Academy Shuttle

Luke sat on a bench by the side of the ceremonial avenue in the central district, disguised as Clear Sky.

A streetlamp beside him bathed the area in a bright, warm glow.

Behind the bench lay a small park, where the neatly trimmed lawn still bore traces of campers who had recently departed. Across the road stood an opera house; posters were plastered on its exterior, and the faint sound of singing drifted out from within.

The distant, ethereal melody only made the city feel all the more tranquil.

After a while, a group of boys and girls wearing the uniforms of Aolu Academy walked over together. They stopped near the bench, waiting for the academy shuttle bus to arrive.

At the same time, they caught sight of the Elf sitting on the bench.

In Raging Wave City, where shipping lanes connected the world, Elves were not an uncommon sight; Aolu Academy itself had many Elf professors and scholars.

Yet, none of them had ever seen an Elf with such ethereal, otherworldly beauty.

A boy who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old walked over.

With a school bag slung across his shoulder, he asked Luke in a tone he clearly thought was dashing: "Hello, Elf... My name is Haidixike. Are you also waiting for the shuttle to Aolu Academy?"

"Yes," Luke replied. "I am going to Aolu Academy. Are you all students of the academy?"

The stranger's response made the boy grow more confident. He glanced back at his companions with a triumphant look before saying to Luke, "Yes, we are all students at Aolu Academy. The weekend goes by so fast. Just thinking about facing Professor Finnick soon gives me a headache; the Magic spell analysis he teaches is truly difficult.

Miss Elf, you aren't wearing an Aolu Academy uniform. Are you a faculty member at the academy?"

Haidixike's conversation with the Elf drew the other students to gather around.

Some began to speculate about the Elf's position at the academy.

"Miss Elf, I see two curved blades at your waist. I've heard that Elven Wind Dancers are warriors who use dual blades. You must be the academy's combat instructor, right?"

"No, those two blades are so exquisite, they must be ornaments. Besides, how could such a beautiful Miss Elf be a crude warrior? You must be an Elf Druid who commands the power of nature."

"Elf Druids have beast markings on their faces. I think you must be a mage. Only a noble mage could match your beautiful appearance."

The group of Aolu Academy students chattered around Luke, and one young girl even reached out to touch her pointed ear.

Luke jumped up, landing lightly outside the circle of people.

"Touching an Elf's ears without permission is a very impolite act. I am sure your etiquette teacher must have taught you that.

As for my profession.

I am an Elf warrior, an Elf Druid, an Elf mage, and an Elf archer. At Aolu Academy... I am a newly arrived professor of Magic."

Luke had just fabricated an identity for himself.

To prove the credibility of his status, he extended his right hand, and an ice lotus bloomed layer by layer in his palm.

The casual display of ice Magic drew a chorus of gasps from the students.

Feeling his sense of presence diminish, Haidixike shouted to the students: "Classmates, mind your manners! This is our Magic professor... Professor, may we know your name?"

"My name is Clear Sky, which means a clear, bright sky."

The students bowed to Luke in unison and shouted, "Hello, Professor Clear Sky!"

Haidixike continued to ask: "Professor Clear Sky, which subject do you teach? Can we take your class?"

"I teach..." Luke thought for a moment and replied, "I must listen to the academy's arrangements. Once my course schedule is finalized, you are welcome to attend my lectures."

"That's wonderful!"

The class of a beautiful Elf Magic professor was one they would attend even if they didn't intend to listen.

Just then, a bus pulled up to the side of the road, though no one had noticed when it arrived. The doors opened, and a gaunt man with a stern expression, dressed in old-fashioned Magic robes, stepped down.

"Students of Aolu Magic Academy, put on your school badges. They are your honor."

The students quickly checked the badges on their clothes, and those who weren't wearing them immediately fished them out to pin them on.

They then lined up to board the bus one by one.

When it was Luke's turn, the man asked: "Beautiful Miss Elf, this is the shuttle to Aolu Academy. It is free for students and faculty; if you are a visitor, you must pay ten Imperial Mark."

Haidixike, who had already boarded, shouted: "Mr. Mahir, this is our Magic professor, Miss Clear Sky."

The other students chimed in, confirming she was their Magic professor.

Luke took out ten Imperial Mark and handed them to Mahir: "I am here to complete my official employment procedures."

With so many students claiming the Elf was a professor at the academy, Mahir did not doubt it, and he did not take Luke's money.

"My apologies, Miss Clear Sky, please board. Welcome to Aolu Academy. If you are single, I believe all the single male faculty members at the academy will welcome you even more."

The seemingly stern Mahir wore a rare smile when faced with the breathtakingly beautiful Clear Sky.

Beautiful things always make it easy for people to lower their guard.

Besides, Aolu Academy was not a forbidden place where strangers were unwelcome; openness and inclusivity had always been the academy's guiding principles.

The ten Imperial Mark fare was collected more for symbolic reasons than anything else.

"Thank you, Mage Mahir." Luke stepped onto the bus.

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

Mahir closed the car door and rang a bell next to it.

The academy shuttle started without a driver, traveled a distance, and disappeared down the road.

At this moment, a group of Imperial Secret Agents ran over, panting, having watched the Oulu Academy shuttle leave the main space with their own eyes.

"Damn it!" Bonar, who had failed to stop the car, cursed in frustration, then asked his subordinates, "Did you see Clear Sky get on the bus?"

"Captain, we saw her. She got on the bus with the Oulu Academy students. This is trouble!"

"More than trouble! A powerful killer who murdered so many people in the Cape District, and possibly carrying the 'Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon,' her entering Oulu Academy will absolutely cause a disaster! Quickly inform the Detective Chief and alert the City Administration Hall. Find the Oulu Academy Liaison Office and have them open a passage to Oulu Academy for us. Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

"Yes, Captain!"

The secret agents who received the order quickly left. The remaining secret agents looked in the direction the Oulu Academy shuttle had disappeared and asked Bonar worriedly, "Captain, what should we do when we face that Elf?"

Bonar placed his hand on his sword hilt.

"Many students in Oulu Academy come from noble families... We have to go all out this time. When we encounter Clear Sky, don't give her time to cast wide-area ice magic. Charge quickly, kill her with force, and only then will we have a chance to leave Oulu Academy alive."

"Yes, Captain!"