The distinct, pleasant smell of salty water wafted around the air. Under the bright sky, the crashing sound of waves hitting the stone wall, and loud cries of seagulls flying across the vast and shallow, glistening blue ocean welcomed the group of unusual crowds, who stood by the pavement above the calm water to wait for their turn to enter the small ship.

Each wearing different color-coded uniforms that defines their rank, this group are students from Soaring Dragon Academy who were returning from their missions. Among the mix, you can also find some people in casual clothes. ​​

This either meant they're enrollees that are on their way to the final test before being officially recognized as students by the academy, or special visitors that were granted access personally by the headmaster or one of the grandmasters.

Visitors are a very rare occurrence, however. There's a strict rule that was decreed, dating back since the first opening of the academy by the first headmaster in the early dynasties;

No outsiders are allowed to enter Soaring Dragon Academy. Not even the royal family had the privilege as the academy is not attached to anyone but the headmaster alone.

As generations passed, that rule was still followed but was slightly altered over the course of years until a more lenient headmaster took over. In current period, the academy had permitted special visitors to enter, but with the permission of mentioned individuals.

Standing in a long queue under the blazing sun, all are required to wait their turn as the school's staffs check the group's identification and have their IDs—that also acted as a credit card—scanned to get a ride in the ship.

"Argh, what's taking them so long?" Said a female student in a pale yellow Tang suit [1]. The tunic had a beautiful embroidery of the sun, with its rays coiling around like golden fire, sewed on to where the heart is suppose to be located.

Behind her was a male with similar tunic, indicating he was a fellow student of same ranking and probably her partner. "Seems we have a lot of enrollees today." He said, glancing at the people in casual clothes.

"Tsk, why can't the school separate the students from the enrollees to make things quicker? It's unfair for us to wait in this long line." The female student grumbled as she furiously wiped the sweat dripping from her cheeks.

"Patience is key. I know you're tired and you wanted to go back quickly to rest, but you mustn't let your anger run off. Remember, we're like them before." Her partner wisely said.

"I hate it when you're right. But how could you not be annoyed? Especially in this heat?"

Her partner just shrugged and look ahead, waiting patiently. With a final groan, the female student straightened and copied him.

"What?!" Everyone snapped their attention in the forefront of the queue to where they heard the loud exclamation. "What do you mean I had to swim all the way to the island?!"

"I said what I said, young man. Your ID doesn't have enough points to afford a ride." The bearded man sitting by the table under the canopy said after scanning the enrollee's ID card.

"But I have that filled up to its limit! It's impossible that I can't afford it!"

"From what you earned in the test?"

"I-uh...o-of course!"

"If so, then the card wouldn't have rejected most of it."

"R-rejected?" The scandalous enrollee was confused. He bribed a lot of enrollees and students with money in exchange for their points. How could the card know if it wasn't earned by him? Weren't they all the same?

"Either you take another mission test to earn more points, or swim. Don't worry, the ocean isn't infested with sharks or piranhas. The academy make sure no one dies...in their watch."

"Y-you..." The enrollee's face turn ugly. "You can't do this to me! My uncle is one of the Masters teaching there! He could vouch for me!"

"Using family ties is not only prohibited, but shameless as well. The Academy wanted its students to use their own capabilities to rise. If you're depending on your family's wealth or by means of cheating to enter, then you're not welcome to even step near the Academy's island!" The bearded man slammed his hands heavily on the table.

The foolish enrollee flinched but refuse to back down. "W-who are you to say that to me?! You're just a minor staff! I demand you bring a teacher or a Master to tell me the truth!"

The students in the queue rolled their eyes and groaned in annoyance at being prolonged in the line because of this arrogant enrollee.

Don't be fooled by what your eyes show you. The bearded man and every staff in the school are not your ordinary employee. These people are former students of Soaring Dragon Academy.

In short, everyone—even the person mopping the ship's deck—was an alumni who choose to stay and work for their alma mater.

Seems like this enrollee failed to do his research or read the school's handbook.

"Next." The bearded man said, ignoring the fuming enrollee.

"How dare you ignore me!" The enrollee clenched his fist and swung it at the bearded man.

Gasps resounded from the people who were unused in seeing violence, while the rest just watched, undisturbed, like this was just an everyday scenario.