The thick mist veiled a vast area, giving the surroundings an eerie, otherworldly feel. Through the dense fog, the towering silhouette of an enormous tree loomed, its presence intimidating despite being shrouded in the mist.
"This is the natural maze formation that has been protecting Swamp Enclave Academy for thousands of years," Old Tim began to explain. "The mist itself acts as a deterrent, warding off beasts and enemies alike. It even emits a poisonous gas that can kill intruders without them even realizing it."
As he finished speaking, a soft glow emanated from their admission letters. Almost immediately, the mist shifted, parting to reveal a stone path stretching deep into the fog. The path seemed to beckon them forward, inviting them into the heart of the mysterious swamp.
"Oi, Jerry! Give us a pass through! I've got matters to discuss with the head instructor," Old Tim shouted, his voice echoing through the mist.
From deep within the fog, a low, irritated growl responded. "Old man, you really love disturbing my sleep, don't you?" Jerry's voice, though unseen, was thick with annoyance.
Suddenly, two massive red eyes appeared in the mist, glowing menacingly. A gigantic serpent, with silvery-white scales that shimmered faintly even in the low light, slithered beside the stone path. Its head was as large as the carriage they had arrived in, and its length seemed infinite, vanishing into the fog.
Auron and his friends froze, their hearts racing. No one dared to move or even breathe. The sheer size and presence of the serpent paralyzed them in place. Jack, unable to handle the fear, fainted on the spot.
Old Tim remained unfazed. "Something's wrong in the Gloom Wood Forest," he said, frowning. "I encountered a Nightmare Wolf not too far from here. It's strayed far from its territory, and for an apex predator like that to roam outside its domain… something big is happening."
The serpent's massive eyes blinked slowly, as though in thought. "Hmm. That's unsettling, indeed," Jerry's voice replied from within the serpent. The massive creature's eyes softened slightly, and it turned its gaze to the frozen group. "These little ones seem paralyzed in fear. And that one," he motioned toward Jack, "fainted before I even revealed my full form. Weak, aren't they?"
The serpent's enormous head lowered, and with a flick of its tail, a pass materialized in front of Old Tim. "Here's your pass. Be quick, and for the love of the swamp, don't interrupt my sleep again," Jerry grumbled before his colossal form slithered back into the mist, vanishing like he had never been there.
The path ahead lay open, and the air remained still, but a sense of unease lingered as they prepared to continue their journey.
"That is the Swamp Enclave Academy's guardian beast, the Bog Serpent," Old Tim explained as they walked into the thick mist. "He's one of the strongest creatures in the Gloom Wood Forest. You lot are lucky to have seen him. Some never get the chance, even after being here for years."
Auron still felt a tremor in his hands, the image of the massive serpent fresh in his mind. "That was terrifying... How can something that big exist? I couldn't even sense it. The mana concentration felt like staring into the sun—so intense, so blindingly bright," Auron murmured, still shaken.
Not long after, they arrived at a wide, open courtyard, bustling with students, some clearly waiting for late arrivals.
Old Tim turned to them and said, "Alright, those of you headed to Swamp Enclave Academy, you can register over there. The rest of you, follow me. I've got business to attend to in the Gloom Wood Forest." Without another word, he started toward the grand building beyond the courtyard.
"Thanks for the ride, Old Tim!" Auron and the others called after him, bade farewell to others and bowing in appreciation before heading toward the registration desk.
Alice approached the mage at the desk and asked politely, "Excuse me, is this where we register?"
"Yeah, you're in the right place," the mage replied. "You've got about an hour before the opening ceremony starts, so let's make this quick. Hand me your admission letters. You'll need to drop a bit of blood on this token and then change into your uniform," he instructed, handing out a token to each of them.
Auron and his friends followed the instructions, dripping a small amount of blood onto their tokens, which glowed faintly in response. The mage then handed them each a set of sleek black uniforms.
"Uh, where are the dormitories?" Auron asked after receiving his uniform.
The mage chuckled as if he'd forgotten something obvious. "Ah, right! The token will guide you to your room. Just follow its pull, and make it quick, or you'll be late for the ceremony."
They left the registration area and followed the gentle tug from their tokens, which led them through winding paths to the dormitories. The dorms were extraordinary: a cluster of colossal ancient trees, each one hollowed out and magically enhanced to accommodate up to a thousand students.
Auron's token led him to a room near Alice and Thyra's. When he entered, he was pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness. There were two beds, a chandelier that cast a warm glow over the room, and a small circular window offering a breathtaking view of the misty swamp below. A private bathroom was tucked into one corner, adding a touch of comfort to the otherwise rustic design. His roommate had already left, probably getting ready for the ceremony.
Auron quickly made his bed, changed into his black uniform, and decided to take a quick wash. After two days of travel, a shower was a welcome luxury. He could feel the tension easing from his muscles as he washed, preparing himself mentally for the challenges to come at Swamp Enclave Academy.
When Auron stepped outside, he found Thyra and Alice already waiting, both looking a bit impatient.
"What took you so long? We've been waiting for you for a few minutes," Alice said with a hint of displeasure in her voice.
Auron smiled apologetically. "I just took a quick wash. Didn't you guys feel all grimy from the past two days of travel?"
"What? You took a shower?" Alice's eyes widened in realization. "How did we forget about that? Thyra, why didn't you say anything?"
"I forgot too…" Thyra admitted, looking equally regretful.
Auron chuckled. "You two were so nervous you missed the obvious! Look, I think you'll still have time to shower if you hurry. Just make it quick."
Without a word, the girls dashed back into their rooms, disappearing in a flurry of activity. Auron leaned back against the tree trunk, amused at the sudden rush.
After a short while, Thyra and Alice reemerged, looking much fresher and more relaxed.
"Better?" Auron asked with a grin.
"Much better," Alice said, flipping her damp hair back.
"Alright then, no more delays. Let's head to the main courtyard," Auron said, and together, they made their way toward the heart of the academy, eager for the opening ceremony.