Phantom Hunters | Saphir Casters Academy

8 | The Academy

VIII | THE ACADEMY

    Kael felt sweat prickle his back from the scorching sun above. Excitement bubbled in his chest, washing away the discomfort as a refreshing shower of water would.

    "I'm really here," he said incredulously. "I'm actually really here."

    "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?" Kly followed Kael's gaze and admired the beautifully adorned gates. No matter how old it was, the silver letters never seemed to dull.

    Kly picked up Kael's suitcase. "Well, let's put this in the baggage deposit and sign you in. Come on."

    Kael now noticed that he and Kly weren't the only people at the gate. Right next to the massive doors, a small tent stall was set up, and a long line of people stood under the heat of the sun. An identical tent was set up at the other side, even completed with an identical trail of people waiting to sign up.

    "That's a lot of people," Kael said, not liking the thought of waiting in line for more than an hour.

    "Don't worry about it," Kly assured. "Since you're a scholarship student, you're signing up there."

    Kly gestured to a lone tent that Kael hadn't noticed before. It stood in the shadow cast by the wall, and a smaller line of people waited in front of it. A much smaller opening, hardly as grand as the main gate, was used to let them in.

    "Come on. bud." Kly smiled and went ahead. Kael was quick to follow.

    By the time they reached the tent, only one person stood in line. Kael watched the tall, lean boy step forward to show his scholarship letter. From his light brown skin, thick hair, all the way down to his sharply hooked nose, Kael could tell that he was from Arridia, a desert country farther south. It was one of the few countries he knew, mainly because of his fascination with their desert rhinos.

    After checking him in, the surprisingly young clerk pointed the Arridian boy in the direction of the small brown gates. Kly stepped up next, Kael following with a jolt.

    "You're looking a little tired there, Fugax," Kly greeted.

    The clerk started at his name. His wide, honey brown eyes peered through his glasses and his expression brightened. He reminded Kael of a terrified deer. "Proctor Kly, is that you?"

    Kly nodded and stepped aside to give Kael more room. "My brother's here to check in."

    Fugax fumbled with the papers before letting them rest. "Your brother? Yes, he does have quite the semblance..."

    He adjusted his glasses and leaned forward to observe Kael as he would a specimen. Kael fidgeted awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

    Then, as if snapping form a trance, Fugax blinked and looked away. "S-sorry! I didn't mean to stare!"

    "It's fine, Fugax. Relax." Kly dropped Kael's suitcase on the table, causing a few papers to flutter. "What are you doing here, anyway? I'm surprised you aren't in the library." He handed Kael's scholarship letter to Fugax for confirmation.

    Fugax grinned sheepishly as he searched the papers for Kael's name. "Um...you see, Jora was supposed to take charge here, but, eh..."

    Kly sighed. "You let yourself be a pushover again."

    Fugax shook his head. "No! Not at all. I was happy to help. It's just that..."

    His mood darkened, and Kael swore he saw thunder clouds forming above Fugax's head. "Jora's scary when she asks for favours." He fiddled with his fingers.