The night was black as ink.
At the guard post by the academy's East Gate, two young men stared out at the pitch-black night, bored out of their minds.
Two Silver Thorn Damselflies flew slowly between the walls, their paired, compound eyes shimmering with silver light as they periodically scanned the swamp below for any potential Soul Beasts.
A tall Tree Spirit and a comparatively small Silver Lotus Wood stood like dutiful sentinels, silent on either side of the guard post.
"Hey, Wu Fan. You all have been here for a while since you crossed over. Ever tried venturing outside? I mean... this place is a real backwater. Why not find somewhere better to live?" The one who spoke was a young, blond, blue-eyed foreigner with a faint German accent.
The hundred or so foreigners who had entered the academy had gradually joined various posts, contributing to its development.
