21 The Arch Qi Academy

The convoy soon reached the gates of the academy which were at least as tall as 40 feet. The walls had weird symbols emitting a blue light inscribed on the top part of the wall. The seven had a hunch that it was some kind of barrier. They heard so many stories of the world from Rachael, and it was quite easy to guess after hearing all those stories.

"I guess he is on duty right now, just like he always is. We have a letter we need to deliver to him as well." Hiro sighed as he looked towards the top of the gates as he said those words. The seven followed Hiro's gaze out of curiosity only to see a man with a golden aura around him standing on the stone path above the gates. He had a long sword in his hands that he had lodged deep into the stone path.

"Mr.Hiro, who is that man?" Leo asked curiously without averting his eyes from that man. The convoy stopped before the gates while Kart and Simon got off their horses and walked towards the soldiers to show the proofs, that they are here on duty, and the seven were new students.

"That man? He is the protector of the academy, he is not much of a talker but he is one of the most powerful Paladin in our kingdom, Orion. The only one who can command him is the King himself. The other three academies are guarded by a Paladin as well. They are not obliged to protect the city, but only the academy and its students. The city is protected by two other Paladins."

"A Paladin, huh?" The seven leaned out the window to sneak a peek at the first Paladin they ever saw. He seemed to be around 40 years old with brown hair and black eyes. A thin layer of golden Qi surrounded his white and red coat but unlike the glowing symbols on the Knights hands, they couldn't confirm if he had one too, as he wore brown gloves which covered his palm. It's back but showed the upper parts of his fingers.

"We are in, let's go fellas." Kart shouted out loud as he got onto his horse along with Simon. The convoy moved in slowly as the gates opened. The inside of the gates didn't match the city surrounding it. The city itself was very advanced but the academy seemed much more advanced than modern cities of the earth.

The academy had large structures which the seven assumed to be battlegrounds or practice arenas. They looked around in all directions and it was obvious for them that they would get lost in the academy one of these days. But what the group didn't notice was that the paladin, Orion turned around to stare at the cart in which the seven were.

"What have they done? They are not supposed to be here. They were never to walk these grounds again." Orion mumbled to himself as he shook his head while he stared at the cart carrying the seven with a serious and angry face.

"Erina chan, don't forget to tell us where you are going in the future, okay?" Aiko asked sweetly as she looked at Erina who replied with a question of her own. "Why?"

"Because it's going to be a pain in the ass to search for you." Ian said with a straight forward face to which none of them denied.

"Fine, hmph." Erina puffed her left cheek trying to show her discomfort.

"Young Masters and Young Miss', we have arrived. We will lead the way, please follow Kart and Simon. I have to deliver these letters, so with your permission, I will take my leave now." Kart and Simon opened the doors to the cart as Hiro bowed slightly before them.

"Thanks for all the hard work, Mr.Hiro. You are relieved of your duties." Leo stated with a smile on his face to which Hiro nodded back before leaving.

The seven were actually early by a day, due to which there weren't many students around the campus at that time. The seven were led inside the campus building and straight into the headmaster's office. The office was quite spacious with a big desk and a royal chair right before a large window. There were sofas on either side of the room.

"Simon and Kart, my old students. I have been expecting you and also the young ones Lord Liam told me about." The one who spoke was the headmaster, Edgard Felix sitting on his chair.

"Been a while, Master Edgard. These are the seven students, Lord Liam mentioned. He hopes you to take good care of them." Simon said with a pleasant smile.

"Do not worry about them. You can leave now Kart, Simon. They are my students now, I will take care of the rest." Edgard seemed to be in his 60's but didn't emit the aura of one. He had a strong aura to him which would assure others that it wasn't a wise decision to go against him.

"We will leave it to you then. Young Masters and Young Madams, I suppose it is farewell now." Kart and Simon turned towards Leo and the others as they bowed a little, to which the others replied with a slight bow.

"I am Edgard Felix, the headmaster of 'The Arch Qi Academy', and you young lads are?."Edgard got out of his chair and walked to the front of the desk as he introduced himself while also examining the seven.

The seven introduced themselves and also told him everything that they told Liam. Leo thought it would be the best to let the headmaster know, in case if they mess up something because they didn't know. Also, to know if he knew a way to send them back.

"Quite a story, but I believe the fact that you are not from anywhere around here. No one from around here can break a Nex gem." Stating his thoughts, Edgard threw a few Nex gems at the group which he kept in his desk for the seven. The seven caught the Nex gems and looked at Edgard as if asking 'You want us to break them again?'

"Can you do the same again? I will chant the spell to weaken your seals, just as before." Edgard started chanting as soon as he finished informing the seven what to do.

The seven had no problem in doing what he asked. They just concentrated on the gem in their hands and before long the gem cracked before turning into pieces.