SYSTEM ASCENSION

The teleportation gates installed around Salvador empire can only go as far as Death Valley, so as soon as the warp dropped them off at the edge of the valley, they instinctively knew that they were going to walk.

Elias, who was supposed to be leading the trip, was dragging behind, but no one really complained. They all knew where the pit was located.

The anticipation and chatter kept rising, and soon, the voices overlapping cannot be told apart.

While they were walking, all of the student council stayed together, except Ume who somehow disappeared among the crowd.

Anya was basically bouncing and humming.

”Elias! What’s black empire like?!”

He glanced at her.

”Do I know you?”

She gasped. ”We’re in the same council!”

”Why ask him when we’ll be there in about an hour.” Lane rolled his eyes.

”I just can’t wait!”

”By the way,” Lane turned his eyes to Coco. ”I don’t think this is the situation to wear a hood right? It’s not cold either.”

”I thought I was the only one seeing it.” Kael laughed.

All the council’s eyes turned to her.

She was dressed up; gloves, socks, full traveller wear and had a hood covering her head.

”Isn’t your bag a little too big too?”

She gritted her teeth, and tugged her back tighter. ”It’s not your business.”

Anya laughed. ”It’s almost like you’re having problems with the sun.”

”Who has problems with the sun. That makes no sense.” Lane replied.

Coco’s eye travelled sideways, and she caught a stare with Claude. She flinched and looked away.

They continued walking, every step taking them closer to the pit. Then, Bora approached them.

She had been ahead, discussing how much her gown had worth since the walk started, but now she decided to bore them.

As soon as she got closer, the rest naturally drifted away, saying things that made absolutely no sense.

She tucked a string of hair behind her ear, and smiled.

”Elias.”

”Don’t talk to me.”

She flinched. Her smile crumbled. ”You insolent...”

She clenched her fist and forced another smile. ”Ain’t you making a big mistake, pushing me away?”

”...”

Seeing that he said nothing, she continued.

”I am a princess. Consider it an honour for me to even give you my time.”

”...”

”I’m giving you an opportunity to become my follower!”

”...”

”Elias!”

”Didn’t I tell you not to talk to me?”

Her face flushed in embarrassment. Many students were sneering at her.

”You...just you wait until I take over the black empire royal family!”

He halted abruptly. As a result, Tyler bumped into him, and Tiana bumped into Tiana.

Elias turned around.

”Take over?”

She scoffed. ”You heard me right. Accept to be my follower. It’s a one time offer.”

She had expected him to say something appealing, but he just turned around and continued to walk.

”Elias!”

”Don’t you quit? It’s annoying.” Coco growled at her.

”Such a bug.” Kael added.

She flinched so hard and tripped over her gown.

A few students laughed, leaving her sobbing.

***

After a thirty minute trek, the walk was coming to an end. They all began to stop. The chatter died down.

This was Elias’s clue to step forward.

They parted ways for him, till he got to the front.

Before him, was the pit.

A large gaping mouth of doom. The world dropped away into a chasm so deep the bottom never showed. Fog covered it.

Never changing, but still fascinating no matter how many times they had seen it. The leading family themselves were speechless.

Tyler peeped down into the fog.

”Does this thing have an end?”

”Yes.” Elias replied.

”So what? Do we like...hop in?”

”You have got to be kidding me!” Bora cut through the crowd. ”There is no way in hell, that I’m jumping into—”

Elias was suddenly gone.

Gasp!

Everyone went speechless.

”He.... just jumped in?”

They had seen the casual way he shoved his hands in his pocket and jumped in.

Claude walked to the edge, and looked down.

”This is a death sentence.”

”I can’t do that!” Anya began to move back.

Murmuring rose and doubt spread. All the excitement drained from their faces. They all began to move back, until standing at the edge was Claude, Tyler, Tiana, Fayera, Davon and Quil who surprisingly didn’t say a single word throughout the long walk.

”We can do this right?” Rolarza smiled at Mona. ”Give me a ride.”

Mona stared at her for a moment longer, before he caught her wrist, pulling her to the edge.

”Wait!”

And he jumped. They disappeared into the fog.

*Absolutely silent.*

”Alright,” Rowen finally decided to address the students. ”As you all can see, this is a problem. The solution is...”

He smiled. ”Return home.”

”What?!”

”And I’ll be handing out expelling letters,” he added with the same smile, only darker. ”A weakling who is scared of heights cannot be in my academy.”

They all gulped down.

”See ya all.” He waved cheerfully.

He walked to the edge, and jumped in.

”What?”

The leading family followed right behind, and then Quil, then Claude, Kael, Tiana, Tyler and Fayera. Mimi summoned the courage to follow up, not wanting to be left out.

”I guess we’re doing this.” Davon muttered, walking to the edge. Coco suddenly dashed past him into the pit, knocking him in before he could even find his footing.

”You little witch!!!”

The rest stayed on the edge, watching and murmuring, until suddenly the fog was blown over.

Large wings cut through it, rising above it.

They all recoiled in shock, as the creature emerged from the depth of the pit.

Sharp golden eagle head, with curved beak, piercing eyes, and huge feathered wings. And its back half was a lion’s body. The tail was as sharp as razor, cutting through the air.

Claude was riding it.

Only one student had read about this creature.

”Gryphon... that’s a gryphon.”

Claude waved. ”Just jump. Nothing serious.”

Then he went down again. The fear was quickly replaced by a surge of excitement.

All the students began to leap into the pit, wing tugging their clothes and hair. A few let out panicked screams. They felt air left their lungs and eyes turning blur, as they dropped several feets before landing perfectly on the furred creatures.

Too many gryphons. Not a single person fell beneath ten feet before they were caught.

The air felt different. Rich in vital energy.

As they struggled to regain their breaths and opened their eyes, Elias’ hands were folded. He was standing on a gryphon, beside Mona who had taken his dragon form and Rolarza who was sitting on Mona.

The rest sat on theirs also. They all stared at the sky of multiple colours.

All eyes widened.

”The sky...”

”Where is the pit edge?”

”Black empire is not a pit?”

”Did we enter a portal?”

One of the students finally looked down.

”...wh...at?”

The air left his lungs.