"Oh well, I can just ask the people in here. Why the hell I should bother with a map?" Sei thought to himself as he nonchalantly approached a nearby merchant who was setting up shop.
"Excuse me, how much is that?" Sei asked, feigning interest in the merchant's wares.
"Oh, you're my first customer today! For you, I'll give that for 2 silver coins!" the merchant exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the prospect of making a sale.
"What's the original price, if I may ask?"
"4 coins. You're getting 2 coins off, kid!" the merchant replied, clearly thrilled at the prospect of making a sale.
"I see. By the way, have you heard about the person who entered the town by beating up the guard?" Sei asked, steering the conversation in the direction he desired.
"Of course, it's all anyone's talking about. You gotta be careful, kid." the merchant warned, his expression growing serious.
"I know. I heard he went to the Academy."
"Academy, you mean the Raxis Academy? No ordinary person can get into that place. They say they teach some kind of witchcraft there. But don't tell anyone I said that, kid." the merchant whispered conspiratorially.
"Is the academy far from here?" Sei asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Thankfully, it is. But don't get too close to the west, especially near the grand clock tower. That's where the academy is located."
"I see. Thank you for the warning."
"Oops, it seems I spoke too much. So what's your deal kid?" The merchant asked, trying to steer the conversation back to the sale.
Sei, however, was already formulating his plan to escape unnoticed. He feigned interest in the trinket on the ground, taking the opportunity to casually reach for the bags that was hanging on a nearby nail.
As the merchant bent down to take the trinket, Sei snatched the bags and slipped it into his pocket. The merchant stood back up, looking around for a bag to complete the transaction.
"Right-" the merchant stopped as he saw there were no bags. "Oh, I think I ran out of bags. Will you wait for a while?"
"Sure."
As the merchant walked away to ask his fellow merchants for a spare bag, Sei made his move. He turned on his heel and briskly walked away, his pace quickening as he put distance between himself and the merchant.
Once he was a safe distance away, Sei broke into a run, darting through the crowded streets of the marketplace. He could hear the merchant calling out after him, but he paid it no mind. Sei deftly slipped his hand into his pocket and retrieved the purloined bags before tossing them aside.
"The west… hmm. Wait, where exactly is the west?"
Despite his nature, Sei found himself momentarily at a loss as he tried to recall which direction the mysterious academy was located. He could not help but also recall the book's instructions to "go to the north", but he shrugged it off as a minor inconvenience that could be easily solved later.
As he scanned his surroundings, Sei's gaze happened upon a grand clock tower.
"Ah, that must be it, the west." Sei murmured to himself as he began to make his way towards the imposing structure.
As Sei approached the grand clock tower, he observed its towering height and intricate design. The clock face itself was a work of art, with its intricate gears and cogs visible through the glass. The hands of the clock were made of gleaming brass, and the numbers were etched in gold.
As he walked, he noticed the streets becoming less crowded and the buildings around him grew larger and more imposing. He knew he was getting closer to his destination.
Finally, he saw it. The Raxis Academy. The building was grand, with tall spires and intricate architecture. It was surrounded by a high wall, and the gates were guarded by heavily armed guards.
Sei knew that getting into the academy would be difficult, but he had a goal in mind. He approached the guards and presented himself at the gates of the Raxis Academy.
As Sei approached the gates of the Raxis Academy, he couldn't help but take note of the guards standing at attention. Some of them held spears, their gold armor glinting in the sunlight, while others brandished swords, their armor equally resplendent.
Despite Sei standing directly in front of the guards, they remained unresponsive, their gaze fixed straight ahead. Sei even went as far as to wave his hand in front of their faces, but to no avail.
Frustrated by the lack of response, Sei decided to take matters into his own hands and attempt to pass through the gates unassisted.
However, as soon as he stepped past the guards, the sound of armor shifting filled the air. In an instant, Sei swiftly turned around to find the guards with their weapons drawn and ready to strike.
Quickly assessing the situation, Sei executed a roll, effortlessly dodging the guards' attacks and passing them by once more. As he regained his footing, he noticed that the guards had returned to their previous stance, as if nothing had occurred.
"What in the fuck is this?"
Sei muttered under his breath as he scratched his head, perplexed by the guards' strange behavior. Without hesitation, he reached into his pocket and retrieved the letter that the old man had given him. Extending his arm, he offered the letter to one of the guards.
The guard finally stirred, taking the letter and scrutinizing it before breaking the seal. After reading the contents, he tossed the letter aside with a nonchalant flick of his wrist.
"You may enter." he said, his voice as cold as steel.
At his command, the other guard stepped forward and began to turn a large gear, causing the gates to slowly creak open with a loud groan. As the final sliver of light disappeared, Sei passed through the threshold without hesitation.
As I stepped through the gates, they closed behind me with a loud clanking noise. The sound echoed through the academy grounds, which were quiet. The pathway ahead was lined with lush green grass on either side, leading towards a grand, imposing building at the center of the academy.
The building was a towering structure of white marble and gold trim, with tall spires reaching towards the sky. The architecture was a mix of medieval and fantasy styles, with intricate carvings and embellishments adorning the exterior. The windows were made of stained glass and the roof was made of blue colored tiles. The main entrance was guarded by two large statues that holds a sword and a shield.
They were made of silver and their eyes seemed to follow me as I walked. At the end of the entrance there was a large door, made of dark wood with gold handles and hinges.