Divine Academy, the world's best academy that brings out the full potential of the students' Bloodlines, stood as a beacon for the younger generation of royalties, nobles, and knights of any kingdom in a world where knowledge is continuously diluted. They carefully select only eight students yearly, providing individualized guidance to each.
However, once you fail to enroll, the 'Divine Hills' remains forever closed for you, being off limits for re-enrollment by extension. This ensures that only the most deserving candidates are granted the coveted opportunity.
"Candidate Raymond, the Divine Academy will cancel your exam," the words struck him like a sledgehammer. The collapse of his aspirations left him disoriented and shattered, his sense of direction and purpose slipping away. With a voice tinged with shattered hope, he gathered his thoughts and questioned, "Why?"
'What am I so afraid of? Why is my heart shaking so much?'
Approaching the man cautiously, Raymond sought a way to salvage the situation. Thoughts raced through his mind, questioning whether his actions, perhaps involving the deaths of others, were the cause. But he knew there weren't any explicit rules against it, leaving him bewildered. How could his carefully constructed strategy collapse so abruptly?
'Should I use my father's name?' he pondered, contemplating any potential leverage it might provide. 'No, the training he gave me wouldn't mean anything if I use his name... I should resolve this on my own.'
Observing Raymond's distress, the hovering man furrowed his brow and muttered in another language, "This language is so damn hard, and why do I have to talk with a spoiled brat?" Gradually descending to the ground, he attempted not to startle the young man further.
"I mean to say that you're not allowed to take this exam because you're amazing," the man clarified, leaving Raymond's momentary despair to morph into utter confusion.
"I apologize. You're good, so please come with me," he continued with an unclarified and suspicious invitation.
Suddenly, a fragment of the invitation letter flashed in Raymond's mind, "A competent candidate in the first phase will be taken to the second phase beforehand."
Raymond's body instinctively inclined forward, a gesture of both respect and a touch of embarrassment. "I accept your offer," he uttered, his voice laced with a slight haste.
As he straightened himself, Raymond's mind raced, contemplating the implications of his decision. 'This will help my plans, but I can't ensure if that girl will pass as well. After what I did earlier, I'm not so sure. . .'
The uncertainty gnawed at his thoughts, but he quickly dismissed it, convinced that the benefits outweighed any potential drawbacks.
Lost in his contemplation, Raymond failed to notice the teacher propelling them forward, swiftly maneuvering through the air toward the castle. Only when his surroundings came into focus again did he realize their altitude had increased significantly. The sudden realization startled him, threatening to destabilize his balance. But the teacher slowly waved his hand, creating a invisible wall that balanced him.
"Stay tall," the teacher said with a proud grin while Raymond could barely make out anything of those words.
With the castle drawing nearer, its grandeur became increasingly evident. The walls adorned with intricate runes and the impeccable architectural design commanded his attention. As he gazed up at the castle, the moon's perfect alignment in the sky enhanced its ethereal beauty, captivating him in a moment of awe.
"So this is the divine academy. I can see how it got its boring name now," he remarked.
However, his focus was divided, and a particular location within the castle consumed his thoughts—a place where he could fulfill his physical desires. Through the windows, he caught glimpses of the maids elegantly dressed in their uniforms, causing a subtle pang of longing within him. Raymond's yearning for that place was apparent, prompting his teacher to remark, "Well, you are young, after all."
***
The hall exuded an atmosphere of celebration, filled with mouthwatering cuisines, baskets brimming with luscious fruits, delectable desserts, and a cascading fountain. Accompanying the feast, a skilled pianist graced a small stage, captivating the crowd with 'Für Elise.' Amidst the lively ambiance, people swirled and danced to the music, oblivious to the hunger of one solitary figure.
Raymond sat at a table near the hall's edge, his teacher by his side. For 'two hours and thirteen minutes', he dined, savoring each bite. Finally, a satisfied burp escaped, promptly concealed by his hand, sticking to the expected etiquette.
"I may seem shameless, but this really is The divine academy," he proclaimed, though his inner thoughts contradicted his words:
[You kill people and eat as if nothing happened.]
{But I've already killed. . . 300 people.}
Yet, despite these conflicting thoughts, he found solace in the music and contentment in the prospect of another day lived.
After a brief rest, the teacher cleared his throat and stood up. "I will show you the room now. I will tell you about the second phase."
During this short period, Raymond had grown accustomed to the teacher's highly proficient English. He nodded and followed obediently.
The lengthy corridor boasted hundreds of doors, each engraved with a unique number. "It will take some time. So I will begin," the teacher remarked, adopting a serious tone.
Deep down, Raymond knew that he wouldn't be fond of the outcome of this interaction. However, he muttered, "Please continue," as if preemptively defending himself from an imminent assault.
The teacher smiled at him with respect, indicating he would not hold back. "This castle is the facility for candidates only. The real academy isn't here."
Raymond nodded and listened intently to the man. "You must really be thinking you got this opportunity with your ability, right?"
With this question alone, Raymond's defensive facade began to crack.
'This might be worse than I thought.'
He took deep breaths, attempting to alleviate the sudden mounting stress, but to no avail.
"Your strategies and combat instincts are better than most of our students. But we polish hidden diamonds here, not secure already refined gold. That is what our academy is good at."
Raymond instantly analyzed what the man said to somehow predict a good future. 'He's doing this to freak me out. Or else, why would I be selected early?'
As his heart began to settle, he attempted to divert the conversation, but the teacher pressed on. "Your father gave money to give you an advantage..."
The teacher's words became a distant echo in Raymond's ears, fading away into a fog of nothingness. Only he understood the meaning of those words.
'Did he think I can't do it? Is he disappointed with me? Will he. . . also abandon me?' He sighed heavily, feeling drained of all his energy. Nodding absentmindedly, he struggled to focus on the teacher's admonition.
"You're not listening, huh?" the teacher's voice broke through Raymond's daze, demanding his attention.
With his gaze lowered and devoid of any vitality, Raymond offered no reply. It felt as if all the vigor had been sucked out of him, leaving behind a hollow shell.
The teacher's voice grew earnest, urging Raymond to push himself further. "You need to work like you'll die tomorrow. I'm sure you have done so for a long time now, but you need to do much better. That is the only way we without talent can beat others."
Once again, Raymond nodded in agreement, his eyes still unable to meet the teacher's gaze. The teacher let out a defeated sigh, recognizing the weariness in Raymond's demeanor.
"If you can't control your mind, which is the only thing you have control over, you will just be a feather in the wind," the teacher remarked, a haunting image of a hanging corpse flashing in his mind. 'I learned that the hard way. And my English just now was perfect.'
As they arrived at room number 928, the teacher conveyed his final words to Raymond. He looked at his watch as he hovered, his words carrying an air of urgency.
"As the son of Adonis, you must pass the second phase. It is a group fighting tournament. Use this information well. Oh, and your horse will be in the stables." With that, the teacher swiftly flew away at incredible speed, leaving Raymond standing there, slouched and contemplative.
Raymond's mind raced with doubts and questions. 'What's the point of this if I have to use my father's help? And I was going to use his name as well. How much of a hypocrite am I? Am I. . . just playing a game? Now that I think about it, was I acting like I was inside a play just because my Father was strong? How can a loser like me have dreams? Someone who let himself be sold over some drugs...'
Trying to find at least some resolution, Raymond decided on his next step. "Let's finish this charade and help Father with his knight order's paperwork. He will probably accept that."
Opening the door to the room, Raymond discovered two sets of two-storied beds where three individuals, one female, and two males, engaged in a discussion. Their animated voices washed over him, but Raymond remained detached, using his Detection ability to sense their dense orange auras.
'Yup, how can I fight other people of that level? I was too naive,' Raymond admitted to himself, feeling the weight of his inexperience.
Resolutely ignoring the ongoing conversation, Raymond's attention turned to the names written on the beds: Layla, Blake, and Khaled. They represented the teammates he would be working with in the upcoming tournament. Doubt gnawed at him again, making him question his place among such skilled individuals.
Without uttering a single word, Raymond climbed the ladder of the unmarked bed, claiming it as his own.
The teacher, reaching outside the academy, thought, "Ah... I forgot to tell him my name."