On the other side of the tunnel and beyond the heavy gates of the warriors’ majestic entrance, there was air, there was light, there were vast green landscapes and warriors in colourful uniforms; it was finally Hozafia. Once Leo, Erick and the rest of the warriors were inside Hozafia with the burning carriage and the gangster that was still on top of it, the men in uniforms and some soldiers from the tunnel rushed fanatically to stop them.

    ‘STOP THAT CARRIAGE!’ the order was heard everywhere, but since Leo couldn’t do that, he hoped that one of the men running after them would do something. Suddenly, there was nothing—no horse, no fire and no carriage. Erick and the warriors found themselves suspended in mid-air, motionless, as the horse had run away with the two burning wagons. All the noises stopped; the screams of the warriors and the shouts of the soldiers. Everything seemed to stand still as Leo gradually came to understand what had happened.

    When one of the air warriors, standing at the entrance, realised that the riders of the burning carriage had no control over it, he found that his air gift was the only thing that could control the situation. He extracted everyone out of the burning wagons, including the gangster on top, by using nothing but the air itself, which, by the warrior’s manipulation, carried them all up like blown-out dandelion seeds. Everyone stayed hanging above the green grass with their luggage, only surrounded by the cool breeze for a few, silent moments before they were drooped on the ground. The warriors helped each other up—too shocked to speak. They could see warriors going after their carriage that went down a slope. They didn’t care what happened to it as long as they were out of it. After they gathered themselves and their things together, the warriors had a look around.

    So, this was Hozafia; the beautiful nature spread everywhere around the giant entrance that seemed almost hidden under a green hill, and there were flags with the Dorainium comet symbol flying on top of the entrance hill. Once Erick made sure that the eleven warriors were okay, he told Leo and Terri to hold the gangster who was then lying limply on the ground so that he wouldn’t run away—they happily did so.

    ‘You could’ve gotten us all killed,’ Andy bellowed at Ursula after he had finished beating the dust off his clothes.

    ‘Don’t shout!’ Erick ordered. ‘What are you talking about?’

    ‘That fire was her doing,’ Andy pointed at Ursula who stayed quiet, and since she didn’t object, Leo assumed that was true. Erick didn’t comment.

    ‘Captain Erick,’ called the air warrior that rescued them as he ran towards them, looking disturbed. ‘I am so sorry. I didn’t know it was you. When I saw that gangster I assumed it was some sort of a raid and so—’

    ‘It’s alright, you saved our lives,’ said Erick at once with a smile. ‘I didn’t get your name.’

    ‘My name is Gemmy Kane, sir,’ said the warrior who was wearing a light-blue uniform. Then another warrior in red came running.

    ‘Captain Erick, are you alright?’ asked the warrior and after making sure everyone was okay, he ordered his warriors to take away the gangster who didn’t struggle.

    ‘Kaleo, so good to see you,’ said Erick to the warrior in the red uniform.

    ‘Likewise, captain,’ said Kaleo.

    ‘First time on this shift?’ asked Erick.

    ‘Yes, and it won’t be the last. I’m stationed here,’ said Kaleo. ‘The guards went after your carriage, but it seems useless now. We will prepare another one for you.’

    ‘Thank you, that’ll be great,’ said Erick.

    Shortly, a big stagecoach pulled by four horses was ready for them. Erick and Leo sat with the coachman on his high seat, Terri, Andy, Oliver and Patrick sat on top of the coach, and the rest crammed inside it.

    Their trip this time was more enjoyable. It was certainly quieter outside the closed tunnels where the grating sounds of the carriages’ wheels were amplified. The tranquillity of this trip was a much-welcomed contrast. There were no other travellers around them and the only thing that disturbed the quietness was the twittering of the birds. They were entertained by lovely scenery as they relaxed in the warm sunlight which felt very pleasant after the cold dampness of the cavernous tunnels. They passed through green fields. The view of the rural houses that stretched close to a long babbling brook and the relieving breeze that carried delicious earthy smells of odd shrubs and variant vegetation that grew everywhere they looked helped them forget the anxiety caused by the tunnels’ incident.

    ‘Is this the countryside?’ asked Leo.

    ‘Just some fields around the edges of the town,’ said Erick.

    ‘What town?’

    ‘Zonica—unfortunately, you won’t be able to see it today because we’re heading north. We need to be at Zodia as soon as possible. We’re already late,’ said Erick.

    The sun was in the middle of the sky by the time they reached a forest, and as they went deeper and deeper into the lovely nature of Hozafia, they were enjoying every minute of it. An hour later, they arrived at the foot of a medium-sized, red mountain that they had seen from a distance, and as they went closer to it, they noticed that it was topped by a fortress.

    ‘That is Mount Garnal,’ Erick told the warriors. ‘It is not the tallest mountain in Hozafia, but it’s the most famous one. It’s famous because of the academy that crowns it. We also call it the Red Mountain. It was once known as the mountain of the gangs, they largely inhabited it a long time ago, but now, only a small number of stranded thugs find refuge in it.’

    ‘Why are there gangs everywhere here?’ asked Andy.

    ‘Look! There is the way up.’ Erick pointed forward. The warriors could see a distinct, steep, spiral road going up the mountain. The road was lined, on both sides up to the top, with guards in brown uniforms. ‘These are my men; the security guards, they’re here for you,’ said Erick with a proud smile. As they went closer to them, all the guards stiffened to salute Erick, it was then that the warriors realised how important Erick probably was to have all those guards under his command. Contrary to what they had expected, the road up the mountain was smooth and not scary steep. It was cleaned and cleared of any stone or bush, for the warriors’ convenience, and it was perfectly shaded by hundreds of red Garnal trees that gave the mountain its lovely, red sheen.

    Up the mountain, they could finally see it—Zodia. It was a sight of great thrill. Zodia was a huge fortress with strong, stone walls, huge, stout, wooden gates and four, tall towers. Flags of four different colours topped each tower, and on both sides of the gate, two giant banners displayed the symbols of Zodia and the Hozafian Dorainium flag.

    They stopped at the edge of a huge rift that separated the road from the fortress’s giant entrance. They didn’t have to wait for long before a drawbridge was lowered to breach the gap in front of the gate. A deep horn was sounded to announce their arrival as they crossed the bridge and as the huge wooden gates were opened. Inside the walls, men and women in uniforms played the drums and other musical instruments, and more people in uniforms waited in a wide courtyard for their arrival. As they passed the gatehouse, colourful flower petals were thrown in the air. The warriors were so taken with the splendour of the warm welcome that was accented by the awe-inspiring surroundings, that they completely forgot any doubt or concerns they might have had about being in Hozafia. They rode through a wide path leading to the doors of the main building as the marching band that stood at both sides of the path played their instruments vigorously. On a flight of stairs leading to the open doors of the main building, a man in a green uniform stood with open arms.

    ‘That is General Alfonso Harvey the Academy General,’ Erick told Leo, shouting over the sound of the drums. General Harvey had a reputation for being a man of great respect for the laws which was mainly why he was chosen to be the Academy General and headmaster at a young age. Even though General Harvey had a smile on his face he was not known for being generally cheerful. His military uniform was different from the rest of the warriors that they had seen so far; it had no golden braids, but it had many gold medals that, along with his golden epaulettes, made his uniform look extravagantly worthy of a general. His face was slightly wrinkled, but the general was tall and looked as fit as any young warrior.

    ‘Welcome, welcome! Great to see you all,’ said the general, before he introduced himself. ‘How was your journey?’ the general asked.

    ‘A little dangerous I’m afraid,’ said Erick seriously as the general went downstairs to join them. The general’s cheerful face hardened with concern. ‘Nothing that we couldn’t handle,’ Erick added quickly.

    ‘I need a detailed report about your trip, by tomorrow,’ said the general. 

    ‘Yes, sir,’ said Erick.

    ‘Now,’ the general’s expression cheered again as he talked to the amazed-looking new warriors, ‘it’s customary that the new warriors are to be taken on a tour around the fortress on the day of their arrival, and I will attend to that myself. Are you ready?’ The new warriors nodded in excitement. ‘Great! Let’s start.’

    Erick removed his cloak and handed it to one of the guards, who also brought him his uniform jacket and a black hat with a blue feather. It was the first time for the new eleven to see Erick in more fitting clothes.  Erick looked fine in his sky-blue uniform that was just like the one Warrior Gemmy was wearing but without the braids, and it had a badge of honour.