53 "I Have Never Heard Of This Master."

Though the Soul Recovery School had the least number of students, totaling less than a hundred, the geographical area and aesthetics of the school did not pale in comparison to the other schools. The entire school had a rectangular plan which was sectioned into four wings; North Wing, South Wing, East Wing and West Wing. The Grand Hall, together with the massive classroom block, was found in the North Wing. The libraries and laboratory were in the East Wing, while the infirmary and canteen were in the West Wing.

Only one thing was found in the South Wing; the residence of the Master of Soul Recovery School.

The distance between the North Wing and South Wing was about a five minute walk, if a person walked as fast as they could. Captain Jarjaha had been leading the boys to the Master's residence in the last two minutes. Within that time, Pan could not hide his excitement upon hearing that the Master of the Soul Recovery School wanted to see them.

"Master Dinra wants to see us?" Pan could not help but ask. His usually smug expression had been replaced by something entirely foreign. It was a resolute expression of adoration and reverence.

"That's right. I'm surprised you know the Master's name." Captain Jarjaha said.

"Captain, you must joking. The man is a legend." Pan said in all seriousness, it was almost as if he was offended by the captain's remarks.

Jarjaha chuckled lightly when he heard the boy's words. Ever since the trials started, he had never seen Pan so fervent while talking about anything or anyone. Master Dinra's name usually did that to people.

Pan could not believe his luck. Never once had he ever thought that he would actually have a personal meeting with the greatest soul recovery doctor alive. The legend surrounding Master Dinra was as infinite as the sand of the desert and as vast as the water in the oceans. So great was Master Dinra's fame that even though only a few people in the world knew what he looked like, his name was known almost everywhere in the Second Dimension. It was even said that only a few people in the Soul Recovery School had ever seen Master Dinra's face. Thus, for the Master to be seeking his presence, wasn't he a bit too lucky in life? Someday, Pan hoped to achieve such a powerful reputation.

"Master Dinra?" Ovandarrak suddenly asked. He knew this name. "You mean Master Mazoh Dinra?" He had seen this name several times in his books about soul recovery. Master Mazoh Dinra was the man who began building theories on soul recovery over nine decades ago. Eventually, his theories evolved into experimentation and then actual practice.

Mazoh Dinra was only seventeen years old when he started exploring the concept of healing damaged souls. Prior to that, even though it was not unheard of, since a number of people in history had tried it and failed thoroughly, it was rightfully seen as impossible. The general belief was that though the physical body may be healed, a damaged soul could never be recovered.

Thus, when young Mazoh started researching into soul recovery, everyone thought he was crazy. No one ever took him seriously until his breakthrough twelve years later. His findings would go on to shake the very foundation of the Second Dimension and as soon as people found out about his skill in soul recovery, his name spread through the length and breadth of the entire world.

As someone who had wanted to become a soul recovery doctor for as long as he could remember, Ovandarrak had always been a great admirer of Master Mazoh Dinra. Thus, hearing the man's name right here in the Soul Recovery School founded by the Master himself, Ovandarrak could feel his heart racing rapidly in his chest. Still, Ovandarrak's keen mind told him that there was something off about the information. Master Mazoh Dinra was the Head of the Soul Recovery School in the academy? But that was impossible. The man had been dead for eleven years.

"Master Mazoh Dinra?�� Pan asked in shock. He had not expected that Ovandarrak would ask such a strange question. Who in the world did not know that Master Mazoh Dinra was dead? Why was Ovandarrak suddenly mentioning his name like that? How could a dead person be the Head of the Soul Recovery School. For a moment, Pan wondered if Ovandarrak was still dazed from the indigo essence. "Why would you say that? He's dead."

A slight flicker of uncertainty flashed in Ovandarrak's brown eyes. If they were not talking about Master Mazoh Dinra, then who else were they talking about? He had never read anywhere about any other Master Dinra. "Then who are you talking about?"

Pan's mouth twitched rapidly as his eyes widened. Really Ovandarrak did not know about the current Head of the Soul Recovery School? He had known Ovandarrak for only a short while but he had observed that the boy possessed a very sharp mind. How was Ovandarrak so clueless about something this well-known?

"I am talking about Master Nien Dinra." Pan started an impassioned oratory about his idol. It was as though he had prepared this beforehand so as to lecture any impudent fool, who was ignorant about the great master himself. "While it was Master Mazoh Dinra himself who discovered soul recovery, it was his son, Master Nien Dinra, who took the occupation to greater heights. On his own, he transformed the very concept of soul recovery, completely correcting the numerous flaws within it. It was well-known that even Master Mazoh Dinra on several occasions called his son the greatest soul recovery doctor in the Second Dimension."

Ovandarrak listened patiently to Pan's explanation. When it came to consuming knowledge, Ovandarrak did not care as long as he was learning something new.

A proud smile widened on Pan's face as he carefully observed Ovandarrak's reaction. He was waiting to see how much Ovandarrak was impressed by the great Master Dinra. Instead, Ovandarrak's expression could not be any more nonchalant. It was like nothing Pan had said about the great master had registered in Ovandarrak's head.

But it was not that Ovandarrak was not impressed by this Master Nien Dinra. He was just skeptical about everything Pan had said. If Master Nien Dinra was so great like Pan claimed, why hadn't he heard about the master before? Shouldn't he have seen his name several times in soul recovery books? Also, if this master existed, and was currently the Head of the Soul Recovery School, why did he never see his name in the handbook of Royal Dream Higher Academy. The names of all the other masters and even of the captains were in the handbook. But somehow, there was no Master Nien Dinra. Where had Pan heard his story from?

" I have never heard of this 'master'. I have neither heard that name nor seen it in books." Ovandarrak said casually, and the smirk on Pan's face was quickly wiped off.

Certainly he was joking, Pan thought. But the closer he searched into Ovandarrak's intense eyes, the more he realised how serious Ovandarrak was. It may be true that only a few people had set eyes on the revered Master Dinra. Still, his name was widely known in Dream Kingdom. Was Ovandarrak perhaps, from one of those very small remote villages completely cut off from civilization? At least back in his hometown, a rather small town, Master Nien Dinra's name was well known and people often talked about him.

Master Dinra was the reason Pan believed there was hope for his younger brother. Once he learned from the great master, all would be well. Pan was released from his thoughts at the sound of the hearty laughter that escaped from the captain's shaking form.

Captain Jarjaha who had been listening to the two boys all this while, could not help but be amused by the exchange between the two. "It makes sense that you have not heard about the name. Master Dinra likes to keep a low profile. A very low profile." The captain explained once he had calmed down. Both boys had a point; it made sense that Pan knew the master and it also made sense that Ovandarrak did not. Whatever it may be, Jarjaha hoped that the boys would learn about it on their own.

…....

Soon, the trio reached the South Wing where a grand manor in beautiful pastel coating came into view. The entire manor was so grand and aesthetically pleasing that anyone who laid eyes on it instantly knew that it housed a very important person.

When Pan set eyes on the manor, he instantly forgot about how vexed he was about Ovandarrak not knowing who Master Dinra was. The manor had such a heavenly aura to it that it made a person instantly feel at peace as soon as they saw it. Even Ovandarrak had a twinkle in his eyes once he laid eyes on the manor.

When they entered the manor, the boys realised that they had actually underestimated the sheer beauty of the house. There were gardens and trees everywhere, and a white fountain gushing with pristine clear water was elegantly standing at the center of the manor.

Captain Jarjaha led the boys inside, and after a while of passing a long well-lit hallway, they reached a large black door made of the most beautiful wood Ovandarrak had ever seen. Ovandarrak did not know much about wood and their quality; that was Savyrran's speciality. Even then, he could tell that this wood was no ordinary wood. Exactly what kind of person was the Head of Soul Recovery School to enjoy such grandiose display of wealth? If indeed he was as Pan had claimed, then Master Nien Dinra certainly deserved all the respect he had.

"This is my stop. Go inside and wait if the master is not yet in."

The captain ran his hands through his white dreadlocks and then smiled at the soon to be newest students of the Soul Recovery School.

"Captain." Ovandarrak said. "My sister might be waiting behind at the Grand Hall. Once you see her, could you tell her where I am and let her know she does not have to wait?"

"Sure. What does she look like?"