the academy.

As Alex grew closer he began to hear their conversation.

"That's not something I'd do personally, but I can't say I'd stop you from trying." The woman said with a chuckle, her head moving slightly forward.

Ben grinned a ran his fingers through his long blonde hair, "I mean, a woman as beautiful as yourself shouldn't be out here alone, you sure you don't have an escort?"

The woman shook her hand with a smile and gestured towards Alex, "no in a capable woman, it seems that child wishes to speak with you."

Ben slowly turned around, his eyes shifting downward and locking on Alex, who was standing behind him with a Mischievous smile.

Ben's face grew red and he began to avert his gaze, "my lord, what is it you need help with, uhm how may I help you, sir,"

Alex giggled, "I don't blame you, man, this woman is really pretty, but Mother needs your help." Alex then gestured back towards the bookstore.

Ben quickly nodded, "I'll get right on it my lord."

He then swiftly made his way back towards the shop, each stride as long as the one prior.

Alex watched as Ben disappeared into the store, he turned around to talk to the woman, but she wasn't there.

What the heck, Alex thought.

Alex sighed as he began to look around for the woman with the silver eyes.

But, he couldn't find her, she was long gone, hidden behind the crowds of people walking on the sidewalk.

Interesting, Alex thought as he Alex shifted his attention to Liz.

Liz was staring at him with an affectionate gaze, the large fox-like creature began to chirp softly as Alex watched her.

Well, it's not like I got anything better to do, Alex thought.

He approached Liz and began to run his small fingers through her fur, as he did so a calming sensation washed over him, and he began to forget about the strange woman, instead, he focused on his future plans.

"Liz, did you know we're going to see Ava again, I can't wait, I hope she misses me, I mean it would be weird if she didn't right?"

Liz chirped in response to Alex's question, she then tilted her head and began to lick Alex, her tongue was full of slobber, but her breath smelled surprisingly good.

"Alright, alright," Alex said while laughing.

He attempted to turn Liz's head, but the Windwalker was far stronger than him.

As Alex tried to resist Liz's barge of love and affection, the door to the bookstore swung open, and his mother and Ben emerged, and began to exchange a few words.

Ben, who was carrying all of their items. Began to approach the left side of the carriage, while Alexander's mother approached the right side, where Alex was.

"Looks like it's time for you to get back to work Liz," Alex said as he patted Liz one last time before he joined his mother.

"Are you ready to head to the academy?" His mother asked as she opened the carriage door and gestured for Alex to come closer.

Alex nodded as he accepted his mother's hand, "Yeah, I have so much that I want to tell her." Alex said as her mother helped her home into the carriage.

His mother smiled as she got into the carriage after him, "Yes, Ava has been sending letters asking for us to visit, I've finally managed to schedule one recently, so I'm glad you're excited."

His mother then closed the carriage door behind herself.

It didn't take long for Ben to enter the driver's box and begin to pull away from the bookstore.

As the carriage began its trek through the city streets, Alex began to look out the window, he watched the passing carriages and trams fly past him, the ever-changing cityscape was a wonderful sight to behold.

It reminded Alex that he was truly in a different world, a place of beings he had never seen before, abilities that most people would have considered impossible back on earth, it was all so surreal.

After half an hour of traveling, the bustling cityscape gave way to a more rural area, there were rows of trees and high gates, houses were further spread apart and larger in size, and the wide roads leading f the city slimmed down and became more like pathways.

As the carriage continued its journey, a large structure could be seen in the distance, it was surrounded by high walls and large towers, the structure was built of brick and stone, it looked like an old castle or palace.

"Is this the academy?" Alex asked in a low voice as he grew closer to the carriage window, careful to avoid putting too much weight on his mother's lap.

His mother smiled as she enveloped Alex into a warm embrace, "Yes, this is the academy, I've visited it a few times when I was enrolling Ava here, it's quite the charming little place isn't it?" His mother asked with a warm smile as placed her hand on Alex's head.

Little? This place is massive, Alex thought as he pressed his face against the window.

"This place is huge Mother, I don't think I've ever seen something so big, well besides the skyscrapers."

His mother laughed as she continued to run her fingers through Alex's long hair, "I guess you're right, but the academy I went to was much larger than this, I guess I just lost my sense of scale."

Alex's eyes twinkled with excitement, "you mean there are bigger academies than this?"

His mother nodded, "Yes, though they are mostly in the Amber Kingdom, they were built during the James era, the grandfather of Queen Charlotte."

Alex nodded his head in amazement, he recalled going to school back on earth, and how underwhelming it all was, but this place was different, even their small academies were magnificent.

"I can't wait till it's my turn to attend an academy," Alex whispered as the carriage slowed to a stop.

There was a large golden gate blocking their path.

Guarding the gate were two pathfinders dressed in blue and black uniforms, on the left arm was the patch that held the Academy's logo.

One of the guards, a woman with long blonde hair and deep blue eyes began to approach the carriage and speak with Ben.

The two pathfinders exchanged a few words, and then she jogged back towards her post and motioned for her partner to open the large golden gates.

The gates slowly opened, and as they did so the carriage began moving forward eventually passing the Academy's gates.

As they entered the academy grounds, Alex began to notice students dotted around the campus, they were dressed in green and white uniforms and were doing a variety of activities.

Some were studying while others were chatting and laughing. The campus itself was elegant in design and greenery, there were cobblestone paths that sprawled all through the campus, and the path was surrounded by round plump bushes and tall trees that had pink leaves and thick white trunks.

As the carriage began to approach the main path, it turned to the left and parked slightly off the path next to a row of other carriages.

"Looks like we're walking from here." Alex's mother said as she released Alexander from her embrace.