[Present time: The Gaian Academy]

  The two young men, Vaelen and Qlint, stood still next to each other in one of the many corridors, resting their backs against the wall. The sun began to grow more prevalent, which beautifully illuminated the already elegant-looking hallway. Vaelen appeared defeated, as he surmised places where his younger brother could have gone to. This was until a third figure approached them from the other end of the corridor.

  They both turned their heads to the left, as they saw Eunice, draped in a layered dark green robe, that contrasted sharply against her short, groomed white hair. Her slim and defined harmonious face glimmered gracefully in the sunlight, as she asked them with a loud, but friendly tone,

  “What finds you here so early, boys?”

  “Ah, Eunice!” Qlint exclaimed, standing before Vaelen as he tried to explain the situation, only to stumble over his words. Vaelen sighed, and stepped next to him, grasping the initiative.

  “Pardon our boldness. We were searching for my brother, Caelum, who was supposed to have his early training at this moment.”

  “Ah, you mean Caelum and Vash,” she muttered, nodding slowly. “Their training had already started; they are currently taking a break in main Ventoria. It had been a little ever since they left, so I expect them to be back soon.”

  “…I see,” Vaelen responded solemnly. “Do you happen to know where they went?”

  “Sadly not…” she said, as a sudden playful glint crossed her eyes. “Actually, why won’t you both aid me in preparing for today’s training procedure? The classroom we planned to use for today won’t be available for use today.”

  “What happened to the servants?” Qlint asked, slightly tilting his head to the left.

  “They performed their endeavours yesterday. They’re not around on Tuesdays.”

  She then turned around and looked at them both over her shoulder, a bright smile etched on her beautiful face.

  “Come, it will be a good way to kill time while waiting for your brother.”

  “…I don’t mind,” Vaelen sighed, looking at Qlint. “Will you accompany me?”

  “Of course,” he nodded enthusiastically. “Can’t afford to abandon you now. I brought myself into this.”

  She led the way through two more corridors until they arrived at a large, polished wooden gate. She slowly pushed it open with both hands, the sounds of the doors opening emitting a slight creaking noise, as a grand, Gothic hall materialised before them.

  The Gaian Academy always had a distinct “mystical” feel, and it seemed that this single grand hall was the very source of it. It looked very magical-like, despite appearing quite barren. It consisted of three long rows of wooden pews, a large, ornately-made chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, a small hallway to the right, protected by arched stone pillars, and finally, a large, arched stained glass window situated at the very Northern of the hall, depicting the Gaian Goddess, Valeria, draped in an ancient, dark green layered robe.

  Their footsteps echoed throughout the entire hall, punctuated by Qlint, who scanned his surroundings with awe painted all across his face.

  “Woah, is this where we’ll be staying today?”

  “Indeed,” Eunice nodded. “We originally planned to do the work outside the training field, but there’s a rain expectancy of around sixty percent. We thought it would be best not to throw you all into a nightmarish trial on the second day already,” she chuckled softly, closing the gate behind her.

  “Then, I assume we will be training indoors, too, no?” Qlint asked again.

  “Indeed. The room next to this hall will be used for that purpose.”

  Vaelen seemed noticeably less “awestruck” than his acquaintance. He held his hands on his hips, as he asked Eunice about the nature of their purpose being there. She responded with a carefree tone, stepping towards the rows of pews.

  “I’ll need some help with polishing the pews, that’s all.”

  “Ah, nothing more tedious than doing cleaning work,” Qlint sighed. “I understand why you wanted us to help now.”

  She chuckled with closed lips, crossing her arms.

  “The handkerchiefs are ready to be used on the wooden counter you see in the corner. If you don’t bother about the time for now, it will go faster than you realise.”

  “That is fine,” Vaelen said as he rolled up his sleeves. “Let us begin, Qlint.”

  “Ay, aye, Captain!”

  ***

  Around ten or so minutes later, the grand hall seemed a lot more “occupied” than before. Whilst the two young men were busy polishing the pews, Eunice had embellished the entrance with various objects that ranged from three large tables with old, symbolical engravings on it, white-coloured mannequins, and three separate wooden decks that she placed on one table she put in the middle of the three.

  Qlint eventually finished his task and decided to aid Vaelen with his after he insisted on providing his helping hand. As they were polishing the last three rows of the pews, Qlint took a short stop and raised his posture, asking him with a curious tone,

  “How’d your first day go?”

  “It went fine,” Vaelen responded, following Qlint’s suit as he took a seat before him. “It was quite a lot of information to digest in a single day, but that’s what happens when you only have one week before the real Inquisition begins.”

  Eunice was still present, and she could hear their conversation. After settling up some miscellaneous items on the tables, such as books and quills, she took a deep sigh and chimed in.

  “It is done so deliberately, according to the Administrative Office. These people always had a high expectancy of others, seemingly worthy individuals. In their eyes, failing to understand and master the basics of Hexery in a week’s time is seen as incompetency.”

  Qlint smiled nervously, his face forming into a cringed expression.

  “Seems a little harsh, no?”

  “Well… yes, I agree,” she said. “Though, the Inquisition will allow for more freedom of exploration. I always see the beginning part as a chance to discover yourself and the actual Inquisition letting you explore yourself. It is why I adore the Great Eastern Forest so much; It allows for endless exploration of oneself.”

  Qlint nodded gracefully.

  “Personally, I’ve never seen a place as significant as that forest. It is said to be so large, that it spans three entire continents. Encapsulating the East, North, and North-Western corners of this world.”

  “Indeed,” she confirmed. “It is highly regarded as the single most resourceful root of agricultural professions in the world. Not only that, but it is where most known Earthen Beings reside. Nobody knows what the exact centre of the forest is, nor has anyone ever found it before.”

  “Ah, yes, I’ve read something about this, somewhere in Ventoria’s main Library,” Qlint responded. “I vaguely remember the name… something akin to… Darius?”

  “The Concept of Darius, yes, you are correct.”

  Vaelen nodded as well, as he chimed in.

  “I’ve read about it too. He was a close confidante of Gaizer, someone who also had a great interest in the nature of Earthen Beings. However, during the third Age, when he was met with the forest, his aspirations changed, and he became an officially-certified explorer; paid by the government for exploring the forest and gaining newfound knowledge for the sake of Deneve. ‘The Concept of Darius’ itself is the title of the biography novel he wrote, where he depicted his experiences there.”

  “Correct,” Eunice assured. “He is also the only person known to have been the closest to the center of the forest. The term ‘concept’ derives from his theory of the differences in the laws of nature within the forest.”

  She raised her right pointer finger in the air as she continued.

  “Firstly, he assumed this because of the overarching presence of Earthen Beings, but he gradually came to this conclusion after having failed numerous times to find the centre of the forest, even after arriving at agreed-upon geographical locations, where most people assumed the centre would be situated at.”

  “That painting…” Qlint murmured. “It still seems extremely convincing to this day. I’ve come to believe that he really did have a glance of the actual midpoint of the forest before it was suddenly lost in the depths.”

  “He called it ‘A vast, circular platform made of old stone’,” Eunice added. “That was all he could discern through the trees and structures. It almost feels as if the forest wants to be discovered, but by someone who is deemed worthy enough.”

  Worthy enough, you say…” Qlint murmured, as Vaelen contemplatively stared into the distance. “Then, what would the requirement be in order to find one’s worth?”

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  A close smile tugged at the corners of Eunice’s lips as soon as she heard his words. The illustration of Valeria disturbingly seemed as if it was eagerly listening along in silence, as the chandelier’s quietness, too, seemed to anticipate what she was about to say. It was a strange, and sudden change in atmosphere, yet it appeared to have gone over the heads of the two young men. They raised their heads to meet Eunice’s figure, silently waiting for her words of knowledge.

  “The forest itself is foreign enough to be considered its own world. If it will be discovered, it will have to be done so by someone, who, too, is foreign to this world, or at least considered to be not one of ‘us’. An outcast, an evil omen, but a Human.”

  After entering the building, Caelum followed Vash’s trail as they both made their way past a hallway that had a large opening to the left side leading into an alcove. It comprised three separate tables with flanking chairs scattered across the area, and at one table, Vaelen and Qlint, awaiting Caelum’s arrival, were seated at the middle table.

  Upon making eye contact with them both, Vash turned back to Caelum and signalled their presences. With a curious gaze, Caelum leaned his head forward as he stepped inside the alcove. Vaelen raised from his seat with a relieved expression, as Qlint followed suit with a bright demeanour.

  “Oh, Vaelen?”

  “It seems that you’ve finally finished,” Vaelen responded with a smile, gently patting his back as Qlint peeked his head out from behind his shoulder.

  “Hello, Caelum!”

  “What are you both doing here so early?”

  “Your brother was starting to feel worried about you!” Qlint exclaimed as Vaelen shoved his face off his shoulder.

  “Don’t be so dramatic,” he sighed. “I was just curious how your training was going, but we were told that you went to Ventoria to have a break.”

  “Mhm, we did,” Caelum nodded, as Vash stepped inside with crossed arms. “Vash was nice enough to treat me to a nice breakfast.”

  “Since you’re both here,” Vash began. “Would you like to accompany us to the outside training field?”

  Right after he said this, a fifth, feminine voice broke into the atmosphere from the hallway.

  “You must have forgotten the rain expectancy of today, Vash.”

  Walking into the alcove was Eunice, alongside two of the other students.

  To her left was a beautiful young woman in her eighteens named Petronella. She was draped in the Gaian cultural dark windbreaker robe that contrasted sharply against her pale skin and snow-white hair. Her light brown eyes were noticeably sharp and emitted an authoritative aura.

  To Eunice’s right, stood a young, dishevelled-looking young man whose puberty phase seemed to have already ended, named Grace. He had a stubble beard, long, messy black hair, and almond-shaped eyes of green colour; the only delicate feature he possessed. He, too, was dressed in a dark windbreaker robe.

  Vash turned towards the three and greeted Eunice with a bright demeanour.

  “Ah, Eunice! It seems like you brought your students here, as well.”

  “Pardon our intrusiveness,” Petronella sounded. Her voice was as ethereal as her looks, and Caelum was the first to notice. He slightly frowned his eyes as Vaelen and Qlint followed his gaze.

  So these are the other students, huh…?

  I remember only noticing Qlint when we had that opening ceremony…

  “…We assumed Qlint would be here in the early mornings,” she continued, casting her gaze towards Qlint, who lowered his head in a closed smile. She then turned her attention to Caelum and locked eyes with him in a poignant moment.

  “However, it appears your brother is doing all well, Vaelen.”

  Vaelen then took a step forward, thinking as if he had to properly introduce them to his younger brother.

  “Ah, Caelum, this is Petronella, the Leader of Pale Fangs. The gentleman you see there is also a part of their group. His name is Grace.”

  With a quick gulp, Caelum suddenly turned confident and stepped towards Petronella as he reached his hand out to her.

  “Nice meeting you both.”

  She closed her eyes and chuckled with closed lips as she shook his hand.

  “Indeed it is. Caelum Jinton, wasn’t it?” she said, as Caelum shook Grace’s hand. “We learned that you suffered from a sudden collapse during the Initiation Ritual.”

  “Mhm, that did happen. However, I am catching up with you all thanks to Vash; so you can expect me to be alongside the others today.”

  “We’ll be sitting together in the grand hall today,” Eunice chimed in, throwing an annoyed glance at Vash. “It seems that your master hasn’t told you yet.”

  “Ah…! Right!” Vash mumbled, scratching his scalp. “I… eh…”

  “…Today’s class will be universal,” Eunice sighed. “Meaning, that we will be sitting with eighteen people in the grand hall. I believe Simeon has already notified his students about this.”

  “Thanks, Eunice,” Vash smiled.

  “Don’t mention it,” she said coldly, turning around. “I’ll be visiting Simeon just to make sure he’s aware of this. I’ll see you all in this coming afternoon.”

  Her two students, too, turned around and followed Eunice’s trail back into the hallway alongside Qlint, who fell behind. Petronella took a stop and looked at Caelum over her shoulder with a rather friendly gaze, and handed her goodbyes.

  “I’ll see you soon, Caelum.”

  “Likewise.”

  Vaelen afterwards noted that he would be waiting for Caelum at the same place so that he could fully focus on his abrupt training. After some consideration, Caelum finally let go of his older brother and followed Vash back into the hallway to resume his training.

  ***

  At the other end of the hallway, with Eunice leading the group, Grace turned his attention to Qlint whilst holding his gaze forward. Eunice and Petronella eagerly listened along in silence, as if they were meaning to warn Qlint about something.

  “Qlint, care telling us why you have gotten so close with that fellow?”

  “Oh, you mean Vaelen?” Qlint responded, slowly raising his head, as Petronella chimed in, also holding her gaze forward alongside Grace and Eunice, who remained silent.

  “Bartholomew told us about your interest in the brothers. It has gotten to the point of you forgetting that we were supposed to have a meeting at seven-thirty this morning.”

  “Oh, come, come,” Qlint jested, faking a smile. “I’ve made it well clear to you all that I dislike enclosed spaces. Perhaps we should be having our discussions out in the open air! I think that’d be a great idea!”

  “Qlint, don’t get comfortable around them,” Grace retorted, his voice turning from his usual carefreeness to serious. “We are here to become Seers, not to befriend each other.”

  He then squinted his eyes as his head hung slightly.

  “Caelum… The Ritual Master detailed that two Grimoires were summoned during the Initiation Ritual. Don’t you think it is strange for something as severe as this to be overlooked so… effortlessly?”

  “The Ritual Master would have no reason to lie about something like this,” Petronella responded, her face turning cold and barren. “Which is why you shouldn’t trust anyone other than us, as well as Eunice. She, too, would have preferred to be able to do something about this, but it seems that won’t be the case. The Inquisition is happening in less than four days now; it is bound to become more conflicting than I initially envisioned.”

  Qlint chuckled with closed lips, his eyes turning dark.

  “You’re both worrying too much. I have everything under control, trust me.”

  ***

  Back at the Jormungandr dorm, Geneve, dressed in her usual dark brown blouse with black pants, her crimson red hair tied in a ponytail, walked into the kitchen where Declan, donned in a white Victorian-styled blouse with dark brown pants, sat next to Kasey at the dining table, engrossed in the breakfast she made.

  They were both already deep in their conversation until Geneve popped their bubble with a yawned greeting.

  “Morning.”

  “Ah, Geneve, did you sleep well?” Declan asked.

  “I slept enough,” she grunted as she took her seat adjacent to them. She then smirked, speaking in a relaxed tone. “Seems like you both are getting along well.”

  Kasey laughed graciously, gently patting Declan's left lap.

  “I won’t deny that, for sure!” she said, turning her head towards Declan who started to turn slightly red in embarrassment. “Declan has been helping me with preparing today’s breakfast. Could you call the others down?”

  “I’ve already gone through their doors,” Geneve yawned as she grabbed a piece of roasted bread. “Both Caelum and Vaelen aren’t present; Lunar is freshening himself up right now.”

  “He must have gone to the academy to watch Caelum’s training,” Declan nodded. “Let’s keep two plates apart for them.”

  “Fine by me,” Kasey said, following his words.

  …

  Several moments later, a comfortable bubble seemed to have wrapped itself around them.

  “So, how did it go yesterday for you?” Kasey asked, as Geneve responded after gulping down some of the lemon juice from a wooden cup.

  “Easier than I expected. I got curious and decided to learn more about the actual Inquisition. Apparently, most of our endeavours will be happening in the Great Eastern Forest.”

  “Yes, that has always been the norm,” Kasey nodded. “I don’t know much about it, but what I do know is that the Administrative Office decided to take advantage of the forest due to how well their Quests aligned with the characteristics of the place. After coming to an agreement with the Denevian government, they were allowed to allocate their official pursues there.

  Think of things such as relics that are commonly found in the forest, but nowhere else. Due to the natural preservation of said relics, it is basically considered a gold mine for those who assign Quests.”

  “I’m assuming you’re a non-Seer?” Geneve asked, as Declan turned his head towards Kasey. “Where did you come from?”

  “…I come from a middle-class family,” she responded carefully. “I never really had anything interesting going on in my life until I fell in love with the art of catering. While I was still living with my parents, I would eventually surpass the cooking abilities of my Mother, and prepare nourishment for us all.”

  “I see… So, I guess your talents were noticed by the Gaian Temple.”

  “Hm, sort of, yes,” she sighed, as Declan poured lemon juice into her wooden cup from a small bucket. After taking a sip, she placed it back on the table and clutched it with both hands.

  “There’s a man named Alex Grunbelt who has become the owner of The Pearl in Ventoria. Despite his strong presence in the catering industry, he was always a very humble and kind man, still wandering around with his small vendor shop around the city.

  It was around a month ago when I met him. We had a good connection, and he told me about his life story. Soon after, I managed to showcase my cooking abilities, which seemed to have impressed him, because he would soon after offer me a spot in the Gaian Inquisition. He was already accepted as the chef for one of the groups, but he gave up that position for me. Now, he wanders around the Inquisition, serving the Temple members, and its students.”

  Declan’s eyes instantly illuminated as realization dawned on his face.

  “So that guy… I saw him yesterday! Or, was it the day before?”

  “You mean when you and the two brothers went outside?” Geneve responded. “That was indeed yesterday. I think you got confused about the timing because of what happened, haven’t you?”

  “Maybe a little, yes, but… I could never guess that the man was a very successful business figure! Let me guess, his signature dish must be the Pesco, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is,” Kasey laughed. “I’m really glad that you met him. I could ask him to visit us here and make you all a delicious meal. Wouldn’t that be a fun idea?”

  “Well, I really don’t believe anything can top your dishes, Kasey,” Declan said romantically, prompting Geneve to roll her eyes in a deep sigh.

  “Ugh, you’re such a glazer. I probably won’t be able to eat this food because of how sick that just made me feel.”

  As Declan and Kasey chuckled in response, Lunar stepped inside the room, dressed in a loose white blouse with black pants. His usual calm and composed demeanour never wavered.

  “Excuse my lateness. What are we having today?”

  He took his seat next to Geneve, and seamlessly blended with the conversation bubble. Their shared breakfast turned from a seemingly solemn but heartfelt moment between Declan and Kasey, to a familial discourse. The sun seemed to have shone even brighter, bathing the dining room in its gentle illumination.