"We need to leave the city, but it won't be too far away, you know the academy of Raiken isn't something anyone can just walk in."
As we were walking along the streets, over the grassland outside of Raiken and entered a path that quickly took us through a part of the forest near Raiken I could feel the old man's different emotions practically laying open.
"Master, are we gonna make it in time?"
It was a weird atmosphere all around us. Even the princess could feel the old man's emotions although I guessed that she didn't know why exactly the old man felt that way.
I'm guessing he will visit me tonight. Trying to intimidate me, warn me.
It is normal not to trust anyone, especially if they were someone suddenly close to your student.
"Sure, sure the one I had sent to inform the principal met us a few minutes ago, didn't he. He said that the principal would be waiting for us, so you don't need to be so anxious."
We met the man who had been sent to inform the principal shortly after passing the main gate of Raiken. He seemed like he had never run so fast in his whole life.
I don't who he was exactly, but I could see that he looked up to the old man and knowing were the academy is I would think that he was probably a student at the academy.
Maybe I'll see him again. His mana sure seemed like he could be a rather experienced mage, tho I couldn't say if I would necessarily lose against him in a fight.
"Here it is."
"We want to see the principal, we made an appointment for today."
They observed our every step, I could long feel their mana, hear there silent steps and feel the ground slightly shaking when they all moved together in groups.
They tried not to make any sounds and would be unnoticeable for most people. I guess they are protectors of the academy, or maybe just people assigned for special days like these right before something big is about to happen.
"You can pass."
The person who shouted was quite near, I could tell his rough position. He should be on a tree somewhere to the right.
Their mana all seemed really decent and especially the mana of the man who just spoke. He's probably the captain of that unit or whatever they are.
"Master, who are they?"
"Oh you don't need to know about them, but I can tell you that they are loyal to Raiken and as soon to be students of the academy of Raiken you should be on their list of people to protect."
Huh? I can feel mana right in front of us only a few steps away. It almost seems like a barrier, but you couldn't see it.
"Watch your steps from now on."
The old man walked in front of us and then after a few steps he was just gone.
"Master? Is it a barrier?"
"Yeah, I would also think that, let's just follow."
As I was getting closer and closer to the barrier my eyes could tell it was an illusion. The space seemed distorted, like something was wrong and then I also passed the barrier.
"What do you say?"
The old man was standing in front of us and behind him was a huge building complex. There was one big gate, which it seems like you would have to pass through, the trees that I had just seen in front of me were suddenly gone.
It's honestly scary how easy it is to trick people, but I feel like these illusions aren't really that useful against me. My sight is way better than normal people, after all my eyes are my mana center, which allows me to feel and also see mana.
I feel like the stronger I got and the more mana I get the stronger my eyes will become.
"It certainly is something you would expect from the biggest academy of the kingdom of Raiken."
I couldn't really see the end of the wall, which surrounded the whole building complex. It was bigger than the whole village I first arrived at after I came to this world. It was a pleasant air, everything was clean and it was noisy in the distance.
Last preparations I guess.
"Master, just how big is this academy?"
"It is about the size of Peron, so it should be one tenth of the size of Raiken."
Although I don't know about Peron, just judging from Raiken's size this is indeed a grand academy, but I can't imagine how many students there would have to be to actually make use of this much space.
"You could say that it is only because of this academy that the young talents of Raiken can actually compete with the talents of the biggest empires in this whole world."
"But we can't waste any more time, we shouldn't let the principal wait any longer."
As we walked through the academy it was apparent that not a lot of people know about the academy. You could occasionally hear voices from far away, but that was only possible, because of my strong hearing, otherwise it was completely silent.
"We are almost there, ready yourselves, the principal is someone even the king pays respect to."
I couldn't feel anything, but a few dozen meters away there was a grand door, you could practically feel the importance of that room.
But what surprises me even more is that the principal seems to be so strong that even the king can't treat him normally.
*knock*
"Come in."
After knocking against the door the voice I heard was that of a man, who seemed way younger than I would've guessed.
Opening the door I could finally feel the mana of the person in that room. From such a close distance I could also tell that there indeed was another barrier surrounding only that room. Because of that barrier I couldn't feel the mana from inside.
And the mana I felt was certainly the strongest I had ever felt before, well if you don't count the giant tree beast I had encountered before, but I shouldn't count that in with normal people.
And the man sitting in front of that room really seemed like he was quite young. Just judging from his appearance I would say he isn't even 30 yet. On his waist he had a sword, the grip was certainly quite unique, portraying a dragon, which was coloured purely in black.
It had been painted on the grip, which had a red cherry-like colour, which continued on the Scabbard along with the dragon.
It was elegant, but also seemed like it had been swung countless times, quickly cutting the enemy down.
His dark green eyes seemed to be carefully evaluating everyone, who entered the room. His whole attire itself looked something anyone would like to wear, but only certain people would shine wearing it.
His short red hair had a contrast with his eyes which I had never seen before. It especially fit his sword, which could very well have been specifically made for him.
"So, it's the Flowing wind, his highness and what seems like a little monster is it?"
"We pay our respects to the principal of the academy of Raiken."
The old man quickly bowed down and I followed his gesture. This person would be the principal of the place I might be staying at for the next months or even years, also he is really strong, so I don't mind bowing down to someone like him.
I quickly took a glance at the old man and the princess and noticed that they were both sweating. I guess even though they can't feel any pressure they are still nervous in his presence.
Well I already saw someone way stronger than him, so he can't make me nervous like them.
And he also seemed to notice that.
"So you are the one the princess was acquainted with. You certainly do have peerless talent, and I can't seem to figure out what you are thinking, which only proves that you are probably also quite smart."
"Thanks for the compliments, sir."
I couldn't help, but like him from my first impression, someone who doesn't only take a glance at someone else, but also tries to understand them and evaluate them is only fitting to be a principal.
"It's quite nice to see someone not getting nervous around me. It's getting really tiring, but I didn't expect someone like you to be the first person in a long time to give me that impression."
At these words the old man finally understood what Seiichi had meant by the dangers of that boy.
How can that man evaluate him so highly after only looking at him for a few seconds. And how can that boy not seem to fear him in the slightest, it feels like he knows way more powerful people, just who is he to be able to be praised by that man at such a young age.
"Flowing wind, I was told that you had already tested out his powers and at the same time created the seal at the place of the seal master, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir. We evaluated his magic by using a high level magic stone and afterwards the seal master personally created the seal for him."
"Good, then what kind of magic do you have, Yori?"
"I possess the power of the darkness."
The principal seemed to be surprised for just a moment, but then he began to smile a bit, like he was not expecting that answer, but was more than content with it.
"Interesting, really interesting. Then you can go to the lion class."
"What? S-Sir, don't you need to see his magic power and then choose which class to send him to? And the lion class, isn't that too high?"
The lion class is the highest class for first years, everyone in the lion class has great talent and had been trained by a master for at least 5 years. They are the future of the kingdom, how can he just send him into that class.
"Well, I don't really have a choice, do I? I thought the princess only chose to attend the academy after meeting Yori again, wasn't she planning on taking classes with him?"
That might make sense, but the princess surely wouldn't refuse going to the best class for first years, even if he doesn't-
"Yeah that is exactly right, sir."
"As I thought, the princess possesses a peerless talent and had you, the Flowing wind as her master for 7 years already, she surely has the qualifications for the lion class and I couldn't refuse the princess anyways, so isn't it only good to just let them both attend the same class?"
"Of course, sir. Sorry, I should've thought about it before saying anything."
The old man is doing everything wrong, he isn't used to the presence of someone stronger than him and only thinks rationally, but I can tell that someone like the principal hates those kinds of people, he may not show it, but something like that must be everyday life for him, so of course he'll get tired of it.
I can understand his feelings, it's way more interesting to meet someone like me. Truly pitiful, I thought he would be a better opponent in our little game, well I guess I'll just play with him a little.
"I'm sorry, but now that everything is cleared I would like to attend the other matters I still have to prepare for tomorrow."
"Sure, we'll excuse ourselves, sir."
We turned around to go, when the principal said one more thing.
"Oh and Yori, I am expecting great things from you."
"Of course, principal."
The door closed behind us and I couldn't feel his mana anymore.
Then I guess there is only one thing left for me to do today.
And with that done we walked away from the academy, passing the gate and coming back to Raiken one last time, before staying at the academy from the next day onward.
This is really turning fun, maybe it really wasn't a mistake to get involved with the princess.
"That boy, he succeeded every single one of my expectations, maybe he could really be "the one". After hearing that he was connected to the princess I already thought about the possibility, but that could really the change for this kingdom."
The principal looked down at a letter, left behind a long time ago, he was more than content with how that day proceeded.
The principal, he was the third one to see the talent I possessed.