The final match ended without a hitch, as all participants have gathered in the center to hear the result of the examination.
The others, pertaining to those who are disqualified were given a chance to redeem themselves by performing and answering a sheet and will test their cumulative knowledge. Much of this demand, Aran should've taken this kind of work to prevent from hurting himself but they didn't mention it at the beginning.
Being a Slayer candidate also means having enough knowledge or intellect to contribute; considering that a Slayer's job is to risk his or her life, then being cautious, having the awareness and self-reflection can prolong their lives.
They were separated from the rest of those who passed the examination.
The three warriors; Aran, Huck, and Lisa waited on the left side of the arena while the rest of the examinees are standing in the center.
As they wait on the field across the hallway, the main door opened slowly and a man who seems to be in his middle age went out. He has a wrinkly face, partnered with his fitted body and muscles. He also has blonde hair, similar to Lisa.
He walked slowly as if he was trying to take his time.
His expression doesn't seem like he is very pleasant to meet all of the new candidates who will be enrolling.
At some point, those who are present to the field were trying their best to keep quiet as the old man walked past them. There is a dense aura seeping from him.
Upon closer inspection, there is a long wooden sword with a leather sheath enclosing the whole side of the wooden blade on his side. It has a red ribbon tied near the hilt. Aran noticed this immediately.
(Is that... A wooden sword? There's no doubt. This old man is Lisa's grandfather. He might be one of the grandmasters who oversees this academy.) He thought.
The guy wearing the red coat finally stood up to speak in the center of the arena.
"Finally, as everyone has finished the testing of their abilities and fighting techniques, we're now going to hear a few words from one of the best grandmasters in this kingdom. Everyone, please welcome, Master of the Alliere's Sunflower Sword Art, Master Himawari" He introduced him with such a pleasant welcome.
Everyone turned their attention to the grandmaster who finally took the step to enter the arena. He stole the spotlight from the announcer in just a few seconds. Shockingly, some of the other warriors have clapped and showed their appreciation.
Meanwhile, the others that are seemingly new to this place didn't respond as much.
"G-Grandfather?!" Abruptly interrupting the old man's entrance, everyone switched to silence after hearing Lisa scream out of her lungs.
"EH?! MY LITTLE L-LISA?!" Somehow, both of their reaction was similar and that incited a lot of attention from the examinees. Huck dropped his jaw as well. Aran didn't seem to be surprised as he was already expecting this would happen.
"Yes! Grandfather, I didn't know that you were also invited to teach here!" She responded loudly with a confused yet face.
"Well, they have asked a little help from me. I suppose this old man is not getting that much work lately, you know? I have to cover some things in order to improve our rate." He replied.
"D-Damn, this is actually the reason why I've categorized her as being strong. Now I remember!" Huck whispered to Aran.
"What?" Aran asked.
"When I saw Miss Alliere's performance earlier, I've noticed that she is using a particular style that resembles Grandmaster Himawari's style. I assumed it is just a prototype of her style that has a resemblance, but now, it is surprisingly cool to see that I am wrong. The reason for her quick reflexes, great stances, and sharp methods is because she is the granddaughter of Grandmaster Himawari!" He explained with forced yet conclusive evidence based on his own understanding.
"Uh... Isn't that obvious already? I mean she literally is a daughter of the Alliere family. It is not surprising if she were to learn her grandfather's technique." Aran replied.
"Well, you have a point. But I think her style doesn't follow the correct combination if you know what I'm saying."
"The right combination?" Aran titled his head.
"Yes. I've seen Grandmaster Himawari's style many times so I am keen to details about how it is executed. Miss Alliere's style was kinda far off from what Master is teaching. That's why it is pretty hard to distinguish the original Sunflower Sword Techniques from her earlier style. I am guessing that she is still learning it." Huck explained.
"Oh, I see now."
Hearing Huck's temporary clamor, every one commended Lisa for being popular. They all made a cheer so loud that she gained a headache.
The previous match with Rye must have affected her stand at the very point of people respecting her strength. And now that people know that she is related to the Grandmaster, there is an adequate chance that from now on, they'll have to be careful with Lisa or on the contrary, they will have to treat her as someone who is special, just like how Huck managed to obtain the title of 'Prince of the iron fist'.
It was not surprising for those who already knew her based on her name. The Alliere holds an influential status to the whole Kingdom of Ruth. Messing with them means that you're up for something grim. But of course, there are also other houses within the capital that holds that much influence as well.
(Now that he mentioned it, I've never met Lisa's other siblings.) Aran thought.
Lisa placed her right hand on the backside of her neck while trying to respond to their cheering. Aran's reactions were overlayed with shock as he backs off. Seeing this, Lisa approached Aran and grabbed his arm pulling him closer to her.
"Eh?"
"Where are you going? I told you, you are not leaving my side until you get better..." Lisa scolded him.
"Well, it is very nice to meet you here, My Little Lisa. That was a very good performance earlier. Unfortunately, we will have to talk later. For now, let us focus first on the agenda we're going to discuss and announce for this day."
Ending the commotion with a few sentences directed their attention towards old man Himawari. The fact that he didn't even have to shout is commendable and they totally respect his position.
"First of all, congratulations to all of you who have managed to retain your position as a candidate. Everyone who passed deserves to stay in this academy and they should be given a chance to train under many grandmasters across the kingdom. Being able to fight with your determination, skills, abilities, magic, tactics, strategies, resolve, and strength is a major input for this enrollment. That being said, these skills shouldn't be wasted, everyone who possesses these traits should be determined as a candidate. However! They must know the risks they have to expect for the rest of their career." Master Himawari said.
Everyone gulped, seeing as if they were ready for some pleasant news, but it was rather a brief introduction of what's going to be an outcome of a single course in their life. Much prior to saving the citizen of the Kingdom of Ruth, there would be a chance of a sacrifice and risks they must know in order to fully value their purpose.
"These risks are something that should be taken seriously. Being a candidate also means risking your life out of the boundary. Some of you may get injured, may get an illness from training, some of you might kill someone or accidentally kill someone. And some of you may die quickly depending on the situation. Nevertheless, it is the job of a Grandmaster or Trainer to train all of you into different kinds of warriors that will benefit the divisions. We won't tolerate those who don't have enough guts to fight for the sake of the kingdom. What are you guys expecting to do in the first place? To have fun? No! You are here to serve and to save who's precious and important to you and to everyone else! We must fight for the sake of humanity, to prevent any attacks from the outside world!"
Hearing the last sentence struck Aran with a flash of lightning. His face was in awe, his heart beating like a mechanical machine that pulsates on every movement. His feelings were contaminated with the evaluation of hope and motivation. The expedition of humanity to the outside world is one of the most important reasons why he came to enroll here.
He knew that if he tried his best, he would be able to leave the kingdom to save the citizen outside and to find his mother.
While they were listening, the announcer approached Master Himawari while holding a small box. Master Himawari grabbed the box and placed his hand inside. He picked a small object that is made out of gold with the mark of the academy.
"Now then, for those of you who passed, you will be given a certain badge that has a mark of our academy for your preceding and excellent performance. This will also serve as a badge of honor and a symbol that you pass the examination. Without this, you won't be able to enter the academy and you must not lose it. Doing so will get you disqualified as a candidate and you need to get reinstated. This badge will be given to you individually so please line up for those who passed starting from you..." Master Himawari suddenly pointed out his finger to a familiar someone that made a good performance earlier.
It was Huck.
"Yes!" He responded with such a great tone. Huck made his first step in the center of the arena.
"I've seen your fighting abilities and combat techniques. You deserve to be here in this academy. I welcome you, to Fosier Academy!" Master Himawari said.
The first badge was given to Huck. It is an important piece of honor that should be taken care of. After Huck, all of them made a compelling line on the other side of the arena. Due to everyone's excitement, they couldn't keep a line straight.
The announcer gazed at Master Himawari. He didn't give any order but instead, he waved his head left and right indicating that he should let them be like that. It is pretty normal to get excited over a single badge, after all, it is the result of their hard work and it is not like it is not important.
A few minutes have passed and all of them have now received their badges. Some of them kept it on their bags, while the rest already pinned it on their clothing and accouterments. Their expression displayed various kinds, from being joyful to being calm. Aran, Lisa, and Huck have decided to look into it closer before they keep it.
"Now that everyone has their badge, you guys can now leave this ground. However, before you guys go, listen to me. The official opening of this academy will be a week from now. Everyone needs to gather all of their things including their armaments, clothing, uniforms, and other stuff because you guys are going to be staying here for the rest of the year. There will be no home for everyone aside from this place. That's why I need all of you to gather what's important. After a week, the academy will now open, and your training as a candidate will commence. That's all!" Master Himawari said.
Everyone became overjoyed about hearing the condition. Some of them left the ground while the rest stayed in to celebrate their victory.
Meanwhile, Aran walked on the other side of the gate when he stumbled upon a group of people who wears a black robe. Their face cannot be seen with the streak and longness of the robe, it is pretty strange that they wear this kind of clothing under a scorching sun. Aran followed their track for a little bit but he stopped after reaching the end of the gate.
He felt as if the black-robed people were watching his movement every second but they have disappeared quite quickly after noticing Aran's presence.
"Black robe? Why would they wear such a thing? They don't need to hide their identity for something like this..." he whispered to himself.
While he is fixated on the issue, Lisa called him.
"Aran!" He turned his back and approached Lisa.
"Yo!" Huck was behind her.
"We've managed to pass the exam without any problem at all. The only problem now is that we need to prepare for one week before actually going in here." Aran said with a confident face.
"Yeah! This will be exciting." Huck responded.
"I agree!" The three of them chuckled and celebrated their victory. Despite their wounds and visible bruises, they didn't feel anything aside from fulfillment and hope that they managed to step across one achievement.
While they were taking their sweet time, Master Himawari suddenly sneaked in behind Aran and Huck's back.
"Yo!" He greeted.
"AGHHH!" Both of them shrieked. Lisa laughed so hard, seeing their scared reaction.
"Hah... Hah... D-D-Damn you... Old... Man..." Huck slowly said while recovering.
"Hahaha!" Master Himawari laughed. He didn't pay any more attention to the two but instead, he suddenly grabbed Lisa's arm and whispered something to her.
"Eh?!" Lisa shrieked.
"By the way, Little Lizzy. WHO ARE YOU GOING OUT WITH, WITH THESE TWO? HUH?" He menacingly asked.
"HEH?! WHAT?" Shocked by what she heard, Lisa got flustered.
"E-E-Eh?! I-I don't know what you are talking about, G-Grandpa!" She stuttered.
As she stepped back, her voluptuous shape of chest went in and bounced. She crossed her arms to deflect and stop the bouncing all while feeling nervous and flattered at the same time.
"Mmmmmmmmm..." Master Himawari placed his left hand to toll and twist his beard. The two guys behind him were confused about what's happening so then he decided to confront them.
"W-Wait–" Lisa tried to stop him but she didn't succeed.
"UMU! Is this the guy?!" Master Himawari leaned closer to Huck's face. Engraved with the situation, he suddenly became tensed by the fact that a grandmaster is analyzing him.
"I-I... Huh?" Huck was so confused that he couldn't muster the idea of talking or responding.
"N-No! Come on Grandpa, please stop." Lisa tried once again but this time, there's a little blister on her tone that entails a strange meaning. She couldn't help but feel mortified.
"Oh..." Suddenly, while Huck was being confronted, Master Himawari noticed Aran's presence from the back.
Aran's reactions were calm. He doesn't feel anything that is worth overreacting aside from the fact that Master Himawari surprised them. He knows what is going on but he still remained composed.
"It is the assassin boy! How are you doing, lad? I've heard that Sterling boy trained you well."
(Eh?)
"Eh?! W-What? Assassin boy? M-Me" Aran pointed to himself with his left index finger.
"Yeah! You are really magnificent when it comes to sneak and tricky attacks. The board members and the other grandmasters have bestowed their astonishment onto you." Master Himawari pat Aran's back multiple times causing him to flick every time his hand lands. Aran's expression was somewhat happy after hearing it.
"Y-Yeah... Thanks." He responded.
(What the hell is Assassin Boy? Is that some kind of a title? If it is, it sucks really bad!)
"Wait... MMMMMM!" Suddenly, the old man changed his mood when he realized what he has been doing.
"A-Are you..."
"Huh?"
"DON'T TELL ME, LISA!!!" He screamed. The trio got shocked.
"HEY KID, ARE YOU THE ONE WHO'S GOING OUT WITH LISA ALL THIS TIME? HUUUHH?" Followed by a smug face, Master Himawari couldn't keep himself composed with the idea that Lisa has been with Aran for a long time now.
"I..." Aran was extremely nervous that he couldn't even speak for himself.
"JEEZ, GRANDPA! I DON'T GO OUT WITH ANY OF THEM!" Finally, Lisa broke her grandfather's tantrum and defensiveness towards her. She enabled herself to confront him with a dismayed look visible on her beautiful face.
"Oho~ Is that so? Mmmm... Alright, you guys are on my list now!" He declared.
"I feel like I'm getting dragged into this kind of thing all of sudden," Huck said with a wavering confusion in his tone.
"Well, same, I don't even know what they are talking about anyway," Aran replied. The two of them implied that they are pretty dense that they didn't even extract the real meaning behind Lisa's connection with them.
"Come on, Grandpa. Please stop this..." Lisa with her unpleasant approach facepalmed herself.
"Hahaha! Come on, I'm just kidding. But seriously though, Lizzy..."
(Eh? Lizzy? Is that Lisa's nickname?) Aran made a smirk.
"You are attracted to someone, right?" Master Himawari whispered really softly to the point that they can't hear it anymore.
Lisa's cheek became, even more, redder than usual. She is indeed attracted to someone. She nodded slowly to confirm it.
"I see..." Master Himawari understood.
"Lisa, you've grown up to be such a fine woman now. I just don't want you to end up with someone who will not make you happy. I will not forgive them! If you have any trouble, make sure you bring them up to me, am I clear?" Followed by this, Master Himawari smiled.
"Yes, Grandpa," Lisa answered with a smile while getting flustered.
(Why is Lisa staring at me with that kind of look?) Aran noticed that Lisa's been staring at him for a long time while whispering to Master Himawari.
"Anyway, I didn't mean to barge in with your little fun. Lisa, I have something to give you." Later that moment, Master Himawari brought the announcer guy into their group. He carries a long object covered in a red sheet with golden laces on the end of each streak.
The announcer gave the object to Master Himawari.
Aran and Huck both walked closer to see what is it.
"Um... Grandpa, what is this?" Lisa asked with a curious face.
Master Himawari finally revealed what the long object was.
It was a katana. Infused with a golden hilt, the sheath of the katana also has a golden locket and a shape of a sunflower carved near the handle.
"This is..." Huck made a reaction.
"W-What..." Lisa slowly picked the weapon.
"Grandpa, this is..."
"Yeah... One of our greatest treasures from being an Alliere, our greatest weapon. The 'Helianthus'" He said proudly.
Lisa's eyes widened. Even Aran and Huck are amazed by this. They are happy especially Lisa who has been holding it. Her hand was shaking but after a few seconds, it was held by her Grandpa.
"Lisa, this katana... is going to be yours now. I've used this for a very long time, but you see, I'm not as much stronger than before with my prime. Though you are still inexperienced and lack those skills, you are going to grow even more. You are the only person from our bloodline that carries my talent. Your siblings didn't want to risk their lives as they are not quite affiliated with his. But seeing that you are determined to serve our kingdom, the original will of the Alliere blood, it is now your journey from me to you... And now that you are here, I am now your progenitor and I'm going to pass everything to learn about our arts to you." He said with a smile.
Lisa's eye spouted a tear, she forcefully embraced the sword and started hugging Master Himawari. He pats her back. Behind them, Aran and Huck made a smile of their own while seeing a wholesome scene.
"Thank you, Grandpa! Yes! I'll take everything, I'll pass down our arts even to our future generation and make sure that they won't forget about it!" She made a resolve.
"That's right..." Master Himawari responded with a smile.
After a few minutes of their talking, it is finally time to go home. The sun was now starting to set down. It took them a few hours before the test comes to an end.
"That was such a great moment," Huck said while walking with them.
"Yeah! Good for you, Lisa. That sword seems like a total royal road for your grandpa's technique." Aran replied.
"Mm! Yeah, thank you so much, both of you." She responded with a smile on her face.
"Come to think of it, Aran." Huck faced Aran.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you using such a worn-out dagger? Like, don't you have an extra one? There, you're carrying another sheath, isn't that new?" He asked.
"Ah yeah, now that you mentioned it, it is indeed new. But I didn't really bother using it because I don't want it to get dirty after receiving." Aran replied.
"Oh yeah! Lisa!" Suddenly he called on Lisa.
"What?" She asked.
"We need to visit the workshop first and tell him about our consultation. I mean my own consultation!" Aran remembered that he has something to deal with Veldrey after finishing the exam and passing.
"Oh yeah! Mr. Veldrey was waiting for us!" Lisa responded.
Conversely, Huck stopped on his track after hearing their conversation.
"Huck?" Aran noticed this and called him.
"V-Veldrey... Did you just say my old man's name?" He asked.
Stopping their momentum, both Aran and Lisa realized what his question was.
"EHHHHH!?" Both of them screamed.
"Wait wait wait! Huck, are you saying, you are the son of the blacksmith we met in the morning?" Aran asked for confirmation with a strong tone.
"Yes! His name isVeldrey and he is 'indeed' a blacksmith from this town."
"Oh my god! This is too much information to handle. And there are so many connections! First, Lisa was actually the granddaughter of one of the strongest grandmasters in the kingdom. And now Huck is a son of the greatest blacksmith in this town." Aran couldn't believe what he is resolving right now.
The fact that the two of them are actually offspring of some of the greatest profiles in the kingdom deeply questions Aran's relationship with them.
"Oh my god, you're right!" Lisa responded.
"Man we are so fitted together! Like, we've never known each other and for some reason, we've met in accordance to our parents or grandparents." Huck followed.
"Hey, Aran! What about you! I'm pretty sure you are also with someone as popular as our parents!" Huck asked him. But the look on Aran's face turned to a frown. Lisa noticed this and immediately interfered.
"Umm, Huck! I think it is better if we don't talk about parents or grandparents! Let's just go—" But before she can even finish her sentence, she was stopped by Aran.
"That's okay..." Aran held Lisa's arm, she noticed the smile that Aran emits on his face.
"Huck, to tell you the truth, I don't have my parents anymore." He said, brimming with such an intact emotion, he couldn't comprehend the idea that he was willing to open up his own feelings with the other people. Suffice it to say, having any trouble with your past definitely affects your own mentality as a person, but opening up and moving on will have greater impacts on the upcoming future.
"They were killed by a bunch of lycanthropes, though, I've managed to survive, my father sacrificed himself for my own sake," Aran said.
The uprising mood that they were keeping earlier suddenly merged into the feeling of darkness by Aran's past. Lisa clicked her tongue as she gazed down. Huck felt the sadness in his own, applying that he knows that his question was out of the line.
"I-I'm really sorry about that..." He apologized.
"No, don't worry about it. It is been a long time. But to answer your question, I think I might have someone who is popular enough to be a candidate as a contribution to our meet-up." The two of them got curious.
"You know, back in the village, there was one particular knight that gave me hope and knowledge. He treated me like his own son and managed to provide all of the things that I need and give me a new way." Aran started explaining. Lisa knew what was coming that she decided to smile instead.
"A knight? Is there such a knight who's popular?" Huck asked.
"There was... My master... Nash Sterling."