Meeting with the Academy Officials

"Hello little bro Alex"

"What do we have here?"

"Nice to meet you kid"

"…"

I was sat on ancient wood chair in a very clean and spacious room. In front of me, on the other side of a big rectangular table, four people were speaking to me. One was a blonde, tall and lean fella of about 25 years of age. I had already met him: his name was Roland Jacking, an ex-disciple of my uncle and a guy with an incredible talent, so young and already a teacher in Arama. He was wearing the official uniform of his academy, a black clingy robe with a white hawk embroidered on the chest.

On his left, a gorgeous blue haired girl was observing me with a piercing and inquiring look. She seemed intimidating, the typical woman I would never mess with. Her uniform was Derta's one, silver coloured with a red dragon that started from her left shoulder up to her right leg.

Then there was a beefy bold middle-aged man. He had a kind smile on his face and greeted me in a polite way; I had a good impression of him. His robe, this time, was green with a light blue deer whose horn branched out through the whole dress, Kartos of course.

As for the last one, he was a hunched and white-haired old man. If I have to describe him, I would use the word indifferent. He just seemed someone whose life was nearing the end and did not care anymore about what was happening around him. This elderly wasn't wearing any kind of uniform, He was clothed in a white shirt and an old pair of black pants. A Porto's academy member.

"Nice to meet you sirs."

"You already know me little brother, as for the others: the chick's name is Kaya Solax, the pig is Baldwin, just call him baldie, and… well, I don't know the name of the old geezer, nor do I care honestly speaking."

"Call me chick again and I'm gonna break all of your bones."

Menaced the girl displaying the light blue energy gathering on her right hand

"Kaya! Remember, this is the sanctuary you cannot use your powers here."

Shouted Kartos' envoy though while throwing an assassin a killer look at Jacking.

"Let's not waste any time. We already know who's his uncle his and that you're already planning to enrol him In Arama"

"Ahahahahah shouldn't we respect the procedure and watch the results of the ceremony before taking a decision baldie?"

*beep beep*

A noise came from their watches.

"Oh speak of the devil."

[So those are the famous mana powered watches. Maybe the will give me one in Porto.]

"Ahahha the apple falls far away from the tree sometimes right Roland??"

"..."

The gorgeous woman started mocking uncle's disciple.

"Enough"

The Kartos' member stopped them again

"Sorry young guy but it's probably better for you to focus on other things rather than fighting"

[…]

An embarrassing moment of silence followed. I tried looking at Jacking but he was keeping his head down in silence.

"Yeah… maybe.

*sigh*

The old man sighed and stepped forward passing me some sort of business card with a cog image as a background and his number written on it.

"Here's my number youngling I expect your call within three days"

I took and a turned around ready to go away.

"Wait!"

It was Baldwin

"I know what I've just said and I wouldn't suggest it seeing your status but I have to anyway."

[?]

"Every year the Kartos academy allows those that didn't manage to get our institution invitation to study there for a semester. After these six months they have to take a test which determines if these guys are good enough to be admitted or if they have to be transferred in Porto. So if yo-"

"It's okay sir, I appreciate it but I know that I have no hope with a rank F trait. Thank you anyway."

Then I left the room.

______________________________________________________

The effects of my trait restarted and the headache and the tiredness came back; I fell unconscious as soon as I got home and slept for over 10 hours straight, I did not even have the time to think about what happened during the day.

I woke up the next morning but it was quite early and the dawn had not yet arrived. I got out of the bed and began to wander around the mansion. I observed all those paintings hanging on the walls. They all represented the heroes of the past: some were fighting against monsters, some were guiding armies of humans against those of other races and some others ere dying on a battlefield. Uncle Elijah told me that those were our ancestors, all members of the Morrowitch family. I always felt honoured of being their descendant, even if in that moment the awarness that no picture of mine would ever be displayed near theirs hurt a bit.

"He's just a kid you cannot do that!!"

"Believe me it's better like this"

[Are these Ramona and uncle's voices?]

I heard some shouts coming from Elijah's study. I went closer to the door of that room to try to understand what was happening; unfortunately, I did not have time to arrive that the discussion was already over and the door was opening.

I turned around ready to go away, but I did not manage to since Ramon had already grabbed the collar of my pyjama before I could take a step.

"Hey half-dwarf were you eavesdropping our conversation?"

She asked while lifting me up so that she could watch me into my eyes.

"N-no big sis, I just arrived. I swear!"

"Really?"

"Y-yes! Rather why were you and the uncle arguing?"

Her face stiffened all of a sudden

"These… are not matters a little kid should worry about."

"But I'm no kid anymore big sis!! I've already gone through the ceremony!!"

She smiled

"Yeah yeah, first time seeing a half-dwarf going through the ceremony."

"You're not funny."

I pouted

"Ahahahhahaha."

As an answer she started laughing, I couldn't suppress it and I started laughing too.

"Let's go lil' pest the sun will be up in a few hours, I'll make breakfast."

"Okay let's go sis."

We enjoyed breakfast on the terrace on the second floor of the house. We talked, joked and continued laughing together, until dawn arrived.

"Whoa, what a beautiful view big sis"

"…"

"Big sis?"

*Thud*

"BIG SIS!!!"