“As I was saying...”
Shaking me out of my reverie was Adam's serene and slightly stern voice, which had a subtle scholarly vibe.
“As you all may be aware about the Lock International Tournament, in short, the ‘L.I.T’ which is an important event in the academy which is held every year for the first years as an introductory event to gauge their strength against their fellow students and display a showcasing of sportsmanship through participation in the different events, which allows them to grow while developing a sense of rivalry. And this time around, the tournament is scheduled to be held a month from now as it was decided in the board meeting a few weeks ago." Adam's hawk-like eyes peered up at the students, gauging each students from their facial expressions and their bodies nervous actions, when he was sure their entire attention was his way he continued with a slight wry smile over his features as if he had expected these reaction from the students.
“So in short, all of you will have to participate in the tournament regardless of your circumstances or issues, because your ranking and also your ability and eagerness for staying in the academy will be on the line, as you will be judged on the basis of how you perform in the tournament. And be aware that the better you perform, the higher of a chance of you intriguing the interest of some high ranking echelon of the guilds or the either from the Union whom will be arriving to witness the newest batch of students and judge them for any future recruitment."
Suddenly the air around Adam became serious as his eyes turned solemn and voice stern. "But let me remind you of one thing clearly, that it is considered a crime to get recruited from any organisation during your academy years, until you reach the second half of your third year of being a senior, and getting your licence issued from the hunter bureau whom allocate such licences, and getting approval from the Union and acknowledged as a full fledged hunter. Understood?"
Adam's facial expression calmed as he released a small wave of his mana and all of the students in the class nodded their heads in unsion.
Looking at a few students in particular which seem to have caught his interest he grabbed his tablet and tapped on it twice gently before tearing his gaze away as a holographic image appeared above the screen of the table displaying the well organised information of the students merged into small documented files, with our names and images over it to distinguish everyone aside.
“You all have been already added to your designated games for the tournament based on your skill level and capabilities and rank. But some events have omitted information to test your instincts when you have to deal with a situation on the spur of the moment. So be careful and remember to not act with too much pride. This tournament is a way for all of you to understand the things you are lacking most and the things you need to improve on. For example: if you are not good in melee combact you might be tested on that criteria specifically, or if you're a mage whose bad at spell casting, then a test in accordance to that will be conducted."
Then suddenly a small sound of a phone's notifications ringed inside the classroom, which turned into a chain reaction as all the phones inside the classroom ringed in unison.
"Oh yes. I forgot to mention but all of you should've received an email telling you about the events you will participating in and the criteria needed for passing with a good score in the tournament.”
With that he placed the tablet on the podium and the hologram disappeared.
“Either way good luck to you all. I hope I will be able to see—at the very least—half of the faces currently sitting here."
Everyone swallowed hard on Adam's remark as a grimace arched their faces in nervousness. They all sat still like statues as the class turned completely quiet.
Adam cracked a smirk as he crossed his arms and spoke.
"I guess this was it for the announcement. Just make sure not to slack off in this coming month and prepare as much as you can to survive in the academy. As you know, this place can be quite ruthless at times in its hierarchy system. Because ranks determine your absolute worth in this academy." His eyes gleamed like a predator as he took a hold of his tablet.
Instantly I grabbed my phone and unlocked it as I saw an email marked from the academy. I tapped over it as a series of information opened in front of me, describing about the events I will be participating in, in great detail which was very easy to understand.
Just like that, after the announcement ended the class continued and Adam began.
If I remembered correctly, Adam taught the basic, intermediate and advanced fundamentality of ‘Mana convergence and Divergence’.
The subject was divided into three categories and currently as first years we were only being taught the basics of Mana Convergence and Divergence, which was appropriate with their levels.
Well, Convergence and Divergence was only the basis part of the subject which opened up to many variates of using mana and how it can be used in certain specific ways to correspond with the wielder’s attributes and talent. Like you say it, the tip of the iceberg.
The real tough part of this subject begins when you reach the ‘Mana Conglomeration inology studies'. Which will be taught to us later on as we proceed in the academy years.
Only the most talented people are able to use Mana Conglomeration, as it requires an immense amount of Mana control and understanding of the force itself as to how the Mana in the atmosphere works and interacts when given a certain kind of stimulus or if a specific attribute is used.
The mana consisted of four basic elements as we humans deducted after gaining the ability of using it for almost a century.
'The element of Fire, the element of Water, the element of Earth and the element of Air.' These four basic elements are the existence of mana and these elements then can be further molded and used as more advanced forms, which are called deviants of mana which are much stronger than the basic elements, but are much as harder to control than the basic attributes.
I won’t go in that much detail, because it even took me years to completely master the technique.
But if I have to say, Adam is among one of the most talented people alive in this era, who gained the ability to use mana conglomeration when he had just reached his second year in the academy.
His control and understanding of Mana is just leaps and bounds above others and he is always the target of the peoples envy wherever he goes.
He is said to be the prodigy birthed by the Griffin family who has brought multiple achievements and fame upon his family’s name since a young age. His father and mother both are big shots in the society.
Just like that class proceeded, and Adam went over several topics which linked with the correspondence and proportionality of the Convergence and Divergence formula which helped with reading the flow and controling the mana around and inside us.
I made a curious expression as I found certain facts intriguing about his way of teaching which had certain things mixed which was hard for a beginner to perfectly grasp, but his way of explaining the topics made it easier for the students to grasp.
Influence over the ambient mana, and the mana inside one's body. If we consider it this way then all of us could be considered as mages. Because we can use mana but in different and unique ways, but which were similar to one another without breaking too far from the basics.
I nodded my head in understanding as I looked down at the hologram projection displaying the notes and 3d model of a human being and the mana channels and veins inside them which allowed our use of mana and spreading it through our physique.
Adam's eyes followed several faces, until they stopped on me suddenly. Our eyes clashed for a swift second, before he narrowed them and tore them away as he tapped his tablet and dismissed the class.
“Huaam...”
With a yawn I stood up from my seat and exited the classroom almost immediately. I mean, I didn’t know anyone in there and I had more important things to deal with.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Walking along the long and clean limestone halls, I soon exited the main building and reached for the dormitory as I quickened my stride.
Oh yeah now that I remember, during my investigation for gathering information, I found out that there are seven dormitory buildings in the academy, which are assigned based on the student ranking.
The dormitory buildings were separated by their official names and they covered several acres of lands, providing several privileges to the student assigned to the corresponding rank and achievement during the entry test.
“The Ashura Building.” Which was the best facility in the entire academy, only provided to the top ten of each respective year, making it the best accommodating dormitory building to have been made.
“The Phoenix Building.” Its perks were slightly less than the Ashura building but it didn’t come that far behind in its accommodating factor and privileges, and it only housed the students which were in the student ranking starting from :11th rank and going below to the 100th rank.
“The Hydra Building.” The privileges it provides were even less than the Ashura and Phoenix building, but it still had a top edge to its accommodating factor. Only the students starting from the: 101th rank and going below to the 500th rank.
“The Twilight Building.” Its privileges were even less and its accommodated the students from the: 501th rank and going below to the 1000th rank.
“The Fiddat Building.” This building accommodated the students from the: 1001th rank and went to the 1500th rank.
“The Bronze Building.” The bronze building wasn't any different from the Fiddat building, but it had even less privileges for the low ranking students, accommodating only the students of the: 1501th rank and going below to the 2000th rank.
“The Square Building.” And last but not least, the Square building, which was said to be the trash disposal of the academy. Taking the most useless and weakest students from the: 2001th rank below to the 3000th rank.
Currently I was staying in the square building, where the most lowest ranked students stay. Who were considering and treated as the trash of the academy.
Like I said before, ‘you can’t have it all’.
After I reached the dormitory building, I quickly went to my room. Opening the door to my room, I swiftly entered and sat down on the chair as I booted up my laptop.
The thing I was looking at before came to my mind as I withdrew my phone out of my pocket and scrolled through the information.
“If I want to increase my strength fast, then that is the best option I have currently."
I said with a solemn look on my face as I placed my phone over the desk and leaned against the chair.
“I need to enter a dungeon, and one that is in accordance with my current strength."
“But how?” I contemplated before deciding. It was either the guild fellows who owned ownership over dungeons,—but they didn't just let anyone enter—, or that place.
“I’ve got no other choice but to go there, as its an emergency."
Then standing up from the chair I looked at the system interface before me.
Clicking on the interface, I pressed on the inventory icon and a window of empty boxes appeared before me.
I had already put spare clothes and supplies in the inventory. I bought the supplies with the little amount of cash I found in Jiwoo’s account, which wasn't something that made me too happy, but I guess I need to make due with what I have.
And I packed the clothes that were available to me.
But still I was quite amazed to see the workability of the inventory.
It worked just like any dimensional storage which created a phenomenon of having a pocket space constructed into an item, but I wouldn’t have to worry about my dimensional storage getting stolen or lost as only I can see the system and use it.
“It’s pretty convenient!” I enthusiastically said with a smirk.
Since the day of the announcement and till the tournament’s arrival day, student are given free time and the permission to not attend classes for an entire month, and train however they wanted. And around this time, many decided to make a home visit, as you can only do that during weekends or certain holidays.
Quite generous aren't they ? But that's not the case.
There’s always a catch. Student are to show good results during the tournament, that’s the main rule which even Adam emphasised on.
If they don’t, their ranks will diminish to a lower number and there is also a chance of expulsion for not performing adequately.
So I have to at least raise my strength to a decent level if I want to raise my rank and keep myself in the safe zone.
Exiting my room, I looked around and found the correct path leading to the portal areas of the academy.
Soon I reached the portal areas without getting lost.
It was nothing like how I had imagined it to be.
A beautiful white building which was surrounded by fences. The design of the building could not be described by some mere words. The limestone and marble work done and the garden which grew lush and long tree with several patches of grass and flower giving the place a more lively vibe.
The beautifully maintained lawns which were visible to the eyes and the birds chirping on the trees branches.
It looked tranquil and peaceful.
It was almost the same size of that an entire football stadium with it tall pillars giving it a medieval vibe and the glass work done to match the exterior marble work complimented the building overall.
Then walking up to the guard I showed him my student ID which worked as a literal identification pass for the students to go to and fro from the academy. He took my card then he ran it through the machine inside the small cottage like place.
Then he brought my card and gave it back to me.
Taking the card back and placing it into the inventory, I stepped inside the building.
The inside was just as beautiful as the outside.
It was a reception room as big and gigantic as a hall which was humid and had a enriching incense burning in the air which calmed the mind.
There were many sofas, chairs and tables placed for the people wanting and a snack bar just to the side with several refreshments and vending machines placed near it.
The black marble floor which dazzled expensively, and the finest quality of rug which was placed over it was exquisite.
The red colour of the rug perfectly complimented the marble floor, giving it a subtle vibe which was hard to describe.
It left me awe-struck of the architecture and even more so of the architect who had built this place.
Everything here must be worth millions, if not billions. Well it was the world's most expensive academy with a every low acceptance rate.
I marvelled looking around the reception area and slowly walked towards an open reception booth where a young brunette was sitting drsped in formal attire. Her face was charming with the smile which she was wearing and her eyes gleamed beautifully.
I greeted the receptionist.
“Hello!”
In response she greeted and maintained her smile as she posed a question almost instantly.
“Hello, where will you be going today, Sir?” She asked respectfully as her beautiful smile perfectly complimented her eyes.
With a bright smile I responded to her.
“Seoul, Korea!”
“Can you please hand over your ID card?”
“Oh yeah sure. Here.”
The card manifested over my palm out of thin air. But this scene didn’t seem to startle or surprise the receptionist as she took it immediately and went to work.
The concept of dimensional storage was normal in this day and age and almost everyone used one to store their belongings in it, as it was a more convenient use of space.
‘But no one knows I have a bloody cheat code system.’
I inwardly said with a hidden smirk.
Scanning the card in the machine beside her, after a few seconds passed she handed me my card back and with a gentle smile spoke.
“You can go the portal room 24. Have a safe trip."
“Thanks.”
Bidding her farewell I made my way towards the portal room she had mentioned prior.
On my way there I saw other students, who were also here to use the portals to either return home or some other place.
As portals are the only fast-travel mean in the academy, so it is used by students who want to go home or other places in instant without wasting much time.
Once were able to harness the ability to use portal to link specific places together, the portal system shortly after dominated the other means of all range travel, such as by either planes, trains or ships.
They were still used, but for only travelling short distances now which was between either cities or a region.
And for the students of Lock the authentication requires a students to give their Student ID to the receptionist, then the receptionist would run it through a system which labels our name and where we are going into the database for recording purpose.
“Room 24.”
I had reached the portal room through which I can teleport to Seoul.
Entering the room, I saw a platform which was led to by a flight of stairs.
Walking up the stairs, I saw the portal. It shined with a mysterious hue which glimmered the area and air around it. The portal device had several runes engraved over its rectangular shaped panel which hummed and rippled the air around me.
The portal rippled ever so slightly from time to time but it only added to the mysteriousness of its hue that it gave out as the runes over its shimmered and pulsed.
“Please step forward!”
The man beside the portal said who was maintaining the location device of the portal which linked to the other portal daises.
He was pressing on the screen which was beside the portal.
But heeding his word, I step forward and entered the portal.
Just as I entered the portal I felt all of my senses disappear and my being turn into nothingness.
I felt as if I was floating through an endless void with no attachment to my body.
It was neither a pleasant nor a bad feeling.
It felt as if an eternity had passed. But just then my thoughts came to a halt.
I saw a bright light in the far distance which pulled me towards itself. Just as I came close enough, the light subsumed my being and not even a second later it completely enveloped me and ushered me to my destination.
Exiting the portal, I found my senses and feeling over my body return as I felt my insides stir suddenly from the vertigo.
“Huuu...Haaa.”
Inhaling a good amount of air and exhaling, I looked around me.
It was the same as the room in the academy building, but the attendant was different. Now being a young female employee who wearing a formal suit with a gold coloured hair pin.
She gestured her hand for me to move forward.
I did just as sh said and walked down the staircase and exited the portal room.
I saw a reception area and walked out of the building afterwards.
Exiting the building the bright light of the sun met me as I covered my eyes with my hand to block the sunlight and waiting a few second for my eyes to adjust to the light. After just a few more seconds I stepped forward.
“Let’s go!”