Incipience -2-

The maiden with black and green hair and Inoyva with black hair, both managed to make in time. Cai's attention was immediately caught by a large building, confidently displayed towards us from the giant gates of Irisdescent. The gates were no exception, with the sheer size of staggering height and thickness.

"It's here."

Inoyva, heavily breathing sought to rid off excess "weight" on his back, expressing this by passing glances at Cai. Quite evident, Cai was carried on 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 like them.

They gulped.

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

It was not a painstaking task at the start when their student ID cards which were handed before were taken for identification. Cai and Inoyva 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 image, 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 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 eighth Knight candidates!" With their arms behind our backs as a sign of tall stature, a boisterous voice rushed through.

This perhaps was the headmaster of the academy. And from the pursuit of a giant physique and steady presence, they were suddenly thrashed in the world of soon-to-be Knights in one 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 were hammer in the methods to not ending up as prey!"

Inoyva realized that he was with a notion to mentally break us down, molding us 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 birthplace?!"

The next second Inoyva could follow the headmaster with his eyes, he went towards the 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.

What the fuck? Isn't he taking it too far, now?

"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 birthplace?!"

"Amos…" He released his voice when having been pointed to. That person was evidently closer to me from Inoyva's right, amidst the green and black haired maiden was to the left.

"I can't hear you! Speak louder!"

Immediately that volatile voice crushed yet another lad. In terms of the loudness of the 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 birthplace, 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 over her, a thought surged in Inoyva's mind. HE had other intentions other than that of being turned into subject of ridicule.

"Pffft…"

Strangely enough, 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.

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.

"…Name and birthplace?" Regardless of the heaviness of the blow and what kind of impact it had, he had asked the same question as the norm.

At Inoyva's flailing self, who crawled to the ground after thinking that the embodiment of death had come over, Cai's gaze widened with utter surprise and shock.

***

"The next generation of Knights!" That message spread like wildfire across the masses. Billboards and other advertisements across the nation displayed awaited news of the various ceremonies. Commonly associated with already polished Knights that were officially listed, candidates garnered as much attention, perhaps even more. For fame, financial wealth or developing connections that could better one's life, the countless benefits a well-known Knight could attain varied, offered great rewards. Some did not share the same views as these, though. Having to fight in order for peace or retaliation at the Abyss, they too walked the same path but would diverge at some point to attain their own goals.

Despite a clash of ideologies, elite academies welcomed any able bodied individual with open arms.

Most candidates would charge forth with their dreams in focus. If they could be accepted into an extraordinary elite academy and draw the attention of Legions who would scout them at the end of the training period, would be their end goal. Everything was one the line.

***

Undisclosed information.

Summon: Refers to an entity called to a specific location from its original homeland in the vast habitats and environments. It can be summoned anywhere, regardless of the distance between the 2 parties.

A "contract" is formed binding both entities to each other, if the agreed upon terms are fulfilled by both parties.