- If we follow this path, we’ll get to the main building – agent Meyer was guiding us, or rather me, since Mercedes already knew the campus' layout

- You keep telling us that someone is waiting for us but you never told us why they need us here sir - Mercedes asked getting more and more impatient

- You’ll find out once you get there Miss Wood - a smile creeping up his face

I couldn’t blame Mercedes since I was just as intrigued as she was. I couldn’t get my head around the idea behind why they would need us, a pair of the newest trainees, here at the biggest and most important academy in the world.

- Why can’t you just tell us now? Is there a surprise or something? - I added trying to put more pressure on the agent

- Hmm… Well there might be, but as I said we will know for sure once we get there, so let’s go, hurry up!

Out of nowhere, agent Meyer bolted forward as if he had just been stung by an entire beehive. Instinctively, I rushed behind him, and just a second after I could hear Mercedes’ steps closing up on me. I turned around, wondering why she hadn’t passed me yet since I thought she was a lot faster than me, and quickly realized that even if she was, this was not the kind of speed that I should care about. I could already hear them, but watching her steps made me remember why I had considered her to be a good dagger user: they were quick and short. The distance I covered with one or two steps, she did in three or four, since her legs were a lot shorter than mine. This might put her on the same level as the rest when talking about long distances, but in close combat where the speed was more of an instant thing, those short and quick steps could make you deadly. I started wondering, if I almost managed to overwhelm Frank with my speed, what could he possibly do against her…?

- What are you looking at? - she said, gazing at me

- Just thinking - I quickly snapped

- Well you better stop thinking and start watching because you are going to eat a wall - she snapped back pointing forward

I followed her finger with my eye and found agent Meyer talking to someone, standing in front of a big building with a tall clock tower in the middle. I saw that the building continued diagonally from the back corners and wondered how it would look from above. Mercedes and I slowed down and stopped right besides agent Meyer, and almost as if she was reading my mind she started talking:

- The entire perimeter of the Academy is shaped as a triangle, continuing with all the ‘triforce’ and ‘unity’ theme. The building right in front of us is the main entrance and contains all the administrative sections of the school, like the principal's office and such. Then you have the two corridor-like buildings to the left and right, which are the dorms. Right is for men and left for women. All of the rooms are shared by two or three students, usually from the same classes or at least semester so they can live with someone they share something with.

- Makes sense - I said while nodding

- I remember that on my third semester there was a mistake and I ended up sharing with a new girl that was only on her first semester and she was so nervous that they ended up moving her and I had the room all for myself. I got pretty lucky.

- You sure did.

- Yeah, well, where was I? Oh yeah, right at the end of the dorms there are two big buildings where the classes take place. The one at the end of the boys dorm is the one for first and second semester, or how we used to call it ‘The first building’ since it was for the first year lessons, and on the opposite side there was ‘The second building’ that obviously was for the third semester lessons.

- I get it... But wait, what about the fourth semester? The special training I mean

- I was getting to that! - her pitch 50% higher and more annoyed

- Sorry mam' - I teased, but she simply ignored me and continued

- As I was saying, the First and Second buildings are connected between them by a long corridor that closes the perimeter of the triangle, but there is one more building that isn’t connected to the others, right in the center of the triangle. That is the ‘Special training building’ or ‘STB’ for short, where all the fourth semester special classes take place. It has between eight and ten small rooms, since barely any student get to take those classes.

- I see now. Thanks for the mental tour.

- I wasn’t finished yet, but since you seem so determined to keep me from talking, I’ll grant your wish and stop right away

- Oh no! Please don’t stop! What am I going to do without your knowledge oh my great guide! – I said resting the back of my hand on my forehead, exaggerating my contrite gesture

- Agh, you are the worst.

Suddenly I got an idea to try and test Agent Neumann's theory

- Worse than Wolf? - I stroke back and carefully watched her response

- What?! W-Why would you ask that? W-What does he have to do with this? – She barely could finish her sentences while her face turned red and she looked at me in disbelief

- Oh, nothing, but I just wanted to see your reaction. You really hate him don’t you? – I said grinning and gesturing the quotation marks on the word ‘hate’

- Shut up! I can’t stand that guy, he’s obnoxious and pretentious and thinks he’s so cool with his big body and muscles and all of that…

- Do you need a tissue to clean up the drooling?

Mercedes was about to jump at me when a hand interposed between us, probably saving my life

- Sorry to stop all the fun you two are having but we have work to do – agent Meyer said as he redirected his hand to the person he'd been talking to - Let me introduce you to thehead of this institution, Ito Kazuo sensei.

The guy in front of us was a male of about 60 years old, with really thin sharp eyes and a gentle smile on his face. He had no bear or mustache but the white hair on his head dropped from the back, almost reaching his shoulders. He gave us a little bow, and almost unconsciously I gave one a bit a bit bigger, showing my respect to him, and was glad to find Mercedes doing the exact same thing.

- Lift your heads please - he said with a soft and relaxing voice

- Is good to see you again Ito sensei – Mercedes lifted her head and smiled gently at him

- It certainly is Miss Wood. How you’ve been doing?

- I’m doing well sensei.

- I’m glad to hear it. And you, young boy, I was expecting Miss Wood and agent Meyer, but I hadn’t been informed about a third guest. Would you mind telling me your name?

- My name is Theo Wagner, I’m a trainee just like Miss Wood and I’m her partner for the week. It’s a pleasure… sensei…?

-You don't know what sensei means, do you? – He asked with his calm tone

- Sorry but no, I know I read it once or twice in some book when I was little but I don’t remember it's meaning

- Don’t worry, let me tell you. Sensei literally translates to ‘teacher’ from Japanese. As you might have guessed, I come from a Japanese family. My dad escaped from Japan with my grandfather right at the beginning of the war since he suspected things were getting out of hand, and unfortunately for the world he was right. We’ve been living here for a while and he was one of the brains behind the idea of the Triforce Academy. He was the principal before me, and once he died he left me the position, which he had been preparing me for.

 - And how long has been since that Mr. It… Err… Sensei? - I asked curiously

- I think this is my 27^th year under the title

- Wow, that’s a lot. Congratulations on your work, I heard that this is the pinnacle of swordsmanship training

- Well thank you for that Mr. Wagner, but I cannot take all the credit since I don’t run the institution alone. There’s a board of people that decide most of the things related to every Triforce Academy in the World.

- Yes I know, but I was talking about this specific campus. I know you are not the one that allows anyone with some money in, but I do know that your campus has produced some of the, if not the best agents the White Police has seen

- Come on boy, you are making this old man blush. Now, I’d love to keep hearing praises, but we have some work to do, don’t we? – He asked moving his eyes from me to agent Meyers

- Indeed we do – Emil answered with a smile on his face

- The only problem is that Mr. Meyers here didn’t tell us why we are here – Mercedes interrupted, rolling her eyes at our tutor

- You didn’t tell them? Well, I’m not surprised, you’ve always been like that - Ito sensei sighed

- I was afraid Miss Wood would’ve made a scene and rejected to do this if she knew beforehand. You probably know better than anyone that she can be a little… hard, don’t you sensei?

- Excuse me? – Mercedes screeched at Emil’s words

- See what I mean? – The agent said, making his best effort to not burst up laughing

You could see on Mercedes eyes that she was calculating if it was worth it to lash out at her tutor, but in the end she just groaned and turned away in defeat.

- Now now, why don’t we all calm down and go inside so I can talk to you about your job for today?

- That would be good, yes. Thank you sensei – agent Meyer bowed once again towards him and then looked back at us and continued – let’s go then kids, today’s going to be fun.

 Once inside the building, the first thing I noticed was that the white walls were all decorated with some sort of weapon or piece of armament. Different kind of swords and shields made beautiful combinations on different colors, sizes and styles; sets of armor crafted from different materials, some lighter like entire chain vests armors and some others heavier like the stereotypical 'knight in shiny armor' kind of set; but the thing that impressed me the most, and by far I should say, was right above the doorframe. A beautiful golden shield, crossed from each corner and the middle by three individual swords, from right to left, a short sword, a big longsword and a katana respectively.

- This place is so cool! Are all of those real? - I asked the sensei

- Yes, they are. All of them are donations from alumni of this academy who wanted to give something back to us and leave their mark

- That’s amazing! And that’s another proof of the great work you do over here

- I’d never thought about that, but now that you say it… I guess you are right Mr. Wagner - he answered with a smile

- Is this your entire collection? – I asked while counting every item on the walls

- Almost, yes. It’s small if you think how many alumni there are, but the thing is that the first person to start this ‘tradition’ did it just ten years ago. That’s the only item that I do not hang around here, but on my office.

- It must be pretty special to you

- Yes, it is. Would you like to see it? - he proudly asked

- I’d love to! – I answered excited, wondering what this special item could be. Was it a golden sword and shield? A diamond encrusted armor? The options were limitless, but whatever it was, it had to be really valuable for him to hide it on his office instead of showing it off.

- Let’s go then. I’ll ask my assistant to bring us something to drink while we discuss our plan for today. Everyone likes tea?

I had forgotten that there was more people besides Ito sensei and me, so I jumped in place when I heard the two voices coming from behind my back

- Tea would be perfect – it was agent Meyer’s voice

- Yes, it’s good for me as well – Mercedes’ voice added

I wasn’t really a tea person, I’d rather have a cup of coffee, but I wasn’t going to reject the principal of the TFA, so I just played along, hoping it wouldn’t be too bad

- That makes us three - I simply answered

- Perfect, then follow me please.

He guided us through a short corridor that ended in a little waiting room with a couple of chairs, a water dispenser and a single wooden door with a silver plate with the inscription ‘Principal’s office’

Ito sense opened the door and let us all in. If you looked up the word ‘office’ in an encyclopedia, you would probably find a picture of this exact room. Both side walls were covered by bookshelves filled to the brim with, well, books, except for two holes in the middle of each shelve, occupied by two beautiful and elegant swords, each inside it lightly curved wooden saya, letting only the handles at sight, exposing even more their class and refinement. I was so astounded by the two weapons that I stood in the middle of the room, blocking everyone else’s path.

- Would you mind? I’m trying to walk – Mercedes voice came from behind me, and without taking my eyes of one of the two swords, I moved to the side letting her pass, and talked to Ito sensei forgetting once again about the other two people in the room

- Are these two the gift from that first alumni, sir? 

- I’m sorry to disappoint you but no, these katanas are actually mine. The black one to your right belonged to my father, it was a gift from his father, my grandfather, when he got the principal title; and the white one to your left is mine, and as you might have guessed, my father wanted to give it to me when he retired and I got the title, but unfortunately he died while still on charge and couldn’t give it to me personally - he finished with a solemn voice

- I’m sorry to hear that - I said turning towards him

- Thank you Theo. And regarding your question, the item that you are looking for is right there

He pointed behind his desk, where a single weapon rested on stand hanging in the center of the wall, and let me tell you, I’ve never been so confused, surprised and disappointed, all at the same time, in my entire life.

- But that’s… That’s the sword they give us trainees! - I exclaimed in disbelief

I took out my weapon which was an exact copy from the one on the wall.

- That’s correct – Ito sensei calmly answered

- But how can that be your most valuable item?

- Well, its value doesn’t come from the sword itself, but from the person who gave it to me. He was a really peculiar man, but also one of the best students we ever had, and a good friend of mine.

- I still don’t understand why did he give you that thing. And where is he now?

- Unfortunately, he lost his life on an accident a while ago - he said, his voice growing sad

It could’ve been my imagination, but I think I saw agent Meyer twitch at the mention of the word accident, but I let it slide.

- Again, I’m sorry to hear that sensei - I simply said because I knew what it felt to lose someone

- Don’t apologize, I’m sure he died fulfilling his duty as an agent, which was his biggest desire.

- Can I ask you his name, sensei? - I asked giving up to my curiosity

- Of course, his name was Tr…

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

- Come on in – Ito sensei said with a soft but audible voice

The door opened, revealing a man between 24 and 28 years old, holding a platter with both hands, which contained four little cups and a teapot

- Sorry to interrupt sensei. Here’s the tea you asked for