I’m weak…

Compared to the geniuses in the books that I’ve read, I was weak.

I was incomparable to those that rose with their own talents…

It made me desperate.

I don’t know why…

But seeing myself and comparing my very strength against them, it made me tingle in the thought that I could overwhelm them with my own power.

I wanted power…more specifically, I wanted to be stronger.

At the near ends of my fight, where I was cornered while I was bleeding, my heart pounded so much to a point that it made me feel alive. More alive than I could have imagined.

That time when I taunted Jessabelle and scratched her face with my sword, I felt this feeling of overwhelming bliss. And when she was about to throw her last attack, I could do nothing but accept my death then and there…

I don’t know why I was here in this world, but I know what I want at least…

I want power.

So as I kneeled in front of Brother Cecil, I could only ever ask for one thing from him.

“Please! Train me to be stronger!”

“…Well, yeah sure. I mean Master accepted you solely for the fact that he finds you interesting, and you have potential. After we fought against one another, I can see that you’ve improved well. But strength does not come as easily as that. Strength does not come solely because you desire it, instead, use your desire to gain this so called strength.”

“So what do I have to do?” I asked as he stood with his arms crossed.

“Do what you have to do…fight, sleep, train, eat…it all revolves around you on how you go forward with your desire.”

“…So I fight?”

“You fight.”

“And I train?”

“You train…You have free will Soril, use that freedom to attain what you want.”

“.…what about you brother, Why do you train?”

“I fight in my own purpose…for now I can’t tell you why, but I can tell you that your heading in a path that leads to danger…the same as our master and the same as me. The path for strength is quite a hurdle.”

“I’m ready to take that path.”

“Its not going to be easy…and you have no choice but to take this path. By coincidence, you just picked the same path. But being a member of the house of Shadows means that you must attain Power…and I’m willing to lead you to that path, the same as master is.”

“…” hearing his words, how heavy it is by being burdened to become a member of this house means simply by power alone. Being a member means being powerful…if one cannot attain power, you will surely shame the name of your master. And I was opened to this idea…and I felt ashamed.

“…I-” having no words said but a single letter, I felt locked and confined of myself. For a quick second, I had this glimpse of a thought inside me…that thought was about my own doubt.

“…I”

“…You have time Soril, take that time and become what you want to become. No one is rushing you.” said Brother Cecil as he laid his hand on my shoulders to assure myself.

“…”

“…Master Hasn’t yet given the permission to train you in the Gates of the Shadows. It can be seen in your body. Once you have been acknowledged, that is when you will truly be trained under the teachings for the Gates of the Shadows.” he said as he had this auspicious glint in his eyes.

“…Then I leave myself under your hands, Brother.”

“Good, is your body still healing?”

“Yes, I’m not fully healed yet.” I said.

“Hmm, I see.”

And with that he turned his back and started walking to the Dojo, but before he could fully leave, he glanced at me one last time.

“Tomorrow, we’ll start the second part of your daily training. Be sure to have your body be ready by then. Its going to be quite tough.”

***

By the next day, I was fully healed from head to toe. Reason being was that I hunted inside the Rat’s dungeon to a point that I gained a level so that I could take the advantage of being healed fully on my physical body.

Being fully healed and being able to level up, I was gifted with the same amount of 5 stat points to distribute to my overall strengths.

[Profile:]

Candidate: NPC

Mission Status: In Progress

Level: [7]-[ >11,000 exp until to the next level…]

Strength: 20 (+2)—> 22

Endurance: 22 (+1)—> 23

Intelligence: 15 (+1)—> 16

Agility: 21 (+1)—> 22

Mana: 60/60

Looking up the internet, a person of this level would usually have smaller numbers in theirs stats, if they rely on the simple system of a level that is. But since I work my ass off with a daily regimen of training, its much higher than one could expect.

Only incompetent people who rely on the leveling system will never fully reach their true strengths.

For example was the first person who I fought yesterday. Him being a Level 15 while me being a level 6, it would have been easy to predict who would have won that fight, but since my body has undergone the fruits of training, I was victorious.

I can easily take down a person level 20 below if that kind of person has no less of an experience as an amateur. But if you meet people like Jessica Young, someone who’s talented and well capable of a sword, despite her being a level 18, she was as equal to me in combat, with her only superior aspect being her speed.

Right now, I stand at the edge of a cliff at the back of the Dojo and beside me was the ever so sly and lax brother of mine, Cecil.

“Lucky for you, I had the time to work on your next training montage. It took me all night, but I’m sure you’ll respect the handiwork that I’ve put into it.” he said as he sat down on the grassy lawn.

“What are you talking about, Brother?” I asked with a curious furrow on my brow.

“Down on this cliff stands a course of traps and adjustable monsters that I want you to capture and pass.”

“Traps?…monsters?”

“Indeed, Soril, ready yourself for a journey in the playground for shadows.” said master Yagami as he walks out of the veranda with a cup of tea on hand.

“…Master, what is this all about?” I asked.

“As a member of this house, Fighting against people and the like is not enough for one to survive. The house has made an elaborate design that fully nourishes the very nature of a student’s capabilities in the forest. Instead of fighting against the nature of the strong, I want you to simply survive against the nature of strength.” said Master Yagami as he stood besides us and sips his tea.

“Survive?”

“There are four animals roaming beyond that forest. Each one carries a bell that sound different for each one. Find these animals and capture the bells. Once you do, I will allow you to come back to the Dojo.” said master.

“And try to take caution against these animals. Their trained enough to kill a C-ranked hunter.” added Cecil.

“Trained?”

“That’s right. Those animals are part of the house as well…they are the Beast that guards this entire Dojo.” said Brother Cecil.

“…I see.”

“You have seven days to accomplish this task. Once you do, only then will we move on with another set of event for you. With each day, I will personally strengthen the traps, so you better make due with your time. ” said Brother Cecil.

“…I do have to remind you that a week from now, the academy will post the results of the exam and I have to start going to class by then.” I said.

“I know.” said Brother.

“So if I fail, what then?” I asked.

“…Punishment awaits you.” said Master.

“So you take care now.” Said Cecil as he stands up from the ground and kicks me off the cliff.

*thump*

“Eh?”

“Bye-bye” he said as he waves his hand goodbye.

And I fell…

“AAAAHHH!HH!!!!HH!H!H!H!”

And as I fell, beneath me, the nearing image of a body of water was making itself clear like that of a hug from a mother, ready to receive.

*BOOOMMM!!!!*

***A Week Later***

Out by the tallest seen window in a tower of the academy, the eyes of a mage was seen ever so curious by the scene of a gathering students upfront a billboard.

As by its interest, the post of that billboard was none other than the result of the Entrance Exam taken a week ago from a thousand students.

Some tried to push against one another, others used their capable eyes to look from afar, and some didn’t seem to care.

One of them was none other than his own daughter. Jessabelle Morrison.

“…” like a squizing rat in the pipes, Jessabelle was a fierce contender against the many fools who came her way.

“How many got in today, Mr. Morrison?” asked the Head Principal as he looks to the mage.

“…251 applicants. Its quite a lot compared to before.” said the mage as he looks to the precedent with a calm gaze.

“Hmm, do you have anything to look forward too based off the results of this exam? Was there anyone special in that cluster of applicants? Well, aside from your daughter…”

“There is only one person who I have my eye on today. But I doubt that you would be interested in this particular soon-to-be student.” said the mage.

“Knowing you, he must be quite a talent in the prospects of magic.”

“On the contrary, this person isn’t.”

“Really? A warrior?”

“More so or less…this year’s event might be more amusing than I can imagine. I hope you wont mind the troubles it will come with for this year.” He said as a smile creeps on his face.

“…As long as they can take responsibility, I don’t mind.” said the principal as he looks to the same cluster of children.

As the two watched the rambling noise down below, another person walks into the room.

*Thud*

With a slamming noise, the room shook.

“Can’t you believe this!? 251 students this year…almost half of them failed the written exams and half barely made the cut in the simulation test. Its nothing compared to the last years results of students.” said this particular fat man.

“Hmm, is that so? Well enough, most of the applicants who came to apply are only after the benefits of growing in the experience of both the magic lessons as well as the youthful growths in a fight.” asked the head Principal with a rather observing gaze.

“Yes, I can see that as it is, but if we keep on moving forward with this kind of lax acceptance, we might soon fall to a lack of brand. The United Camelot Academy should not simply be based on the idea that a student can join on the prospects of poor etiquette, poor standards, poor results. Anything poor should not even be admitted.” said the fat man.

“That is a high claim, coming from a man who was once the poorest of them all.” said the mage.

“…Hmph! Back when the war was still relevant, the very outcomes of each battle was a foozy. To become rich in all aspects, one great factor that lead me to it all was my great charm to Luck.” said the fat man.

“Hahah, that’s why they call you father luck.” said the principal as he laughs at that title.

“Its a fitting title for my very great prospect. But either way, what I say is clear to you all. With how the results are during the last year’s standards, it barely was capable of producing any at all noticeable talents. I fear that if the war comes at an early era, at this era, the current standards of our life will make the children suffer.” said the Fat man.

“Don’t worry, A few admirable chicks are in my sights today. One of them being Mr. Morrison’s daughter.” said the head Principal.

“Hmph, I am aware. Mr. Morrison, I hope you take care of these hatchlings to a point that once they graduate from this school, they be full grown.” said the fat man as he walks out of the room with a glaring expression.

*Sigh~* the mage sighs in the relief that the fat man has just left, and looking back to the many students down on the ground, he turned his eye back to his daughter who now huddles with a certain group by the gates of the academy.

There his daughter was mingling with a group of people…one of them being Jason Emory who was rather a happy-go lucky type of fellow.

“…Hmm, it must be by coincidence…but a fine coincidence indeed.” said the mage as he too walks out of the room, leaving the Head Principal by himself.

***A Few Hours Later***

At around 8:30 PM by the gates.

Finally, as the time of the academy closing its gates was at its near, the janitor who was ordered by the school faculty to take care of the billboard, was making his way to the billboard itself to get rid of the results of the exam.

But as he did so, by the far distance, a growling noise of a rabid beast, the flapping feathers and along its screeching chirps, the hissing call of a reptile, and the hearing sounds of a slapping tone could be heard by the distance.

All in all, it felt like four animals were by the side of the gate and when the janitor turned his head to look, the sight of a zombie who’s eyes were as rotting and as glaring made its way to the eyes of the janitor himself. A Zombie filled with bandages all over his body, a torn and dirt-covered shirt, an underwear that was as stain as the canals, and most of all, a smell as rotting as a spoiled fish.

And with it, a Dog, a Hawk, a Snake, and a Beaver were making the effort to harm the zombie even more. By biting, pecking, strangling, and slapping its pitiful stature.

“..Z-zombie!!!” screamed the Janitor, and without any other thoughts, he ran back inside the school, leaving the billboard to its untouched state.

“…Ahhhh~~~…I finally made it!!” said the zombie as he falls to his knees in front of the billboard.

And when he turned his head up with a hand gesture of prayer, he smiled and stared at his name by the billboard.

10. 10. ) Soril Remus – 9.1/10

That was his overall position out of all the thousand participants that took the exam.

“hahahahahaha!! I’m tenth! I made it to the top ten!!!” he screamed in his victory against the world renowned enemy known as the School Tuition.

And there, he fell to his back and accepted the falling grace of the light coming from the moon.