Chapter 23 - Enroute
Once the Major left the room, Leo briskly rose to his feet and made his way toward the exit.
Unlike many of the others still receiving medical treatment, he required little medical attention.
The potion he had been given had already done its job, restoring his stamina and dulling the lingering aches in his muscles.
Stepping through the doorway, he entered a long corridor where a series of temporary counters had been set up.
Behind each one, military officers sat with an air of rigid efficiency, their expressions unreadable as they processed the new recruits.
A few students had already formed lines at the counters, some moving sluggishly from exhaustion, while others carried themselves with tense awareness, still wary despite the ordeal being over.
The hum of quiet conversation filled the space, but no one dared to speak too loudly.
Leo scanned the area and made his way toward an unoccupied counter, where a middle-aged officer with graying hair sat with a thick ledger in front of him. The man barely looked up as Leo approached.
"Name?" the officer asked, his tone brisk and to the point.
"Leo," Leo responded without hesitation.
The officer ran his finger down the list of names, stopping when he found what he was looking for. With a short nod, he reached beneath the counter and pulled out a neatly arranged tray.
Leo's eyes immediately flicked to its contents.
At the top of the tray were two folded sets of military-issue uniforms. The fabric was durable, the stitching precise, with the rank of Private emblazoned on the chest.
Unlike the familiar green camouflage patterns he would have expected from military attire, these uniforms bore a distinct grey camouflage design, a muted color scheme clearly meant for blending into urban environments rather than dense forests.
His gaze trailed across the insignia above the breast pocket. Stitched in bold letters over the academy's crest were the words: [Assassin Branch].
Leo's fingers hovered over the material for a moment, then shifted to the second set of attire in the tray.
It was different from the first—jet black, lightweight, and flowing. A set of robes specifically designed for assassin combat practice.
"Standard issue uniform," the officer explained in a monotonous voice. "To be worn daily for academic sessions. The black ones are combat robes for practical courses. Use them as instructed."
Leo gave a slight nod, picking up the last item in the tray—a small but finely crafted identity token.
It was a badge of solid metal, surprisingly heavy for its size.
Engraved across its polished surface were the words: Leo Skyshard – Rodova Military Academy.
Although Leo did not yet fully understand the significance of this token, something told him it would be more than just a student identification.
In a world where strength dictated status, having proof of his place in the academy would likely open doors he had yet to even consider.
For now, however, he simply took what was given, nodding silently as he stepped away from the counter, his mind already shifting to what lay ahead.
Walking briskly, he reached the hangar area where modern transport ships were waiting to taxi students to their new home.
Once enough students for a trip gathered, they quickly loaded them onto the ship, flying off to the fabled Rodova Military Academy.
**********
The aerial trip to the academy was a short one, lasting barely fifteen minutes.
However, the distance covered was undoubtedly significant—Leo was certain he had watched them cross an entire ocean based on the view outside his window.
From above, the stark contrast between where he had been and where he was headed became increasingly clear.
The prison test area had been a secluded island, surrounded by nothing but dense jungles and unrelenting wilderness.
Isolated and forgotten, its only purpose was to serve as a battleground for those desperate enough to seek entry into the academy.
But the actual Rodova Military Academy was nothing like that.
As the ship neared its destination, the rugged, untamed greenery of the island gave way to the sprawling heart of civilization.
A vast metropolis stretched in all directions, with towering skyscrapers casting long shadows over the bustling streets below.
Massive digital billboards flickered with advertisements, displaying faces Leo didn't recognize—famous influencers, celebrities, and warriors, each plastered with bold text promoting cosmetic products, genetic enhancements, weapons, or military services.
The roads were packed with sleek, high-speed vehicles weaving between buildings of varying sizes.
Some rolled on the roads below, while others flew haphazardly in the sky, just like the flying capsule he was in.
Leo, despite his usual indifference, found himself captivated by the view.
The sunrise behind the city's skyline, bathed the entire city in a brilliant glow, setting the streets ablaze with hues of crimson and gold.
For a moment, he simply observed, appreciating the surreal beauty of it all.
Then, his eyes landed on the true centerpiece of the city—Rodova Military Academy.
Even in a metropolis filled with architectural marvels, the academy stood out as a titan among them.
It was colossal.
A fortress in every sense of the word.
Its sheer size dwarfed every surrounding structure, making even the tallest skyscrapers look insignificant in comparison.
Massive walls surrounded the academy grounds, lined with turrets, security checkpoints, and watchtowers manned by heavily armed personnel.
The buildings within the compound were monolithic, constructed with reinforced metal and cutting-edge materials that reflected a sense of absolute power.
Leo knew little about urban planning or real estate, but even he understood what this meant.
In a city as packed as this one, to have an academy this large in the heart of it meant that the real estate of the academy alone was worth a fortune.
No ordinary academy could afford such luxury, and if the Rodova Military Academy stood at such a location, then it was bound to be a special place.
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/// A/N- This bonus sponsored by patron Bukli_Arjullai through supergift. Please thank him in the comments for the same.
Also, I have a big announcement to make.
A reader has promised to send me up to 10 castles / 50,000 coins, provided I get 10 castles from others.
Basically, she has promised to match whatever number of castles i get in the next 3 days, so it's a humble request from me to you all to help me reach the 10 castle number.
Currently, we are at 1/10, and if we hit the number, here are my promises.
1. A 20 Chapter mass release on 1st Of March, to cover all bonus Chapters.
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