The Academy was silent considering the time but this didn't help the suspense of the three that walked down the halls.
The palpable feeling of anxiousness kept them in a relative silence as Mimi led them to the highest floor of the building where the administrative offices were located and at the very end of the hallway was where the office had been.
Behind those doors at the end of the hallway was Sensei Hieki's friend and the person that would help them further their cultivation and expand their knowledge of the world.
'' Are you three ready? You guys have been quiet. ''
Mimi asked them, hoping that maybe they were just preparing their speech ahead of time which in all fairness was a reasonable thing to do. Mimi hoped they wouldn't be too put off by the person when they speak to him since he wasn't exactly '' for everyone ''.
'' We're ready to go in. ''
Sakura spoke to Mimi for the other two, she was ready and surely they were also.
It had not been long since they've entered this city at the top of the mountain but the atmosphere was already settling in that this would not be the same as Hieki's compound and that they'll have to adjust while being here.
Hakai wasn't too happy with leaving Hieki's side but Hieki acknowledged that he didn't have the tools to help them any further than one stage of cultivation and teaching them his skills. He wished he could've done more but that is why he sent them here and now that they were here, they needed to make sure that they were accepted into this community.
Mimi opened the doors and in the office laid various wooden tables with vials partially filled and packaged jars with seals on them amongst other strange items that was out of focus for the three who entered.
Their eyes laid on the man who sat on the chair at the end of office, this person was noticeably younger than Hieki and was busy writing a letter. His long platinum hair shined faintly against the moonlight through the window behind him but it was only after a few seconds following the door opening that he finally realized there was others in the office room.
His eyes tilted up and shot a glance at the three there.
'' Why are there people in my office at this time? ''
'' Hello Mister Gakusha, our Sensei Hieki had told us to seek you out and hand you this letter. ''
Hakai spoke first to the Principal, having walked closer to the desk and placed the letter there for him. He couldn't help but notice how effeminate the Teacher had been that if Hieki had not told him that the male was a male then he'd surely think it was a woman.
'' I see, so you are the three from the tournament Mimi mentioned. I will have to give you props, more often than not things don't turn out well when kids fight an adult. Even more so when its a Dark Hand Soldier and even more so when they wielded the power that Mimi described. If he transformed with something associated with a black sludge then there is nasty things afoot and if this was just some foot soldier being granted that power then they were desperate. Now you three stand before me in my office. Who knows if they'll come and target this mountain? ''
The Principal spoke with a tone that sounded like he was giving them praise but it quickly sounded like he was scolding them for bringing trouble here but he threw his hands up almost as if he was shrugging. His demeanor seemed less like an adult but more so like a older brother who didn't care about danger and lived life one step at a time but maybe this was too soon to be making assumptions.
'' None of them have tried coming here before, not that they'd bother with a mountain that reveals its true features at night. There is no particular treasure that they may desire here so we are safe but if you three desire knowledge to grow and nurture your fertile minds then you've found the right place but you will have to do some work in exchange. If you can agree to that amongst other dangerous risks associated with living here then I can admit you three to the academy. ''
The Principal had nothing else to say but to get to the point, there was no use tiptoeing about when the nature of this conversation boiled down to their admittance. The three of them needed to be here and little did they know how fortuitous it'd be that they were here as before they were able to nod their head to comply with the terms and conditions of being here, Gakusha had spoken up again.
'' Mimi you are free to leave. ''
Gakusha informed Mimi that she was cleared to leave the room and she left after those words were spoken.
A moment of silence followed as Gakusha gotten up to look out the window.
'' Hieki mentioned that the Empire ruling this region has disappeared and that you are the only one still around. The fact that they disappeared means that something caused the entirety of the Palace to be torn from its physical location and I've heard rumors that a large series of structures collapsed somewhere nearby a month ago but I wasn't sure what it was so I minded my own business. Putting two and two together, there's a chance that it might be what I think it might be. ''
Gakusha's words made Seiya feel like jumping out of his skin. The principal turned his head over to glance at the three before asking them a question that was hard to say no to.
'' How would you three like to save the Empress of the Eastern Region? ''