As we had already finished trading the Shrieker corpse, we immediately headed to Tree. I was an enrollee there already, so I had to go there. I have no clue how enrolling on Tree works, as the original story didn't mention that process.
" Did Tree send you guys? " I was talking with Daniel and the others about how and why they were looking for me in the first place. I needed more info to help me understand my current situation. I was pretty calm now and I could finally focus on the less important things... at least for this day.
" Yeah, that was pretty serious after all." Even if it was just one student, Tree couldn't let you die. How was it that you were the only one that got separated from that entire group? " They ask me curiously.
As much as I wanted to say that their question was the only information I had, I couldn't. I just kept on making excuses to at least not expose my number one advantage and, at the same time, my number one disadvantage.
But anyway, Tree did send them. The original plot was that they found me by accident after trying to find the Shrieker, but we were actively sought out in this case. I mean, I'm a Tree student now, which wasn't what was written in the fan fiction...
That was pretty much all they knew about me, so I decided to stop there.
But anyway, now that I think about it... What was the day today?
I don't know. But I know that when the Lair beneath the Red Bridge was discovered, it was during the first day of class. According to Daniel, they still hadn't found the Lair, but there was already a search party looking for it. So it should still be within that month.
Well, whatever it is, I'm sure I'll figure it out later.
...
" We're here " Daniel smiles as he points at the massive gate in front of us.
Now, this is fantasy. The gate was exactly what you would imagine if you thought about the gate of a noble family house or, in short, a mansion.
white pillars and walls, metal gates, and bars. With the intricate designs, the gate looks absolutely magnificent and somehow overwhelming.
In terms of security, they do not fall short. The men wearing black patrolling the area were all hunters, at least 5* in rank. This was the source of humanity's firepower and hope, after all. Not only that, but if I remember correctly, there were also an incredible number of cameras and technology scattered throughout the entire area. Such as the energy scanner, which alerts the academy whether Ki or Mana is being used without any permission, the drones patrolling the area, and also the ID scanner in front of the gate, which Daniel and the others opened for us.
With that, the full magnificence of Tree revealed itself to me. Just past the gate was a lone willow tree standing in the middle of the road. Benches surround the large tree which seems lonely, but that's only because the academy hasn't started yet.
The buildings were covered with glass and marble, and a blue tint covered the hard concrete walls, making them look incredibly futuristic. Billboards were made out of holograms, containing advertisements and the faces of students. Some grass patches also surround the area, helping Tree look alive and vivacious.
There were multiple buildings that made up the academy. And the one we're heading to, or the building in front of us, seems to be the Academy hospital. It was relatively smaller than the main buildings, but it was already a two-story building with a decent amount of space.
Daniel knocks at the door. After a while, no one seems to have opened the door yet, so he knocks again.
" Hello? We found him! " Daniel shouts this time around.
This time the door opens, revealing a beautiful, tall, slim lady with bright red hair standing on the opposite side of the door. She was in her 30s, but her face still looked like she was in her 20s because this was non other than the Flame Mistress Jean. The title given to the 8* Hunter who was also the Vice-President of Tree. She was a mana-based Hunter who was granted the ability of Pyromancy. Manipulating the nature of fire, she had risen from an orphan to the Vice-President of Tree.
" The kids are sleeping inside. Lower your voices." She chastises Daniel because he was the loudest of the group.
" We're sorry, Vice-President " Daniel exclaims as he bows down in front of the girl. His teammates followed after realizing what Daniel had just said.
Jean was famous for her intense yet alluring appearance, but her personality was the total opposite. She cared for and always loved the younger ones due to her being the big sister in the orphanage she had stayed in before. She was also one of the biggest helpers to Sol, as she treated him just like his little brother.
I soon followed suit, but mid-way to my bow, Jean gestured for the others to stand up, forcing me to stop the bow.
Oh no...
Did I already catch her attention? Jean was very kind and respectable to those she treated like her comrades. But it seems like I was not one of those.
" A 16-year-old boy who awakened his power in the small stronghold of Phel. " I think my assumption was right. Jean was definitely a kind-hearted individual, but she was not naive. She had risen from this position with only her abilities in hand.
" And when he thought his life would only be for the better from this on out, the opposite happened." Jean continued her story as she circled our spot. With her sharp tones and her wavering gaze, as she switches it on and off in different spots, only ending up in my direction, I could only assume the worst.
She then puts her arms around my shoulder as she looks me in the eyes. She was a little taller than me. She's about 1-2 inches above my height, and if I were to guess, that's just around the 6 foot mark, and with our height difference, she looks terrifying, ready to eat me up at any second.
"A frail and scared young boy with a weak personality suddenly looks confident and brave."
She then proceeds to snap her fingers, forming a small flame. Was there an ability that could tell I was not originally from here? My nervousness was reaching its peak.
" Someone who would fall over with just a little gust of wind..." Jean says as she blows out the small flame on top of her finger.
" ...could suddenly withstand this much pressure from an 8* Mage. " She snaps her fingers more aggressively this time, forming the same tiny flame, yet its color changes from bright red to a shade of black.
" Like he became a totally different person."