20. The Diamante Academy

On the faraway land, beyond the reach of the Grandia Kingdom, there stood an enormous crystal palace barricaded with heavy, glittering silver fences and cinder bricks. It is located on the top of a mountain. With vast and lush greenery spreading out, a brisk, breezy wind flutters the dead and fallen leaves and petals withal. The crisp and the fresh smell of forest with honeyed-like scent of various types of flowers swirled in the air and warm sunlight that shone like a glittering halo.

The scenery is magnificent and had the most dazzling spectacle, especially at night. The dark sky is surrounded by glittering stars. Whereas the moon itself will be shone with pride, illuminating the rest of the world.

The Balzatine Kingdom has four seasons, summer, winter, fall, and spring, unlike the Grandia Kingdom, which only has two; summer and rainy seasons. Both were built on an island and separated by a vast ocean. There's only two transportation used in between these countries, either by magic or by water.

This regal crystal palace is called Diamante Academy. A prestigious educational institution that builds solely for the royals, sons or daughters of grand dukes, dukes, from the aristocrats' families, and vice versa. They arrived from all over the world.

This academy is attended by those from influential and powerful backgrounds. However, the first condition to be accepted to the academy is that you need a letter of recommendation from the World Council. An offer letter with their stamp. Without their permission, you cannot even dream of enrolling in this place, no matter how wealthy you are.

Peasants and ordinary people are forbidden to enter this sacred ground. It is presumptuous to assume they could afford the expensive tuition fees, which could push those regular households to the brim of bankruptcy. Unless you're talented enough to overshadow the others.

How? Easy.

Take an entrance examination held every five years for the public, virtuously grab the recommendation letter and gain permission to enroll with a full scholarship. Nonetheless, the chance is given only for the first three seats from 200 attendees. Other than that, your application will be toss aside without a second thought.

The exterior of the palace is grand and extravagant. The towering gate and front door are lavishly decorated with blinking gems worth of thousand gold coins. Gold lining is painted alongside the edge of the door. Intricate words and unique symbols heavily adorned the golden lining. In front of the main building is hung a thick, glossy wooden signboard in eye-catching sapphire color. A set of words written exquisitely on the gleaming board. From the beautiful cursive alone, you can recognize the words as the olden language. It therein stated in a neat writing style, Welcome to Diamante Academy.

Once you step inside, you cannot help but gawk in amazement at the luxurious interior. Larger space and sumptuously furnished, accompanied with a long hallway that connects from building to building, on either side of the pathway are surrounded by the lush green nature and indoor garden. A row of roses with various colors and trees of different sizes blooming beautifully, creating a harmonious effect and calming sensation.

The walls are painted in soft, pastel color mixes with white in them. The synergy between these two colors adopting a relaxing outcome. Photo of remarkable figures and prominent people decorated the wall. Each of the frames embellished a concise introduction of those famous people, encouraging the students to know better about the history of the well-known academy.

There are five separate buildings. The main building is mainly for the management department, principal's office, teacher's lounges, cafeteria, libraries, indoor gymnasium, and other necessities departments. This building is called Opal Palace.

The building on the left side is called Aquamarine Palace. This is a male's residential area. Whereas the right side is exclusively for female students. The name is Zircon Palace.

The last two, which are the Garnet Place and Emerald Palace, are the actual academy buildings.

Garnet is for students in the age range of 10 to 14 years old. Their uniform is crimson red in color, with a school crest pinned on their left chest. Whereas Emerald is for those of 15 to 19 years old. Their outfit is dark green. Both buildings are adhering to strict rules and regulations. For the school uniform, you, by any means, cannot alter them without permission.

The male student had three sets of essential clothing, comprised of an outer vest/coat. Depend on the season, a sleeveless vest is for summer, while a coat is for winter. Long khaki pants and a white shirt underneath the outer garment. The female also had the same sets of outfits. Their skirt must reach their knees. The addition of black socks, a black tie, or a black ribbon is to complete the appearance of a graceful student.

This academy is built by the World Council on the land of the Balzatine Kingdom. The location is decided by the first council and supervised by them and the next generation council. It is by any means not under the jurisdiction of the monarch of the Balzatine Kingdom. The World council is consist of the leaders of every country or monarch of every nation. Thirteen nations existed on the map of Asteria Lands, and it is good to assume that there are thirteen members of the world council. However, there are rumors about the 14th member, yet this baseless news never gets proven.

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"You wanted to enroll in that academy? For what reason?" Alexander is suspiciously staring at his expressionless son. "Isn't it too late to study? Furthermore, you bypassed the suitable age to conveniently study at that place. Even if you enter the academy, within six months, there will be a final exam. The examination question is compiling all the subjects from the secondary academy and tertiary academy. Can you catch up?"

Danial leaned his back to the soft couch behind him, slowly closing his tired eyes.

"Who said I want to study there?" He grudgingly replied. "I had a mission to accomplish at that place. My dead mother asked me to do something in that place in her stead instead. I also had another reason to enter that place. Besides, the war is coming. Where can I find a better ally and companion, aside from this prestigious school filled with talented individuals?"

Alexander knitted his brows. Somehow, this boy cleverly conceals something crucial from him. He didn't tell a lie, yet, he also never tell him a truth either. Carina actually asked him to do something? What did she ask him to do? Why Carina never left a letter for him? Even a short, terse message is enough to suffice his sense of longing.

"Carina left you a message?"

"Yes, she did."

"Can you...let me see the letter?" There's a trace of yearning inside Alexander's voice. His golden pupils constricted in expectation as he vocalized his request. "No, just the envelope with her handwriting is enough. Can you lend me that?"

Danial quivered his eyelids. However, he never opened his shut eyes and was unmoved. He suppressed the snort that itching to come out from the back of his throat. Even a ruthless man like you still melancholically yearned your late wife? If she knows that you took a heap of concubines to pleasure you every single night, she undoubtedly rolling in her grave in anger, cursing you out.

"Sure, old man. You can take it, free of charge." He agreed, yet, his tone is laced with mock and disdain. Danial flicked his finger, and a pink envelope unceremoniously dropped on Alexander's laps.

Alexander kindly ignored his mocking tune and focused his attention on the piece of paper. His hand is trembling as he slowly picked up the envelope. He's aloof and indifferent facade had cracked. Alexander's piercing gazes soften as his fingers tenderly trace the handwritten words on the back of the wrapper paper. He brought the piece of paper closer to his nose, inhaling the familiar scent of a faint rose. Carina must use magic to preserve this letter. No wonder that this piece of paper smell like her. His lips are unconsciously tugging into a smile. While his eyes arched into a crescent shape, filled with love and adoration.

Danial, of course, is aware of this rare occurrence. Even so, the younger male didn't perturb the older male with his insensitive words. He's discreetly eyeing Alexander's reaction with his squinting eyes. Danial swallowed his sarcastic remarks and buried the words inside his heart. For the first time since the tragedy eighteen years ago, Alexander's eyes glistened with warm emotions. He acted more humanely rather than continuously showing his stone-like expression.

"I will write the recommendation letter later and send them tonight to the principal. You can go back, prepared for your journey, and you can bring along someone you trust. However, a guard from Black corp will follow you with a remade identity. Did you understand?" Alexander finally said something. He slipped the envelope inside his chest pocket, secure it safely. He propped his chin with his palm, yawning lazily on his seat while pretending nothing is happen just now. His face had returned to usual, void of genuine feeling.

"Whatever." Danial snorted in response.

[A/N: It seems chapter 21, part 1, is missing out. Sorry for the inconvenience. I tried to fix it. The app is having a problem. So, some change is not mirroring well.]