As I sat in the guardhouse, sipping the water, my mind buzzed with a mixture of relief and anticipation. The guard, whose name I had yet to learn, seemed stoic yet approachable. There was a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes, as if he too found my presence intriguing. He had shown me kindness in an unfamiliar world. His willingness to help despite the peculiar circumstances was a reassuring sign that perhaps I wasn't completely alone in this journey.
Curiosity tugged at me, and I couldn't resist the temptation to ask him about the college that loomed behind the gate. "What can you tell me about this college? Is it renowned for a particular field of study?" I inquired, hoping to glean some insights about this mysterious place.
The guard leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression gracing his face. "Ah, the college," he began, his voice carrying a touch of reminiscence "It's known as Arcane Nexus Institute, or Nexus for short"
As I was listening intently, the guard stopped deliberately, as if trying to build up anticipation within me. This was working as I was eager to hear what he has to say next.
"Nexus, a prestigious institution of magical education. They offer a wide range of courses, from elemental magic to advanced enchantment techniques. The best and brightest minds from all corners of the realm come here to hone their skills."
I found myself captivated by his words, the allure of knowledge and magical prowess beckoning me. It seems like my being teleported to this place was the Apostle's intention.
But I'd rather not be teleported into a locked room where no one would have visited for a week. I could have died from dehydration, or I would need to come up with a way how to form water from mana, which I currently have no idea how to go about.
Still, a college dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of magic. I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of embarking on a new phase of my life, one filled with boundless possibilities for the future.
As if sensing my enthusiasm, the guard continued, "The college boasts a rich history, with renowned professors who have pushed the boundaries of magical theory and practice. Many legends have emerged from these hallowed halls, their names etched in the annals of magic. But," he added with a chuckle, "don't let the grandeur fool you. It's also a place of camaraderie and mischief, with students forging lifelong friendships and indulging in their fair share of pranks."
I couldn't help but smile at the thought of such a vibrant and dynamic community. It was a stark contrast to the solitary existence I had known for so long. This place offers me to connect with others who shared my passion for magic. The prospect was both thrilling and slightly overwhelming.
We just sat in silence with each one indulging in their thoughts.
After a while, the guard broke the ice. "Well, you've stumbled into quite an interesting place. This college holds many secrets, and you seem to have found yourself right in the middle of it all. I can tell you're not from around here. So, tell me, where do you come from?"
His voice held a gentle tone, inviting me to share my story. I hesitated for a moment, contemplating how much to reveal. After all, I still didn't know if I could trust him completely. But there was something about his demeanor that put me at ease, nudging me to open up.
I contemplated for a bit, as, I don't have common knowledge that the people of this world have, and it would be difficult to live here for quite some time, I decided to tell him the truth except for my stay in the Realm of Elements.
"Well, it's a bit complicated," I began, trying to gather my thoughts. "You see, I come from a different world altogether. I woke up in a locked room in the building next to the cliff with no memory of how I got there or how I even arrived in this place. It's all a blur."
The guard leaned back in his chair, absorbing my words. There was a flicker of understanding in his eyes as if he had encountered such inexplicable situations before.
"A different world, huh? That's quite a tale. But I've seen a whole lot of strange things in my time. This college has a way of attracting people from all walks of life, from different worlds. You might not be the first, nor will you be the last."
It was comforting to know that I wasn't alone in this bewildering experience. "Do you have any idea how I ended up here? Or why I was locked in that room?"
The guard sighed, his gaze drifting towards the window. "I wish I could provide you with concrete answers, Alex. Even those who have spent years studying here are often left in the dark about the intricacies of the world and magic."
His words sent a chill down my spine, yet a spark of excitement ignited within me. I thought of my aim and the goal set by the Apostles. I knew most would be afraid but the thought of an arduous battle somehow started to feel exciting.
As I was filled with excitement, the guard continued.
"But fear not," his voice carrying a note of reassurance. "There are those within the college who possess knowledge beyond the ordinary. They might hold the key to unlocking the truth of your arrival. Someone has already been informed of your presence. They'll be arriving shortly to assess the situation."
A wave of anticipation washed over me. The prospect of meeting someone who could shed light on my situation was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Questions swirled in my mind, waiting to be answered. Who were these individuals? What did they know about this world and my place in it?
As if on cue, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the guardhouse. The guard stood up, signaling that our wait was over. A figure appeared in the doorway, his presence commanding attention. Clad in black robes and emanating an aura of wisdom. It was clear that he held a position of significance within the college.
The guard greeted him respectfully, but still with the same carefreeness. "Elric, thanks for coming. This is Alex, the one we spoke about."
Elric, as he was called, turned his gaze towards me, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and wisdom.
As he spoke, his words were laced with a hint of intrigue. "Alex, I am Professor Elric, one of the professors here at the college. It seems you've found yourself in quite an unusual circumstance. Rest assured, we will do everything we can to unravel the mysteries surrounding your arrival."
As the guard conveyed my situation to Prof. Elric, who appeared to be listening intently. After their conversation was over. Prof. Elric took out a fancy-looking phone from under his robes and dialed a number.
After conveying my situation, he turned toward me and asked: "While you seem to look physically and mentally fine, you are in need of a bath."
As soon as these words registered in my mind, I noticed that I was covered in dirt and sweat. I am feeling slightly embarrassed for not noticing it earlier but in the Realm of Elements, the apostles did not comment about my condition. Also, the guard did not say anything. I guess I forgot about it till now, as the people surrounding me did not mind it.
"I think I will take you up on this offer. Is there a place to bathe near here?"
The guard spoke answering me
"The room to the right leads to a toilet and a simple bathroom. You can go there to wash up."
He stared at my clothes and then said
"Wait for a moment, I'll bring you some spare clothes my son left behind."
Before I could express my gratitude, he left to enter through the left door which he went in before to get me some water. After hardly a minute, he came back with some simple clothes that had undergone quite some use.
I immediately thanked the guard, whose name I still did not know. "Thank you for the clothes."
He replied after seeing my genuine gratitude, "No problem, Alex. They have been lying around since my son graduated from Nexus this year. But you are one fine kid, I tell you. The majority of the kids nowadays lack gratitude."
I blushed slightly from the compliment but did not know how to reply. I took the clothes with me and quickly went through the door leading to the bathroom. I could hear the two of them chuckling slightly behind me, causing me to feel more embarrassed. After closing the door, I inspected the clothes to see what I will be wearing.
They were a typical white T-shirt and light blue pants with a belt. The size was bigger than mine but I guess this will do.
When I touched the clothes, I realized that they were more elastic and had a lower texture than most clothes I had ever come in contact with. But after pulling them a bit, they also felt sturdier than any clothes I wore.
After taking care of my personal needs and bathing thoroughly, I decided to head out still slightly embarrassed from the previous encounter. Prof. Elric and the guard were chatting when I entered the room while sitting on the chairs present in the room. When I entered the room, they turned their attention towards me. I was feeling overly conscious of the previous incident but they did not make fun of me like some of my classmates.
I was feeling relieved when I heard a phone ringing. I saw that it was Prof. Elric's phone. He glanced at the screen, then back at me, a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"Seems like they've made a decision about you," he said, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "They want you to come with me. The headmaster would like to meet you personally."
"Are you ready?" Prof. Elric asked.
I was slightly hesitant to meet the headmaster of this institute, but I decided against delaying as there were no benefits in dragging out the situation in an unfamiliar place.
In reply to Prof. Elric, I said,
"I am ready to meet the headmaster of Arcane Nexus Academy."
The guard, probably sensing my nervousness from my tone, replied saying,
"The headmaster is a nice old man, you don't need to be so nervous of meeting him."
I was somewhat reassured by the guard. Now, I was frankly getting tired of thinking of him as the guard in my head. Deciding to finally get his name, I asked about it.
"Excuse me, I don't think I caught your name. Would you mind sharing it with me?"
The guard smiled slightly in amusement and said "Oh, where are my manners. My name is Mark Stonefield. I am just a retired Captain from the army passing my time at this lovely academy."
Upon hearing he was from the military and had a high-sounding position as well, I subconsciously straightened my back. Upon seeing this Mark remarked,
"You don't need to be so stiff, as I said, I am a retired army personal. So you can forgo the formalities and the stiffness you have along with it."
I relaxed slightly seeing him speak so frankly. He just shrugged and didn't bother commenting further on the topic.