As Chase walked behind several high-ranking soldiers, Michael began an attempt to converse once again but was brought aside by one of the soldiers and scolded.
The soldiers were wearing gallant silver armor, with ivory chest plates, as well as dark-grey greaves forged with intricate patterns.
They also wore short, white cloaks that flowed around their upper backs with the light breeze—like a kingdom's flag.
Chase silently followed the six or so knights that stood in front, as five or six others tailed behind him.
It felt as though he was being escorted into some sort of prison. In normal circumstances, he might have made a joke there...
However, he was in no humorous mood: His entire future depended on if the headmaster accepted him into the academy or not.
Chase had not planned on failing, but he did not have a plan in case of failure, either.
Realistically—what was there he could do if he failed? Join the military as a low-ranking nameless? That wouldn't work, for Chase or for those who had fallen at the hands of the savages who pillaged his home.
Chase was poor and had no proof of any house, let alone family. All he had was his wit and an ancient topaz dagger that was hidden underneath his hoodie pocket.
Surely, he could sell it? Probably not, considering that the blade was probably as old as time, he wasn't even sure what material the blade was made out of.
But he would still make some money, right? No, he probably wouldn't even be able to sell the blade in general. He had no house and looked as if he had just escaped his slaver and fled from one of the more savage kingdoms.
In fact, the buyer would probably report him for stealing such a blade.
So, there really was no other option.
As they neared the colossal academy building, the height of the first castle seemed to grow the closer they got. It looked as if it was brushing against the sky itself.
The crown of the marble building seemed to be made from the same black stone as the fortresses that stood far in the distance of the first mountain.
Each castle seemed to have their own architectural designs, even though they appeared quite similar.
The first castle had one main central keep, while the others had multiple towers, each their own separate heights.
It made Chase feel small, very small. He felt his burning resolve and determination crumble under the blazing heat of the second sun.
The behemoth academy branches made him feel like a bug, that had infested the streets of some mighty human kingdom.
He simply didn't belong here.
Not because of his talent or intelligence—clearly shown through recent trials. Instead, it was his beginnings, he was a stray, and the other students here are the elite, and all from nobility or royalty.
He quickly shook those thoughts away as they entered the main gates of The Phoenix Academy.
Beautiful gold weavings lined the ivory-white, marble pillars that surrounded a wide open pair of silver doors, awaiting them to enter.
The floor turned to red-carpet pathways that covered a spruce plank floor.
Upon entering, the air that filled Chase's lungs seemed to be pure and untouched by corruption. As if the building itself was protected by some sort of magic artifact.
He didn't know how he could "sense" things like corruption; however, he had assumed that his long and torturous time in a corrupted forest had caused him to grow used to such things.
The first room of the academy was grand, with a reception desk that was located to the left of the entrance upon entering.
An older woman sat behind the desk with her head flat on the table.
"Name and status."
She mumbled from her slumped position.
"Excuse me?"
The first guard said.
Chase had guessed that he couldn't hear what she had said from underneath his silver helm.
"Name AND STATUS!"
The woman yelled as she lifted her head slowly from the desk.
Chase flinched as a result of the loud woman.
"It's not even the first term yet, why the hell are you here, damned noble clan."
She said in a tone that made him want to turn around and forget about attending the academy.
The first knight seemed to recoil back from the receptionist's violent temper, as he took a few steps behind one of the other knights.
The second knight wore a hood that covered his head and an ivory faceless mask that covered his face.
"Miss Agatha, the boy we have brought was scheduled to meet the Headmaster about five minutes ago."
The second knight spoke in an arrogant and impatient tone, as if the two had already been well acquainted with each other.
The woman rolled her eyes at the knight in response. She then began to speak to the second knight in a quieter tone.
"Why would Leander want to meet a Stray?"
Of course, everyone else could still hear the two, including Chase.
His fists tightened, inside of his hoodie's pocket. He looked at the ground and did his best to ignore the woman's insult.
The faceless man lowered his head down to the woman, and began to whisper something from behind his mask.
The woman's eyes seemed to widen at whatever the knight had said, and without saying anything, the two commanding knights motioned Chase to follow them as the three of them began to continue down the vast hall.
Chase did not look back at the other boy who had accompanied him on his way to the academy. Instead, he steadied his breathing and prepared himself.
In front of him stood a grand duel-sided staircase.
His eyes followed the staircase up even higher, soon realizing the immense height of the academy from within.
Thousands of platforms lined the towering academy like shelves on cabin walls.
The staircase continued on for what looked like an eternity, as if there was no end. Just as Chase was trying to overcome the thought of having to climb such a staircase, the second knight spoke.
"Don't worry, we aren't taking the stairs."
The faceless knight then began to walk down the small corridor that led between the two intersecting staircases.
At the end of the small hallway stood a small set of ancient wooden doors.
The doors seemed to radiate with immense power. Chase felt goosebumps appear along his arms, as his hair began to stand up on its own.
'Strong... something strong is inside of those doors.'
Chase felt his entire resolve implode from the energy beyond those doors.