"Something's bothering me, Sir. If everyone died that certain day, how did you stomach being the only one alive? I mean, you could have used your teleportation magic to help a lot of people survive." I asked. Everyone looked at me without uttering a word. I figured out some may ask the same question but I did it according to my personal grudge.

"Idris, I am aware of your personal feelings against me but watch your tone, young lady. To answer the question however, I was worried about the princess. The king himself said that she is Valford's hope, I already smelled something fishy about their minister that time. That king is a very close friend of mine, I have to protect his family. Before following them, I made sure to send my family home. Looking at what the minister did to the family but they all died in his hands. When I returned to the hall, blood and corpses filled the floor. I noticed some people barely alive so I gathered them in a single place. I had the last person there when the minister came to the hall and the MAGITEK army started to enter the place. The teleportation spell is almost ready but still, he managed to kill the ones I'm saving. That's when I survived the tragic day." he answered in a very calm manner. I don't even know if I should just believe in his words since he's not that 'heroic' when I lived with them.

"Moving on, I know that minister is aware of who I am and my abilities. The only thing I thought about that time is it's either he's not showing his true motives that time yet so he didn't dispose of me or he meant to send a warning sign to Griffinham. We've been doing this training for a decade now. We never know when Wolfbourne will attack or how but as brave warriors of this country, I beg for all of you to fight with your lives on the line. Just earlier, there was an intruder hunting for the crystal. I sent some students but still this intruder escaped. Some of you already know, the green crystal of Valford- Griffinham's crystal- is located at Esterwell. We'll cancel the Autumn Tournament, I want all of you to pledge your lives for this country. There will be selected students who will be sent to Moorville Junior Academy of Magic, you will be tasked to help them prepare for war. That would be all for now, dismissed."

Good thing it didn't take that long. The Autumn Tournament is also cancelled, what a bummer. As students started to head off the auditorium, I saw the Headmaster talk with the council members.

I went to the dining hall alone with the other students. I grabbed my meal and started eating on a table. This is when I started thinking of some things.

My dream last night seems to happened. Let me recall... there were people coming out of nowhere, after a lightning strike. If I remember correctly, it is the same spell the Headmaster specializes in. My dream is hazy since it is dark but the people... they look familiar. There was one guy with a lance who moves fast. If only he's a master of the warp magic, he might caught up. I can imagine the guy's frustration. He was so close if he threw the lance and warped to catch me. Well, not all people can do it. I also can't. It happened so fast. The only one I could think of having this ability is no other than Alfonse. The Headmaster won't send the officers unless it is already war.

Soon enough, the Council entered the dining hall. Their atmosphere feels heavy than the usual, as if something serious happened. They went separate ways and talked to different students. I remembered the Headmaster mentioned selecting students, that must be it. As I was hoping of being selected to be away from this place, Seiya walked towards me.

"Come, Idris. You're needed," she said so I followed her. At the hallway, there were nine individuals along with the members of the Council. I saw Xenos there, as confused as the others. We are asked to form 2 lines as the Council positioned themselves in front of us. Alfonse, who is the strongest and the leader, stepped forward and started with a serious expression.

"You -students of different classes- are selected for this task. As you can see, there are only ten of you. All of you are decided upon by each of us with consideration of your potentials. You may be a jerk, a coward or just an ordinary person, but starting today, you'll have your significant role for this academy." he started. I'm lucky. I was one of the selected. Blaize then went beside Alfonse and continued.

"To keep it short and simple. Along with me and Laika, you ten will be sent to Moorville Academy. Pack your things and meet us here by noon. That's all, you can now head to your dorms."

Everyone went to their dorms and me and Laika walked with each other.

"What sort of role am I taking for this academy? And for how long will we stay there?", I dare asked.

"There will be an orientation once we get there so you don't have to worry about it." Laika responded with certainty. Knowing it's the truth, I accepted the answer.

"So... I have this feeling that each of the Council selected a student- whether it's their favorite or the one they want to send away. Among the ten of you, who picked me?" I asked once more and it is evident in Laika's face that she's surprised.

"Surely, I want you to come with us but we had to choose from our own subclass. The Commanding Officers provided each of the student's IDs, achievements and specializations. I was rest assured we'll be together and so he promised, now we're going." Laika showed a gentle smile, exposing her sincerity. Blaize chose me over a lot more talented seniors, thank goodness.

After a few chat, we arrived by our dorm and started packing our things.

All these 9 years in this place, I can finally leave. I can finally see a world away from here.

To end my day here, I left a note in my desk saying: I would be and always will be, a child of the crystal.

It was noon when the selected students and the people closest to their hearts gather in the hallway. There awaits the Headmaster and his family, along with the commanding officers. Everyone bid their farewells and almost time before the Headmaster teleport us to Moorville.

"Idris, don't do anything worth tainting of our family and our academy. Lead a good life in Moorville." That was what the Headmaster's last message to me. As we start to fade into light, I saw his family waved goodbye.

It was a matter of minutes for us to reach Moorville. Upon entering, we can already feel the different aura coming from the place. It was surrounded with machines and engines that might be on par with Wolfbourne's MAGITEK army. Unlike in Mistcliff, or should I say from how I remember the town, Moorville seems to have stronger buildings and the town is mostly covered in steam and metal. I can say that this place is very civilized compared to the former.

"As expected for Griffinham's capital." Xenos commented as his expression showed excitement.

"Don't get too excited, we're not here to have a vacation." Laika told her cousin.

"She's right. We're in the middle of preparation for the upcoming war. I assume you're aware of it." Level-headed, Blaize told Xenos.

"Killjoys. Of course I know that." Xenos just kept his mouth shut as he look at the surroundings astonished.

"Our lodgings must be near. Let's get going." Blaize ordered us so we followed.

"You know what? I still can't believe they picked 6 girls and 4 boys for this task. I mean, if Moorville needed more manpower, we should have sent more guys." I whispered to Laika.

"Well, aren't you glad to be with us? Plus females have greater magic than males, didn't the academy teach you about it?" She replied.

"I'm still grateful, of course. I didn't pay much attention to that lesson. I know Blaize shouldn't be amazed that I healed more people than him." I told her and upon hearing his name, Blaize faced our attention.

"You rang?" He asked.

"No, we did not." Laika and I answered in unison. Our group proceeded in awkward silence as we reached the area where we will be living.

"Gather up everyone. These three houses behind me are our loggings. His royal highness, the King, is providing us this place with free water supply, furnaces with suffiecient amount of firewoods and free access to food at the market- or so the Headmaster says. Each house has two restrooms and four bedrooms so everyone would be comfortable enough to stay for a long time. According to the given orders by the Headmasters of both academies, we should get to Moorville Academy by 7 in the morning and our curfew will be 9 pm. Make sure to be indoors by this time or you'll be caught by Moorville Academy's night guards. If you have any objections, go tell them both yourselves." Blaize stated.

The King is generous to provide us with everything we will need, I dare say.

"Blaize, you forgot to tell them about the room assignment." I heard Laika utter.

"Ah, sorry. The room assignment will be given through deciding strips of paper with A, B, and C. Each house will have 2 of each gender to avoid certain circumstances. Well, except for house C because of the number of girls... just don't bully this guy, okay?", Blaize pulled out folded strips of paper from his left and right pockets and ordered us to grab one. Blaize, Laika, Xenos, and I got 'B' in our strips so we're going to live under the same roof. It may sound as something to be expected but at least be happy for me that I won't be living with strangers.

"Why am I always stuck with you guys? I want my freedom back", Xenos whined like some unlucky idiot.

"No one wants to be with you, Voltergaurde", Blaize commented as he sighed and fixed his glasses.

"I want to but I'm comfortable with these girls", Justine from the Archer class, also the guy who got the C paper strip, raised his hand and delivered his sincere opinion.

"Lucky bastard", I heard Xenos mutter under his breathe.

"So, put your luggage inside your rooms and have a tour around Moorville for today and enjoy. This is an order from our Headmaster." Blaize told us and everyone felt their excitement back to their bodies. To be frank, I am also excited to see this place. Blaize have been serious since earlier but I think he only did it to provide us everything we need to hear before everyone gets too tired to even hear him out.