"What do you mean, Your Highness?" asked Tiffany.
"Do you wish to be free?" Ibnor asked.
"It's my honour to serve you, Your Highness. Even if you let me go, I can never get a better opportunity like this. A comfortable place to stay, good food to eat and assuring protection. So, no, I do not wish to be free," she replied.
"I mean, from them. It's enough for you to know that I know. I'm sorry for everything, and again, thank you, Little Swallow," said Ibnor nonchalantly. Tiffany's pupil retracted hearing the name Ibnor had just called her.
"I'm compromised! What should I do?" thought Tiffany. Her mind is racing and her heart is beating faster, but she keeps a calm appearance. A hidden blade appeared from the edge of her sleeve, ready to protect herself.
"Relax, you can keep the blade away. I wasn't going to do anything to you," said Ibnor, still looking out the window in a relaxed manner. He then turned to Tiffany. "Right now, the only thing I can do to protect you is make you my personal maid. At least they can act, if anything happens," he said, pointing to the bodyguards outside.
"No, you don't understand... Master Crow.." she didn't get to finish her sentence when Ibnor cut her off.
"I know exactly who Master Crow is and I also know his capabilities. For your safety, just keep doing as you are told, continue giving them info as you monitor me. I doubt you'll find anything useful though," he said.
He reaches for Tiffany. She shuddered but didn't dare to do anything. Resigning herself to fate, she closed her eyes. To her surprise, Ibnor caresses her cheek. She opened her eyes and saw his smiling face. The smile is so bright and his eyes are pure without malice.
"This time, I will protect you. I will do everything I can to keep you safe. So, trust me, okay?" he said.
Like under a spell, she felt comfort hearing those words. Her emotions are bubbling and unknowingly, tears run down her face and she nods. Ibnor took her in his arms and for the first time in his life, he heard Tiffany cry.
"Leave everything to me and be at ease. Just do what you have to do," he said softly while patting her head. Tiffany who is still sobbing on his chest only nods her head. Ibnor let go a deep sigh.
The carriage is silent again for the whole journey until they reach the harbour. The harbour is busy with many people accompanying their friends, family and loved ones. The harbour is the main harbour in Pyrion and the only one that would serve as a port for ferrying passengers to the Central Island. It is also the only harbour that provides water transportation to other nations, since the Southern Continent is one big island with multiple nations.
As Ibnor looked around, he noticed that there were a lot of teenagers like him there, accompanied by their family and entourage. He immediately understood that most of them are likely just like him, wanting to attend Avalon Academy's entrance test.
"This is the last call to those who wish to attend the entrance test of Avalon Academy. Please report yourself at Gate B within 10 minutes. Thank you."
The announcement can be heard all over the harbour. Ibnor turned to Tiffany.
"Remember, act like you usually do. Just follow their instructions." Tiffany nods her head. He then turned to his bodyguards. "During my absence, I want you to protect her as you would protect me. Unless you heard it personally from me, ignore other orders."
"Including Butler James, Your Highness?" asked one of the bodyguards.
"Even if it comes from my father, the Malik himself," replied Ibnor.
"Priority Red. Understood," replied the bodyguards.
"I'll see you in one year then," said Ibnor. He saw Tiffany bite her lip, wanting to say something but decided not to. He smiles and pats her head.
"Take care of yourself. At least when I come home next year, I want to see you smiling."
"En!" Tiffany nods with her glassy eyes.
Ibnor walked straight to Gate B and reported himself. From there, he was guided to a waiting area. After a short while, he can see a sea train approaching from a distance. Unlike a normal train, this train is like a multiple omnibus linked together and is drawn by a gigantic Spirit Beast. The Spirit Beast will swim across the ocean while pulling the train to the destination. The train is also able to move both on top and under the water, for both safety purposes.
Entering the train, Ibnor was assigned a seat and after a while, he fell asleep. When he woke up, they had already reached Avalon Island. There is a suspicion nagging in his mind regarding how he fell asleep. No matter how weak he is, his ability and capability is above normal humans who did not cultivate. He can go through three days without sleeping and he would still be able to stay active without a hint of sleepiness. However, since he made it to the island safely, he just pushed the suspicion at the back of his mind.
He is now standing on a coastal beach, looking at a huge forest stretching far to the west together with thousands of other people, teenagers just like him. In front of the forest there is a building that looks like a lodging house. Most of the people here are just like him, looking around with astonishment.
However, he found that there are few people who are exceptionally calm. In his observation, there are a lot of familiar faces, the one he recognized in both of this time and previous lifetime. He spotted the Young Lady of Wulandri Clan of Pyrion, Young Master of Malhotra House of Kylion, Young Lady from Romano Family of Cyrion and many others.
"May I have your attention, everyone?" a sweet voice can be heard attracting everyone.
A beautiful woman with brown hair and green eyes is standing on the balcony of the building that looks like a huge lodging house. Confirming that she had everyone's attention, she greets them with a smile.
"First of all, welcome to Avalon Island. My name is Leslie Barcelona and I'm an instructor in Avalon Academy. Secondly, as some of you may realize, you have been purposely put to sleep on your journey here, for safety reasons.
For you to be here, it means that you have decided to take the entrance test of Avalon Academy. Most of you may be wondering where the academy is right? It is right here, on this island, beyond the great forest behind me. However, only the accepted students are allowed to enter the academy. It means, the test will be held here, and those who failed the test will have to leave the island. Before we begin, I will briefly tell you about the test and some rules regarding it.
The test consists of three stages. To be a student of Avalon Academy, the candidates have to pass certain requirements and the objective of the test is to filter the one who doesn't meet the requirements. The first stage will be on theories, where we will test you on your knowledge and aptitude. Those who failed will have to leave the island, and those who pass will advance to the next stage. The second stage will test your practical application. The outcome is the same as the first one. Everyone, please enter this building and the first stage will start shortly."
Without wasting any time, Ibnor and the candidates entered the building in an orderly fashion. The building is a huge hall divided into five stories. Each story has several separated rooms and each room can easily fit around 200 people. The first stage is quite easy for Ibnor who has lived two lifetimes but the same thing cannot be said for the rest. At the end of the first stage testing, only 205 out of 5600 candidates are able to pass. The rest is sent home immediately.
During the second stage, candidates are being tested on their physical capabilities and cultivation level. Ibnor scored badly on cultivation level but he made it up on the physical test. His strength, agility and reaction time surpass many of those who have higher cultivation levels. At the end of the test, there are only 102 candidates left, including him.
"I congratulate all of you who have made it this far. Like I've said before, the test is only to filter out those who don't meet the requirements to enter the academy. So, all of you who are still standing here, meet the requirements to enter Avalon Academy. However, don't be delighted just yet. Up next is the true entrance test," said Instructor Leslie.
The candidates who were just about to let go a sigh of relief held back their breath when they heard what she said. She produces a paper in her hand and shows it to the candidates.
"What I have here, in my hand, is an agreement that you have to sign if you choose to proceed to the actual entrance test. This represents your acknowledgement of the risk that you're about to face in the test, and your willingness to participate in it. In order to be accepted into the academy, you only have to undergo this one last test. The test is simple, reach the academy beyond this forest before sundown.
However, your life will be at risk since the forest behind me is also a home for wild Spirit Beasts. You can choose not to take the test and return home but that means your opportunity to enter Avalon Academy ends there. This is the only chance you have to enter the academy. Please decide now, and sign the agreement if you agree."
Out of 102 candidates, only 12 decided to walk away from the test and were sent home. 90 people including Ibnor signed the agreement and immediately entered the forest. He ran into the forest and climbed a tall tree to get his bearings. After confirming the direction, he controls his Mana and channels them through his legs. Leaping from one tree to another he moved forward with ease. Thanks to his experience during his Death March in the Sacred Sanctuary's forest, he has no problem moving through the forest quickly without disturbing the Spirit Beasts.
As he was leaping and swinging from tree to tree, his heart suddenly tightened and his instinct warned him of an incoming danger. Instead of landing on the branch he intended to, he dropped himself and rolled on the ground. When he landed on the ground, he felt a stinging sensation on his right cheek and soon, blood started to trickle down his cheek. His eyes focused on the tree he intended to land on and he saw an arrow sticking halfway through the trunk. He immediately went into alert and hid behind a tree.
"An assassination? No, that's not possible. This is Avalon Island and no power can breach the security here. But, who is capable of releasing a powerful arrow without me realising?" he thought.
Just as he was about to move from behind the tree, he heard another rusting sound, followed by footsteps, rumbling and crashing.
ROAR~!!
A figure passed by in a nimble way, running and jumping in a zigzag pattern, followed by a three meters tall creature. It looks like a huge bear with the exception of having human hands. On its hand, there is a sharp metallic claw that can be retracted at will. It was the Clawed Savage. Ibnor takes another look at the figure that was being chased by the Clawed Savage.
Unexpectedly, he had to look carefully to determine that the figure was actually a man. He is a lithe and slender young man, with every movement seems graceful. He has an even length dark hair that he let loose on his forehead, covering a part of his face and a ponytail. He also has a fair face, with clear eyes and a set of long eyelashes that can put some women to shame.
Ibnor knows that figure. He is Edison Yo, a strong ranger in this previous time-line. His origin and past story was unknown but after his village was destroyed, he single handedly destroyed a few enemy camps and thanks to his intervention, Pyrion Army had enough time to rescue other villagers.
He never joined the military but worked side by side with the military. He reaches the area where the military couldn't and helps people all over Pyrion. His greatest achievement is where he faced a battalion alone and managed to exterminate every last one of them including three Battle Emperors when he was just a peak Battle King.