Chapter 621: Back At The Academy
The ship's flying speed reduced greatly-it had been decreasing since they began flying over the Isle of the Crimson Shadows.
But it slowed even more as they got closer to the academy walls.
Northern stood on the cabin, watching as the sailors skillfully moved around. Some people were already folding the mast of the ship as it pulled closer to the wall of the academy.
'I remember this...'
It had happened almost in the same fashion the first time he was on this ship, when he was just looking at things dumbfoundedly.
But now it was different. With the knowledge of the tower inside him, Northern could easily make out the reason why certain things were being done.
For example, he couldn't help but attribute the strange and sudden reduction of speed above the isle to the fact that the sailors were well aware of something beneath that they must not disturb or approach carelessly.
Or maybe he was overestimating them. The alternative would be that whatever was beneath them was creating a kind of force field that affected the ship's trajectory movement.
Maybe the speed reduction was a way to maneuver their way through it all.
And the folding of the mast was necessary to kill the wind power of the airship, seeing as the engines were still very much on.
The last time, from what he remembered, after all passengers disembarked, the mast was unfolded and the ship picked up speed.
Also, the process of unfolding the mast would most likely be used as a centrifugal force to turn the ship without relying at all on the force field created by the Crimson Shadows.
'It really is brilliant.'
Northern breathed and watched as a part of the academy wall carved open and extended into a bridge that connected to the base of the ship.
Immediately, students and instructors alike who were traveling back to Milhguard Academy walked out of the ship and over the alloy bridge into the academy walls.
Northern, after getting his fair share of stares, lifted his box and walked away gentlemanly, coming down the ship's stairs and walking fearlessly across the bridge.
The Crimson Shadows crawled eerily, and from his vantage point seemed to rise a bit higher than before.
But his steps did not falter. He, however, looked away and fixed his eyes on the opened cavity of the wall. A drop of sweat broke from behind his neck.
Northern got into the walls and staggered, leaning on the wall with one hand.
'Damn it. I can't get used to those stares.'
Even though he wasn't using Chaos Eyes, he could vividly feel and visualize them. The more time of perception he spent, the more apparent and suffocating the dangers became.
And the most frustrating part was that he had no idea what it was or could be.
A rift? A monster? Or more? Northern did not know. That thing did not fit into the classification of any existence he had come to know about.
Not even a Tyrant or an Origin!
Northern's eyes this time did not widen. Instead, a gloomy scowl folded the features of his face as the view of the academy entered his vision once more.
The effect of winter was already heavy on the surroundings, hence most of the trees had dried up and frozen. Petals of snow were falling like a rain of flowers.
On the ground, in corners and here and there, heaps of sand had gathered to adorn the land with a cold beauty.
Northern, from the gateway, could see the enormous and towering glass buildings. They bore an almost striking resemblance to skyscrapers from the world he had reincarnated from. There were several other buildings that fit right into that theme of an academy, few with lower heights than the glass buildings, but even they were magnificently architected.
The gateman looked at Northern strangely. Wordlessly, Northern brought out the academy's letter inviting him for an interview and his identity card.
The man got up and said to him, "Follow me."
He was led to the right where they entered a glass transparent lift.
Northern's gaze remained sharp as the glass lift descended, offering him a panoramic view of Milhguard Academy.
The sprawling campus beneath was a blend of elegance and practicality, its snow-blanketed paths winding between the towering structures.
Students and faculty bustled about below, their figures reduced to mere specks.
Their prestigious white and blue uniforms-fashioned into a modern style, consisting of V- neck shirts tucked neatly into long white trousers adorned with blue stripes along the sides- subtly flowed with the soft cold wind.
Northern's feet finally touched the ground, and a small smile carved upward on his lips.
'It's funny how I am walking into this place twice and never walked out once...'
"I will escort you to the Tryfe Gazel Hall."
Northern had no idea what that was, but he guessed it was where he would be meeting whomever would be interviewing him, since the man at the gateway had carefully gone through the invite from the academy.
The man and Northern climbed a wide and numerous array of stairs and passed through a towering arch that stood almost as a relic of a forgotten era. Its colossal pillars were draped with soft light from the clear blue sky.
Golden statues, worn but proud, flanked the entrance, each etched with the meticulous detail of masterful hands long passed. The figures seemed alive, their eyes cast downward as if watching the walkers' every step.
Northern passed a few students coming from the inner compound of the academy and met even more inside.
Some of them threw glances at Northern, while many did not care, going about their business like every other day.
Soon, Northern and the man had cut across the corners between several buildings and were climbing a narrow, long, and winding staircase.
Northern kept count: the stairs were over seven hundred steps before they eventually entered
a large and enormous hall.
'I don't think I have ever consciously walked this far...'
Along every step of the way, Northern had been silently wondering when they would reach
their destination.
The hall they now walked in was a cathedral of light and shadow, its columns stretching impossibly high, etched with swirling, intricate patterns that seemed to hum with the echo of
sentient runes.
Pale blue light spilled through the massive archways, illuminating the frost-kissed mountains beyond, their icy peaks standing as silent sentinels to the sanctity of the space.
The air inside was cool and carried the faint scent of stone and snow, a quiet contrast to the grandeur before them.
Echoes of their steps traveled far and wide to all corners in a soothing rhythm of sound.
They continued to walk through several fat and tall pillars, and Northern was almost at his
limit.
He was almost about to ask his guide when exactly they would get to their destination when the man turned to the left, walking into the shadows cast between two pillars. Northern was shocked. It hadn't occurred to him that there could be a way there, and he had even missed when shadows began to occur between the pillars because of how tired he was. He followed anyway and grew even more surprised as they climbed stairs so wide that hundred people could hold hands and walk on them at the same step.
After the stairs, they passed through an arching doorway and entered a grandiose hall.
The hall's pristine white walls glowed faintly under the soft golden light of an ornate chandelier that hung high above.
The room was a symphony of symmetry, with twin sweeping staircases curving upward like the arms of a poised host welcoming its guests.
Each step was dressed in a pale blue carpet, the fabric rich and flawless, cascading down like
streams of frozen water.
Banners adorned the walls, their deep azure contrasting with the pale elegance of the
surroundings, each emblazoned with a crest that whispered of old traditions and the
unshakable authority of the academy.
Marble lions perched on the balustrades, their faces regal yet fierce, as if silently guarding the
secrets of the place.
Golden sconces lined the walls, holding lanterns whose gentle light flickered like stars,
casting faint shadows that danced across the immaculate floor.
Northern and the man's footsteps echoed softly as they entered and climbed the curving stairs
on their right. They walked through another hallway and finally came before a double door.
The man stopped in front of the door and spoke to Northern for the first time since they
started walking.
"This is the head examiner's office?"
Northern sighed.
"Finally. I wonder if he ever goes to the gate."