"Is the child okay?"
"Chrona, my dear, this child must have remarkable luck. He's in perfect health, not a single scratch on him which is very strange given his clothes are in tatters and that beast carrying through the river."
"Hmm. I see."
Chrona and Iyo were at a loss.
A child being abducted by a nova beast was not unheard of; usually, the beasts would take their prey away from civilization and not to it.
"The creature didn't even try to stop me like it wanted me to take the boy."
"Chrona, that sounds absurd. A Nova beast helping children? Maybe you had one too many swigs while you were fishing." Iyo bushed aside her husband's suspicions.
"Well, we'll know when the boy wakes."
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Luna, a young and talented individual, was a Grade 2 Level 3 Novite, making her quite an exceptional talent at only 17 years old. She was attending the prestigious Nava Academy situated in the bustling capital of the Western Region, Athena City. Despite her young age, Luna was already the top-performing student in her class, which was a significant achievement. Her academic prowess and dedication were evident in her consistently high grades and her active participation in various extracurricular activities.
Luna's ultimate goal was to follow in her brother's footsteps and attend the esteemed Grand Nava Academy located in Novus Urba, the capital city of Isla Nava. She looked up to her brother, who was already making a name for himself as Novite to watch after graduation and was determined to achieve similar success. Luna knew that the Grand Nava Academy was the key to her dreams, and she was willing to go the extra mile to make that a reality.
'I will catch up to Lunaro, I won't fall behind.'
Luna and Lunaro, as twins, always shared a fierce and competitive bond. From their early childhood days until they turned 13, they were always on the same level, accomplishing things together. They even reached Grade 2 at the same time. However, on their fourteenth birthday, things started to change. Lunaro began to show signs of progress and quickly outshined Luna in terms of skills and abilities. He quickly reached Level 2 and then Level 3 before the year ended, while Luna remained stuck on Level 1. As time went on, the gap between their skills kept growing wider and wider, causing Luna to feel left behind and inferior.
The situation became so severe that Mother's family decided to intervene and take Lunaro away to the capital city to help boost his growth and development. Though this was meant to be a positive step for Lunaro, it left Luna feeling abandoned and alone. She had to continue her journey on her own and work hard to catch up with her twin brother. Despite the challenges, she remained determined to prove herself and worked tirelessly to improve her skills.
"Luna, catch up I can only wait for so long."
Lunaro, before departing, bid farewell to his twin sister with words that were engraved into Luna's mind. These words acted as a double-edged sword - on the one hand, they motivated Luna to become stronger, but on the other hand, they acted as shackles that bound her in the shadow of her brother. Luna, who had always admired her more confident and assertive brother, was determined to break free from the chains of this shadow and make a name for herself.
'If I can reach Level 5 within the next two years I will still have a year of eligibility at the Grand Academy!'
All Nava Academies taught students from ages seventeen until twenty granted students met the entry requirements.
Small academies located in towns like Siatl provide an excellent opportunity for students from small villages or poor clans access to quality education. Due to the influx of commoners and Novites from low-class houses or clans, the admission requirements for these academies are more relaxed compared to those in larger cities. To be admitted, one must be at the Grade 1 Level 5 mark.
Regional Academies located in a region's capital had higher admission requirements since they were attended by the children of nobility and high-class families. For a Novite to be admitted they would at the very least need to be a Grade 2 Level 1 Novite.
The most prestigious, however, the Grand Nava Academy, had the most stringent entry requirements. First, a Novite must be of royal or noble blood, with no exceptions. Secondly, one must at least be at the Grade 2 Level 5 mark.
"I WILL MAKE IT!!" Luna yelled as she slammed her fist down on the surface in front of her.
"OOOOWWWWWW!!" The now awake Icarus yelled as he grabbed his stomach and groin.
Luna gasped. "Oh no."
Luna, who was supposed to watch over the sleeping boy, was lost in thought and accidentally hit him in the stomach and groin, mistaking him for a table.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry let me help you." reaching over to him, the boy batted her hands away.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Not wanting any help from his assailant Icarus questions the strange girl before him.
"You have a lot of nerve being this damn rude when you were the one who had to get saved like a little princess." Luna mocked the boy as she rubbed her hand.
"Saved? Wait.... I'm alive?" After regaining consciousness and recalling the situation, Icarus welled up with tears.
"Yes! I'm Alive!" Icarus rejoiced. Once again, he had cheated death, and now he could avenge his clan.
As Luna observed the boy's sudden change in mood, a wave of doubt washed over her. She couldn't help but question whether he was truly alright or if something was troubling him underneath the surface.
"Umm, do you remember anything of what happened to you?" Luna asked hesitantly.
Icarus gave the girl a sharp look before dismissing her question to ask his own.
"What happened to the forest spirit? Where is Nu?"
'Forest spirits? Nu? Father saved a lunatic.'
Grabbing her hands the boy interrupted her thoughts for the second time.
"Look girl, none of that matters now. I need to get to the Town of Siatl, my Father's friend is waiting for me. Point me in the right direction and I will be out of your hair."
Icarus, though small in stature, possessed a surprising strength in his grip. As Luna met his piercing gaze, her heart quickened, taken aback by the intensity of his bright red eyes.
"C-c-could you let go first?"
"Oh sorry, my bad." Icarus apologized as he quickly dropped the blushing girl's hands.
"You're in Siatl right now. Tell me your father's friend's name, my family knows everyone in the town."
"Perfect! His name is Chrona I believe."