As he reached the bottom of the floor, the crowd fell silent. As if speaking before the being before us was nothing but disrespect, not toward him, but ourselves.
"Before you new applicants depart for the first exam. I must make myself clear."
The crowd was unmoving, all eyes were fixated on the chairman. My eyes turn to Kai, shock taking over. The previously irritated Kai - he was gone. Now, looking at the person dressed in nobility before us, there was nothing but admiration in his eyes. I turn back.
"Cadets. We are not weapons."
I chuckled. The first thing this man said and it's a counter to the king. He was different.
"We are not dispensable. We are not tools for the kingdom's benefit. We are human. And remember, that your one and only duty as a human being, is to persist. Relentlessly, even when all odds are against us. Against you. You must recognise your identity as not just a cadet, not just a citizen of Aurelia, but as yourselves."
As ourselves?
He's right - humans aren't dispensable. They aren't tools. We're our own beings.
He's right.
But something crippling from the bottom of my heart keeps telling me it isn't. I just need to ignore it.
Following his speech, the chairmans took off once more, ascending the stairs in a noble fashion. The crowd was dazed, some surprised. Some disappointed. Some curious. The standstill boy next to me was radiating nothing but respect.
"You seem to be quite fond of that chairman don't you?"
"Much more so than the fraudulent king. He has reason, motive. He understands what it means to be, well, human. Don't you agree?"
I hesitate for a second, why? Just like Kai, I agree. The chairman was inspirational, most of all human. There's no reason to hesitate. It's obvious. He was right.
"Yeah. You're right. Compared to that slob, he seemed like a person genuinely worth having power."
"Exactly."
A screeching whistle echoed through the hall.
"Alright people. Come on. We need to measure your physical specs."
We followed the guard to the main examination hall.
The examination hall was vast, cold, and unforgiving in the way only rooms built for judgment could be. Stone walls rose high enough that the ceiling disappeared into shadow, torches lining the perimeter in intervals that made the light feel rationed rather than generous. The floor was smooth and dark, worn down by years of boots that had stood exactly where we now stood, nervous and pretending otherwise.
The equipment lined the hall in stations. To the far left stood a reinforced steel pillar, thick as three men standing shoulder to shoulder, its surface dented and scarred from years of strikes.
Embedded at chest height was a circular mechanism; a punch meter, its gauge running from pale white at the bottom to deep crimson at the top.
The red section looked almost untouched. To its right sat a long track, straight and ruthless, its surface embedded with pressure sensors that would measure not just speed but consistency, how your body moved when it was tired, not just when it was fresh.
Further along, candidates were being strapped into resistance harnesses, energy output measured by devices that hummed faintly, almost impatiently.
At the far end of the hall, separated from everything else by a strip of empty floor, was a single raised platform. No equipment. No machines. Just space. The kind left deliberately for something that didn't need measuring by anything mechanical.
I didn't know what that platform was for yet. But looking at it made something in my chest go quiet.
The guard began calling out names. One after one, candidates stepped up to test their energy output, physical strength and speed, but that space. It was left alone. What could that be? Of course, I knew. It would probably be an area to pit the candidates against each other. Something like a match to gauge our skills.
"Sorren!"
A lean figured young man with shimmering brown hair and eyes stepped up.
"Hana!"
A petite young woman with pitch black hair and glistening eyes.
"Kai!"
There. This should be a treat. Kai walked up to the machine, assistants extended his arms, plugging in what looked to be syringes into his skin.
"You..this is exceptional. Your inner energy is very balanced, for a rookie these rates are astonishing!"
'Exceptional' huh. I suppose that means I should be roughly the same.
" "
" "
" "
"Akio!"
Finally. I approach the machine, extending my arm in excitement. I might be a tad worse than Kai, but considering their view on him, I wonder what my reaction would be? The injection pierces my skin, I groan slightly.
'Okay, good, next is, Flin!'
Good?
Not exceptiona?
That's not right. We're roughly the same, so why?
Oh well, it's okay.
That just means I have space to grow. It's fine.
***
Time passed, several tests were taken. There were quite a few performing candidates. Kai especially, that Sorren person, a guy named Zefir performed outstandingly, even the Hana person. Fortunately, I was also recognised for my physical strength. Higher than even Kai in that test.
"Alright. The physical tests are over. I will now list the passing candidates, following this, you will be registered as rookie cadets, and will undergo a sequence of light missions and trainings with an instructor until you are promote to a simple cadet."
That's it? There were at least 300 candidates, I wonder how many will be accepted.
The announcer called out thirteen names in total. Mine was among them. So was Kai's, that Sorren guy and Hana, even names I hadn't recognised yet - Zefir and Diana.
13?? That's it?? I'm sure there were at least 300 participants. And they definitely seemed confident in at least 50, so why?
Was there something specific they saw in the selected candidates? In Kai, me?
Well, all is done. I shouldn't question further.
And yet, that blank space still lies in the corner of my head. They didn't use it at all. Was I wrong? If so, this is just feels... incomplete.
I'm too curious to let it go.
"Excuse me, but, what is that blank space for?"
"That is a training ground, it does not concern the matters for the cadet test."
Just a training ground? Why not use it then? Cadets are meant to be strong combatants, without being able to properly observe a familiarity with battle, how can they judge the people who pass?
"I feel like not using, or at least testing the people who passed against each other would be a waste, no?"
"There is no need. We have already assessed your strengths, energy control, and other factors to decide whether or not you are suitable of becoming a cadet."
"At least do one. One fight. You can't expect us to just go on and be cadets without some sort of warm up, right?"
Just then, I noticed the boy in a corner glare at me.... Zefir, that was his name.
Then, the brown haired boy spoke. Sorren, I believe it was.
"Why're ya so obsessed with this!? We all passed, shouldn't we be satisfied with just that?'
His point was completely fair. I should be satisfied. But I'm not.
"I'm not asking for much. If this is the path to becoming a cadet, then shouldn't we actually fight?"
"The whole point of the missions with a guided teacher is just that!"
"And yet they chose us to be cadets without knowing our fighting skills beforehand??"
"Akio. Stop, there's a procedure for everything. We can practise in our own time but don't go." Kai intervened.
Did nobody have the motive? They can't just pick us like this-
The quiet in the hall changed texture, like the air itself had been acknowledged by someone stronger than it.
Footsteps followed. Slow, unhurried, each one landing with a weight that didn't need to prove itself.
A man stepped forward from the side of the hall, hands loosely tucked into the pockets of a worn black sweater, baggy jeans brushing against the stone floor. He didn't look like anything special at first glance. No armor. No weapon drawn.
But nobody spoke.
Even the guards hesitated.
His gaze passed over the candidates. Not sharp, not threatening, just… aware. Like he had already measured everything worth measuring.
And moved on.
"Okay boy."
His voice was calm. Casual.
Too casual.
"If that empty space bothers you that much… I'll fill it for you."
A few candidates shifted. Someone behind me exhaled sharply.
I didn't.
My eyes locked onto him.
"You're not a candidate, are you?" I asked.
"You asked for a fight. Candidact means nothing."
He stepped onto the platform, stretching his neck slightly as if this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"You wanted experience, didn't you?"
A faint smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
"Then come show me what you've got."
The guard stepped forward quickly.
"Gentlemen, that won't be necessary. We've already-"
"It's fine,' the man cut in, not even looking at him. 'It'll only take a minute."
A pause.
Then, quieter
"We're just helping a new cadet."
The guard stiffened.
"But… Soke, you're-"
"It's fine."
That was it.
No argument.
No authority asserted.
And yet, the conversation ended there.
I stepped onto the platform.
The moment my foot touched the stone, something in my chest tightened.
Not fear.
Something worse.
Expectation.
I didn't move.
Neither did he.
For a second, it felt like nothing was happening.
Then-
He vanished.
My body reacted before my mind did.
I twisted, raising my arm-
Too slow.
A sharp impact slammed into my side.
THUD.
The air left my lungs as my body skidded across the platform, boots scraping against stone. I forced myself up immediately, tightening my stance.
Don't rush.
Don't attack.
He's experienced. Observe first.
White sparks flickered faintly around my hands as I steadied my breathing.
Soke stood where I had been.
Completely relaxed.
"Good," he said. "At least you didn't panic."
I narrowed my eyes.
He moved again.
This time I saw it.
Barely.
His shoulder shifted-
I stepped back, guarding high.
A fist slipped past my defense like it didn't exist.
CRACK.
My vision jolted as the strike connected with my jaw, my head snapping to the side. I staggered, barely catching my footing before the next attack came.
A kick.
Low.
I blocked-
Shit, too stiff.
The impact drove through my guard, forcing me back again.
He wasn't fast.
That was the problem.
He was efficient.
Every movement was exact. No wasted motion. No hesitation.
I clenched my fists, sparks flaring stronger.
Wait.
Read him.
Don't swing first.
He stepped forward.
I braced.
This time, I reacted early, pivoting, bringing my arm down to intercept-
CLANG.
Our limbs met, my energy flaring on contact.
For a second,
I held.
Then his pressure increased.
Not suddenly.
Just… steadily.
Like something had quietly decided I wasn't enough.
My guard collapsed.
His elbow drove into my ribs.
THUD.
Pain exploded through my side as I stumbled, breath hitching.
Move.
I forced my body to respond, stepping back, creating distance.
He didn't chase immediately.
Just walked forward.
Slowly.
"You're thinking too much," he said.
I clicked my tongue, tightening my stance again.
White sparks flickered stronger, unstable.
Fine.
Then I'll force something.
I lunged.
A straight strike, fast, direct, aimed for his chest-
He tilted his head.
That was it.
My fist missed by inches.
My balance shifted.
Mistake.
His hand caught my wrist mid-motion.
Firm.
Effortless.
Before I could react-
He pulled.
My body lurched forward-
A knee drove into my stomach.
Everything went blank for a split second.
Then-
Impact.
The ground met me hard.
I rolled, coughing, forcing myself up again.
My body screamed.
Good.
That means I'm still in this.
I raised my guard again.
He was already there.
Closer this time.
Too close.
I tried to step back-
His hand pressed lightly against my shoulder.
Not a strike.
Just a push.
And yet.
My body dropped.
KNEEL.
My knee slammed into the stone before I could stop it.
My arms trembled as I tried to force myself back up.
He stood over me, looking down.
Not impressed.
Not disappointed.
Just… certain.
"This is what you wanted, right?" he said quietly.
I gritted my teeth, forcing my body to rise again.
My legs shook.
My arms felt heavy.
But I stood.
I had to.
White sparks flickered wildly now, unstable, uneven.
I stepped forward.
One more-
Anything-
He moved.
I didn't even see it this time.
A sharp strike to the chest.
Everything disappeared.
The world flipped-
Then-
THUD.
I hit the ground again.
This time, I didn't get up immediately.
My body didn't listen.
Footsteps approached.
Stopped.
Silence.
"That's enough," Soke said.
No pride.
No mockery.
Just fact.
"You're a definite pass."
I lay there, staring at the ceiling that disappeared into shadow.
My chest rose and fell unevenly.
My hands twitched slightly.
And for the first time since stepping onto that platform-
I understood.
Not strength.
Not victory.
But the gap.
The difference between what I thought I was.
And what I actually was.
Three years. Three whole years of training with Kai.
Even if I was on the losing end, this was too much. If I can't fight. Nothing would change. I thought I was strong.
I thought I'd be enough to change something. I thought I'd be enough to fight demons. And yet here I lie, my body collapsed, energy drained.
But, I can't stop.
Soke is strong. There's no doubt. But I can catch up. I passed.
It's not over. I just have to keep fighting.
"After that humiliation, I still pass?"
"You passed before we fought. Nothing will change that. This match allowed for a demonstration."
"A demonstration?"
Of what. Arrogance? Ego? Weakness?
"Yes. That the teachers you'll be training with are reliable and strong. You don't need to have second thoughts."
"Yeah Yeah. I get it."
"That being said, you. Mister Akio Sekishiro, will be assigned to my team. Hope we enjoy our time together!" He exclaimed with a smug smile.
And as abrupt as he arrived, he left. Just like that. I was left here. Just defeated. Seriously...?
"Akio!"
My thoughts rearrange themselves. It's over.
"Kai. My bad, he mopped the floor with me." I replied, demotivated.
Just then, as the crowd split, two of the rookies came up to me. Hana, and Sorren.
"What are you going to say about me now?" I ask Sorren in spite of his earlier curiosity.
"Yer arright. That woulda happened to any of us." He replied in an almost reassuring tone.
"So why are you here?"
"While you were off bickering with that teacher. The rest of us were assigned a group. You, me, Hana, and Kai over there."
"Groups of four? And I'm assuming our teacher is that weirdo?"
"Yep." Kai Intervened. "Due to the odd number, one person is apparently going to bypass the rookie missions and be directly promoted. That Zefir, apparently he's an outlier."
An outlier. That much better than Kai? His scores for energy and physical specs certainly were outstanding.
"Um, excuse me. I'm Hana, we had our introductions earlier so you're all that's left. Nice to meet you, Akio."
She extended her pale arm with a sense of familiarity.
"Yeah. You too."
The guard shouted.
"Now, you lot! Head to your dorms. Your teacher will arrive tomorrow to pick up."
And so, the 4 of us head to the dorms. From here, things will be harder. They have to. It won't just be me and Kai, but with Hana and Sorren. Well, hopefully. With newfound belief, I clench my fists and calm my mind in hopes for something. A feeling I've waited to experience for a long time now.