Jinta Crowe.

The nation of Whitfield, capital of Worse, is a wonderful era like all the previous ones; the nation of Whitfield continues to overflow with "happiness."

Of course, if we overlook the high poverty rates thanks to the thieving hierarchy, the exploiters of the nobility providing deplorable jobs, and the classism that unjustly isolates people for not being "whatever," Whitfield is your best option to live. What are you waiting for to come? ... haha, shitty country.

But yes, Whitfield is one of the greatest military powers in the world, something that motivated the other 4 nations to try to establish a peace treaty in the year 1000. Unfortunately, Whitfield did not feel motivated to be part of it until a few days later in the same year, a historic event occurred: The First Impact.

"Next in line!"

It seems my turn has come. Anyone recalls something while standing in a queue to pass the time. Reviewing a bit of the past makes the line feel a little shorter…

Being next, I calmly enter the store. At first glance, it's not one of the best bakeries, but they sell what I want. I approach the counter and see what I am going to order.

"Please give me 4 guava breads-"

"Hey! I need an urgent order. Give me all the guava breads you have."

"!!!"

It was a quite common surprise. A man had cut in line without waiting. I didn't realize it at the moment, I just stared at him in amazement.

"Is something wrong?"

Asked the man, as if he were challenging me and pretending not to know what he did. If it's an emergency, I have no problem, but at least be a little polite. On the other hand, I took a while to respond because I first focused on visualizing him a bit: dark eyes, at least the right one, as his left one was covered by his long purple hair. While the employee prepared the man's order, I also noticed the emblem on his uniform. Coming from that academy, I prefer to avoid problems.

"No, nothing's wrong. I just thought it's incredible to see a student from Archer Academy."

"Haha, I understand. It's normal to feel admiration."

"Of course!"

Actually, no.

"Haha, although I'm sorry, but we are in training, so I don't have to explain why I need it."

He apologizes with a mocking smile for taking my turn, but what surprises me is that the academy does training on a Saturday, apart from it being a large order that I don't think is just for him.

"No problem, there are more important things."

Like my hunger.

"My name is Evan, Evan Sinclair. Can you tell me your name? I think we are only a year apart…"

Oh! Really? I thought he looked older… I'm 16 years old, so he must be 17 or 18 years old.

"Sorry, but I don't have a name. Let's say my identity was stolen at birth for purposes of dubious honesty, but I'm 16 years old."

Evan looked concerned upon hearing my response.

"Wow… but, how can you know your age then?"

"The academy you attend is helping me. They found part of my data yesterday and today I will go to learn the rest and be able to enroll" -I answer with a smile-.

"Sir, your order."

The conversation is interrupted by the employee who hands him a large bag with his order, and at the same time, I quickly check if there were any guava breads left, but it seems there were none… Well, Evan ordered them all, but a seed of hope told me to look.

So, towards Evan, who already had the bag, I tap the ground with my left foot without drawing much attention and make a shadow grab his left leg, pulling it and making him lose his balance, falling along with what he was holding. At that moment, I quickly move into action, preventing his fall with one hand and holding his order with the other.

"Ah… but what…"

-Sigh- "A little more and it would have ended in tragedy…"

Evan regains his posture and I hand him his bag, but he looks at his left leg. Maybe he knows it wasn't an accident.

"You know, they say that after The First Impact, unnatural cases began to appear, so don't think too much about it."

"… You're right, thanks…"

"That's what we are here for."

"Well, it was a pleasure. I hope to see you soon at the academy."

"Yes, until then focus on not dying on a mission so that next time I can properly introduce myself."

"Yes, it will be."

Evan goes to pay while I head to the exit.

"Sir, aren't you going to order something?"

An employee asks me before leaving, but I…

"I already got what I wanted."

After leaving the store, I take out from under my jacket a… -unnecessary suspense-

Guava bread! Yes, I craved it so much for a single reason: I've never tried it, and since this life is full of surprises, I don't want to die without trying what I don't know. Oh sure, I stole it… but I'm not a bad thief, I mean, I left the money for it in the bag, so I don't feel so bad… Now that I'm walking with the bread in hand, I notice that I'm getting messy. Too bad I didn't take a bag, those were free.

"Eh?"

Not far, towards the academy, I saw a boy who seemed to recognize me, waving at me. Maybe I didn't see him well because of the light directly hitting my eyes until as I got closer, I recognized him.

"Oh, it's you."

I said until I finally got close to him.

"Why are you waiting for me?"

"Didn't you get the letter? Today we will have a final test to see if we can enter the academy."

"A test, huh… after I eat."

About to bite the bread, out of nowhere he pulls out a bag, stuffing the bread in and preventing me from eating it.

"Don't eat it now. The one who will conduct the test is Julian Archer and he is waiting for us."

"Julian?"

I was a little surprised, but anyway, I took the bag with my bread and put it back in my jacket. Now, determined, we head to the academy without distractions.

We arrived at the residence where the academy is located, yes, Archer Academy, the place where people with Sico abilities are trained to fight against the monsters of the pit.

Entering, we couldn't stop admiring the place inside. Despite having entered before, it's incredible how big it is: dormitories, shopping areas, and even vacation centers, it seems to have it all.

We entered the academy. It has 3 floors, but it is extremely wide and long, with everything you can imagine for studies: classrooms, warehouses, infirmary, etc.

"There doesn't seem to be almost anyone."

Says my companion halfway up to the second floor while looking out the window. I did the same and outside I could see some people, but they might be the ones preparing everything to receive the new students. Although it's not like this prestigious academy lets just anyone in…

Without more distractions, we reached the third floor. At the end was the director's office, but in it would be Julian Archer, so we knocked to receive a response.

"Yes, come in."

Hearing his approval from the other side, I open the door and we both enter at the same time, but out of nowhere a cutting wave approached us, about to cut our necks. We reacted at the last second, throwing ourselves back and falling on our backs looking at the ceiling.

We were stunned. We heard footsteps approaching us, but we still lay on the floor in shock.

"That was close."

Julian tells us, coming out of the office, not caring about the damage he caused to it, much less the damage he could have caused us. We both tried to get up while Julian stood outside the office.

"… Obviously… at least… you should say why you did that…"

I ask Julian, short of breath after getting to my feet. Maybe the most logical thing would be to complain about what he did, but knowing that he is none other than the prince of Whitfield, for now, I would prefer to avoid future problems.

"I was just testing you to see if you were fit for the mission."

"What? And if we hadn't dodged it?"

"It would have been a pity."

For whom?

At that moment, my companion finished getting up in a serious state, just like me. Julian, seeing that we were both standing, continues:

"Well, today three objectives will be carried out. The first will be the rescue of a person in sub-pit 3. Then we will discover your identity…"

Saying that, he looks at me.

"And lastly, they will help me kill Darkness."

"…"

"Wait, should it be like that? Darkness is on a different level. Do you know the madness you are proposing?"

Damn, I look at my companion worried, not about what he is saying, but to whom he says it, and Julian is already approaching him to answer:

"I want you to tell me how many enter this academy."

Julian asks him with a smile while I just limit myself to watching.

"Eh… 9%-"

The moment he gave his answer, Julian extended his hand around his neck, which enveloped in crystal needles that barely touched him.

"Second chance."

"!!!"

I think it's evident how it must feel to be in that situation. No choice, I will respond:

"Less than 5%."

"Correct."

Approving my answer, he steps back, dissolving the crystalline spikes from his hand, and continues:

"And those are just the ones who enter. How many do you think survive until graduation?"

…

"Don't be ignorant! Madness was having the intentions of entering an academy that less than 5% can enter. If you got this far, you know what's ahead of you."

"…"

"Besides, I mentioned that they would only help me. I'll be the one to finish him off."

Going against Darkness alone? Hahaha. He must be very confident. I expected something bigger. Oh… Julian is looking at me… Damn! Did he realize I was laughing!?

"Since you don't have a name, we'll call you Teo for now. What was your Sico?"

"Tracking." -sigh-

"Good, it will be of some use. And as for you…"

Lastly, he addresses my companion…

"My Sico is Shadow."

"And according to your documents, your name was…"

"…"

"My name is Jinta, Jinta Crowe."

"Good, Jinta, Teo, get ready. Let's go."