“How is it?”

“Does it hurt?”

“Do you want to rest?”

“N-no, I can get up.” I said as I slowly got up from the ground.

“Okay then, lets continue.” said Brother Cecil as he puts up his hands again.

We’ve been sparring for the past 14 hours now since breakfast and already, the night has come to greet me. But for some reason, we didn’t stop from this spar to eat or rest, but instead we went further beyond.

My hands were bleeding and my left feet was clearly sprained and most of all, a few broken bones were felt all over my body…but I could still move. It was unbearable, but I knew I could move.

I wondered to myself why I was doing this to a point that I was spitting blood and why was I even so relent on bring able to accomplish a since of improvement…It was clear to me that in my body and mind, I could barely think straight enough and most of my thoughts goes to the doubt of my own actions.

I punish my body…I punish it to a point that it feels like it was weeping without my sense of permission…but I still continued to push forward.

Through all of this pain… I realize that I didn’t fear his fist anymore. All I could muster upfront in this unmoving progress of a lesson was the numbing sensation of my own emotions towards fear itself.

I couldn’t see his fist…but I believe that I could take it on.

As a result, my body was punished…

“Gagh!!” in the 165^th fall of the day, I rolled down on the ground like a pig.

“…Can you get up?” he asked as he crossed his arms.

*cough* *cough*

“Y-yeah, I can.” coughing up blood, I could only ever stand back up with the support of my left arm. My right arm was barely feeling any sensation left, so I had my left arm carry my sword instead.

“After this, we will rest.” he said as puts his hands up again to signal his readiness to fight.

“…Brother…can I ask you a question?” I said as I looked up to him with a pair of desperate eyes.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Do you think that I’ve grown today?” I asked.

“…I’m not one to say, after all, its you who must realize that through all the pain that you go through, your body must respond to your wishes. To be strong, to grow and to be acknowledged, everything comes from your determination, will and spirit.” he said.

“Yeah…your right.”

Out of everything in this fight, I knew only to move my body out of the desperation of the situation. I fight to survive…and If I can’t fight, I will surely die.

So I fought…

But I ended up falling again. Against this monster that stood before, I was never good enough to land a single hit on his body…

So I asked myself…

How far do I have to go to reach their level?

It was a depressing…like a dark road with no light to follow, I was in this abyss, while my teacher and my brother stood ahead with strong faces. The road was long…it was treacherous…and it was dark…

Without moving so much of my body, I was picked up from the floor and put into my bed.

“…” having being tended with bandages, I was hardly ever breathing right as my Brother went and felt the injuries all over my body.

“…sixteen broken bones, mostly from your ribcage and your arms. While Your sprain can easily be fixed with the help of a few medicinal herbs and acupuncture. I’ll ready the spa and put in some healing herbs so make sure you go in later to increase the healing process in your body.” he said as presses a needle down on my face.

“I have to go to a school tomorrow to take an entrance exam.” I said as I spoke with sweat dripping from my body.

“I know, don’t worry so much about because I’ll make sure to have you ready by then.”

“T-thanks, brother.” with that said, as Brother Cecil finished taking care of my injuries, he left me to my own. And without any waste, I went to sleep.

***

“How is he?” asked Master Yagami as he stood outside of the room.

“He’s fine. He’ll make it to tomorrow’s exam, that I promise.” said Cecil as he looked rather tired from moving all day.

“And about he’s growth?”

“…He’s grown. He was able to react to most of my attacks well enough and he wasn’t able to drop his sword once after his 100^th fall. Both he’s reflexes and agility has increased a lot…so I can say that he is growing well. I think he was able to train his mind to not react to his own fear, because of that, he got to push through with some of my punches and he was able to grow then.”

“Hmm, he’s mind is quite persistent, that much is clear. But I am quite curious about his talents on magic. You still haven’t taught him anything on the basics.” said master as he looks curiously to Cecil.

“He can learn that on the academy, what we’ll teach him here instead is the physical prowess of his attacks.” but Cecil only crosses his hands and looks displeased by that idea.

“Do you think that I should allow him to be taught the first gate of the shadow arts?” asked master.

“I think it’s a little to early. I mean, it took me months before you taught me anything about the shadow arts.”

“True, but you were very lazy back then…I was always doubting on whether or not you were the right disciple that I choose.” said master.

“Hmm, either way, we still have to build up his body before he could learn the official arts from the house.”

“So you think he will pass?” asked Master Yagami.

“If he were to walk up there in perfect condition, without a doubt, he would pass…but seeing as how beaten his body is today, I’m having second thoughts on it.” said Cecil as he starts walking out of the Dojo.

“I see.”

“…But, With how he was today. Even if he has one leg to stand on, or a single arm to hold his weapon…he will show his efforts. I can guarantee that much of him.”

“Hmm, is that so.”

With Cecil exiting the Dojo, Master Yagami opened the door and looked at the scene of his resting disciple.

“…”

The silence of the night simply captured everything then.

****

I saw a trail of blood leaking out of me…

The scene of a crashing car…

The sounds of tires screeching against the street…

And the voice of a divine being…

‘Wake up.’

“!!”

I awoke…

I found myself laying down ina body of water. Up above me, I could see the stars twinkling by like a lullaby.

And the pain in my body, I still feel it…

I don’t remember when I got in this spa, but I remembered that I awoke hours later from resting off on my bed. My body must have unconsciously moved on its own as it came here. The need for a healing and relaxation is strong in me. Hahaha.

“…” The water was lukewarm and the bandages in my body were getting loose.

Seeing my condition, I couldn’t help but sigh in the silence of this moment. And looking into the stars, I gazed upon it and simply thought of nothing but the efforts of my entire time I have spent here.

And I look back to the waters…and the lantern that was by my side…

I blew into its fire and made the place as dark as the night was. All that came to light my sights were the stars, all I heard was the rustling sound of the branches and all that I felt was the sensation of water.

Truly, it is a peaceful night.

And tomorrow is something I am anxious to meet.

****

“How is you body feeling?” asked Master as he could see me tying my shoes by the door, preparing to leave for the entrance exam.

“Everything is good.” I said as I smiled and stood up with my shoes tied.

“…Hmm, then make sure you do well in the exam today. Here, we packed you a lunch just so can have something to eat on the way.” said Master as he happily handed me a Bento styled lunch-case.

“Thank you Master.” I said as I bowed in respect and gratitude.

And with that, I was off to the academy.

“Good Luck Soril.” said Brother Cecil as he hangs by his usual tree.

“yeah, see you later Brother.”

Although my body was in pain and I barely had my bones fixed, I left the Dojo with a smile on my face.

****

*United Camelot Academy*

There, as a thousand children walks in with determined faces, out of all of them, only a hundred or so would feel the satisfaction of being accepted. Today marks the day that this academy will test the students with their skills and talents as a future asset to combat the war.

Among all of them, there are some with extraordinary skill and talent, people who were born with a silver tongue that gave way to a path filled with opportunities, people who made way through the hardships of their lives and became strong, and people who are simply carried by fate’s will to become something.

Jason Emory. A boy that was under the eyes of being shown talent. An underdog or so they say.

Jessabelle Morrison. A girl who was a genius when it came to the studies of magic. Daughter of one of the most powerful wizards in the world. Her genius is only matched by a few who live in this day.

Audrey Yagami. A girl born with the talents and status to become a strong and top ranking hunter in the future. With her skills of using a sword, she was undoubtedly expected to pass with flying colours.

John Bishop. A man obsessed with the eccentricities of hunting. Born with the values of the beliefs of God, he was blessed with an immensely talented body.

Conner O’neil. A man who was seen with great fighting prowess but has the tendency to abuse and kill. His potential is somewhat intriguing to look forward to.

These people where the main focus of what the book describes them to be. Either supporting characters or side villains, it seems intriguing to where this story was headed. Having read the book, I already know the contents of the exam. Mainly, its similar to that of the hunter’s test.

-Measuring one’s mana level

-Simulation testing

-Combat Sparring

-Written Exam

The first two were simply a test to measure one’s capacity in strength and mana.

Combat sparring was a way to measure one’s ability to fight another human being. This was an important test as it reads and studies the student’s psychological mentality and preparedness when facing another human being.

With the written exam being the last one on the list, it was an added test to measure one’s academic performance. It was a school after all, not really sure if I’m even prepared for it.

With every participant entering the academy, they were lead into the gymnasium where there level’s of mana were first going to be tested.

Each student was numbered.

Mine, being numbered 451.

Although this process was a basic status check, it can be recommended that participant can pass the test as long as he was able to update his card in a month’s time.

With that said, having mine updated only a few days ago, I can simply pass this test as it was already recorded in my hunter’s card my level of mana. A few other students as well were able to pass through this test and made their way to the second test which was the simulation test. So did I, making me the 32^nd hunter to be able to participate in the simulation test.

Unlike what the association does to test a hunter in a simulation, the academy puts a higher standard in their concept of fighting. Instead of putting on 5 goblins one at a time, the academy puts the students in a situation where they will be put in a ruined simulated environment while facing a monster known as an Orc. Orcs where 3 times bigger and three times stronger than that of a goblin. Putting two Orcs in front of a participant will raise the hurdle.

Seeing as how I was the 32^nd participant to take the simulation test, it’ll be a while before I could take my turn. So I went and simply watched as the other participants did their simulation test first.

It was shown in the screen the way they handled the orcs.

The few people who did it first were people who I did not know. Some failed, some won, some barely survived. None of them however were the people who I had my eyes on.

The machine that handles the simulation, copies everything that was on your body. From past scars to the amount of mana in you or even the present injuries…the machine was able to simulate a near perfect rate of your own body.

So when it was my turn, the moment I was copied in, my injuries were still felt.

“Hmm?” looking over at their machines, one of the people who handled the simulation was shocked to find that a participant was standing with multiple signs of injuries in his body.

“S-should we stop him?” asked the handler to his partner and the partner was just as shocked.

“The Kid must have felt it by now that his injuries were carried in to the simulation. If he feels it inside the simulation and doesn’t want it to be stopped, its his choice.” said the man.

“O-okay then. Starting the simulation.”

and with that the orc appeared out in front of me.

It seemingly stood there with a smile on its face. Its very nature was smug and because of it, I felt compelled to smack his face in.

As I went to pick a sword provided by the simulation, the orc went straight at me with no hesitation at all. Making his fist in first.

“…” I could only take my time to pull the sword and face him back up front. I stood with the same face I always make in the scene of danger.

With the orc’s giant fist making its way to me at an amazing rate,  I simply put my hands up and dug deep into one of the lessons I learned from my brother.

There was a few things that I learned after fighting for countless times with my Senior…

I learned to breath…

I learned to take a hit…

I learned to catch a fist…

I learned to stand back up…

And I learned to walk it off…

Even if an Orc was standing in front of me at this very moment, I don’t think I’ll ever fear something as worse as that of what my brother did to me.

So Orc, even if you keep on smirking or throwing around this big presence of yours, it will never be enough to contend with my brother…

You hear me?

Your nothing compared to them.

With his giant fist making its way down, I made sure to settle my foot on a perfect position, and as simple as it looked, I made the effort to look him in the eye and catch his fist.

*BOOM!!*

“Is this all?” I said as I stood my ground with his fist touching my arms.

And without a second to lose, I forced his hand down to the floor and ran up his arm with a sword on my hand.

There was another lesson I learned from my brother that I forgot to mention…

I learned to swing a sword.

And with one strike to his head, I cut it clean off.

*…Sigh*

“…Bring in the next one.” I said in a tired manner.

And without wasting anytime, the second orc was summoned but this time he carried a club made of a log.

It didn’t really made a difference either way though.

The moment the orc came rushing in with his club, I raced back forward and simply leaned to avoid the swing of his club.

‘It’s slow compared to Brother Cecil.’

Compared to my brother, he was five times slower. It was easy to predict where his attacks were leading on.

And I simply did what I could. After dodging his strike, I went and slashed down on his legs. Cutting off the joints and making him immobile.

As he fell to his knees, that was when I went to rush him down, but he made the effort to attack even when he was having a hard time standing up. So I did what had to be done and cut his hand instead.

“GrrAA!!!” the orc screamed in pain as its hand and club was thrown to the side.

So to make him stop screeching like a pig, I  had to cut his head off.

I went and jumped at his back and stabbed him right through the neck. It didn’t take a second before he fell down completely.

“…” it was over. The simulation was done and I exited the room while looking rather irritated.

[Time: 1 minute; 6 seconds.]

That was said on my record.

“Hmm, that’s a good time.” I said as I walked out of the simulation room with a smile on my face. The moment I walked out, I saw the eyes of a lot of participants at me.

“…” but I ignored them and made my way to the third test which was the written exam. It might be my hardest test yet.

***

Out in the crowd that was waiting for their turn to use the simulation test, a couple of students were rather intrigue by the listed time records that was placed on the screen.

“…The First place goes to a nobody with a record of 1 minute and 6 seconds. Hmph, I can easily break that record in half.” said Jessabelle as she looked rather confident.

“…” meanwhile a lady with black hair and was carrying a katana, was simply looking at the screen with a rather cold expression. She was none other than Audrey Yagami from the Yagami family.

While Jason Emory on the other hand is still at the line up at the mana test. He was having a hard time getting his card being read by the machine.