[I never knew you would look this great in black and white attire,]Lucius said, [It suits you.]
"Thanks, Lucius," Ajax said.
[Just so you know, I would evolve your consciousness and awareness. It might come in handy.]
In an attempt to select the remaining two students to fill the spot, a contest was held. Except for Ajax, the winner and runner-up of the contest will join Ajax for Crownshard Academy.
All the classes were combined, and the two students to top the scores were to be selected. At the end of the semester, Dawn Roseland got the first position but declined the offer to enroll. The offer fell into the hands of Lisa Yarnsong, who got the second position, and she graciously accepted. Ajax Romanov got the third position, but due to his exception, the offer went to Storm Galehart.
This was great news for Storm; he got to keep his promise and became a step closer to achieving his dream.
At Crownshard Academy, students are trusted with the ability to learn on their own. Professors are only around to ensure duels run smoothly and give students external guidance.
The academy is divided into sacred groups, North Sacred, West Sacred, East Sacred, and South Sacred.
Duels between students at the same sacred are prohibited, and students can change their sacreds by seeing the authorities. Racking up credit scores is optional, but to be a hero, you must be promoted to Central Sacred.
At the end of each semester, the students with the most points at their respective sacred get promoted to Central Sacred, where they act as aspiring heroes until they perform a task significant enough to earn them a hero title.
Ajax and Storm bid their farewell to Berry and Professor Rashford. For their goodbyes, Professor Rashford handed Ajax a few of his books on magic to read.
On the day of their departure, their parents came to see them off to their new academy.
Ajax, Storm and Lisa stepped out of their carriage in their elegant black and white attire. The grandeur of the academy was stunning, at the entrance were giant statues of Lady Tempus and Goddess Tempus.
Lisa was on a standstill staring up at the statues, tears began pouring uncontrollably. Storm closed in to check on her but she claimed to be okay.
They were suddenly approached by the representatives of the West Sacred. Terra Academy had a history with West Sacred, all their students must enroll in West Sacred.
The representatives took them on a tour around the West Sacred campus and let them in on the history of the academy.
The North Sacred had produced most of the S-rank heroes in the nation, followed by the West Sacred. There was an intense rivalry between the North and West Sacred.
The West Sacred had a relaxed atmosphere; formalities were not strictly enforced, and students had more freedom in their training methods.
The North Sacred was the opposite. They had a strict and disciplined atmosphere; formalities weren't taken lightly, and all students had a training schedule.
Their differences made them resent one another. At the end each semester, both sacred desire to have more credit scores to show their superiority.
West Sacred held personal significance for Ajax's father, Alex Romanov. He enrolled as a West Sacred during his days, and he's one of the few who had shaped West Sacred to its present status.
North Scared also held respect and admiration for Ajax's mother, Athena, and Storm's parents, Savion and Scarlet Galehart, particularly Storm's parents. Savion and Scarlet were some of the best students North Sacred enrolled in their present days. They got promoted to Central Sacred in their first semester after enrolling, both having a joint credit score, and went on to become S-ranked heroes in less than a year.
After orientation, they were shown to their rooms. As they said their goodbyes, Lisa nervously asked if they could take a stroll around the campus on their own.
Ajax and Storm hesitated for a bit but agreed.
She was amazed by the academy's grand halls, the elegant furniture and ran across the fields, laughing through tears. It felt like something she had waited for years to experience.
Ajax took a good look at how happy Storm and Lisa looked, grinned and said, "Let's check the locations of the dungeons once more."
They all accepted with excitement.
Despite the late hours, they strolled to the few dungeons close to the academy grounds. A few dozen white slimes who escaped their dungeons were slain by them.
The night was growing darker; they had to put an end to their fun and return to their respective rooms.
But as they tried to leave, Lucius sensed something from a dungeon nearby.
[There is a powerful presence in that dungeon,] he said.