CHAPTER 43: ARRIVAL OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS

The Purity Academy didn’t exist like the Marketplace, which was etched in the middle of the four Duchedoms.

It existed within a realm of its own.

It could more or less be referred to as a dimension guided by gates called rifts.

To get to the Academy, it was common knowledge that one needed to distort space, or at least be a spatial magic user.

Unfortunately, this kind of magic hasn’t been mentioned to have existed in the world of Montana. Consequently, a teleportation stone was created for this very purpose.

Although it wasn’t mentioned, this teleportation stone was made available to only the candidates who were able to pass the Entrance Test.

It was like a "pass the test, get the teleportation stone, free" activity.

This wasn’t applied to highly dignified mages whose existence was like an honor to the academy.

Getting mailed a teleportation stone was a common way of inviting such a high mage to the Academy whenever an event was to take place.

However, the Entrance Test would not take place right in the Academy grounds.

No. It would be held at the boundary between Montana and an unknown world. A vast, colossal arena, constructed purely for the purpose of testing.

Although it was believed that crossing this kind of boundary exposed one to the attack of demons, something like that never happened in this test arena.

It was protected with a Protection Enchantment Magic, hidden from the plain sight of demons, only visible to anything termed "purity".

The arena was already chaotic.

Spectators, made up of dignitaries, gather. Mostly in person.

Hundreds of enthusiastic mages, both nobles and commoners alike, from different cities were trooping in for this special purpose.

On stepping into the gates of the Arena, such a mage would purposefully extinguish a devastating presence. This was a way of trying to threaten the others and make it clear that the success of the Test was at the tips of their fingers.

Such hope, tch.

There was a particular group which were yet to arrive.

The four Elements.

The arena was already filled, yet this group was highly anticipated, and so everyone awaited their arrival.

Then, the first element arrived.

A carriage, shrouded in clouds, drawn by winged falcons, descended from the sky above.

Emblazoned on its visible side was a large silver falcon in flight over swirling clouds.

It was a symbol that represented a particular Duchedom.

The Air Duchedom.

Seeing the symbol on this carriage, it became clear the Element that had arrived.

The Aeralis family was marked, present.

As the carriage landed, the Element stepped out.

A girl, average in height with sky blue eyes and wind-swept white hair, which also blended to make her beautiful, began to approach the arena.

She wore a simple white robe gown, with a sky blue belt fastened against her waist. On the back of this white robe, at the top, is etched the symbol of the Air Duchedom.

Miriam Aeralis.

Lord of the Air Duchedom. Sole heiress of the Aeralis family.

She walked past the crowd, smiling and waving at anyone who called out to her. Flanked by her side was her maidservant, accompanying her like her life depended on it.

Miriam came to a halt and looked up to the VIP stage of the Arena.

There, seated with a terrifying presence, was "that old woman". Her mother, Duchess of the Water Duchedom.

Instead of returning her mother’s smile to her, she frowned and walked passed to the position made for the Elements.

In her thoughts, she complained. ’See how early I am. Even the other Elements are yet to arrive. All because of that old woman.’

And, not long after, crimson flames blazed on the surface and diminished immediately.

At its disappearance, a massive carriage carved like a Phoenix came into view.

From it stepped out a girl with deep red eyes and golden hair.

Lyra Pyrrath.

The heiress of the Pyrrath Family, and the Lord of Fire Duchedom.

Just like the other Element, she had adorned a gold robe gown, worn like a jacket cloak, making her inner dress of silk visible.

Likewise, the symbol of a black Phoenix, rising from crimson flames, was etched on the back of her robes.

Her steps alone made the weaker ones in the crowd stagger.

She didn’t give anyone attention, as she focused her gaze in her direction.

Then, another entrance.

No carriage. Nothing grand like that of the others.

Just a girl putting on a forest green robe gown, with a bronze stomach belt.

At the back of the robe was the symbol of a mountain crowned with the sun.

A symbol of the Earth Duchedom.

Ngozi Rose Terravale, the Lord of this Duchedom, has arrived.

Her bronze hair covered part of her face, and her brown eyes were framed with determination.

Then, walking beside her on the left was also her maidservant. And at the right was her younger brother.

His eyes were uninterested, his green hair shimmered naturally, and he was wearing an elegant purple robe embroidered with silver runes.

It was the Lord’s younger brother, Darios Terravale.

Although his eyes displayed how unbothered he seemed, his presence made people avoid direct stare at him.

As soon as they reached the middle of the Arena, both diverted their movements.

Ngozi began to move towards other Elements, while Darios joined the noble mages at the general center.

From there, he shrugged and muttered. "He hasn’t arrived yet? Or has he decided to play the coward?"

No answer came to him; instead, he was greeted by another grand entrance.

The arrival of the princess of the Empire.

The Royal emblem of Quadraxis gleamed as she stepped down.

Her blond hair draped down to her shoulders, blending perfectly with her cold, green eyes, revealing a stunning beauty.

Sandra Quadraxis.

Not only was she attractive in the face, but her chest region busted out beyond what her age should naturally carry, and her alluring figure was also very tempting.

Murmurs ensued from the crowd, with different intentions behind their meanings.

Right from the VIP set, her father gleamed with a smile.

Once his eyes caught those of Sandra, they whispered something knowing.

’Get a husband.’

As if finding how funny her father, the Emperor, was with that order, not even a request, she smiled suspiciously and nodded.

Then, once she was out of sight, the next carriage approached behind her.

The symbol on the carriage showed it was the representatives of the Water Duchedom.

The heir of the Seafrost family, and Lord of the Duchedom.

Mobix Seafrost, the Threat of Doom.

I have arrived.

Walking right beside me was Muna, my younger sister, and behind me was the straight line formed by the trio.

Once we had stepped out of the carriage, we paused momentarily, and our gazes swept the arena observantly. As if this singular action were rehearsed.

Although the mages didn’t await my arrival, they anticipated me.

Some wanted to see what this threat of Doom looked like.

Others, especially the feminine gender, blushed at my appearance.

"Such a handsome face and wonderful physique."

"Isn’t he mistook for another person?"

"He really is participating. Such boldness."

"I’m liking his determination already."

Yet, there were a few who complained.

"Aren’t the dignitaries going to do anything?"

Do anything?

They were referring to my companions. I smacked my lips with my thumb and shifted my gaze from the crowd to the place meant for me.

Delight surfaced in my gaze.

Seeing the other Elements elicited an unknown joy within me.

I didn’t know how the others had arrived, but I tried to keep it humble.

No divine light, or loud entrance.

Even though I wondered if the high mages were going to detect my power rank.

Such an ability was difficult for a normal mage, be you a noble or a talented commoner. It was solely made for experienced and higher-ranked mages.

Looking towards the VIP set, I understood why they were indeed dignitaries.

The presence was imposing, stupefying to the eyes. And their ranks, let’s see.

The lower-ranked among them was seated beside the Emperor.

Milton Von Quadraxis, a Level III Master-Ranked mage.

’That jerk.’

Just two levels above mine, although his has been marked by experience.

’It will be in a matter of time. Just wait for me.’

Others seated at the VIP were mostly of Level IV of the Master Rank or Level I of the Ascendant rank.

None crossed that level.

And just like I did, the dignitaries also noticed the massive progress in my power ranking.

Their eyes gleamed with confusion as to how such an improvement could be attained within a short period.

But even I wasn’t ready to give an explanation.

They capitalized it with the popular name given to me.

"Nonetheless, he’s the..."

So be it.

Then, I turned to the direction of the other Elements and approached them majestically.

And for the first time, I sat close to my fellow Elements.