บท 11: Chapter 11 welcome to Tavill

"Regarding anything of concern, seek out Elder Archon Shadowcrest," the man relayed, though my attention was only partially grasping his words, my mind wandering elsewhere. Suddenly, the tranquil courtyard was disrupted by the arrival of large, majestic winged serpent creatures, each capable of carrying at least 15 people.

The tale behind these creatures' origin brought a chuckle to my lips. It was said that Cedric Shadowcrest, the Fifth Patriarch of the House of Shadows, had once been deeply in love with a commoner student from the academy. Their romantic evening was rudely interrupted when Leif Coralheart, the heir of the House of Skies, swooped in on his own beast and whisked her away.

Bitter and scorned, Cedric devoted his life to breeding and crafting magical creations, all in an effort to create the winged serpents now known as Cedric's Wings. The culmination of his efforts came when he finally succeeded, mounting one of these magnificent creatures and exacting revenge by severing Leif's right arm, an act that nearly plunged the realm into civil war.

I couldn't help but snicker at the thought. If it were for Selene, I would unleash chaos without hesitation.

Glancing at her, I knew she was no damsel in distress. In fact, she would likely have turned the tables on her captor.

I couldn't help but chuckle even more as I reminisced about our time on Earth. Selene had willingly allowed herself to be kidnapped by that foolish second-generation noble, only to leave him with nightmares, scars, and a need for therapy for the rest of his days. She never revealed the details of what transpired, but it was clear that she had left that man broken beyond repair.

Selene shoots me a questioning look, but I simply take her hands in mine and kiss her palms, earning an eye roll from her. I couldn't care less about the few heads that turn at our display of affection.

Before long, we're guided onto the backs of the large winged serpents. They take off, soaring upwards into the sky. After about 30 minutes of uninterrupted flight, the Tavill Academy comes into view in the distance.

I can't help but marvel at the sight of the large Floating Island, essentially a city in the sky. It's truly majestic up here.

Tavill Academy is a world of its own, complete with its own currency, economy, and lifestyle. It feels like a miniature kingdom suspended in the clouds.

As we near our destination, the winged serpents gracefully land on a massive stone podium.

A young, strikingly attractive 20-year-old man with signature black hair and piercing blue eyes stands waiting for us. He's dressed in a robe marked with a coiled snake wrapped around a shadowy spear. I recognize him immediately as Daniel, the eldest son of my uncle. Daniel is a 6th-year student here at Tavill, known to be an Adept Phase Mage and a tier 3 standard weapon user.

"Welcome to Tavill," he greets us curtly before affectionately rubbing his little brother Dalton's head.

Leading us off the stone podium, Daniel takes us further into the island until we collide with another group led by a woman with striking white hair.

"Oh dear, if it isn't the venomous worms," the woman sneers, her disdain barely concealed. This elicits chuckles from her companions.

"I'd rather not stoop to the level of a bitch and her pack of dogs. It's beneath me," Daniel retorts without missing a beat, continuing on his way.

I'm left stunned and amused. Who knew my oldest cousin had such spunk in him?

Suddenly, a chill sweeps through the air, and my gaze is drawn upward to see swords of ice embedded in a shield crafted from shadows.

"I meant to target the birds, I suppose my aim slipped. My apologies," the white-haired woman explains, her voice tinged with nonchalance.

As I glance at the deadly ice blades hovering above us, a shiver runs down my spine. This place is insane, but in a strangely thrilling way. I can't help but feel a rush of excitement.

Meanwhile, Daniel continues to lead us forward without missing a beat. However, the atmosphere changes again when I hear a piercing scream. I whirl around to find the same white-haired woman now covered in a writhing mass of snakes.

"Fuck, I really love it here," I mutter under my breath, a mixture of awe and amusement washing over me as chaos unfolds around us.

Seated in the vast expanse of the arena, surrounded by what I assume are my fellow first-year students, I quickly observe the dynamics at play. It's clear that the House of Shadows stands as enemies with virtually every other house, except for the royal family, who must maintain a façade of cordiality.

Suddenly, at the center of the arena, a man appears floating on a chair. Simultaneously, chairs pop into existence in the air around us, though they remain invisible to our eyes. The largest and most ornate chair is presumably reserved for the headmaster, Orion Draven. It's common knowledge that only those who are contracted to dragons can become headmasters at Tavill Academy.

To hold such a position, one must forfeit previous ties and connections, ensuring a level playing field and no corruption.

There are five chairs, each symbolizing the house masters: House of Shadows, Seas, Skies, Forest, and Golden. Additionally, there are four chairs for the tower masters of Weapons, Divinity, Magic, and Healing/Alchemy, along with one for upkeep and security. Finally, there are eleven chairs for the council that governs this place.

The man at the center of the podium is a striking figure, with blonde hair and violet eyes. He speaks with authority, his voice echoing throughout the arena.

"Welcome to Tavill!" he declares, his voice booming.

"I am Vice Headmaster Thaddeus Draven," he continues, his tone commanding attention.

"I could drone on about courage, heart, and all that, but I'm sure we all have better things to do. Tavill operates by two major rules: do not kill, and the strongest takes all."

With a dramatic twirl, Thaddeus falls silent, and the arena is hushed.

"Welcome to Tavill," he announces with a snap of his fingers. Suddenly, I instinctively pull Selene into my arms as the ground beneath us gives way, and we begin to plummet.

As we fall, the echoes of Thaddeus' laughter fill the air, mingling with the rush of wind around us.