The first ray of light hit me as I stirred in my sleep. I slowly opened an eye to see if the others were awake. Just as I thought, they were all still snoozing away in their sleep. I got up slowly and leaned against the back wall for support as I looked down at my chest. It was still bruised from yesterday's sword fight and martial art sessions. I let out a small sigh and proceeded to grab a blue shirt that was on the corner of my bed and a pair of blue jeans off the table. After I got dressed, I exited the dormitory and headed for the dining hall. I was famished.
As I approached the dining room, I greeted my fellow masters and headed to the apprentice table. There was some semi-stale bread along with some milk and fruits, none of it looked appetizing but I was grateful for what the academy has given me. I took a piece of the bread along with some oranges and sat down in one of the rundown chairs. I ate quietly as more people started to enter the dining hall.
"My my, if it isn't Zero. My dear apprentice how have you been?"
I looked behind my shoulders towards the direction where the voice had come from. To my surprise it was Master Hann. I quickly got up from the chair and bowed down in a show of respect.
"Master, I didn't know that you were back today from your expedition. I hope things went smoothly with the negotiation."
"Yes yes, everything went very well indeed," Master Hann replied. But he then looked back at me. "But what about you my dear apprentice? Are you well?"
I paused for a brief moment before answering. "I am doing well, thank you for your concern."
Master Hann looked me up and down a few times before his eyes stopped at my chest. Master is incredibly talented in martial arts and swordsmanship, I knew that he could tell that I was in pain with just a glance.
"You should really treat that injury," the master stated. "Follow me."
I followed the master out of the dining hall and into the infirmary. There he told the nurse to apply some medicated cream onto the injury and asked her to prescribe me some pain killers for the ache.
I took off my shirt and got onto the examination table. My master then told me that he would wait outside for me and I nodded in reply. Then the nurse started to apply the cream. I felt a sharp jab of pain and let out a tiny wail of discomfort. The cream had a burning sensation as it made contact with the open cut.
"You might feel a bit uncomfortable but I'm almost finished," the nurse said.
I nodded and tried to shake off the pain. After a couple of minutes, the nurse finished applying the cream and wrapped a layer of bandage around the wound.
"Make sure to come in again after 5 days to change the bandage around the wound or else it might lead to an infection" the nurse said. I nodded and thanked her before getting up from the examination table, putting my shirt back on and headed out of the office.
As I approached the hall I could see my master sitting on a couch beside the entrance of the infirmary. As I got closer, I could see that he had a golden envelope clutched within his hand that wasn't there before. He noticed me and then beckoned me to come over.
"Why didn't you go to the nurse yesterday?" Master Hann asked.
"I felt that it wasn't necessary," I replied. Master Hann sighed and then gestured for me to take a seat beside him on the couch.
"Zero, you've been here for how long already?" Master asked.
"15 years," I replied. "Ever since I was 5 up until now."
Master Hann sighed. I could sense sadness within his gaze. "Zero, you know that I've treated you like a son of my own. But in the end blood is still thicker than water." Master Hann handed me the golden laced envelope with my name inscribed upon it.
"Your mother asked for me to nurture you into a fine young man and I think that I've completed her wishes. But now, you've got to make decisions about your own future."
I stared down at the envelope and then back up at Master Hann. What could this envelope possibility be for. Endless ideas and possibilities popped up in my mind, but I gently brushed it aside. Then I took a long deep breath before carefully placing my fingers on the seal flap, pulling it up and revealing the letter enclosed within it.