"As the young Ling Pan pointed out," the instructor began to speak, "few achieve success at the Academy, and many become mere steps for their companions. But above all, my young ones, discipline is what will secure your futures. Without discipline, order will be lost, and chaos will reign, just as it did in the early years of the Era of Calamity."
The instructor's single eye then scanned the two nobles before him, and with a gentle smile that contradicted the stern gaze Lee Bay gave to the youths, he said,
"Now return to your places. We will be arriving shortly."
Bo Sum cast a quick look of hatred at Muh Xao as he turned and returned to his seat in the third row, beside another young Bronze with spiky hair. Muh Xao spread a wide sneering smile as he watched the big guy move to the back rows, though in the young Silver's opinion he was still far too close, and prepared himself with a smug satisfaction to sit down.
The moment his knees bent, a dark blur struck the side of his neck, sending Muh Xao tumbling with a scream of pain and surprise in front of all the noble youths present. Xi Zhang, who had been observing the events unfold from the front of the cabin, saw everything with alarming clarity—from the moment Bo Sum moved away to the moment Instructor Lee Bay's black-handled cane struck Muh Xao's neck.
"That's it, young Muh," the instructor whispered expressionlessly. "This is your punishment for not promptly following your superior's order."
Lee Bay calmly observed the astonished and, in some cases, satisfied faces of the young nobles. He leaned on his cane and, with a tired sigh, began his first lesson for them.
"First of all, understand that the moment you stepped into this walker, you became students of the Academy, and for that reason, forget about the noble lineages of your families. Only dedication and effort will keep you whole. Second, it must be clear that obedience and discipline are expected from all of you in front of every instructor. Every order must be followed efficiently. If you hope to pursue a military career without order and discipline, all that awaits you and those under your command is death. If you want to return home in two years with accomplishments and honors for your families, you'd better work hard. Those spoiled and pampered by their families will quickly be discarded and sent home full of shame… if they survive the two years here, of course."
Xi Zhang lowered his head in the last row of seats. He, of course, understood the instructor's words perfectly. Being the sixth son of a small noble family of the lowest caste, the fact that he would have to fight for his future with every ounce of effort was already clear in his mind. Except for his eldest brother, all of his other siblings had entered one of the Academies and earned posts as officers in some army, knowing there would be little to gain by staying on the Zhang family estate.
All three brothers and two sisters had told Xi Zhang about their experiences at the Academy, mentally preparing him for what awaited. Listening to his siblings, he realized that each had different experiences, but many of the tests repeated over the years. Thanks to this, he knew where to focus his studies and prepare for the practical exams to enter the Academy.
"Now pay a little attention here, my young ones!" Lee Bay raised his left hand, revealing a black bag the size of a head, which quickly captured everyone's attention. "Before we reach the Academy, I will tell you to which class you have been assigned."
He paused while pulling from the bag a rectangular folder with five leather bracelets tied to the side. Lee Bay flipped through some sheets in the folder before focusing his attention back on the youths.
"Come forward to take your bracelets when I call your name." Again, he paused to check the papers in the folder he was holding. "Ling Pan!"
The beautiful Ling Pan stood gracefully and approached the disabled instructor, receiving one of the five bracelets, which she quickly tied around her right wrist.
"I would like to remind you that classes are separated by your exam scores," the instructor commented, flipping through the papers again. "I will call from the highest to the lowest scores. Muh Xao!"
The arrogant Silver, who had slinked back to his seat, approached the instructor cautiously, fearing another strike from the black-handled cane. The only things he received were a bracelet and a playful smile from Lee Bay.
"Tou Fuji"—upon being called, a thin young man rose from the middle of the rows and walked toward the instructor.
Tou Fuji was much thinner than his companions and had a completely shaved head. He quickly went to Lee Bay, took his bracelet, bowed to the instructor, and returned silently to his seat.
Xi Zhang tried to recall something about the Fuji family when he was finally called by the instructor. As he stood and walked to the front of the cabin, he thought proudly about how wonderful it was to have earned fourth place on the Academy exam. He knew he had done well on the written tests and far above average on the practical ones, but he had not expected a score high enough to place fourth.
When he stopped in front of the instructor, he received one of the bracelets and, without another word, returned to his seat.
As he returned, he noticed on the leather bracelet a metal strip with his name—Xi Zhang—and the identification of his class—1A—which must have been the same for the other three, reminding him that there was still one spot left for his class. But before he could think about it, the instructor called the last member of class 1A.
"Feng Dol!"
The fifth member of class 1A was as tall as Bo Sum, but unlike the Sum family member, who was made of muscles, Feng Dol was thin, with long limbs and a lazy expression dominating his face.
After finishing with class A, the instructor created three more classes, later informing them that commoner members in the other walkers would complete the rest of their classes. This information infuriated Muh Xao, but one look from the instructor silenced the young man before he could even make a sound.
Lee Bay then used the remaining time to explain some Academy rules, what was allowed and what was forbidden. He was beginning to explain actions that could get students executed when a loud sound of metal sliding over metal drowned out his words. A rare smile stretched across the instructor's lips as a tired voice came over the walker's loudspeaker.
"This is your illustrious pilot, Boum! I have the pleasure of informing you all that we have arrived safely at our destination! Welcome to the Imperial Military Academy!"