"Hey, are you all listening?" Luong tried to call the attention of the Astrochist. All of them are busy wandering around and some of them are talking to each other when they heard about the uniform they're going to be using and wearing.
"Hey! Listen up!" He shouted. Everyone stopped their momentum, the murmurings that were resonating around the whole area dissipated.
"I know that you guys are excited but, pay attention. This is not the only agenda we're going to talk about." He followed.
While they're discussing, among the crowds, someone raised its hand.
It is a boy with black hair.
"Sir!" He called out.
"Yes?"
"If we're going to wear those uniforms, that means we're like in a school or something, right?" He asked something obvious. Luong sighed.
"Yeah, correct. As you might have known, this program is actually a secondary variation of schools, particularly they're a substitute. In schools, you're only studying some basic lessons about spells and other things as well as real life situation simulation. Those are important, but it's only a part of it that is not that quite explained." Luong answered.
"Then how about this program?" The black-haired guy asked again.
"Well, in this case, not only that you're learning what the school is conveying in real life, but you're also going to learn more about spells, and the legend of Raiaterra." He answered with a monotone voice.
"Legend of Raiaterra? About our continent?" Someone from the crowd asked.
"Yes. The legend of Raiaterra portraying about how this world came out. Where did all these elemental powers come from? What kind of dangerous monsters and dragons live in this world and how are we supposed to locate them? What are the elemental rings? These are questions that you don't get to find the answer in a school or your parents because none of them knows about these things. The only people who know the answers are the leaders of each generation in their own Zodiac Clan." He explained.
Everyone in the room listened to Luong's explanation attentively. He caught the attention of hundreds of Astrochist just by saying a little bit of introduction about the Legend of Raiaterra.
"If that is clear to you, then let's move on to the next topic." He said.
"Hey Nile, what do you think about what he said?" Stell tapped Nile's shoulder with his finger while whispering.
"I don't know, but, I think I have a basic idea of what he is saying. This world we live in is not that normal as it seems. There are more things to discover and to know. We're not the only living things that occupy this world." Nile said with a serious look on his face.
"Damn, then this might be perfect for us." Stell said. Nile looked at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I don't know, I'm really excited. I want to know everything about this world. Also, you're going to find your mother, right? Then that's a good reason." Stell said with an excited expression.
"Hmm, you're right." Nile realized this. He smiled as he shifted his gaze.
"Alright, for the main topic. I'm going to explain to you our process when it comes to this program. But first, do you know the reason why this is called 'Mana Zone'?" he asked.
No one answered.
"No one? Err, well, the reason why this is called the mana zone is because, we're using the accumulation of Mana, particularly in this area out of nowhere to raise your individual elemental skills. This zone that we're talking about is the area behind this building. That will be your training center." He answered.
"I see, so in order for us to use our powers at the top level, they build the training center here because Mana flows better in areas without any objects and structures." Suddenly a female voice was heard behind Nile and Stell's back.
It was Adara and Aella.
"Yo, where the hell are you guys earlier?" Stell asked with a serious look.
"We got lost, there's a lot of rooms in the dorm." Adara answered him back.
"Now that you get the reason why, let's start with the process. First, let me remind you that there are 12 elemental powers. Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, Moon, Shadow, Force, Time, Ice, Flower/wood, and the rarest one is the Light element. These are all applicable elements that we've established and I know that most of you have these." He said.
"Now, because of that, you're going to be separated into 12 groups based on your respective elements. Each group has its own section and room to be assigned. And each section has its own teacher and masters."
While he's explaining, 12 people showed up behind him.
"My children, these people are going to be your masters on each element. They will guide you through the lesson you need to learn and train your individual skills and abilities. Take note that these people are one of the top 100 strongest magicians. They are also a former soldier so expect some hard pieces of training from them." He introduced them.
Brook - Top 67 Grandmaster Earth Elemental User
Pier - Top 53 Grandmaster Fire Elemental User
Faye - Top 32 Grandmaster Water Elemental User
Syphyl - top 54 Grandmaster Wind Elemental User
Lars - Top 38 Grandmaster, member of the scouting league, Lightning Elemental User
Luna - Top 71 Grandmaster, Moon Elemental User
Beigh - Top 90 Grandmaster Shadow Elemental User
Yami - Top 23 Grandmaster Force Elemental User
Ray - Top 25 Grandmaster Time Elemental User
Rin - Top 40 Grandmaster Ice Elemental User
Morco - Top 29 Grandmaster Flower Elemental User
Nichole - Top 24 Grandmaster Light Elemental User
"Again, let's meet our Grandmasters who will help us achieve our goals." Luong stated.
"Nice to meet you!" Some of the grandmasters greeted them while the others stayed quiet and watched them.
"Woah, so these are the top magicians." Stell's eye was large. He is excited to meet all of the grandmasters that will be teaching them.
"Well then, please follow them according to your own elemental powers. The grandmasters will give you your uniform and after that, please return to your rooms and change. We will start another session for a couple of hours." Luong ended his announcement. Everyone was really excited about their fresh start. Not to mention that there are many famous magicians gathered this day just to help them.
After a while, the Astrochists went to approach the teachers. Nile approached Faye, Stell approached Brook, Adara approached Pier, and Aella approached Syphyl. All of them are smiling knowing that they met someone strong and popular. But something was different, Nile's smile is not because of joy and excitement. He's smile is weird.
On the other hand, Faye noticed him. She knows that Nile is looking at her with a strange expression. The distribution of the uniform started and Nile was lined up in the back, a little bit far away.
Judging from the number of Astrochist, there are actually more teens on the four main elements. The other subcategory was not that great in number.
A couple of minutes have passed and Nile was the only one left to get his uniform. The blank face he has earlier had disappeared. He returned back to normal when he realizes that he is the last one. Faye checked the box and grabbed the last uniform that is covered with plastic. Aside from the clothes that were shown earlier, there's actually more inside the plastic. Gloves, logo, pin, and some boots and shoes that are not presented. All of the things have their own specific design.
And what's more interesting is that, the pins that are resembling as an emblem were different by each element. It is easier to identify someone's powers just by looking at their emblem. The earth emblem is a bit large and there's a symbol of rock. The fire's emblem is a bit complicated, water emblem is simple, wind element is simple as well and the rest are unique and different.
Nile approached Faye. He and she stared at each other with a motive.
'This woman...'
'This kid...'
"Excuse me..." Nile then began to speak with a soft voice. His tone was not that passive yet it struck Faye.
"What is it?" Faye smiled as she responded.
Faye wears a peculiar set of clothes. It's unusual for someone who's in the top 100 to wears such eccentric clothes. She wears a brown duster dress and she also had a ponytail on her hair. She's not looking very fancy, unlike the other top magicians who wears some good looking uniforms, coats, dresses, and armors.
"Are you..." When Nile tried to speak, someone interrupted.
"Is everything okay?" It was Luong.
"Oh, you're here. Nothing, this was the last kid I need to give the uniform to." Faye answered as she gave Nile the clothes and other stuff. Nile didn't get the chance to ask her as he started going away. He has an unsure look on his face indicating that he really needs to talk to her about something.
"That kid..." Faye spoke.
"Yeah, you noticed it as well?" Luong asked.
"He has one of the rings we need. But why aren't we taking any actions about it? Shouldn't we take it from him and start question where he found it?"
"Well, that's actually the plan from the start, but..."
"But...?"
"That boy is not an ordinary one." Luong said in a monotone voice.
"Huh? What do you mean? I didn't really sense any magical power from him."
"You know the Queen of water right?"
"Oh, you mean Linda... Could it be, don't tell me —"
"Yeah. That's him. Son of Linda the Queen of Aqua. That's the reason why he has that ring." Luong said.
"Wait, but how did you know it was really him? Like someone can actually find the ring even if Linda left it somewhere." She asked.
"His eyes and aura. That blue eyes of him resemble his mother. Me and Linda are not that really close but I got to see her close up a few years ago. I was still a young soldier who's in the middle of the training." Luong answered as he reminisced his meeting with Linda.
"Then if that's the case, why didn't I sense some powers coming out of him? If he's really the son of Linda then wouldn't he had some strong magical affiliation as well?"
"I don't know, but maybe he hasn't really had that much affiliation. Well, it's bad to assume something we're not sure yet. When the time comes, this boy may actually be the one who will save everyone. And that's your job as a grandmaster, Faye..."
Luong stopped, he stared at Faye with a serious look.
"Also known as... Faye, The 1st holder of the spirit of Undine." He stated.
Faye smirked after she heard the title she was given to.
"You need to raise that boy and help him develop his skills. After all, you're Linda's old friend, right? Take care of her son and do your best as a grandmaster while keeping it a secret. If he asked anything about the past, it's up to you whether you're going to tell him the truth or relay something that is false." Luong advised her.
"I know..." She responded.
Nile went on ahead to catch up with the other guys. He's walking slowly thinking about what happened earlier. After he reached the dorm, he opened the plastic that includes the uniform and some other stuff.
The dorm actually has a dressing room where you can change and every 10 boys are allowed on each section. It will take some time. but the result will be good.
Nile removed his shirt. He grabbed the gray shirt with a leather belt and wore it. After that, he removed his shorts and he wore the white pants as well as the boots and the gloves. And as for the final touch, he took out the long large coat and he wore it as well.
He stared at the mirror. And while he is doing that, he said something.
"I'm going to find out that truth about the past..."