35. Don’t Get Her Angry.

…

"Okay, see ya," she waved at the old ancestor as he left before turning to Zi'er. "Zi'er get the child to a bed, when the sun rises take him to the academy. You heard right, no special treatment,"

"Yes ma'am,"

"This old fart wasted good tea,"

…

"Where am I?" Hiro asks. He didn't know when he had appeared here.

Right, here was an infinite space of white and blue beneath his feet and all round. A sea that had no end nor beginning. Hiro was hovering in the sky, upon the clouds.

"That's…?"

In the distance, a bright light shines, as if the sun was rising. It was bright and blinding and from it Hiro felt a warm embrace.

Barely keeping his eyes open, Hiro tries to see what was coming. The pace of his breathing increases, his blood begins to boil, and his teeth grinds as he clenches his fists.

He was happy, yet afraid. Overjoyed, but scared. He didn't know why. The presence of the light delighted him, yet it frightened his very soul. He felt like a boy wanting his mother's embrace, and at the same time he felt like a peasant before an emperor. One wrong mistake or disrespect could end his life.

His lips involuntarily curls to a smile, but his forehead released beads of sweat. His body quivers from both excitement and fear. Just what the hell was going on with him.

"Why?" he thought. Why was he here? Why was he brought here? Why was his body like this? Why was it indecisive? He bites his lower lips and musters the courage to ask. "Who are you?"

He didn't know if it was his imagination, an eye opened and looked at him. No, this wasn't an imagination. He could feel it in its gaze, that eye was disappointed. It was upset, and the reason for that was him. Just what had he done before.

"Hmm, hmm,"

He could hear the sound of a deep breath, followed by the sound of an exhale.

"Find Me!"

The sky shattered immediately under its voice and Hiro fell.

"Ah!"

Hiro opens his eyes and sits up. Clenching his fists tightly as his heart continues to beat fast. He tries to slow down his rapidly heaving chest, but it was easier said than done.

It took a while for him to finally relax and when he did, he finally realized. He was in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed. Creasing his brows, he got to his feet.

"Where am I now? Is this another dream? No this is too real to be a dream. But even the dream felt so real," Hiro mutters to himself.

"Oh! You are awake," a voice sounds from the room. Almost instantaneously, the door flew open and Hiro was graced with a lady's presence. "Good morning, come with me, you are already late. The academy's acceptance test for today is almost over,"

"Huh?" Hiro tilts his head at the lady, who turns and walks away. "Where the hell is grandfather?"

He jogs quickly to the lady's side. "Excuse me, where's my grandfather? Um, they call him the old ancestor,"

"The old ancestor of the east dropped you here yesterday and ask for you to be taken to the academy for registration,"

"Old ancestor of the east?" Hiro mutters. "Um, you mentioned an accept… acce.. ptance test, what is that?"

Following the lady, who didn't bother to care whether he followed or not, Hiro continued to jog. He could barely keep up yet she was only walking.

"After registering, your aptitude will be tested and so will your knowledge and skill,"

"Huh?" Hiro frowns. "Know… ledge? Skill?"

"Your aptitude is tested to determine where you'll be placed. Your knowledge and skill is tested to know which of the following suits you. Alchemy, artifacts refinery and array formations making,"

"Will I be rejected if I fail the tests?"

The lady looks at him and smiles. "Yes,"

"Oh no," Hiro slaps his forehead.

The lady stops before a door and opens it before going through. "Your belongings are as you left them,"

At her words, Hiro pats his chest and realizes it was as she said. His pouch bags were in his pockets as he had kept them. "Thank you,"

"A piece of advice, keep your belongings properly, hide them if possible,"

"Understood, anything else?"

The lady turns to him and squints her eyes. "Find reliable companions and keep them small,"

"How do I know they are reliable?"

"You don't, you just trust your instincts." The lady opens another door, and they came out of the building.

"That's going to be hard,"

"It will." She sighs at Hiro, who felt an invisible force wrap his body. Slowly, she takes to the sky and Hiro follows after her. "Right, take this,"

"What's that?" Hiro asks as he collects a a pouch bag from her.

"You got up late, so what's in there will be your breakfast,"

"Oh, thank you." He opens the bag and was greeted by several white round dough. "What's this?"

"You don't know what a dumpling is?"

"Oh, no. Thanks for the meal,"

"Was he picked from a cave village or something and adopted?" the lady thought to herself.

Hiro begins to eat and as he did, they flew out of the city. In less than a ten-minutes flight, they arrived at a huge gate between two mountains. Above the gate was a huge eagle that looked down upon everything beneath it. Hiro's eyes widened at the large traffic of people going in and out of the gate.

Beside the gate was a large boulder. Upon closer view, one would realize it wasn't an ordinary rock. Hiro could feel something from it, but he couldn't tell what that was. On it were words boldly written, 'IMPERIAL EAGLE.'

"Um…? Right, I don't know your name, senior," Hiro says after swallowing.

"Call me Zi," the lady says as she lands.

"Okay, Zi, what realm are you on?"

Her eyes twitched at his words. "You don't have to know." She leads the way through the gate and Hiro follows. Just when he was about to cross the gate, Hiro halts and looks up.

"Am I just feeling things?" he mutters.

"What are you doing? Let's go,"

"Huh? I'm coming," Hiro rushes to her side as she turns around. "Wow,"

"There are more people than I expected," Zi says looking at the crowd before them. They all gathered in front of a huge building.

"So many people,"

"Sorry madam, if I don't do anything he won't enter today," Hiro hears Zi muttered to herself. "Follow me,"

"Yes ma'am,"

…

"You are finally back," Mia says as Tanji walks into the compound. "Did something happen? Why is your clothes torn again?"

"Hehe, we encountered something unexpected," Tanji replied with a smile.

"You went to to the second layer,"

"No, but a beast from the second layer came to us,"

"Oh,"

"Hey Tanji, when are you going to teach me?" Shin voice sounds from behind, as he steps in.

Ignoring Shin, Tanji asks Mia. "How's your body? Did you take the pill I gave you?"

"Yes elder brother, I did. My body is much better,"

"Tanji!" Shin yells.

"For the one hundredth time, I'll teach you when I'm ready,"

"Hmph, can I take a bath here? My place is on the other side of the south region. It will take me a while to get there and then attend class,"

"Hmm, sure. We can head to class together,"

"Hmph, whatever. Hey, you! Why are you scared of me? It's so evident,"

"Hk…" Mia whimpered and hid behind Tanji.

"Remember what you did to those bullies that tried to bully you?" Tanji asks.

"Oh, I blinded one of their eyes each, and broke their bones. Is that why?"

"Yeah. Mia has never been the violent type." Tanji bends his head and whispers to Shin. "But never get her angry. Yes she can't win you in a fight, but she can end your generation at just you. I assure you, you can't prevent her even if you tried,"

Shin broke into cold sweat and involuntarily took a step back. His body had acted on its own after Tanji's words.

"Just kidding, but don't get her angry," Tanji said and turns to Mia. "Um, Mia, it's alright, Shin is my friend now. I'm sure he wouldn't hurt those dear to me,"

"Who said we are friends? Acquaintance! That's what we are,"

"Same thing,"

"It isn't!"

"Whatever, let's get ready for class," Tanji said.

…