Ezra and Uncle Zenn stood in a clearing as they waited for the griffin to land, as soon as the griffin landed, Ezra understood how huge the creature was.
"Don't disgrace the Wolfes out there, Ez" Uncle Zenn said as he patted Ezra's shoulder. "And always be careful"
"Yes, I will" Ezra said as he approached the griffin that crouched in order for him to climb up.
Climbing up the 7ft beast was an ardous task but he managed to do so with ease, which earned him a nod of approval from Oab.
As soon as Ezra landed on the back of the griffin, he noticed how wide it was, and there was a platform on it, aside from Oab, there were seven other teenagers, including him would make them eight.
Seeming to have ubderstood his confusion, Oab explained that he was the last of the students they had to pick, the thirteen teenagers were from other high schools in Livingstone City.
Amongst the seven teenagers, there were three boys and four girls, just like him, they were recommended students.
The griffin roared as it took off from the ground and soared into the sky before flying northwards. Ezra watched the clouds pass by with some anticipation in his heart.
"Listen up, Guardian Academy is very different, you may have been recommended but that doesn't mean you are already students of the academy, you would have to pass a test before becoming a true student of our Academy.
You might think it's unfair, but it isn't, putting you through this test is so we would be able to observe your potentials, failing the test is the same as losing your right to being a student of the academy, you won't be sent back but instead you would stay in the academy as a trial disciple" Oab started to explain.
"What test would we be doing?" , one of the boys asked, he had tan skin with white crew cut, his pupils were dual colored of yellow and black.
"Good question, Mike" Oab nodded
"You'll be dropped 10km away from the academy, your test would be to get to the academy within a period of ten days... easy"
"Isn't the place we we are being dropped, the Hundred beast range?" Ezra asked to which Oab nodded with a chuckle.
"Don't worry, there are contingencies for that, once we are done with this discussion, I'll teach you all how to absorb energy" Oab said which made everyone's eyes brighten up.
"Lest I forget, the way in which people use magic differs, some weave magic, some conjure magic, some chant magic, some have to use a medium, etc... so due to each way, they have different names, Weavers, Conjurers, Casters and Wizards/Witches"
"Which type is the strongest?" Fiona, the bespectacled girl with freckles asked.
"That depends on the user, for example, I am a conjurer but I don't believe myself to be the strongest" Oab said as he made a grasp in the air and a water ball floated above his hand, then he waved his hand and the water ball popped.
Later on, Oab showed them how to meditate in order to absorb energy, with excitement the eight youths immediately began to meditate.
Ezra found a spot close to the edge and sat down, he calmed his breathing and blocked his thoughts as he immersed himself in feeling the energy around him. Oab had told them that the energy was also called ki, which meant world energy.
Oab looked at the kids before him and smiled, he noticed the auras of most of them changing, some became fiery, some cold, some slimy, some dark, some holy and some mysterious, his smile deepened as he knew how much potential the kids had. Oab suddenly gazed at Ezra, a frown appeared on his face.
He opened his third eye, the ki seem to surround him like a tornado but they were not being absorbed by him, instead they just hovered around him, it was like Ezra's body was just a stone.
"Don't tell me, he has the stone physique?" Oab muttered as Zaiah's words rang in his ear. His gaze darkened as he frowned before he sighed, "I really might have made a mistake"
Meanwhile, Ezra sighed in disappointment before he opened his eyes, so also the others, he grimaced inwardly as he noticed how different they were compared to before.
"Maybe, I'm really just trash..." Ezra muttered before he shook his head and threw the negative thoughts out of his mind.
"Excuse me, Sir Oab, why is my energy fiery?" Hunter, a blonde with a noble demeanor asked.
"That's your element, every magic wielder has an element, once you're able to get into the academy, your element would be graded, every element has a grade, for example, a low grade fire element does not have as much power as a middle grade fire element"
"But mind you, with enough practice, a low grade element can gain an upgrade" Oab explained to which they all nodded at.
"I'll leave you all to mingle, if you have any issues, I'll be in that corner" Oab said as he walked to a corner and sat down, he brought out a comic book and began to read.
"Seeing him like that, you won't suspect that he's way older than we are" Sage, the pink haired girl with chromatic pink eyes said, earning nods from the others.
Ezra sat where he was as he contemplated on how he would survive in the Hundred Beast Range.
Someone suddenly sat down beside him, he looked towards the person, a brown haired girl with a tomboyish vibe, she had about three earrings, and a nose piercing, she wore a short black jacket with a white singlet, and a black skintight trousers with boots, Ezra recalled that her name was Sterling Zyrtec, unusually she is royalty.
"You couldn't absorb ki, right?" Sterling said as she hugged her legs before looking at him.
Ezra didn't say anything and just stared at her, wondering why she would be talking to him. "What is it you want to say?"
"Black deviant talent, I want to be friends with one" Sterling said, Ezra noticed how her black pupils turned a shade darker.
"You're not scared?"
"Why should I be, even if there's a devil in you, I wanna be the one to kill you" Sterling said with a smile, but Ezra found that smile creepy and he couldn't help but sweat.
Unknown to Ezra, his pores opened and he began to absorb ki . Though he didn't notice, someone else did, Oab who was looking down at the comic book looked up as he felt an energy fluctuation.
He immediately zoned into Ezra's location, noticing how Ezra was absorbing ki while not in total concentration he suddenly smiled, "maybe I wasn't wrong after all"
"But what's she doing with him?" Oab caressed his forehead. No one knew the third child of the Zyrtec House more than he does, so also no one she ever took an interest in, ever left her grasp.
"Troublesome" Oab sighed in resignation.