Several days passed since the strange dream involving the sea of red liquid happened and while Alleluia didn't think much of the event, the memories about the dream were still quite vivid in his mind. The fact that every time he closed his eyes he dreamt of that imaginary space spoke words about how it left a mark on his psyche.
"And so as I was saying, this girl, no, this woman had the biggest pair of-.... Alleluia? Earth to Alleluia? Are you alright man?".
Alleluia, Ruto and Grise were currently sitting in the cafeteria of 3rd Lake Rail Academy eating their lunch as they did every other day. They always took the table closest to the line and so didn't have to walk far to get to their seats. It was Salisbury steak day today so many of the students were more than happy to sit in the slightly crowded cafeteria in order to get a piece.
3rd Lake Rail was only one of the 21 all-boys middle schools within the city. After the Calamity, most schools adopted a single gender confine in order to make sure that their students were focused on their studies, not on the opposite sex.
Education up to the third year old middle school was mandatory, but anything else after that was optional. Since fees were expensive for high schools and universities and colleges, most families children only went through 10 years of schooling before joining the workforce.
For kids with special backgrounds like Grise, high school was the most viable option. For those with rich backgrounds like Ruto, most entered high school as well and went on to join a university.
Those with the talents to become Knights either joined the military or organizations that could financially support a Knight.
Alleluia sighed and shrugged his shoulders at Ruto.
"Sorry. I was just thinking.... about what I'm going to do after. After school I mean....".
A wide assortment of papers filled with flowery words that spoke of offers and deals sat directly in front of Alleluia and covered most of the circular table. Several invitations to large businesses based in Lake Rail City could be seen, with a few from the military of Lake Rail City.
Most cities were polis states and were self-governing with internal elections and campaigns only centered in a single city. Since Lake Rail City was both a coastal city and a center of trade and commerce roughly 10 million people lived in this city. And including the reaches of the circular transport route there was at least 30 million people living within the reaches of the city.
It was a huge area filled to the brim with people. It's military power was mainly consisting of its Navy and Army with roughly 50,000 soldiers and over 200,000 personnel. It was huge, even compared to some of the larger city states.
A single letter amongst all the other offers could be seen. The symbol of the Lake Rail Special Forces could be seen and at the bottom, the signature of both the Fleet Admiral and General of the Army were evident at the bottom.
Grise and Ruto both gulped when they saw this.
"T-that's the signature of the "White Glint"! The Fleet Admiral of Lake Rail City! And the signature of the "Devil Ranger"! The General of the Army! Both are Peak Rank 2 Knights!".
The White Glint and the Devil Ranger were legends in the eyes of the common people of Lake Rail City. They were both commoners by birth, no better social status than any random person off the streets and both possessed a great talent to become Knights.
The White Glint, Fleet Admiral Yang Tianlong, and the Devil Ranger, General Yuri Smirnov, were the twin pillars of Lake Rail City. A symbol of both its power and possibility. They were immensely popular amongst the common people and both married into the rich upper class in order to appeal to both sides of the city.
Yuri Smirnov was also Grise's uncle-in-law. As he married the Mayor's younger sister, Grise saw Yuri more often than any other middle school student. It was also through Grise that Yuri and Tianlong met Alleluia.
Alleluia nodded albeit a bit unwillingly.
"This was delivered last night. If states that if I become a Knight before I turn 16 I will be on the short list to enter the Lake Rail City Special Forces. If I become a Knight after 16, then I would enter the military instantly with the Rank of Warrant Officer....".
The pretty boy sighed and pushed the piece of paper away from him much towards the rejected pile of job offers, much to the confusion of the other two boys.
Ruto spoke,
"You don't want to enter the military?". His tone indicated that he couldn't even fathom his choices.
Alleluia nodded.
"Once we graduated I didn't plan on joining the military straight out. Don't get me wrong, if I was planning on joining an organization I would undoubtedly accept their offer. It's just that I was planning on heading to a few other nations first. Maybe visit some ruins or explore some remains of the ancient era. Who knows, maybe I would find something I enjoy more than Life Technique research....".
He leaned back in his chair as he spoke. The fourteen year old showed no signs of lingering sentiment towards the offers on the table and only the promise of exploration seemed to catch any of his attention.
Studying under the Professor for three years changed Alleluia. Tales and legends of ancients sects and destroyed kingdoms made his eyes shine like the stars in the night sky. The recordings of primal Knight Life Techniques that could destroy mountains with a single wave of one's hand were the only things that interested Alleluia. Researching and testing out Life Techniques, as well as exploring those cultures that created them were all that he could consider a hobby.
Even if it was a little bit abnormal.
The two other boys sitting beside him sighed and shook their heads in disappointment. They had constantly tried to persuade Alleluia that this path would only end in disappointment, as it did to countless other explores before him.
But he listened to none of that.
If an organization that helped him travel and explore invited him, he might be a little more likely to join that one above the rest. So long as they didn't deal in illegal narcotics or the underground slave trade on Smoky Cloud Continent almost anything would be fine.
Illegal activities and underground organizations also had Knights but were discriminated against by the majority of people on the Smoky Cloud Continent. It also have very rigorous standards in order to keep their secret activities secret. Blackmail and extortion were the only punishments if one was lucky....
Wait.... an organization that travels often and to other countries and city states.....
He jumped up from his seat causing Grise and Ruto, and most of the other boys in the room to get startled. Someone like Alleluia, whose talent was well known throughout Lake Rail City would naturally draw the eye of countless others. Whether that be in respect, or jealousy.
The slight image of his ideal job started to form and the blurry outline of what he wanted to be was being molded as he gazed towards the other side of the school.
He started running around the school grounds and towards the History Department. His eyes shining bright without a single impurity within them.
Alleluia slammed the door open, causing the old man inside to almost die of a heart attack due to the sudden surprise.
"Old Man! I've got an idea!"