The king's eyes sprang open, the sound of his heartbeat breaking the silence of the room.
He was sweating profusely, and slowly, a thin stream of blood trickled from his nose. He reached for a towel on the nearby table, his hand trembling. Whipping the blood off his nose, he stood up and left.
Malcon slowly opened his eyes looking around.
"You're finally awake," a lady said, walking towards him.
"Please, how long have I been sleeping?" he asked, trying to recall the last thing he remembered.
His eyes suddenly widened in fear as he remembered the cold deep voice, his breath became unsteady as though he were struggling to breathe, his heart threatening to beat out of his ribs. And he blanked out again.
The morning sun and a soft breeze slipped through the open window, brushing against Malcon's face.
He blinked slowly, his eyes finally opening as the golden light spilled over him, gently and warm.
He was still in the hospital wing, except this time there was no beautiful medic to tell him good morning.
'I'll enjoy this breeze for the meantime,' Malcon said to himself, turning his face to avoid the sun. A sudden large shadow cast above him.
'Please don't be the medic! Please don't send me away just yet!' Malcon said to himself, slightly turning his head.
Everything went quiet as his eyes locked with sky-blue eyes.
"Get out of the window you fool, you're blocking my Fresh air" Malcon snapped, turning back his head.
"Get up you fat lazy cow" bane demanded, pushing Malcon to the ground. "Everyone was worried about you," he added.
"Arhhhh!" Malcon shouted at the top of his voice.
"My leg, my leg" he added, rolling on the ground.
"What is it?" The medic asked, as she quickly ran into the room.
"He pushed me off my bed," Malcon said, pointing at Bane, whose jaw dropped at malcon's acting.
The medic assisted Malcon to the bed and chased Bane away. After healing, she asked him to stay for a while and rest.
"Finally, some peace and quiet." Malcon said to himself, stretching.
His eyes sprang open a few minutes later as some guys ran into the carrying someone.
"There was an accident, and he broke his hand," Damian explained to the medic.
"I'll take care of him from here," you guys can leave" the medic said.
'Stupid people' Malcon cursed under his breath, 'can't allow someone to rest' he continued, turning his head he closed his eyes and slept off again.
"I am done healing, but please stay and rest for a while" the medic said softly after attending to the boy with a broken arm.
"Okay, thank you," the boy said.
Malcon's eyes sprang open again on hearing the boy's voice. Slowly, he turned his head, and tears rolled down his eyes as he saw Bane lying opposite him.
"Are you ready to leave?" bane asked, with a devilish smile on his face as sparks of lighting appeared on his finger.
"Yes, yes, I am ready to leave," Malcon said with tears in his eyes.
Malcon was used as a joke throughout that day.
The next day, the king visited, and they were all called outside.
"I am deeply impressed by the level of strength you displayed in the duel" the king congratulated them while they clapped their hands.
"I was told recently that you lost one of your brothers. May his soul rest in peace" The king said.
"Today marks the end of your stay here, you are all going to Eldergrove institute in Eleanor. There you'll be trained on how to use your various ability"
And they all clapped louder.
After his speech, Eckhard opened a portal where the king entered, leaving.
"I'll meet you kids in the future, make sure you get strong fast" the captain said with a smile on his face as he entered the portal.
"I love you all" the vice captain said, entering the
portal which vanished behind her, Damian check turned Ross red on hearing what he vice captain said.
"I'll be stuck with you guys for a while" Eckhard said, arranging his tie," let's begin our journey to Eldergrove" he said, as a magic circle appeared above their heads. With a single swipe of his hand the magic circle came down on them.
They all found themselves standing before a towering gate. Malcon's gaze slowly drifted upward, following the rise of the massive structure. At its peak, loomed the image of a lion, its eyes fierce, as though it was watching them. Just above the lion's mane, etched in bold, gleaming letters, was a single word that seemed to hum with quiet power: ELDERGROVE
There was a very long queue of people standing outside.
"Follow me boys," Eckhard said, ignoring the queue.
Eckhard walked up to a muscular man who stood in front of the gate, attending to the queue. They exchanged a few words and in less than two minutes he waved them to enter the school.
"Not fair!"
"That foul play!"
People shouted from the queue.
"Mommy, he's cheating!"
Damian seemed to be enjoying the look of annoyance on their faces, as he kept laughing at them.
Malcon's jaw dropped open as he walked into the school. He had never seen any school so big and still beautiful.
Several buildings stood proudly among lush green trees, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze. The grass was rich green, a sign of careful tending and abundant life.
"Follow me" Eckhard instructed, noticing how distracted they were.
He led them into a huge building that was dimly lit by candles, it partly reminded Malcon of the throne room, but this one was rather empty. In a small platform raised in the room, was a small table where an orb sat comfortably alone on a pillow. Apart from the orb, there was nothing else in the room.
"And where is this old woman?" Eckhard lamented, looking around.
"I see you haven't matured enough to respect your elders" came a dry voice.
They all turned around, tracing the voice, only to see an old woman slowly walk up to the platform.
She had gray hair, and wrinkles covered her face, her body slightly vibrating as she climbed to the platform.
"Am quite in a hurry" Eckhard said, smiling as the elderly woman's deadly gaze bestowed upon him.
Looking at them, it was obvious they were close.
"Anyway, these are…"
"I know who they are, Eckhard," the woman interrupted. "It's written all over their faces. I can see their heart's, I can sense their aura" She said, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Revenge" she finally said, opening her glowing purple eyes.
Malcon felt a chill run down his spin, there was something about the woman's eyes that was unsettling, but he couldn't say what.
"We are not here for future seeing or prophecy" Eckhard finally said, breaking the silence.
"Oh…forgive me Eckhard, sometimes I see a whole lot more than I intended" she said, walking towards the orb.
"Okay…listen carefully kids" she said, her voice becoming a bit lively. "As you all know, our mana core is divided into seven stages. Novice, Specialist, Veteran, Expert, Master, Elite, and legend. Each of these stages can be identified with the color of your mana core" for a while, she paused and took a deep breath.
"What I want you to do is very simple. Once I call your name, please walk up to the platform and touch the orb, which would display your core level. I will then give you a badge depending on the color of your mana core, the badge will constantly change color as you increase in rank" she instructed. "Shall we begin?" she said, smiling.
"Adrian Clark" she called out.
Adrian walked up to the platform, touching the orb, but it reflected no light. After a while, she placed her hand on Adrian's stomach, her eyes glowing purple.
"No mana core, no ability" she said, finally looking up at Adrain who was staring down at her, as though he wanted to kill her.
"so sorry child" she added.
"Megan Stromwrath" she called out. Megan confidently walked up to the platform, placing her hand on the magic orb, which instantly gave a blue glow. Veteran, she announced, giving her a blue badge.
"Ivy stormwarth"
Ivy walked up to the platform placing her hand on the magic orb.
"Novice" she announced. "Don't worry child you'll soon get a breakthrough, just cultivates a little more" she whispered into ivy's ear, noticing how ashamed she was.
"Damian Cruz"
"yes" he shouted, making his way through the crowd. He placed his hand on the orb, smiling.
"veteran" she announced, handing him a blue badge and he left smiling.
"Diana flame"
Diana slowly walked up to the platform, placing her hand on the magic orb.
"specialist" she announced, handing her a yellow badge.
"Bane ice"
"Am right here" bane notified, raising up his hand.
He walked up to the platform, placing his hand on the magic orb, while the woman's glowing purple eyes were fixed on Bane's.
"Veteran" she announced, giving bane a blue badge. "Your future is blessed, kid," she said, still staring at Bane.
"thank you" bane said, as a warm smile crept to his face and he left.
She called a few other names, but most of them were given the specialist rank, except Luke. Malcon wasn't surprised when Luke was announced as a veteran, since he was able to keep up with Bane's speed.
"Eden Malcon" the woman called out.
He swallowed hard, as he walked up to the platform. He knew he was a specialist, but something about the old lady made him feel uneasy.
He felt the old woman's gaze on him as he touched the magic orb.
"Specialist" she announced after a while.
'Finally it's over' Malcon said, sighing as he left.
"Wait," the woman called after Malcon.
On turning his head, his eyes locked with the old lady's glowing purple eyes, and he felt it again. An uneasy feeling that made his heart beat loudly, he tried looking away, but for some reason he couldn't.
Her eyes glowed even brighter.
"HOW DEAR YOU."