Chapter 10 - The Academy?

Kyle jolted up from the bed as the sunlight pierced his room. "I'm up late again," he groaned before stretching his hands.

"I didn't even later cultivate," he said with a sigh. "Hey, system, what's the time?

[12:09:47]

"Twelve?!"

Checking his quest tab:

[Daily quest: Cultivate for an hour]

[Reward: 1 STR point]

'Hmm, that one looks easy,' he decided before accepting.

'Grace must be out by now,' Kyle thought as he took his bath.

He saw his food, covered at the dining. After eating, he went to the backyard. He had not seen Riya since he woke up.

As expected, she was cultivating in the backyard. Kyle joined her, cultivating for an hour before coming to a stop.

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EXP: 100/160

Energy: 10/18

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[Congratulations! You have completed your daily quest]

[You have obtained 1 STR point]

[STR: 15 >>16]

Kyle kept on with his routine; cultivating for an hour every day. He would have cultivated for longer periods but didn't feel the need to, he used his excess time to practice his sword, and no progress was made in the aura though. He also made sure never to forget the egg.

After three days...

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Awakened: Lv MAX

EXP: 160/160

HP: 20/20

Energy: 19/20

Mana: Null

Agility: 15 >> 16

Strength: 16 >> 17

Vitality: 10

Stamina: 9 >> 10

Intelligence: Null

SP: 0

Inventory: 1* Tier-1 Mana core, 1*Egg.

[Elements]

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5 days have passed already since the Awakening. Kyle felt like he hadn't achieved enough— In regards to his sword intent that is. He had managed to complete level 5, after which cultivation didn't seem to increase the bar anymore.

He waited for Riya, as usual, she'd been cultivating. At the rate she's going, she should have completed the 1st stage too.

Today was the day Kyle would finally have a chance of becoming a mage. He could already imagine controlling the elements. 'I wonder what life at the academy would be like.'

Kyle had tried asking Grace about the academy but was shocked to realize she didn't attend the academy. Why? She refused to tell.

Kyle made sure to put on his best clothes for the occasion, who knows whether they had a problem with hygiene or something. He had already completed his daily quest from which he got a STR point. He was as ready as could be!

Soon, Riya arrived. She looked as ready as she could be, unlike during the awakening, she didn't seem nervous but rather walked with confidence.

They both met up with the rest— Orion, Zack and Anne.

They all seemed happy except Anne, who had a very hard-to-read expression, one couldn't easily tell if she was sad or happy.

Not long after their arrival, a large Hawk descended on the ground, they looked around for a while before deciding to get on it. After they all got on the hawk, it wasted no time to take off.

The hawk flew until it reached a large expanse of land, it was fenced with bricks, and the hawk flew in from its open roof. The land itself was about the size of a soccer field and was filled with young ones their age.

"Is this the academy?" Kyle couldn't help but ask after staying silent for a while.

"I'm as confused as you," Orion replied, shaking his head.

The hawk that had brought them to this place took off and continuously brought other kids.

After a while, the gang began actively asking about their whereabouts, most of the kids they met were as clueless as them while others who were dressed in snobbish clothing simply ignored them.

"Okay, we're I dunno how many kilometers away from home, we were brought here by a hawk whom we assumed to be our carrier. Now, we're all alone in this place with other fellow awakened. What's our plan for a start?" Kyle summed up to the gang after an unfruitful information gathering.

"Let's just wait, this might be a kind of test or something," Zack suggested.

"I think we should look for a way to get out of here," Riya suggested.

"Can we even escape from here? The walls should be at least 4 meters long, Orion?"

"You're correct, the wall is roughly 4.5 meters. I'm not sure, but from my estimations on how long we flew and the beast's speed; we're about 160 kilometers away from Frulia!" Orion replied with his hands on his chin.

"160 Kilometers?!" the rest exclaimed at the same time, even Anne couldn't help but sigh.

Their mood instantly deflated upon the revelation, immediately abandoning their idea of escaping.

"I guess we can only wait and see," Kyle revealed.

After 5 minutes, the hawk kept on bringing other kids into the field. The kids inside the field were about 500 in number!

Soon, the hawk came again, but this time it bore a man. The dark-skinned man wore a suit and stood on the head of the hawk, on his hand was a cane, and his face bore no smile.

As the hawk flew through the fenced land, the man jumped down! Waving his hands as if commanding the earth, a pillar raised from the ground causing those around it to fall.

With a light thud, he proceeded to land on the pillar with his feet. Placing his hands and cane behind his back, the man's face made way for a smile.

"Good morning, Awakened ones! I hope you had a great time waiting, " the man addressed.

Everyone's eyes were glued on him, the field was so silent that the sound of the wind could be heard. The man radiated an aura that made no one dare to talk. Everyone had already put a hold on their discussions and begun to pay rapt attention.

"The name is Michael. I'm the dean of the Vyna Academy. Pleased to see you all," his voice came once again.

"All of you have awakened your respective element or elements. Congratulations on that! You all are here to make your journey as a mage, in the academy. Am I right?" he asked involving the audience.

"Yes," the crowd responded at once. They all knew the reason while they were here, that was why they have been able to remain calm all this while.

"Yes, of course," Michael chuckled before continuing, "This year, we're prioritizing quality over quantity." He paused before saying:

"Not all of you would get into the academy."