"Wow, what was that just now?" Screamed a boy as he saw something while he was looking out of the window, not everyone in the room was aware of what was going on so most of them we quite startled as to why the boy just screamed.
"Alright everyone quiet, and as for you Tom, go stand outside of the door until the class ends. I'll have a nice little chat with you after I am done with my class today." Said the teacher, as soon as he commanded everyone fell silent.
"But sir there was something, I truly saw something just go past the window…." Said the young boy, who seemed to be confused.
"Out now! Why were you focusing more on what was outside the window, while your class was still ongoing? I don't want to hear any more excuses, get out now." Said the teacher calmly, the boy was still just standing there stunned while he continued teaching. The boy didn't stand inside the classroom after he realized what he had done as he went out of the classroom quickly. He didn't want to be scolded one more time.
'Who was that, even I wasn't able to see the face of the person riding the griffin. It seems like someone very important is visiting. Normally no one is allowed to fly inside the academy grounds like that, only very powerful people are capable of doing something like that.' Thought the teacher as he continued with his lecture, he also noticed a griffin go past the window as it was in his direct line of sight.
...............….
"Oh my dear friend you are here, it has been such a long time since I last saw you. The last time I saw you, you said something about leaving the material world. Where are you these days, the least you could have done was to write some letters now and then. I was so worried, I even thought you might have done something heinous." Said an old man with a long beard, who was approaching Renji and David with a huge smile on his face. The man seemed like a beggar as he was wearing rather ragged and tattered clothes. The only thing on his body that seemed fine was his long hair and long beard, from a look you could tell he only took care of his hair and beard.
"Is that so Edward? How can you think of such a thing, the day I die I'll take you with me. what do you think I would do if I went to hell alone, I might become bored. It seems like you have set up some very powerful shield around the academy, the last time I came the security wasn't this tight if I remember correctly. Are you afraid someone might come to assassinate you or something? HAHAHAHAH…." David laughed as hard as he could, he seemed amused by the increased security system that was around the place.
"You have come after quite some time, lets go come inside let us have some tea, relax a little, and continue our banter. Oh, I am sorry little one I was so busy talking to this old fool I forgot to ask you who might you be?" said Edward as he looked towards Renji who was standing beside him. Although he smiled and talked to Renji, David could immediately sense the discomfort in his friend's expression. David didn't enquire further as he knew this was not the time or the place for any interrogation, he put all of that on the back of his mind and hoped the issue wasn't that big.
"Hello, my name is Renji Ishida, nice to meet you, director." Said Renji as he bowed towards the old man as a sign of respect. He was told earlier by David that Edward Lee was the director of the academy, he was the one responsible for the safety of the academy and the city based around it. He was one of the very well-known and influential people of the continent. Regardless of his looks, he was considered one of the strongest pillars of the continent.
There were many stories that David talked about Edward when they were traveling here, the funniest one was that he took care of his hair and his beard more than his life. Most of the day he would only spend his time researching alchemy, he would rarely come out of his lab, he would continue his research, eat, and sleep which was his routine for most of his day.
"Renji what a good name, you must be tired my academy is in a very remote location and it seems like you came here from the animal kingdom. Hello Ava, you look so beautiful today." Said Edward, he was trying to please the griffin because he had greeted her after everyone. He didn't want to make her angry, as he knew her temperament.
"Humph, so you remembered me huh? I thought you have lost even your eyesight as you aged, but I benevolent Ava shall forgive your insolence. Humph" said Ava as she scoffed at Edward, even though the comment would be rather rude if Ava had said that to anyone else, but Edward didn't mind as he laughed.
"Ah Ava, are you hungry baby? You must be, let me bring you some food alright? If you want to come with us, you can come too." Asked Edward while smiling.
"FOOD? Alright, I shall await my food here, bring me some delicious meat. NO VEGETABLES." Said Ava as her voice changed from one to the other, when she heard of food, she was excited but when she talked about vegetables, she seemed serious.
"Ava you are still a growing child, even if you eat meat, you should still eat some vegetables. If you refuse vegetables, I'll tell your parents." Said Edward, as if he was trying to coax a child.
"Humph, Ava is not a child, Ava has grown big and Ava can also fly now, but if you must insist Ava shall eat vegetables but just a little." Said Ava in a panicked voice, when they heard that both Edward and David started laughing hysterically seeing them laugh like a child even Renji smiled.
...............…..
"So, what made you visit so suddenly unannounced after such a long time? Is it because of the recent incident?" Asked Edward in a very serious tone as they were walking towards Edward's office.
"No, I am here because of this brat. It seems like when the attack happened on the Iron Fang fortress a few days ago, this boy was separated from his parents. From what I gathered; it seems like they were brought here in your academy. As for the incident, like I told you I have already left my old life behind me, I have no desire to get involved with any matter that doesn't harm me or my wife." Said David with a very solemn expression, from the way he said it, it seemed like his mind was already made up and no one would be able to convince him otherwise.
"Hooff...….. Alright, I won't inquire further, tell me more about your family. Let us go to my office, I am sure that if they were taken here they would be very well taken care of. But to find them I will require some more information." Said Edward as he pointed toward the direction of his office.