Departure

1969 - Earth, Summer, Present Time.

"Ohohohoh, You're dead fatty!"

"Me-Mer-Mercy Arthur, I didn't mean to abandon you! I...I overslept.....That's it I overslept, it's not like I forgot about it or anything. ehehehe." Robert let out a nervous laugh while slowly backing away from Arthur.

"I don't care, you're still dead anyway!" Arthur said.

Arthur ran towards Robert at full speed, when suddenly his vision got blurred.

Robert expecting to be struck at any moment realized that he was the only one there, confused, he said, "Huh? Where's everyone?"

Just after he said that his vision got blurred, and the next second he got his vision back. Dazed he looks at the surrounding and noticed that he was in a different place with familiar and unfamiliar faces.

"See, it's easy old man, not even breaking a sweat." Reis said with confidence.

"Good, you're useful for once." Old man Edward retorted.

"A simple thank you would suffice, but noooooooooooo....He just mocks me instead, che." Reis whined.

Ignoring reis whining Old man Edward look directly at Arthur group.

"Now kids what do you want to say about the commotion?"

Old man Edward asked with a stern voice, he stared at Arthur group one by one expecting an answer.

Arthur group were drenched in cold sweat from their back. Resisting the temptation to answer the old man question. Arthur queasy from the question and thinking that he did nothing wrong finally broke the silence.

"Well.....It's not really my fault old man. They ambushed me first." Arthur said explaining the situation.

"Che- Traitor." Elizabeth said mockingly.

"Unbelievable, you stab us in the back Arthur." Jack was shocked by what Arthur said.

"....." Annie just lower her head and said nothing in response.

"Um...Gramps, I-I'm just caught at the situation." Robert justifying his stand.

Arthur group was arguing with each other and making the office room noisy and loud. Meanwhile, Old man Edward vein can be seen bulging on his forehead, annoyed by Arthur group actions.

KNOCK, THUNK

Old man Edward right hand knuckle emitted a smoke by hitting the head of each one in Arthur group. Arthur group can be seen sitting on his knees with a bump on their head. The situation was comical but at the same time, Hermes Wing group can't be laughing at the situation.

But only one man that can be laughing heartily by the situation, and that was the master with the title Vicious Snake, he broke into a laughter and said, "HAHAHAHAHA, SERVES YOU RIGHT KIDS!"

Old man Edward glared at Reis, and noticing that he was one step closer to the River of Styx, he shut his mouth and cover it with both of his hand, shaking his head as if saying I did nothing wrong.

Old man Edward revert back his gaze towards Arthur group and said, "Now, do you even know what day is it?"

"Umm...Rite of passage day?" Robert answered meekly.

"*Huft* Robert, sometimes I regret that your grandmother pampers you so much." Old man Edward facepalmed, and exhaled.

"Anyway, as Robert has said, this is your rite of passage day. I'm sure all of you already knows what that means, but let me explain again what that means. Each one of you will be sent to different countries to attend specialized academies, your curriculum was already picked and approved by me. This ladies and gentlemen here that you see was from Hermes Wing organization. They will escort you and assist all of you in your journey going to your respective academies." Old man Edward continued.

"Any Question? None? Okay, let's move on." Old man Edward said in a rushed manner.

"Wha- you didn't give us any time to question anything!" Arthur protested.

"True, I support what Arthur said." Jack chimed in.

"Shut up. I know you want to ask a useless question anyway, like what do you eat, where do we sleep, do we get any money. Rubbish." Old man Edward scolded the two.

"Umm....No....Who said we want to ask that." Arthur sulked.

"I'm sorry for the commotion captain. You may take it from here." Old man Edward said.

"*Ehem* Hello, my name is Rodgers Huey, as you can see I'm the leading captain on this group. You have been briefed by the general about the outline of your situation, and now I will explain the specifics. As you heard that you have been placed at an academy and your curriculum was already been picked, this was all to ensure that you have a clear goal to find your respective class. All of your accommodations and living expenses were already settled so you don't have to mind about it and just focus on your studies." Captain Rodgers cleared his throat and explained.

"See, old man, the captain was nice with his explanation, but why can't you be nice!" Arthur still sulking protested again.

Reis was silently watching all this time, giggled at what Arthur said and gave him a thumbs up.

"Annie let's just stay out of this and just shut up." Elizabeth said to Annie with his usual unemotional voice, while at the same time grabbed the nervous Annie.

"Uh-uh" Annie nodded.

"Gramps, you were a general? Whoa, that's rich!" Said Robert sizing his grandpa up and down.

"Grandfather Edward was a general, as I've deduced it to be." Jack satisfied with his thoughts nodded up and down.

Old man Edward was sick and tired handling Arthur packs of crows and just decided to shut down his mind.

The situation once more becoming chaotic, the captain became awkward looking at the moment, especially at what Arthur said. He cleared his throat louder this time and continued,

"*Ehehehm* As I was saying." Sudden silence hits the office, the captain looked at the surrounding and continued his explanation, "Now, let me tell you where are your academies are."

The captain reached his briefcase and grabbed a document, and said, "Mr. Arthur Godfrey will be attending in the famous Scotland academy for battle magus, the Dun Scaith Academy, you will be accompanied by Ms. Aileen Hutchenson in your journey there."

"U-um Hel-hello, I will accompany Mr. Arthur and assist him there." The newbie Aileen said nervously.

"Mr. Robert Anderson will attend the famous German national academy for craftsman the Royal Weissman Academy and accompanied by Mr. Bertram Schmidt."

"It will be my pleasure, Mr. Robert." Bertram said politely.

"Ms. Anna Rosenheim will attend the internationally recognized academy for its advanced course of stealth and infiltration, the Founding Fathers Academy and his aide will be Mr. Jacob Williams."

"It's an honor for me assisting you, my lady." Jacob said.

Captain Rodgers glared at Jacob which in turn make Jacob in an awkward situation. Captain Rodgers then continued, "Ms. Elizabeth Illwyn Ainsworth will attend the most mysterious academy, famous for its studies of souls and spirits The Mother of the Sea Academy in Greenland, and will be accompanied and assisted by Ms. Irene Vinter."

"As per your orders." Irene said short with a flat face.

"And lastly will be Mr. Jack Walker. Attending the academy famous for its discipline and sacred arts, The Blood Sanctuary Academy in Nepal, accompanied by myself. I look forward working with you Mr. Jack." Said Captain Rodgers, honored by the responsibilities.

09.30 AM. Reis looked at his watch and noticed that it's been an hour and a half since he's been there.

"Welp, look at the time. It's time for me to go, your aunt Mira will kill me if I'm not home to watch Kina." Said Reis excusing himself from the office.

Reis walked in front of the Hermes Wing group and the group saluted the man. Reis stopped and looked at the group, saluted back in the correct manner.

"Byee uncle Reis, say our goodbye for aunt Mira and little Kina." Said Arthur, and the rest of Arthur group said their goodbye afterward.

"Buh-byeeeee....Enjoy your trip kids. Oh, and don't forget to write Kina letters once in a while kay!" Reis make a simple wave and walked to the exit of the office.

Old man Edward clapped his hand and said, "Okay! Now you've been briefed, you have exactly 30 minutes to start packing up and said your goodbye. Gather at the village square afterwards, any question? None? Go on then, get the hell out!"

Arthur group were dispersed and only Arthur and Hermes Wing group remained at the office. The Captain cleaned up his documents and said, "General! Permission to be dismissed." The captain and the group saluted at Old man Edward, "Granted." Said Old man Edward.

"Thank you, sir. We will be waiting at the village square, sir!" Said the captain. The captain put down his salute and proceed to the office exit, followed by the rest of the Hermes Wing group.

"Ah...Peace at last." Old man Edward sighed a relief.

Arthur, still at the office, moved from his kneeling position to sit on the sofa. As soon as his butt touched the comfy sofa he said, "My knee hurts....Ugh..." Arthur rubbed his knee to relief the sore.

Old man Edward shocked, looked at Arthur and said, "You're still here? Nothing to pack? Not going to say goodbye to the villagers?"

"Already said my goodbye to the villagers yesterday old man, and I'm traveling light anyway, also I said my goodbye to father this morning." Answered Arthur.

"That's good then. I'm sure it's gonna be less noisy with you kids gone." Old man Arthur said, a bit of sadness can be heard in his voice.

"No use regretting it old man, me and the rest was elated to see the world." Said Arthur pouring the cold water.

"Hahahaha, that's true. Here kid, catch!" Old man Edward throws at Arthur.

Hup

Arthur catches the thrown item with his right hand. He opened his palm and confusion can be seen in his eyes.

"How do you get my father pendant old man? I thought I lost it in the house." Asked Arthur.

"Your father gave it to me the day you said you lost it. He said that you can have it when it's time for your rite of passage." Old man Edward answered, "Don't lose it kid. It holds a secret and you need to crack it to know the message."

"A message? Um, thank you old man, I promise not to lose it." Arthur nodded.

30 minutes have passed, The villagers of Remy gathered to see the departure of Arthur group. Aside from the villagers, Hermes Wing group was there too. Old man Edward step forward to officiate the rite of passage,

"The fifth-generation successor finally have been given the knowledge, educated to bears the truth. Now! The seed must be sowed! nurtured by the harsh environment! Hoping for it to grow into a lush tree bearing our hope! With the power bestowed to me as the fourth generation chief villagers of the village of masters. I officiate the rite of passage. May the Earth will bless our hope and future!" Old man Edward preached.

"Guys huddle up!" Arthur ordered the group and placed his hand for the chant.

One by one the kids extend their hand and stacked it on top of Arthur hand.

"Okay you know the drill right! No one left behind! Even millions die we will survive! Because we're the best of the best! For Earth! For the Village! For Us!" Arthur hyped up the group. The rest of the group yelled at the same time, "For Earth! For the Village! For Us!"

The villagers cheered and some can't hold their tears on their eyes. Reis holding the 2 years old Kina in his arm were seen silently watching with his wife Mira. They hold back their tears knowing that it will be a long time to see them again.

Phiria walked from the crowd towards Arthur, her eyes were puffed. She fixed Arthur hair and suit, and said, "You know that you're like my own nephew right. Promise me that you will be fine out there." Arthur feeling touched by her neighbor aunt rubbed his nose and said, "You know me than anyone in the village aunt, you know i will be fine, hehe." Phiria nodded and stared at Arthur eyes, "And no dating!" She said sternly.

"MY DAUGHTER!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" A man in his thirties cried his eyes out.

"Papa. you're pathetic."

"Dear, you're pathetic."

The apple didn't fall far away from the tree were the perfect idiom for the daughter and wife duo. Elizabeth and her mother. They were created in the same mold and mocked in same unemotional voice.

"You pack your thing right dear? Nothing missing right dear? Your toothbrush? Your clothes? Your-" Now the beastman father asked one thing after another to his daughter worrily.

"D-dad, u-um, I-I pac-packed everything already, d-don-don't worry!" Annie, flustered by her dad bombardments of question.

What's worse than having an extreme shyness is. A father that overly protective of his daughter.

"Jack, remember, a gentleman lives by a code. Remember that." A devil tribe man said to Jack, in a polite yet stern manner. "That's right my dear. Treat others with the respect they deserved. Remember that dear." A soothing female voice chimed next, the feature she have were the same as Jack especially the one horn that portruding from her forehead.

"I will, dear father and mother." Said Jack, as if making an oath in his heart to live as a gentleman.

"Don't forget your meals dear." A woman in his forties said dearly.

"No! Forget your meals! Go on a diet!" Said Old man Edward in an orderly voice.

"Shut up Edward! No dinner for you tonight!" Scold the woman.

"Nan, I love you!" Said Robert hugging her grandma.

"I love you too dear!" Said the woman returning the affection.

"Che- See, you pampers him too much!" Said Old man Edward.

"That's it! You're sleeping in the office!" The woman angered by Old man Edward words.

Time passed, now was the time for Arthur group departure. They waved to the villagers while walking further away from the town square towards the forest.

"Guys! Catch!" Arthur throws an item for each one of them.

"What's this?" Asked Elizabeth.

"Gift from gramps. A status checker with an inbuilt communication device via Aether. So we can communicate with each other and accept mission assigned by the village." Arthur explained.

"But Arthur there's one more function in this device isn't it." Robert, having the keen eye for technology and craftsmanship asked.

"Ah! Almost forgot, thanks fatty. The other function is a portable portal, so if any of you need on hand help we can open the portal and go to the paired device, it was strongly insisted on by aunt Phiria. But the downside is it takes six months to charge itself, or for the fast alternative a thousand mana stones." Arthur continued.

"Aunt Phiria is the best!" Now away from the public eye, Annie started to act normally.

"Let's do our best guys!" Said Arthur once again. The group nodded and engrave it in their hearts.

Now, their journey officially began.