Chapter nine: Cruising 'till we get there

Another day, another cruise. Fortunately for us and the Flash warriors, the other ships were parked beside the forest, still secured and ready to use- also safe from the three-headed dragon's flames. They escorted the villagers to their ships before departing to Sonata village. A decent-looking village yet a crowded one if you ask me for further details.

 

It was a shame that we left Quarté. None of us would be able to live from the west, east, or even in the south because the villages were very occupied. Sadly though, even Snowfall village was the only village known in the north. That's what I know at least. "Are we there yet?" I asked Claes, leaning on the railing next to him while he took charge of the steering wheel. 

 

"No," he replied with a flat tone.

 

"What about now?"

 

"No."

 

"Now?"

 

"No."

 

"How about now?"

 

Thirty minutes later (I kept my eyes on the time in secret). "Now?" My eyes became heavy. I wanted to have a nice sleep since I didn't get any after what had happened.

 

"I'm hungry, do we have anything to eat?" I asked. My stomach is churning as if a volcano eruption is popping inside my belly.

 

"You just ate."

 

"I'm hungry."

 

"We'll be there soon."

 

"Really?"

 

"No."

 

Eight yawns, later. "Are we there yet?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Really?" I raised my voice.

 

"No." He shook his head. I was screaming in my head.

 

"Oh, come on!" Suddenly, the ship stopped. My body abruptly jolted forward over the top of the railing before I went back to maintaining my balance. "Whoa, what just . . . ."

 

"We're here." As Claes called everyone, they started to pack their things and waited for the ship to be parked next to ashore. We landed on a green landscape with green mountains farther away. The temperature was far different compared to Snowfall village. Slightly felt like Southern Quarté, so everyone who packed their remaining belongings looked like melting snowmen from all their sweaty faces and thick outfits.

 

"Everyone, the village of Sonata is right this way, follow me," gestured Craully to the villagers. We became friends when Sean introduced her to me. She had white hair, green eyes, wearing winter clothes (still), black pants, and slick boots. She and Nurse Joy automatically became very close, since they had plenty of things in common, even with Doctor Walden. At Northern Quarté, she told me that she was a strategist and a medic assassin (So that's a hardcore job). As the people went with her, my family and I, of course together with Sam, stayed with Claes.

 

Here's an important thing about Sam's family that I almost forgot to mention, right now, he is living with his grandmother and aunt when his parents got divorced. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. His father was an archaeologist who had a special trip in the land of Kuma while his mother was a member of the Alliance Council, doing Alliance Council stuff, I guess. During this situation, Sam's aunt was with his mother to attend a confidential meeting. In other words, his mom and aunt were sisters. The other Flash warriors went north and west to check if the dragon was on sight while weapons were ready. "The rest of you follow us," our mom instructed.

 

"Mom, you know where to bring us?" I turned to her.

 

"No time, son, we must move." She turned and ushered us toward a tall mountain. It was not our favorite part. Climbing to the top while it was completely boring. Claes and Sean were muttering, maybe surprised about mom's condition. There was a little break due to our tardiness, but we managed to gain our strength and head-on. "Are we there yet?" I asked, whining on the inside.

 

"Yeah." Claes pointed to the sky by the time we arrived at the edge of the mountain, I could see my villagers heading toward Sonata. "Uh . . . I can't see anything," I said, switching from cloud to cloud.

 

"That's because it's not there, man." Sean raised his hands.

 

"Then, where is it?" I peered to see past the clouds. As the white cotton gave way, a big, beautiful, white castle took its presence, glittering by the light of the sun. It was floating! All of us turned in awe. "Ladies and gentlemen, especially Xabe, welcome to Flash Warrior academy, where everything is fun and a total pain in your arse." Sean beamed as he yelled the academy's name.

 

"Bu-but, if it's in there, then how can we get in?" Sam's eyes were as round as a meatball.

 

"It's easy, looked what's below you." Sean chuckled. We did as we were told and it seemed we were stepping on a round marked circle that looked like the Flash warrior symbol. We waited like half a second until suddenly a flashing blue light beamed at us as if the gates of heaven had opened. We were screaming to get the tension out of our lungs except for Claes, Sean, and mom. We were swirling as if a tornado was sucking us in. "It's okay to barf folks, that's normal," Sean laughed. We landed safely on the white tiles as we landed from jumping three feet. 

 

"I almost threw up." Sam clenched his belly.

 

The gigantic walls stood at a height of a hundred feet, maybe even more. It's crazy! The castle was pure white decorated with five flags, each with different symbols in them, red (Phoenix), blue (A warrior helmet), violet (A wizard hat), black (dragon), and white (Pegasus). "I'm so glad I came with you guys." Mondrea's jaw dropped.

 

"Me too." Rosie's eyes widened.

 

"Too bad grandma didn't come to see this. She probably would've died from the flashing light portal or whatever," said Sam.

 

***

 

"Welcome to our home, kid," said Claes. The tone of his voice becoming a little enthusiastic. The castle was like a kingdom, but with no houses. Instead, the academy was built with eight white turrets at the castle's circular wall. On each side, as we passed by, we saw warriors in different colored uniforms. Some fighting in hand-to-hand combat, some with weapons and magic, other warriors were feeding and training animals such as pegasi, unicorns, and other creatures. Meanwhile, the other Flash warriors were suiting up for their upcoming mission- whatever that was.

 

Instead of children running, there were four teenagers; two boys and two girls, probably beginners, who ran around while blasting magic. A blond boy was stretching his limbs to catch the girls while another boy with orange hair shot sparkling fireworks. The short-haired girl fought back while laughing as she shot sun rays out of her fingers while a brown curly-haired girl just dodged the crackling fireworks. "What did I tell you about using magic in the middle of other warriors' training?" Claes interrupted. The teenagers stopped and stood up straight, their fun aura faded away. 

 

"We're so sorry sir." The blond guy bowed his head. "We were just using unharmed magic."

 

"Even so. Go back to your training and get to Valdevin, he has a mission for you." The teenagers went crazy excited and headed back inside the castle. The inside was so huge as we entered the academy. Golden chandeliers brightened every area inside the castle, statues of warriors stood on every corner. Five colored flags with golden lines were hanging on each corner of the wall, beautiful. The hall was surrounded by warriors. They stood firmly. Like from outside, they wore different colors. Red, blue, violet, black, and white together with different colored armor.

 

Some warriors were just levitating, meditating whatever they could think of. "What exactly are we doing here?" Mondrea finally thought to ask. 

 

"We're here to register MaXabiere," Claes said. "By becoming one of us, registering is an important step. Because this is where it all began."

 

"Is this the only academy?" I asked.

 

"No, son," mom said, "There are several academies in the world, they were just hidden. Some were even ancient."

 

"Are you one of them too, mom?" Rosie asked.

 

"Not exactly," she sighed, "But your father was." It's too bad that mom didn't have much time to talk about dad. We just glanced at each other, while Sam's face held an expression like his mind was blown. 

 

"Is it just me or is this place huge? These warriors must be overpopulated," Sam whispered. 

 

"I don't know, Sam." I kept looking at the pictures. They showcase the warriors saving people, fighting bad guys and monsters, taming animals, and studying in the library.

 

As we arrived at a ceramic table with the Flash warrior symbol, there stood a man with glasses in a white soldier uniform. In my eyes, he looked like he was in his forties. "Ah, Captain Claes, welcome ba-" Be stopped as he looked at us. "And may I have an answer on who these people are?"

 

"We have found a new member in our order. He needs a registration. His mother is here." Mom raised an eyebrow as if she's showing off. I had no idea what's gotten into her but the man didn't protest or anything like that, he just nodded and took out a paper. "Anyway," said Claes, "This is Mr. Valdevin, one of the finest registrars in the Flash warrior academy. He is also the quest manager who assigns quest handlers in and out of this place."

 

"And I assume you brought those four teenagers for a quest that I didn't even put for their level." Mr. Valdevin gave Claes the look.

 

"What did you offer them?"

 

"Cleaning the storage room. Jumping mice went crazy and cost a lot less. You know those little critters when they jump." 

 

Sean chuckled. "What can be worse than jumping mice?"

 

"Rats," Valdavin simply responded. He moved on by looking at each of us before his eyes darted at me. "First, show me what you got," he said to me, his facial expression never changed. I looked at my companions, they reluctantly nodded.

 

"Okay, here I go." I sighed and rubbed my hands together, pumping myself up. I slowly breathed and closed my eyes, concentrating on my magic. As I willed it to show him what I've got, it did. Flames swirled around me-no, not flames-but sparks with red lightning stormed around me. I felt . . . powerful. Flashback of the wild hunt in the winter forest and my awakening had flooded my thoughts.

 

Look, I didn't even know how my magic could be this way. I felt in awe while shocked by my power but I had to keep pretending that I know this kind of magic. As I kept doing it, I floated as gravity lift me in the air. Right now, all I could think of was the flow of my magic. I went back to my normal state, the entire crowd watched me. Some were serious, some had their jaw dropped, and some were amused. I think I showed off too much. I turned back to the guy with glasses. I really couldn't tell if he saw something else or just nothing.

 

"Alright, I've seen enough." The man cleared his throat, he turned to mom. "Um . . . are you the son's mother."

 

"Yes, now can we bring him in?" she asked. The man slid the paper to us. A ball pen appeared when he snapped his fingers. "Here you go, young boy. Write down everything that needs to be required."  My hand was getting kinda tired from writing about myself.

 

Flash Warrior Academy Registration

 

Name: MaXabiere Gale Berrygrewd

 

Age: 16

 

Birth: January 3, 3 N.E (New Era)

 

Place of birth: Snowfall Village Clinic

 

Discovered magic: From Dragon Attack

 

Blood type:

 

I stopped and asked my mother about my blood type. At first, she hesitated, but she finally answered. I wrote type O and proceeded to the other questions.

 

Region: Quarté region, North, Everlos

 

Kind of magic:

 

I reluctantly answered this question. Earlier, I realized the fire was not just my ability. He has magical abilities, but not like any other. Since I met him, I sensed his aura, it's way too different. Commander's words echoed inside my head. I was thinking this way through. He possessed a magic that is so inexplicable. But what am I capable of? I had no choice but to put this:

 

Kind of magic: Anything that I could think of aside from fire

 

If you have signed in, you are now officially enrolled in the Flash warrior academy, you must gain honor to the people whom you protect for their sake. With great power comes great responsibility. May the heavens bless you.

 

I was done writing and the man with glasses snapped his fingers, the paper, and the pen vanished. And I began to think, That's it? "The registration paper will be with Miss Scotlight. Now, if you please proceed to your room and carry your things."

 

"My things?" I pondered.

 

"Not to worry." He pointed at the corner and my things were in the luggage, bags, even my laundry. "I don't get it." I'm still wondering.

 

"Oh, don't be silly, you'll live here," informed the man. I faced Claes and Sean for answers, I have no idea what's going on anymore. 

 

"I . . . uh . . . forgot to mention that, sorry." Claes slightly looked away before looking down. 

 

"But what about you guys?" I asked my family. Mom held my shoulder as she got closer. "Xabe, the reason why we're here is that you still need so much guidance from your family. That is how it works, my son. And when I say guidance, I meant bringing you here for registration."

 

"Yeah, you heard the woman." Mondrea sounded so happy.

 

"But, we're still going to live in the village near from here," Mom added. "Come, let us now proceed."

 

***

 

Four warriors helped us carry my things. I just realized how many of my things were here, especially with the laundry. Sam and I were carrying my books that were left from the destroyed village. "Thanks for the help, Sam." I smiled at him, glad that my best friend is at my side in times like this.

 

"Hey, no problem. Lucky for you, you still have something to read. Unlike me." Sam made an angry, silly face. "I just bought those books with high discounts."

 

"Oh, Sam, I feel sorry for you. But don't worry, I'm guessing that something good will happen this time. Like, you'll get a better one."

 

"But I just spend my aunt's money on those books."

 

"She'll kill you for that." I almost laughed, but I kept my mouth shut. We got to my room, which was room seventy-eight, 4th floor. I was like, "Whoa, that's a lot of rooms". Trust me, there were like huge, thousands of rooms it's killing me.

 

Mine was way bigger than I expected. It had dozens of spaces. On the right corner was a white bed with a brown blanket. Next to it was a lamp that lights up as if it knows that we're coming. Beside my bed were an empty bookshelf and an armor and weapon stand. The carpet had the Flash warriors insignia: A sphere with the letters F and W that were fused displayed just the way I wanted. On top of the fireplace was a big picture of the rising sun while eagles flew to the sky. "Oh. My. Goodness." Mondrea went silent, stunned in other words. 

 

"Wow," I commented.

 

We put my things away where they should be, especially my laundry. We gave thanks to the other warriors before they headed downstairs. Then, we took a break. My room had enough couches for us. Sam, Rosie, and I were on the couch in the middle. Mondrea, mother, and Henrich were on the other couches. Claes and Sean had a seat for each of them.

 

"Rosie, how are you doing?" I turned to her.

 

"What?" She faced me after she was snapped back to reality.

 

"Your condition. How do you feel?"

 

"Well . . . I felt a lot better, now, thank you. That poison cloud almost killed me back then." Her smile faded.

 

"Fortunately, a guy brought you here," I told her.

 

"Yeah, I wonder if it's one of those two." I followed where she was looking and saw Claes and Sean talking about something to do with curing an incurable disease, even though it's already over. "Back at the ship, I already asked them. They said they didn't and had no knowledge of who brought you to the clinic. So mysterious."

 

"I hope I could see him someday so I could thank him . . . or her." 

 

I put my arm around my sister. "You could just wish for it when it's your and Mondrea's birthday," I said. 

 

"You mean our birthday since we're the same age, but I'll take note of that," she chuckled.

 

Well, that's it. This is where my entire journey began. My family and Sam went to the village to settle their things. I knew that this will be very, very, very hard for me to be a part of them, but I had no choice but to join. After all, I couldn't just wish for my magic to vanish within me. I had to do this. I am not afraid to adapt and know more about the world around me, but I'm hoping that it's not too foolish.