"Hello, Miya." The owl can talk. Now what? Miya thought. The girl was actually too tired to be shocked. It didn't seem as though the owl was that scary, especially now that it was still daytime and the creature looked too calm to attack.
"You don't need to be surprised."
"I'm not surprised." Miya said while leaning against the bedpost. "Just introduce yourself and your meaning to be here and then go away for the day. I need some sleep."
The creature seemed a little disturbed by Miya's calmness. The girl even yawned in front of him. "You don't know me?" Asked the creature. Miya turned around then pretended to narrow her eyes and immediately shrugged her shoulders, "no, that's why I asked you to introduce yourself first."
The creature nodded and cleared its throat, "My name is .. Digu."
Miya, who initially looked tired and almost closed her eyes, came back to her senses and glared at the creature who introduce himself as Digu. The Digu? "You're from the Wizardian Council." Miya said finally realizing. Digu opened his beak at first to continue speaking, but closed his beak again and nodded.
Digu then fly down to the floor as he changes his form into a creature like Miya. With two long slender legs and two slender arms. His face is sharp and young, his eyes glow blue and narrow at the edge. His lips potrays a smile at Miya as the girl gaze upon him in amazement.
"Jeez. I haven't seen you all this time. My mother has attended the Rulers' Meeting several times, and she said you were present too. But I only heard your names and history." Miya said as she walked over to Digu. The creature nodded with a smile then dragged a chair and sat next to Miya.
"What did you come here for?"
Digu was stunned by the question. Earlier he had practiced this conversation with Cyclops. But even that creature didn't help much. Cyclops reminded him that Miya didn't know who she really is. The girl may have heard the rumors about the dangerous Prodigy studying and hiding in her mother's academy. But that girl probably didn't think much of it let alone feel that she was what those people were gossiping about.
"I know where your parents are," said Digu, simply lying. Of course he didn't. They even missed the big predictions that said the girl's arrival to the Land of Dawn, especially about her family of origin. But Digu was sure that the girl had recently thought about her family and that woyld be the only reason that could make her wanted to run away.
Previously he also knew everything from Cyclops. The creature also agrees with Digu's wish to take Miya out of the academy and cancel her vow to become a Soldier of Light. The girl will be difficult to reach once she is brought under the auspices of Beau's castle. Especially looking at the attention Young Master Aden gave to Miya. They already know that the girl will have the possibility to become queen beside Young Master Aden, who from the news will soon be crowned king.
"I'm sure Miss Miya will follow us, rather than Your Highness Aden." Cyclops said before Digu flew into Miya's open window. "She would be more interested in finding out where she came from rather than accepting Prince Aden's proposal."
Digu smiled when he saw Miya stunned. The girl was thinking about her wish at that time. Digu cleared his throat once more and then land his hand on top of Miya's. "I only say this once and that is now. That you shouldn't be in this academy." Digu said lying again. It's all Miya's choice. She has lots of options to do, but Digu knew he needs to narrow the choices that seem to be available for Miya.
"I want to meet my family." Miya said with a sigh. "I thought that by becoming a Soldier of Light I would have more free time and eventually break out of the academy walls."
"You will indeed come out of the academy wall. But you will only be transferred to be behind another wall." Said Digu. "There's no need to rush to choose, Miya. I'll be around you." Said Digu as he change his form into an owl again.
Digu flapped his wings back out of the window, "But if you really want to meet your family, meet me tomorrow night at the north gate of the academy." He said before swooping down and disappeared from Miya's sight.
***
That day was Miya's last day studying in class. It came just before the incoming bell rang. The thought of her conversation with Digu yesterday. Tomorrow night, she thought. Which meant that Digu gave him no choice but to become a Soldier of the Light, which actually didn't sound very pleasant to her. But it seems the people at the academy are so amazed when they see that Miya is one of the selected students who is considered talented and brilliant among the others. She was then transferred to the superior class which contained students who would be sworn to become Protectors of the Land, and Soldiers of Light.
Everything happened so quickly and without realizing it, Miya became a Frauser at the age of fourteen. The title Frause for men and Frauser for women are the titles given to the most gifted students who successfully completed the Sixteen Nayra Missions. Most of those who were crowned finally succeeded in completing their mission when one's nineteenth. But Miya, who was a special student from the start, was able to finish it earlier, breaking the previous record, Tigreal, who completed mission at the age of sixteen.
The girl was proud to be able to do it, but after she got the title, it felt like life was too smooth to live in. There are no obstacles that really matter and her life is only filled with excessive attention from people. That girl thought a lot about how her life would be if she hadn't been born and grew up in the academy. Or maybe if she was born powerless and less bright.
Then on that seemingly blessed night, when Miya finally got the courage to ask Madam Evangeline and she answered without hesitation. The girl finally saw a glimmer of hope for the adventure to find her family. The girl still had mixed feelings when she thought of a family that didn't seem to want her.
Miya was a little sad when she found out that she was dumped and placed in front of the academy gate. But the girl thinks there are many possibilities and reasons her family to dump her. Maybe their condition is inadequate with too many children to support so that Miya's arrival will burden them. So they left Miya in front of the best academy in the kingdom in the hopes of giving her a more decent life.
But actually there is something in her who think that the family shouldn't leave anyone behind. A family would work together to find solutions to the problems at hand. But the girl deliberately darkened her eyes. She doesn't need to think about things that might not exist. All she needs to do is find whoever gave birth to her and ask why the woman agreed to throw her away.
Her homeroom teacher, Madam Touselle, has entered and appears to be carrying a box full of jars that clink together, filled with a glowing purple liquid. "Good morning all." The woman said.
"Good morning, Madam Touselle."
"I'm sure you guys are curious about these bottles filled with blue liquid." Madam Touselle said as she grabbed one of the bottles from the box and lifted it. "This liquid is your final semester test." Madam Touselle said.
One class immediately riots questioning the sudden-sounding exam. Half the students were less concerned. Maybe because they had studied and focused on practicing physical endurance.
"Your exams will not affect your grades," said Madam Touselle. One class immediately sighed, relieved.
"But this exam will determine where you will be placed." Madam Touselle continued. One class goes into chaos again. Most of them already have a plan for when they get the positions they want. And now they're probably regret their decision to not to prepare anything correctly.
"All right, calm down. I understand why you guys are making a fuss like this. All the generations before you guys reacted the same way you did. But believe me, this way you won't waste your time and talents for getting into the wrong division." Madam Touselle said. "Class president please distribute one each."
Madam Touselle took one of the bottles and stood up, "The liquid in this bottle is taken from the Jewel Mushroom which can only grow under the magical influence of the forest of Nayra Academy. This mushroom has many uses and is very effective when mixed into sleeping pills."
"The deans had already picked this mushroom and squeeze out the essence. The Jewel Mushroom mixture is then mixed with the roots of the Sleeping Tree and some ingredients that the deans don't explain. Then there will be the liquid that is in the bottle before you."
"You will drink this liquid and your soul will enter an alternate dimension where you will do your test." Madam Touselle created a glass barricade between the seats of her pupils and transformed their seats and tables into soft beds.
"As long as you are in the alternate dimension, your bodies here will probably do a bit of upheaval, this barricade is created so that no one gets hurt. Now. Please drink the liquid in the bottle until it every last drop of it." Madam Touselle said as she barricaded all the windows and doors of the classroom with a series of layers of glass. Several soldiers also entered to secure the class. Perhaps these things are done because of last night's incident.
Gradually, all the students began to close their eyes and switch to the alternative dimension Madam Touselle meant. The dimension felt extremely cold and dark. "Welcome to the Replica Dimension." Madam Touselle said after entering. "This dimension is fabricated from a handful of events during the time the Land of Dawn was created."
Madam Touselle put her hand on the ground and called out some of the stored memories. "You will pass seven kinds of obstacles in this place and I will be watching you from outside the protective barricades. "
"Everything you do, all the weapons, paths and companions you choose will determine your placement. So choose carefully." Madam Touselle said.
"First of all, you must choose your weapons." She said. "Concentrate on the shape and modification of your weapons, this world will provide them for you."
Each students then fell silent and concentrated on their weapons. Aden created a sword engraved with the symbol of his kingdom and ignited green flames. Some of the other students created swords like Aden and the rest created pistols or axes.
Miya initially didn't know what weapon she made. The girl was not that interested in one weapon. She could use anything, but the girl wasn't sure what kind of hurdle she would face. Then came the one weapon she had used frequently and the first weapon that Madam Evangeline had introduced her to. The girl then modified the weapon in her mind and added carvings that would glow brightly in the dark. The girl opened her eyes and found a bow and a bag filled with arrows.
"Arrows, Miya?" Madam Touselle asked, slightly taken aback.
***