The Underworld Academy was hidden between the mountains, near the border of the south and north. This academy was over 500 years old and was originally built by the Anubis Royal Family. Its purpose was for vampires to come here for training, learn from high-level vampires, conduct research, and build strong connections with other families. Children from different families could come here, connect with each other, and grow together.
This Academy was built above the Underworld City, which stood on the ruins of the ancient Royal City — the capital of the Blackhead Continent. That continent was destroyed almost 1000 years ago. The remaining parts were rebuilt to create the current academy. Due to the presence of a nearby volcano and natural fire sources, the academy also provided training for smithing professions.
At the Old Gate of the Underworld Academy
Veronica, Gia, and the others reached a mountain where a waterfall was flowing.
Gia: "So, this is the old gate."
Veronica: "Yes… 100 years ago, before mirror transportation was discovered, everyone used to enter from here. But now, how do we get in? There's no one in sight."
Gia: "My grandfather told me that this old gate is the most fun way to enter the academy."
Veronica: "True, but we've never come from here before. How would we know how to get in?"
Blake: "I read that this gate was built by a 9th-level magician when the academy was first established."
Gia and Veronica (surprised): "What?! A 9th-level magician?"
Blake: "Yes… and the Vice Headmaster said that when you pass through this gate, you travel through space and time."
Everyone, including Veronica and Gia's brothers, listened carefully, amazed.
Blake: "But he didn't say how to enter… what should we do now?"
Duke (interrupting): "Jump into the lake formed by that waterfall."
Blake: "What?!"
Duke: "Just follow me."
Without hesitation, Duke jumped into the lake.
Everyone was shocked. How could a lake be a gate? But when Duke didn't surface, they all followed him into the lake.
As soon as they jumped, the water froze around them. Everything stopped — people, time, even their thoughts. Then a whirlpool rose from below, pulling them into a new place — the academy's second gate. In front of them stood a glass hall where people were coming and going. Everyone was safe, dry, and astonished.
Two gatekeepers approached them.
Gatekeeper: "Did you come from Gate No.1?"
Blake:(nods)
Gatekeeper: "Do you have your mounts outside?"
Blake: "Yes."
Gatekeeper: "Alright, I'll go check. Please give me your tokens and go inside."
Everyone handed their tokens to Gia, Veronica, and Blake, who gave them to the gatekeeper. Counting them, he said:
Gatekeeper: "You're one short, and there's one extra token."
Blake looked around and saw that Duke was missing. Searching, he spotted Duke standing by the wall, deep in thought.
Duke (thinking): "Blake… always talking big about time stops and space folds. Nonsense! That magician only used four elements — two major (water and earth) and two hidden ones. And even those weren't fully mastered. If a high-level Baki Vampire came here, they would figure it out instantly and destroy this gate in a single blow. Whoever built this was clever, but not truly capable."
Blake: "Duke! DUKE!"
Duke (snapping out of it): "Yeah, I'm coming."
He rejoined the group and entered the academy.
As they walked inside, they saw a large arch with the name and logo of the Underworld Academy. The academy was massive, stretching deep beneath the Old Royal Palace.
Moving forward, they found trading houses — shops inside the academy where students and some outside vendors sold goods. It looked like a marketplace.
On both sides of the market were hostel-like rooms for living, which were once ruins but had been rebuilt.
Veronica (to Duke): "How did you know this was the way?"
(Blake glanced at Duke from the side)
Duke: "Oh, a drunk man told me while we were drinking in the black market. I thought he was joking… but turns out, it was true."
Veronica wasn't satisfied with this answer at all.
Gia: "And when we came through that gate, all of us were stunned — but you didn't seem affected at all."
Duke: "Yeah, that man told me — if you jump with your eyes closed, only then you'll get inside. So I kept my eyes shut."
Hearing this, Gia looked suspiciously at Veronica, then moved ahead.
They soon reached a huge hall. On its walls were maps of the entire continent — markets, family locations, forests, swamps, and every discovered place. This hall was sometimes used for important announcements and meetings.
After that, they reached the reception counter to collect their tokens — which marked them as either a magician or a vampire.
In one corner of the hall was the mission counter. On the wall were different kinds of missions — single, joint team, and requirement-based. These were all organized by the Royal Family.
On the other side were three large glass signboards reading:
Smith Hall
Vampire Hall
Magician Hall
Everyone took their tokens and moved towards their respective hostels.
At that moment, someone was watching Duke from behind the receptionist counter.
Unknown voice with royal blue eyes (thinking): "Welcome to the Academy, Duke Magnus Falcon."
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