"Are you not going to consider what the doctor said?" Amber asked.

"Never," I replied firmly, "Now he wants to ask for my work in exchange for two gold pieces per month? I won't do it even if he offers more."

"Really? What if I asked you for three pieces?" Amber said with a mocking pleading smile.

"No," I replied coldly.

Amber shrugged and we continued our walk as we were strolling Mirage's streets. She told me that I needed to get some necessities before going to the academy next week, so we went to clothing stores and some bookstores to get the books I needed, according to her, history of the Countries, monsters, Known Elements, math, physiques, and martial strategy.

"Oh right, now I remember," Amber said. "You need to get a phone as well."

"Really?!"

I got excited about the idea as I had never owned a phone before, I also really liked how advanced smartphones in the True Realm are.

"You need one as the school administration will be sending you various notifications, well you will understand when you go."

I didn't care much of what she said, all I cared about was that I would get a smartphone. We entered a fancy phone shop and the owner was a middle-aged man with a brown moustache and a bald head.

"hm hm hm, oh let's take a look there." 

Amber kept humming a tone before she went to the centre where they were showing a seemingly expensive brand in a glass box. Greena L6.

"What do you think? This is the latest model so far," the girl said as she explained its features. I didn't care about the explanation because I didn't understand anything she was saying, I never had a phone and I don't know anything especially in this new world.

"How much is this, sir?" Amber asked the owner.

"190 silver pieces," the seller replied.

190 silver coins yeah that's over 400 USD.

"WHAT?!!!!" Amber exclaimed. "190 pieces?! Lower the price a bit man."

I facepalmed in embarrassment, she was respectful like a second ago, why does she ruin everything?

"f-fine 180," the seller conceded.

"Huh?!!!!"

Amber continued to shout, trying to negotiate the price.

"150 pieces," the seller said, trembling in fear. Of course, Amber was a strong warrior after all.

"NOT ENOUGH LOWER Mo...!!!" 

"Alright, we'll take it," I paid the price from the money I got from my work for James stopping Amber's scene in the shop, I felt pity towards the man, "Let's go Amber."

"Why did you stop me? I was about to get it for half the price," the girl said annoyed.

"you made a scene in front of everyone, are you in your right mind?"

"Hmph, that's called negotiations," Amber said, proudly patting her chest.

"I'm the one paying anyway, why do you care?"

"Fine fine, give me that."

The girl snatched the new phone from my hand.

"H-Hey?!"

"I've registered both my number and the doctor's and Mr. Hans's." she then threw the phone back.

I caught it nervously, thanks to my enhanced physique, I gave her an annoyed glare for seconds before I sighed, I just can't control this beast of a woman. 

"What about my teacher and the others?" I asked returning my 

"I don't know Mr. Alven and Mrs. Carol that much, they are important figures after. As for your teacher apparently, he doesn't even have a phone."

"Really? So there is no way to know his whereabouts?"

"Nope, The Unique Warrior is as the word says unique, even the government lead by the queen can't get restrain him."

"uhh, queen?"

"Ms. Carole's title is the queen warrior."

"Another silly name I guess."

"Hey, will you stop making fun of our titles? Mr. Ordinary?"

"Yeah right, Ms. Red Rose," I said in a mocking tone.

Here Amber started immitting her killing intent making another scene, An orange aura covered her body as she clutched her fist ready to punch me.

"S-Sorry I won't do it again."

The aura is gone and she smiled.

"Good boy, now let's go back to the lab."

I sighed and followed.

"Do we have to walk? can't we just teleport?"

"When you are the one making the teleportation devices say that."

We reached the lab and entered and we saw James there looking at us with a coffee mug

"Hello, Ali, have you changed your mind?" the scientist said with a smile.

"No."

The smile on his face turned into annoyance, and he said, "tsk, children."

then Amber waved for me to follow her inside the doctor's lab. Then James pulled out a box from under his desk and tossed it to me.

I catch the box and say in disdain "Didn't I say I won't work again?"

"It's not work, you idiot, but what your annoying teacher left for you."

"Really?"

I glanced at the wooden box and opened the lid. Inside, I found a letter and several familiar discs. They were portable gateway devices, the tools that Amber and Adam used to open gateways.

"What am I supposed to do with these? At least send me some money."

I moved to sit on one of the seats and held the letter to read it.

"Hello, my dear student, this is your great teacher Adam speaking."

'No doubt about that.'

"Unfortunately, I don't think I can be with you now to celebrate your entry into the academy. I have some work to finish, and I'll come to see you when I'm done. All I wanted to say is for you to enjoy your time at the academy. I've given you these here so you can move around as you like. Enjoy with your friends and try some new things. Don't forget, I forbid you from mentioning that you're my student. Use all your strength and don't settle for anything less than first place."

"Isn't he coming?"

Amber's hand came to try and console me from my sadness, moving her arm around my neck down like she was telling me 'I am here for you.'

The issue was that I didn't feel that sad, yes he is my teacher and all but how much did I spend with him? Amber was more my teacher than him, not to say that I am not sad, I mean I miss him, yes but, this is more anger at him for ignoring me than being sad.

"if you are going to be my teacher do it well you idiot."

A week later.

8:45 AM.

Amber and I headed towards the academy, which was located in the western part of Mirage, unlike all the places I had previously visited in the centre. This made me realize once again how big the city is.

"I know I repeat this a lot but don't mention that you're from the commoners. As you know, there aren't many people who have positive feelings towards them." 

And of course, Amber went into full overprotective mother mode.

"I know, I know."

She mentioned this topic at least five times today.

"Try to make friends and enjoy yourself."

"Got it, got it."

"Attend your classes and study well."

"Got it, got it."

"And don't..."

"I understand. Don't cause trouble, avoid getting expelled, and all the other advice you've been repeating since the beginning of the day, right? I've got them memorized."

"Okay then." The girl sighed and added, "As long as you remember, I won't bother you anymore with this. Yes, we've arrived."

"Really? And wha...? What in the world?!!!"

We were in front of a massive building, or rather, in front of a huge castle. Its height surpassed any other place I had seen. Students of my age in various shapes were entering through the giant main gate and crossing the vast front garden to enter the grey castle ahead.

Here, I felt a mix of excitement and a little intimidation about what awaited me inside for the next three years.

"Alright then." I turned towards Amber and said with a smile, "I'll go in now."

"Just a moment."

"Hmm?"

Amber began searching for something in her pocket.

"Here it is." She pulled out a peculiar black necklace and hung it around my neck. "Take care of it and return it to me after three years."

"What is this?"

"Let's just say it's something to remind you of your older sister."

The girl smiled and pinched my cheeks.

"h-hey stop it."

"don't dare forget me when you go in." 

She left my cheeks for peace finally, if there is something I won't miss is this.

"You really love exaggerating, we will meet every weekend remember?"

"Hehe, maybe.... just be safe okay?" here her eyes filled with tears and hugged me.

I was taken aback by the gesture, I mean it makes sense for a mother, well I didn't give it much thought anyway I just patted her back and said. "I will. see you."

she let me out of the tight hug and we separated with a hand wave and a lot of emotions.

looking forward at the gate I stood excited.

'Mirage Warriors academy, here I am coming.'

Entering to the massive gate, it was my first time seeing warriors my own age. I was extremely excited, there was two huge lines of students some were entering and some gone back without entering, boys in the right side and girls on the left side.

when I reached the front of the line in front of me was a boy and in front of the other line was a girl with a cap, both wore grey outfits, probably the school uniform, and both had a white armband wrapped around her arm.

"Your name?" the two said at the same time, to me and the girl in the next line.

"A-Ali. My name is Ali Saifeddine." I replied nervously.

"Tang Dai Yu." the Asian-looking girl replied with a firm face.

The two of them made a quick look into their phones and then said, "Confirmed." they smiled at us and added, "Enjoy your time in the academy."

"Thank you." the girl said in a calm smile and walked in.

"Th-Thank you." I was obviously the nervous guy here I followed awkwardly the girl and saw her walking through the schoolyard and entering the main building.

I pushed open the gates as well and what lay inside was astonishing. The place was crowded with various young warriors and their diverse array of clothes and weapons.

"Yes, my father is a warrior in the fourth level, and my grandfather is a warrior in the third level, our family is the most famous in the Living Dragon." said another Asian boy, the previous girl was also with his group.

"What? You're also from the Grand Flame?! That's amazing! Shall we become friends?" a group of girls were talking to a twin-tailed black-haired girl in the middle.

Most of the students were trying to form connections with each other, but some, seemed uninterested in making friends, well I was just nervous to start a conversation.

As I wandered around, observing the students, I noticed one student who caught my interest, he was bald with a simple grey robe, and he carried a staff.

'A Shaolin warrior?!' I thought to myself excitedly. I approached him eagerly, even in the outside world, ordinaries viewed them as superhumans. I stood in front of the boy, even though I didn't even think of what I would do next.

"What?" the boy said with a sharp yet calm tone.

"H-hi, are you a Shaolin warrior?"

"A Shaolin trainee. I haven't become a warrior yet."

"S-sorry for bothering, it's just I always heard of shaolin, I never really thought that one of them will go to the same school as me."

"Is that so?" the boy said, his expression softened into a confident smile. "My name is Chao Yu."

"I'm Ali Saifeddine," I said, shaking his hand.

And thus, I made my first friend in the True Realm.

"Please, all new students, proceed to the hall in front of you for the admission test," said another in a black school outfit and wearing glasses, he had the same white armband though.

"Tes.... w-woah?!" I didn't even finish my word before finding myself amid a heavy crowd pushing each other forward and got me separated from Chao Yu.

In an instant, I found myself seated in a massive room with hundreds of students, and one of those individuals, wearing a black robe, a towering figure with a big body, called out our names to enter a door in front of us, there was like 15 minutes between each name being called.

As I waited, I noticed the boy next to me seemed a little nervous. He had an Asian face with tied-back black hair and sharp black eyes, wearing red garments with yellow adornments.

"Are you nervous?" I don't know why, but I felt the urge to talk to him, I mean both of us seem nervous why not try to be friendly?

"Y-yes."

"Haha me too."

"R-really?" the boy was confused, his face was like 'how are you nervous and you laugh like nothing.'

"Yes, I tried talking to you thinking, since we are both nervous it will reveal a little from us, oh sorry I am Ali and you?"

"Ming Li," the boy replied with a smile.

After a few minutes of talking together, the tension was starting to dispatch.

Ming Li began explaining several things to me that I had no idea about. The tests consisted of three stages: the stage test is a written test, then the combat exam where two students fight each other, and performance is evaluated rather than winning or losing. The third is an interview with one of the officials.

"Don't you know these things?" he asked in scepticism like he said some common knowledge.

'Screw you Amber, you didn't tell me.'

"I've spent my whole life in the mountains with my teacher, so I don't know anything. I'm sorry if I bothered you with my questions." I tried making up a story on the fly.

"No, it's okay, glad I could help you."

"Ali Saifeddine, step forward," The guy up front said calling my name next

I rose from my seat and advanced before I stopped and looked back at Ming Li giving him a thumbs up, to which he replied with a confident nod.

I continued my way and entered through the wooden door.

"Hello there new student." another guy with the same outfit gave me a welcoming smile, he had short blonde hair and green eyes. pointed at a seat in front of me.

I took my seat and he put a paper in front of me, an adult guy with cold eyes and glasses said "You have 15 minutes to answer everything."

I gulped and looked at the paper. 'I am doomed.'

1 - when did Sharad Jiran establish the age of peace?

2 - name the known titles of the level one warriors.

3 - what was the name of the warrior that invented the teleportation element?

.

.

I was stunned, I didn't know the bloody history of the world, Amber just taught me how to fight, and I just named my teacher Adam, James and Carol, that's what I knew from the second question.

"....., uhh I didn't expect this, let's see the other page."

As I flipped the page I was happy it was math problems, and these were so simple I can't believe this is a thing they gave for high school students, two variable equations, very simple.

"Time's up." says the blonde guy. "From here my friend."

I approached the door he pointed at feeling so nervous and scared.

'I messed up, I messed up, how can I be so stupid to not study anything for two years?'

After I walked through the door I was met with another huge place with chairs and another girl with the same outfit she had a ponytail haircut.

after some time of blaming everyone I knew especially Adam for this, Ming Li came in with a smile, the bastard probably nailed it.

"it was easy right? I was nervous for nothing."

I pretended to be okay and said. "Y-yeah, we better focus on the next test."

"yes."

The combat test. This would be the first time I would fight someone other than Amber. I began to recall her laughter every time she defeated me.

"Ali Saifeddine, Isis, step forward to begin the second test."

The time had come.