There was a very long queue of people standing outside.
"Follow me boys," Eckhard said, ignoring the queue.
Eckhard walked up to a muscular man who stood in front of the gate, attending to the queue. They exchanged a few words and in less than two minutes he waved them to enter the school.
"Not fair!"
"that fowl play!"
People shouted from the queue.
"Mommy, he's cheating!"
Damian seemed to be enjoying the look of annoyance in their face, as he kept laughing at them.
Malcon's jaw dropped open as he walked into the school. He had never seen any school so big and still beautiful.
Several buildings stood proudly among lush green trees, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze. The grass was rich green, a sign of careful tending and abundant life.
"follow me." Eckhard instructed, noticing how distracted they were.
He led them into a very large building that was dimly lit by candles, it partly reminded Malcon of the throne room, but this one was rather empty. In a small platform raised in the room, was a small table where an orb sat comfortably alone on a pillow. Apart from the orb there was nothing else in the room.
"And where is this old woman?" Eckhard lamented, looking around.
"I see you haven't matured enough to respect your elders" came a dry voice.
They all turned around, tracing the voice, only to see an old woman slowly walk up to the platform.
She had grey hair, and wrinkles covered her face, her body slightly vibrating as she climbed up to the platform.
"Am quite in a hurry" Eckhard said, smiling as the elderly woman's deadly gaze bestowed upon him.
Looking at them it was obvious they were close.
"Anyway, these are…"
"I know who they are, Eckhard, " the woman interrupted. "It's written all over their faces. I can see their heart's, I can sense their aura" she said, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Revenge" she finally said, opening her glowing purple eyes.
Malcon felt a chill run down his spin, there was something about the woman's eyes that was unsettling, but he couldn't say what.
"were not here for future seeing or prophecy" Eckhard finally said, breaking the silence.
"oh…forgive me Eckhard, sometimes I see a whole lot more than I intended" she said, walking towards the orb.
"okay…listen carefully kids" she said, her voice becoming a bit lively. "As you all know our mana core is divided into seven stages. Novice, Specialist, Veteran, Expert, Master, Elite and legend. Each of these stages can be identified with the colour of your mana core" for a while she paused and took a deep breath.
"What I want you to do is very simple. Once I call your name, please walk up to the platform and touch the orb, which would display your core level. I will then give you a badge depending on the colour of your mana core, the badge will constantly change colour as you increase in rank" she instructed. "shall we begin?" she said, smiling.
"Adrian Clark." she called out.
Adrian walked up to the platform touching the orb, but it reflected no light. After a while she placed her hand in Adrian stomach, her eyes glowing purple.
"No mana core, no ability" she said finally looking up at Adrain who was stering down at her, as though he wanted to kill her.
"so sorry child" she added.
"Megan Stromwrath." she called out. Megon cfidently walked up to the platform placing her hand on the magic orb, which instantly gave a blue glow. Veteran she announced, giving her a blue badge.
"Ivy stormwarth."
Ivy walked up to the plateform placing her hand on the magic orb.
"Novice" she announced. "don't worry child you'll soon get a breakthrough, just cultivates a little more" she whispered into ivy's ear, noticing how ashamed she was.
"Damian cruz."
"yes" he shouted, making his way through the crowd. He placed his hand on the orb, smiling.
"veteran" she announced, handing him a blue badge and he left smiling.
"Diana flame."
Diana slowly walked up to the plateform, placing her hand on the magic orb.
"specialist" she announced, handing her a yellow badge.
"Bane ice."
"Am right here" bane notified, raising up his hand.
He walked up to the platform,placing his hand on the magic orb, while the woman's glowing purple eyes were fixed on Bane's.
"veteran." she announced, giving bane a blue badge. "Your future is blessed, kid," she said, still staring at Bane.
"thank you" bane said, as a warm smile crept to his face and he left.
She called a few other names, but most of them were given the specialist rank except Luke. Malcon wasn't surprised when Luke was announced as a veteran, since he was able to keep up with Bane's speed.
"Eden Malcon." the woman called out.
He swallowed hard, as he walked up to the platform. He knew he was a specialist but something about the old lady made him feel uneasy.
He felt the old woman's gaze on him as he touched the magic orb.
"Specialist." she announced after a while.
'Finally it's over' Malcon said, sighing as he left.
"Wait," the woman called after Malcon.
On turning his head his eyes locked with the old lady's glowing purple eyes, and he felt it again. An uneasy feeling that made his heart beat loudly, he tried looking away but for some reason he couldn't.
Her eyes glowed even brighter.
"HOW DEAR YOU"
"Arhhhh" she shouted, covering her left eyes as she fell to the ground.
Her eyes glowed even brighter, as she stared at Malcon. All she could see was darkness, not giving up, she looked deeper and deeper.
"HOW DEAR YOU."
"Arhhhh!" she shouted, covering her left eyes as she fell to the ground. The last thing she saw was two huge glowing red eyes, then the next second all she felt was pain.
"what happened?" Eckhard asked, helping her stand to her feet.
"I don't know," Malcon replied, panicking as he assisted the old lady.
"Am fine." she snapped, her voice unsteady, her blood-soaked hand covering her left eye.
Though the room was dark, Malcon could see a pool of blood from where she stood up from, her face was covered in blood.
Her body still slightly vibrated. She felt an aura she had never felt before in her very long life.
"Let me take a look," Eckhard ordered, as he moved her hand.
Malcon's eyes widened in surprise.
"Her…her eye…it's gone." Malcon stammered.
"I am very much capable of seeing Mr Eden" , Eckhard said, ironically.
'What happened?'Malcon asked himself. The last thing he remembered was the old lady looking into his eyes, and the next thing she shouted in pain.
'was it related to the voice he heard during the duel?' He asked himself.
"I think we should take her to the medic." Malcon suggested, seeing that her left eye was gone, leaving a black wide hole behind.
"That won't be necessary," Eckhard said, Stretching out his hand, and placing it on her left eye.
A green light slowly appeared on his hand as it made contact with her eye.
"Hey!What's happening? we're waiting under the sun."
"We'll be out soon, kids," Eckhard shouted, as he healed her eye.
"Here, done," He said, removing his hand from her eyes.
Slowly she opened her.
Malcon sighed, relieved. Her eyes were back, except it didn't have the purple glow like the right one did but at least she had her eyes back.
"much better." she said, continuously blinking as though testing out the eye.
"Eden," Eckhard called, "join with the others outside, I'll be with you shortly." he added.
"Okay," Malcon replied, leaving.
"What happened?" he had Eckhard say in a whisper as he left.
"What's Up…why were you guys taking so much time" Damian asked, obviously frustrated.
"Nothing much, but Eckhard is having a word with her now," Malcon replied.
"sorry for keeping you all waiting." Eckhard apologised, as he walked out of the building.
"Now let's go get you guys a hostel, follow me." he commanded,smiling as he knew he wasn't forgiven for keeping them waiting, and if they had their way he should have been dead by now.