The Black Thorns' Call

The special elite force, most popularly known as the "Black Thorns", was established after the destruction of my village. The damage was so severe, it was irreparable. All the survivors were forced to relocate and a lot of children were orphaned. It was the first time that a monster so huge had emerged from a portal, not to mention its thousands of minions. The news spread throughout the country like wildfire, and the people started blaming the military for their late arrival in such an emergency. Protests and riots broke out. The government was on the verge of collapsing. They thought they needed to win back the citizen's trust. That's how the Black Thorns was created. The assigned commander was one of the elite soldiers who have won many battles for the country. His name you'd see everywhere. After the force was established, the protests died out. People began feeling safe again. The force also lived up to its purpose. Their soldiers, even the trainees, were able to exterminate the high-level monsters that kept coming out since that fateful day. More portals opened and more vicious monsters appeared. More people had tried joining the force but only the best were accepted.

It was the day of the entrance exam. That guy tagged along. I really thought he was kidding when he said he wanted to join the military too. He had grown, no doubt, but he always act first before thinking things through. His brain's probably just pure muscle. The government had funded the military well. The academy seemed bigger than my old village. The buildings were five times bigger than the orphanage. The exam consisted of three parts. The first part set to be a written exam, something I was quite confident of since I love to read. The second part a physical exam. I was not worried about it since I did workouts every day. Once you pass the first two, you'd be able to take the last part: the survival test. That, I was a little nervous about. We found our designated rooms and took the written exam. It was easy, as I expected. I've read all about them in the books I was able to buy with the little allowance I saved up. It was a piece of cake. Then, we went to the gym for the physical exam. They were basic tests like sprints, weightlifting, pushups, and other tests of courage to face your fears like heights or tight spaces. I found it fun. After the physical exam, we were told to wait for three days before we find out whether we passed the first two.

We got back to the orphanage an hour passed lunch. The old ladies were older than ever. But they still had the same warmth they've had all those years. Mike and I never got adopted. Growing up, we've watched most of the other kids as they were picked up by their new families. I guess nobody wanted a daughter who barely talks or a son who talks so much. Neither of us wanted to leave anyway. The orphanage became more than a refuge, it was our home. We both wanted to stay. When we got old enough to do basic work in the city, we were able to help with the finances, though very minimal. I also usually helped teach the kids how to read while Mike was in charge of them during playtime. I'd miss them when I enter the academy, but I had to learn more and get stronger. That way I'd be able to protect them. Never again will I lose the people I care about. Never.