I woke to the sound of frantic activity in the kitchen.
Mina was already up and working, ingredients spread across every available surface as she prepared what looked like enough rice balls to feed half the village. The precious blue cliff honey sat open beside her, its golden color catching the morning sunlight.
"What are you doing?" I asked, rubbing sleep from my eyes.
"Making celebration rice balls!" she announced without looking up from her mixing bowl. "You got into the Academy! That's the biggest thing that's ever happened to our family, so we're going to celebrate properly."
"Mina, you don't have to—"
"Yes, I do." Her voice carried a determination that reminded me she was more mature than her seven years suggested. "Mama would have made something special if she were here. Since she's not, I'm doing it for her."
The mention of our mother hit harder than expected. Mina barely remembered her, but she clung to every story I'd told about the woman who'd died when she was barely walking.
"She would have been proud," I said quietly.
"She would have made the best celebration feast ever." Mina's hands never paused in their work. "I'm not as good a cook as she was, but I can make rice balls that'll make you happy."
I watched her work for a few minutes, marveling at her focus and precision. The honey was mixed in perfect proportions, the rice shaped with careful attention to detail. These weren't just food—they were an offering of love.
"Can I help?"
"You can watch and make sure I don't mess up." She grinned at me. "This is my job today."
By mid-morning, she'd produced two dozen perfect rice balls, each one wrapped carefully in cloth and arranged in a wooden basket like precious gifts.
"These are for Elder Sato and Yuki," she explained, dividing them into smaller portions. "They've been so nice to us, and they'll want to hear about your Academy selection."
"You want to go to the library today?"
"Of course! This is huge news, Kaito. We have to share it with people who care about us." She paused in her wrapping. "Plus, Yuki might have books about the Academy. Don't you want to know what you're getting into?"
She had a point. A week from now, I'd be leaving everything familiar behind for a world I barely understood. Learning more about what awaited me seemed like a good idea.
The walk to the library felt different today. People nodded and smiled as we passed, some calling out congratulations. Word of the Academy selections had spread through the village overnight, and apparently my dramatic technique display had made quite an impression.
"Kaito! Mina!" Elder Sato's face lit up as we approached the library entrance. "I was hoping you'd come by today. Yuki's been beside herself with excitement since she heard the news."
"We brought celebration rice balls," Mina announced, holding up her basket proudly.
"How thoughtful! Come in, come in. Yuki's in the back room organizing some special materials she wanted to show you."
We found Yuki surrounded by stacks of books and scrolls, her usual enthusiasm amplified to an almost manic level. The moment she saw us, she dropped what she was doing and rushed over.
"Kaito! I can't believe it! Academy selection on your first real trial!" She grabbed my hands and spun me around like we were dancing. "This is incredible! Do you know how rare it is for village candidates to be selected, especially for advanced programs?"
"Advanced programs?" I asked.
"Oh yes, word gets around quickly in administrative circles. My cousin works in the Regional Assembly, and she heard the Academy investigators were particularly interested in your case." Yuki's eyes sparkled with excitement. "They don't send investigators for ordinary selections."
That was both reassuring and terrifying.
"But that's not even the most important part," she continued, pulling me toward her carefully arranged display. "Academy graduation is just the beginning, Kaito. The real goal is guild recruitment!"
Elder Sato chuckled as he accepted Mina's rice balls. "Here we go. Once Yuki starts talking about guild politics, there's no stopping her."
"Guild recruitment?" I asked.
"The whole point of Academy training!" Yuki opened a tome filled with colorful emblems. "Academy graduates get recruited by regional guilds—elite organizations that handle the dangerous work. Each region has their own system."
She pointed to a map showing the different regions with various numbers of symbols scattered across them.
"Shinrin Region has six major guilds: Crimson Fang, Silver Moon, Iron Crown, Storm Hawks, Azure Blade, and Broken Chain. Each one has their own focus and recruitment standards."
"What about other regions?"
"Every region is different." Yuki's finger traced across the map. "Kasai Region only has four major guilds, but they're incredibly powerful—desert warfare specialists who control vast territories. Quality over quantity."
"Mizu Region has eight guilds," she continued, pointing to the island territories. "They need more because of all the trade routes and maritime challenges. Each guild handles different aspects of ocean defense and commerce protection."
"And the mountain regions?"
"Tsuchi Region has five guilds, mostly focused on defensive operations and border security. The mountain passes require specialized knowledge." She moved to another section. "Kaze Region is interesting—they have seven guilds, but they're all mobile. Nomadic organizations that move with the tribes."
"What about Kage Region?"
Yuki's expression grew uncertain. "That's... harder to say. They don't share information about their internal structure. Some reports suggest they have guilds, others say they operate completely differently."
"It's also worth noting," Elder Sato added, "that not all Academy graduates join regional guilds. Some go to work for the major trading companies, others become independent contractors or regional administrators."
"And there's the Academy rivalry to consider," Yuki said, flipping to another section. "Not everyone goes to Shinkai Academy like you will."
"Academy rivalry?"
"There are two major Academy systems," she explained, showing illustrations of very different architectural styles. "Shinkai Academy, where you're headed, and Kouen Academy—sometimes called the Red Academy."
"What's the difference?"
"Philosophy, mostly. Shinkai Academy focuses on discipline, teamwork, and service to regional stability. Their graduates tend to join established guilds and work within existing systems." Yuki pointed to images of students in white uniforms practicing coordinated techniques.
"Kouen Academy emphasizes individual strength, innovation, and personal achievement. Their graduates often become independent operators, clan leaders, or start their own organizations." The Red Academy students were shown in varied red uniforms, each displaying unique fighting styles.
"Which regions prefer which Academy?"
"Shinrin and Mizu Regions traditionally send most candidates to Shinkai Academy. Our cultural values align with their cooperative approach." Yuki traced different colored areas on the map. "Kasai Region has strong ties to Kouen Academy—the desert clans appreciate their focus on individual strength."
"Tsuchi Region is split between both systems, depending on which mountain kingdom you're from. Kaze Region sends candidates to both Academies, often playing them against each other for political advantage."
"And Kage Region?"
"They rarely send candidates to either Academy. They prefer to handle their own training internally."
"The choice of Academy affects which regional guilds will recruit you," Elder Sato explained. "Some guilds prefer Shinkai graduates, others favor Kouen training. It's all interconnected."
"But all of this—the guilds, the Academies, the regional coordination—it's all managed by authorities far beyond our understanding," Yuki said, her voice taking on the tone of someone discussing distant legends. "There are supposed to be powers that coordinate everything, but that's not for people like us to know about."
"What do you mean?"
"The guild leaders report to regional authorities, who answer to... someone. Somewhere." Elder Sato gestured vaguely upward. "But those kinds of powers are as distant from village life as the stars are from the earth."
"Some say there are central coordination bodies that handle world-spanning threats," Yuki added. "Others claim there's a single authority that oversees everything. But those are just stories to us. The real truth is probably beyond anything we could understand."
"The important thing for you," Elder Sato said gently, "is focusing on Academy training. Guild recruitment, regional politics, higher authorities—all of that will make sense when you need it to."
"Just remember that your Academy performance determines your options," Yuki added. "The better you do, the more choices you'll have for guild recruitment."
As we prepared to leave, my head was spinning with new information. Two competing Academy systems, different guild structures in each region, mysterious coordination from powers too distant to comprehend, and my training results would determine everything.
"Thank you for the rice balls," Elder Sato said as we reached the door. "And Kaito? Don't let the complexity overwhelm you. Focus on becoming strong enough to help people. The rest will sort itself out."
"What if I make the wrong choices?"
"You won't," Mina said with complete confidence. "You always know how to do the right thing."
As we walked home through the familiar village streets, I tried to process everything I'd learned. The world beyond our village was vast and complicated, with systems within systems and rivalries spanning continents.
"It sounds really complicated," Mina said, apparently thinking along similar lines.
"Yeah. But I guess I'll figure it out one step at a time."
"You will," she said simply. "And no matter which guild wants you, they'll be lucky to get you."
She was right, as usual. Whatever happened with Academy training and guild recruitment, my goal remained the same—become strong enough to protect the people I cared about.
One week. In one week, I'd begin the journey that would eventually lead me into this vast, complex world.
I just hoped I was ready for whatever that journey would demand.