A week had passed since Professor Alex's lesson. The lecture had been postponed because the professor had left on an urgent mission.
"Wow, honestly, your apartment is really nice," Rim said as she drank her strawberry juice, standing near the window.
Fred's apartment was beautiful quite large, with bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a small study. It was tidy and lovely, lit by warm yellow lamps.
"When will the professor return? I want to know more about the doses and the cultivators," Eugene said, sipping his grape juice while sitting in Fred's apartment.
Rin looked at Fred. "Fred, since you're in the second year, why don't you explain the rest of the lesson to us?"
Rim smiled, clearly liking Rin's suggestion. "Yes, yes, go on, finish the lesson instead of Alex."
"Why don't you just wait for him? I think he'll be back in two or three days," Fred replied, lying on the floor.
"Three days? That's way too long," Eugene said impatiently, sitting on a wooden chair.
They were all frustrated because Fred had refused their request.
But Fred then suggested, "What do you think about us exploring the academy?"
His words immediately caught the curiosity of Rim, Rin, and Eugene.
Rin put down his juice. "That's a wonderful idea."
Eugene raised a brow. "And what exactly are we exploring?"
Fred stood from the floor. "Sun Academy contains ancient museums, secret passages, and magical doors."
Eugene's eyes lit up; finally, something that could entertain him at the academy. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go." He jumped from the chair and hurried toward the door. Rin, Rim, and Fred exchanged looks, then quickly followed him.
"Hey, Eugene, where are you going?" Fred called out.
Eugene stopped and turned. "Going to explore the academy."
Rim clasped her hands. "Do you even know where those passages, doors, and museums are?"
"Good question, honestly," Eugene answered, returning to them.
Rin tilted his head at Fred. "So? Where are these secret things?"
Fred lifted a finger to his lips. "Shhh, lower your voices. They're called secret areas for a reason."
He turned left and began walking. Rin, Rim, and Eugene followed silently.
They walked until they reached the academy garden a large, vibrant space filled with trees in shades of brown, green, yellow, and purple, with lotus leaves and palm trees scattered around. The cool wind blended with the sound of waterfalls, creating a breathtaking scene.
"What a beautiful place," Rim said, mesmerized.
"You're right," Rin and Eugene agreed.
They continued until they reached a cluster of bushes. Fred pushed through them and disappeared.
The other three stared, confused and still enchanted by the garden.
"Hey, what are you waiting for?"
Startled, they followed him through.
They found themselves in a mysterious place a long, dark passageway, night-black, made of brown stones with red lines running across the walls.
"How did we get here?" Rin asked, stunned.
"Who cares? This is amazing," Eugene said, staring into the darkness.
"Come on, don't fall behind," Fred called, walking ahead.
"Hey! Don't leave me in this creepy passage!" Rim said nervously.
They followed Fred for about fifteen minutes until he stopped and turned left toward a large stone door.
"This is the first magical door in this passage."
He grabbed the handle, opened it, and stepped through.
"Where are you going?" Rin asked, anxious.
But on the other side, Eugene saw him enter and quickly followed, and Rim after him.
"Wait for me!" Rin yelled before stepping inside only for his jaw to drop at the sight before him.
"What is this place?"
They stood on the edge of a green mountain, overlooking a landscape of clustered trees, small hills, and a flowing river. The air was cool and fresh, filled with the scent of roses.
"This is one of the magical doors, known as Transportation Doors. They allow travel to specific places," Fred explained.
"Amazing," Eugene said, eyes wide.
"The rose scent is so refreshing," Rim breathed in deeply.
"We can go down, right?" Rin asked.
"No," Fred answered as he admired the view. "You're not cultivators. You'd have trouble climbing down and getting back up."
Rin's face fell in disappointment.
"But we can come here again once you become cultivators," Fred added. "Now come on, let's check the other doors."
"Okay, let's go," Eugene said, heading toward the door.
"Hahaha, Eugene, why are you in such a hurry? There's another door behind this one. That's what takes us to the other places."
"Oh." Eugene stepped behind the entrance and indeed found another door. He opened it and walked in, with the others following.
"What is this place?" Rin breathed, amazed once again.
A collection of floating doors, staircases going up and down, all suspended in a soft purple realm.
"It's the Door Hub. All the academy's transportation doors are stored here."
Eugene opened one door it led to a volcano. He shut it immediately. Rin and Rim did the same. Rim opened a door to a zoo.
"Oh, look how cute these animals are!"
Rin's door opened to reveal the Great Desert in the north.
"Wow… the doors reach all the way to the Great Desert? Incredible."
Beep beep… beep beep… Fred's crystal rang in his pocket. He pulled it out, pressed a symbol, and the sound stopped.
"What was that? A communication crystal?" Rim asked curiously.
"No, it looks like a timer crystal set for something," Rin said.
Fred chuckled. "Hahaha, yes, that's right. A point for you."
Rin smirked confidently at Rim. "One more point and I win."
"What do you mean point and win? What's going on?" Eugene asked.
"Oh, we challenged each other. Every time someone asks a question and either Rim or I answer, we get a point," Rin explained.
"And whoever has the most points gets to buy whatever they want with your money at the end of the month," Rim added.
"Wait my money? What does your challenge have to do with me? And who gave you the right to bet with my money?" Eugene protested.
"Well, I agreed for you," Rin replied.
"As what?"
"As your brother."
"You're my brother, not my mother, to make decisions for me!"
"It doesn't matter. What matters is you already agreed."
"You can finish arguing later," Fred cut in. "We need to leave. The lecture has already started."
"But we didn't finish exploring," Eugene complained sadly.
"Sorry, but I'm already late. We'll explore another day."
They had no choice; they didn't know their way out.
Fred moved ahead, the others following until he stopped before a purple door with a golden phoenix symbol a door unlike the others. When he opened it, they stepped into Moses's house.
"That's why it looked different," Eugene said.
"Where are we?" Rin and Rim asked they'd never been there before.
"It's Moses's house," Eugene explained.
"Moses's house? I thought he'd live in something huge and luxurious, since he's such a powerful cultivator."
"He's not the type to show off," Fred said as he headed for the exit.
"Are we going to get punished for entering without permission?" Rin asked, tense.
"Don't worry. As long as he doesn't find out, we'll be fine," Eugene said confidently.
"And besides, Moses is kind. He wouldn't punish us just for accidentally entering," Fred added.
He opened the door and stepped outside, taking a deep breath.
"What an enchanting thing… We moved from the garden, to that scenery, to the Door Hub, and then ended up inside Moses's house," Rim said, still amazed.
"But how did you know about all this?" Eugene asked.
"I came here with Eidios, Flier, and Jin six months ago."
"And how did you discover the passage?" Rin asked, fixing his shirt.
"Eidios found it after taking the blueprint from his father."
Fred increased his pace toward his lecture, waving goodbye to them.
"So, what do we do now?" Eugene asked.
"I'm hungry. Let's go to the restaurant," Rim said.
"Great idea. I'm ordering carrot cake."
"Carrot cake? Your taste is weird," Eugene said, hands clasped behind his head.
"And what will you order, oh royal foodie?"
Their voices faded as they walked away forgetting one thing.
The door to Moses's house was still open.
A dark hand appeared from inside, closed it quietly, and vanished.
End of Chapter