Rael walked through the bustling streets of Elytra, marveling at the sheer size of the city. He hadn't had the chance to explore it thoroughly before, when Jacqueline had taken Elara's pendant, but now he was free to roam. He observed the gigantic markets selling produce from distant lands, hawkers peddling exotic food items, and fishermen returning with their day's catch. He passed by blacksmiths hammering away at their forges and stalls brimming with magical items. The city's abundance of shops and stalls was overwhelming.
"While this is cool and all," Rael thought to himself, "the real gem lies in the secret passageways."
Rael's true mission was to understand the complete layout of the city. He needed to know all the shortcuts and secret alleyways. His mission depended on having a foolproof understanding of Elytra to avoid any unwanted surprises. As an elite assassin known as Xero, Rael had never failed a target. His success came from meticulous research followed by precise action.
He explored every nook and cranny he could find, noting strategic points in his notebook. "This is a nice spot," he murmured, marking it down. "This here too is also a good one." After a while, Rael decided it was time to call it a day. He had covered a lot of ground but knew there was still much more to explore. He resolved to tackle the remaining areas on another day.
As he headed towards Jacqueline's place, he saw Elara already there, playing a game with the children. Jacqueline shouted, "Rael's here!"
"Alright, alright, please don't shout now," Rael replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. Everyone turned their attention to him.
"Hey there, what was the hold up?" Elara asked.
"I was doing some things," Rael replied.
"Well, whatever. Let's trade information," Elara said, getting straight to the point.
Rael agreed. Elara started, "Your new friends, can they be trusted?"
"I haven't told them much about this, but from our interactions, they seem like good people and can be trusted," Rael replied.
Moving on, Rael asked, "Have you noticed any peculiar girl within your dorms?"
Elara shook her head. "No, nothing unusual. What about the academy and the opening ceremony today?"
Rael thought for a moment. "There wasn't anything odd, but I was surprised to see Karrina Roison there."
"Why so?" Elara asked, curious.
"She doesn't usually make public appearances, does she?" Rael replied.
Elara looked puzzled. "Huh? She's been pretty public ever since her birth. She's the poster child and possibly the next successor of the Roisons."
Rael was taken aback. "Are you sure?"
Jacqueline, who had been listening intently, chimed in, "Yes, she is. She's always at the forefront of things."
Rael now realized something was amiss. Either Yakichima had fed him incorrect information, or there was a deeper conspiracy at play. "Let's end things here for today. If anything comes up, I'll let you know. I expect the same from you."
Elara nodded. "Agreed."
They both bid goodbye to the kids and headed to their respective dorms. As soon as Rael reached his dorm, he could smell the aroma of food from the doorstep. "Something's cooking," he thought as he entered.
"Hey, welcome back!" Zhatar greeted him. "Where have you been?"
"Around the block," Rael replied. "So, what's for dinner?"
Keita popped out from the kitchen and announced, "Meat stew."
Rael's face lit up. He loved meat. "Get ready for multiple helpings from my side," he said with a smile.
They all sat down for dinner, enjoying the hearty meal. Afterward, tired from the day's events, they headed to their respective rooms. Rael reflected on the day and marked "Day 1" in his diary to keep track of his time since joining the academy. He also decided to write a letter to Yakichima, detailing all that had happened and asking him to verify the information about Karrina Roison. With that done, he slipped into a deep slumber, ready for whatever challenges the next day would bring.