279 Eshmera
[Ren Hilton POV.]
"We're here!" someone exclaimed as I was roused from my sleep. Blinking away the remnants of slumber, I surveyed my surroundings, rubbing my eyes to clear the grogginess.
The journey of the past few days had been both quiet and boring, to be honest. I stepped outside the carriage, noticing Aron stirring from his side but pausing to let me disembark first. After me came Erik, his eyes widening in wonder as he took in the scene.
"Whoa..." Erik exclaimed, prompting me to glance back into the carriage, much to Aron's annoyance. Retrieving Blaze from under the seat, I turned my attention back to the landscape before us.
Taking in the sight outside, I couldn't help but sigh deeply. This was nuts...
That was the only thought that crossed my mind as I mindlessly stared at the floating piece of land in the sky, hovering about a hundred feet above the ground. Below it lay the city, or perhaps just half of it, shrouded in the shadow cast by the suspended landmass. Surrounding the city was vast, empty acreage, lending an eerie atmosphere to the scene.
Around us, the architecture spoke of a rich history, with intricately carved stone buildings adorned with ornate details. The cities outer pavilion, though slightly weathered, exuded a certain charm, its cobblestone pathways winding through patches of lush greenery.
"Just like those illustrations," I muttered to myself.
"Hm? Illustrations?" Erik inquired, having overheard my remark.
"Oh, nothing," I replied with a casual shrug, my attention shifting as I noticed the second carriage landing a few meters away from us.
As the second carriage landed nearby, the doors swung open, revealing Professor Night and the rest of the students emerging from within. They seemed just as intrigued by the surreal sight before us.
"Quite the sight, isn't it?" Professor Night remarked, her eyes scanning the floating landmass above.
"Yeah, it's like something out of a novel," Adam chimed in, his expression a mix of awe and curiosity.
Isolde, ever the skeptic, crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at the spectacle. "It's just a trick of.... whatever," she muttered dismissively.
Vexa remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floating city with an inscrutable expression. I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were swirling behind her mask-like facade.
Aron, meanwhile, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene. "This place... it's familiar," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
"Familiar? How so?" I asked, intrigued by his cryptic comment.
He shook his head, as if trying to shake off a memory. "Never mind," he muttered, his gaze drifting away from the floating city.
As we disembarked from the carriages and gathered on the ground below, Professor Night addressed the group. "Alright, everyone, listen up," she began, her tone firm but not unkind. "We've reached our destination, but our journey is far from over."
She looked around as if mentally counting us but then nodded to herself and said,"From here on, we are going to wait for someone to get us to the Nexus Institute Of Magic', once they arrive they are going to ask a few questions and do a few things before actually letting us inside the city- so make sure y'all behave, understand?"
*Silence*
"I asked y'all understand?" She repeated herself and we all nodded in unison.
This feels like a field trip, to be honest.
I looked around and saw Erik staring at me for a while.
I raised a brow to give him a questioning look as I saw him scooting near me a bit,"Your hair....are not going to turn it?"
When he mentioned it, I realized that all my hair was really down- it's actually outgrown, to be honest.
"Oh, does it look weird?" I asked as I ran my hand through my hair.
"Oh no, Just...a bit scary." He added cautiously.
'Is it true, Smokeball?' I asked in my mind, and no answer made me remember that Blaze was still asleep. He's been sleeping a lot these days... I wonder why?
"There they are!" Professor Night exclaimed as a...man, a wide frame, walked from the city gates towards us. He had someone walking besides him, and the moon crest on the robe made it clear that they are from the Nexus Institute.
As they approached, her petite figure cloaked in a flowing robe that billowed gently in the breeze.
With a graceful motion, Nari lifted the veil that obscured her features, revealing long, jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes, hidden behind a black blindfold, betrayed no hint of her blindness, yet seemed to hold a depth of experience beyond her years.
"Welcome to Eshmera and the Nexus Institute of Magic," she greeted, her voice carrying a hint of weariness tempered by determination. It was clear that she was weary.
'And who is she?' asked Blaze, who seemed to have woken up.
I observed her quiet walk, noting not a single rustle under her robe. Despite her unusual demeanor, there was something unique about her.
'Nari, Leader of the Nexus Institute,' I replied in my mind, recognizing her instantly.
"I am Nari Noctre, Leader of this year's team that will be competing with all of you in the Mage's Gambit," Nari introduced herself with authority, her blindness seemingly a minor detail in her confident demeanor.
Beside her stood a man, distinguished by his scholarly demeanor and the insignia of a professor adorning his robes. He exuded an air of knowledge and experience, his gaze sharp as he surveyed our group. "And I am Alder, Professor at the academy."
After exchanging pleasantries with Professor Night and the others, the professor turned his attention to me and Aron, his eyes lingering on us with a curious intensity.
"Ah, the first prince of Hestia, I presume?" he began, addressing Aron with a polite nod.
Aron responded with a slight grunt, his demeanor guarded and aloof.
"Just as I heard, I guess," the professor chuckled before turning to me. His gaze was probing, as if searching for something beneath the surface.
"Is there something on my face, Professor?" I asked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"Have you ever killed anyone?" he asked, his tone neutral but his eyes betraying a hint of intrigue.
"Obviously, I have," I replied with a smile, noticing the slight widening of his eyes. It seemed he hadn't expected such a straightforward answer.
