The instructor and student duo made their way towards the academy's gates because Aryan refused to use the teleportation scroll Grem had suggested they use. The older demon hovered above the ground, black wings flapping gently against the cool wind as he went ahead of Aryan leading the way.
Along the way, Aryan's gaze drifted around the place as he took in the image of the academy grounds. As they journeyed from his tower at the center to the entrance building of the academy, Aryan was privy to the view of the Academy's black field as well as the staff-housing castle across it. The only walk ways of the school linked all the castles and the entrance block so Grem and Aryan had to first walk from the tower to the academic block then from there to the entrance.
The entire walk, the uniform yet vast sight filled Aryan with a sense of melancholy as he was finally coming to the realize how trapped he had actually been for the past seven years that he stayed at the academy. The young demon snorted mockingly at himself at this realization.
'It's not lie I've actually ever experienced freedom' he thought, gaze drifting over the classrooms on his left before moving forward to rest on Grem who kept floating ahead.
'I suppose I should be grateful...'
About thirty minutes later, Aryan found himself in a nightmare driven academy carriage wit Grem seated opposite him. His hand parted the dark purple velvet curtain as he glanced out the small window he sat beside of. Nightmares, which were creatures of the dark and thus the signature steed of Navaliae people, were known to be very fast and strong despite their feeble look resembling thin dark horses with fur made of mana and manes/hooves of blue fire thus the view Aryan was et with was very blurry as things passed by quickly.
Aryan's displeased grunt drew Grem's attention and the older demon stared at the younger one for a while. Aryan raised a questioning brow at this behavior and Grem shrugged before going back to reading keeping on a cool expression while internally lamenting his choice of steed. 'I failed to consider the fact that this is the young one's first journey outside' he deadpanned.
"Professor, where are we right now?" Aryan decided to ask. If he could not see himself, then at least he could hear about the place. Grem closed his book as he looked up, "currently, we're in the academy's outer grounds" he responded making Aryan's eyebrows rise in a questioning manner. 'How much farther must one go to escape the academy's shackles?' he thought.
"The outer grounds is, however, not an actual part of the academy. It is but an area of land under the academy's control." Grem explained further to the satisfaction of Aryan. "Let me guess, this area of land is also a demon settlement" he commented after short speculation- the demon king wasn't sad enough to place the academy in charge of barren land. Grem smiled as if he considered his suggestion cute then shook his head making Aryan frown, he hated being seen as a child.
"Actually, it's a state" Grem replied(A/N: Reference to chapter 11). Aryan's heterochronic eyes widened in surprise. "It's that big?" he questioned in a tone that sounded more like he was talking to himself. "Of course! and it's the only state ruled by a set of people rather than just a cardinal. The carinal does have final say in most decision making though" Grem explained sending Aryan into a bout of deep thoughts. "Basically, the academy's board of directors govern the state" he concluded much to Grem's approval.
"Yes it is" he acquiesced earning a nod from Aryan. "That was enlightening but still doesn't answer my question. If we're in the academy's outer grounds, which is a state which part are we right now? I'm more interested in finding out the views I am currently missing" he complained shattering Grem's peaceful state.
"Sure.... The academy is located near the boundary demarcating the state with a four hour journey using an academy beast. That journey is however cut down to about an hour and half using a nightmare.
"The path we are currently taking is one that directly links the academy to the border town from where we'll leave. The path is surrounded by a mystical forest so that no one rom any place other than the border town can access it" Grem concluded and Aryan nodded in understanding. 'So we're in a forest huh' he thought...."I wonder how a forest looks like in real life" he wondered out loud making Grem deadpan internally once more.
"Guess you'll just have to find out soon" he muttered in reply as he went back to reading. Aryan glanced at the demon instructor momentarily before resuming looking out the window. He couldn't make out anything, but the simple fact that he was outside for once was enough for him to enjoy the view.
* * * * *
The carriage finally slowed down upon reaching the border town. It was a little community that seemed too small for its title- The Great Border. Aryan was just as skeptical when he heard the town was named a border.
The view from the carriage window showed tall buildings made of dark brick. The roads were concrete and glistened under the dim suns with black mana stones while tall street lights and sign posts appeared along it at various intervals. Demons of all kinds, mostly dark skinned and curly-horned, went about their business either dressed in white and black or plain black.
Aryan's gaze was drawn to a set of odd demons very unlike the other ones in appearance. What drew his attention to them was not their looks though, rather it was the black body suit uniforms that they had on.
Grem, who had also looked up from his book at some point, noticed his stare and cleared his throat. "The students of Navaliae academy often frequent this place for excursions. Some also prefer to acquire lodging here to spend short holidays" he explained. Aryan nodded in understanding, still staring at the people as they rode past them.
The appearance of an academy carriage was not uncommon but the appearance of one driven by a nightmare creature was scarcely seen if ever so a lot of eyes were fixated on them as they drove by. This strange fixation of nearly every passer-by's gaze on them made Aryan uncomfortable and he was eventually forced to drop the curtain for fear that he might make eye contact with one of them.
"What a rude set of creatures" he muttered to himself as he folded his arms. Grem glanced at him holding back a snort. 'What I have to deal with almost everyday' he thought.
The carriage finally came to a halt in front an average looking building. This building was obviously the odd one out as it stood at the very end of the community right beside an unending wall of black mana stones. Not only was its location peculiar, it was built with dark wood rather than black bricks and was surrounded by a very low and apparently dilapidated wooden fence.
The nightmare let out a screech that pierced the air and reverberated through the carriage walls startling Aryan.
"We have arrived" Grem announced shutting his book and looking up. Aryan's gaze went to the carriage door as it was pulled open by someone from outside. "So it seems..."