The injury to his arm was not critical; it healed rapidly, yet the young boy became far more vigilant of his surroundings. His pace did not slow; this was due to Mel's heightened perception and his readiness to unleash the feral energy coiled within him at any moment.
He encountered no traces of wild beasts during the day. The precipice he had descended and the lands he had traversed for two months seemed to belong to different realms.
"At this pace, I'll reach my destination by dawn. I should find a safe place to spend the night!"
In stark contrast to the scorching heat of the day, a bone-chilling cold emerged the moment night fell, ravaging the land.
Like a mortal who proceeds with caution after suffering a burn, Mel passed the night perched atop the highest tree he could find. He had not seen a single bird soaring through the skies during his days of travel, and he held dominion over the tiny grove he occupied.
Adhering to his routine, he intended to rest for two hours, but as his journey neared its end, exhaustion claimed him. When the sun cast its first rays upon him, he remained deep in slumber.
"Damn it, I overslept!"
With an agile motion, he moved from the branch to the trunk, descending by utilizing his claw-morphed hands. The moment his feet touched the dirt, he broke into a run. Although he had no deadline, he hated disrupting his routine.
After a half-day's sprint, his field of vision altered; the arid lands he had traversed for days gave way to flourishing greenery. This transition was not gradual; it was as if someone had sculpted the two realms to exist in contrast.
"The air is getting humid; there must be a big forest nearby!"
Mel's deduction proved correct. The valleys formed at the foothills of the majestic mountains on the horizon were adorned with every shade of emerald. He could sense the vitality of nature; he even discovered that his energy could commune with the plants to a degree.
"If Grandpa wanted me to find this place, he must have had a good reason. Once I cross those mountains, I'll be there!"
As Mel marched along the mountain slopes, muttering to himself, he believed his destination lay beyond these towering obstacles, but his eyes begged to differ.
"There are so many mountains here!"
There was nothing peculiar about his exclamation; the vista that unfolded at the summit of the incline was breathtaking for Mel, who had lived his whole life in a mountain village isolated from humanity.
Mountain ranges, stacked one upon another, rose to greet him. In defiance of the mists shrouding their peaks, vibrant life erupted from their lower realms.
"Green Shadow Academy... so this is the place!"
He had no need to consult the parchment made of wild beast hide to confirm he had reached the location marked on the map; wherever he cast his gaze, he heard a silent call echoing, 'This is where you belong.'
Then, he noticed a structure in the distance; it was a mountain as well, yet it bore unnatural contours. His breathing accelerated, covering ten paces with every breath, and soon enough, Mel beheld in all its majesty what he was trying to comprehend.
A mountain, its peak extending beyond the limits of mortal sight, had been hollowed from within; in the resulting void, a towering rampart and thousands of dwellings had been constructed.
The sun was nearing its zenith, illuminating all else, yet the lands of the city forged from natural stone remained cast in shadow. However, the settlement was not shrouded in pitch-black darkness; a gentle, emerald breeze, thin as a silken veil suspended in the air, draped softly over its soil.
His heart pounding as if trying to tear through his chest, Mel resumed his run without pausing for breath. He maintained this pace until the presence of mortals around him forced him to slow to a walk.
"Halt! Where do you think you're going?"
Approaching one of the massive gates carved into the towering rock that served as a rampart, Mel was obstructed by two guards stationed at the entrance. The duo, crossing their heavy battle-axes before him, scrutinized the boy with severe gazes.
"I want to go in."
Mel stated his intention plainly, a demeanor that provoked the guard sporting a coarse mustache.
"Ignorant kid, do you think this is a place where anyone can just stroll in? State your purpose!"
His tone was harsh, accompanied by the murmurs of the crowd gathering behind Mel. Glancing around in bewilderment, the young boy answered.
"I'm here to join the Green Shadow Academy!"
The demeanor of the men, who had been glaring mercilessly just moments ago, shifted in an instant; they withdrew their weapons from Mel's path.
"May we see your token?"
Even their manner of address had changed. When the boy presented the sole medallion he carried—the heirloom bequeathed by his grandfather—the tension in the air dissipated.
"Welcome to the Green Shadow Academy. You may enter after paying the toll of ten wild beast cores."
Just as everything was proceeding smoothly, a crisis erupted. Having exhausted his supply of beast cores to refine the cavern, Mel was as destitute as a beggar.
"I don't have any beast cores on me. Are there any beasts nearby I can hunt?"
Though the broad-shouldered, sturdily built young man appeared robust, his face still bore the naivety of a fourteen-year-old.
"Have you lost your mind? The weakest beasts in the nearby forest are creatures that have managed to circulate the power of nature through their flesh!"
The clean-shaven guard grasped Mel's arm, and a moment later, he offered friendly counsel.
"You haven't even crossed the threshold of the Spiritual Power absorption stage. If you go in there, you'll die!"
Mel had no idea what the two guards were talking about. It was as if they were speaking a language he had never heard before.
"My young friend, the academy's entrance exams start in three days. If you can get ten beast cores by then, good for you; if not, you'll just have to accept your fate."
The man standing behind Mel in the line had grown impatient, but knowing the boy had come for the academy's entrance exam, he didn't dare act with hostility.
At that moment, a voice sharp as a blade cut through the air from behind.
"Who says he has to accept his fate?"
The crowd parted without a command, and two figures walked through the resulting corridor. A young boy in a blue robe, a head shorter than Mel with long, straight hair bound by a ribbon, and a girl striding with the sweeping hem of her crimson dress approached the guards.
The girl's hair was gathered into twin buns atop her head. The long wooden hairpins she had driven through them to secure the style left all who laid eyes upon her in astonishment.
"We're here for the academy's entrance exam too!"
Following the young man's declaration, the duo produced their medallions and presented them to the guards holding the gate. The crowd, bewildered and unable to comprehend the unfolding events, remained silent.
"You may enter upon presenting 10 wild beast cores per person."
The severity of the duo guarding the gate had vanished, yet they spoke in resounding voices, as if to demonstrate they remained aware of their duties. The young boy did not appear impressed; reaching to his waist, he retrieved a pouch and handed it to the guard.
"There are exactly 30 wild beast cores in there; I assume this covers the three of us."
When the guard with the coarse mustache verified the count, the guards drew their axes aside, clearing the path for the trio who had arrived for the academy's entrance exam.
"Come, friend; let's go inside."
Seeing the one he called out to staring blankly at his surroundings, the young boy in the blue robe linked arms with Mel. A few breaths later, the group consisting of two youths and one maiden took their first steps into the settlement protected by the colossal ramparts.