"...Beautiful…" Ken mumbled to Himself
At the time, Ken didn't know what was more overwhelming, the view of the ocean and city, or the girl known as Hanako Sakura. He couldn't help but smile at the mere sight of her.
"Ummm….you...can let go of my...h-hand now," Hanako said looking at Ken awkwardly
"Oh sorry, I got distracted" Ken replied with an awkward chuckle, before letting go of her hand and sitting back down
"I'm glad you are my first friend, I sense something great in you, so from this day on, I'm putting all my faith in you Hanako Sakura" Ken spoke directly looking at Hanako's scarlet pink eyes
Hanako immediately covered her face, looking down as her face turned from light pink to a deep red "y-y-your too...s-s-straight forward...mmm...ehhhh...uhhh" Hanako stuttered with a flustered expression, as she once again forgot how to put words together, seeing this made Ken giggle
"Looks like two people who have respect for each other and truly admire each other can get oddly well with each other, even if they just met," Ken thought to himself
[We will now be approaching Belthon Station]
After the train stopped, its doors opened and all the passengers made their way out, stepping onto a giant platform that was floating in the air. Once everyone was on the giant platform, the train took off, and the platform slowly descended downwards, until it reached the ground. Where everyone walked off of it and continued with their day.
Belthon was much grander than Cardia Port, there was so much more going on. Ken's head was on the verge of exploding from how overwhelmed he had become
"It's so busy, how do people function in such crowds?" Ken spoke
"...This is your first time there…?" Hanako asked
"Yeah, it is. Good thing I met you, or else I would have gotten lost for sure"
Looking up in the sky, Ken could see several large orbs, scattered in the skies of Belthon.
"Woh, those are M.O.S; Magic Orb Synthesizers! They look way bigger in person" Ken spoke with stars in his eyes
Ken then looked around and saw a few sentient humanoid machines walking among the group of several other species
"Those are robots! I read about them in books, wow, can't believe I'm seeing them in person!"
Seeing Ken excited about everything made Hanako laugh a little "...Did you not have robots where you came f-from…?"
"Well back where I was from, all I had there were ferocious monsters who tried to eat me any chance they got…" After saying that out loud, Ken realized just how irresponsible his Grandpa was
"But this was what I wanted, it's like I'm in a whole new world!" Ken spoke as he took in the new atmosphere around him "I'd love to walk around and explore every corner of this city, but unfortunately I need to get going to the Academy before I'm late, wouldn't want to wait until next year to take the exams"
"...T-Then, let's get going…I'll lead the way"
Ken followed Hanako through the ever-busy city of Belthon.
"Say, Hanako you carry that wooden katana with you, do you not have a real katana?" Ken asked as he followed Hanako
"W-Well,...Ummm...this wooden katana is known as a Bokken. But it's only a seal for my actual katana" Hanako explained
"A seal? What do you mean by that?"
"I-im...sorry, b-but...I don't want to answer" Hanako replied in a sad tone, looking down at the ground
"O-oh, That's okay, but can I at least get the name of your real blade?"
With a slight nod, Hanako continued to say "Sure, it's, Odayakana Ame…"
"Odayakana Ame?"
"Gentle Rain. That's what it means…I find peace when it r-rains…"
"That's poetic, I think it's a cool name"
"Y-yeah me too"
Hanako and Ken continued walking for a few more minutes before they arrived at a cab stop, which was a small space where people could hire cabs.
"I'll pay for the…c-cab" Hanako offered
"You don't have to, I have money to pay"
"No, I…i-insist. Thanks to you I didn't receive a fine…so let me at least play"
With a smile of defeat, Ken replied "Sure"
Ken and Hanako got in a cab together, which took them through the city towards the Academy. Looking out the window of the car, Ken was amazed at everything they drove by, Hanako couldn't help but giggle at Ken's reaction to every tiny thing
Soon the cab drove over the ocean on a bridge leading outside of Belthon City
"Huh? I thought the Academy was in Belthon?"
"You must be new here, the Academy is located on an island hundred of meters outside Belthon City, the island is still considered part of the city tho" The cab driver answered
"Yea, the Academy owns the entire island" Hanako added on
"Amazing"
After a few more minutes of driving, they made it onto the island. The island was so big that it had its own shopping district, altho it was small. Driving for a few more minutes they finally arrive at the Academy.
"Thank you for the ride" Both Ken and Hanako said before the cab took off
Standing before the two were the tall gates of Elenora's Academy of Magicka. The entrance of the Academy was filled with many other people that seemed to be around Ken's age
"Well since you're taking the entrance...exams...this is where we go our separate ways…th-thank you...for accompanying me..." Hanako said as she gave a little head bow
"Yeah of course. It was nice to have you as company" Ken replied "Hope to see you soon"
"We will...d-definitely see each other again," Hanako replied with a soft smile. "Oh and umm...once you pass the exams, you will be given a...Student Cell"
Hanako pulled out a phone-like device, with an ultra-thin design. The device was around 5-6 inches in size, being mostly a see-through screen, with a metal exterior protecting its sides.
"Once you get given your Student Cell, you can use it to contact name," Hanako said holding up her Student Cell "Using this you can add me, and c-call me…or message me"
"Oh alright, understood"
"Well then, I'll be off now"
And with that Hanako left
Most of the other kids that were at the exams with Ken, seemed to have come from rich families, as they were all accommodated by butlers and security guards. Ken wandered around the giant yard, not knowing where he was going.
While walking, he saw many kids crying their eyes out as if someone had just died. Confused, Ken approached one of the kids crying and asked
"Why are you crying? What happened??
The kid looked up at Ken with snot running out of his nose "Th-This…e-ex-exa…m…is impossible! I r-r-really, tri..ed…m-my best! I was t-top…of my class, back in sch-school…but that wasn't enough…."
"Is the exam really that hard?" Ken thought to himself as he walked off
While walking and lost in his own thoughts, trying to figure out what the exams could be, Ken bumped into someone
"Oh I'm sorry" Ken apologized. Looking up to see a young boy with yellow hair