The bus drove for a long time and the high skyscrapers started thinning out. Eventually, they stepped into an area with no buildings.
After driving through this area for about an hour, the bus stopped.
Alden and the rest of the children on the bus raised their heads to see what was happening.
"Get out!" The military person shouted sternly.
Scared and unaware of what was happening, the children started getting off the bus.
Since Alden sat at the beginning of the bus, he was among the first to get out.
When he got out of the bus, he looked around. There were no buildings around him. The only buildings he could see were the high skyscrapers in the city, which were at least 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in the distance.
The bus had stopped in front of a giant metal gate at least 20 meters (65 feet) high. The gate was on a wall. The wall was at least 50 meters (164 feet) high and 20 meters (65 feet) thick. On top of the wall, there were beast cannons powered by beast crystals and beast tamers walking on top of the wall at all times.
Alden had seen this wall on TV. This wall was stretching all around the city, protecting it from the beasts. The resources spent on building this wall were immense. After all, this was the third city of the three cities of the human civilizations, so they were not stingy with the protection.
There were thousands of beast cannons located all across the wall, and thousands of beast tamers were on top of the wall at all times.
The large metal gate the bus stopped before was open, and on the other side of the gate, there were dozens of armored trucks.
"Get in the armored vehicles!" The military person ordered. "We will be continuing our journey with those vehicles."
A kid raised his hand. "W-What about our luggage?"
"Get in the vehicles!" The military person shouted angrily. "You do not need your bags!"
The other children who had questions shut up and lined up. They entered the armored trucks, ten in each truck.
Alden was among the first to enter a vehicle, and luckily for him, he got a seat by the window again.
It only took half an hour for all the children to settled in the vehicles, and then, the vehicles were on the move.
The vehicles drove through the forest. And Alden, being by the window, witnessed all the scenery.
If he was being honest with himself, If he was not in an armored vehicle, he would be scared. The forest was dark, with sunlight barely penetrating through the thick leaves of the high trees. And what made it scarier were the trees as high as 30 meters (98 feet) towering over the vehicles.
As they moved through the forest, Alden saw little animals from time to time. He thought it was animals, but he was not hundred percent sure. It can be an animal, but it may as well be a weak beast.
Alden had seen a lot of documentaries, and he knew even if the beast appeared small, it could hold immense power. And the power of even the weakest beast is dozens of times stronger than the strongest animal.
However, on television, Alden had never seen anything regarding the Beast Tamer Academy. Yes, his parents had went to the academy but the military forbids those who graduate the academy to spread information to those who need to attend the academy.
Of course, the military had no way to track if anyone spread information about the academy to their children, but they did implement sanctions. If it was discovered the child to posses prior knowledge about the Beast Tamer Academy, then his family would have to pay a large sum of money.
Again, this rule only applied for the ordinary citizens. Those coming from the powerful families had no problem paying such amount of money, so information about the academy was another advantage the children coming from powerful families had.
Still, many ordinary parents chose to inform their children about the academy and they kept it a secret from everyone including their closest ones. After all, in this situation, even those closest to you might betray you as there was a reward for anyone who reported those who share information about the Beast Tamer Academy.
Alden had no information about the academy. His parents wanted to tell him, but he refused them. His reason being, it was not worth it. The only information they could give him about the academy was the structure of the buildings or some useless information like that. There was no need to risk being discovered by the military for information like that.
"Sir, can you tell us more about the Beast Tamer Academy?" Alden asked the driver.
The driver threw a quick glance at the rear-view mirror to see Alden. He was surprised. No one had ever dared to ask this question in fear of their family receiving fine so almost all the children waited till they arrived at the academy to try and gather information.
But Alden was not worried at all. They were on their way to the academy, so there would most likely not be any problem in them receiving information. And also, he was almost hundred percent sure the driver was a beast tamer working for the military. They all had special status and privilegies.
The other kids in the vehicle with Alden did not think the same as him and they immediately started gossiping about how stupid Alden was for asking this question. But what they heard next made them shut up.
"You are a smart kid." The driver praised. "Since today is the day you will arrive at the Beast Tamer Academy, there is no problem in telling you a bit about the academy and what it is like."
A slight smile of triumph spread on Alden's face. But he quickly hid it away, as he poured all the attention on what the driver was about to say. He was eager to learn about the academy.
"The Beast Tamer Academy, or as many beast tamers prefer to call it, the fourth city of humanity." The driver started. "The academy is a small-scale city protected by high walls.
On each side of the city , there is a large tower. Namely those towers are called: East Academy, West Academy, South Academy and the North Academy. Those four academy together make the Beast Tamer Academy. There is also a tower in the center of the city, but this tower is where the dean of the Beast Tamer Academy resides.
The four academy buildings are surrounded by dormitories capable of accommodating thousands of students. But I must warn you. As each head general of the military is in charge of one academy building, the competition between the four academies Is harsh. You may even lose your life."
"Sir, what about the Voiders? What if they attack the academy?" The kid next to Alden asked.
The driver smirked. "They can attack if they want, no one is stopping them. That is, if they dare attack.
The dean of the Beast Tamer Academy is the Supreme commander of the military, the strongest beast tamer in existence. With him, coupled with the head generals, the academy city is the safest place on the Monster Star."
The names, the identities or any other information about the head generals did not exist, or at least for the eyes of the public and ordinary citizens. They were all prominent and powerful figures protecting humanity.
However, Alden did know about the dean of the Beast Tamer Academy. He was all over the news, after all, he is the strongest beast tamer in existence, the hero of humanity. The poster he had in his room was of him standing on top of his beast.
"Alright, that should be enough. You will learn more when you arrive at the academy." The driver said. "This is for you," He threw ten digital watches behind himself. And unlike what one would expect, the watches did not fall, but they floated in the air, and a watch floated to each kid.
"Put the watches on your wrists." The driver said. "On each watch, there are 10 coins.
When you arrive at the academy, you will find that money is useless there. Everything is paid in coins. You need coins to pay for food, water, everything. You will receive ten coins at the beginning of each month. You can also earn coins by doing certain tasks. But spend them wisely. It is hard to get them.
Also, if you are on the academy rank list, your rank will be displayed on the watch. If not, there will be no number displayed."
"What is the academy rank list?" A child asked.
"You will learn more when you arrive at the academy." The driver replied.
The children proceeded to ask the driver a couple more questions, but he did not say anything more. He just focused on driving and ignored them.
.
.
.
A few hours passed, and the vehicles arrived before the Academy City.
The four academies were visible from the distance. And even tough they received a brief description of the academy city from the driver, still Alden could not help but be captivated by the majesty of the academy city.
It was understatement by the driver when he described the academies as large towers. The dormitories surrounding the four academies were four story tall, and they still faded in comparison to the academies. The towers were at least fifty story in height.
As for the tower in the center of the Academy City, it was even higher when compared to the other four towers.
The vehicles were not inspected by the guards standing at the gate, as they knew what day it was today, so the vehicles directly entered the city and drove straight to the center of the city in front of the largest tower.
In front of the tower, was the square of the Academy City, in in the center of the square was a statue of a dragon with a man on top of its head. The statue was similar to the poster Alden had in his room, no, it was identical. The only difference was that Alden's poster was in color and the statue not.
When the vehicles stopped, the children got out, and after they got out, the vehicles drove away.
Before the statue stood four people, and they each held a tablet. One woman and three men.
The moment the children got off the vehicles, chatter started spreading between them. The topic was mostly the four persons In front of them.
"SILENCE!"
The female shouted, her voice stern.
The shout echoed throughout the square for a few seconds before dying down. It sent shivers down the children's spines. They all shut up and unconsciously straightened their backs.
"I, the head of the East Academy had to come and get you in person!" She shouted. "I am annoyed! So either shut up, or I will make you!"
Hearing her true identity, the children all gulped hard and shook in fear.
'She is a head general? Then does that mean the other three men are head generals too?' Alden wondered. 'No, that should not be the case. She said 'I have come to get you in person,' which means the other had generals had not come in person. And If the other three were also head generals, then she would not be so angry.' He deduced immediately.
The woman regained her composture a bit and continued speaking: "As I call your name, you will line before me. UNDERSTOOD!?"
"YES!"
The children replied almost unconsciously.
The vibe she was giving was scary. The children were even scared to breathe.
"As I call your name, I will also mention your room number. Be sure to listen carefully and remember it. I will not repeat it twice." The female head general said.
"Alden Garsia, room 333." The first one the woman called out was Alden.
Alden stepped out of the crowd of children and walked to the front. He stood in front of the female head general with his back straightened.
Looking at the handsome face and serious expression on his face, one would think that he was from some powerful family and was proud to stand face-to-face with the head general. However, it was far from the truth.
'Why, why me?' Alden questioned internally. 'Why did I have to be the first to be called out? Now, I am the center of attention. They might even think I am someone powerful, but when they find...out.'
Alden's thoughts stopped midway as his eyes fell on the female head general. His heart fluttered.
The head general was at most in her early thirties. She had brown hair with a few blue hairs running through. She wore a tight military uniform, revealing her well-proportioned body that would make any man go crazy. She was simply gorgeous.
"Who is he?"
"Does anyone recognize him?"
"The first ones to be called out are those from powerful families, right?"
What Alden feared happened, the children immediately misunderstood the situation. Thus, the gossip started again between the children.
"SILENCE!" The female general shouted again. "Didn't I warn you!?"
'This might not be so bad,' Alden thought, secretly stealing glances at the head general. 'I just hope they think I am someone powerful so they will leave me alone.'
The female head general continued calling out names until there were fifteen more children lined behind Alden.
"Follow me!" The female general led the way toward the dormitory buildings.
The moment she left with the sixteen children, the three men started calling out the remaining children.
"Listen carefully." The female head general spoke as she led the way. "You will be studying in the East Academy. You first years will be staying on the first floor of the dormitory. Your seniors of the second, third, and fourth year are staying on the floors above.
My advice for you is to not go up to the other floors and just stick to your first floor. That is unless you want to bring trouble to yourself. I do not need to mention they are far more powerful than you.
There is a 2D map on your watches, so you should explore more when you are in your rooms. Classes begin tomorrow. I also need to explain other things to you. But I am too lazy.
Your roommates should have arrived already, so ask them if you have questions."
The female general led them to the East Academy, in front of one of the entrances of the dormitory. When they got to the entrance, she did not lead them inside.
She stood in front of the entrance for a second. The next second, the children blinked, and she was gone. They were left alone.