The Twins decided to open the Conclave and browse for a while as they waited to leave for the Dorms. Meanwhile, Morgranna ensured they had plenty of snacks and drinks, directing the servants to tidy up the carriage to maximise comfort for her charges.
After another hour, the Elders gathered everyone's attention. "Everyone has their own Mammy and is settled in. It's now time for us to move toward the Academy so you can get your Dorms assigned and move in. After that, you'll be free to explore the Academy grounds and get some rest."
"Starting tomorrow, you'll begin your lessons. Chaos, your curriculum will be accelerated as you have less than three months to master everything, including your own body, before your Awakening. The rest of you have six months to complete your preparation."
The Twins tilted their heads at this news, while Morgranna nodded in agreement with the Elders. The other Children stared in shock; they could clearly tell something had happened to the Chaos Twins based on their behaviour and appearance that morning, but didn't know the details. Naturally, they did what Children do best: they asked.
The Elders looked to the Chaos Twins, who nodded, as they too wanted a better understanding of the situation.
With the Twins' approval, Elder Caine began to explain, "Yesterday, after your Healing was completed, we noticed the Chaos Twins' Awakening had progressed further than expected. This became more apparent after they experienced an intense Aura outburst, brought on by their emotions, which we managed to contain quickly."
"Head Nocturne anticipated there might be unexpected phenomena during their conditioning in the Med Tank. She switched their conditioning potion from F-level to D-level, opting against a more potent potion to avoid overnourishment—which is hazardous and can be difficult to treat—and set it to automatic replenishment."
"Thankfully, she made these adjustments, as the unexpected phenomena did occur and were even more severe than expected. The Chaos Twins used eight and a half canisters of D-level conditioning potion—an unprecedented amount. Until now, no one has ever used more than three canisters at any level during conditioning."
"Their vital signs and data were so unusual that we sought help from an older Infernal Twin Demon and their Slayer to assist in waking them. We were unsure if they'd be disoriented or dangerous. Thankfully, their help was invaluable, as the Twins awoke tense but not violent."
"We suspect this was caused by people from their homeworld experimenting on them in an attempt to interfere with their natural, partial Awakening. We managed to undo the effects of these experiments, but this somehow caused their Awakening to advance at a previously unseen rate."
"Essentially, the Chaos Twins could undergo Awakening right now; however, we feel they should wait and adapt to their new bodies and integrate the Knowledge they've gained. We estimate this will take less than a month, but we'd like to prolong their Awakening just a bit to ensure their bodies complete all changes without complications."
Celestial Elder Soleil continued, "Now you understand why we're paying such close attention to the Chaos Twins, and why most Infernals have been unsettled since yesterday's Healing sessions."
"Now, let's board the carriages and head to the Academy, where you'll spend the next year. Mammys, please have your carriages follow behind your Clan Elder. We'll continue this discussion during the journey—it will take about three hours at high speed to reach our final stop."
With that, all the Elders boarded their carriages with their Mates and settled on the balconies. Once all the Children were situated on their own balconies, the carriages lined up neatly behind their respective Elders.
The Elders' carriages set off first, with the Children's carriages close behind, easily keeping pace. A shield shimmered to life around the balconies, protecting the passengers from the wind as the speed increased.
"Now, returning to the topic at hand," Elder Soleil spoke as they travelled, "I'm sure you all heard the commotion during the Mammy summoning?"
He was met with a chorus of affirmations, with one Child adding, "My Mammy mentioned that a particular Mammy was upset about how her charge was treated."
"That was a very astute observation. The chaos resulted from the Mammy summoning of the Chaos Twins; their Mammy went on a rampage after seeing signs of starvation, despite her charges having eaten a full D-level breakfast and a box of snacks on the way."
"Their Mammy, Morgranna, is renowned among the Infernals and infamous among other Clans. Her charges describe her as a fiercely protective mother hen, while others call her 'The Deranged Mother Hen'."
"Does this mean her charges have problems because of her? No, it means others have problems with her fiercely protective nature. Mammys are logistical caretakers, with most of their Skills focused on care, but they are far from helpless."
"Mammys are fully equipped for combat and are fierce defenders of their charges. There's even a section on the Conclave dedicated to the battle glories of Mammys, with Morgranna topping the list since the beginning."
"She became infamous in one battle where she single-handedly wiped out an entire Civilisation to protect her charge. The reason? They tried to assassinate her charge, and she was determined to prevent it."
Morgranna could be seen nodding in satisfaction at this, while the other Mammys eyed her dedication with envy.
"Morgranna has had four charges since she was created by Tian Dao, and every single one has lived to the end of their natural lifespan, thanks to her dedication. She was last reclaimed ten thousand years ago when her fourth charge entered Eternal Slumber at age one million three hundred. A testament to her commitment!" he concluded, clearly trying to gain Morgranna's favour.
His Mate and the other Elders rolled their eyes at his praise. The Children giggled at their antics.
"Well, do you Children have any final questions before we hand you over to the Academy?" Mortal Elder Kyle asked, shifting the topic.
"How do Mammys react when their charge is hurt?"
"Well, remember when we discussed the basic Stats yesterday and warned you never to let them drop below ten percent? This is when Mammys stop being just logistical individuals—they activate what we call the 'Straight-line Response.' This means they'll move from where they are, point A, to their charge at point B, using the fastest possible route."
"Now, most Clan Mammys will avoid obstacles during this rush, but there's an exception: the Infernal Mammy. They take the 'Straight-line Response' to the extreme. They literally charge straight ahead at top speed, ignoring any obstacles."
"We call the Infernal Mammy's response 'Bulldoze Mode' because they plough through absolutely everything in their path—from trees, rocks, and mountains to man-made structures and, if necessary, the Planet itself."
"What if those obstacles are living beings? Same response—they get bulldozed. Imagine, during a major battle, an Infernal Mammy enters this mode and makes a beeline from the back of our lines to wherever her charge is on the battlefield."
"Picture this: a huge battlefield, an Infernal near the back of enemy lines, and his Stats drop to the warning line. His Mammy goes into the mode, and a shout goes up, 'Infernal Mammy on the move, heading…' Everyone on our side in her path scrambles to get out of the way."
"The enemy soldiers don't move, so you get the spectacular sight of people flying everywhere as the Mammy bulldozes her way from point A to point B. When she arrives, she stabilises her charge, loads them on a stretcher, and, after locating the Med Bay, heads off again to the cry of 'Infernal Mammy heading to Med Bay, heading…' Once again, everyone scrambles, and anyone too slow ends up flying—she won't slow down until she reaches her destination."
"There are also four special Infernal Mammys, and Morgranna is one of them. These four were the first Infernal Mammys Tian Dao created, but it quickly realised they were a bit too much."
"They do the same as other Infernals but with a twist. They go from point A to point B, accompanied by a cry of 'Mammy [insert name] unleashed, heading…' When she arrives, she removes any lingering threats to her charge first, then stabilises them and takes them to the Med Bay."
"Our people make sure that when any of the four Infernal Mammy names are called on the battlefield, point B is completely cleared of our people to prevent anyone from being caught in the crossfire."
The Children stared in awe at this revelation, their respect for the Mammys growing immensely after learning such information.
"Do Mammys have any other skills or abilities beyond what you've already told us?"
"Mammys are the ones who teach you life skills, manners, and etiquette. At the same time, they provide emotional support, mediate minor conflicts, and offer valuable advice on anything you need," came the response.
The Elders answered a few more random questions before announcing that they were nearing the Academy.
The carriages sped across the landscape, shimmering shields glowing as the Academy appeared on the horizon—an awe-inspiring structure nestled among rolling emerald hills and ancient, majestic trees. The main building commanded attention: a grand citadel of gleaming pale stone and expansive glass, its towers spiralling upward, each topped with banners in every Clan colour fluttering proudly in the breeze.
Enormous arched gateways opened into gardens where paths meandered alongside silvery streams. Students in vibrant uniforms could be glimpsed beneath blossom-laden trees or crossing open courtyards. Beyond the central structure, elegant dormitories and training halls radiated outward, their luminous rooftops catching the late sunlight.
Mystical runes pulsed softly along the Academy's walls, hinting at countless layers of protection and ancient magic. As the carriages drew closer, the air was filled with laughter and distant music, and the palpable sense of tradition and transformative promise became almost tangible. The Academy stood as a beacon of prestige and wonder, ready to welcome the next generation.
When the carriages halted outside the Academy gates, four figures stepped forward. "Welcome to the Elementary Academy, where you'll stay until you turn ten!" they called in unison.
The Elders greeted them, then introduced the Children after everyone had exited their carriages.
"Children, these are the four Headmasters of the Elementary Academy: Celestial Headmaster Solis, Immortal Headmaster Everdawn, Mortal Headmaster Rowan, and Infernal Headmaster Varkos."
The Children greeted the Headmasters politely.
The Headmasters smiled. Mortal Headmaster Rowan stepped forward, saying, "We are delighted to see this month's new batch of Children—and what an impressive group you are. You're the first batch to enter the Academy this month, so you'll get first pick of the dorms."
The Nursery Elders turned to the Headmasters and Children. "We'll be taking our leave now. We entrust you to the Headmasters' capable hands. Goodbye, Children—may you grow strong. We'll see you again when it's time for your Awakening." With warm waves, they boarded their carriages and departed.
"Come along, Children. Let's get you registered, and then you can choose your preferred Dorm style before we assign it. Mammys, you can stow the carriages for now, as they're not currently needed," Mortal Headmaster Rowan addressed the Children and Mammys.
"Please follow behind the Headmaster of your Clan to your section of the office."
The Children and their Mammys fell in line behind their respective Headmasters and followed them through winding corridors into a spacious reception area.
"Please take a seat. I'll call you one by one for registration. Now, let's have these strapping Twins go first, since they'll need special housing due to their size," Infernal Headmaster Varkos instructed.
He led the Chaos Twins and Mammy Morgranna into an office at the end of the reception area. Taking his seat behind a large desk, he motioned for them to sit as well.
"Alright, you must be Twin Demons Chaos and Mammy Morgranna. I've been informed you'll undergo an accelerated lesson plan before your Awakening within three months. Is there anything I've missed?" he asked.
The Chaos Twins shook their heads.
"Very well. Let's get you registered, and then you can choose your preferred Dorm style."
He produced a scanner and scanned the Chaos Twins. With a beep, their details appeared on the holographic screen atop his desk.
"Done. You're registered. Tian Dao has already updated your lesson plan up to Awakening. It's very condensed, so be prepared. A copy of your timetable has been sent to both you and your Mammy. Now, please select your preferred Dorm from the options on the screen."
The Twins nodded and browsed through the selections before making their choice.
"Alright, ancient Chinese pagoda it is. Your Dorm has been assigned. It's near the Awakened section of the Academy, so you won't disrupt others who are progressing more slowly."
"You can now head to the Admissions Office, where an Administrator will provide you with everything you need for your time at the Academy. Directions have been sent to your Mammy."
With that, he stood and led the Twins from his office before calling in the next Child.
The Twins followed Mammy Morgranna out of the Headmaster's office toward the Admission Office, checking their lesson timetable as they went.
When they arrived, they knocked and entered.
"Hello, you must be from the new batch of Children. Please let me scan you so I can assign you the proper supplies." The Administrator scanned them and reviewed the resulting list on his screen. "Everything's been sent to your Mammy. I've also sent you and your Mammy an information packet with a detailed map of the Academy, including Dorm areas. Your terminal now has full access to Academy sections. You're all set! Welcome to the Academy—I hope you enjoy your stay here."