Leon stared at the White Flame with confusion, perplexed about what he - or IT - just said.
'F-Fallen?!! I'm now just a tool.'
As if a mountain of thoughts had fell into his mind, Leon couldn't hold that much of questions and concerns.
Fortunately, he didn't suffer with his thoughts for long, the White Flame gestured to follow. Leon did as he was said without any objections. Like he can!
"Listen, Drifter. What you are about to experience is the same program that your colleagues had with you before. The only difference this time is the difficulty will be much higher. Stay assured, you will get to have the same academic course first."
Leon was all ears, trying to grasp the tiniest detail about this alien world. He kept walking side by side with the White Flame until he found himself standing in front of a large maybe huge building, towering above him.
He kept his gaze fixed on the building, mesmerized by what his eyes were witnessing.
"What, Drifter? Can you remember anything now?"
Leon cut off his stare, relaxed his face muscles and shifter his gaze to the master.
"No, Master. Still, I can't remember anything."
The White Flame looked at him and paused for a couple of seconds. It's like the Master was trying to see through the boy's words. Yes, Leon was lying because he didn't even have the memories of the main host of this body and the maybe Master, the White Flame, had seen through him and knew that he was lying.
"You have some guts lying to me, Slave."
'Ah, Shit!'
Leon felt like he was being pressed alive by two giant walls. He really didn't remember anything about all of this and also he had to lie unless if he wants to spoil his greatest secret right ahead.
Anyways, he has to come up with an appropriate reply or else... his grave is only a step under his feet.
"Uh... I really don't know anything about you or about what happens in this world and even I forgot who I'm a while a ago."
The White Flame stance changed as if he was surprised by what Leon told him. The only way for Leon to get away without any consequences was to tell the truth behind the lie.
Every lie has a hidden side where it could provoke truth, and Leon made use of it at such a vital moment.
"Anyway, Drifter. You would be out of the tournament that your colleagues are participating in for a month until you regain your knowledge about this world and also choose your Core and the vehicle model."
Leon actually listened as if the master was his father. Leon couldn't spare any information that slid out the master's mouth. Does it even has a mouth?!
"Understood, Master."
Their eyes met for a subtle moment. The master shifted his gaze to his forward and drove at a very low speed which equals walking for humans. Leon was a bit surprised, he was surprised because he could feel like the master had drawn a calm smile.
Leon did the same and walked with a smile on his face along with the master. The White Flame, a master that every Drifter fears. A symbol of absolute destruction... Infernal Destruction.
Leon, the low of the low walks beside him with a smile like they were friends or a disciple with his master.
Soon, they both entered the giant facility and so many elemental cars below the White Flame greeted him. They were shocked and their gazes were fixed only on the Drifter beside the master, Leon.
Leon fell in whirlpool of confusion, thinking why did they all look so surprised like that?
"Master... Can I ask a simple question?"
The White Flame didn't shift his line of sight but he answered.
"Usually, I don't let Drifters ask me anything. I would kill them instantly. But you... you are different. I am the strongest master in this academy, actually I'm the principle of this academy. And yet, you walk beside me smiling and relieved. Of course, I allow you to ask but only one question."
Leon paused and took a moment thinking what to ask, he only has one question left. Between all of the questions that curled around themselves in his mind, only one question shone.
Taking a moment to think one last time, Leon made up his decision.
"My question is... If I grew strong enough, I want to challenge you, White Flame!"
Suddenly, the master stopped in his tracks and rotated his head slowly to right side where Leon was present. The White Flame paused for a moment and then rotated his head back facing his front.
Leon smiled intensely, Because the White Flame agreed to his request. How?
The White Flame grinned when he looked at Leon in the eye. Leon grinned as well, not a single feeling of horror had entered his heart.
"You... are really an abnormal Drifter. I must apologize for calling you a slave like the others. I can see that you will a powerful Drifter in the future. When that happens, come to me and let's fight."
"Thanks, master. I won't let your words down."
After they finished, The White Flame stopped in front of a massive door inside the facility. The door opened, revealing a vast area inside. Humans, elemental cars and other vehicles, shops, dormitories, race arenas, and many, many more.
It was like another world was created inside that facility, everything, literally everything was present inside the facility.
"Welcome... Again, Drifter #0999, to the EDA (Elemental Drifters Academy)"
Leon was astonished by what his eyes scanned, he never expected the academy to be this vast.
"Before you go and claim your room... again, you need to take the entry test... again."
It was so hard on him to focus on the master's speech, but he forced himself because he respected the White Flame.
"I'm ready, Master." Streams of sweating poured from his forehead, with an unnoticed gulp, Leon tried to calm himself. He was nervous, so nervous that he was about to fall on his knees, yet he was excited and his interest in this academy was on fire.
After a couple of minutes, Leon found himself riding a strange car in shape compared to the elemental ones. Wearing the helmet, Leon heard the White Flame delivering a few tips for him.
"Listen, Drifter. This test will analyze your driving skills along with precision of your timings in shifting gears and so many other things. Stay assured, there won't be any Fighting in the test..."
His words hung in the air of the test room, Leon wasn't surprised or shocked... he was smirking!
'Just watch, White Flame. You are in front of one the legends in his era!'
"Roll your engine, Drifter! Test of the Fallen: launch!"
Scanning the interior of the car, Leon couldn't grasp how to start the car. Suddenly, the car started by itself. Perplexed, he stared at the car and held the handle and the gear and gave activated his Hunter eyes.
'Let's go, Leon!'
"Let's go, Leon!"
An instant Shiver ran through his spine, he only thought of speaking to himself.
The voice didn't come form his corpse... It came from the Car!