Academy Shuttle

Luke, posing as Clear Sky, sat on a bench beside Ceremony Avenue in the Central District.

A streetlamp nearby brightly illuminated the area.

Behind the bench was a small park. The neatly trimmed lawn bore traces of a recent camping trip. Across the road stood an opera house, with posters plastered outside and singing drifting from within.

The faint singing made the city seem even quieter.

After a while, a group of young men and women in Aolu Academy uniforms walked over together. They stopped near the bench to wait for the academy shuttle.

They also noticed the Elf sitting on the bench.

In Raging Wave City, where trade routes connected worlds, Elves were not uncommon. Aolu Academy itself had many Elf professors and scholars.

But none of them had ever seen an Elf so breathtakingly beautiful.

A boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen walked over.

A book bag hung diagonally across his shoulder. In what he thought was a very cool tone, he asked Luke, "Hello, Elf... My name is Haidixike. Are you waiting for the shuttle to Aolu Academy too?"

"Yes," Luke replied. "I'm going to Aolu Academy. Are you all students there?"

The unfamiliar Elf's response made the boy more confident. He turned and gave his companions a smug look before saying to Luke, "Yes, we're all students at Aolu Academy. The weekend went by so fast. Just thinking about facing Professor Finnick again gives me a headache. His class on the analysis of Magic spells is incredibly difficult.

"Miss Elf, you're not wearing an Aolu Academy student uniform. Are you a teacher at the academy?"

As Haidixike chatted with the Elf, the other students gathered around.

Some began guessing what she taught at the academy.

"Miss Elf, I see two curved blades at your waist. I've heard that Elf Wind Dancers fight with a pair of blades. Are you a combat instructor at the academy?"

"No, those curved blades are so exquisite, they must be ornaments. And how could someone as beautiful as Miss Elf be a brutish warrior? You must be an Elf Druid who commands the forces of nature."

"Elf Druids all have animal markings on their faces. I think you must be a Mage. Only a noble Mage could match your beauty."

The Aolu Academy students crowded around Luke, chattering away. One young girl even reached out to touch her pointed ear.

Luke sprang up and landed lightly outside the crowd.

"Touching an Elf's ears without permission is very rude. I'm sure your etiquette teacher has taught you that.

"As for my profession...

"I'm an Elf warrior, an Elf Druid, an Elf Mage, and an Elf archer. At Aolu Academy... I'm a newly hired Magic professor."

Luke had just made up an identity for herself.

To make her story more believable, she extended her right hand. An ice lotus bloomed in layers in her palm.

Her casual use of ice Magic drew gasps from the students.

Feeling that he was losing the spotlight, Haidixike called out to them, "Everyone, mind your manners! This is our Magic professor... Professor, may we know your name?"

"My name is Clear Sky. It means a clear, cloudless sky."

The students bowed to Luke together and called out, "Hello, Professor Clear Sky!"

Haidixike continued, "Professor Clear Sky, what subject will you teach? Will we be able to take your class?"

"I'll teach..." Luke paused to think, then replied, "That's up to the academy. Once my schedule is set, you're welcome to attend my class."

"Wonderful!"

They would gladly attend the beautiful Elf Magic professor's class, even if they didn't pay attention.

Just then, a bus had appeared at the roadside without anyone noticing. Its doors opened, and a thin man in an old-fashioned Mage robe stepped out, his expression very stern.

"Aolu Academy students, put on your badges. They are your honor."

The students quickly checked their clothes for their academy badges. Anyone who wasn't wearing one immediately found it and pinned it on.

Then they lined up and boarded the bus one by one.

When it was Luke's turn, the man said, "Beautiful Miss Elf, this shuttle is bound for Aolu Academy. Students and academy staff ride for free. If you're a visitor, you'll need to pay ten Imperial Marks."

Haidixike, already aboard, called out, "Mr. Mahir, this is Miss Clear Sky, our Magic professor."

The other students also confirmed that she was their Magic professor.

Luke took out ten Imperial Marks and handed them to Mahir. "I'm here to complete the formalities for my appointment."

With so many students calling the Elf an academy professor, Mahir didn't doubt them. He didn't take Luke's money.

"Sorry, Miss Clear Sky. Please get on board. Welcome to Aolu Academy. If you're single, I imagine all the academy's unmarried male staff will be even more delighted to welcome you."

Mahir, who seemed so stern, managed a rare smile in the presence of the stunning Clear Sky.

Beautiful things always made people lower their guard.

Besides, Aolu Academy wasn't some place closed to outsiders. Openness and inclusiveness had always been part of its educational philosophy.

The ten Imperial Marks charged for the ride were largely symbolic.

"Thank you, Mage Mahir." Luke boarded the bus.

Haidixike eagerly invited Luke to sit beside him, but she chose to sit next to a female student who looked pleasant enough.

Mahir closed the doors, then rang a small bell beside them.

With no driver, the academy shuttle started moving. After traveling a short distance, it vanished from the road.

Just then, a group of Imperial Secret Agents came running up, panting. They could only watch as the Aolu Academy shuttle departed the main plane.

"Damn it!" Bonar cursed furiously when they failed to stop the bus. Then he asked his subordinates, "Did you see Clear Sky get on?"

"Captain, we saw her. She boarded with the Aolu Academy students.

"This is bad!"

"Bad? That's an understatement! A powerful killer who slaughtered so many people in the Cape District—and might be carrying the Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon—has gone to Aolu Academy. She could cause a disaster there!

"Go notify the Detective Chief and warn City Hall.

"Contact the Aolu Academy Liaison Office and have them open a passage to the academy for us.

"Move, move, move!"

"Yes, Captain!"

The agents who received their orders hurried off.

The remaining agents stared in the direction the Aolu Academy shuttle had vanished and asked Bonar anxiously, "Captain, what are we supposed to do if we face that Elf?"

Bonar put his hand on his sword hilt.

"Many of Aolu Academy's students come from noble families... This time, we have no choice but to fight with everything we have.

"If you encounter Clear Sky, don't give her time to unleash a large-scale ice spell.

"Charge in and kill her fast. That's our only chance of leaving Aolu Academy alive."

"Yes, Captain!"