Drake finally left the compound that he had been cooped up in his entire life. What greeted him was beyond his imagination and with in his expectations.
The architecture was magnificent, building were classical for sure. there was one building that even reminded him of the Greek colosseum. Drake figured that there was battles that would go on there. He knew that cultivators needed battle to improve.
"Grandpa what is that building there?" Drake asked about the colosseum. "It looks so domineering. Can we go there and look?" Drake really wanted to see if fights would take place there or not.
"Hmmm oh hehe, it would seem our grandson has visions of grandeur." Elder Neim looked at Elder Drake while laughing. "We'll go there one day, when you are ready, that is the Colossus of Glory. Only warriors who have reached at least the low mortal level 6 or higher can enter there. In our kingdom many fight for glory but only very few achieve it. One way is definitely the Colossus of Glory, however you take your own life into your hands every time you enter that arena." Elder Neim explained.
"Right for now you must focus on your block you maybe strong enough, which is saying something. However you lack the experience, anyone who enters there is a stone cold killer and won't hesitate whether your a child or not. Gain at least a hundred duals under your belt before you attempt that place." Elder Drake warned." The death rate there is about eighty five percent."
EIGHTY FIVE, does it have to be so exaggerated. Drake thought he was going to have a heart attack right then and there. I need to temper myself, how come all the hero's in the books are ready at a moments notice to slay another human. I nearly choked just thinking about it.
Drake continued to ask questions as him and his Grandpa's walked towards the academy. Drake would ask about buildings that interested him. He came to another tower that seemed to reach into the sky no matter how he looked he could not see the top.
"What is this place? Why can't I see the top? Is this place like the Colossus?" Drake couldn't help himself this looked more like a dungeon described in the books he used to read back on earth. Dungeons always had good stuff from top tier cultivation techniques to immortal treasures, one could make a fortune if they were to seize the opportunities within.
"Hmmm you could say that, you have a good eye. This is the tower of heaven and hell, those seeking not only enlightenment but true life and death battles enter here. We are lucky to have our city built around this tower. No one knows how old it is or what it's actual purpose is. Many cultivators have gone in but few return." Elder Drake commented this time.
"Well that is true and not true, the academy actually uses the first ten floors for training the students as well. These floors have been explored time and time again and have been found to be just right for tempering the young. There are many low level beast in there for the first ten floors and they are equivalent to the first three levels of cultivating. No matter who enters the first ten levels are always the same." Elder Neim explained.
"So what your saying is I'll learn how to battle here. Great is it only the academy that will bring us, or can I be accompanied by a clan member to come and try it out?" Drake wondered aloud as he looked at his Grandpa's.
Elder Neim glanced at Elder Drake before replying." Well you can be accompanied by an elder of our clan however you need to contribute to the clan first, to be quite honest both of us have had the intention to bring you here before the academy started but...." Drake frowned, it seemed there was somethings even beyond the control of both of these men.
"Might as well tell him, you see even though no one actually owns the tower per say, someone does own the entrance. This is the Trenae Family, And the rule of having to contribute to your clan which in turn contributes to the realm was thought up by them. Now usually when more powerful clans come they can usually by pass this rule because of contributions made through generations of contributors. Our two clans are on the out's with the Trenae's, therefore they are holding fast and true to this rule as of right now." Elder Drake frowned.
Elder Neim continued." Actually it's your parents fault that we are in this situation, you see your mother was supposed to be married to Michael Trenae, instead she intentionally got pregnant by your father thereby forcing us to have a wedding for them. Both me and Elder Drake had banished them, don't give me that look the Trenae family is from the capital and is as powerful as both our clan's combined." Elder Neim stated.
"However you were born so we brought them back, all the soul stones your father mined in the nine months before your birth were given to the Trenae Clan. This appeased them however the humiliation is still fresh in their minds so we can only follow the rules set by them for the time being. However the Solgard Academy of Fire and Earth isn't the only one there is, one is in every mid and large size city, each is named after the city they are situated in and each has contributed to the country more then any mere clan could. So when you go to the academy the Trenae Clan will no longer be able to stop you from entering. Or they'll have to answer to the crown." Drake nodded his head, so it was like this.
It figures he wasn't even born yet and he already has enemies, I thought that enemies were accumulated over time I mean shouldn't my first enemy be made at the academy. No instead my parents have practically put a bullseye on my back from the time I was born. Well I can only deal with it when it comes. As Drake rounded the next corner he seen what had to be the academy.
The place was massive on earth it would have easily been the size of an international airport. There was two enormous gates that everyone was passing through. From where Drake stood he could see at least three hundred different building. Even though Drake had seen many building along the way he had never imagined a school so big especially one for children. And even more fantastic was a wall that completely encompassed the whole school like a sleeping giant that would never be climbed over.
"Well what do you think, I know it's not the biggest academy but it should suffice correct?" Drake was stunned, "Hahaha look at him you'd think he'd never seen something so big." Elder Neim laughed.
"Idiot he hasn't, remember we have had him under lock and key for the last seven years." Drake's Grandpa's started to argue about who's fault it was that he was locked up for so long. Drake just stared ahead thinking that this really isn't a dream and slowly excitement started to creep into his heart.