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"So you want to be a ki master?" The proctor in charge of registrations asked as he peered across his small wooden desk at little Si-U, he glanced at the paper on his desk and then at the boy once again before continuing.
"Kid, I have to warn you that if you sign up for this academy you'll be automatically registering for the army as well." His expression serious.
"Yes sir!" Si-U replied with a sharp nod and an unwavering grin.
The proctor looked at the papers again "you know as your records are legitimate I may not have the power to decline your registration but, kid I have to tell you that if you join you will die." He pause a minute to observe Si-U whose expression remained light and cheery. "I know this sir." The young boy replied enthusiastically.
"So Let me guess, you want to join because you want to help take care of your family? Or is it because of the title and wealth?" "Because if that's the reason there are plenty other ways to earn money for your family that honestly doesn't require you to risk your life like this."
"Sir I'm very happy you are concerned about my well being but sir there's no need." Si-U grinned "because I'm gonna become the strongest ki master there is!"
The Procter sighed and signed the sheet of paper before handing it back to little 12 year old Si-U who took it then bowed sharply. "Ok just head on over to the entrance and hand that to the guard at the door he'll let you in.
"Thank you sir!" Si-U replied leaving the long line, hurrying past the proctor and under the large arch gateway towards the building in the back.
Si-U or Si-Woo was born from a poor family but suddenly for his 12th birthday his dad showed him that he had earned the right for his son to enter the most prestigious school in all of Daegu that sits at the top of mountain Biseulsan. A school renowned for its beautiful sights and for producing the most powerful ki-masters in the region and also notorious for only allowing the children of wealthy families to be admitted.
Si-U was not.
He did not know how his father managed to do it but he was determined not to disappoint.
He had long dreamed of ways to make life for his mother and father who worked tirelessly, easier and this seemed like the best way to him, also a chance to show all the results his practice.
(His name Si-U also written as Si-Woo, Si and Woo together meaning divine intervention, Woo meaning rain.)
The Divine storm.
Si-U hurried along the pathway towards the building where the proctor had indicated but he could not help but be absorbed in the breathtaking flowers by the path, this all seemed like a dream.
Here he was about to enroll in an academy That he in all honesty wouldn't normally be allowed to be apart of because of status.
His happiness obvious, sure he was nervous as he wondered if he would be able to make friends but that was second to his goal.
Learn as much as possible.
Cultivate, earn enough credits to purchase cultivation resources and grow into the region's best ki-master there is.
Hi father had warned him that because of their Status others may look down on him but he should never let that hinder his progress.
He knew this, the world wasn't a perfect place. But somewhere in his heart he hoped that, at the very least no-one would notice.
Soon enough he arrived at the large doors, the guard a large man who seemed laidback and dressed accordingly, his jacket open revealing a the logo on his shirt which read "salty" his left hand resting on the hilt of a large katana which hung sheathed from his belt.
"Stop!" The guard stated, from his ki-aura Si-U determined that his cultivation was only at the 4th realm of ki mastery. But his understanding of the spiritual energies second tier which made him a general. This made the guard seem a lot bigger than he actually was and to little Si-U who had just started on the path to cultivation he seemed to be bending reality around him as his aura radiated fiercely in a fiery manner.
Si-U stepped back and tried to regain his composure. He was scared, that much was true but if this was a test of wills he was determined to not be rejected on the first day.
In this overbearing pressure little Si-U felt almost overwhelmed by the mental force that the guard radiated. He felt that at any moment he would be forced to his knees and crushed into nothingness.
But..
Gritting his teeth he calmed himself and pushed toward the guard. He had been training afterall and although this aura was strong, in comparison to his master's training this was nothing. Slowly he circulated his ki along his meridians and like his master showed him brought out his own aura, it was not much as his cultivation wasn't yet at the ki-forming stage. Though it was enough to help him offset the pressure.
"Junior greets senior!" Si-U yelled bowing deeply.