Freedom Jumper-Chapter 137: Anchor

Two long and eventful fortnights passed that led to day one of the fifth fortnight. The time had come for a true day of relaxation as the group of five had spent every grueling day working, even during the day of freedom that permitted working as illegal. Albeit the work they were doing was gathering as many herbs from the nearby areas to help Don with his potion crafting.

Walking through the densely populated mud brick roads brought them through a couple of news outlets they used to obtain a better understanding of the world they now inhabited — as Astraea was completely cut off from outside influence.

Details relating to the Houses of Peace, Order, and Law were revealed as benefactors to the King. While the King still had full control over everything, he chose to create systems underneath him that would do his work for him while still being the main voice of input.

What did strike Novius and the rest of the children with surprise was the announcement of academy admissions that are held within the Congregate Building of either Education District. In small writing below the painted illustration was the price of admission.

Novius couldn't help but be filled with a small sense of joy. Like Jarth had said to them, joining an academy would be the best way possible to ingrain themselves into the Kingdom of Gion. The question Novius asked his peers was the age requirement. Currently speaking, they are all within the range of ten years old, with Thaylen being closer to eleven.

Once the group of five walked out of the limestone, glass, and wooden building, they began walking to see a large group of children who looked their age standing in front of a fountain.

This fountain was a structure they had never seen before. The water sparkled in the daylight while creating a mist that brought a chill to anyone who passed by too closely. With three layers, it was a spectacle to look at when combined with its elegant stonework.

After hearing the gasps of the group of five, the children paused to look and laugh at the sight in front of them.

"Woah! Look at that guy! He's a cripple hahaha!"

"Darnell, you shouldn't talk like that... Everyone has their own struggles."

"Yea well it looks like they struggled even while having magical affinities! How is that even possible?!"

At this moment, the smile on Novius' face completely disappeared, and even reminded him a little bit of Emery.

Unconditional hate...

"Hey! Would you like to find out who could win in a fist fight?!" Emery was the first to respond and lifted the eyes of Novius and Alexia.

Unfortunately, before any action took place, an older gentleman with a burly gray beard stepped in. First, he gazed at the simple white and black orderly clothing the group of five wore, obviously deducing they were commoners. Then, when looking at the obvious Noble kids adorned in fabulous pigmented garments, niche decorations and glossy shoes, he turned toward them and began to diffuse the situation.

"Stop messing with people who aren't as fortunate to be handed everything like you are! Please, have some common decency to act like a normal child!" The man spoke nothing but the words of truth.

"Shut it old man, if you didn't use everything you had to your advantage, you wouldn't be in a situation like they are." The group of seven friends sped off down the road, acclimating themselves within the crowd.

Soon after, the burly man turned towards Novius' group. "Let me ask you all something... Why is it you have what you have, yet you seem like you are struggling? Your stature, clothes, and even your faces tell me you are clawing your way out of a pit every single day..."

"I... We are doing fine! We don't spend our money on things we don't need."

"How do I put this without getting myself in trouble..." the burly man muttered to himself. "I can tell you are grieving from something you can't bear to face... please... Confront it, and try to act like you are one of us. It's obvious to me you are not from this kingdom..."

The man slowly walked away after his words froze the hearts of even Emery and Thaylen. What he said was completely true, they needed to confront their emotions.

But...

How was that even supposed to be done?

The entire group was in distress when they weren't distracting their minds from their reality. By making and selling potions, and killing beasts...

Everyone except for Alexia had found an outlet to release their stress with — therefore coming closer to acceptance.

The group of five took their time doing more research around the nature of the academy. The age requirement is to be in the age group of 13, which all of the children seemed to be. What confused Novius was when he compared the current date of 1/5/1/32397 to the date of 1/7/4/32384. Novius' age is almost 13 years old, which is concurrent with his friends.

Maybe this isn't the first time people like him have escaped from the Astraea Kingdom, or at least the first time only Jarth had only known about people escaping from the hidden and guarded lands.

Novius began conversations with Alexia while walking back to their home. "Alexia, I think you should come hunting with us. We can get you an entrance test to prove your skill, but you have to want it or they will immediately bar you from becoming a hunter."

"I... Don't want to..."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to see death anymore..."

The death of Leah happened directly in front of Alexia's eyes. While fleeing from an immense amount of gorgons, Alexia saw her future mentor's body be ripped into shreds as a powerful gorgon they had never seen before appeared from the shadows between the towering trees. Mikhail had already sacrificed his life to buy them time to escape the hilly marshlands, but now...

Leah had died when she hadn't even seen it coming.

How would any child return to the battle their ancestors had been desperately fighting since the dawn of time?

Horrid circumstances can either make way for a battle hungry and revenge driven freak, or a simple person who wants nothing to do with the game the beasts were playing.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

"Alexia... All of us have come closer to accepting the truth, and all of us have something we are chasing. You have to do something with your life besides following us around! And I think that thing should be hunting beasts! You were so good with your precise air blades in The Catacombs!"

"I know I have to change, okay!" Alexia began to drip tears from her eyes while walking through the wooden door of the two story house. Behind her, everyone was looking at each other while nodding to let Novius handle it.

"Alexia, it's okay if you don't want to admit that Elijah is gone. Honestly, I want to believe that as well. But for the sake of my future I am choosing to let him go as holding onto him would only give me pain."

It took some time for Alexia to digest Novius' words, but eventually, she finally accepted to take the adventure exam whilst still having hope for Elijah. In fact, the motivation to become stronger and progress through the core levels Mikhail had told them about was because of Elijah.