Cai’s attention was furtively caught by a large building confidently displayed towards all from the giant gates of Irisdescent. The gates were no exception, with the sheer size of a staggering height and thickness.

Inoyva, heavily breathing sought to rid off excess “weight” on his back, expressing this by passing glances at Cai. 

Quite evident, Cai was carried upon his back for majority of the way there. The gates to the elite academy were already opened for the commencement of the ceremony.

Entering onto the sacred ground, they located a massive crowd from varying individuals, who were rather young as them. 

They gulped as all those other individuals probably came with the same notion. The next generation of candidates aiming for “Knighthood” made their way into an assembly hall stretching out to unknown lengths. Hesitation had no place there, heading in headfirst.

***

With flamboyant regard to the red shade of uniform on us, it appeared as if we were high school students. That was misconception, as after we entered that exasperating large and breathtaking place, a murderous mood surrounded all around without any subtlety whatsoever. 

It was not a painstaking task at the start when our student ID cards which were handed before we were taken for identification. Cai and I were surrounded from each side with various candidates as ourselves heading in the same direction.

Inoyva gazed over his student ID, looking at the image of his face, “You look a tad bit nervous.”

The very second Inoyva was engrossed in such a gut-wrenching occurrence, Cai caught his attention with some words of concern. Did she pick up something? 

“I was at first but I’m actually not that nervous, now.” 

He removed any forms of perception that he would soil his pants.

“What about you? If it wasn’t clear from the get-go, we will be staying here for the lengthy duration of the training period.” 

His focus spanned towards the length of her face that seemed too sturdy. Well she didn’t look nervous to begin with. 

“Not exactly... But with anything new, shouldn’t you experience it first before making an assumption?” 

Her glimmering form was at somewhat pleasure towards the long and long path they transverse that very moment in time.

“Yeah, but what about if it’s death, though?” 

He put a finger at the chin when looking at the ceiling.

We were so enshrouded at the attention of talking to each other, that the murmurs in the background, the heavy atmosphere following walking in that place and the unyielding burden that would come that very second with smiles and smiling eyes.

***

…However, I didn’t image that it would be this hardcore.

Before we knew it, the various students, that being myself and 400-something other students were standing. Ordinarily for high school, the entrance ceremony would be a prompt event, while on the other hand for us who were with the intention of becoming the protectors’ of the great nation, were lined up.

A steady stream of sweat later…

“We shall now begin with the enlistment ceremony for the two hundred and eighteenth Knight candidates!” 

With our arms behind our backs as a sign of tall stature, a boisterous voice rushed through. This pompous person perhaps was the headmaster of the academy. And from the pursuit of a giant physique and steady presence, we were suddenly thrashed in the world of soon-to-be Knights in a single setting.

“I retain no slight intention to aid you in your conquest to be a Knight. Since as you are now, you are mere sheep who live for the sake of fattening those monsters! However with the iron-clad rule having been presented to you from our distinguished instructors, we will hammer in the methods to not ending up as prey!”

Inoyva realized that he was with a notion to mentally break them down, molding them into the desired figures that would make the world of Knights. 

However from since that day, when a slaughter was what my eyes caught, I changed. In order to kill them all, I changed.

As an inward declaration was made from Inoyva’s murderous expression and gaze, the headmaster ascended the stairway. Instead of the candidates heading towards what would become our homes for this short stay, the headmaster headed in their direction, an “eager” expression filled his face. 

“The boy with the jacked-up hairline, what is your name and hometown?!” 

The very next second Inoyva would follow the headmaster with his eyes, the pretentious man went towards a boy with the “jacked-up” hairline. He almost stomped his way towards that unfortunate lad.

“Quinn Pen, from the city of Grubsennahoj!”

“Pen? That’s your last name? If I smash you at the top of the head, will the tip of a pen come out?”

Further words embedded with ridicule pointed towards the unfortunate lad while he would sweat a bucket-load.

 “Ah, no, Sir!” 

Quinn “happily” shouted his answer.

After thoroughly crushing his morale and resolve, the headmaster ventured forth in the pursuit for more prey, “Sheep in the next row, what is your name and hometown?!”

“Amos…” 

He released his voice when having been pointed to. That person was evidently closer to me from my right, amidst the green and black haired maiden to the left.

“I can’t hear you! Speak louder!”

Immediately, that volatile voice crushed yet another lad. In terms of the loudness of his voice he released, he was at an optimal point. Well even so, the headmaster was as harsh of a person to not want to acknowledge that.

“Amos…”

Continuation was a given until he could reach what the headmaster found “loud.”

“What is your name and hometown, sheep?!”

A plentiful vibration in the air, Inoyva’s ears would seemingly burst if he was near.

And as simple as it was to choose whoever fancied his eyes, I could be a participant. 

From another person’s point of view: the proper hair, unblemished skin, lack of physique and smirk, it was by far a combination for a disaster! 

I think that there would be no other optimal points in doing it other now…

As another candidate lied bare, frolicking to not let his powerful voice rage over her, a thought surged in Inoyva’s mind. He had ulterior intentions other than that of being turned into subject of ridicule.

“Pffft…” 

Strangely yet, the faint traces of laughter left Inoyva’s lips. Rather meager in scale towards what a normal laugh would appear, the silence of those grounds made it quite noticeable. Of course, if what was perceived as boundless fear became an incarnate, most would think that it would be him.

“Hey, you...” 

The intrigued headmaster removed his attention from that person, looking to Inoyva by a calm tone. 

In that same instance, the widening eyes of his fellow school mates hounded Inoyva’s form. After all, he just had started laughing at a situation even grown adults would find hard to be immersed in.

“What are you doing?”’ 

Cai’s concern reached to the lad.

However that was too late of a reaction. 

“The headmaster approached me with those stomping feet,” that was the only thing I could recall before a massive blow landed on my stomach. As I would flail in the air at the wake of something I could perceive as a canon ball, pain surged throughout. 

“…Name and hometown?” 

Regardless of the potency of the blow and what kind of impact it had, he had asked the same question as if normalcy. At Inoyva’s flailing self, that crawled to the ground after thinking that the embodiment of death had come over, Cai’s gaze widened with utter surprise and shock