The Reign of the Outlander

Chapter 3: Entering The Academy

Mahika, The Land of Hiwagans

5,000 feet above the sea

Once upon a time, Mahika was connected into the sea floor. It was once a flourishing island. Not only that, it was also a safe haven to all teenagers with superpowers. A place where pure immortals and half-humans live, trained, and do everything to become powerful.

It was the safest place to unleash their powers, to improve their abilities, and to nurture their strength. Those who were born as sons, and daughters of the immortals were given the chance to enter the prestigious and well-known Academy named Mahika, without going into any challenges.

While immortals can become students right away, to hybrid offspring, it was a difficult one. The half-humans must complete a certain task before they can enter into the academy. And these tasks includes swimming into the fiery pit of a volcano, kill a giant imprisoned Cyclops, or stand using only their one leg in the tallest mountain part of Mahika.

And once you pass the challenges or task given to you by the headmaster, you'll be brought into the mysterious academy, in the portal where only the strongest can see. When all pure and hybrid immortals entered the Mahika, the island connecting the land and the sea, will float and hid high above the clouds. Those who did not pass the challenges, or wasn't able to complete their task, will have to wait another ten long years for the next opening of the academy.

INSIDE Mahika Academy, a curious little girl grew up under the guidance of her so-called mother named Amaris. Amaris is considered as one of the pillars of the Academy, but she never taught students with inborn superpowers. She became a hands-on mother on Altalune. When the head of the academy knew that she has a child, he accepted her, but he was hesitant to take the child. Because Amaris was known for her diligence and kindness shown, other professors agreed to let her take in with a baby.

“I entrust you, my child, Amaris. Whoever he was, or she was, I want you to take care of her until everything is settled here in Laal. My child will live as a normal being in Hiwaga. I'll seal her powers and only the blazing fire of the volcano and coldness of the moon at night can unlock her greatest source of strength."

The memories she had with her best friend, entrusting her the responsibility of being a mother to its child became Amaris' vow, as a virgin immortal. She did everything to make the child feel the warmth of being a mother. And as Altalune grew up, the child never showed any superpowers. She was a normal little girl who always wants to play around.

Amaris observed the child's behavior, but nothing peculiar can be seen on her. But, when she reached five, ten, and thirteen years old, her curiosity on certain things inside the academy grew stronger.

...

In The Land of Hiwaga

2,500 feet above sea level

Ten years ago, Mahika Academy, presided by its head, they announced to all pure immortals and hybrids that the academy is now open and ready to accept them to learn and enhance their strength and powers. He assigned a messenger to deliver all letters with the following content.

"As the head of the academy, I am inviting all of you to enter and learn about magic and superpowers. I will not change my rules. All pure immortals can enter immediately into the academy, while hybrid ones must complete a specific task. This may sound unfair, but rules are rules. If anyone is interested, you may proceed into the Land of Hiwagans."

Upon reaching the message to all immortals, ten of them came into the Land of the Hiwagans, waiting for the other ten from the half-humans to enter Mahika. The call for another ten hybrid individuals arrived at the footsteps of Hiwaga Land and the lady assigned by the headmaster was surprised that their numbers were unexpected.

To ensure that only ten can enter the Mahika Academy, the lady-in-charge decided to start giving them challenges. The first thing is to unlock the opening door of the entrance inside The Land of Hiwaga. More than twenty participants arrived outside, and were informed that their first challenge was to unlock the gate.

Using each of their knowledge, strength, and powers, one by one they tried to open find the secret to open the door. Fifteen to twenty were lucky enough to enter, while the rest failed and return to their hometown. The twenty children ages fifteen to twenty years old were greeted by the lady-in-charge.

"Welcome to the Land of Hiwaga. My name is Whizka. On behalf of the head of the Mahika Academy, ten of you will be qualified to join the immortals in entering the academy, and you'll get the chance to learn my magic, as one of your professor. All of you standing in front of me were able to unlock the opening of outside using your given powers. The gate was created to protect Hiwagans inside, and to unlock it, your heart must be pure. If not, you can never get inside the land."

Whizka, whose age were unknown, greeted them with a big smile formed on her lips. The remaining twenty were happily received inside. But, the joy in their faces were disturbed.

"Like I said, only ten were allowed to join with the immortals to enter Mahika Academy. Now, the next challenge will be, swimming into the fiery pit of the volcano. This time, you have to use your inborn powers to jump into the boiling waters of the volcano. Those who can survive the heat wins while those who did not, I'm sorry, but it's the end of your journey. I'll automatically let you return to your home unscathed."

After saying those words, the participants saw Whizka's left eyes blink, and found themselves standing in front of the lava inside the crater of the volcano. One by one, Whizka push them into the boiling lava. Everyone struggled to stroke their hands and feet, but it was too hot for them to handle. They even forgot how to release their powers. Fifteen were able to go up from the lava while the other five, Whizka sent them home in one snap of her finger.

The remaining fifteen returned to Hiwaga, and Whizka, with her powers, summoned one of the giant Cyclops in front of the hybrids. All of them felt the vibration of the giant running towards their direction.

"That is your third challenge. Use your strength and powers to fight the giant Cyclops. You have to figure out how to kill it, or else, the giant will devour you, and you can never return to your homeland." Whizka was shouting and watching at the same time, giving the instructions.

The giant was quick enough to capture one, but one of the participants is way quicker, that he managed to jump higher and give the giant a huge blow on his face, releasing his captured. The other participants used their whips, swords, daggers, and even super strength to knock the giant out.

Whizka was impressed with the teamwork of the twelve who knocked out the giant, but shook her head on those who failed. She sent the failures outside the gate as their penalty of not being able to understand what she meant on her third challenge.

"The last challenge is to test your strength. You have to balance yourself on that tallest, and pointed mountain of Hiwaga called Dulo. Standing on the tip of that mountain with only one leg, rest the final challenge. You have to remain standing on top of that mountain in one hour. Remember, only ten will be able to join the immortals to enter the Mahika Academy."

The thirteen remaining participants were not even given a spare time, a nap, or a bit of rest after those three challenges. Now, they're facing the last battle in the mount of Dulo to stand using only one leg. One after another, participants breathe heavily to survive the most difficult task. It took ten hours for the ten who survived the final challenge, while the three who failed the last task returned to their land with a heavy heart.

"Congratulations to all of you. You have unlocked the door of the entrance. You all survived the fiery pit of the volcano, and managed to knocked out the Cyclops, instead of killing it. And completed the last challenge of standing on one leg on the mountain of Dulo. Now, allow me to bring you all, including the immortals into Mahika Academy."

Whizka was pointing her fingers above the sky, and a whirlwind portal was slowly opening, swallowing all of twenty qualified participants to enter the academy. Then, the Land of Hiwaga immediately went up high above the clouds, and hid into a place where only the powerful can find.