The snow-capped peaks of the Crystalline Heights finally gave way to a plateau where the Hudsen Shelter loomed in the distance. Surrounding the shelter was a formidable wall of steel and reinforced stone, glistening under the bright sunlight. At the heart of the shelter stood the Holy Guardian Academy, a sprawling fortress of gleaming white stone with towering spires and vast training grounds. Its sheer size was overwhelming, even for Sirius, Luna, and Ron, who had faced countless challenges to get here.
The journey through the wilderness had been arduous, filled with battles that tested their limits, but the sight of the academy filled them with anticipation.
"This is it," Ron said, brushing snow off his cloak. His new gryphon, Nimbus Junior, perched proudly on his shoulder, chirping softly.
"It's bigger than I imagined," Luna murmured, her sharp eyes scanning the massive gates that led into the academy grounds.
Sirius nodded, gripping the Aurora Starblade at his side. "Let's see if it's as challenging as they say."
As they approached the gates, they were greeted by a stern-looking instructor with a clipboard.
"Names?" the man asked briskly.
"Sirius Starblade, Luna Frostlight, and Ron Greystone," Sirius replied.
The instructor's sharp gaze flickered over them before he checked his clipboard. "You're the champions of the Hunter Team Tournament." He scribbled something down and gestured toward the gates. "Welcome to the Holy Guardian Academy. Your real training begins now."
As they stepped through the gates, the sheer scale of the academy became apparent. It was a city within itself, complete with dormitories, training arenas, lecture halls, and a marketplace bustling with merchants selling everything from weapons to magical artifacts.
Hunters of all ranks walked the grounds, their powerful auras filling the air. Sirius noticed that even the lowest-ranked hunters here carried themselves with an air of confidence and discipline.
"They're strong," Luna said quietly, her gaze following a group of hunters sparring in a nearby arena.
Ron grinned, his excitement barely contained. "This is going to be fun."
Before they could explore further, another instructor approached—a woman with fiery red hair and piercing green eyes. She carried a long spear that radiated a faint glow.
"I'm Instructor Calista," she said. "Follow me. You'll be assigned to your dorms and given a schedule."
The dormitories were vast, divided into sections based on rank and specialization. Sirius, Luna, and Ron were assigned rooms in the Elite Wing, reserved for promising hunters with exceptional potential.
As they unpacked, a group of older students entered the room. Their leader, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, crossed his arms and smirked.
"So, you're the rookies everyone's talking about," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.
Sirius met his gaze calmly. "And you are?"
"Derek Thorn," the man replied. "Top of the class here. Don't think your tournament win means anything. This place separates the real hunters from the wannabes."
Luna stepped forward, her icy demeanor matching her words. "We'll see who's real soon enough."
Derek chuckled but didn't press further. "Try not to embarrass yourselves." With that, he and his group left.
Ron grumbled. "I don't like him."
Sirius shrugged. "We'll deal with him if we have to. For now, let's focus on the training."
The next morning, the trio gathered with the other recruits in the main training arena. The instructors stood in a line, their expressions stern and unyielding.
Calista stepped forward. "You're here because you're talented. But talent alone won't make you strong. Over the next months, we'll push you beyond your limits. Some of you will break. The rest will become true hunters."
The first exercise was deceptively simple: a race through an obstacle course. But as the recruits soon realized, the obstacles were far from ordinary.
The course began with a sprint through a forest filled with animated wooden dummies that attacked without warning. Sirius dodged their strikes using Phantom Movement, appearing behind the dummies and striking with precision. Luna moved gracefully, her Silent Heel allowing her to avoid detection as she weaved through the trees.
Ron, meanwhile, smashed through the dummies with sheer brute force, his Rock Skin Armor absorbing their blows. Nimbus Junior flew above him, distracting the dummies and giving him openings to attack.
The second section of the course involved crossing a frozen river while avoiding the attacks of Ice Serpents that lunged from beneath the ice.
Luna's Ice Empress Spirit created a bridge of ice, allowing her to cross quickly while firing arrows at the serpents. Sirius teleported across using Void Steps, striking at the serpents to keep them at bay. Ron summoned a stone platform, riding it across the river while fending off the serpents with his gauntlets.
The final section was a vertical climb up a sheer cliff face, with Gale Hawks attacking from above.
Sirius summoned his Spectral Gryphon, which soared upward and cleared a path by engaging the hawks. Luna climbed swiftly, using her arrows to pick off any hawks that got too close. Ron relied on his Geokinesis, creating handholds in the rock as he climbed.
The trio reached the top together, earning nods of approval from the instructors.
After the obstacle course, the recruits were paired for sparring matches. Sirius was matched against Derek Thorn, much to the excitement of the crowd.
Derek sneered as they stepped into the arena. "Let's see if you're as good as they say."
The match began with Derek charging forward, his dual swords flashing in the light. Sirius countered with his Aurora Starblade, their blades clashing with a shower of sparks.
Derek's attacks were relentless, but Sirius's Heightened Focus allowed him to anticipate each strike. He sidestepped a sweeping slash and retaliated with Thunder Gear, his electrified blade forcing Derek to retreat.
"You're fast," Derek admitted, "but speed won't save you."
He unleashed a flurry of strikes, forcing Sirius to use Phantom Movement to evade. Reappearing behind Derek, Sirius struck with a combination of Explosive Flames and Thunderbolt, the explosion sending Derek skidding across the arena.
Before Derek could recover, Sirius activated Void Steps, teleporting in front of him and delivering a powerful slash that knocked Derek's swords from his hands.
The match ended with Sirius's blade at Derek's throat.
"You're good," Derek muttered, his smirk replaced with grudging respect.
As the first day of training ended, Sirius, Luna, and Ron gathered in their dorm, exhausted but exhilarated.
"This place is no joke," Ron said, cradling Nimbus Junior.
Luna nodded. "But we're holding our own. If we keep this up, we'll climb to the top."
Sirius gazed out the window at the towering spires of the academy. "This is just the beginning. We have a long way to go."
The challenges of the Holy Guardian Academy were unlike anything they had faced before, but Sirius and his team were determined to rise to the occasion.