Mount Ju is a very cold mountain, even though it is not an icy mountain. The weather there is truly piercing, especially at its peak. Not only is it cold, this mountain also has many things that complete it.
Mount Ju is located far from the village, right behind Kahu Village. This place is rarely visited by the villagers. They say the mountain is full of dangerous animals, and that is really true. People who have gone there never come back. Clearly, this is not a place suitable for most people. Because it is so far away, the villagers are not too worried about being attacked by dangerous animals from there.
At the peak of Mount Ju stands an old house that is still standing strong. From the outside, the house looks worn out, but the inside is very well maintained. It is impossible for a house that is kept this good to have no owner. The owner is a woman who lives there with her male student.
That night, around 2:40 in the early morning, Haise had just finished taking a bath. His hair was still a little wet when he sat on the edge of the bed. The door to his room opened slowly. An adult woman stepped in calmly. The woman was his teacher. Haise was already getting ready to go to work. Haise worked at the meat market in Kahu Village. He had been working there for a long time. Every day he was paid 50 silver coins. 50 silver coins were equal to one gold coin. Haise started work from 3 a.m. until 10 a.m.
"It is still too early to leave, right?" his teacher asked gently.
Haise turned his head. "What is it? Is there something you want to talk to me about, Teacher?"
His teacher smiled slightly. "You have lived here for ten years. You have learned many things from me. But out of everything you have learned all this time, none of it means anything compared to what I am going to show you later. You are an adult now. It is time for you to see it before you leave for the academy."
"--"
Haise frowned. *None of it means anything compared to everything I have learned all this time?* His mind wandered. He had learned crazy things with his teacher for ten years. Even now he had not fully mastered all of it. And now his teacher said all of that meant nothing compared to what she was going to show him?
"What is with that look in your eyes?" his teacher asked while raising an eyebrow. "Do you want to see it or not? If you do not want to, then fine."
"Only a fool would refuse," Haise answered quickly. "I want to see it. I am really curious about what Teacher is going to show me!"
His teacher nodded a little. "In that case, get ready. When you see it later, you will only be able to stand there in silence for a long time."
"--"
* * *
Just as his teacher had said, Haise really could only stand there in silence. His eyes were wide open, his breath held. He did not know how long he had been frozen like that.
They were at the foot of the mountain. In front of them stretched a lake of clear but dark water because it was still late at night. But right now, the sky above them had completely changed.
The stars that had been scattered across the night sky seemed to disappear all at once. What was left was only a pitch-black empty sky, without even a single star's light. Everything was gone.
*What kind of power did I just see?* Haise felt his heart beating fast. *Even though I saw it directly… I still cannot believe what I saw just now… Everything was destroyed. The sound of the explosion… the power of its destruction… It was truly insane. Out of all the techniques I have ever learned, this one is the most terrifying. I wonder… will I one day be able to master a power like this? And what would happen if this technique was fired at the ground? I… really cannot imagine it.*
His teacher spoke in a calm voice, "All this time I have only shown you the Sky-Cutting technique. What you saw just now is the power of the Sky Destroyer. To release this technique, you must make sure the three natural powers you release have reached the highest level—the King level. King of Wind, King of Lightning, and King of Fire. That is the foundation. Never try to release this technique if those three powers have not reached the King level. If you force it, it will only waste your energy, and the power will become uncontrollable. Remember your teacher's words. It is better for you to master the techniques I have shown you before. That is much better."
"--"
* * *
After witnessing the terrifying power his teacher released, Haise immediately ran toward Kahu Village. If he walked normally, it would take two to three hours. But Haise was not a normal person. He ran at an incredible speed, so he could cover the long distance much faster.
Haise worked at the meat market. There was a large warehouse there that became the center of meat trading. Because the market was big, of course there could not be only one worker.
Most of the things in their house on the mountain were bought with the money from his job. In the past, before Haise worked, everything in the house was made by his teacher's own hands. Once Haise asked why Teacher did not buy things from the village. His teacher only answered casually, "Why bother? This mountain already has everything. There are fruit plants, vegetables, animals that can be eaten, and lakes and rivers full of fish. If I need money, I just kill monsters whose bodies can be sold in the village."
Haise was sure his teacher was a super lazy person. But he never dared to say it in front of his teacher. Even though she was lazy, his teacher was the person who had raised him since he was little. It would be rude if he said something like that.
Haise finally arrived at Kahu Village. Even though it was still morning, the market was already busy with people coming. He stepped into the big meat building with relaxed steps, then walked to his work table. Table number 10, as usual.
Every table was occupied by two people. Haise's job was to cut the meat, while beside him stood a girl who was younger than him. Her name was Hakira, the daughter of the owner of the largest meat market in the village. Her job was to check the cut meat and handle payments from buyers.
"By the way, Hakira," Haise said while picking up his cutting knife, "where is your mother? Your mother's table is empty today. I also did not see your father here."
"They had to go to Huin Academy as usual," Hakira answered while arranging the pile of already-cut meat. "Every year people from that academy order a large amount of meat from our place. Father and Mother go with the delivery group to make sure the meat really comes from us."
"Hoo~ No wonder every year your mother and father are not here for two days," Haise nodded. "By the way, registration for Huin Academy will close after summer ends, right?"
"Yes, why are you suddenly asking about that?" Hakira turned her head, her eyes narrowing a little. "Wait… Don't tell me you want to register for that academy?" She immediately covered her mouth with her hand, looking very shocked.
"Why are you so shocked? That is indeed my plan. I will register to enter Huin Academy. That academy is very famous. I heard from someone—my teacher—that the academy is perfect for improving someone's abilities and talents. That is why I will leave tomorrow before registration closes. How many days until summer ends? I do not want to be late and have to wait another year to register. That would be too long."
"Just like you said, that academy is indeed very famous in this world," Hakira said. "Not only famous, but also very big. Trust me, if it is someone's first time arriving there, they will definitely be shocked by how vast the place is. I went there once with my father and mother when I was twelve years old. Every year, far more people fail to enter than those who are accepted. The entry requirements… I myself do not know exactly."
"Because you have been there before, do you know the fastest way to get there? And also, do you know where the academy is actually located?"
"Hah?" Hakira looked at Haise with a face of disbelief. "You want to go there but you do not know the way, and you do not even know where the academy is?"
"If I knew, I would not ask. So, do you know or not?"
"Of course I know," Hakira answered. "There are two roads to Zuri Country. The first road is the rocky road. The path is uneven and hot because there are few trees. But that road is very safe. That is the one my father and mother usually use. Even though it is the longest, if you leave now, you will only arrive at night. The second road is the forest road. That is the fastest. But many people avoid it. They prefer the rocky road even though it is longer, because it is safer. The forest road is a nest of monsters. There are so many monsters there. Only people with a certain level of power dare to go through it. So I suggest… it is better not to take that road."
"A nest of monsters, huh?…" Haise smiled slightly while cutting the meat with fast movements. *Are the monsters there stronger than the monsters on the mountain?*
"Did you say something?" Hakira asked.
"Nothing," Haise shook his head. "Let's focus on work."
After that, the two of them immediately got busy with their own tasks. Inside the big meat market, the atmosphere became even busier.
* * *
A few days earlier, before Haise witnessed his teacher's insane power that erased the stars from the night sky.
In the living room, Haise and his teacher sat facing each other as usual. Since Haise was twelve years old, all the housework had become his responsibility: cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, even setting the dining table. His teacher only sat comfortably while enjoying the food.
"Oh yes," his teacher said suddenly, "I just remembered one place. Huin Academy. An academy that is very famous for its teachings. I have heard the name of that place many times. They say it is the right place to improve someone's abilities and talents."
Haise, who was chewing slowly, raised his eyebrows a little. "Huin Academy?… I think I have heard the name of that place… But because that place was not important to me, I ended up forgetting where I heard it. Why are you suddenly talking about that place?"
"I think it is time for you to see the outside world. You have lived here for ten years. Are you not bored living only on this mountain and in the village? Besides, there you can learn new things that are not here. Isn't it only right for someone your age to see the outside world?"
"This is too sudden. And I have no plans to go anywhere, at least for now."
"That is why make a plan to go to one place," his teacher said calmly. "Until when will you only stay on this mountain? Do you want to be a human who only lives in one place for your whole life? What kind of human is that?"
Haise frowned. "Isn't that you, Teacher?"
"What did you just say?" His teacher looked at Haise with narrowed eyes, but her voice stayed calm. "Just so you know, I have lived far longer than you. I have seen many places and many things in this world. Never compare me with you who are still young. Have you been thinking all this time that I only stay at home? There are times when I go out for walks, you just do not know about it."
*Hmm… Huin Academy, huh?…* Haise's mind wandered. *It seems everything Teacher said is not wrong. I am indeed an adult now. I am already twenty years old. All this time I have only been on the mountain and in the village… I have never gone far from those two places—the village and the mountain. Huin Academy, I think that place is suitable for someone like me. To be honest, I do not know much about the outside world.*
He let out a soft sigh, then nodded firmly. "All right. I will register to enter that famous academy. So… where is the place?"
His teacher shrugged. "I do not know. Find out yourself. I have never gone there and I have never had a reason to go there."
"HAHHH!!!"
Haise's shout of shock and frustration immediately filled the quiet living room. His eyes widened, his mouth opened wide. His teacher only smiled slightly seeing her student's reaction, then calmly continued eating as if nothing had happened.