In front of Garret and Cubie-chan was a diamond gate.
The corner of the gate had a faceted shape, like cut crystals.
Within the diamond bars were golden-yellow pickets.
Their pattern was delicate, like a deity's architecture.
"Wow, this is amazing!"
Cubie-chan gasped, her gaze fixed on the brilliance of this fence.
The fence's shimmering light contrasted with her neon blue core.
"The outside is just an appetizer. Wait until you see the inside,"
Garret said, flashing a fond smile at Cubie as he opened the diamond gate.
The rough texture was soothing to Garret's hand.
A few seconds passed. Cubie-chan floated after Garret into the interior of the Cosmic Ranger Academy.
Her mouth hung open, and her eyes dropped on the scene before her with intense interest.
Beneath Garret's feet, a marble walkway snaked around the academy.
Bordering the lush green lawns.
The scent of the grass wafted into Cubie-chan's olfactory sensors, and she took a deep breath.
Cubie-chan looked upwards at the structures.
Three to four, tall white buildings lined up.
The neon light from their bright energy cores subtly glowing.
Beside these buildings was a large, cream-colored clock tower. The morning sunlight shone through its delicate patterns.
Within the clock's frame, an exquisite work of art.
The intricate patterns of the glass encased the clock face, which displayed the time:
07:45
Wowww, so this is Garret's Cosmic Ranger Academy! Only 500 people out of 20,000 applicants can pass the entrance exam.
"Hey Cubie-chan, can you come with me for a sec?" Garret nudged her, pointing towards a fountain pond to their right.
"Oh, okay," Cubie-chan nodded. Her core floated behind Garret, her eyes admiring the scenery along the way.
"By the way, what do you think of the woman who opened the dimensional gate for us to get here?" Cubie-chan asked, her voice raised.
As Garret walked along the stone path, he replied, "Charlotte? She seems... pretty grand."
Garret smirked, his eyes narrowing as her image blossomed in his mind.
"Awwwww, that smile! Looks like someone's already got a crush on her, Garret-kun~"
"What are you talking about? I haven't thought anything about her!"
Deflecting him, the gentle breeze keeping Garret's heart cool.
"Ohoho, and you even asked for her Interstellar Box contact! Naughty, naughty you~~~" Cubie-chan teased him more, noticing his evasiveness.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that." Garret retorted, inhaling the wind's fragrant scent.
They had arrived.
A medium-sized fountain with emerald-green water flowing within a granite well.
Dozens of fish swam, enjoying the serene water.
The sound of the fountain swished around the vibrant scenery.
Garret stepped forward with his left foot and leaned down, his gaze falling upon the fountain.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he asked, offering a soft smile.
"Yes, it is beautiful."
"It was built to commemorate a married couple: my father, Joseph Spencer, and my mother, Lyla Spencer."
Garret's breathing grew softer, reaching into his pants pocket.
Retrieving a flower and walking towards a picture of the two of them.
"But, right now they've enjoyed the afterlife."
A flower fell onto the picture of the two loved ones, blooming like the smile on Garret's face.
Meanwhile Cubie-chan, her eyes fixed on a picture smeared with colors, painted over so much.
It was impossible to understand what the image was.
Beside the picture was a sign that read:
⚲As swift as time,
⚲As penetrating as air,
⚲As fragile as glass,
⚲As strong as diamond,
⚲As fierce as fire,
⚲As fluid as water.
The words from the sign drifted into Cubie-chan's processing core.
Her eyes widened, and her face furrowed.
Before she floated over to Garret and asked,
"Garret, what are those things on the sign?"
He glanced at the small sign, before replying
"That sign? It's a poem by Lord Mason Britancout. Even my dad couldn't figure it out."
His low voice only made Cubie-chan more confused.
"Then... what do you think it is?" Her voice cut through the swishing sound of the fountain.
"I don't know. Lord Mason said it's something very close to us, and there might be more than one answer."
After the word ended, Cubie-chan nodded without asking further.
Changing the subject before her processors overloaded from sensory input.
"How about we go wait in the assembly hall now?"
Hearing that, Garret nodded, agreeing with Cubie-chan's suggestion.
――✧ Chamber of the Assembly hall✧――
The vast Cosmic Ranger assembly hall. They had arrived.
Detecting them, large doors creaked open, its sound spreading through the air.
Garret and Cubie-chan entered the hall.
The sound of Garret's footsteps echoed with each stride he took across the hall's floor.
The radiant light reflecting off Cubie-chan's core caused her mouth to fall open in awe.
The murmur of students talking wasn't loud.
But distinct enough to reach Garret's ears.
After walking for a while, Garret spotted a sofa in the left corner of the assembly hall.
He sat down, pulling his phone out.
Cubie-chan floated beside his sofa.
Her eyes noticed a red laser dot appear on Garret's phone screen:
CONFIRMATION: You are now checked in, Mr. Garret.
Garret nodded, leaned his back against the sofa.
His hand scrolling through his Interstellar Box feed on his phone.
Absorbed interest.
His other hand resting on his forehead.
After a couple of swipes, Garret glanced up, a tall professor standing beside him.
The professor wore long trousers and a red tie that stood out against his black tuxedo.
A name tag on his chest read:
Professor Murphy
"Greetings Garret, I'm professor Murphy."
Professor Murphy Introduced himself, extending his hand towards Garret who was sitting on the sofa.
"Greetings, Professor. I'm Garret Spencer. Nice to meet you,"
After they shook hands, Professor Murphy began.
"Congratulations, Garret. Only twelve years old and you passed such a difficult entrance exam. Even students who are fourteen or fifteen failed left and right,"
His gaze fixed on Garret with a smile.
"It wasn't a big deal, Professor. I just prepared well,"
Garret said, chuckling in his throat.