The carriage had been swaying incessantly, and You’er, lost in quiet contemplation, had long since lost track of time. He was unaware of how much time had passed until the carriage suddenly glided to a smooth halt.
“Little ones, we’ve arrived,” the old coachman’s voice drifted from outside the carriage. “Gatatania Academy lies just ahead.”
“Alright, master, please wait a moment,” You’er called out, thanking the old coachman. “We’ll be right out.”
He then nudged Timobi, who had been resting on his lap. “Little Ti, time to wake up.”
“Haa~ Good morning, Sister You’er,” Timobi yawned, rubbing his eyes, still half-asleep. “Have we arrived?”
He lingered for a moment, reluctant to leave the incredibly comfortable and warm softness that had cushioned the back of his head.
“Yes, we’ve arrived,” You’er urged, shifting his thigh. “Hurry and get up. There will surely be many applicants, so we must move swiftly.”
“Oh, alright,” Timobi responded. “I’ll get up now.”
At these words, Timobi instantly perked up, launching himself into a sitting position with an agile movement before tidying his disheveled clothes. Meanwhile, You’er had already disembarked from the carriage, ready to pay the old coachman.
“Master, how much is the fare?”
“No need, no need,” the old coachman waved off. “It’s barely any money, and I was already headed this way. Consider it a courtesy ride.”
Just as You’er reached for his purse, the old coachman waved his hand, declining to accept any payment. A pair of slightly cloudy eyes gazed at him, tinged with a nostalgic fondness. “You truly resemble… a former acquaintance of mine, young man.”
“An acquaintance?!” You’er’s pupils narrowed slightly at the old coachman’s words. The notion of an old acquaintance who bore a striking resemblance to him was something You’er found impossible to dismiss.
Furthermore, the old coachman had perceived his true gender at a mere glance. While the assertion itself might seem peculiar, this was the first time in his life that You’er had encountered someone who could instantly recognize him as male and speak without a hint of hesitation.
“Haha, perhaps it’s merely an illusion,” the old coachman said, shaking his head with a smile and saying nothing more.
“Youngster, put this on,” the old coachman suddenly said, producing an object and offering it to You’er. It was a mask, intricately engraved with a white vortex pattern.
“Of course, if you find it bothersome, you are free to choose not to wear it,” the old coachman added, a cheerful smile spreading across his face as if he had just imagined a particularly amusing scene. “Perhaps that would be even more interesting.”
“Many thanks, senior!”
At this point, it would have been utterly foolish for You’er to still perceive the old coachman as merely an ordinary elder. While he remained ignorant of the coachman’s true identity, You’er was absolutely certain he was no common man.
‘A small hermit hides in the forest, a great one in the city…’
A sigh escaped You’er as he recalled the old man of Green Bamboo, who had once bestowed upon him the gift of enlightenment. Taking the white vortex mask, he settled it onto his face, obscuring his features, then respectfully offered a bow befitting a junior towards the old coachman—towards the elder.
With arms crossed and a slight inclination of his body, he performed the most common courtesy shown by juniors to elders in the Eastern Emperor Kingdom—a gesture neither overly elaborate nor overly simple, yet one that conveyed profound respect.
“Hahahahaha, go on, go on,” the elder chuckled. “It seems Gatatania will be quite entertaining this year…”
The elder stroked his beard, and leading his carriage, he slowly faded into the distance, his hearty laughter echoing behind him.
****
“Sister You’er, why are you wearing a mask?” Timobi asked, coming to You’er’s side. He looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes, at the mask now covering You’er’s face.
“Let’s go,” You’er replied. “It’s time to register.”
You’er simply smiled, offering no direct answer. Instead, he reached out to tidy Timobi’s collar, then turned to face Gatatania Academy, the place he had yearned for for so long. Suppressing the fervent thrumming in his heart, he murmured.
The academy’s grand gates loomed directly before them, clearly visible. Yet, You’er soon realized that no matter how long he and Timobi walked, they failed to close the gap by even a single inch.
“Sister You’er, what is this…?”
Even Timobi perceived the strangeness of the situation, and, at a loss for what to do, he turned his gaze to You’er.
“Little Ti, why did you follow me here?” You’er asked suddenly, meeting his gaze.
“To become stronger, to gain the power to protect those important to me!” Timobi declared, meeting You’er’s eyes and clenching his fists tightly.
“Then don’t stop,” You’er whispered, his expression serene as water, his voice utterly devoid of hesitation. “Don’t think about anything. Keep walking, all the way to the end.”
“Yes, Little Ti understands,” Timobi affirmed, nodding heavily, his gaze now imbued with unwavering resolve.
Step after arduous step, they walked on, unaware of the countless paces they had taken. The academy gates receded further and further, eventually vanishing entirely, and as they did, the environment surrounding You’er and Timobi began to subtly transform.
A sea of flowers… a pathless sea of flowers.
A secluded pond… a boatless secluded pond.
A deep ravine… a bridgeless deep ravine.
****
As long as their hearts held no confusion, as long as their initial resolve remained unwavering…
They could carve their own path through the sea of flowers, walk across the secluded pond as if on solid ground, and traverse the deep ravine suspended in the air!
Having successfully crossed the deep ravine, a shimmering white gate of light materialized before their eyes.
“Let’s go, Little Ti,” You’er said. “Let’s enter.”
You’er’s eyes shone with satisfaction as he looked at Timobi once more. Taking his hand, he stepped with him through the shimmering white gate of light.
The scene before them brightened dramatically, yet it felt like an illusion. Distant mountains folded upon themselves, and distant waters intertwined. Nestled in the heart of these mountains and waters lay a sprawling complex of classical-style buildings. They appeared to float in the sky, densely packed yet meticulously arranged, stretching upwards and downwards to the very mid-slopes. Sunlight bathed them in a golden glow, rendering them profoundly sacred, yet seemingly within arm’s reach…
This realm offered not only refreshing air that invigorated the spirit but also a natural elemental energy twice as potent as the outside world. This elemental energy, like countless motes of light, flowed into You’er through his skin, causing the two Elemental Star Vortexes within him to hum with joyful vibrancy.
This entire secret realm had been painstakingly carved out of an alternate dimension by great powers using their supreme might. The entire space was enveloped within a colossal magic array, which was the source of the elemental energy, twice as concentrated as that found beyond its borders.
“This is… Gatatania Academy…”
You’er gazed upwards, his eyes gleaming, unsure how to articulate the emotions stirring within him. Had he not witnessed it firsthand, he would never have imagined such a miraculous sight existed in the world.
This was Gatatania Academy, an academy within a secret realm, a city within Dragon City, the City of Academies!
Upon arriving here, You’er finally understood: this assessment had begun the moment they approached the main gates. The path they had taken earlier—that pathless path—was the academy’s very first trial for its examinees, testing their yearning and devotion to their sacred destination, as well as their courage and conviction. Amidst the sea of flowers, the secluded pond, and the deep ravine, even a moment’s hesitation would have ensured their failure.
You’er’s gaze swept around. Surrounding him and Timobi were numerous other young men and women, also examinees who had come to apply to Gatatania Academy and successfully passed the first stage of the assessment.
Further behind them, one white light after another continued to flash.
So many people had passed the initial assessment!
You’er soon found himself at ease with this realization. Gatatania Academy was a sacred place yearned for by all scholars across the entire Eastern Continent, and the number of applicants was simply innumerable.
Ten thousand? Or a hundred thousand?
Among them, there would always be a select few, exceptional individuals who, under the radiant light of Gatatania, would certainly not be overlooked!
*Clap-clap-clap~*
The sound of applause emanated from a graceful woman with an exquisite appearance, blue hair, and hazel eyes. She was clad in a luxurious, innovatively designed aquamarine magic robe, around which water elemental energy flowed naturally, making her as captivating and beautiful as a blooming narcissus.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sifney Asfurliden, one of the instructors of Gatatania Sacred Academy’s First Branch, and a High-tier Water Mage. I am also your guide for today’s assessment.”
As her words faded, Sifney pointed a finger skyward, and a massive magic array, ten meters in diameter, materialized in the air, its magical light dazzling.
*Whoosh!*
“Oh my god… it’s Instructor Sifney! She’s one of the academy’s top Water Mages!”
“To summon a high-level magic array with a mere flick of a finger… When will I ever reach such a level!”
“Instructor Sifney is truly as beautiful as the rumors say, like a noble narcissus.”
“…”
“First, I must congratulate you all. Every one of you here has passed the first round of assessment, the Trial of the Heart’s Path. Your courage and conviction have been affirmed by the academy.”
Sifney waved her hand, dispersing the magic array in the sky, and ignored the impolite whispers of the examinees. Her gaze swept across them, a stern expression settling on her face.
“However, do not rejoice too soon. The first round of assessment is the easiest of all, barely even qualifying as an assessment. Moving forward, some, and indeed most, of you will still be eliminated—”
“Now, follow my lead. The second assessment will now commence.”
****