The mist is was getting thicker by time even after six hours passed, nothing looked promising in the horizon and no mesmerizing nature to enjoy with. The lively cart became more like a funeral, so much of leaden, sombreness and quietness. They were too bored to just fall asleep. Although, not more time passed to notice a hazy big shadow. From the farthermost left to the right, a very high and wide battlements and walls with peaked apex manifested as they were heading forward.
" Here we are kids...City's (B) gate"
They were thrilled, it was the first time seeing such gigantic walls.
............
Getting even closer, they sighted a gaint black gate of strengthen heavy iron. Infront of it, a number of four knights were guarding the close gate. They were full armored with sliver shields and held spears with floating blue crystal emblem engraved on its heart.
Noticing the small wooden cart coming closer so carelessly, the guards laughed loudly then stood still in the middle blocking the road. When the cart stopped and they walked toward them, Roan saw all that and sighed deeply. He got down while stating:
" Don't do anything stupid till I get back".
As they nodded, he approached one of the knights. They weren't close enough to hear what they were talking about, but Roan looked like explaining things to them.
Few minutes passed, and Roan became more worked up, he kept on tapping the air, rubbing his head and nagging about something.
" What do you think happened?"
Sara didn't hide her anxiety, something must definitely gone wrong, she thought. It was when they heard Roan roared and cursed at the knights.
" So what if we are late five minutes?!! Wasn't it your fault from the beginning giving us this useless cart! not even proper carrier but a damn cart!! On top of that expecting me to rush over back to you on time! Are you all out of your minds you looney bastards!!".
Brusting with rage he wreaked his madness on them, the knight sighed, then whispered something on Roan ears. Hearing part of their conversation from a distance about the cart and being delayed, the kids were discontented assuming that the capital did this on purpose.
Roan came back cursing and swearwording as he told Sky and the others to get down for routine inspections, pointing to the chamber on the right side of the gate .
Shortly they were standing infront of the inspection chamber carrying their bags. The guards stopped Roan outside the chamber, one person at a time only, that what he was informed. Forbidding him from escorting them inside.
Hence, waiting in line Sky shifted her weight left and right in attempt to see behind the broad-shouldered knight what's happening inside. Luke was the first one to get in since a while.
After almost an hour, they finally got permission to enter city (B). Passing through the gate casted a feeling of splendorous run down to their bones. Sky was amazed seeing a sea of people coming and going around, one passing by in a rush, some sellers overthere were yelling attracting people to their products, a very racy market. While there were groups of families who looked slightly different from others, they were a higher class people, they were doing nothing but walking around and chatting with joy, a family picnic.
The only word left Sky's mouth, is lifelikeness. The air was much lighter, and it's easier to breathe. The city's ancient buildings itself left a grate impact upon her, if they could just speak, great tales of myths and legends can easily jumb out of those grand walls. The citizens obviously lived entirely in a different world out of her's, they looked like they didn't care about the curse or the fog. It's bright here even when it's darker gray at that moment.
Natalie and the rest felt dizzy and tired staring at every corner of the city so they just fell asleep. Sky let off her thoughts wondering in the dazzling city, it took Roan's to shout at her twice to finally get back to reality, she noticed that the cart was already parked aside the road.
"Wake them up". He said.
And so on, after waking up, they got down of the cart.
"Stick to each other in pairs; one can easily get lost here. Stay behind me and never loose my track".
When she was about to follow Roan's lead, Sky felt Natalie's grip pulling her dress from the back. She smiled remembering the old days back on the village when they were little kids playing in the mud, Natalie used to hold her grip like this all the time when she get scared. Sky was relieved, some things doesn't remain the same, but Natalie is Natalie.
They barely managed to follow Roan who was rushing through the crowds, Sky was holding Natalie's hand while walking togather and right behind them were Sara and Luke. Till Roan suddenly stopped infront of , he was looking directly into a glowing circle engraved on the ground.
"Come here, there is no time".
Roan stepped inside the circle and they followed him next. In no time it started to glow brighter and was actived. Roan spoke in fast rhythm explaining while waving his hands around.
"Kids...this is a teleport circle.. standing in it will get you transferred immediately to academy....and here... take this.This handbook has all the informations you guys need to guide you inside the academy".
Notice the tremble while talking made their heart warm up .
Everyone held their own handbook tightly. Roan stepped outside the circle, he wasn't going to accompany them any farther, then Sky smiled thanking him.
"Thank you, Mr Roan, for being this kind to us".
Roan chuckled with teary-eyes.
"You barts, if you want to thank me, pass the entrance exam, then rub your success on those bastard's faces."
"You bet!" Luke stated with confidante smirk.
It was a few seconds, when a flashy lighting pillar embraced the kids. And when the light dimmed, Roan stood there infront of the empty circle, staring with heart full of solicitude sensation.
Academy's ground :
When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in a garden cultivated with flowers of different colors and shapes, it was simply a work of art.
"Where are we?" Sara blurred out then asked.
Sky opened the handbook trying to figure out where they were standing, but to her disappointment, she was more puzzled flipping the pages. Turning her gasses to Luke who raised one eyebrow.
"What?!!" He shouted.
"Come on genuine, we are already late" .
Preferring to ignore her, he chose the west path of the garden and walked on. Her lips raised drawing a smile as they followed him cautiously. Getting out of the garden through a short vestibule, they came across a long waiting line of young children of same age of them. Sky thumbed over the handbook again.
"That yellow sign on the left, seems it's where we should stand, the other silver sign is for those with invitations..."
" And that sign overthere? Asked Natalie.
Sky closed the handbook ironically staring with a mocking face.
"..um.. the black sign... let's just say... it's for the rich people".
Looking at the yellow sign which have the longest line, while the other signs have two or none, she plodded to take her place as well.
"Let's just go " .
They stood one by one in the line, but Sky glanced Luka stood at the sliver sign, she was gazing in confusion.
"Luka? what are think you are doing? Your place is right here.. here... ". She pointed twice at the yellow sign.
He caressed the back of his head and looked embarrassed.
" I ...got an invitation... from the Green family, a week ago" .
They agaped with utter shock, they were speechless. " Yet to think the Greens invited random person from the borders? But they are one of the ancients, nothing they do is randomly, they must had eyes outside the capital. The Greens are just amazing! " Sky thought.
"Ahh..Co...Con..Congrats, Luka! hopefully we can see each others again inside the campus" .
It was a bitter compliment coming out of Sky, Sara and Natalie. Luka awkwardly nodded at the three girls, he was the only one standing at the silver sign, thus he picked up his bag continuing his walk to go behind the door. With conflicted emotions, the three stood by yellow signed door, waiting their turn to take the entrance.
After some time passed,...
" This is just cruel!!". Stated Sara.
She sat on the floor massaging her sour legs, complaining about waiting this long .
Sky only rolled her eyes around as if they were seeking something, it's when her gases met a tall girl coming by. Her gesture and steps were confident, and looked very elegant wearing that light pink dress while her long soft sliver hair swinging at her back. She had charisma of a fine lady in a white fur leopard's disguise.
The whispers and mumblings started to raise among the other kids.
"It's miss Elena! "
" She is so gorgeous.. like a doll" .
" The king must be very proud of her, sending one of his strongest children here ".