«[ Territory: Human ]»
«[ Kingdom: Gran'le]»
«[ Town: Greenrock]»
Quinn slowly peeled his eyes wide open, his pulse quickening as he stabilized himself. The warm, morning sun flooded into his eyes and the only thing he could remember was seeing a pair of naked girls that were standing, staring at him before the other one almost roasted him with a bolt of lightning.
He grunted, slowly waking up from where he laid only for him to realize he was lying in a fair room, which had a single bed, a desk near the window and a closet. The room was exceptionally small, as if it was never meant to house anything big. On the end of the bed, there was something lying there, clothes that were neatly folded and it didn't take long for him to know they were his.
As quickly as he could, he got off the bed, grabbed the clothes and started stripping himself naked. He wanted to change into something nice. After a short while, he was fully dressed in a high collared shirt, that had long sleeves and pants. The accents were dark, with a golden trimming. For a moment he thought it was a uniform.
'So, I'm not in the demon kingdom huh?' he thought, sliding his feet into the slippers he saw lying on the side of the bed. Maybe, this was just what he needed.
«[ Tip : You Are One Of The Orphans That Escaped From Wintergreen During The Raid. ]»
Huh? He stared at the words with disbelief. So was the System creating a cover story for him? This was amazing, behind amazing. He walked out of the room, only to enter into a corridor that broke into many doors. The walls were a fine brown, with picture frames hanging on the walls around, and vases that were lined in a beautiful way.
He walked down the corridor, following its winding path until it led him out, into a foyer. He lifted up his eyes, staring at the the grand staircase that swirled and swirled, like a spring heading to heaven.
Quinn walked past the first door he saw, and as he entered, he froze in his tracks for a minute. He was staring at an old man who was standing there, holding a magnifying glass as he tried to read a book.
The old man was equally startled to see Quinn, and he looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. Then, a warm smile spread across his face, and he got up to his feet.
"Welcome, welcome!" he exclaimed, his voice warm and inviting. "It's so glad you're finally awake."
Quinn forced a smile, feeling a bit awkward. "Sorry for interrupting," he said.
The old man waved his hand dismissively. "Nonsense, you're not interrupting anything. I'm just glad you're finally awake. I was hoping to meet you. The mysterious boy who fell from the sky."
Quinn scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I don't know how I fell from the sky," he said. "I remember being at the orphanage in Wintergreen, when there was an ambush."
The old man's eyes widened in surprise. "My lord... You're a survivor?" he asked, his voice filled with empathy.
Quinn nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat.
The old man walked towards Quinn, his eyes filled with compassion. He wrapped his arms around Quinn, hugging him firmly.
"I know how it feels like to lose the people that you love at the hands of those filthy demons," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "But what matters is that you're finally here... You're back home... with your kind."
But Quinn wished he could tell the old man that he was the new Demon King. He just had to play along until he has destroyed Gran'le just as he promised. But just the mere thought again, sent a different warning to him. What if he couldn't do it?
The old man pulled out of the hug, a warm smile still on his face. "My name is....," he said, his eyes twinkling with kindness. "Luther."
Quinn smiled back, feeling a sense of ease with the old man. "I'm Quinn Winter," he replied.
Luther's eyes sparkled with interest. "How old are you, Quinn?"
Quinn thought for a moment before responding. "I'm 17."
Luther nodded, a pleased smile on his face. "I guess you're the right candidate for the scholarships I've been giving disadvantaged children across Gran'le."
Quinn's eyes widened in surprise. "Scholarships?" he repeated.
Luther nodded his head. "Yes, I've been offering kids who were of age scholarships to attend Heavenward Academy... one of the best schools in the kingdom."
Quinn felt startled, unsure of what to make of the offer. "Is it really a good idea?" he asked hesitantly.
Luther smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "It's more than just a good idea. It's a brilliant idea. So what do you say?"
Quinn gulped, feeling a sense of unease. "Thank you?" he said uncertainly.
Luther grinned, his face creasing with laughter. "You should say yes! And not to mention, I'll be transporting you to the Academy today. I have things that I have to establish there, and I think it'll be a simple multitask. Get rid of you, and also get to finish my workload. I wouldn't be able to take care of you when I'm hardly at home."
Quinn's eyes widened in surprise. "Aren't you married?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Luther exploded in laughter. "Marriage is a full-time responsibility... for those without visions and goals."
Quinn's eyes widened in shock. "You don't mean that, do you?" he asked, his voice laced with incredulity.
Luther laughed again, his face creasing with amusement. "I mean every word, champ."
Quinn was silent for a while, just staring at the old man. "Do you mind me asking? Who brought me here?"
Luther grinned. "You were passed out blank, weren't you?"
"Yes." He replied.
"What a pity." The old man said. "My niece brought you here. In fact, you crushed at my backyard and they had no other place to take you but inside. How'ver, now that you're awake. We'd get going."
"S-Sure."
*
Quinn leaned his head against the carriage window, staring at the Heavenward Academy as they drove past its gates. The academy's sprawling grounds were a sight to behold, with towering spires and grand architecture that seemed to defy gravity.
Quinn's eyes widened in awe as he took in the beauty of the academy. He had never seen anything like it before. The buildings seemed to shimmer and shine, as if infused with a magic of their own.
He turned to Luther, his eyes filled with wonder. "What is this place, really?" he asked.
Luther smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's an academy for magic," he said. "It's where they cook the finest mages for the kingdom."
Quinn's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing in concern. "What if I didn't want to become a mage?" he asked.
Luther's grin grew. "Young man, the world is on the verge of ending. Everyone needs to be trained, whether they like it or not."
Quinn's eyes snapped with curiosity. "Why?" he asked.
Luther's expression turned serious, his eyes clouding over. "It's for defensive purposes," he said.
The carriage came to a stop, and Luther gestured for Quinn to follow him. Quinn hesitated for a moment.
Quinn stepped out of the carriage, he was immediately struck by the grandeur of the academy's entrance. The buildings seemed to stretch up to the sky, their stone walls gleaming in the sunlight. Students of all ages milled about, chatting and laughing with one another.
A man approached them, clad in armor and sporting a great sword at his side. His head was uncovered, revealing a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes, and dark hair. He bowed slightly to Luther, a gesture that made Quinn wonder who Luther was really.
Luther waved his hand dismissively. "Enough with the formalities, old friend."
The man chuckled, straightening up. "I see you're still as humble as ever, Luther." Luther chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. The man's gaze turned to Quinn, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And whose this little kid?"
Quinn spoke up quickly. "I'm Quinn Winter."
The man smirked. "New student?"
Luther nodded. "Yes, he's a new student. I'll be financing him until his graduation."
The man grinned. "This is awesome. Where does he come from?"
Luther leaned in, whispering something in the man's ear. The man's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, I didn't even expect that."
Luther smiled calmly. "Are the Selections still in progress?"
The man nodded. "Yes."
Luther's smile grew wider. "Since I've brought you a new student, I think he'll be fit for the Selections."
But then Luther shook his head. "I think that's a little too early for that. First, we'll have to assess the type of mage he is first. He might be one of those without magic, or with. So, we need to discover what he is first."
Quinn interrupted, his voice firm. "I'm a mage."
The man's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you can use magic?"
Luther nodded. "Whilst he was asleep, I noticed that the bruises that were on his skin were fading away, leaving fine skin and that's how I knew he's got potential. Do you think I'd have brought him in if he didn't have this...magic?"
The man shook his head. "No, my lord."
Luther smirked. "Good. I have better things to be doing. I leave him in your hands now, now run along."
The man nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "As you wish, my lord."
Luther turned to Quinn, a warm smile on his face. "I'll leave you in the capable hands of Sir Valoric. He'll make sure you're settled in and prepared for your classes."
Quinn nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He watched as Luther turned and walked away, his eyes glued on the old man's retreating back.
Valoric cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Well, Quinn Winter, let's get you settled in. We have a lot to discuss, and not a lot of time to waste."