"Happy birthday Eliza! May you have a happy life till the end." Cheered some group of friends with loud claps.
Standing around a party table, Eliza blew off the candles and smiled at her friends.
She was dressed as a Victorian Vampire princess in a beautiful pink dress and her hair was tied in a braid.
She was fourteen at present.
Her bloodline opened a month ago.
She was discovered to be a vampire.
Her beloved mother felt great pride in her.
When it was released as a bloodline for her daughter, out of sheer excitement, she even decorated her birthday cake similar to blood pouring out from the objects. In reality, it was just strawberry sauce added in extra coloring.
When it was sliced more red texture pored out.
One of her friends cheered "Wow! You are a vampire! I can't believe I am befriending one!" She hopped on her hugging Eliza firmly around her arm.
Eliza was also joyed by this special party prepared by her friends and mother.
The table was full of meals, sweets, balloons on the wall, and decorations all around.
"All this was prepared to help me feel relieved from being a new bloodline." she smiled.
Normally, teens or children would panic from the body change.
They would go on a rampage while some would be locked up from the world trying to overcome their fear, learn, and adapt to the new changes while most of them would receive the penalty of death.
Eliza's friends and family were cooperative with her. They supported her and helped her to get encouraged.
Unlike Eden, who was insulted to be a Magus was thrown aside and rejected. However, none of them had any idea how a great bloodline opportunity they were trashing away.
"Now for our gift" exclaimed her other friend. She picked up her gift and presented it to the birthday girl.
Eliza chuckled accepting it. She placed it on the table, opened the packet, and was shocked to find cosmetics and a small make-up kit.
"Ah! These are so beautiful! Thank you so much!" Cried the girl.
Her friend replied that since Eliza had turned into a vampire, never she should forget about her beauty and jewelry as these are a Girl's lifestyle.
A loud clap deafened the room.
"Now Eliza, there is something very amazing for you," stepped in her mother while holding a big gift card and she handed it over to her.
"What's this mom?" Questioned her daughter. When she unpacked it, to her surprise it was a beautiful golden envelope sealed with a metal crest with the address 'To the Vampiress'
Eliza was drowned in puzzlement as she clipped open the seal, and pulled out a bright white paper.
It said:
"Respected Miss Vampiress,
Greetings to you.
You must have recently discovered your new bloodline.
It might feel great to discover yourself as the oddest person of all.
At the same time, it could be frightening too.
No worries, we are inviting you to come and study in our fantastic academy named GATE TO GOLDEN BRIDGE. It's a place where every odd creature would dream to be invited.
A place where you will be taught to overcome your fear and gain great confidence in learning about the surroundings and discovering your new life plus, great support from the teachers.
You will be acknowledged in learning the mystery of the bloodline no matter how past the history went by with the bloodline.
You will also be taking tasks, homework, and examinations but not similar to the old school days. Our school has a completely different atmosphere.
With the perfect combination of fantasy and academy, you are free to enter the academy and grow up over time. You can stay as long as you wish plus, retire the moment you feel for it. There are no admission fees.
Then what are you waiting for?
Catch the train that will land in front of your house and you are in.
Do not miss the rare opportunity.
A brand new world awaits you..."
This was all mentioned in the invitation.
The invitation sent to the entire world of odd creatures here had arrived at its destination safe and sound.
Upon reading this, Eliza burst into happiness "I am been invited to that rare school!" She exclaimed in joy as she hoped like a bunny by receiving the letter. "This is the best invitation ever!" Cried the vampire.
Her friends were puzzled by the act as no one questioned her reason.
Eliza stood up asking her friends
"Say, do you know what this means? I won't be taking normal school anymore!"
"Really?!" Surprised her friend who stood by the end of the group, "How come?"
"Listen!" Replied Eliza as she began to explain to her friends about the new school as she had completely forgotten about the party.
DING!.... DONG!
During the discussion, the doorbell rang. Eliza's mother walked out of the living room avoiding any disturbance in the meeting.
When she stood near the door, she wondered why her man arrived home early from work.
The moment she opened the door her heart skipped a beat.
Three men were standing in front of the door. These men were covered in white capes that hid over them.
Three of them had different eye colors, unlike their hairs which seemed all the same in silver.
Surprisingly, all were smiling gently at the lady.
"When, how may I help you?" Questioned the woman a bit panicked.
The man at the center replied, "Good evening young lady. We truly apologize for interrupting your warm time this snowy evening." He spoke as he gazed at the snow around.
Through his gentle behavior, the lady felt at peace with them.
She cleared her throat questioning, back "Well, that's alright but, what brought you three here? My husband is still at work. You may catch up later."
"Pardon us, madam" spoke up the man at the left.
"We have no business with your husband. You and your family are out of our list."
"Excuse me?" Surprised the lady when the first man added,
"We are here for the boy named Eden Locker."
"Locker?" Puzzled the mother explained that she never heard the name Locker era unlike, Eden which is well known to her.
All three gazed at each other grinning when the third one stepped forth explaining" To be honest, my lady Eden is the one we are looking for. Since we are going to take him to avoid riding with us, for your knowledge and trust Eden Locker is someone we deeply admire.
We respect him and rush to take him along. It will be a great pleasure for us. We all know him quite well.
As for him, it will be taking some time and effort for him to memorize us."
"But, about Eden...." puzzled the lady looking when she noticed something hidden under the spoken man's cape.
This didn't help her with her trust. She wanted to make sure of it thus, she contested further, "Are you sure it is my Eden that you all need? I mean there could be more names similar to him, right? You could be taking the wrong address?"
The three men didn't erase the smile off their lips.
Over and over the three gazed at each other as though they knew clearly what this lady was thinking inside however, they didn't mind if get annoyed for once.
They wanted Eden.
These men came for him. With peace and treatment similar to their color of outfit they were wishing to clear off the matter between them and the mother and then achieve their way in meeting up with Eden Locker.
"We deeply understand your concern about the boy" answered the third man smiling in a peaceful aura, "also we do understand the anxiety you have about the name. I do agree that there are above thousand men, boys, and children with the name Eden however, this one is known by the word Locker.... there doesn't exist any person other than the boy himself called Eden Locker." He ended his sentence with a cough.
The mother thought for a while to herself, "These men are insisting on meeting up with that boy. I don't feel safe from them however, there isn't anything I can fear from them for Eden.
That brat isn't my son or any close relative of my family. If I simply give him away and clear off these men from my door I won't lose anything except for that muddler. I will clear off my house from rubbish. Nothing is going to happen..." a smirk stretched on her lips.
She cleared off the trace questioning, "If Eden meets up with you three men what are you going to do with him?"
"We will be excited to see him" answered the first man.
"We will be like friends. It's been quite a long since he had gone from us. He's a long-gone friend. We miss him." Added the second friend.
"Above all," spoke up the third man "it will be a great honor to give him by our side. We have a special gift for him. Can't wait to receive it from him."
"Alright then," agreed the mother reversing her pace as she requested them to stay in here while she gets him from his room.
"He usually loves to stay in his room so, it will take some time for him to get down."
"Take your time, my lady" nodded the man by raising his hand.
She nodded and left by shutting the door.
All three gazed at each other grinning.
The second one said, "That boy isn't appreciated even in his own home."
"He's such an unfortunate child. This woman here also doesn't want him in her home. She didn't realize that we noticed her grin hue for that boy. She also hates him like us."
He toned his last sentence as a melody and stood by the wall, leaning his back on it" All we can do is just wait...." he folded his arm while gazing at the snowy sky.
At that time upstairs in Eden's room, the youth was sitting on his broom staring at the system while gazing around at the floating cubes.
The ring screen with embodied designs around its borders was appearing in front of him. At first, Eden asked for a hint about the Magus system.
The ring screen replied to him
[AS IT'S YOUR FIRST QUESTION TO THE SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WILL ANSWER IT] the ring spread on its own, changing its sentence.
[AT FIRST, YOU MUST BE AWARE THAT THE SYSTEM GIVES THREE QUESTS THAT ARE ALL LINKED TO THE MAIN QUESTLINE. A SURVIVAL QUEST, SIDE MISSION, AND RARE MISSION WHICH IS THEN FOLLOWED BY THE MAIN QUESTLINE.
KEEP IN MIND MAGUS, THAT THE MAIN QUESTLINE IS THE HIGHEST RANK WHICH ALSO CAN INCLUDE EXTREME-LEVEL QUESTS. EACH MISSION RANK HAS ITS RANKING REWARDS. BE SURE TO STAY CAUTIOUS ABOUT IT!]
Reading these lines, Eden learned a few but, was acknowledged much more than he expected.
He kind of got excited about getting along with this so-called Magus system.
He sneaked raising his finger to touch the screen when suddenly, it spun changing its words appearing in a new statement
[YOU HAVE A SURVIVAL TASK] The fourth cube glows in an instant.
Similar to the before instruction, Eden touched the cube and it affected the paddle, turning the shape of the screen. There it was, written in red
[SURVIVE THE TORTURE BEFORE THE TIME RUNS OUT! DO NOT DIE]
"What?! What is this?" Shocked Eden out of his skin by reading this "torturing?!"
Knock... knock..... knock