The young man had heard stories of the academy since he was a child. They were always spoken in hushed tones, as if the mere mention of it was enough to invoke a sense of reverence. And now, as he drew closer, he finally understood why. The sight that greeted him was like something out of a storybook. A colossal fortress, with towering walls that seemed to scrape the very sky, dominated the landscape. It cast a shadow over the land, as if daring anyone to challenge its authority. But it was the gate that truly took his breath away. Flanked by two colossal stone statues of knights, their stern expressions etched into the very stone, it stood as a symbol of power and might. As he stood there, staring up at it all, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mingled with fear. He had finally arrived at the academy, and he knew that his life would never be the same again.
The air crackled with excitement as he stepped through the gates of the Hunter's Academy. All around him, he could see hunters from every corner of the world, each one more skilled and battle-hardened than the last. Elves with quivers bristling with deadly arrows darted among the crowd, while grizzled dwarves hefted their hammers with practiced ease. And then there were the humans, like himself, their weapons glinting in the sunlight with a promise of deadly precision.
As he took in the scene before him, his heart swelled with anticipation. This was it, the moment he had been training for his entire life. The chance to prove himself as a hunter and carve out his own destiny in this world of danger and adventure.
But as he made his way through the halls of the academy, he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the direction he was headed. He picked up his pace, eager to see what was going on.
Turning a corner, he was almost knocked off his feet by a small figure hurtling through the hallway on a gust of wind. It was a green-haired esper, a rare breed with incredible telekinetic abilities that allowed them to move objects with their minds.
But something was wrong. The esper was out of control, careening wildly through the halls and sending furniture and books flying in all directions. Other hunters were scrambling to get out of the way, but it seemed as though the esper herself struggled to control her flight.
"Out of my way!" she barked, nearly colliding with him. "Can't you see who I am? I'm Amber, the greatest esper this academy has ever seeeeen!" The words echoed through the corridor as she continued to zoom forward, with a reckless disregard for her own safety.
The young man stood frozen as he witnessed the esper's overconfidence lead to her downfall. With a deafening crash, she collided into the academy's wall, causing a massive cloud of dust to billow outwards and engulf everything in its path. He desperately tried to regain his composure as he coughed and spluttered, struggling to see through the chaos.
When the dust finally cleared, he saw the esper lying on the ground, her pride wounded more than anything else. Despite the awkwardness of her entrance, there was something undeniably magnetic about the esper's presence. The young man couldn't help but feel drawn to her energy and confidence, even though it bordered on arrogance. He realized that Amber was the kind of person who could have a significant impact on the academy, for better or for worse.
As she got up, the young man gazed at the esper in amusement. He had never met anyone with such an elevated attitude. "Um, are you okay?" He asked, reaching out his hands. "Hi, I'm Daniel," he stuttered.
The esper rolled her eyes and let out a scornful laugh. "Of course you are," she sneered. "Now move over and let me through, peasant." She stood up, brushing the dirt off her clothes while scowling.
Despite her arrogance, Daniel found himself amused by her haughtiness, likening her to a little chihuahua. She had never met someone this haughty despite being so small before. To him, it was certainly a sight to behold. "Are you also a freshman? I'm heading to register; maybe we can go together," he suggested.
"Why do you assume I want to go with you? Don't act all chummy with me," the esper barked.
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Daniel put both of his hands up, palms facing outward, in a gesture of surrender, "alright, alright," he playfully responded.
Daniel was quite the carefree spirit. He had a knack for not taking life too seriously, often opting for the path of least resistance. When it came to encountering people who were out of the ordinary, he was like a kid in a candy store. He found their quirks and peculiarities amusing and downright entertaining. It was as if he had a radar for the unconventional, and he reveled in the opportunity to poke fun at their eccentricities in a playful, oftentimes harmless manner. Daniel had a natural charm that allowed him to connect with people from all walks of life, even those who were seen as "weird" by others.
As the young man and esper approached the registration desk, Amber's behavior remained snobbish. She strutted forward with long, proud strides, holding her head high and her gaze fixed straight ahead. Every move she made was calculated and deliberate, as if each step was meant to impress those around her. Daniel found her overbearing demeanor pretty interesting in its own way, but he couldn't help noticing the incredible power she emanated. Her confidence seemed to radiate from within, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to her. He wondered if she could teach him something and help him improve his skills as a hunter.
As Daniel and Amber approached the reception desk, they were greeted by a lady with a warm smile. "Good day, young hunters. Are you here to register?" she asked.
"Yes," Daniel and Amber both replied in perfect unison, their voices ringing out like a chorus. Amber shot Daniel a disdainful glance, her eyes filled with irritation and annoyance. She despised being in sync with the young man, as she irked at the thought of them being seen as friends. Daniel, on the other hand, simply smiled wryly, knowing full well that he was getting under her skin.
"What do we need to do?" Daniel inquired.
"You simply need to fill out this form with your basic information, and submit it back to me here," the lady explained, gesturing to the form and pen on the desk. "Afterwards, you'll need to proceed to the courtyard and await the enrollment screening. There, you'll undergo a series of tests to determine your admission qualification."
"Thank you very much," Daniel said, bowing in gratitude.
"Break a leg, young hunters," the lady wished them well with a kind smile, before turning her attention to the next group of students.
Amber's haughty demeanor suddenly softened, and she flashed a charming smile at the lady. Daniel was taken aback by this sudden change in attitude, as he had assumed that Amber was simply rude to everyone. Amber gave a slight bow, gracefully thanking her. Daniel couldn't help but be amused by this playful display of the young esper's contrasting personalities, wondering if this was just a one-time act or if there was more to her than he had previously thought.
"How come you're so rude to me, yet so nice to that lady?" He asked with genuine curiosity.
Amber looked at Daniel as if he had just said the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. She raised her eyebrows and let out a scoff, her disbelief evident on her face.
"Hah? Is that even a question?" she said in a condescending tone. "That lady just now was a professor in this academy. Everyone who qualifies as a professor here is of unparalleled power and prestige. Of course, she must be given the due respect she deserves. How did you even manage to get here and not know that?" she continued, her eyes rolling in exasperation. Daniel stood there for a moment, mulling over Amber's words. Despite her usual arrogance, he couldn't help but appreciate her knowledge of the academy's hierarchy. "Thanks, Amber," he said, giving her a small nod of acknowledgement.
Amber's expression softened slightly at his gratitude, but she quickly turned away and strode towards the courtyard. Daniel watched her go, wondering what other surprises this academy had in store for him.
As Daniel and Amber pushed open the grand doors leading to the courtyard, they were met with a breathtaking sight. The vast expanse of the academy's courtyard was filled with aspiring students from various races, all honing their skills in preparation for the admissions screening. The air was thick with the crackle of magic and the clang of swords, and the courtyard was alive with the energy of young warriors-in-training.
In one corner, a group of elven archers practiced their precision on a row of target dummies, while in another, a bunch of beastmen were merrily chatting with each other. As they made their way through the bustling courtyard, Daniel and Amber couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer talent and dedication of the students.
Their attention was suddenly drawn to the center of the courtyard, where a figure slowly descended from the sky with a hearty laugh.
"Welcome, aspiring hunters; future saviors of the world," the figure boomed, his voice echoing through the courtyard. "Welcome to the 71st Admissions Screening of the prestigious Aurum Ignis Academy!"
Daniel and Amber exchanged glances, feeling more determined than ever to prove themselves worthy of this awe-inspiring institution.
To be continued...