Outside, Seraph told Luden while driving, "Next, we will buy you some clothes and other stuff for your life in the academy."
"Why are you helping me?" suddenly Luden asked.
Seraph paused and said, "Why can't I be kind to you? Besides all this stuff, it is our compensation to you for not doing our job as adults; you earned it. Furthermore, it's important to remember that not everyone is evil; you've only encountered a handful of bad individuals. That's it. I promise it will get better, so cheer up," said Seraphina while sighing.
Seraph drove to the mall and bought Luden different kinds of bags to keep his items and clothes that he will need in the academy; Seraph also made sure to include some personal items that he thought Luden might like, such as a new journal and some supplies. He wanted Luden to feel welcomed and supported as he started this new chapter in his life at the academy. Finally, in the evening, he drove Luden to the hospital.
"I will come and get you in a week. Thereafter, we will go to the academy. I already applied for you; it will be approved in a few days. For now, take a good rest and comply with the doctor until he says you are ready to go." Said Seraph, smiling. "I promise you'll have a great time at the academy; just focus on getting better for now." With that, Seraph left Luden in good hands at the hospital.
During this week, Luden would get a daily checkup and a constant daily visit by the doctor while he spent his time exploring the assistive and what else it could do. He started exploring all the settings to become familiar with them and select preferences while using the AI and user interface.
After a week, finally Seraph came and discharged Luden out of the hospital and ordered for his stuff to be transported to the academy while he and Luden went to pick up his new arm. On the way, Luden really looked forward to his new arm; it was getting exhausting to do things with one arm; climbing things was a hassle and almost impossible without tools.
Once they reached the shop, they were greeted by Tolso's grumpy face.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Vindicator back again, little brat. Your arm is ready. Get the back, and Grid will apply it for you." Said Tolso as a greeting.
Luden nods and walks to the back while Seraph stays with Tolso and chats.
Luden soon spots Grid, who just started waving at him. "Come here, little champ, your new arm is ready."
Luden walks to Grid excitedly and watches. Grid gets up and grabs a metallic box 3 feet tall and slowly opens it for him to reveal a metallic arm with a white design and a black design as the fist, both colors complementing its look. The arm is the same size as his other one.
Grid enjoys Luden's excited face and starts to describe it to him. "The whole arms-outer shell is made of Tuscan alloy with mesh fiber of Nerodan wood, which has an elastic composition. To complement the tough outer shell metal, it will be hard but very flexible to move. It will need a power core of any of the small types for it to run for a year, so it's very efficient to use. As for the fist area, it's made from tough Frasian steel, which is used for Rank One weapons to give extra oomph while you punch, while the inside is made of fiber from a red-spotted spider to give an easy grip on everything. It has 3 parts that can separate in order for it to get bigger. I designed it this way because I know you're still a young child and will grow quickly, allowing us to expand its size for you. It's my proudest baby. I made it for a small-sized arm. And I must say I really like the color; I think I will use it more. "Where did you get the idea?" finally asked Grid.
"It's my dad's black color and my mom's white color." He watched with twinkly eyes, as he had no idea what Grid said about the stuff the arm made off with.
Grid imagines that Luden's parents were Black and white humans and looks at Luden's white hair and skin, with the only thing about him that is Black being his eye, and says, "Man, your father's genes didn't even put up a fight."
Then he changes the conversation: "Anyway, I have put a user manual inside the case along with a few bolts, oil, and a screwdriver for you to maintain it. But remember to come here every few months to maintain it, and remember to oil it every time you submerge it for a long time in corrosive water. The rest is already in the manual. Come and sit here so I can help you put it on and calibrate it."
Luden nods, memorizes everything Grid said, and sits on the chair while Grid continues his work. Grid, finish everything and ask Luden to do a few moves until he calibrates to his preference, and ask him to pick a few things. Luden does what he is asked with a grimace because the arm feels almost like a real one to him.
After everything is finished, Grid tells Luden to go to the front desk and to show it to Seraph. Luden nods at Grid and thanks him sincerely for his hard work and goes to now-bored Seraph, who can't stand Tolso's questions anymore.
Seraph's face lights up once he sees Luden coming with his new arm. "So little light. How is it? Do you like it?" Ask Seraph with a grin.
Before Luden nods, Tolso interrupts, "Of course, he likes it. When has my shop ever delivered anything less than our best work?"
Seraph rolls his eyes at Tolso and tells Luden to thank Tolso before leaving.
Luden says, "Thanks for everything, Grandpa."
"Silly brat, I'm not a grandpa yet; call me uncle," says Tolso angrily.
"Thanks for everything, Uncle," says Luden.
Tolso nods, "Go and don't keep that annoying brat waiting. When you bring it for maintenance in a few months, we'll maintain it. Now remember, it's part of you," he says while slapping his mechanic arm with a grin.
Once Luden leaves, Tolso looks at Grid, who is cleaning up his desk of parts, and says, "What an annoying brat he is; he is always tight-lipped about his job." Then he complains to Grid about Seraph.
"That's because he will have to kill you if you tell him too much," mutters Grid under his breath.
Outside, Seraph makes sure he is ready to go and his box is tightly on his back before moving.
"Now for our main event, your new academy is a place where you will meet different kinds of kids and learn many things that will help you along the way."
Luden listens to Seraph and can't wait to see this academy that Seraph always talks about.
Half an hour later, they finally reached the academy doors. Luden watched in awe as he stood in front of the doors of one of the greatest academies in the Lower City. It was a big house with a massive gate, 5 meters tall and 4 meters wide, engraved with a picture of Phenioux hugging a sword and a book emblem with its wings and the word Phenioux Academy engraved on top of its head. Seraph's repeated command to "let's go in" brought Luden back to reality.
Seraph sighed, "If you already like this, I can't imagine how you will feel after you see the inside."
Luden followed behind Seraph, and soon he crossed that door. He felt a significant amount of mana in the air. Luden couldn't describe the feeling, but it was as if he were back in the forest. He felt that it was much greater than the forest. He asked Seraph, "Sir Vindicator, why does it feel like I entered into a pool of fresh water?"
Seraph shakes his head. "How many times did I tell you to just call me Seraph? And how can you feel it? You are just awakened; it must be your imagination." Inside his head, he complained it takes years for someone to sense the presence of mana. How can a child who awakened a week ago feel it?
In fact, the only reason Luden can feel it is because, in the pack, the adults and his mom and dad taught him how to feel the mana through his pores, as it's essential to feel the presence of the prey, whether it's awakened or not.
Seraph noticed Luden is still looking at him, waiting for an answer. "They use prisms to generate mana by using power. I heard this academy has four prisms surrounding it that generate mana. I also heard it is costly to maintain, but it's essential to keep it up to provide children with the best environment to grow."
"Prisms?" asked Luden next.
"Its device is made by bio-science and the use of runes." Seraph said
"Runes?" Luden asked next, preparing to ask what bioscience is next.
Seraph starts to sweat. "Little light, I am just someone who judges bad people. I'm unable to provide answers to these questions for you. When I was awakened with a judgment element," and before Lauden could say anything, "Don't ask what that is, please; it's too long to explain. When I was awakened, they took me to a special school for Vindicators. Our main study was discipline and self-control and finding a connection with our element to make a pact with a certain power to awaken our power to judge. They taught us to not be arrogant and too consumed by power and such stuff. We didn't study all that you asked me, which is why I brought you here. All you need to know is right here," Seraph said, opening his hand wide".