Calm down, the war is young, and our soldiers are younger.
Hello Fen, Chalybe shrugged. Long time no see.
Fenrir's eyes went dark, and his teeth vibrated.
Hello, Chalybe, Fenrir shivered. You look... well.
When Fenrir laid his eyes on Aurelia, he swiftly hid behind Caesar. Fenrir suited his torn blazer and brushed his spiky hair behind with his nails, which was able to smooth it a little.
My fair lady, Aurelia, Fenrir bowed. You look as wonderful as always.
Aurelia looked disgusted at Fenrir and walked away.
What did I do? Fenrir whimpered. Was it my breath?
No, not at all, Izobel waved her hands. She just... uh.. had somewhere to be.
Izobel, you can't keep lying to comfort me.
Fenrir looked unhappy fast. He fancied Aurelia for a very long time, but she was in love with Caesar.
Everyone was aware of it - That was the major reason Fenrir asked his father to teach him to be mature.
But anyway, I haven't seen you guys since the trials, Fenrir dusted himself. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Caesar wasn't excited when he saw Fenrir, and neither was Chalybe. The two battled in the Trials, and the fight was intense. Every battle was intense, make no mistake, but this particular battle took a lot from Chalybe and Fenrir, and the winner was equally surprising.
Izobel chuckled. Has your wound healed, Fenrir?
Fenrir touched his face and sighed. It took weeks for it to completely heal, ya know, and even now, I still feel the stinging pain of the scar.
Don't you think you have enough scars already? Caesar joked.
The group burst out laughing, but Fenrir suddenly stopped and sniffed the air.
Fen, Izobel touched his arm. You okay?
Fenrir quickly shifted his gaze to an Unkindness of Ravens. The ravens gathered on a fruit tree and began cawing loudly.
That's weird, Fenrir brushed his hair. Slaver beak Ravens are rarely seen in the Morning.
It might be a good omen, Izobel stared in amazement. But they scare me.
The Slaver beak Ravens aren't creatures to marvel at. They possess sharp claws, deep midnight black feathers, and four royal blue eyes that seem to pierce into your souls.
Caesar noticed Chalybe frowning at the flock, and he looked like he wanted to kill every one of them.
Still angry about the miscarriage? Caesar patted Chalybe's back.
They were always present when my mother had them, Chalybe sighed. 3 times, Caesar. 3
Caesar looked at his companion as Chalybe returned to his calm demeanor.
A loud siren boomed across the entire compound, and a male voice was heard.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the voice began. On behalf of our Grandmaster, Reginald Dan Gerald, I welcome you all to the Black Meadows Academy.
All the students cheered.
Everyone here has awakened their Divinity, a gift bestowed upon us by our god, the Almighty. May he be worshiped, Amen.
Everyone chorused the same, Amen.
But don't be so comfortable, you growing sparrows, the voice charged. You might be a prince, a scion, a Heir, a majesty - but here, what determines your status is your power and drive. Do you have what it takes to climb to the top and serve your kingdom with all your strength?
The student roared, Yes.
The voice laughed. Welcome to your new chapter, you Diamonds in the rough.
When the voice ceased and a 15-creter-high Oberon door swung open, revealing the Interior of the Academy.
Race you there. Caesar ran off, and his companions followed.
As Caesar, Chalybe, Izobel, and Fenrir walked into the Chilled inside of the Academy, entering the main hall, they were shocked. None of them would have imagined that the gruesome school would be so magnificent.
The hall was massive, with marble pillars holding the wide roof, decorated in various and detailed murals and chandeliers. The floors seemed to change colors, from red to orange to pink, which made Izobel delighted.
Four major staircases sat in the middle of the hall from the walls, each with a diverse outline and symbols. The walls of the Academy were decorated with multiple paintings that seemed to move, with stone, marble, gloydon, steel, and bronze sculptures of knights adding more beauty to the hall.
In between two Red Stone sculptures was a Machine. The machine was large, triple the height of Chalybe, with a panel covered in countless carvings and initials, presumably from former Black Meadows pupils.
A loud voice called out from a distance. Yo, Caesa.
Caesar turned around in excitement as one of his great companions entered the room.
I was wondering when you would arrive, Caesar grinned.
The loud voice drew the attention of the entire crowd, and everyone admired him.
The living embodiment of grit and hard work, Zues Orson Lancelot, the son of Leto Micah Lancelot - The governor of Shawnforth.
Zues was tall, taller than Chalybe. He was muscular, looking confident and highly competitive. He had scarlet eyes, beautiful braided hair, with the side skillfully trimmed and the 'Z' initial carved into it.
He casually walked over to Caesar, with his blazer hanging on his shoulder, and his bag hovering by his side.
Yo, Zeus waved. Miss me?
My man, Caesar waved back. Looking good, I see.
Well, I had a makeover, Zeus touched his braids. Courtesy of my sister, Artemis.
Zeus, Izobel spoke up. What a pleasant surprise! How are you?
Zeus turned to Izobel. Hello Izobel, I'm very well, and the prince...
Zeus looked at Chalybe, who smiled at him.
Yep, the prince, Chalybe said
Zeus turned to Caesar. The announcement just now was rather spirit-lifting, don't you think?
Yeah, they sounded serious about the whole 'power deciding your status, ' Caesar answered. Are they trying to make this academy a battle royale?
Caesar wasn't a believer in the typical 'the weak die and the strong survive' mindset. Any person in a story or real life who says that is just overconfident of hasn't met those far more powerful than them.
But, we will get to the top, Zeus smiled. It's just a matter of who reaches it first.
That's so you, Caesar laughed. You literally spent like...what? Your entire pre-teens to force your divinity out. I'm still in shock that that is even possible.
Don't forget me, Chalybe said. I might be number 1 first.
In your dreams, boys, Izobel flung her hair. What if I reach it first?
I just want to be good, Fenrir chided. But, yeah, number 1 it is.
The entire group broke into laughter. Caesar knew Zeus' real talent - his gift to fire up the competitive spirit in anybody, and that is why he adored Zeus; Caesar loved challenges.
Zeus' gaze shifted to the machine in the hall, standing tall and bold.
That machine is the faction randomizer. Zeus wore his blazer. It is the device that chooses our faction for the Academy.
Everyone admired the machine. Caesar knew that the same thought ran through everyone's head - That piece of metal, wires, and circuits is going to put them in random factions, and it was indeed very random. The probability, the faction, the number of rolls, and even the leniency of the machine were random.
Caesar wanted Chalybe, Izobel, Zeus, maybe even Fenrir, to be in the same faction.
I like to gamble, Chalybe said. I am going to check my faction first.
Fenrir walked away before anybody could change his mind.
Fenrir cleared his throat. I would like to go next, then Caesar, then Izzy, and last will be Zeus. Any objections?"
Nobody objected, and the procedure was followed.
The four Factions of black Meadows Academy were named after the four Mythical amber beasts: Juhnzu, Absalom, Thunderclaw, and Madagar, 4 magical creatures with an absurd level of grace. Their origins are unknown, but their powers are undeniable.
Remember when I mentioned that Caesar wanted all of them to be in the same faction? The machine had other plans.
Chalybe joined the Thunderclaw faction, which was where the west staircase led to. The thunderbird was a unique member of the White Ravens, a distant relative of the Slaver beak ravens. The Thunderclaw was 5 times bigger, faster, and smarter than its peers, and was stated to have flown to the 5th level of Paradise, the closest any living thing has gotten.
Fenrir joined the Juhnzu faction, which was where the north staircase led. With obscured interpretations, Historians theorized that the Juhnzu was made by the infamous and mysterious black snow samurai and someone called 'Pride'. You will know them soon enough.
Zeus joined the Thunderclaw faction, same as Chalybe. Chalybe looked delighted to be with Zeus, but Caesar didn't recall them being close.
Izobel joined the Madagar faction, which was where the south stairs led to. The madagar was an Adagar, but it was different because it was born on the scorched earth of the extinct Rainbow clan. Its horn was a gambling game, as it had the power to restore or destroy anything.
Izobel wasn't pleased because she was in the same faction as Aurelia.
Caesar, against all odds, joined the Juhnzu faction. The same as Fenrir.
Caesar bade his companions farewell and advanced towards the North Staircase, each of them aiming for the "number 1". The staircase was wide, with smooth, wooden handrails and ceramic-coated floors.
Caesar and Fenrir stopped at the door that led to the faction, took a deep breath, and advanced, as Caesar's right eye turned bright crimson.
The cries of the Unkindness faded outside.