'Not all will be your friend!'
The thought resonated in his head for a few minutes before he got himself. Immediately, he realizes something about the point. One is surely not bound to have everyone as a friend.
'What was she meaning to say?' Buji raised his head, his right index finger tapping on his lips.
'What does it actually mean?!' He couldn't speak out but his thoughts shouted at his timidity. This is unlike him, not able to figure out what something he thought about meant.
Looking tired already, he slumped onto his bed, and within a short time, he slept off.
***
Night came, day one, day two, day three until day five.
Buji adjusted his travel bag for the ninth time that morning, he was waiting at the back of the limousine they would be travelling with that morning.
"Are you all set?" a bald man, with a deep voice asked.
"We should be, except this," Buji replied.
The bald man who happened to be the family driver came over to help Buji drop it into the booth of the limousine. It was closed, so, he opened it and for the tenth time, Buji adjusted the bag before thrusting it into the book.
Moments later, the Limousine was found on the road, traveling relative to the tall buildings by the sides of the road. Buji struggled to fasten the car's seat belt as the limousine rolled over yet another bump in the paved road.
The morning air was crispy, carrying the scent of specks of dust as the car traveled along the dry roads. Beside him, Emra was leaning against the edge of the limousine, excitement resonated with her facial expression. Her father, Mr. Zin sat straight in front, staring at what only he knows about outside the limousine.
"We have almost arrived," Emra said, her right finger pointing at a distant hill. "Behind that hill is a tower. The tower is the western spire of the Academy."
'Behind, a tower? Is this some kind of old folk's Academy I will be attending?'
At that moment, the limousine came to a stop in front of a small river. Everyone in the car dismantled their seat belts except Buji.
"We are here," Emra called to his attention.
"Here?" Buji repeated, coming down from the car, looking overwhelmed.
Just seconds ago, Emra was showing him the hill and was explaining that the Academy was right behind the hill. He never imagined how fast the limousine had traveled for them to arrive that soon.
Still in doubt, he looked around to be sure if he would see the hill but he didn't. Emra noticed this and proved her statements back in the car.
"Remember, I told you that was the Western spire of the Academy. Unfortunately, he took the Eastern side which is shorter," Emra said, pointing at the driver who was off-loading the luggage in the booth.
Most luggage was Buji's own. Emra didn't come back with hers whenever she returned from the Academy. She had her room where all of it was parked in the Academy.
'Judging from the exterior of the Academy, it must be really a sight to behold on the inside.'
Buji had been wrong when he referred to the Academy as something told in the folklore. What his eyes saw or are seeing, totally disproves him.
"Awesome!" he said, attracting Emra and Mr. Zin's attention.
Just then, Buji heard the driver's voice, average in height.
"Your luggage," the driver informed.
Emra joined to help Buji carry his luggage. Not much though, only containing of two travel bags, two sturdy backpacks and then his school bag.
Emra took care of one of the travel bags and backpacks, leaving Buji with the other half including his school bag which he wore on his back.
"How are we to cross this river with this load?" Buji asked, clutching onto his travel bag and backpack.
"You know you do worry much, right?" Emra said. "Just stand closer and watch."
Immediately, Mr. Zin leaned forward close to the river, placing his two hands above the river as it began to shimmer. An ethereal glow emanated from his hands, casting a supernatural light upon the water which started rippling.
Buji watched amazed and what was happening before him. It seemed as if the world was stumbling at the foot of Mr. Zin's command.
The river's surface started to foam as if the water fabric was being torn apart. The glow bumping out of Mr. Zin's hand kept intensifying and just when it seemed like it had reached its climax, something happened.
Something only Buji was disheartened and at the same time, fascinated to see—a very huge surprise to him.
The river had shuddered and divided, laying before them a sandy path to trudge on foot. By the sides, the river stood gigantic like solid walls but still had its shimmering light-blue colour.
'What the fuck! What just happened?' Buji's thought within.
As if reading Buji's thoughts, Emra clarified him. "That's his talent, he's a mage."
Immediately, Mr. Zin shot Emra with his piercing eyes, indicating that Emra had made a mistake with what she said. She shouldn't have made mention of Mr. Zin's talent. Emra apologized sincerely to him.
Buji noticed what had happened, and he witnessed Mr. Zin's scold for Emra was not because she mentioned it. It was because she mentioned it at the wrong time. She mentioned it in his presence.
'Interesting. Mr. Zin is a mage…'
Buji thought, squinting forward with his little burden, catching sight of a pointed structure stretching as if to pierce the sky. The path they trekked wound through dense wood trees before opening up to a broad clearing.
'It is what it is.'
The sheer height of the building that had this pointed structure made him swallow hard. Although he knew less about the academy, he had imagined it to be a place of wonder and mystery, but seeing it for the first time made his expression fill with a mixture of awe and unease. Even though it was delicate and a wonder to behold.
Not long after, they arrived in front of the Academy's gate. Buji looked back to find out that the wallish water that had formed from Mr. Zin's magic was beginning to close. On the gate, however, silver runes were carved to form some words.
"Benignus ad Academiam Venatorum," Buji forced himself to pronounce the words, while Emra helped with its meaning.
"It is a Latin statement meaning 'Welcome to Hunter's Academy,' Emra replied. "And with this, I also formally welcome you."
Buji's heart skipped a beat as the gate creaked open. Surprisingly, that was Mr. Zin's ending point. He turned without hesitation and left, allowing Buji to find his way with the help of Emra.
***
The Academy was unlike anything Buji had ever seen. His former school was nothing compared to it. He had done some necessary things with the help of Emra and is now seated inside the Academy's hall.
The admission hall bustled with activities of students, ranging from murmurs to exchange of pleasantries. On the far wall hung a massive tapestry depicting the Academy's group of scholars. Emra's father was inclusive.
Inside the hall, students were arranged according to five sitting positions. Buji learned that the sitting position was according to how they were recommended. Literally putting, the hall consisted of students recommended by Four Hunter families, and the remaining was combined with students recommended by establishments.
In front of the hall, just in the middle of the stage's platform was an instrument standing tall, with a platform where students could stand.
The instrument was made of a spinal metal that supported two metal-like pincers above, holding a circular orb that occasionally swirled itself.
'And here I am, seated in a weird environment.'
"Welcome to the Academy, Buji" Buji spurred himself with nothing more than a whisper.