Results
I woke up in what seemed to be a hospital room. Zenith has its own medical facilities due to the high likelihood of injuries occurring during training. With the emergence of Regalia, the training of these powers has subsequently increased the risk of injury during military exercises drastically.
As I lay in the hospital bed, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling my nostrils, I stared blankly at the ceiling, my mind replaying the events of the day. The white, fluorescent lights above seemed harsh, almost mocking in their brightness. I murmured to myself, "I lost. I couldn't do anything." The reality of my situation weighed heavily on my chest.
The nice officer's words echoed in my mind, "I understand you caught him by surprise, but no Tier 5 should ever be capable of that." His statement about me stopping a Tier 2 user felt surreal now. I finally understood the gravity of his words. He was right. Even the bridge between Tier 3 and Tier 2 was massive, let alone the gap between a Tier 5 and a Tier 2.
I clenched my fists, feeling the rough texture of the hospital blanket under my fingers. My heart ached with a mix of frustration and despair. The tears began to well up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I could feel the hot trails streaming down my cheeks.
The room was silent except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor beside me. I could hear the distant sounds of hospital staff going about their duties, the murmur of conversations, and the occasional clatter of medical equipment. Yet, in my small, isolated space, it felt like the world had shrunk to just my thoughts and my failures.
Tears continued to stream down my face, unchecked. Each drop seemed to carry with it a fragment of my broken dreams, my hopes of becoming a powerful Regalia user, and the stark reality of my limitations. Then, the instructor who had been overseeing the exams walked into my room. She had a commanding presence, her stern features accentuated by her high ponytail of blonde hair. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through my defeated self, and the air around her hummed with authority. She wore the academy's uniform with the insignia of a Tier 1 Regalia user on her lapel. Her name was Ms. Hawthorne.
"I understand your feelings, but you should be quite proud of your last fight," she told me after noticing me crying, her voice firm but not unkind.
"Why should I be proud? I lost." I retorted, trying to keep a calm and respectful tone, but my resentment and anger seeped through.
"Well, I can't be too specific right now, but you displayed an impressive use of energy and Regalia at the end. And most importantly, you landed a hit on Yukiko, something no one else was capable of."
I could tell she was trying to comfort me, but all I felt was the sting of failure. "I guess," I said, practically wanting to end the conversation. My bitterness got the best of me, and I commented, "She used too much power at the end. Shouldn't Yukiko be disqualified?"
"Injuries are expected in these exams. We only make a note to deter the use of fatal attacks. But what Yukiko did is fine. Especially since you are completely unscathed. You only have small cuts and bruises—that's in part what I meant by your impressive use of energy. I can't give more information about it, though, so don't ask."
"I understand," I said, clenching my teeth in frustration. "Ms. Hawthorne, can a Tier 3 like me ever hope to make it into Zenith?" I was reaching for any ray of hope I could grasp, sinking deeper and deeper into the despair of my crushed dreams. I just wanted someone to give me hope.
"Truth be told, Mr. Kiyotaka, a Tier 3 like you is capable of making it to Tier 2, and if they're lucky, they can become a Tier 1 through sheer effort. I started as a Tier 2 myself and worked my way up to a Tier 1. There are special cases like Yukiko who start off as a Tier 1; many stay as a 1, but for her, I can sense she will become an elite tier Regalia user. Her Regalia is incredibly powerful, and her mindset is in the right place. But to answer your question, I think you have a good shot. Even if you don't get accepted now, you just have to keep working hard. Who knows, you may be one of the lucky Tier 3s to make it to Tier 1." She said with a small, encouraging smile.
Her words resonated within me. She said exactly what I needed to hear. With enough effort, I could make it to Zenith. "Thank you," I said with a small smile.
"No need, just being honest," she replied. "Well, I can see you are doing well. You've been out for about 40 minutes. The entrance exam ended a while ago, and everyone's headed home. The doctors will come soon to check that you don't have a concussion. After that, you are free to go home. Best of luck; I hope you are one of the few selected to be here. I see potential in you," she said before finally leaving.
After some time, a doctor finally came in. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes behind his glasses. He checked me for concussion symptoms, shining a light in my eyes, asking me to follow his finger with my gaze, and inquiring about any dizziness or nausea. He also asked a few questions to assess my memory and cognitive functions, ensuring there were no signs of a concussion. Once he was satisfied with my responses, he gave me the all-clear and dismissed me.
Since I did not drive, I walked home, completely exhausted. The streets were quiet, and the cool evening air felt refreshing against my skin. On the way, I stopped by a fast food place and bought some burgers and fries for me and Aiko. I was too tired to cook.
By the time I reached home, the little bit of motivation I had received from Ms. Hawthorne's words had faded, and I was once again feeling depressed. Aiko saw me in that state and asked what had happened. I explained to her my defeat, and she tried her hardest to cheer me up, but to no avail. Her kind words and reassurances couldn't lift my spirits.
I ended my day once again browsing Zenith's social media, looking at posts and pictures of successful applicants. Deep down, I knew that at least for this exam, I was not going to be selected. I had lost all of my matches without getting a chance to showcase any real skills. The weight of my failures hung heavily over me as I drifted off to a restless sleep.
•
After a week, I received an email from Zenith. The days had passed slowly, each one giving me time to reflect on my defeats and accept my failures. I had resolved to keep working hard and maybe apply next time, but despite this, I felt an immense feeling of anxiety as I stared at my inbox. I already knew the results, so why was I anxious to open the email?
My finger hovered over the mouse, and I took a deep breath before clicking to open the message. As I read the words on the screen, the world around me seemed to flip. "How?" "Why?" was all I could mutter as I read the unexpected news.
"Congratulations, Natsuya Kiyotaka. It is our honor to accept you into Zenith Academy of Regalia Training."
My heart pounded in my chest, disbelief and joy mixing into a whirlwind of emotions. I re-read the email multiple times, making sure my eyes weren't deceiving me.
How could this be? I thought back to my performance during the entrance exams, the losses, the sense of helplessness. Yet, here it was in black and white: I had been accepted.
The email continued with details about the next steps: orientation dates, required materials, and the training regimen. Each line was a reminder that this was real, that I had a chance to prove myself despite my shortcomings.
I stood up from my desk, the reality of the situation starting to sink in. I rushed to find Aiko, who was in her room. Bursting through the door, I held up my phone, barely able to contain my excitement.
"Aiko, look! I got in!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with a mix of excitement and disbelief.
Aiko looked up, her eyes widening as she took in the news. "No way! Let me see!" She grabbed my phone and read the email, a smile spreading across her face. "Natsuya, this is amazing! I knew you could do it!"
Her words and her smile made the moment even more special. We hugged, sharing a rare moment of unrestrained joy. For a moment, all the doubts and fears I had were pushed aside.
I did it. I was now a part of one of the greatest Regalia training institutions.