive a month and a half after we left Urr. Hopefully her mood will change after she talks with Wilson," Adeline noted hoping to lighten Axel's mood a little.
Axel retracted his aura and sat down in a cushioned chair nearby. "I need to decide what 3 elements i can use to keep my identity a secret. Tri elemental mages weren't uncommon so I think fire, water and light will get us the furthest." Adeline thought for a moment before an idea came up. "You can use light to start working on healing magic and wards. That and maybe use a different element instead of fire. Because with your water magic, you can also go into its sub categories of ice and snow. Your wind element is pretty basic but lightning or darkness can get complex based on how you use it."
Axel double took at Adeline, "How do you know this much about these elements outside of your water element and earth element?" Adeline chuckled at Axel before she spoke, "I studied so I can have an idea of what is out there. Plus we barely scraped the surface of our abilities and what our magic is capable of." Axel nodded as he rethought his choices for his element structure. "Ill keep the light and water but instead of fire because fire is a form of light, I'll go with darkness. If I can light up areas and be a healer and a complex water mage, I should have the option of stealth as well. Plus with my wyvern having adaptable scales and abilites I'll adjust its scales to match these 3 elements as well."
As soon as Axel got done speaking, the woman came back with a friendlier demeanor. "Please follow me. You two are going to have an aptitude test on what you have learned with your master. Izaak, Kate please use your full potential so we can have an assessment of what your elements and abilities are."
The woman left with them following close behind. They walked for 10 minutes before approaching another gate. This time the gate was barred with them metal painted black. It didn't have any privacy to it. Axel smiled at it's simplicity. Once they were through the gate they saw an enormous caslte structure from the victorian era. The woman looked at them and explained, "This is the main building. It has 6 wings with 2 floors each with the main building having 3 floors. The wings are numbered accordingly from the most left wing being 1 and the most right wing being 6. Each wing supporting an element with the third floor of the main building supporting the element of darkness. Each door to the wings has a symbol of what element is taught respectively."
The woman walked to the left side of the academy and pointed to another victorian structure before continuing, "This here are the dorms. They are coed based on skill and prowess of each student. We do not however, mix genders in the same rooms for obvious reasons but everybody can visit eachother before 10 pm." Adeline tugged at the woman's sleeve, "Are there sub rooms where we can sleep by ourselves or are there multiple students sleeping in beds in the same room?"
The woman looked down to her and lightly pulled her sleeve away, "Everyone has a sub dorm where they sleep and have a roommate next door. You will share a small common area with a kitchen and table, and a bathroom to the side. Based on individual skill setup, cultivators will get a spare room with amplified breath. Mages get a study with whatever accessories go with what type of mage they are. Those who have martial arts training or close combat training get a small armory and training room. And those who have enchanting and alchemy abilites get a lab. And there is a customizable space for your familiars to live if you have one in the first place."