It was a freezing Monday morning in Vacanta and the heavy snowfall had hit the continent for the first time. Many people weren’t going to work due to the heavy snow that happened during the evening. Also today, Lithanya was also going to The Investigator’s Academy to see Emperor Huang after many years. Ashok was coming with her since she didn’t know where the academy was. They were going to use a transportation spell to travel to Celestina since it was a three week trip from Vacanta. They had to be there really early because the headmaster was very particular about time.

  Lithanya and Ashok came out of the palace together. Lithanya was dressed in the warmest clothes she could’ve found in her wardrobe. Ashok shook his head while looking at Lithanya.

  “You don’t need to wear a thick layer of clothes because it’s going to be warm in Celestina.”, he mentioned.

  She answered back. “I would rather be safe than sorry. I don’t want to catch a cold when I come back.”

  He shook his head while flicking his fingers into the air. He was one of the few people in Tellus that had powers. He and Lithanya gradually disappeared into the gloomy air.

  It was a bright morning in a beautiful world named Celestina. Celestina was another world but a really small world with a population of ten thousand people. Celestina was the home to only investigators and a few people who had been living in that world before the academy was created.

  Lithanya and Ashok had arrived by the tall silver gates by the entrance of the academy. Two investigators dressed in black and light green uniforms stood by the gates. One investigator saw Ashok standing in front of him.

  “May I help you?”, the investigator asked firmly with a steady stone.

  Lithanya answered. “I’m here to see Emperor Huang. I got this letter from him.”, she handed the investigator the envelope.

  He took the envelope, pulled the paper and read it thoroughly. “You can come in.”, he said without a smile.

  “Thank you.”, Lithanya and Ashok said together.

  One gate opened by itself for the two guests. Lithanya and Ashok walked through the small gap one at a time. They were walking in the most massive garden they had ever seen. Surprisingly, the academy was deserted and super quiet. Lithanya was expecting the academy to be super busy since they were more than ten thousand people in the academy. While they were walking, they were looking at the massive golden eagle statue on top of the building. In between the eagle, there were golden people statues standing with their weapons next to them.

  Two investigators dressed in the same uniforms were standing by the entrance with their left hands on their own sword handles. Lithanya and Ashok stopped in front of the entrance.

  “We’re here to see Emperor Huang.”, Lithanya mentioned.

  An investigator on the left stared at her. “Follow me.”, he instructed.

  He opened the door widely then walked into the building. Lithanya and Ashok walked into the room then followed the investigator. The door closed slowly by itself, making slight strange noises.

  Lithanya and Ashok were walking in a massive golden entrance hall. One thing Lithanya already noticed was that the outside of the building was big but on the inside the rooms were super massive. The interior was looking so mystical and enchanting.

  The group had arrived in front of two tall golden doors. “Please wait here.”, the investigator ordered while opening the door.

  Lithanya and Ashok stood by the doors while waiting for the investigator. Lithanya was holding her hands together while Ashok had his hands in his black pants pockets. While they were waiting, they were looking at this majestic enchanted building. It had been a long time since Ashok came here and so many things had changed. This building didn’t look like an academy anymore, it looked more like a palace.

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  The investigator came out of the room. “He is waiting for you.”

  “Thank you.”, Ashok bowed, then walked into the room.

  Lithanya bowed as well then walked into the room. The investigator closed the door then walked back to the entrance. Lithanya and Ashok stood in the middle of the massive forest styled office. They saw a young man standing by the window with his left hand in his pants pockets.

  “Good morning, my dear old friend.”, the man spoke.

  Ashok remained calm, trying not to show anger. “Good morning, Shilin.”, he answered coldly.

  Lithanya didn’t answer back. Shilin turned around and revealed his light fair skinned face. His bright purple eyes went to Ashok. “I didn’t expect you to come here.”

  “I didn’t come here to see you. I want to clarify something.”, he corrected Shilin.

  “Go on.”

  “You sent Lithanya a letter that she must attend the academy before she becomes an empress. Is that true?”, Ashok asked.

  Shilin’s eyes went to Lithanya. “And she is all grown-up now.”, he mentioned. “The last time I saw her, she had an illness.”

  Lithanya and Ashok were surprised that he remembered. “Indeed, it has been a long time.”, Ashok mentioned. “But please answer the question. We’re on a timer strain.”

  “What’s the rush? You just arrived here.”, Shilin said casually as a friend but Ashok didn’t answer. “Yes, she has to attend the academy. I made a new rule that it’s compulsory for the first heir of all the thrones to attend.”, he explained and looked at Lithanya. “Welcome to The Investigator Academy, Princess Lithanya.”

  She looked at him. “Why am I chosen to be part of the academy?”, she asked firmly.

  He walked towards her. “Because you’ll be taking the throne in a few years. It’s a requirement for the next heir of the throne to attend the academy in order to know how to fight and bring down dangerous criminals to protect their people. I don’t want to see the next heir taking the throne without participating in the battlefield or having any form of fighting techniques.”, he explained.

  Lithanya didn’t like the sound of that. “But Vacanta is known for using very rare fighting techniques. Doesn’t that court?”

  “No, you need to have the academy fighting techniques.”, he made it clear.

  Lithanya found that strange because everyone in Tellus and Mortalis were learning how to fight. It was a requirement before taking the thrones. Ashok joined in. “How many years does she need to attend this academy?”

  Shilin looked at him, coldly. “Ten years.”, he answered. “That also includes learning powers and participating in cases, especially dangerous ones.”

  The explanation wasn’t making anything feel better for Lithanya or Ashok. But Lithanya had no choice because it was a requirement. No matter how hard she would want to object to this, Shilin wouldn’t listen to her.

  “When does Lithanya start?”, Ashok asked.

  “Next week. But come to the academy on Thursday so she could prepare herself for Monday. And she doesn’t need to bring clothes because she’ll be getting new clothes.”, Shilin explained.

  “What’s wrong with my clothes?”, she asked.

  “Because clothes will be provided and you’ll be getting better clothes. Not those hideous puffy clothes.”, he didn’t pull punches at all. “As an emperor Ashok, I don’t understand why you haven’t changed anything in Mortalis and Tellus. Aren’t tired of following those hideous standards?”, he explained and raised a brow.

  Ashok didn’t answer that in a hurry because he didn’t know how to answer it. “We’re managing with the standards.”, he answered. “If there’s nothing else to discuss, we’ll take our leave.”, he said firmly. “Let’s go, Lithanya.”, Ashok instructed.

  Lithanya turned around and was about to walk to the doors with her father. “Ashok, you had a chance to choose which side you wanted to be with. It’s never too late to change your mind.”, Shilin suggested.

  Ashok turned to him. “I chose to side for the people, not for wealth.”, he answered firmly.

  Shilin raised a brow. “But aren’t you tired of following those standards? Don’t you ever think about living a free life again?”

  Lithanya looked at her father, waiting for a response. Ashok stared at Shilin for a moment. “Again, I chose to side for the people, not for wealth.”, he answered. “Let’s go, Lithanya.”, he said, then walked to the door.

  Lithanya followed her father and walked behind him. Shilin watched them walking to the doors with no emotions.

  Lithanya and Ashok came out of the building together. “I told you that I shouldn’t attend this academy. I don’t want to cause conflict.”, Lithanya mentioned.

  “Just attend the academy but be careful. I don’t trust Shilin anymore.”, Ashok said firmly.

  She blocked his way. “You also realise that I’ve my own issues with his son. I don’t want all of this to cause so many problems that will cause harm to the academy’s reputation.”, she mentioned.

  “You shouldn’t worry about this academy's reputation and you don’t need to worry about his son. Avoid the son as much as you can and go there for the education.”, he said firmly. “Let’s go home because the heavy snow hits.”

  Ashok ended the conversation then walked to the gates. Lithanya still stood on the same spot for a moment, thinking about the whole situation. Until Ashok stopped and turned to her. Lithanya came back to reality then walked to her father. The two of them continued walking to the gates.

  Shilin was standing by the window in his office and watching the father and daughter walking out of the premises. He was also watching every movement they were making right now.