The arrival of dawn marked the beginning of the Academy.
3rd May Year 2109 on Solaris Calendar.
In this world, you could find labyrinths or ancient runes filled with relics, treasures, artifacts, and many things but they are quite rare.
Only a few are known and in the Empire of Cyprus where he was currently a well-known labyrinth was found in the place where he was going.
Yes, you are thinking correctly. Horizon is built over a labyrinth that was cleared several centuries ago.
Tidying himself, he dressed up in the suit provided by the academy trying to make himself as presentable as possible. Aoko & Oruta did same.
His eyes were still dead as dried fish but after some sleep, it was a bit better.
He still didn't understand how they are alive. They should disappear from what he understood. He hoped others did make it out like him somewhere.
Only time will tell.
He took a deep breath while checking out of the inn. Destroyer Trio had already cleared the crime scene of fire as best as possible and luckily, they did not check their room.
Coming out of the Inn, they raised their heads to take a glance at the floating magic castle which was a defining trait of this Empire.
The entire Magic Castle was an artifact and a mobile fortress. It was the place where the Royals stayed. There is also a Royal Castle under it but this one stood out the most.
There were also various art and images of it on the internet, however, nothing came close to the real thing.
"It's really beautiful."
Once your eyes fall on it, you will be reluctant to turn your gaze away.
"Yeah... Whatever let's go" Oruta says with annoying look.
"Let's get a carriage guys" Aoko says and the trio agreed.
Ritsuka nodded his head and looked for a carriage.
Though the world is modern, cars are still a luxury and can only be afforded by the upper middle class so you would rarely find cabs.
Through It wasn't annoying for them because They are used to walk.
Most of the cabs are run under the company headed by rich people. There were trams but none of them went to Horizon which was situated at the outer edge of Bloodhill forest which was also called Blood Peach forest because of bloodied Peach growing near that region.
The group observed their surroundings and most of the housing styles looked like the late 90s, however, there were still some high-class buildings and tall towers at the core of the capital.
Nearing the Academy, the group got out of the carriage and looked at the sea of crowds.
"It was a bit overwhelming here isn't it. It brings back few memories" Aoko says with smile.
"Yeah." Ritsuka agreed. Oruta can only look at it since she isn't familiar with this feeling after all she was created unlike them.
"High-low classes are everywhere in this world" she says.
The high-end cars and limousines lined up seemed to be sparkling with superiority.
There was a crowd near the entire gates and who knows, how many of them might be noble.
"Okay, let's move towards gate early."
The group moved their way through the crowd toward the gate.
Noticing many people from a short distance, Aoko thought, the standard of beauty in this world is quite high. No wonder no one Thought Aoko and jalter are beautiful because everyone in this world are good looking.
What can be classified as handsome movie stars in his previous world might be considered average.
'Maybe it's because of mana that most people's looks are quite good.'
'Still, Jalter and Aoko are most beautiful than others in my eyes'
As they passed through them, they realized that most of these are noble servants.
It is only 5 minutes past 7 and the opening ceremony will begin at 8 so most of the students would arrive near that time cause everybody knows how late these things deviate from the set time.
They arrived early to observe the Academy and memorize the road.
The smartwatch they wore serves as an identification process and also as a medium to receive instructions.
The guards checked trio and matched the data and let them pass while they observed the massive reinforced gates and walls with awe. The defense seemed to be done excellently.
Just a glance at the academy from the gates was intimidating enough.
It looks like a mini city.
''I can't believe I am going to study here.'' Ritsuka said
"More than that, I wonder how strong the defenses are?"
"I feel like it wasn't that strong huh.."
If he did not know about the mage world, he might have thought that he was blessed enough to enter here.
"There is no safe that can't be opened huh.."
"Just how much have they spent here."
"Billions or perhaps trillions maybe."
As trio wandered around, they heard some shrill cries from afar.
GULP!
Ritsuka rolled his eyes to see two guys who seemed to be seniors ganging up on someone.
'Have they already started on frist day?'
'should I beat them and run away before they can notice. No I should not cause trouble on Frist day.'
Aoko muttered inwardly while hurrying her steps. On their path, their ears occasionally picked up murmurs of students around them and most of them were not pleasant.
The first years were asked to assemble at the Oval-shaped stadium by 8 AM.
The group strolled around for 20 minutes and tried to match the places with the vivid description he had read in website.
"What is the time?"
"Let me see... It's already 7:30."
They looked for the students and mixed in with a small crowd to walk towards the stadium.
The moment he was about to take the crossroads his body froze. Before this, he felt something sticking to him and wrapping around him.
No, he was not the only one, Aoko, Oruta and the six students around them also stopped like a statute.
Ritsuka tried to open his mouth but it seemed to be jammed as if he was paralyzed.
Then as if following certain commands, he along with others moved on their own.
Instead of taking left, they took a right turn and moved toward the deserted garden.
Ritsuka looked at aoko and oruta. They understand something is going on and decided to see what it is. Ritsuka unconscious used Clean skill as a habit of past experience. Green light covered him and He got out of it. Aoko and oruta already took control of their bodies.
Soon they reached the garden where a black-haired boy stood leaning against the tree. Beside him two underlings stood.
Ritsuka spotted a purple spider over the boy's left shoulder from which various rays of strings were shot.
"So, you are the first batch?"
The black-haired boy spoke non-chantilly and straightened his back.
As he took a look at the 8 people, he clicked his tongue.
"Even if you all are commoners and amount to nothing, I will surely find some use for you."
"They all are at 1-Star!"
"Fine, this will do for us."
They muttered and took something out of thin air.
The trio got a gist of the situation.
This boy was a half-demon and his name is Diral as they saw on his shirt. While the main force of Demons retreats to the Demon realm, many remaining demons dig deeper into the society, rising to a high position while some even form dark cults.
Then Diral is from one of those cults.
He is a spirit summoner and his summoned spirit is a spider that could help to control people as puppets for a certain time. He had learned various arts of puppet master and if you are not strong then you will be controlled by him.
Currently, he could control the movements of 8 people. He would force us to sign the slave control and become his pawns
But that's not what matters.
Ritsuka really felt his luck is bad. Same with Aoko, Jalter. Trouble came looking for them on frist day.
'tch...where are the guards and where are the other students.' Jalter cruses
It was 7:35, so it might be early for people to stroll here and the children belonging to nobles might have gone to their quarters to settle things or might arrive late.
Moreover, as far as they understood, this bastard looks for weak 1-Star to hunt.
Unluckily not only does Ritsuka look weak, but all the six around him might be at 1-Star expect Aoko and Oruta.
'If someone even passed near here, he would not pay any attention as it would seem like a group of friends fawning over a great guy who looks normal.' Ritsuka thought
Diral stepped forward and raised the contract.
He raised his brows as he received a glare from everyone.
"Hey, what are you looking at?"
"You should consider yourself lucky for being able to work for the esteemed me."
"Now come here one by one and sign this quickly."
"I don't want to be caught this early."
A student stepped forward as Diral handed the contract, he held it in one hand and touched it with the other.
A searing pain passed on his finger, and a drop of blood split on it.
Ritsuka was fourth in number.
'This is not a normal contract but a mana contract which cannot be broken once signed.'
'If we do something how could we prove that we are innocent.'
He looked at the surroundings and saw no cameras.
'We could only depend on the students to be our eye witness'
He looks back at his servants and nodded.
A thought appeared in his head while observing the process of signing the contract.
Ritsuka's eyes glowed and mana started to swirl around his fingers.
"Now your turn."
Ritsuka's body moved forward.
Ritsuka attempted his best to contain his animosity reflecting through his eyes and stretched his hand.
Just as his fingers were about to touch the contract, mana gushed out wildly and a dazzling blue electric light erupted.
BOOM!
A ball of lighting exploded sending Diral flying backward to slam against the tree while Ritsuka's hand jerked back due to the impact causing him to groan loudly in pain. Diral stunned with paralyzed body unable to move.
Ritsuka was shocked to feel pain he used stun skill for Frist time in this world.
Not only his stun skill is very weak compared to past but also the damage it did was weak unlike before. He got backslash instead.
Then he remembered he always had mystic code to use his skills but now he didn't have it.
And now he was able to use his mystic code skills.
How???