With only thirty minutes left to spare, and following the directions received on his way, Ethan reached the towering gates of the Spirit Tamers Academy.
The Spirit Tamers Academy stood tall behind two massive iron gates marked with spiraling symbols. Its intricate walls were old and covered with vines, and the buildings inside were built from black bricks that gave off a cold, heavy feeling.
This academy, was where those who had assimilated with a talent stone were reshaped from a man to a soldier. It was a place made to shape Spirit Tamers warriors strong enough to protect and serve the kingdom.
Every hall, every training rooms, and every drop of sweat spilled here existed for one purpose, to turn ordinary people into powerful Spirit Tamers who would carry defend humanity till their last breath.
The courtyard of the academy buzzed with life.
People from different kingdoms, different continents, gathered for this life-changing moment.
By a rough count, there were more than five hundred awakener, all hoping to ascend to the ranks of a Platinum Rank Spirit Tamer.
And Ethan stood behind them all.
"Alright, my vengeance, starts now."
..
"Damn... Now that I'm actually here I'm a bit nervous, is the aura around here always like this?"
"It's probably coming from those guys."
They stared ahead, their eyes fixed on the individuals standing at the front of them all. Even from their clothing alone, it was clear — these people were on a completely different level from the rest of the awakened.
They were the princes and princesses of the several kingdoms spread throughout the four continents.
In this world, royalty was also a hax.
At such a young age, these young princes and princesses already assimilated with a Talent Stone, and not just any talent stone.
Talent stones were rare, even on the black market or at auction sites. The highest rank anyone had ever bid for was A+.
Yet these young princes and princesses managed to claim them all, each one assimilating with the power within.
"I can't blame you, this academy brings so many kingdoms together, both high and low ranked ones with one fundamental goal, so it is not surprising that Spirit Tamers of different calibers would be here."
As the time for the entrance ceremony drew closer, more and more Spirit Tamers gathered in the courtyard, their numbers growing by the minute.
The once spacious area was now crowded with anxious faces and restless movements. Nervous murmurs spread through the crowd like a quiet wave, mixing with the sound of footsteps and rustling clothes as everyone waited for the ceremony to begin.
"Look at them." A voice said from a distance, high up the stairs that led into the academy's main building.
"They are all excited?" The man's voice grew darker, as if their excitement about finally reaching the academy was something sinful.
"Tch." He grit his teeth, squeezed his fists then shouted at the top of his voice. "Silence!"
Everyone looked up, their eyes falling on the man who stood above them at the highest steps, watching over the crowd.
His voice echoed through the entire courtyard, carrying a swift and commanding authority that left no room for noise.
In an instant, every candidate fell silent.
"You're excited? You're all revelling with joy?What do you think this is? It's sickening... To think that these weak willed descendants are the future of humanity."
'However.' He lowered his sights toward the front row, where those individuals stood side by side among the many candidates.
There was something different about them — the way they stood, the calm in their eyes. It was clear they weren't ordinary Spirit Tamers like the others.
'Judging from their aura, I can tell, they must be the young princes and princesses from the four continents. They aren't intimidated by my presence?' A grin slowly stretched across the side of his lips, hinting at thoughts he chose not to reveal.
'Good... It seems this year will be interesting after all. Interesting, that means they won't break easily. Only then can they be worthy of bearing such a title.'
"You are all so damn loud, how pitiful. You all lack spirit, and you dare assume you could become the force that defends humanity against these spirit beasts?"
His grin widened, turning into a sinister smile as he looked over all the candidates, and he made no effort to hide the dark intent behind it at all.
"Fine then, I will decide if you have what it takes to be the future of the four continents."
He put his arms behind his back, then spoke in a voice that exuded his supreme authority. "I am Head commander Steve Collins."
He climbed down the stairs slowly, then stood in front of the large crowd. "And I'm the man who is going to shape you from the weak willed individuals you are today, to the die hard soldiers who will one day give all your hearts for humanity."
"Your stay at the Spirit Tamers Academy is a one year program, and throughout the years and your progression, you will go through something called the three Sanctuaries. Think of these Sanctuaries as your progression examination that allows you to move up to the next rank, or even higher depending on how hard you have trained, but..."
He stood straight, and a grin formed at the corners of his lips. "Failing even one of the Sanctuaries means your immediate dismissal from the academy."
Whispers flew. Murmurs arose.
It sounded absurd. They fail just once and they get dismissed just like that?
The commander's face remained stiff, and just before he could speak, a voice interrupted him.
"Yes Sir!" All eyes traced the voice. It was one of the princes that stood tall in front of the crowd.
Prince Aethon Veylir.
"Yes Sir!"
"Yes Sir!"
One by one, the other members of the royal families shouted out loud, with the side of their fist pressed firmly against their chest.
The other tamers stared at them, some in confusion, some in awe.
They didn't have the luxury of the training these royals did, they just barely managed to assimilate with a talent stone.
But them? Not only did they assimilate at a young age, but they had access to several cultivation techniques to evolve their spirit will and increase their ranks.
So the threat of the three Sanctuaries? It barely applied to them.
"So you're saying... If we fail... We get expelled?" One of the newly awakened tamers said, chuckling softly.
"Yes... That's right." The head commander said firmly.
"Even after everything we went through, after everything we sacrificed just to get here?" He tilted his head up to the sky, and a drop of tear barely escape the corner of his eyes.
Then, he exhaled sharply, looked straight at the head commander and slammed his right fist into his chest. Then with a bold voice, he shouted. "Yes Sir!"
The other tamers looked at him, confused. But for a moment, they understood what he felt.
Failing the Sanctuaries, getting expelled, it didn't mean their sacrifices would be in vain.
It meant they didn't give it their all, they all had their reasons to become a Spirit Tamer. And most had the same — to protect the ones they cared about. If they couldn't clear the three Sanctuaries, how would they defend humanity and protect those they cared about?
Like a drumroll, the rest of the newly awakened tamers slammed their dominant fist into their chest, and the whole courtyard erupted in a thunderous "Yes Sir!"
For a moment, the head commander was stunned. He intended to plant fear in their hearts by revealing the consequences of failing, but their reaction was anything but that.
'It seems this year will be interesting after all.' He thought.
Then a wide smile formed at the corners of his lips.
"At ease soldiers."