The Military

[The Next Day]

Aray sat silently in the principal's office, his sharp gaze fixed on the woman sitting across from him. The woman was Daiva, someone he found incredibly annoying. However, after seeing her pitiful state the night before, he felt a little more lenient, even though he now had to deal with military matters and war.

"So... welcome aboard," Daiva said with an awkward smile. "Oh, and I haven't had the chance to apologize to you yet. You know, when I said I'd hurt your sister? I'm really sorry about that."

Aray rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. He knew Daiva wasn't truly remorseful. The apology sounded hollow, driven by fear rather than genuine regret. He treated her words like passing wind. "No need for small talk. What do you want from me?" he asked quickly, trying to cut the conversation short.

Trying to ease the awkwardness, Daiva quickly reached under her desk, pulling out a plastic-wrapped package and placing it on the rectangular table with classical ornaments symbolizing mythological gods.

Aray gave her a half-hearted glance. "What's this?" he asked, eyeing the package.

"That's your military uniform."

The dark green military uniform, complete with all its emblems, was now in Aray's hands. A symbol of his bond with the kingdom. It felt like a mark, as if he had become the "dog" of the state. The uniform didn't look bad, in fact, it was rather elegant, but Aray despised what it represented.

"After school, put on that uniform. We're heading to the royal palace. We need to report to King Avanindra," Daiva instructed.

Aray let out a deep sigh. His peaceful days were officially over. Not long after, he rose from his seat, turned toward the door, and began walking out, only to stop mid-step. He turned sharply, his gaze piercing through Daiva, catching her off guard.

"I heard you met my sister last night. What did you say to her?" Aray asked.

Daiva froze, lowering her head. The silence that filled the large room stretched on, until finally, she lifted her head and answered.

"I-I didn't say anything."

Aray could see from the corner of his eye that Daiva's face was flushed. He chuckled internally, imagining the awkwardness when Alicia saw her principal kneeling at the door of their house.

Without another word, Aray decided to leave. In the blink of an eye, his body vanished from the room, leaving Mrs. Daiva alone.

[After School]

When the final bell rang and students started leaving, Aray headed into the bathroom. He changed out of his school uniform into the military one Daiva had given him. Standing in front of the mirror, he assessed his appearance.

"Not bad," he muttered to himself. Though he disliked the uniform, he couldn't deny it gave him an elegant look.

After ensuring everything was neat, Aray quickly teleported to the school parking lot, right beside Daiva's car. He knocked on the window of the white car, startling Daiva, who was sitting inside. Aray could see the annoyance on her face.

"I've been waiting for quite a while. What have you been doing?" Daiva asked, visibly irritated.

"None of your business," Aray replied flatly, opening the door and swiftly dropping into the passenger seat.

Daiva sighed softly. "Fine, let's go. The others are already waiting for us."

The car slowly began to move, leaving the parking lot and merging onto the main road that cut through the capital city of the Neutral Kingdom. The scenery outside the car window was vibrant, with towering buildings that reflected a mix of classical and modern architectural styles.

Large white stone pillars adorned government buildings, standing tall and imposing, symbolizing the grandeur and magnificence of ancient times. Yet, below, the streets were filled with modern vehicles—mostly electric cars and automated public transportation.

Wide sidewalks were crowded with pedestrians, most of whom wore simple, neutral-colored clothing, reflecting the nation's tendency to maintain balance and peace. Amidst the grand buildings, small parks with lush trees provided places for people to rest. Birds flew low, and fountains in the corners of some parks added a sense of tranquility amid the hustle and bustle of the busy city.

However, despite the capital's elegant and well-organized atmosphere, the traffic was unavoidable. Cars crawled forward slowly, with little room to move faster. Daiva grumbled, clearly impatient with the worsening congestion.

"I didn't expect the traffic to be this bad," she said, annoyed.

Aray looked at the street outside, then glanced at Daiva. "Need help?" he offered.

"What kind of help are you talking about?"

Aray had known the location of the royal palace for a long time from the books he read in the library. If he took over the journey, they could arrive much faster. "This kinda help," Aray replied, snapping his fingers.

Snap!

In an instant, a large bubble enveloped the entire car. Within seconds, the car was sucked into an invisible space and then reappeared right in front of the palace gates.

"We're here," Aray said flatly.

It took a moment for Mrs. Daiva to process what had just happened. "Teleportation? I thought you could only do that to yourself," she said, surprised.

"Not really," Aray answered briefly.

"Alright then. Let's get out. The King is waiting," Daiva said as she opened the car door.

As they stepped out of the car, an old man in formal attire greeted them. "Ah, Mrs. Daiva! Quite an unusual way to arrive. Is this the boy you mentioned?" His voice was raspy, as though out of breath, yet his posture remained strong.

"Who's he?" Aray asked Daiva.

"His name is Wastu. He's a loyal servant of the kingdom. His family has served the royal family for hundreds of years," Daiva explained.

The man bowed respectfully. "A pleasure to meet you. I am honored to be introduced by Mrs. Daiva. Please, allow me to escort you to King Avanindra."

As they walked toward the royal hall, Aray noticed a young man approaching them. "Good afternoon, Miss Daiva, Aray! Long time no see," he greeted warmly.

Aray recognized the man. "Devdan?" he said quietly. He didn't expect to see this odd fellow here in the royal palace.

Devdan smiled, his confidence shining through as usual. "Yes, Aray. Nice to see you again, this time as an official member."

Aray simply nodded, not wanting to engage in more conversation. Though they knew each other from school, this encounter felt more formal and burdensome.

Daiva looked at Devdan. "Did you come with the others?" she asked, glancing toward the hall.

Devdan nodded. "Yes, everyone's inside. I just stepped out to make sure you arrived with the new recruit. And it seems my guess was right. You brought him," he said with a small smile.

"You're always good at guessing," Miss Daiva remarked.

Aray stayed silent, listening to their conversation with indifference. He didn't want to draw attention, but his presence as the youngest member of the royal guard had already become a topic of gossip. As they entered the hall, whispers began to rise from various corners.

"So he's the youngest recruit in the royal guard?"

"He's only 16, right?"

Aray felt a twinge of annoyance. This kind of attention wasn't something he desired, especially with his age seemingly already being public knowledge. He glanced at Devdan with suspicion, suspecting he might have spread the word.

"Hm... Seems like you're famous," Devdan whispered teasingly, as if reading Aray's thoughts.

Aray didn't respond, choosing to remain quiet. But as they approached the center of the hall, a large man suddenly emerged from the crowd. His muscular frame and intimidating face, marked by a burn scar slashing across his eye, drew everyone's attention.

"Major Badhra..." Miss Daiva greeted him neutrally, though there was a faint tension in the air.

"Yo, Daiva! Is this the trainee you said would be joining the royal guard?" Badhra asked in a deep, confident voice. His eyes scanned Aray from head to toe with a condescending look.

"Yes," Miss Daiva replied firmly.

Badhra laughed heartily. "Don't joke around! A kid like him joining the royal guard? Are you sure you didn't pick the wrong one, Daiva?"

"Absolutely."

Daiva's unwavering reply surprised Aray a little. Though she often irritated him, this time he could feel the conviction in her voice. It impressed him slightly, though he didn't show it.

But Badhra wasn't finished. "Look at him! Skinny, pale. Did your parents only feed you stale bread?" he sneered, poking Aray's head with his finger.

Despite the crude taunt, Aray couldn't bring himself to be angry. He just found the man stupid. His scarred face added to the negative impression of his personality. Maybe it's that ugly face that's annoying me, Aray thought.

Devdan leaned in and whispered to the headmistress, smirking. "Miss Daiva, is this guy strong?"

Miss Daiva gave a small smile. "I fought him once. My sword broke against his body—it's that tough. But... he's an idiot."

Aray stifled a laugh. Just from Badhra's manner of speaking, he already knew the man wasn't too bright. No need to fight to figure that out, Aray thought, smiling slightly.

Unaware of the subtle mockery, Badhra glared at Aray challengingly. "Hey, kid! You wanna fight me? This could be your entrance exam to the royal guard," he boasted arrogantly.

Aray looked at him coldly. This guy talks too much, he thought. But an idea popped into his head. Maybe this would be a good way to get rid of this fool quickly. "Alright. Let's see if you're stronger than a kid who only eats stale bread," Aray replied mockingly.

The crowd in the hall began to stir. Whispers grew louder.

"That kid's going to get crushed. He's up against a Major!"

"Poor guy, first day and he's already in this mess."

In the magical military hierarchy of the Neutral Kingdom, a Major holds a crucial mid-level leadership position. As a Major, they are responsible for commanding a battalion of skilled mages, overseeing tactical operations, and ensuring the smooth coordination of various magical units under their command.

However, unlike the worried murmurs from the crowd, Daiva and Devdan seemed to be holding back laughter. Their faces flushed, barely containing their amusement. They knew something the others didn't. Aray knew it too—Badhra was about to become the clown of this fight, not him.

"Hah! You've got guts!" Badhra sneered again. "But, you'll regret taking up my challenge."

Aray casually cleaned his ear, bored of hearing the man's endless bluster. "You talk too much. Why not just get on with it?" he said flatly, ready to end this quickly.

Badhra's face turned serious. "Alright then. I'll crush you fast!"

The fight began with Badhra activating his power, "Petrification!" His voice echoed through the royal hall, and his body started to change. His skin hardened, muscles swelled, and he began to radiate a stony, granite-like sheen.

The muscles in his arms bulged grotesquely, straining the seams of his blue military uniform, which was nearly tearing from the pressure of his expanding body.

Each of Badhra's steps thudded against the floor, sending tremors through the room. He charged toward Aray, his face contorted in rage. 

"Hyaaah!"

A powerful punch aimed directly at Aray's face sent a gust of wind surging forward even before the fist got close. Every muscle in Badhra's body tensed, channeling all his strength into one blow capable of smashing through stone.

But for Aray, Badhra's movements seemed like watching a child's slow-motion practice drill. With a bored, calm expression, Aray raised his hand, as if tired of dealing with the predictable attack.

"Reversal."

In the blink of an eye, Badhra's world flipped. Their positions switched in a flash of light, almost too quick to see. The punch that was meant for Aray's face now struck empty air, Badhra's fist connecting with nothing but space. His face flashed with surprise he couldn't hide. Off-balance from the force of his own strike, he nearly stumbled forward.

Aray, now standing behind him, moved swiftly before Badhra could comprehend what had happened. Gently placing a hand on the large man's back, Aray quietly muttered,

"Restructure."

The word flowed like an absolute command through Badhra's body. The flow of blood and energy within him suddenly shifted, as if rerouted by an unseen force. Key points of magic and strength were sealed, and Badhra's rock-hard body became like a prison for him. His once-mighty muscles, now stiffened, bound him in place. He couldn't move. In the eerie silence that followed, Badhra's colossal form collapsed to the ground with a loud thud, as if a massive stone had fallen from a great height.

The floor beneath Badhra cracked slightly under the impact, leaving the onlookers in stunned silence. They stared wide-eyed at the giant figure now immobilized on the floor, unable to believe the fight had ended so quickly.

Aray stepped forward, calmly approaching Badhra's fallen body. With a casual gesture, he touched his index finger to Badhra's forehead, staring at him with lazy eyes. 

"You... are really boring," he said dismissively.

His words echoed through the hall, accompanied by the confused and awestruck gazes of those watching. What they had expected to be a fierce, drawn-out battle had ended in mere seconds, with Aray emerging victorious without even breaking a sweat.

Badhra, once seen as an indomitable giant, was now nothing more than a motionless stone.

Badhra's face twisted in disbelief and anger, but his body refused to move. "H-h-how is this possible...?" he croaked out, struggling to speak.

The crowd in the hall erupted in cheers.

"Unbelievable! He won! Major Badhra looks like a clown now!" someone shouted.

Laughter began to fill the hall. Miss Daiva and Devdan joined in, laughing heartily, clearly satisfied with Badhra's humiliating defeat. Aray simply sighed, relieved the fight was over so quickly.

"But who is this kid, really? He's far too powerful for someone his age," one of the men in the crowd asked.

Hearing this, Daiva and Devdan couldn't help but share the same thought. They had always wondered how Aray possessed such immense strength. In every battle, he would reveal a new and different magic. That just doesn't make any sense. He's too mysterious, they both mused.

Suddenly, a deep voice boomed across the hall, full of authority and reverence, "His majesty, King Avanindra has arrived!"

In an instant, the atmosphere of laughter and murmurs vanished. The warmth and levity that had come with Badhra's defeat evaporated like a breeze. Everyone in the hall immediately stopped what they were doing, exchanging glances before quickly forming rows and kneeling. Silence engulfed the room, casting an air of weight and seriousness. Even the last chuckles and whispers disappeared like dust blown away by the wind.

Aray, who had been relaxed, now sensed something different. The pressure was real—the presence was powerful and dominating. Though it didn't faze Aray, he knew this wasn't the time to be playful. Lazily, he knelt, following the others' movements in the hall.

The king's footsteps echoed softly but with authority, striking the floor in a steady, deliberate rhythm. Each step seemed to beat out a cadence, creating a sense of inevitability, as though the king brought the very essence of the kingdom with him in his presence. His regal aura spread, sending a chill down the spines of those gathered.

King Avanindra emerged from behind the grand curtain, his body upright, his steps sure and filled with purpose. He appeared neither young nor old, ageless in a way that made him seem like time itself revolved around him.

"Badhra, stand up," the king's voice resonated, stern but not cruel.

Badhra, who had been humiliated in front of the entire hall, felt a jolt of urgency run through him. Trembling, he used whatever strength he had left to force his body upright, kneeling in front of the king. Though weak from the earlier fight, he did his best to hide the shame that still burned inside him.

Aray held back his curiosity. This is King Avanindra, the ruler of this kingdom. What kind of person wields such immense power? Although the king seemed calm on the surface, Aray couldn't ignore the feeling that beneath that commanding presence lay something much greater—and far more mysterious.