The Announcement

*3 years later…*

After 3 years of being in the military with Luke we got promoted faster than normal soldiers since we did advanced training, we also had harder tests and exams too.

We were moved to the special forces where my father also looked after us. The ranks in the special forces are higher since the best of the best are in the special forces. The lowest rank is Sergeant and the highest rank General which is my dad who is guiding us.

In the special force we did missions such as killing higher ranked monsters since there are barely enough A+ ranks in the guild. We also had to patrol beyond the borders of Krentis, defending it from terrorists and bandits. Sometimes we had to camp in trees and gather rain to drink since we had no water.

Other times we were surrounded by monsters but somehow we survived. People who did not pass the tests of surviving would get kicked out of the team, others have died… this was like survival of the fittest. We were trained to be like assassins, being teached how to move around quickly but quietly and execute missions as fast as possible.

If normal people saw us they would think we are using some cheat but in reality we were using our sound affinity (deviant of wind) to cancel out our noises and then use the lightning affinity (deviant of fire) to quickly move around, these two make the perfect duo to do things silently and faster.

The requirement of signing up for the special forces was that we had to know how to use either wind and lightning, at least sergeant rank, and have to pass the exam in the beginning in order to join.

The people who can use sound magic support those who can use lightning, when mastering the sound affinity you can mute and unmute anything to your will. Since the people who use sound can't use lightning they have to be the supporters because they can't move fast enough when it comes to sneaking up to someone and executing the mission faster.

Both affinities have their own times when they are supporters but most times the people who are faster are the main people. And since I can use both I don't need a partner so I can finish missions faster than anyone else.

In these years I was promoted several times from sergeant with Luke by my side, it was quite the experience but I was thankful I experienced this. Being in the SF made me realize a lot of things I've never thought or tried before. They have techniques no one else knew about, it made me feel special.

Now in the 3rd year I was at the rank of Captain, which commands 3-5 platoons (equaling to 60 - 200 soldiers). Luke was first Lieutenant (commands 2-4 squads or 16-44 soldiers) which is 1 rank lower than me.

Anyways, we had to back down from the military for a few years since we had to go to school since I was only 11.

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"The test has ended! Everyone who is still alive take the dead bodies and carry them safely! After you put the dead bodies in the carriage lineup here and I will be promoting you!" My father announced, yelling at us to quickly do everything.

I hustled my team to quickly pack everything up and gather the dead bodies into the carriage.

As we finished cleaning everything up our team lined up at our team number. Me and Luke were in different teams but throughout these years I felt proud that we both could hold on in these harsh conditions.

I looked at my father who was standing on a boulder with his black combat that matched with us. The only thing that was different was his officer's service hat and his stars that were decorated on his shoulder. He had his hands crossed behind on his back and his legs spread a little bit apart.

He waited as we all got ready and nodded at the Lieutenant general who was the co-leader of this whole troop battalion (about 1,500 - 3,200 soldiers), his name was Elijah.

He started to promote the squad leaders first (I was one), and he got to me who was in squad 7, there were 10 squads in total and 10 soldiers in each squad.

"August Peirce. Rank: Captain, Squad score: 50/50; Perfect score as always, good job August. Promotion rank: Major." He said as he looked at his checklist that was with notes.

"Come forth." Elijah commanded. I stepped forwards just enough for him to reach me.

"Salute!" He ordered, I raised my right hand sharply, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing down, and placed the tip of the right forefinger on the rim of the visor, slightly to the right of the eye.

Elijah took out 2 golden oak leaf badges and put each one on either side of my shoulder replacing my metal garrison insignia that represented my captain rank, which looked like 2 silver bars connected with each other.

After Elijah finished, he nodded and I put my arm back down to my sides and stepped back to my original spot. As I got promoted to major Luke has been promoted to captain. I've never thought that I would get this far but look at me, I'm already a major at the age of 11 though I don't think I look 11 since people keep confusing me with me looks like I was in my teens.

After joining SF I haven't looked in the mirror much since there weren't any mirrors in the wild. I couldn't help but get excited that I will be finally attending school but my role as the major won't change; and my father warned me that if there was something urgent he will be calling both me and Luke to help in the military so there was no escape from reality at this point.

As everyone packed up, getting ready to go home I met with Luke to go home together.

"Congrats on becoming a Major, Aug." He said smiling, it was already sunset when we came out of the woods.

"I should congratulate you too, we've both worked hard. I was afraid that you were going to forfeit. Sigh" I couldn't help but be worried sometimes about this guy.

"It was the same for me hahaha, good thing we both survived… I never thought that people would die during our tests." He said a little bit sad.

"Me too, I feel awful too but this is just reality, when we are in war a lot of people will die- We can't look after and protect everyone; it's just impossible." I tried to comfort him, but I think it's more of advice than something he should be comforted about.

"You know that's more of an advice but I'll take it as if you're trying to comfort me." He said smiling at me as if he read my mind.

"Yea, yea. I know; I'm not good at comforting people… It's awkward for me." I said truthfully.

"Well I can teach you if you want." He grinned mischievously.

"Ah, cure you man." I said punching his shoulders.

"Hey! What was that, I just wanted to help." He pouted.

"Mhm."

During these few years Aria has been training too, I wonder if she has grown more now. She's 8 now so I think she has grown quite a bit. Ari is 8 in human age but she's actually 13 so she's technically older than me in dragon age.

We had to walk a few blocks since no one was allowed to come inside the training ground unless it's soldiers. When we trained we were in the woods behind the training ground which was reserved for only SF people.

I spotted our ride just a few feet ahead of us, but the carriage behind it was a little bit weird. It looked like a royal family's carriage with its decoration. I couldn't tell what symbol it was because it had already turned dark and even with my sharper sense I couldn't see it. I think that someone is using magic to cover up the carriage but they aren't doing a great job for sure. I guess that I will have to train more with Ari on my beast will in order for me to improve my senses even more.

We headed inside the carriage. I looked back and I saw that the carriage was following us. I told the driver that we're being followed so we made a few circles around the market.

"Are they still following us, Aug?" Luke asked, sweating a bit.

As I looked behind us I saw that the carriage behind us disappeared long ago.

"Phew, we can go home now." I sighed in relief.

We finally headed home and it was already past twilight and I bet my family is eager for us to go back.

As I was about to open the door someone opened it before me.

"Where have you been? I thought you would be coming before dusk." Eliza said, crossing her arms. Eliza was now 7yrs old.

"I, uh, we were followed for some time so we had to circle around the market for sometime." I explained.

"Fine, I will believe you this time." Eliza said as she dragged my arm inside.

"Welcome back honey, please eat dinner you must have been hungry." My mom said as she squeezed me tight in her embrace.

"Uh, mom… I can't breathe." I said, my voice muffled from her squeezing me.

"Ah sorry." My mom laughed.

"You should fix your hair tomorrow August, you too Luke." My mom said as she released me.

"Yes, I know, Both of us will be going to buy some clothes and fix my hair at the barber with Luke." I responded as I sat down on the dining table.

After I finished eating, I washed up and went to bed.

"Time sure does pass fast, we'll be going to school next year huh." I said, staring up at the dark ceiling.

"Yep, I'm excited though. Won't we be training with the director this year? I'm pretty excited even though we just came back from SF." Luke said happily.

"Yea, I heard that the Elf princess and Prince is training with the director too." I remembered that Alan and Kayla said that we will be going to the same school. I can't wait to see them again…

"Well if they do come then there will be 2 princes and princesses." Luke said with a sigh.

"We'll see about that." I said as I turned away.

----

'Wake up papa!' Ari yelled inside my head.

"Ugh." I sat up and leaned against my bed frame. I looked around and saw that Luke wasn't there so that means he already woke up.

Ari jumped on my lap and nuzzled against my chest.

"You've gotten bigger than before, did you learn anything new?" I asked her.

'Yep! I've gotten stronger and I evolved into my second stage of my dragon form.' She said excitedly.

"Wow, that's amazing!" I was surprised that she has already gotten to her 2nd stage of her dragon form only in 3 years.

Dragons have 5 stages of form, each time the dragon evolves the chances of you evolving to its next form is pretty slim since it gets hard and tougher each time. Dragon's take in mana and another kind of energy called Etheric. It isn't common for people these days to use etheric energy but dragons still use it to help them fight and evolve.

Etheric energy was said to be used by the ancient people who lived in the ruins and tombs that are now deserted. The ancient people had died so long ago that we barely have any records of them anymore.

----

"Alright, I'm all good let's go out, Luke." I said as I opened the door.

We stepped into the carriage and went to the barber first since that's the main goal I wanted to accomplish during our trip out.

We both stepped into the barber that I went to when I first arrived in Krentis. I felt like I've grown used to this barber shop over the years.

"Ah, August! You've brought a friend I see." The barber said as soon as I the doorbell went *ring*

"Yep, I wanted to cut my hair to just above my ears. I also like my hair to be like a slicked back curtain parted hairstyle." I said as I sat down on the chair. (ps, all these hairstyles I'm naming are real, just search it up. I know that some of these names are weird lmao).

"Alright then, what about you." The barber said pointing to Luke with his hair comb.

"I just want a wavy 4/6 parted hairstyle. Oh, by the way my name is Luke, I think I'll be coming here from time to time." He said as he sat besides me.

"Okay then, my co-worker will do your hair for you Luke." The barber said as he stood behind me and started to part my hair.

After an hour we finally got our hair cut. We looked all freshened up and ready to go, though I wanted to buy some new clothes because I haven't been home since 3 years ago and I've grown quite a bit so the clothes don't fit me anymore.

"Let's go buy some new clothes, the clothes at home don't fit me anymore." I said as I turned towards Luke.

"Aight, let's go. I'm guessing you brought money with you?" He said as he stepped outside of the barber shop.

"Of course, why would I buy clothes without bringing money? Did you bring money though?" I asked, eyeing him.

"I never go anywhere without money." He said it proudly like it was something to be super proud of.

"Then let's get buying." I said as I started speed walking to different clothing stores.

"Wow, I never thought that I would be buying a whole closet full of clothes in my entire life. I feel like a girl." I said as I lifted my bags.

"I bet you'd be awesome even if you were a girl, sigh." He shook his head in disbelief of his own thoughts.

As we kept walking around in the town square an announcement was made near the castle, on a stage.

"Everyone! King Johann and Queen Clara would like to make an important announcement!" The speaker's voice boomed across the square.

"Woah, an important announcement?! The King and Queen barely talk publicly, this must concern the whole country." He whispered besides me.

"It must be about the other countries, did you remember that I told you about the Elve prince and princess that was going to study?" I whispered back to Luke.

"Oh, yeah. Then they must be announcing that." He whispered back to me.

"Shush, let's listen."

"Thank you for gathering here! We have important news to tell you all! From this day one, Elves, Dwarves, and Humans both alike will be joining as one. I know that this must be shocking but we formed a treaty last night. We want everyone to be happy and for that to happen we have to come together and be one! Once we accept each other, only then we will be living in peace. I hope that everyone will be thinking about this carefully, this treaty declares that that we will not harm each other, we will join together as one, and lastly, if anything happens to either side of the country we will help each other no matter what! Betraying will lead to drastic punishment!" The King finished off with a stern warning that made it clear that he was not joking.

Everyone in the crowd gasped in surprise, some started to whisper about how sudden this was. Some were happy and agreed to this while others said how awful and disgraceful this was.

"Now, now, we are delighted to bring the Kings and Queen of the Dwarven and Elven Kingdom!" Queen Clara said as she gestured to the Kings and Queens walking up on stage and sitting on their thrones next to King Johann and Queen Clara.

My eyes followed both Adon and Catherine who sat gracefully on their thrones. I looked as if Catherine was staring straight at me, it gave me the shivers.

"Last but not least, I would like to introduce you to our Swords, the most trusted knight of our kingdom, there are 2 knights from each kingdom. Please come forth Theodore Symonet and Ezra Balin, representatives of The Dwarven Kingdom. Colton Rankin and Revee Tybout from the Elven Kingdom. And last but not least Jaxon Jscomus and Sophia Heart from the Human Kingdom!" King Johann finished off.

Each of them stepped forwards and had a medal placed just a bit above their left top breast pocket of their uniforms.

They all wore Navy blue military uniforms, brown leather boots and a golden cord from the back of their right shoulder to their right breast pocket. Their medals shone from from the screen that reflected the images of all the people standing on the stage.

It must have taken a long time to make an artifact that can produce images onto a screen and a mic that works too.

I've never thought that someone would make this so early but who knew.

As the swords walked off of the stage the king announced that the kids from all the kingdoms will be finally attending the same school, he also added a new rule where there would be no racism shown in this country.

Overall I expected them to announce this sometime so I wasn't as surprised as other people but I'm excited.

"Let's head back home, I want to hang these clothes up." I said, turning towards Luke. He nodded and we headed back.

Tomorrow we will be training under the Director of Myths Academy…