Signal Academy.
It is a Primary Combat School. A preparatory academy that prepares students for their further careers in their related Huntsmen Academies.
For Vale, Signal Academy prepares students for Beacon Academy.
In Mistral, it is Sanctum that leads to Haven.
In Vacuo, it is Oscuro Academy that leads to Shade Academy.
For Atlas, there is no preparatory academy as the entire structure is a united institute, which means that children can enter at 13 as complete novices and come out as full-fledged Huntsmen by 21.
However, just because it is a Primary Combat School does not mean it is that easy to get into these places.
Every kingdom's preparatory academies have their own ways of weeding out those whom they consider unworthy.
For example, in Mistral, if a child wants to apply to Sanctum, they must either be freakishly talented in combat, so much so that the recruiters have no choice but to put aside their standard operating procedure and let said kid in, no matter what, lest they bear the consequences later on.
Another route is for a kid to have some kind of connections to either the top class of people or the underworld.
For a regular child with none of that? It is basically impossible to get into Sanctum.
This structure clearly reflects the state of the Kingdom itself. A place filled with corruption and darkness.
This is why I was so confident that I could easily get into Sanctum once I had enough money ready for my endeavors. Because my reputation as a mercenary was already so well known in the underworld that the recruiters in Sanctum would never even think of denying my application.
As for Signal, the process is completely separate.
There are a total of three tests that a potential applicant must face before they are accepted.
The first one is a written test.
Unlike the tests used in other schools that teach civilian subjects, this test consists of topics dealing with the Grimm, the Laws of the Kingdom regarding Huntsmen, Geography, and other such things that are designed to see if a child is truly ready for the life of a Huntsman.
The second test is a test of combat ability.
While not as important as the first test since they don't expect 13-year-old children to take on actual Grimm just yet, especially since Vale is an extremely peaceful kingdom compared to Mistral or Vacuo, they still test a child for instincts and combat talent to see if they can endure the harsh training required for becoming a Huntsman.
And the final test is one of motivation, which involves an interview with one of the teachers of the academy.
Admittedly, the third test is merely a formality since the kingdom is not foolish enough to throw away potential bodies that they can use to fight the Grimm over something as simple as mental fortitude or morality. But it is still one of the tests.
Out of all these tests, the only one I am truly worried about is the first one, the written test.
The third test is already a done deal since Taiyang will probably be the one to take our test, and I am not worried about a measly combat test from a preparatory school.
Compared to the many different kinds of Grimm, bandits, and criminals I've dealt with over the past three years, what kind of pressure could this combat test hold for me?
That is why I did not even bother to check the results after the combat trial, where I beat up the teenager, probably from the graduation class roped in for extra credit, and went back home straight away.
But now? When the results have been finally sent back home, I can't help but feel nervous about how I did in the written test. A feeling I have not felt in a long, long time.
Since Taiyang was still at the school, wrapping things up with the rest of the staff for this semester, I sat at the table with Yang and Ruby, carefully opening our letters that held the results of our evaluations for Signal Academy.
First, I opened Yang's test result, making the girl pout.
"Hey! Why are you opening mine first!?"
"Because I am nervous about my written test scores."
"And I am not??"
I ignored her protests and opened the letter, which had her grades neatly stacked into three separate rows and several columns.
"Let's see here-"
Yang tried to snatch it from me, but I dodged her and continued reading out, much to the entertainment of little Ruby, who was giggling while watching us fight.
"Give it here-!"
"Written Test: B"
"I said-!"
"Combat Test:A"
"Ignis I swear-!"
"Interview test:B."
"Formally accepted into Signal Academy-!"
Finally, she snatched the report from my hands with a sullen expression.
But then, she gave me a cheeky smile as she held up my own report.
For a split second, panic shot through my mind, but I calmed down just as quickly.
'It's just a piece of paper, no need to react so much over it.'
I changed my mindset and controlled myself as Yang opened it up messily and started reading out loud.
"Written Test: C. Aha! I beat in the written test!!"
I nodded at her words.
As expected. I did not have enough knowledge about this kingdom or the common sense of the area, so it was a given that I would lose my grade here. In fact, I expected it to be even lower, so this is still a pretty good outcome.
"Combat Score:...A++? Is that even a grade?"
Huh? That's unexpected. Why give me such a strange grade? Is it because I beat that teenager?
I thought there would be many children from Huntsmen families who could do the same? Especially since Beacon Academy of Vale is considered the best of the four academies for producing Huntsmen that are far beyond what the other academies produce?
Am I wrong in my assumption?
Yang continued reading through the report with confusion still evident in her tone.
"Interview Test: C"
"Formally accepted into Signal Academy."
She put down paper with a scrunched-up face. But then, she broke into a wide grin.
"Hey! Ignis! Guess what? I've got the overall best grade! I got two Bs and one A, while you have two Cs and one A++, whatever that is. That means, I won!!"
I just smiled at her words.
"I guess you did. Want to celebrate? I'll make something for us three since Taiyang will not be home till much later."
"Yes!! I want cookies!! I want half chocolate chip ones and those marshmallow cookies you made last time!!"
Ruby instantly jumped to her feet and gave her order, making me chuckle and ruffle her hair.
"You mean the Whoopie Pies? Sure. Yang?"
Yang's eyes lit up at my offer.
"The Gingersnaps."
"Alright. One batch of Chocolate Chips, one batch of Whoopie Pies, and one batch of Gingersnaps, coming right up."
""Yeah!!!""
The girls cheered and followed me into the kitchen as I got to work.
Yang was not idle either, as she started helping me prep things up along with Ruby while I got to work on the recipe.
This is how these two have been in the past year, since I arrived in this household that has now started to look more and more like a real home to me.
I think the turning point was back in June, on my birthday.
I still remember it like yesterday. The shock I felt when the girls and the adults surprised me with that party.
For a few seconds, I felt like I was back on Earth, in that apartment of mine, where Alex and Sam would wait for me every year on my birthday, wishing to surprise me with a party.
Despite knowing that they were there, waiting to spring their surprise on me, I would still play along with them. Because they were my family.
The memory hit like a punch to the gut, leaving me feeling hollow as I was once again reminded of what I had lost.
However, it was Ruby who brought me out of that depression.
Her innocent question, her fear that she had somehow upset me, her unconscious way of seeing me as part of her family, it was those emotions of the little girl that broke that depression.
I think it was on that day, under the warmth of this family, that I finally started to move on from everything I've endured to that point.
This family that treats me so well. These people who consider me one of their own.
I think these people are the main reason why I've been slowly recovering from....everything.
With a deep breath, I focused back on the present and got to work.
Yes. These people, this family. They are mine now. I owe them a lot for how they have knowingly, or unknowingly, helped me heal.
So, I made a vow back then, on that night of my birthday.
Whatever the future may hold for them, I will be prepared for it.
Whatever might seek to harm them must go through me.
This, I swear on everything that I once was, and what I am now.