章 2: Chapter 1- A long journey

It was an especially warm day, the sun was shining brightly in the cloudless sky as the breeze blew gently everywhere, on this calm day an average-looking wooden carriage was quietly traveling down a well-kept dirt road.

Inside this was a young man and two armed guards in addition to the driver who also wore lighter armor, the young man was distracted looking through the window towards the distant sky lost in his thoughts

Sadae -We are a few kilometers from the city, so you don't have to be so nervous Cain- one of the guards spoke to the young man who was still looking distractedly through the carriage window

Cain -Aha ... - replied the young man absentmindedly

Danae -Don't bother with it Sadae, it's his first time traveling so far from home and for so long he sure feels annoyed about it- said the other guard in the carriage jokingly.

Although they came dressed as guards, they were more armed than normal with medium armor even in the carriage and had the disposition of a soldier

Cain -I'm not upset about that Daelin, I just don't understand why it is necessary to take such an absurdly long journey just to attend that stupid academy, why couldn't I just go to Alastra's royal academy? - Object while for once he looked away from the horizon

Sadae -obviously because we could not achieve our goal in it, if you want to fulfill your dream you can only do it by attending the largest academy in the entire continent and expanding your horizons, otherwise you will only be like a frog looking at the sky from the bottom of a well- he replied calmly

Cain -Anyway, how long until we get there? We have been traveling for more than 3 months- he said while subtly changing the topic of conversation

Sadae - it shouldn't belong, in fact, the city should already be visible on the horizon-

Danae - In fact, it can already be seen on the horizon, it is much larger than I imagined - he commented as he looked out of the side window of the carriage

On the horizon as far as the eye could see, a uniform shadow could be seen emerging on it, it was the wall that surrounded the city Dagandri, beyond the walls you could see vague forms of large buildings within this city

Despite being called a city, it is rather a gigantic academy which is known as the largest and most elitist on the continent, in which only the nobility or most prominent people of the 53 kingdoms and 10 empires of the continent can enter to study and it was considered the greatest privilege to be able to attend this

Regardless of the conflicts between kingdoms or empires within this autonomous city, it did not matter since it was independent of all kingdoms and empires and at the same time supported by them, so it was relatively partial towards all its students and was also one of the economic centers. s from across the continent

Half an hour later the carriage was in front of the gigantic gates of the city lining up with the other carriages that were waiting to enter the city, among so many excessively flashy and showy carriages the carriage seemed to be a bit too simple and easy to look at. what was the one that stood out the most?

Many of the guards surrounding the luxurious carriages looked arrogantly and with contempt at the second-rate carriage in which Cain was traveling but still, none said anything aloud as they waited patiently for the great gates of the Dagandri city to open, while Cain I was staring at the imposing city wall from end to end, it measured around 20 meters and at its top, I could vaguely see large crossbows parked and loaded as they pointed to the horizon

Caín- Without a doubt, it is one of the main cities of the continent, with such absurd security it would be impossible to conquer this city- Cain commented while admiring the landscape

Sadae- if you are amazed only by this, you will undoubtedly make us suffer when entering, the most terrifying thing about this city is not its great wall or its dragon-hunting crossbows, but the terrifying force of its guards and hidden defenders, only the captains of the guard are already warriors of gold grade 3 stars not to mention the old monsters that guard it in the dark- commented the serious guard with a rare admiring look on his face

Danae- Not for nothing is he able to hold off the young masters and princes of the many dynasties and kingdoms who come to study here, basically, no empire or kingdom could withstand the wrath of this city by breaking a rule-

Hearing this, Cain's eyes seemed to shine a little as he gazed with even more admiration at the great city.

Cain- by the way, what do we expect to enter? And also because we are only lined up on one side of the entrance- he asked while pointing to his side where most of the entrance to the city was free and with no carriages lining up.

Sadae- Due to the great importance of this city and its residents, the city gates are only opened twice a day and everyone who enters would be checked by a strong warrior or magician before entering until then everyone who wants to enter or leave the city you must wait patiently for the time to come

As for why there is so much space, it is because the entrance door is divided into 4 sections, two for the entrance and exit of the common residents and two for the entrance and exit of the VIPs who do not need to park and wait here-

Cain- two VIP tickets? It seems that noble privileges may apply even in this place ... and why don't I see any VIPs in the vicinity? -

Dánae- They will arrive in due time, due to their status there is nothing they hate more than waiting with "common nobles" or "low potential commoners" like us- Danae said with a little disgust on his face

Shortly after he finished speaking a great bell rang from within the city, this campaign sounded so loud and imposing that it made the earth tremble a little, but somehow it was not unpleasant to the ears, but instead conveyed a sound of familiarity and conformity despite its loud ringing

This was the legendary Aulenbor bell, it is said that this magical bell was created by a strong magician in conjunction with two master craftsmen to fight the demons that were trying to invade the continent, when this bell sounded it was able to ward off bad thoughts and diseases. as well as evil magics and torturing demons but that only someone classified as a diamond grade warrior or wizard is capable of ringing this bell

This meant that the time for the great city gate to open was approaching and everyone had to prepare to be examined before entering, at that moment three carriages appeared on the horizon and were slowly heading towards the city gate.

These carriages were 2-3 times bigger and more luxurious than any of the ones that were obediently parked in a line in front of the door and were being dragged by powerful beasts, one was being dragged by 3 powerful wolves with a height of about 2 meters, they had a third eye on their forehead and brown fur with blood-red spots were called Gévaudan wolves, which were famous for being great hunters and being outstanding both in their sense of sight and smell, it is almost impossible to hide from them and ambush them by which are highly prized as amount, but due to their strength and wild nature they are very difficult to tame

The second carriage was drawn by two large rhinoceros-like beasts, with large bodies and a layer of skin similar to chitin that covered them as armor, and the last carriage was brought by a large horse of about three meters, it had a perfect body. and muscular and a blood-red fur all over his body in addition to two horns on his head similar to a bull, this was a Shadhavar, a monster similar to a horse that had enormous strength and inexhaustible resistance, according to legends he is a descendant of the unicorn and that is why it has such monstrous power, but their second identity is even more shocking than the first, they were known to be the unique mount of the great empire Damael, so no one who is not a noble of the empire would dare to use it to drive their carriages

These three carriages passed by the long queue of carriages where Cain was standing and was located directly in front of the door in the "VIP entrance area."

Seeing the carriage that was led by a Shadhavar Cain narrowed his eyes, he really did not have a very broad knowledge about the kingdoms or empires outside the small kingdom he came from, but he certainly knew about the Damael empire, one of the most important empires. forts of the continent and possibly the world, with great ambitions and that it was built on a sea of blood

Sadae- It seems that we are lucky since we met 3 VIPs only at the entrance of the city, but I did not expect that we would meet a VIP of Damael so soon-

Danae- Forget it, no matter how much you are against Damael's ideals, you are nobody in their eyes nor do you have the strength to threaten them, for now, focus on graduating from Dagandri Academy- he said while looking at Cain from the corner of his eye as if he were speaking with the air

Cain just snorted and looked away from the carriage as he turned his gaze to the great door that would soon open ...

Meanwhile inside the Damael empire carriage were two young men sitting opposite each other in the wide carriage, the interior of the carriage was even larger than it appeared from the outside thanks to space magic, so more than a carriage It looked like a room inside, one was a young man who was magnificently dressed and wore a small crown on his head denoting his status as royalty, with an arrogant look on his young but attractive face, with jet black hair and an angular face, forehead he was a young woman of approximately the same age, they were 60-70% similar but the girl looked even more majestic and elegant in her royal dress

Among them was a simple chessboard on which there were many black pieces and only a few white pieces cornered in one area of the board.

Helael- you have not improved much despite all the practice on this trip, imperial brother- said the young woman without changing her expression as she looked disinterestedly at the chessboard

The young man in front of her frowned a bit as she analyzed the situation on the board before sighing throwing all the tiles off the board.

Bosfor- Ah! I give up, it is impossible to beat you in this stupid game, and also I have improved a lot only that you raise the level each game and it is impossible to notice it- he said while his face restored his previous arrogance

Helael said nothing if she simply waved at the chess pieces scattered all over the floor with her hand and a servant came over to pick them up and arrange them on the board in a masterful and orderly manner as if she had done it countless times lately. ...

Helael- then you wouldn't mind playing one more game and showing it to me… right? - Said the young woman with a small smile on her face

Bosfor he furrowed the brow again and slightly regretted what he said while avoiding the gaze of her sister imperial and ran out of the carriage

Bosfor- now is not the time to play games, soon we will enter the city and take the entrance exam to the Dagandri academy, we must mentalize and study our rivals to overcome them and stand out in the test so as not to embarrass the name of the empire! - He said with a serious and determined face as he tried to change the subject

Helael- Well, this is my way of preparing ... you also seem very nervous for this test, you even allowed us to be in the last place of waiting in the VIP row, does the crown prince have little confidence in defeating all these "peasants" - He responded showing a rare smile on his normally cold and disinterested face, which was mixed with mockery and a bit of contempt.

Bosfor- Who is afraid!?, Although this time that crazy prince of the Zabusora empire arrived, I have full confidence in passing him in the test and I did not choose to be last in the VIP row for fear of others, it was the imperial father himself who ordered me to be last in the VIP row, according to the "Only starting from last will you understand who your real rivals are" if it were really up to me I would not let that stupid prince of Zabusora be ahead of me- he said with an aggrieved expression in your face

Helael- if it was really the order of the imperial father, it must be for an important reason and we have to take it seriously, but how strange… I have not seen you inspect the competition even once since we arrived here- he commented with an accusing and inquisitive look

Bosfor- Of course, I'm taking it seriously! I've already been aware of our opponents since before reaching this stupid door- he replied a little angrily

Helael refrained from speaking further as she turned and gave a meaningful look at the long "Common" line that was to the side of where they were waiting, as there was some distance between the three VIP carriages and they were in the last position of this. They had a good view to see most of the carriages that lined this

Realizing what Helael wanted to tell him with her look, Bosfor only scoffed with a funny expression and even more arrogant than normal on his face, since they arrived in the outskirts of the city and waited in hiding for the right moment to arrive. He took these "regular" participants seriously, for him they all come from small kingdoms of little strength or even insignificant minor kingdoms, his pride would never let him think twice about their existence, much less consider them rivals

While thinking this casually he took a look at the long waiting line and noticed an old and dilapidated carriage waiting in it, although the carriages of these "noble peasants" could not be bought from his at least they showed the nobility of their owners, but that carriage did not even appear to have come from a regular merchant, rather it seemed to have been stolen from mountain bandits for urgent use, people like the one riding in that carriage could not be more insignificant to Bosfor

I casually notice that in the small window of that old carriage a young man was looking at him, he looked a little older than him and had a delicate and angular face, comparable to that of many beautiful women, but still, he did not lose his masculine elegance, he had black hair gathered in a ball on his head so he could not tell the length of it, but the lock of green hair that he had hanging in his forehead was obvious due to its color difference with the rest of his hair

That young man was looking at him with a 7/10 curious and 3/10 disappointed look as if he had gone to a zoo to see lions, but he had only found dogs painted on him, and it was just that look that somehow made him angry. Bosfor to the bone with such brief contact, wanting to get out of his carriage at that very moment and humiliate that young man in front of everyone

The young man only met his gaze for a brief moment and then he looked away as if he was no longer interested, which only angered and hurt Bosfor's pride even more, after taking a few deep breaths he decided to simply forget everything. What happened and ignore the existence of that insignificant bug, did not have the guts to cause problems at the gate of the city Dagandri and someone of the caliber of that boy is 100% that he does not pass the test of the academy and is expelled from the city a few days later, it would be just a waste of time and integrity to associate in some way with that boy who is most likely just a peasant who came looking for an opportunity to change his pathetic life

In front of Helael who was only concentrating on his chessboard as if he was mentally playing with someone else, I look at him for a moment after noticing the great variety of expressions that passed through his real brother's face in such a short time, but only a few moments later he lost all interest and concentrated on his board again ...

Clark!

Just a few seconds later there was a sudden loud crack coming from the door which made everyone waiting to get excited, They will finally be able to enter the city!