Journey To Eden

After burning down the cathedral, Ezra and Nova left the village without looking back. To them, they were starting a new chapter in their story.

Bailey, Brook, and Carl waved them goodbye as they got onto a carriage and rode to the port Liam south of the village in a town called Christville.

They arrived at Christville, and they were in awe as to how big the town was. They had never left the village, so seeing a town this big was new to them. The buildings were tall, and the people were nicely dressed, like they were all going for a formal gathering.

"So this is the Christville. Yo Ezra, try not to act like a villager, will you?"

"Look who's talking."

The two broke into laughter and began looking for the port, but as they were moving around the town, they realised that they had no idea where the port was.

"Nova, I think we are lost." Said Ezra.

"I can see that. We have to ask around. We can't miss that ship." Said Nova as he looked around for someone who looked kind enough to help them.

"What about him?" Ezra said, pointing at a finely dressed man with a monocle. "He looks kind enough to help us."

"Hmm, okay. Let me go ask." Nova went to go talk to the guy who was reading a newspaper. "Hey there, sir, could you help us out with something?" He asked.

"I'm not going to give you money, kid. Talk to someone else." Said the man in a somewhat disturbed tone that made the dog next to him begin growling viciously.

"No, no, no. I'm not asking for money. I just want directions to port Liam."

"Is that all?" The man asked.

"Yes, just direction. Could you make that thing relax." Said Nova pointing at the soul dog.

"Very well." He said calmly now as he placed the newspaper on his laps. The dog also relaxed, going back in its resting position.

The man then stood up, picked up his walking stick, folded the newspaper neatly, and put it into his coat pocket.

"If you would follow me." Said the man as he began to direct the two boys to the port that had a lot of children around their age already waiting at the port.

"Here we are." The man said.

"Thank you, sir. You've been such a big help. I wish we could pay you back for your help." Said Ezra happily.

"It's no bother, young lad. Say, are you also attending the entrance exams?"

"Yeah, we are. That's why we needed to come yo the port." Replied Nova.

"Is that so? Well, we wish you all the best." Said the old man as his dog barked happily.

"Thanks." Said the two boys together.

The old man chuckled and began walking away as Ezra and Nova walked over to the crowd of kids ahead of them.

Ezra looked back to see the old man one last time, but when he did, he was nowhere to be seen.

"Weird, could he have walked that fast?"

The two entered the crowd, and even though they were all the same age, everyone kept to themselves talking to only those that they knew.

They looked around and saw people of different backgrounds that they had never seen in their lives. Even though the group was only of children from the western and southern arms of the Western empire, the number was still rather big.

"Do you see that, Ezra?"

"Of course I do, Nova."

"Our competition." They said in unison.

But as they were assessing the competition, a familiar face approached them.

"Ezra, Nova." Yelled Trazer at the top of his lungs. "I guess you fools never lost your way." He said, still yelling loudly.

"Damn, Trazer, I didn't know you cared this much." Nova said sarcastically.

Trazer gritted his teeth, annoyed by the statement. "Just checking on my brother, and he's best friend is all." He then leaned closer to Ezra and whispered in his ear, "Do you see this, Ezra. We're outside, so if you dare talk to me or say anything to me. I swear I will make you pay."

He then then shoved him slightly before walking away. Ezra looked at him and walked away as he stood next to Nova, whose fists were itching to punch Trazer.

"Tsk, he's lucky he walked away early enough or would have done something I wouldn't regret."

Ezra chuckled as he sat on a bench next to them. All the other attendees had gone back to their business.

An hour passed, and all the attendees had arrived at the port. A large ship also docked at the port, and a loud horn blared, capturing the attention of all the attendees, who stood up to see what the commotion was about.

"Future students of Aizen College, I would like to welcome you to the SS Helmington. I will be your captain, Sir Jeremiah Holst, and this is my crew, the maritime kids. You can trust us to take you to Aizen College as fast as possible. So without farther ado, I would like to welcome you aboard the SS Helmington."

The attendees began walking up to the dock of the ship, and once all two hundred sixty attendees were on board, the ship began to sail from the port.

"Greetings attendees," greeted a young woman in her late twenties with black hair and large eyes, "My name is Josephine Holst and I am the vice captain of this ship and I'll be your tour guide through the ship." She said before instructing them to follow her.

The woman took them around the ship, showing them the sleeping counters, kitchen, control centre, and the armoury that was locked off for safety purposes in case of a pirate takeover.

The tour finally came to an end, and the attendees were given liberty to move about and do whatever they wanted because the journey was going to take seven days.

The attendees used freedom as the perfect opportunity to get to know each other, and during thar time, a rumour was spread suggesting that this boat ride was a ploy to weed out the week.

On the other hand, Nova and Ezra were basking in the breeze of the sea and the smell of seawater that made some of the other attendees get sea sick.

As they were basking jovially, a girl their age with blonde hair that had black outlines and round eyes that made her look kinda sleepy approached them.

"Hello there, I'm Lilah Lest. Nice to meet you."