The causeway that led to the academy was wider than the others in the middle tier of the clan, its stone surface was smoother, darker, and lined with evenly spaced lantern pillars whose smokeless flames burned in a steady amber hue.
The usual noise of the ravine city-the clashing of steel, the distant hum of formations, the chatter of several clan members, and the loud whistle of the wind-faded with every step Simon took toward the entrance of the academy, as though the very air had decided that sound was no longer welcome.
As Simon approached the entrance of the academy, he saw some of his classmates standing in silence.
He narrowed his eyes as he ran, then he saw that an instructor was standing in front of them with his arms behind his back.
’Seems I barely made it in time... Sigh... And I thought I’d be able to get here a lot faster.’
Simon inwardly sighed, then he slowly came to a stop behind his classmates.
A few noticed him, and they gave him glances before looking straight ahead.
Though some made sure to give him a glare or two before looking away.
Simon ignored them. His gaze was on the entrance of the academy. Even though he had a map of the clan in his mind, it was his first time seeing the academy entrance or the academy itself.
He was not the only one that was staring and observing the academy entrance. His classmates who had arrived before him and those who arrived after him were also staring at the academy entrance.
One would think that because nearly every building of the clan was built into the cliff walls, the academy would be the same.
But they were wrong. It was not.
Ahead of Simon and his classmates, the cliff face did not hold a building.
It was split open.
Not like a cave entrance, not like a gate carved into stone, but like a powerful being had taken a blade and cut the mountain from top to bottom.
The fracture was smooth, unnaturally straight, and lined with a dark metal that gave off a faint silver glow.
Two enormous statues knelt on both sides of the entrance.
They were wearing robes that covered their faces, their faces were obscured, their feet and arms were bandaged, and it was obvious that these two statues were Velaris.
They both held daggers, but they weren’t pointing their weapons outward like guards, downward like knights, or to the sky like heroes.
Their daggers were held in reverse, the tips aimed toward their own hearts.
As Simon stared at the statues, he recalled what he read about the two statues in his Grave Mark, about what they symbolised.
It was not a symbol that meant one should die for the clan.
No.
It was a warning.
Enter without discipline, and the first thing you kill would be yourself.
’The Velaris huh.’ Simon’s eyes dimmed as he was seemingly lost in his thoughts.
Later, he continued his observation of the academy entrance.
Between the two statues was a rectangular monolith of obsidian that was floating in the air above the path.
There was no chain that held it to the ground, and no support. It was just hanging there silently like it had always been part of the world, and on it were thin lines of dim chaos runes.
Simon looked down, and he saw that there were two guards in black armor standing on both sides of the monolith. One had a sword strapped to his waist, the other had a spear strapped to his back.
’So, this is the entrance of the Shadowgrave Academy... It’s impressive.’
Just as Simon had this thought, a clap suddenly resounded in his ears, causing him to frown as he was drawn away from his thoughts.
He looked at the Instructor who was the one who clapped.
The instructor was a Velari. He was wearing a robe, his face was obscured by a shadow, and his arms and bare feet were bandaged.
Simon was not surprised that their instructor was a Velari.
Velaris had a special status in the Shadowgrave Clan, and it could be said that they were the true owners of the Shadowgrave Clan.
"Time is up."
The instructor’s voice was cold and deep, causing Simon and the rest to subconsciously form an image that the instructor was middle-aged and most likely ruthless.
"My name is Valdin Velari. I am your Head Instructor, but you shall refer to me as Instructor Valdin, or Sir Valdin. I’ll be in charge of your class from now on."
A few murmured to those behind them, but in the next moment, everybody groaned and nearly fell to their knees.
An immense pressure suddenly appeared above them, and it felt like they were carrying a mountain.
Many thought they were going to die!
"I don’t care what family you came from, what your background is, and if you’re special or not. In this place, you are nothing as Initiates. You are here to become elite assassins. Assassins that cause other assassins to feel fear."
"If you want to survive in the academy, then the first thing you must learn is to not talk when I have not given you the permission to talk."
"You’re assassins, not berserkers or barbarians. Learn to behave like one."
Even as he spoke, Instructor Valdin did not reduce or stop emitting his aura on the kids before him. Some were already on their knees while some were sweating profusely and gasping for air, some even fell face flat to the ground, unable to handle the pressure of their instructor.
He was a Prime Greater Demon, and there was no way any of them could completely ignore his aura.
Even Simon struggled under the Instructor’s aura, though, he fared better than most, and Instructor Valdin noticed this.
He glanced at Simon and the others who were able to handle his aura far better than most.
’Hmm... Not bad.’ Instructor Valdin nodded slightly.