They heard the bus horn.
Luoice, Eve, and Panther picked up their bags and walked toward the bus together. After one last glance back, they stepped inside.
Six children, all around their age, were already seated inside. The atmosphere felt strange—excitement, nervousness, and tension mixing in the air.
The three of them sat together.
Outside, Lucy and Dion waved.
"Take care!" Lucy shouted.
"Bye!" Dion called, forcing a smile.
The bus doors closed, and the engine rumbled to life. Slowly, the bus began to move.
On the left side of their seat, two boys were sitting.
"Hey," one of them said cheerfully, turning toward them. "I'm Alden."
He had short hair and a bright, energetic smile.
"Nice to meet you."
The boy beside him spoke next.
"I'm Noel."
His sharp eyes stood out immediately. He had white hair and wore a neat suit. Unlike Alden, his expression was calm and unreadable.
"I'm Panther," Panther said. "This is Evelyn."
"I'm Luoice," Luoice added.
"Nice to meet you!" Alden said happily.
The bus continued forward.
Suddenly, a faint pressure brushed against Panther's senses—from somewhere behind.
He frowned slightly but said nothing.
A few minutes later, four more children entered the bus.
Then—
The bus stopped abruptly.
Before anyone could react, two masked men stepped inside.
One carried a large bag.
The other raised a gun.
"Go! Go! Go!" the masked man shouted.
He pressed the gun directly against Panther's head.
The bus fell into complete silence.
Even the air seemed frozen.
Bang!
The other masked man fired a shot into the air.
Still—no screams.
No panic.
The driver kept smiling.
"Turn right!" the masked man yelled.
But the bus turned left.
The man's face twisted in rage.
Suddenly, he heard a sound behind him.
He tried to turn—
But half of his body was already frozen solid in ice.
the second masked man collapsed to the floor, knocked out cold.
Panther had already struck him.
"This bus," the driver said calmly, laughing, "is headed to the Academy of the Blessed Ones."
"You jumped onto the wrong bus."
The remaining masked man finally understood his situation.
He dropped the gun.
As he looked at the students, terror filled his eyes.
"They're monsters…"
He fainted.
Minutes later, the bus stopped at a police station. Officers swarmed in and dragged away the two unlucky criminals.
The journey resumed.
---
Finally, the bus slowed down and stopped.
They had arrived.
The **Academy of the Blessed Ones** stood before them—vast, grand, and imposing.
Everyone stepped off the bus.
Panther, Luoice, and Eve walked together.
A man wearing glasses stepped forward. He adjusted them lightly and looked at the students.
"Welcome to the Academy of the Blessed Ones," he said calmly. "Please follow me."
He turned and began walking.
"He seems pretty calm," Luoice whispered.
"Is he even blessed?" Eve asked.
"I don't think so," Panther replied.
Students murmured among themselves.
"Silence, please," the man said—without raising his voice.
The murmurs died instantly.
They soon reached a large open ground.
Around a fifty Blessed Ones were already gathered.
Three teachers stood at the front.
A huge speaker loomed above them.
Panther and the others joined the crowd.
Everyone observed one another.
Whispers filled the air.
That's when Panther noticed her.
A girl with red hair, walking calmly beside two creatures.
One resembled a bird.
The other—a wolf.
At first glance, Panther knew they weren't ordinary animals.
Everyone stared.
"Who is she?"
"She's beautiful…"
The murmurs spread quickly.
Then another presence arrived.
A massive man carrying an enormous hammer on his back.
Behind him walked Alden and Noel.
Alden noticed Panther and smiled, moving toward him.
Suddenly, the speaker crackled to life.
"Welcome, dear students."
A calm yet powerful voice echoed across the ground.
"My name is Scopus. I am a Blessed One like you—and more importantly, the Headmaster of this academy."
Silence fell instantly.
"The rules here are strict. No violence. Using abilities inside the academy without permission is forbidden."
"Breaking the rules will result in punishment."
"If you complete four years here, you will receive a license to become a true hero."
"I hope you all build memories and relationships you will remember for the rest of your lives."
The crowd listened intently.
"Tomorrow, you will be divided into classes. For that, there will be a battle test."
Excitement rippled through the students.
"Prepare yourselves. Return to your dorms and rest."
"We have separate dormitories for boys and girls."
The announcement ended.
"Battle between Blessed Ones…" Panther said, eyes shining. "That sounds thrilling."
"I didn't expect this many students," Luoice added.
"Panther," Luoice said with a grin, "let's see who gets first place."
Eve shook her head. "Nope. I'm out."
"I just hope we're in the same class."
"Of course," Panther replied confidently. "I'm in the mood for a challenge."
"There are a lot of interesting people here," Luoice said.
They slowly parted ways.
"Bye," Eve said, following the girls toward their dormitory.
Boys and girls headed in opposite directions.
Panther watched her leave.
"…Hope she's okay alone," he murmured.
---