Outworld: Awakening

"My name is Adam. I am here to officially join the Academy," Adam said.

"Do you have proof of what you say?"

Adam's countenance sank; apart from what Vicar told him, he had no way to identify himself.

'If I tell him I've no means of identity, I'm as good as dead. Oh, maybe I should try that.'

With a sudden realization filling his mind, Adam's voice became clearer as he said, "Please confirm from the Academy. I'm not at liberty to disclose anything further."

For a brief moment, the grip on his shoulders tightened, before loosening.

"What did you say your name is again? And, how old are you?"

"Adam. I'm seventeen."

"Alright. Remain where you are. If you make any unnecessary movements, your head will pay the price. However, I must warning you. I'm about to confirm if your identity is true. If it turns out to be false, a fate worse than death awaits you."

Without saying a word, Adam nodded.

Backing the mysterious guard, Adam flinched as a blue light fell on the surface of the bridge. Before he could comprehend what was happening, he heard the hoarse voice of the guard again.

"This is Fyren from the outer sector. I need to confirm the identity of a student. Please redirect me to the Registry."

Just as Fyren finished his statement, Adam heard a series of beeps and other weird sounds.

'Is that their own form of a smartphone? Why does the light do?'

While deep in thought, the beeping ceased, and a monotonously voice followed.

"Name?"

"Adam," Fyren said.

"Age?"

"Seventeen." Fyren said.

"What's your current location?"

"Eastern sector," Fyren said.

"Give me a minute."

Cold sweat covered Adam's face as he waited. A strange sense of unease overwhelmed him.

"Our check has been completed. No active student with that criteria is in the area."

While the voice echoed, Adam watched as the blue glow disappeared.

"You should have taken the easy death kid. You had your chance, now—"

"Wait a moment!" Adam interjected as he slowly turned his head. His mouth dropped as he stared at Fyren.

With the body of a man, and the head of an eagle. He wore a long gray trenchcoat which covered his black suit.

Despite his situation, Adam could not overcome the shock of seeing such a being.

"There is no need begging for mercy. You had your chance to accept a quick death. By the order—"

"I never said I was an active student. I said, I'm here to join the Academy. That means I am a new student," Adam interjected. Barely recovering from his awed state.

"Oh. You did say that. I'm sorry for asking the wrong question. Wait a moment, I'll con—"

Before Fyren could finish his statement, a gem on his right hand emitted a blue radiance. Fyren released the gem, and it hovered in midair.

"Have you eliminated the intruder?"

"Not yet. I believe I made a mistake in—"

'Good. A new student with that name is in our records. Ask him to repeat the name of his sponsor.'

Without saying a word, Fyren motioned for Adam to speak.

Unknown to him, Adam was in a dilemma. He knew Adelaide was the one responsible for registering him, but he didn't know if she used her name as his sponsor.

'Damn it. Why didn't Vicar give me all the details? What the hell is wrong with him? What will I do now? Any false move, means death.' Adam thought.

"Is the student mute?"

The monotonous voice brought Adam's wandering thoughts back to reality.

Fyren's eyes lowered, staring keenly at Adam. As if telling him he would have no further opportunities.

"His name is... Erik Gilmore..." Adam whispered.

A gleam of doubt covered Fyren's eyes as he stared at Adam.

Adam did not even bother to meet Fyren's gaze. If his answer turned out to be wrong, he would make a break for it. He had to intention of dying at Varidan Academy.

Cold sweat covered most of Adam's clothes. He wanted to retreat, but with Fyren's gaze locked on him; he knew it would be a tall order.

"Guard 2345. Please eliminate the intruder who wandered into the Eastern section. Before that, please escort student 009 to the year one registration center."

Under Fyren's and Adam's gaze, the glow of the floating gem dimmed, returning to Fyren's hands.

"I'm sorry for scaring you. Please don't take it to heart. As you probably know, my name is Fyren, I'm an Aviskin."

"I'm Adam. You were only doing your job. Nice to meet you," Adam said while sporting a smile.

However, it betrayed his thumping heart. Initially, he thought he was the intrude to be eliminated. Although he knew he stood no chance, he was prepared to escape via the river. Although Fyren introduced himself, Adam didn't know what an Aviskin was.

"This is the first time I'm seeing someone smile after hearing I'm an Aviskin. It's either you don't know what it means or you're a person from beyond the walls. So, which is it?" Fyren asked.

'What the hell is he talking about?' Adam mused. He really hated the fact he was ignorant. Frustrated, Adam's countenance darkened.

"Oh. I apologise if I said something out of turn. You don't need to answer my careless questions," Fyren said.

"Oh no. I did not take offense, Fyren. I had other things on my mind."

Adam didn't bother to explain further. There was no point revealing his ignorance about the Aviskin and the walls Fyren talked about.

"All right. Please prepare yourself. I will escort you to the registration point," Fyren said as he threw the white gem into the river.

A spilled second later, he grabbed Adam, before jumping over the bridge.

'What's this maniac doing?'

While this thought filled Adam's mind, the river water turned blue. A spilled second later, a portal emerged. Before Adam could comprehend what was going on, the portal swallowed him and Fyren.

Just as Adam and Fyren disappeared, a cloaked figure in black appeared on the bridge. The exact moment the individual appeared on the bridge, a lightning bolt descended from the clear skies.

The hooded figure didn't even have time to scream, before the sudden attack turned them to dust. A few seconds later, another figure emerged on the bridge.

"This is the second one this month. Are these people mad or something? Well, it's not as if I care."

Unlike Fyren, he wore a long multicolored trenchcoat which hid his white suit, and he had the head of a peac.o.c.k.

"Guard 2345, has the intruder been eliminated?"

"Yes. What are my next orders?"

"Stand by for now. You're in charge of Eastern sector 12 until Guard 1920 returns."

Unlike Fyren, the guard's earrings glowed and produced the monotonously voice.

"Where did Fyren go? It's strange for that duty maniac to leave his post. Hmm... somethings must have happened."

While the guards words echoed, he had already disappeared from the bridge.

In an unknown location in Varidan Academy, a portal opened on the ground, and it spat out two individuals.

"We are here. Unfortunately, I won't be able to accompany you further," Fyren said.

Before Adam could retort, Fyren jumped into the portal once more and it closed within seconds.

'This place just keeps getting weirder and weirder.'

Although Adam had this thought in mind, a slight smile tugged at the sides of his lips.

"Are you the new student? If you are not, then get out. This is not a place for relaxing."

Adam flinched as he slowly turned his head. His gaze fell on a young woman with a mohawk. She wore a black uniform studded with over twenty buttons. She had an average height. Unlike typical females, she cross dressed. Wearing the uniform a male would usually wear.

"Stop staring and answer me. Are you—"

"That's me. Where can I find the registration hall?" Adam interjected.

Silence greeted his words. The young lady creased her thin brows.

"Is there a problem? I thought—"

"You might be new here. But don't ever interrupt me again. Pick yourself up and follow me."

Wasting no time, she turned around and walked in light steps.

'What a bitch,' Adam thought as he slowly rose to his feet.

For the first time, he observed his new surroundings. He found out Fyren left him in the center of three massive buildings. A few meters away from where he stood, a water fountain in the form of an hydra pumped water into the air.

He could see lush grassy fields around the buildings, and he could also spot several chairs on the field, almost like park chairs. Floating orbs emitting a white light illuminated the area, and a gentle breeze carried grassy fragrance towards Adam's nose.

"Hey! If you get lost, I won't look for you. Stop staring and follow me!"

Saying nothing, Adam quietly followed the young lady. Although her attitude displeased him, he didn't want to get lost in a place that gave intruders the strictest punishment possible.

A few minutes later, Adam and the young lady stood in front of a signpost with the words 'Registration Hall' written in bold.

"All right. Go in and get tested. Once your done, I will lead you to your dorm."

Saying nothing further, the young lady reclined on the signpost. She had no intention of answering Adam's questions. She was not even interested in hearing them.

Adam, too, had no interest in speaking with the disrespect lady further. She didn't know him from anywhere, yet she treated him as if he had offended her.

Without even glancing at her, Adam made his way to the registration building. It had ten floors. Flowers and vines covered the walls of the first two floors while the floors above maintained their brown sheen. The entrance to the building had a unique door coated in flowers.

"How am I supposed to open this? Is this even a door?" Adam muttered as he stared at the colorful door.

"New student or active student?"

Adam heard the same monotonous voice from earlier, but he couldn't trace its source.

"I'm a new student," Adam said.

"Proceed to the first floor."

At that moment, the pink flowers on the door of the building glowed. A spilled second later, a portal opened before Adam's eyes. He was truly tired of being surprised.

With light steps, he walked into the portal. At that moment, his vision distorted. A spilled second later, he found himself in a room which had white titles arranged on its walls.

"Where am I? Is this the first floor?" Adam muttered as he scanned his surroundings.

"Welcome to the testing ground for Year one recruits. In this room, you'll be undergoing a series of trials to test the level of your Blessing. Please give it your maximum effort. If you don't, we are not liable for your death."

Before Adam could voice is objection, the white titles turned red. A spilled second later, a ghoulish howl bounced off the walls of the room. At that same moment, the walls in front of Adam slowly parted.

[Danger!]

[Demonkin Detected]

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Successfully Established.]