The warmth of the sun filtered through the leaves, casting golden patches over my face. Lying there, I could smell the grass and hear the whisper of the wind — but my mind refused to rest. A flashback took over my thoughts.
The village... was burning. Screams pierced the air, and the heavy sound of footsteps and hooves echoed among the wooden houses. The children and women had already been led to safety by the elders. My family and I were fleeing, but when I looked back, something froze my blood.
An enormous orc, with moss-green skin and deep scars, appeared before us — the chief of the horde. My father stayed behind, sword in hand, eyes resolute. The fight that followed was brutal; every strike he made seemed like a battle against fate itself.
But in the end, he fell. His life slipped away before my eyes as I stood frozen, my heart tightening with helplessness.
The orc turned to attack my mother and me. I felt the cold breath of death approaching.
Then, like lightning cutting through the storm, a sword gleamed in the air — it was Kyouya. With precise and cold movements, he defeated the monster effortlessly, making me feel even weaker.
He was the same age as me, yet he had protected us all.
— "Tatsuki! Tatsuki!" —
Kyouya's firm, impatient voice broke the silence of my daydream.
I opened my eyes, the bright red of my hair catching the sunlight.
— "Can't even sleep now, huh?" — I grumbled.
I looked at him. His face, always so cold, bore that usual expression of calm superiority: piercing gray-blue eyes that seemed to see right through my soul, black hair slicked back perfectly, and a relaxed, almost disdainful posture that still commanded respect.
— "You can sleep all you want, but if you stay there, we'll be late for the Sekiryuu Military Academy entrance exam," — he said.
The name of the academy echoed in my mind. Sekiryuu... a legendary place carved into the slopes of Mount Densetsu, surrounded by steep cliffs and dense forests where only the bravest dared tread. It was a school for the strongest swordsmen in the kingdom, where only the best of the best trained.
— "You're right. I'll just say goodbye to my mother and then we'll go." —
— "Want me to come with you?" —
— "No, thanks." —
Walking along the dusty path toward my home, the village bore the scars of harsh years — simple wooden and stone houses, some with patched roofs, children running in worn clothes, and faces marked by constant struggle against hunger and fear.
When I arrived, I saw my mother still bedridden, pale and weak.
— "Oh, son... Did you come to say goodbye?" —
— "Yes, mother." —
— "Kyouya didn't come with you?" —
— "No." —
She smiled warmly despite her weakness.
— "I hope your friendship stays as close as nails and flesh." —
— "Me too." —
— "You'll be fine, I'm sure." —
— "I swear I'll save enough money to pay for the best doctor." —
— "Oh, Tatsuki..." —
She ran her hand through my bright red hair, still vibrant even in the dim room.
— "Your father would be proud." —
— "I know, Mother. I want to make him even prouder." —
— "For that, you just need to be yourself." —
We talked a little more before I left.
— "See you later, Mother." —
— "See you later, my son." —
Kyouya was waiting patiently.
— "What do you think the exam will be like?" —
— "I don't know exactly, but our master said it's the hardest year. They only want the best because resources are scarce due to the war." —
— "I'm sure our prodigy friend will have no trouble." —
— "I'm not afraid of failing... just afraid you might." —
— "Thanks for the confidence." —
— "It's not about strength — I know you have that — but your personality..." —
— "What do you mean?" —
— "I think your urge to protect the weak might get you in trouble." —
— "It's the duty of the strong to defend the weak." —
— "In war, not always." —
When we arrived, a crowd of young recruits stood lined up, nervous and anxious.
Suddenly, a strong, commanding voice cut through the murmurs.
— "Recruits! Congratulations on making it this far, but maybe you'd have been better off staying home." —
A heavy silence followed.
— "I was joking... For those who don't know, I'm Mercenary Kaede." —
My heart skipped a beat. Quietly, I whispered to Kyouya:
— "No way... it's Mercenary Kaede! She's even more impressive in person." —
Kaede was tall, her presence dominating the space. Her dark red hair flowed in waves over the light armor she wore, and her brown eyes shone with a mix of challenge and confidence few could match.
Kyouya whispered nervously:
— "Keep your voice down..." —
She heard and stopped her speech, staring at us.
— "Hey, you two! The one with red hair and the one beside him — what are you talking about?" —
Kyouya tried to apologize but was cut off by me.
— "Sorry, Instructor Kaede. I just couldn't resist seeing the famous mercenary as an instructor. Now I'm even more determined to pass the exam!" —
We all expected a scolding, but instead, she laughed heartily.
— "HAHAHA! I like you! If you pass, you'll be under my command." —
Everyone was stunned.
She continued.
— "Alright then, here's the test: you must climb Mount Densetsu on foot, with only your clothes and swords." —
A roar erupted.
— "What? Climb a mountain? Are you crazy? There are monsters up there, and it's the highest peak in the kingdom!" —
Kaede commanded firmly.
— "Quiet! If you don't want to try, go home. We're at war — you never know what to expect, and you're whining about climbing a mountain?" —
Silence fell.
— "If you want to pass, step through the gate." —
The gate, enormous, seemed to guard the entrance to another world, and no one dared take the first step.
I took a deep breath.
— "I swore I'd never wait for someone else to take the first step for me. So here we go." —
Kyouya smiled and said:
— "Wait for me." —
Kaede grinned approvingly.
— "That's the kind of people this academy needs." —
One by one, the recruits began to enter.