"When you build up a hype before trashing it down the drain"
Apollo sighed thinking he could get a reward.
[It might become the case Creator, you just need to wait until the start of the class]
"The start of the class is on the tenth day of the sixth month, Iūnius"
[We still have a month to prepare]
"Yes that is correct"
After the announcement of those who passed the entrance exam Apollo immediately disappeared among the crowd.
"We lost him," Odysseus said as he stood up on top of a table.
"That's unfortunate. Your Highness, should we visit the Lionheart duchy to meet him?"
"No need for that Astrid, from what I've heard the youngest son of the Lionheart duchy currently resides at the mage tower"
Odysseus sighed knowing that the place was located in the middle of four dangerous forests.
"Let's just talk to him once classes start. Since the top 20 students tend to be placed in the high class"
"Seus is right Your Highness we don't need to rush"
Caesar nodded, agreeing to their words; however, he couldn't shake the feeling that once he let go of Apollo now, he wouldn't be able to talk to him again.
Outside the academy, a huge crowd of people waited for their children to come out; however, the one that truly stands out among the crowd is 72 mages, all lined up neatly as if a war were about to come. Some thought they were sent by the academy to secure the peace, but the truth is they, too, were waiting for their kid, Apollo.
"I wonder how little sun handles the exam," Gavin said as he continued to fiddle with his fingers.
"What are you so nervous our boy can handle it"
"Sam that's not what I meant"
"Then what is it then?"
"It's Apollo's understanding of people that's the problem!"
"I still don't get it, he understands us pretty well"
"Yes and how old are we? We are crazy old wizards that have been secluded inside a tower for years! All we know is magic!"
"Still don't get it," Sam said as he took another pack of chips from his space ring. Gavin, on the other hand, just sighs.
"I just worry that he won't understand the difference between mages from the tower and mages that are the same age as him" he hopes what he feared won't happen while looking at the large gates of the academy.
"BOOM!"
Suddenly, the clouds turned dark while lightning began striking the sky. White lightning evaporated the air causing a roaring sound among the dark clouds in the sky.
All the tower mages stare and focus towards the source of the storm.
"Is that?"
"Apollo!"
Gavin couldn't help but face palm seeing the power Apollo was exuding.
"Do you understand me now Sam?"
Sam, who was looking at the sky with an aghast expression, finally spoke, "Nope, still don't get it." Then his face turned nonchalant.
"Sigh seriously"
Another booming sound echoed before the lightning storm ended.
"Where's the little sun?"
"He is falling down fast!"
"What!"
To the surprise of the people, 72 mages suddenly flew up and covered the sky.
"Wait, what's going on!"
"Did something happen!"
"Are we being attacked!"
Their sudden action caused panic among the populace; however, before those 72 mages could even move, a single being stopped them.
"At ease, my mages, no need to worry," Alger said as he appeared out of nowhere, putting the brakes on the speeding mages of the tower.
"The boy is safe, take a look," he waved his hand, and a mirror appeared.
All heads suddenly went towards a mirror.
"Oh he did land safely"
"That was scary!"
They all felt relieved when they saw a red-orange-haired boy standing on top of a table.
"Now, all of you settle down." Alger's calm voice soon set the minds of the mages at ease.
"We should just wait"
"Yeah," They all said.
And so all the mages went back to their waiting mode, just patiently waiting for their kid.
.....
Back at Apollo who began to blend among the crowd, his simple and nimble movements made it hard for him to be spotted. His action, seemingly deceiving, soon began to follow someone.
Two giant gates open up for the students to finally see their families, who eagerly waited for them.
Emotions suddenly rise as soon as the kids see their parents. As they take the exams series of scary things happen to them. Aside from the pressure of passing the exam their experience of being blown away by an explosion, and almost getting melted by a bolt of white lightning made the reunion even more emotional. Even though they are older than kids they are still younger than adults, so it was still hard for them to handle such events.
"Mom!"
"Dad I did it!"
"Grandpa, can I enrol in a different school?"
While some students gave some heartfelt words to their parents, Apollo walked around them tailing down a certain individual.
Then at a certain place in the city, a boy who seems to be the same as Apollo walks through the dark corridors of an alley.
For a moment, that boy stops walking, and a sense of unease creeps in, making his chest tighten; something is wrong, he could feel it. Then he instinctively glances over his shoulder, trying to assure himself that his instincts were wrong. Nervously he looked back and saw a man clad in a black cloak.
"I suppose you succeeded Dino" The boy nodded in answer.
"No need to worry brother the task you put on me will be accomplished"
"By the way, I noticed you were nervous a while ago did something happen"
"No brother I thought someone was following me but it turns out it was just you"
The man clad in a black cloak chuckled then he said "Oh Dino it wasn't just me actually"
More people came out from the corners of the alley all clad in all-black clothing.
Their attire consists of a black robe tied with a cord around their waist. Underneath the robe is a magical tunic that neutralizes magical attacks, while on their heads, a hood covers their faces. It's as if they are friars from a monastery, if it weren't for the eerie aura they exclude anyone would mistake for missionaries spreading the words of God.
"This sacrifice you make will be acknowledged by the great Nirvana, so be patient dear brother"
"I will be," the boy said with great determination as if the safety of the world rested on his shoulders.
"All will be placed under the great Nirvana," the people wearing monastery clothes said.
"Yes indeed, all will be placed under Nirvana's will." Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice sounded, making them alert.
"Who's there!" The boy exclaimed.
"I am a bit hurt, I am also an examinee, yet you didn't remember me," the voice sounded again.
"It's better to leave and pretend you didn't see anything here or die because of your interference," one of the people wearing monastery clothes said.
"Wow, that's a very generous offer, however...." Suddenly, the voice turned cold and sharp as if it were a blade that could cut.
Then that voice spoke again "You see I prefer a third option"
The boy named Dino chuckled as if hearing something ridiculous "There won't be any other options for you"
The unknown voice suddenly snickered and said "Oh? But there is"
From the darkest part of the alley the owner of the voice finally appears.
"Your deaths" he smiled as he said this.
However, opposite to his smiling greetings, the seven people who gathered around him had a frantic reaction.
"You are Apollo Lionheart!" Dino exclaimed finally recognizing him.
"What!" Simultaneously all six individuals dash forward to attack. They don't have time to underestimate him what they need is his head.
"You guys like going straight to the point no?"
Suddenly, electric charge surges up his body until it transforms into a bolt of white lightning.
[Not this again]
"No worries I can just use the energy bank again"
Apollo heard a groan inside his mind; however, he didn't have much time to speak to Jeremiah since six people were up for his head.
[That boy is casting a buffing spell]
"Deal with him"
[Affirmative]
As Apollo activated thunder aura the alley suddenly began to melt. This event made the six attacking individuals halt. They never anticipated such a spell from a 13-year-old boy. However, their sudden hesitation was all Apollo needed to attack.
"Thunder aura, positive lightning." A huge discharge of lightning shaped like a spear began to dance in the air, making a series of beautiful light displays.
It all happened in a snap; they couldn't even react. Before they knew it, their heads were all over the melted ground.
"What"
Dino suddenly pukes a mouthful of blood when his spell backfires.
"Why did I fail!?" He said as his knees met the ground.
"Jeremiah you didn't finish him"
[Master we need him for information]
"Right, I forgot" he then approached the kneeling boy and placed his hand on his trembling body.
"Let's see, Grandpa once gave me a spell for interrogation," he smiled, making Dino cry in pain.
"Please...I am begging you" he began to say.
However, Apollo doesn't focus on his words but on the spell he is casting.
Dark smoke began to rise from the ground and slowly crept into the boy's head.
"Argh!" He shouted.
However, despite his painful cry, Apollo continued casting his spell.
"Darkness element Necromancy magic, Veritas"