"Would you like to try enrolling at that academy again? It's a great opportunity for a talented child like you!" Old man Dave asked.
"Will you allow me?" Luis asked back.
"Why wouldn't I? You already helped me more than I helped you. It's time to pursue your initial purpose now, you were delayed for a year already so go on! Pack your things up!" Old man Dave explained and instructed Luis on what he should do and reminded him a few things that he must remember.
"Thank you, grandpa Dave! I will always remember everything that you did for me!" Luis thanked as he pounced at the old man to hug him.
"There's no need for formalities, young man! Now go and pack your things!" Old man Dave directed and Luis immediately followed as he packed his things up.
"Take this and use it wisely." Old man Dave handed a small pouch.
"What is this?" Luis asked as he opened the pouch and saw crystals as big as his thumb.
"It's your pay that you refused to accept, I saved all of it and thought that I might give it to you one time and this is the time that I should give it back to you." Old man Dave explained.
"I don't know what to say anymore." Luis was speechless when he heard everything that the old man did for him.
"No need for gratitude. I already treat you as my grandson, and for my farewell gift. Take this." The old man handed an old book that has a tattered cover and the pages looked old.
"This is the Herb Compendium that has been passed to me from generation to generation. This was given to me by my master, and now it's yours." Old man Dave explained when Luis took the book from him after he handed it out.
"But, this is special for you grandpa Dave! Are you sure that you're giving this to me?" Luis asked to clarify the intention of the old man.
"You are my only student and I believe that the book is in the right hand. Keep it for me." Old man Dave assured.
"I promise that I will treasure this special thing with my whole being!" Luis stated in a straight manner with solitude.
"No need for big promises, now, go ahead and go to the Academy, the carriage is leaving soon!" Old man Dave directed.
The carriage started to move as the horse-like beast started to run. From behind, an old man waving his hand up high is giving the young man he took care of, his farewell as he looks at the carriage slowly disappearing from his sight. The old man and the young man both had this look of sadness as they part their ways. The bond that they made within these eleven months of living together is strong that people might have mistaken them as father and son.
"Master Chad, I made the right decision now, your legacy has been passed to someone who will hold your once great name!" Old man Dave silently prayed as he heads back to his lowly abode.
Days went by as the carriage continued to move towards their destination, only stopping for pit stops and the beasts' rest time. A big city can be seen from afar as towering buildings were built at the center of the city.
"We're already close to Riverside City." The coachman shouted to remind the passengers that they're arriving at their destination.
A couple of minutes passed and they arrived in front of a big gate with a lot of armored guards guarding it. The carriage stopped and the passengers hop out of it, they all fall in line on a booth to pay for the toll fee.
"100 energy crystals to enter." The man behind the booth lifelessly said. Luis handed a hundred pieces of the crystals from his pouch.
"This is energy stones if you want to enter, pay 1000 of these." The man stated.
"But I only have 1500 of these." Luis reasoned out.
"Then get out of the way, you're blocking the other people from entering. Next!" The man replied with an annoyed expression.
"Uhm... I'll pay for his fee, let him through." The young man from Luis's behind interjected as he hands over 200 pieces of crystals a size of a ping pong ball.
"Thank you for your generosity uh..."
"Serion, Johanne Serion Menazee." The young man introduced himself.
"Ignacius Luis Delmont! Luis for short, a pleasure to meet you Serion, and thanks for what you did earlier." Luis introduced back as they walked together around the city.
Riverside City is an expansive city that spans around a thousand-kilometer radius and it was protected by a wall made of magic stones and was enchanted with protection that enclosed the entirety of the city. A river can be seen passing through the city as it divided the city into two equal parts. The city was divided into three districts. The residential district where all of the residents of the city live. The commercial district where all kinds of shops can be seen like the Blacksmith, Apothecary, Antique Shops and many more. The quest and announcement board can also be seen here where mercenaries were hired to do some tasks, and lastly, the Central District, the place that is occupied by the one who manages this city, Divine Prophecy Academy.
They walked through the city and past a very wide bridge that crosses the river towards another gigantic bridge that was guarded by soldiers that looked strong and flashy.
"Do you have the permits?" The guard in a golden armor asked.
"Serion, what's the permit?" Luis asked as he hasn't had a single clue on what is going on.
"Permit is the invitation that the academy gave," Serion explained as he handed out the paper with the strange writings on it.
"Oh! I have one too!" Luis exclaimed as he handed the letter to the guard.
"This letter is from one year ago? Why did you only come today?" The guard was confused when he saw the date on the letter.
"I've been into a lot and a single day isn't enough to tell you everything." Luis awkwardly responded.
"I'm sorry young man but, I don't know if this permit is still valid but I can't let you enter for now sorry." The guard apologized. Serion looked to him as if he was sorry for what happened.
"Now what? What should I do now?" Luis pondered as if he met a dead end of his life.
"Let him in." A voice of a woman rang out from who knows where.
"Yes, ma'am! You can enter now kid." The guard saluted as he steps aside to let Luis in.
"Wow! I have no idea that you know someone with a strong background from inside!" Serion was shocked when he heard the voice.
"I'm in the same situation Serion, I have no idea I knew someone here too." Luis replied in a confused manner.
"I head off first! I'm going to meet someone first. Go ahead to the Dean's Office, they might be the one who let you in." Serion remarked and head off towards a direction.
Luis was fascinated by the look of the academy. Its entrance is so big that it can be considered a plaza, there's a fountain, a lot of flowers and benches. Towering buildings can be seen in the front as if he's looking in a castle rather than an academy.
He headed towards a building as if he knew where he was going because the map that he has on his mind was so detailed that even the rooms and furniture are all on the map. He reached a big black door with a golden owl design on it and when he opened it, he saw four people having a meeting.
"Did I come at the wrong time? Sorry for bothering you, I'll come back later." Luis apologized as he stepped back and was about to close the door when the man at the center spoke.
"No young man, you came at the right time, enter and we'll talk." The man looked as if he was in the forties with grey hair on the sides of his head and a black in the middle. He wore a black robe with a golden dragon embroidered from his shoulder facing down.
The man introduced himself as the Dean of the academy, his name is Fulgur. He also stands as the principal of the whole academy. He introduced the other three in front of him. Vice Dean Theriud is the one who is in charge of the academy's fundings, amenities, and expenses. Vice Dean Chisa is the one who is in charge of the academy's Safety and Security, she also owned the voice who spoke at the gate earlier. Vice Dean Mufar is the one who is in charge of the academy's education. They all wore the same purple robe with a golden phoenix embroidered on one side of their robe.
"So that's everything that you should know for now kid. Now introduce yourself to us." Dean Fulgur asked.
"I am Ignacius Luis Delmont, I'm 17 years old and I'm alone right now. Oh! I'm also sorry if I just came here today, I should be here a year back then." Luis introduced and apologized.
"The guard told me that you used the invitation we sent you since last year. You didn't receive the new invitation we sent to you?" Vice Dean Chisa asked.
"No, I didn't receive the letter, Vice Dean Chisa." Luis shrugged.
"That's odd, and call me Big Sis Chisa instead." Chisa smiled at him.
"Don't be fooled, kid! She might look young, but she is as old as me!" Theriud teased Chisa.
"You damn Baldy!" Chisa fumed as she chased Theriud around the room and beat him up.
"Nevermind them, anyway, please call me Brother Mufar, I'm the youngest here." Mufar greeted with a smile.
"That's all of the things that we need to inform you. We welcome you to Divine Prophecy Academy, Ignacius Luis Delmont! Please head to your assigned accommodation for now and wait for the day of the entrance exams." Fulgur instructed him after he made a welcoming remark.
A knock can be heard from the other side of the door as two people entered the room. It's Serion and another beefy guy.
"Oh, Luis! Done talking with them?" Serion asked.
"Yes, I'm going to head out first, good luck you two!" Luis greeted as he walked out of the room.
"Now, here are the two candidates for the chosen one mentioned by the prophecy," Fulgur stated. That is the last thing Luis heard as he walked towards his accommodation that was lead by a dog-beast.
Hours passed after Luis met the Dean and the Vice Deans. The room was left with the four people that occupied the room before.
"Are you sure you have delivered all of the letters? Why Luis didn't receive his?" Fulgur asked to clarify.
"I am a hundred percent sure that I passed everything, the only thing I can't handle is if the owls managed to deliver it," Chisa assured.
----------
Some days earlier...
Two hunters holding a magic rifle are roaming around the forest searching for prey.
A shot can be heard as one of the hunters shouted.
"Bro! I shot a bird! I hit it!" The hunter who shot exclaimed.
"The question is, is it edible?" The other one asked.
"I don't know, lets check it out." The two approached the place where the bird fell.
They saw an owl lying on the floor and there's a small container attached to its legs.
'To Ignacius Luis Delmont,
We would like to invite you again to come to the Divine Prophecy Academy as our student. We will wait for your arrival anytime soon.
Divine Prophecy Academy Admin,'
The contents of the letter that was inside the container.
"Bro! You hit a pet from Divine Prophecy! We're in big trouble! Hurry bury it and let's leave!" The other hunter nervously exclaimed.
They hurriedly buried the owl and ran away.
"I felt sad for the guy who should receive the letter." The hunter who shot sighed.
"You still felt sorry for that guy when you should be worrying about your life?" The other hunter exclaimed as they still ran away even if they're too far away from the place they buried the owl.