Ajax stared at the huge dome, not doubting his decision to head to the Gate. He had enough time before the first lesson started, so there weren't any reasons not to go to the Gate.
He took many steps forward to the huge dome. His curiosity grows with every step he makes.
Why did they enter? Who gave them permission? Is this a trap? Is the government hiding something? Why isn't the kingdom doing anything? How are the people who entered the gate?
Many thoughts filled his mind, all unanswered due to not having enough information. Even if he did get information, he doubts that he'll put the pieces together, knowing how clueless he is.
I shouldn't have pushed the idea of talking about the incident with Miss Ela. I would have probably gotten something useful Ajax thought, berating himself for being stupid.
He groans, feeling mad of himself for not even hearing Ela out. But then again, even if he had acquired prior knowledge, he would still go to the domain, to ask people what they know, think about the incident and to gain more information.
But he doubts he can ask government officials, even the lowest ranking one, questions about the incident. The government may have already told the whole association to keep their mouths shut, and to not leak any information from outsiders. Even if he is still an academy student, a place for talented individuals to attend and having more access to information than a normal civilian, he doubts his status as a student will help him.
He wants to learn more about the incident. However, there is a chance he may or may not get the answer he seeks.
Ajax was lost in his own world, walking but not paying attention to his surroundings.
Thud!
"Oi! Watch where you're going, dumb*ss!"
His collision surprised him, snapping him back to reality. He looked up to see an old man in front of him.
He lowered his head immediately after realizing that he bumped into the old man by being careless.
"I apologize!"
The old man scoffed, "You think apologizing is enough for the damage you've done to me? Even if you're a student, you should still know how to respect your elders."
"Just pay attention next time," the old man added. "Kids these days have zero respect for the elders," the old man mumbled to himself while walking away, his voice purposely loud enough for Ajax to hear the words spoken from his mouth.
Ajax, once again, let out a sigh. Fortunately, the old man didn't cause trouble for the two. He thanked the old man, although his demeanor was one of a serious and grumpy one, he was pretty understanding and didn't let the situation go worse.
Not wanting to waste any more time, he approached the domain once again, forgetting what happened.
Maybe I shouldn't think too hard while walking.
***
Finally, after walking for more than ten minutes, he finally arrived at the domain.
He decided to approach the entrance of the dome structure, but his action was stopped by several armed guards.
"What's your purpose?" a white haired man with an eye patch asked, his voice serious and demanding.
His rank… seems to be a 2nd class raider.
"What is your purpose?" the white haired man asked again, his voice this time, however, was more menacing and much more serious than before, his words carrying pressure.
Without wasting more time, Ajax answered, feeling it hard to breathe from the pressure released by the man in front of him.
"Student… Academy…" said Ajax quietly, his hands shaking and his legs growing weaker as the seconds passed.
"A student?" He glanced at the attire of the young boy in front, glaring at him intensely. Having confirmed the uniform worn by the young boy, his gaze softened a little. "Where is your ID?" The man extended his arm out with his hand open, waiting for the young boy to hand him his ID.
Ajax summoned his ID from the Space and quickly placing it on the man's palm.
The man looked at the ID up close, looking for any sign of it being fake. Confirming that the boy in front of him is indeed a student from the academy, he returned the ID, stepping to the side along with his men.
"Am I… allowed to enter now?"
The man didn't speak a word, only nodding his head.
Ajax lowered his head slightly, as if thanking the man for granting him permission to enter the domain.
His steps were quick, still feeling the intense glare of the man behind him. His legs still tremble from the pressure exerted of the man from earlier.
The man stood, watching the figure of the young boy, noticing his legs tremble.
"I… scared another student today…" whispered the man, his voice was soft, unlike earlier which was heavy, filled with suppressed anger.
A girl next to him laughed, patting the back of the white haired man. "What, you're sad because of that? Aren't you too kind?"
"I scared another… innocent kid."
The girl continued to pat his back, clearly enjoying the white haired man's reaction.. "There, there. It's not your fault your voice gets terrifying and your face stiffens when you're nervous."
"Are you trying to comfort me or insult me?"
"Depends on what you think, captain~" the girl answered, her voice playful and teasing.
***
That… was scary. That man looked like he was ready to eat me alive, remembering the interaction with the scary man sent shivers down his spine.
He felt like a prey ready to be eaten by a predator when he was facing the man. He had never thought of himself as a strong and outstanding individual, only someone average, but the man from earlier, who was brimming with strength, made him realize that he's weaker than the average he thought himself of.
He walked around the domain, noticing many people. Some are nobles of the kingdom, rich individuals, and of course, students just like him, mostly third and fourth year students.
The inside of the domain was heavily guarded in case of an emergency. Many raiders roamed around, too, like a normal person, but even if they tried to conceal their strength, it was easy to guess because of their physique, scars and guarded actions. He thought the man from earlier was the peak of humans, but a lot of the raiders inside were far more stronger than the man from earlier.
If the government already has this amount of strong raiders, how come they haven't taken back a zone outside the base in the other world? he wondered, his question unanswered again.
Recalling his memories, his mom once said the monsters from the other world, the Forsakens, are stronger than the monsters residing in Lamiathe, the world everyone is inhabiting, and even the monsters from the unexplored and mysterious labyrinths were insignificant compared to those terrifying beasts. Monsters from the other world were capable of destroying anything in their path, but due to their insatiable hunger, thirst for bloodshed and their own hierarchy, fights between Forsakens are pretty much unavoidable.
He brushed the thought of those monsters and focused on his main objective. It is his first time being inside the domain, and the place is even bigger than the academy. He can easily get lost without any guide that can help him get accustomed to the domain. How am I supposed to find the Gate, then? he thought.
"Damn it, I should've come prepared," he groaned.
"Something wrong?" a girl said behind him.
Hearing a sudden voice from behind and feeling something nudging his shoulder, he once again flinched and let out a yelp.
The girl giggled after seeing his reaction, surprised that someone is so easy to scare.
Ajax looked at the girl, and noticed her wearing the same clothes as him. The girl, just like him, is a student from the academy.
Quickly standing up straight and keeping his composure, he cleared his throat. "Is there anything you need?"
"Oh, I was wondering why you seem troubled earlier, so I thought I may be able to help you. I didn't expect you to be so jumpy," the girl giggled.
Ajax, who has barely talked to anyone his age, doesn't know what to reply. Should he laugh? Should he make a joke? That would be too creepy, damn it!
The girl, witnessing the blonde boy's inner turmoil, let out another giggle. She found it funny how someone her age can be this clueless and jumpy.
"Shina. My name is Shina, a first year student in the academy," she said joyfully.
Ajax scratched the back of his head from the awkwardness he feels, replying in a quiet but audible voice, "Ajax… first year… Pleased to meet you."
"I knew it! You're a first year student like me!" The girl was cheerful for some reason, which left Ajax feeling confused.
"What are you doing here in the domain?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh, I wa-" he was cut off as Shina suddenly spoke again.
"Why are you so tense?" her curiosity growing every second.
"I-" again, cut off by the young lady.
"How old are you?"
"Can I-"
"You're taller than me by… about an inch?"
"..."
"Oh, forgive me, haha. I was just surprised to see another first year student visiting the domain in this time. Most first year students would have already attended the academy by now, but you visited this place instead. How curious," the lady then stopped talking. "Oops," she giggled.
Shina kept looking at him intensely, analyzing him and waiting for him to speak.
A few seconds later, Ajax spoke again, "I have a-" but was once again cut off by the energetic lady.
"Waaah! It spoke."
I'm seriously about to cry if this continues, Ajax looked at the girl, clearly annoyed but hiding it behind a polite smile.
"I have a reason for going here," fortunately, he was able to finish his sentence this time without the energetic lady cutting him off.
"A reason?" The lady pondered, tapping her fingertip on her chin multiple times before looking at him again. "Are you curious about the gate incident, too?"
"So you are, too?
"Of course! It's a new interesting topic that everyone keeps talking about all over the internet!"
"Figures. A topic like that would be popular, especially in the internet."
Ajax looked at the girl, wanting to say more but hesitated, wondering if he should ask for help to find the Gate.
The girl noticed, and looked at him with a smile, already knowing that the blonde boy had something to ask.
"Uh, can you please… help me find where the Gate is located? It may seem impolite to ask for a favor when we've only met, and I understand if you don-"
"Sure," the girl interrupted him once more, but what Ajax felt this time wasn't annoyance but gratitude.